Shaner Hotel Group Forms Hospitality Finance Company with $100 Million Initial Capitalization

Shaner Hospitality Finance, LLC to Serve Small to Mid-Sized Owners Needing Capital

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 11, 2013 - Officials of Shaner Hotel Group (SHG) today announced the formation of Shaner Hospitality Finance, LLC ("the Company"), a REIT that will provide equity and/or debt for a wide array of hotel financing needs, including funding for PIPS, refinancing, purchasing existing loans and preferred equity infusions for acquisitions. The Company will take a flexible, creative approach to virtually all types of hotel financing, except hotel development.

"This is our third hotel financing vehicle," said Lance Shaner, chairman and CEO of SHG. "Each has been tailored to fill a gap to meet the hotel industry's specific financing needs at the time."

Shaner noted that the hotel industry remains in a credit crunch with lenders remaining largely on the sidelines and a scarcity of new equity. "There is a significant number of quality, capital-starved hotels that with adequate funding can not only survive, but thrive. However, they need to restructure their capital stack which often is a complex process that requires in-depth understanding of the hotel industry not found at most conventional financing firms.

"We believe there is a unique niche for a funding source that has a comprehensive understanding of the industry and financing needs from the owner's perspective. We have the hospitality expertise to create solutions that less experienced finance organizations often do not see. Our company currently owns and operates 40 hotels and has been involved in more than 80 hotels over the past 30 years. We bring that hands-on, experienced perspective to hotel financing. We expect significant demand for our program," Shaner noted, "and have the capacity to expand the platform as market conditions warrant."

"With our in-depth experience, we can look at a situation and structure a deal that works for the owner," Plato Ghinos, President, said. "We are not pursing ‘loan-to-own' programs." Mr. Ghinos added, "Our goal is to place the Company's initial $100 million capitalization within 12 months."

Shaner Hospitality Finance, LLC will focus primarily on small to mid-sized hotel companies who have financing needs that are not served by lending institutions. Hotels must be well-located and carry a premium, full-service or select-service flag. Financing range is between $3 million and $50 million and is available for both individual properties and portfolios. The Company has no geographic limitations but will likely concentrate primarily in the eastern half of the U.S.

The initial capitalization of the Company is being provided by SHG and affiliates and by Almanac Realty Securities VI, L.P., an investment vehicle managed by New York based Almanac Realty Investors, LLC ("Almanac"). The Company will be governed by a four person board of directors comprised of Lance Shaner and Plato Ghinos from SHG and D. Pike Aloian and John McGurk of Almanac. SHG and Almanac have invested together on two prior occasions. Commenting on the transaction, Mr Aloian stated, "We are pleased to once again work with the SHG team. They have proven to be both excellent operators and investors in our prior ventures and we expect that the Company's offering will be well-received by the marketplace."