Columbia Entertainment Pleased by Aztar Board's Determination That Its $54 Per Share All-Cash Offer is Superior to Pinnacle Agreement.

FORT MITCHELL, Ky. -- Columbia Entertainment, the gaming affiliate of Columbia Sussex Corporation, today issued the following statement regarding the announcement by Aztar Corporation (NYSE: AZR) that its Board of Directors has determined that Columbia's $54 per share all-cash offer for all outstanding Aztar shares, with commensurate payments to holders of Aztar's Series B preferred stock, is superior to Aztar's previously announced merger agreement with Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: PNK):

Columbia Entertainment's fully financed offer exceeds the value of Aztar's agreement to be acquired by Pinnacle for $47.00 per share in cash and Pinnacle shares that it values at $4.00 per share. Columbia Entertainment's definitive offer includes a fully executed merger agreement backed by a firm commitment from Credit Suisse to provide $2.97 billion in debt financing.

"We are pleased that the Aztar Board has recognized the superior value in our $54 per share all-cash, fully financed offer," said William J. Yung III, President and CEO of Columbia Sussex. "We have a strong acquisition track record, having successfully closed 36 transactions in the last five years, including seven gaming acquisitions, and we are confident in our ability to obtain all necessary approvals to close this acquisition in a timely fashion. Columbia is a proven operator, and we see tremendous value in these assets, which complement our strong portfolio of gaming and branded hotel properties."

To underscore its confidence in its ability to close the transaction, Columbia has made a deposit of $313 million, payable to Aztar in certain circumstances (including failure to obtain regulatory approval), if a merger agreement is terminated. In addition, Columbia has agreed to increase the purchase price at a rate of $0.00888 per day per Aztar common share beginning six months from the signing of a merger agreement if closing is delayed because all required regulatory approvals have not been received by that date. The additional daily payment would increase to $0.01184 per Aztar common share nine months after signing of a merger agreement if the transaction has not closed by that date.

Columbia obtained its first gaming license in 1990 and has been licensed and re-licensed numerous times in Nevada, Louisiana and Mississippi. If a merger agreement is executed, Columbia will seek and expects to receive gaming licenses in New Jersey and Indiana. It will work with Aztar to divest the Casino Aztar riverboat casino in Caruthersville, MO prior to closing the transaction.

Banc of America Securities is acting as financial advisor to Columbia Entertainment, and Credit Suisse is providing the debt financing. Katz, Teller, Brant & Hild and Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP are acting as legal advisors.

About Columbia Sussex Corporation

Columbia Sussex Corporation and its Columbia Entertainment gaming affiliate are among the largest privately held owners, developers and operators of hotel properties and casinos in the world. Columbia Sussex is the largest licensee of full-service Marriott Hotels in the U.S., and the Company and its affiliates own a total of 83 hotels and 7 casinos with approximately 27,000 rooms, including Marriott, Hilton, Westin, Sheraton, Renaissance and Doubletree branded properties across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Founded in 1972, the Company is led by William J. Yung III and owned by Mr. Yung and the Yung family. Columbia Sussex Corporation and Columbia Entertainment are headquartered in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky and have more than 18,000 employees worldwide.