Alliance Imaging Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended Dec. 31, 2003.

Business Editors

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 2, 2004

Alliance Imaging Inc. (NYSE:AIQ), a leading national provider of diagnostic imaging services, announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2003.

Revenue decreased 1.9% to $101.6 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2003 from revenue of $103.6 million for the same quarter in 2002, a decline of $2.0 million. For the full year of 2003, revenues increased 0.8% to $415.3 million from $412.0 million in the same period of the preceding year, an increase of $3.3 million.

Alliance's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, adjusted for non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, employment agreement costs, and severance and related costs ("Adjusted EBITDA"), decreased 7.0% to $40.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2003 from $44.0 million for the corresponding quarter of 2002, a decrease of $3.1 million. For full year of 2003, Adjusted EBITDA before impairment charges decreased 6.5% to $170.3 million from $182.1 million in 2002, a decrease of $11.8 million. For a more detailed discussion of Adjusted EBITDA and reconciliation to net income (loss), see the table entitled "EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA" included in the tables following this release.

Paul S. Viviano, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer stated: "Alliance achieved its Adjusted EBITDA guidance for the fourth quarter and full year 2003. Alliance continues to focus on stabilizing our core shared-service MRI business. The positron emission tomography ("PET") modality continues to grow at a very significant rate, with 2003 PET revenue increasing to $56 million, or 87% over last year. We are also addressing a broader spectrum of needs for our customers by selectively pursing free-standing imaging center opportunities, most in partnerships with hospitals and health systems. During 2003, Alliance opened five free-standing MR imaging centers and operated a total of eight centers as of the end of the year. The company has opened one additional center since the beginning of 2004."

Alliance incurred the following costs that were excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA. Non-cash stock-based compensation expenses totaled $0.4 million in each of the fourth quarters of 2003 and 2002, and $1.7 million and $1.9 million in 2003 and 2002, respectively. Employment agreement costs totaled $0.3 million and $2.4 million in the fourth quarter and full year 2003, respectively, and severance and related costs totaled $0.4 million and $2.2 million in the fourth quarter and full year of 2003, respectively.

Also excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended Dec. 31, 2003 were non-cash asset impairment charges totaling $73.2 million. These charges, which were recorded in the third quarter of 2003, were related to the impairment of certain older MRI systems, goodwill and customer contract intangible assets and the decline in value of an investment in a joint venture.

Earnings per share on a diluted basis (excluding non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, employment agreement costs, and severance and related costs) were $0.10 per share for the fourth quarter of 2003 compared to $0.18 per share (excluding non-cash stock-based compensation expenses) for the fourth quarter of 2002.

For full year 2003, earnings per share on a diluted basis (excluding non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, impairment charges, employment agreement costs, and severance and related costs) were $0.56 per share compared to $0.74 per share (excluding non-cash stock-based compensation expenses) for the full year of 2002.

Earnings per share on a diluted basis totaled $0.14 for the fourth quarter of 2003 compared to $0.17 per share for the fourth quarter of 2002. The net loss per share was $(0.66) for the year ended Dec. 31, 2003 compared to earnings per share on a diluted basis of $0.72 per share for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002.

For a more detailed discussion and computation of earnings per share, see the table entitled "Earnings (Loss) Per Share" included in the tables following this release.

At Dec. 31, 2003, the company's net debt to last 12 months Adjusted EBITDA was 3.3x. Cash flow provided by operating activities was $32.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2003 compared to $41.1 million for the corresponding period of the preceding year. For the years ended Dec. 31, 2003 and 2002, cash flow from operating activities totaled $129.0 million and $139.0 million, respectively. Capital expenditures were $20.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2003 compared to $19.8 million in the same quarter of 2002. For the years ended Dec. 31, 2003 and 2002, capital expenditures totaled $90.2 million and $70.1 million, respectively.

Alliance Imaging is a leading national provider of diagnostic imaging services. Alliance provides imaging services primarily to hospitals and other healthcare providers on a shared and full-time service basis, in addition to operating a growing number of free-standing imaging centers. The company had 472 diagnostic imaging systems, including 363 MRI systems, and 1,344 clients in 44 states at Dec. 31, 2003.

