RLJ LODGING TRUST (NYSE:RLJ) Files An 8-K Other Events
ME Staff 8-k
RLJ LODGING TRUST (NYSE:RLJ) Files An 8-K Other EventsItem 8.01.Other Events.
On July18, 2017, RLJ Lodging Trust (“RLJ”) and FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated (“FelCor”) each filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a joint proxy statement/prospectus (the “Definitive Proxy Statement”) with respect to the special meeting of RLJ shareholders scheduled to be held on August15, 2017 (the “RLJ Special Meeting”) to, among other things, vote on a proposal to approve the issuance of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of RLJ to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of April23, 2017, by and among RLJ, FelCor and the other entities party thereto, and the special meeting of FelCor common stockholders scheduled to be held on August15, 2017 (the “FelCor Special Meeting” and, together with the RLJ Special Meeting, the “Special Meetings”) to, among other things, vote on a proposal to approve the previously announced proposed merger of FelCor and RLJ to the Merger Agreement.
As previously disclosed in the Definitive Proxy Statement, three putative class actions have been filed in Maryland by purported stockholders of FelCor challenging the merger of RLJ and FelCor. The first suit, >George Assad v. FelCor Lodging TrustInc., et al., No.1:17-cv-01744-ELH, was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (the “Court”) on June26, 2017 and is against FelCor, its directors (including StevenR. Goldman, who is also an officer), FelCor Lodging Limited Partnership(“FelCorLP”), RLJ, RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P. (“RLJ LP”), Rangers Sub I,LLC (the “REIT Merger Sub”), and Rangers Sub II,LP(the “Partnership Merger Sub”) (the “Assad Lawsuit”). The second suit, >Martin Johnson v. FelCor Lodging TrustInc., et al., No.1:17-cv-01786-ELH, was filed with the Court on June28, 2017 and is against FelCor and its directors (including StevenR. Goldman, who is also an officer) (the “Johnson Lawsuit”). The third suit, >Sachs Investment Group v. FelCor Lodging TrustInc., et al., No.1:17-cv-01933-ELH, was filed with the Court on July11, 2017 and is against FelCor and its directors (including Steven R. Goldman, who is also an officer) (the “Sachs Lawsuit” and, together with the Assad Lawsuit and Johnson Lawsuit, the “Maryland Lawsuits”). A fourth suit, >Judy G. Bagheri v. FelCor Lodging Trust Inc., et al., No.3:17-cv-01892-C, was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas on July17, 2017 and is against FelCor, its directors (including Steven R. Goldman, who is also an officer), FelCor LP, RLJ, RLJ LP, the REIT Merger Sub, and the Partnership Merger Sub (the “Texas Lawsuit” and, together with the Maryland Lawsuits, the “Lawsuits”).
The Lawsuits allege that FelCor and its directors violated Section14(a)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Rule14a-9 promulgated thereunder by disseminating a false and misleading FormS-4 containing a joint proxy statement/prospectus. The Lawsuits further allege that FelCor’s directors violated Section20(a)of the Exchange Act by failing to exercise proper control over the person(s)who violated Section14(a)of the Exchange Act. The Assad and Texas Lawsuits further allege that RLJ violated Section20(a)of the Exchange Act. Among other relief, the plaintiffs in the Lawsuits sought to enjoin the Mergers.
On July21, 2017, the plaintiff in the Johnson Lawsuit filed a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to enjoin the merger. A hearing on that motion for a preliminary injunction is scheduled for August14, 2017.
RLJ and FelCor continue to believe that the claims asserted in the Lawsuits are without merit, and further believe that no supplemental disclosure is required under applicable laws. However, RLJ and FelCor wish to make certain supplemental disclosures related to the Merger Agreement.
Important information concerning the Mergers is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement.The Definitive Proxy Statement is amended and supplemented by, and should be read as part of, and in conjunction with, the information set forth in this Current Report on Form8-K.Capitalized terms used in this Current Report on Form8-K but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to those terms in the Definitive Proxy Statement.
SUPPLEMENT TO JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
FelCor and RLJ have agreed to make the following amended and supplemental disclosures to the Definitive Proxy Statement.This supplemental information should be read in conjunction with the Definitive Proxy Statement, which should be read in its entirety. Pagereferences in the below disclosures are to the Definitive Proxy Statement, and defined terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement. Without admitting in any way that the disclosures below are material or otherwise required by law, FelCor and RLJ make the following amended and supplemental disclosures:
The section of the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “The REIT Merger—Background of the Mergers” is amended and supplemented as follows:
The third full paragraph on page74 of the Definitive Proxy Statement is replaced, in its entirety, with the following:
On April21, 2017, the FelCor Board was furnished with an updated memorandum, dated April19, 2017, disclosing certain relationships between BofA Merrill Lynch and its affiliates, on the one hand, and FelCor, RLJ and AHT and certain of their affiliates, on the other hand, during the prior two calendar years as well as the first quarter of 2017. Such memorandum disclosed, among other things, that BofA Merrill Lynch had received from AHT and certain of its affiliates corporate banking and global markets revenues of less than $1 million in each of calendar years 2015 and 2016, and less than $100,000 in the first quarter of 2017.
