Lamar Advertising Company Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End 2009 Operating Results

Lamar Advertising Company (Nasdaq: LAMR), a leading owner and operator of outdoor advertising and logo sign displays, announces the Company’s operating results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009.

Fourth Quarter Results

Lamar reported net revenues of $262.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 versus $279.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2008, a 6.1% decrease. Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $20.4 million as compared to $23.8 million for the same period in 2008. There was a net loss of $19.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to net loss of $8.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Adjusted EBITDA, (defined as operating income before non-cash compensation, depreciation and amortization and gain on disposition of assets - see reconciliation to net (loss) income at the end of this release) for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $106.8 million versus $114.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2008, a 6.7% decrease.

Free cash flow (defined as Adjusted EBITDA less interest, net of interest income and amortization of financing costs, current taxes, preferred stock dividends and total capital expenditures - see reconciliation to cash flows provided by operating activities at the end of this release) for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $50.4 million as compared to $52.2 million for the same period in 2008, a 3.4% decrease.

Pro forma net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2009 decreased 5.8% and pro forma Adjusted EBITDA decreased 6.2% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. Pro forma net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA include adjustments to the 2008 period for acquisitions and divestitures for the same time frame as actually owned in the 2009 period. Tables that reconcile reported results to pro forma results and operating income to outdoor operating income are included at the end of this release.

Twelve Months Results

Lamar reported net revenues of $1.06 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 versus $1.20 billion for the same period in 2008, an 11.9% decrease. Operating income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 was $97.6 million as compared to $178.8 million for the same period in 2008. Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $441.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 versus $512.1 million for the same period in 2008. There was a net loss of $58.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 as compared to net income of $2.2 million for the same period in 2008.

Free cash flow for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 increased 40.8% to $241.1 million as compared to $171.3 million for the same period in 2008.

Liquidity

As of December 31, 2009, Lamar had $301.2 million in total liquidity that consists of $188.9 million available for borrowing under its revolving senior credit facility and $112.3 million in cash.

In February 2010, the Company reduced outstanding indebtedness under its senior credit facility by making principal prepayments in an aggregate amount of $43.5 million, consisting of (i) a $26.2 million payment on the term portion of the senior credit facility, which was would have been due on March 31, 2010 and (ii) a $17.3 million prepayment that fully paid and extinguished the principal amount outstanding under the Series C Incremental Term loan, which had scheduled amortization through September 30, 2012.

Guidance

For the first quarter of 2010 the Company expects net revenue to be approximately $245.0 million. On a pro forma basis this represents a decrease of approximately 1.0%.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including the statements regarding guidance for the first quarter of 2010. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others; (1) our significant indebtedness; (2) the length and severity of the current recession and the effect that it has on the demand for advertising; (3) the continued popularity of outdoor advertising as an advertising medium; (4) our need for and ability to obtain additional funding for operations, debt refinancing or acquisitions; (5) the regulation of the outdoor advertising industry; (6) the integration of companies that we acquire and our ability to recognize cost savings or operating efficiencies as a result of these acquisitions; (7) the market for our Class A common stock and (8) other factors described in the reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and the registration statements that we file from time to time with the SEC. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this document. These statements speak only as of the date of this document, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the statements, except as may be required by law.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, pro forma results and outdoor operating income are not measures of performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP”) and should not be considered alternatives to operating income, net loss, cash flows from operating activities, or other GAAP figures as indicators of the Company’s financial performance or liquidity. The Company’s management believes that Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, pro forma results and outdoor operating income are useful in evaluating the Company’s performance and provide investors and financial analysts a better understanding of the Company’s core operating results. The pro forma acquisition adjustments are intended to provide information that may be useful for investors when assessing period to period results. Our presentations of these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Reconciliations of these measures to GAAP are included at the end of this release.

Conference Call Information

A conference call will be held to discuss the Company’s operating results on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. central time. Instructions for the conference call and Webcast are provided below:

Conference Call

All Callers: 1-334-323-0520 or 1-334-323-9871

Passcode: Lamar

Replay: 1-334-323-7226

Passcode: 12649362

Available through Monday, March 1, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

Live Webcast: www.lamar.com

Webcast Replay: www.lamar.com

Available through Monday, March 1, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. eastern time

General Information

Lamar Advertising Company is a leading outdoor advertising company currently operating over 150 outdoor advertising companies in 44 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, logo businesses in 21 states and the province of Ontario, Canada and over 60 transit advertising franchises in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.