Investors and all others are invited to listen to a conference call discussing fourth quarter and full year 2003 results. The conference call is scheduled for March 3, 2004 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. The call will be broadcast live on the Internet and can be accessed by visiting the company's Web site at www.allianceimaging.com. Click on Audio Presentations in the Investor Relations section of the Web site to access the link. The conference call can also be accessed at 888-689-9529 (United States) or 706-645-0319 (International). Interested parties should call at least 10 minutes prior to the conference call to register. A replay of the call can be accessed until April 2, 2004 by visiting the company's Web site or by calling 800-642-1687 (United States) or 706-645-9291 (International). The conference call replay identification number is 5761622.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. For a complete list of risks and uncertainties, please refer to the Risk Factor section of the company's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                       ALLIANCE IMAGING INC.
             CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                             (Unaudited)
              (in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                Fourth Quarter           Year
                                     Ended               Ended
                                  December 31,        December 31,
                                 2002      2003      2002      2003

Revenues                      $103,556  $101,555  $412,033  $415,283

Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding
 depreciation                   48,174    50,543   184,050   198,456
Selling, general and
 administrative expenses        11,367    10,085    45,930    46,567
Employment agreement costs           -       321         -     2,446
Severance and related costs          -       391         -     2,246
Non-cash stock-based
 compensation                      418       418     1,900     1,672
Impairment charges                   -         -         -    73,225
Depreciation expense            17,679    21,116    69,384    77,675
Amortization expense               805       868     2,502     2,897
Interest expense, net of
 interest income                11,591    10,515    47,705    43,589
Other (income) expense            (831)       43      (872)     (200)

Total costs and expenses        89,203    94,300   350,599   448,573

Income (loss) before income
 taxes                          14,353     7,255    61,434   (33,290)
Income tax expense (benefit)     5,956       722    25,495    (1,680)

Net income (loss)               $8,397    $6,533   $35,939  $(31,610)

Earnings (loss) per common share:
  Basic                          $0.18     $0.14     $0.76    $(0.66)
  Diluted                        $0.17     $0.14     $0.72    $(0.66)

Weighted average number of
 shares of common
 stock and common stock
 equivalents:
  Basic                         47,683    47,959    47,595    47,872
  Diluted                       49,345    48,304    49,793    47,872


                        ALLIANCE IMAGING INC.
                      EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
                            (in thousands)

EBITDA represents earnings before interest expense, net, other
income, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense. Adjusted
EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for employment agreement costs,
severance and related costs, impairment charges, and non-cash
stock-based compensation expenses. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not
presentations made in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for net
income, cash flows from operating activities and other income or cash
flow statement data prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles or as measures of profitability or liquidity.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are included to provide additional
information with respect to a measure that certain investment analysts
use as a benchmark for measuring our operating performance, our
ability to satisfy our debt service, capital expenditure and working
capital requirements, and because certain covenants in our debt
service instruments are based on similar measures. While EBITDA and
Adjusted EBITDA are used as measures of operations and the ability to
meet debt service requirements, they are not necessarily comparable to
other similarly titled captions of other companies due to differences
in methods of calculation. The calculations of EBITDA and Adjusted
EBITDA are shown below:

                                  Fourth Quarter          Year
                                       Ended             Ended
                                    December 31,       December 31,
                                   2002      2003    2002      2003

  Net income (loss)              $8,397    $6,533   $35,939  $(31,610)
    Depreciation expense         17,679    21,116    69,384    77,675
    Amortization expense            805       868     2,502     2,897
    Interest expense, net        11,591    10,515    47,705    43,589
    Other (income) expense         (831)       43      (872)     (200)
    Income tax expense (benefit)  5,956       722    25,495    (1,680)

  EBITDA                         43,597    39,797   180,153    90,671
    Employment agreement costs        -       321         -     2,446
    Severance and related costs       -       391         -     2,246
    Impairment charges                -         -         -    73,225
    Non-cash stock-based
     compensation                   418       418     1,900     1,672

  Adjusted EBITDA               $44,015   $40,927  $182,053  $170,260

  Revenue                      $103,556  $101,555  $412,033  $415,283

  EBITDA margin                    42.1%     39.2%     43.7%     21.8%
  Adjusted EBITDA margin           42.5%     40.3%     44.2%     41.0%


                        ALLIANCE IMAGING INC.
                       EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
               (in thousands, except per share amounts)

