Emmis Announces Preliminary Results of Its Modified Dutch Auction Tender Offer

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- (NASDAQ: EMMS, EMMSP) -- Emmis Communications Corporation today announced the preliminary results of its modified Dutch auction tender offer, which expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on Friday, December 30, 2011.

Based on the preliminary count by BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, the depositary of the tender offer, a total of 164,400 shares of Emmis' 6.25% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), were properly tendered and not properly withdrawn at or below the purchase price of $15.56 per share.

In accordance with the terms and conditions of the tender offer, and based on the preliminary count by the depositary, Emmis expects to accept for purchase approximately 164,400 shares of its Preferred Shares at a price of $15.56 per share, for an aggregate cost of approximately $2.6 million, excluding fees and expenses relating to the tender offer. These shares represent approximately 6.3% of the Preferred Shares outstanding as of December 30, 2011.

The number of shares to be purchased and the purchase price are preliminary and subject to change. The preliminary information contained in this press release is subject to confirmation by the depositary. The final number of shares to be purchased and the final purchase price will be announced following the completion by the depositary of the confirmation process. Payment for the shares accepted for purchases under the tender offer, and return of all other shares tendered and not purchased, will occur promptly thereafter.

The information agent and depositary for the tender offer is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services. The solicitation agent for the tender offer is Georgeson Inc. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP are acting as Emmis' legal counsel in the tender offer. When the tender offer  commenced, the offer to purchase and related documents were mailed to holders of record of Preferred Shares and also were made available for distribution to beneficial owners of Preferred Shares. For questions and information, please call the information agent toll free at (866) 301-0524 or the solicitation agent toll free at (800) 676-0281.

Tender Offer Statement

This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to buy nor the solicitation of an offer to sell any shares of Emmis 6.25% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release which are not statements of historical fact, including but not limited to those identified with words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "continue," "estimate," "feel," "forecast," "intend," "may," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," "would," "expect," "will," "look" or similar expressions and various or negatives of such words are intended to be and are "forward-looking statements," as defined in the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Similarly, statements herein that describe Emmis' business strategy, prospects, opportunities, outlooks, objectives, plans, intentions or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Emmis to be materially different from any future result, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and Emmis cannot assure you that its expectations will be achieved or that any deviations will not be material.

Such factors include, among others:

• general economic and business conditions;
• fluctuations in the demand for advertising and demand for different types of advertising media;
• our ability to service our outstanding debt;
• increased competition in our markets and the broadcasting industry;
• our ability to attract and secure programming, on-air talent, writers and photographers;
• inability to obtain (or to obtain timely) necessary approvals for purchase or sale transactions or to complete the transactions for other reasons generally beyond our control;
• increases in the costs of programming, including on-air talent;
• inability to grow through suitable acquisitions;
• changes in audience measurement systems;
• new or changing regulations of the Federal Communications Commission or other governmental agencies;
• competition from new or different technologies;
• war, terrorist acts or political instability; and
• other factors mentioned in documents filed by Emmis with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All forward-looking statements are based on information available to Emmis on the date of this press release, and Emmis does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation or responsibility to update, amend or revise any forward-looking statements or information above except as otherwise required by law. More information about potential factors that could affect Emmis' business and financial results is included in the offer to purchase and Emmis' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, Emmis' Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2011 and subsequent periodic and current reports.

About Emmis Communications (NASDAQ: EMMS)

Emmis Communications Corporation is a diversified media company, principally focused on radio broadcasting. Emmis operates the 8th largest publicly traded radio portfolio in the United States based on total listeners. Emmis owns 18 FM and two AM radio stations in New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Austin (Emmis has a 50.1% controlling interest in Emmis' radio stations located there), Indianapolis and Terre Haute, IN.

The Information Agent for the tender offer is:

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services

480 Washington Boulevard, 27th Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07310
Call Toll Free: (866) 301-0524
Call Collect: (201) 680-6579

The Solicitation Agent for the tender offer is:

Georgeson

199 Water Street, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10038−3560
Banks and Brokers Call (212) 440−9800
All Others Call Toll−Free (800) 676-0281

SOURCE Emmis Communications Corporation