LodgeNet Agrees To $60 Million Recapitalization With Global Investor Colony Capital

LodgeNet Interactive Corporation LNET today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with a syndicate formed by an affiliate of Colony Capital (herein "Colony Syndicate"), a global investment firm with $38 billion in assets under management and a broad range of hospitality and media industry investments, pursuant to which the Colony Syndicate will provide $60 million of new capital to support a proposed recapitalization of the Company.  In addition, the Company has received support from a steering committee of its lenders holding its debt for a multi-year extension of its existing $346 million secured credit facility. The transaction will be implemented through an expedited Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, at the conclusion of which the Colony Syndicate would become the controlling stockholder of the Company.  The plan of reorganization envisions that unsecured creditors of LodgeNet will be paid in full for any pre-petition claims at the conclusion of the Chapter 11 process. Colony has also executed a memorandum of understanding with DIRECTV, LLC., setting forth certain terms pursuant to which LodgeNet and DIRECTV intend to operate as strategic partners within the hospitality and healthcare markets.  As part of the expanded partnership between the two companies, DIRECTV will provide its world-class operational, technological and marketing capabilities to help deliver new and improved LodgeNet services to the industry. Importantly, throughout this process, LodgeNet's current hospitality and healthcare customers will continue to receive LodgeNet's entertainment and connectivity services, as well as ongoing maintenance and support, without interruption.