Earnings (loss) per share represents net income (loss) divided by
the weighted average number of shares of common stock and, in the case
of periods that the company had net income, common stock equivalents
outstanding during the quarter. Earnings (loss) per share, excluding
employment agreement costs, severance and related costs, impairment
charges, and non-cash stock-based compensation expenses represent the
add back of the above noted items, net of tax, divided by the weighted
average number of shares of common stock and, in the case of periods
that the company had net income, common stock equivalents outstanding
during the quarter. Earnings (loss) per share, excluding employment
agreement costs, severance and related costs, impairment charges, and
non-cash stock-based compensation expenses are not a presentation made
in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America. Earnings (loss) per share, excluding
employment agreement costs, severance and related costs, impairment
charges, and non-cash stock-based compensation expenses should not be
considered in isolation or as a substitute for earnings (loss) per
share, net income, and other income statement data prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as a
measure of profitability. Earnings (loss) per share, excluding
employment agreement costs, severance and related costs, impairment
charges, and non-cash stock-based compensation expenses is included to
provide additional information with respect to a measure that certain
investment analysts use as a benchmark for our operating performance
and because certain covenants in our debt service instruments are
based on similar measures. While earnings (loss) per share, excluding
employment agreement costs, severance and related costs, impairment
charges, and non-cash stock-based compensation expenses is used as a
measure of operations and the ability to meet debt service
requirements, it is not necessarily comparable to other similarly
titled captions of other companies due to differences in methods of
calculation. The calculations of earnings (loss) per share and
earnings (loss) per share, excluding employment agreement costs,
severance and related costs, impairment charges, and non-cash
stock-based compensation expenses are shown below:

                                    Fourth Quarter       Year
                                         Ended           Ended
                                     December 31,     December 31,
                                     2002    2003    2002      2003

 Net income (loss), as reported    $8,397  $6,533  $35,939  $(31,610)
 Less adjustment to net income
  (loss), as reported,
   to effective income tax rate of
    41.5%                               -  (2,289)       -    (2,289)
 Add employment agreement costs         -     321        -     2,446
 Less income tax effect of
  employment agreement costs            -    (133)       -    (1,015)
 Add severance and related costs        -     391        -     2,246
 Less income tax effect of
  severance and related costs           -    (162)       -      (932)
 Add impairment charges                 -       -        -    73,225
 Less income tax effect of
  impairment charges                    -       -        -   (15,964)
 Add non-cash stock-based
  compensation                        418     418    1,900     1,672
 Less income tax effect of non-cash
  stock-based compensation           (173)   (173)    (789)     (694)

                                      245  (1,627)   1,111    58,695

 Income excluding employment
  agreement costs,
  severance and related costs,
  impairment charges,
  non-cash stock-based
  compensation                     $8,642  $4,906  $37,050   $27,085

 Earnings (loss) per share - diluted
   As reported                      $0.17   $0.14    $0.72    $(0.66)

   Excluding employment agreement costs,
   severance and related costs,
   impairment charges and non-cash
   related costs and non-cash
   stock-based compensation         $0.18   $0.10    $0.74     $0.56

 Weighted average number of shares
  outstanding:
   Diluted (in periods reported
    with a loss)                                              47,872
   Diluted (in periods reported
    with income)                   49,345  48,304   49,793    48,414


                        ALLIANCE IMAGING INC.
       SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
                            (in thousands)

                                                December   December
                                                   31,        31,
                                                  2002       2003
                                                          (Unaudited)

  Cash and cash equivalents                     $31,413      $20,931
  Accounts receivable, net                       49,830       45,276
  Total current assets                           99,502       81,670
  Equipment, net                                358,607      352,631
  Total assets                                  683,058      622,163
  Total current liabilities                      55,923       57,488
  Long-term debt, including current maturities  608,862      581,247
  Total stockholders' deficit                   (42,309)     (70,798)


                        ALLIANCE IMAGING INC.
                   SELECTED STATISTICAL INFORMATION

                                                      Fourth Quarter
                                                           Ended
                                                       December 31,
                                                        2002    2003

MRI scan-based
     Average number of scan-based systems              308.0   301.2
     Scans per system per day                           9.55    9.36
     Total number of MRI scans                       211,900 199,800
     Price per scan                                   $370.6  $357.8

Revenue breakdown (in millions)
     Total scan-based MRI revenue                      $78.5   $71.5
     PET revenue                                         9.7    15.4
     Non-scan based MRI and other modalities            15.4    14.7

     Total revenues                                   $103.6  $101.6