The section of the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “The REIT Merger—Opinion of RLJ’s Financial Advisor” is amended and supplemented as follows:
The second and third full paragraphs on page86 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Discounted Cash Flow Analysis” are replaced, in their entirety, with the following:
To calculate the estimated enterprise value of RLJ using the discounted cash flow method, Barclays added RLJ’s (i)projected unlevered free cash flows for fiscal years 2017 through 2021 based on the RLJ Projections to (ii)the “terminal value” as of 2022 for RLJ, and discounted such amounts to their respective present value using a range of selected discount rates. The unlevered free cash flows were calculated by taking earnings before interest, tax expense, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and subtracting capital expenditures, taxes and working capital requirements. The residual value of RLJ at the end of the forecast period, or “terminal value,” was estimated by selecting a range of multiples of 11.5x to 12.5x, which was based on Barclays’ professional judgment and experience, and which was applied to the estimated 2022 EBITDA. The cash flows and terminal values were then discounted to present value as of December31, 2016 using discount rates ranging from 8.5% to 9.5%. The range of discount rates was selected based on an analysis of the weighted average cost of capital of RLJ utilizing the capital asset pricing model (“CAPM”). Barclays then calculated a range of implied prices per share of RLJ by subtracting estimated net debt as of December31, 2016 from the estimated enterprise value using the discounted cash flow method and dividing such amount by the fully diluted number of RLJ Common Shares.
To calculate the estimated enterprise value of FelCor using the discounted cash flow method, Barclays added FelCor’s (i)projected unlevered free cash flows for fiscal years 2017 through 2021 based on the Adjusted FelCor Projections, (ii)the “terminal value” as of 2022 for FelCor, and discounted such amounts to their respective present value using a range of selected discount rates, (iii)projected unlevered free cash flows for one asset subject to a ground lease expected to be terminated in the future, discounted to its present value using a range of selected discount rates and (iv)the estimated market value provided by management of RLJ for select assets not included in the unlevered free cash flows or terminal value of FelCor. The unlevered free cash flows were calculated by taking EBITDA and subtracting capital expenditures, taxes or other working capital requirements. The residual value of FelCor at the end of the forecast period, or “terminal value,” was estimated by selecting a range of multiples of 12.0x to 13.0x, which was based on Barclays’ professional judgment and experience, and which was applied to the estimated 2022 EBITDA. The cash flows and terminal values were then discounted to present value as of December31, 2016 using discount rates ranging from 9.0% to 10.0%. The range of discount rates was
selected based on an analysis of the weighted average cost of capital of FelCor utilizing the CAPM. Barclays then calculated a range of implied prices per share of FelCor by subtracting estimated net debt (as adjusted for expected net cash proceeds for one asset under contract for sale at the time of signing the Merger Agreement) and the liquidation value of convertible preferred equity as of December31, 2016 from the estimated enterprise value using the discounted cash flow method and dividing such amount by the fully diluted number of shares of FelCor Common Stock. The following summarizes the result of these calculations for each of RLJ and FelCor:
The first full paragraph on page88 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Selected Comparable Public Company Analysis” is replaced, in its entirety, with the following:
Barclays calculated and compared various financial multiples and ratios of RLJ, FelCor and the selected primary comparable companies. As part of its selected comparable company analysis, Barclays calculated and analyzed each company’s ratio of its enterprise value to its calendar year 2017 estimated EBITDA (which we refer to as “2017E EBITDA”) based on Wall Street research consensus estimates. The results of this selected comparable company analysis for RLJ and FelCor are summarized below:
EnterpriseValueto 2017EEBITDAMultiple
RLJ Primary Comparables
Apple Hospitality REIT Inc.
12.7x
Chatham Lodging Trust
12.1x
Hersha Hospitality Trust
13.1x
Summit Hotel Properties,Inc.
14.1x
FelCor Primary Comparables
Ashford Hospitality Prime,Inc.
10.2x
Ashford Hospitality Trust,Inc.
11.3x
Chesapeake Lodging Trust
13.1x
DiamondRock Hospitality Company
12.1x
Hospitality Properties Trust
11.1x
Host Hotels& Resorts Inc.
12.3x
LaSalle Hotel Properties
12.6x
Park Hotels& Resorts Inc.
11.5x
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust
13.9x
Ryman Hospitality Properties,Inc.
13.4x
Sunstone Hotel Investors,Inc.
12.3x
Xenia Hotels& Resorts,Inc.
11.4x
The second full paragraph on page89 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Selected Precedent Transaction Analysis” is replaced, in its entirety, with the following:
Using publicly available information, Barclays analyzed the ratio of the enterprise value paid for the target company in each transaction to the EBITDA for the target company for the preceding twelve month reporting period from when the applicable transaction was announced (“LTM EBITDA”). The following summarizes the result of these calculations:
The following table is added to the Definitive Proxy Statement immediately following the second full paragraph on page89 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Selected Precedent Transaction Analysis”:
Precedent Transaction Multiples (calculated using trailing twelve month EBITDA)
MonthandYearAnnounced
Acquiror
Target
LTMEBITDA Multiple
September2015
Blackstone
Strategic Hotels& Resorts,Inc.
20.9x
November2012
BRE Select Hotels Corp.
Apple REIT Six,Inc.
13.7x
July2007
Inland American Real Estate Trust,Inc.
Apple Hospitality Five,Inc.
14.1x
June2007
Whitehall Street Global Real Estate Fund
Equity Inns,Inc.
15.9x
April2007
Apollo Real Estate Advisors, Aimbridge Hospitality and JF Capital Advisors
Eagle Hospitality Properties Trust
14.7x
April2007
J.E. Robert Companies
Highland Hospitality Corporation
17.5x
April2007
Apollo Investment Corporation
Innkeepers USA Trust
14.8x
March2007
Inland American Real Estate Trust,Inc.
Winston Hotels,Inc.
14.6x
February2007
ING Clarion Partners, LLC
Apple Hospitality Two,Inc.
10.7x
May2006
J.E. Robert companies
Jameson Inns,Inc.
12.3x
May2006
Westmont Hospitality Group and Cadim,Inc.
Boykin Lodging Company
15.7x
February2006
Blackstone
MeriStar Hospitality Corporation
13.3x
The first full paragraph on page90 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—General” is replaced, in its entirety, with the following:
Barclays is acting as financial advisor to RLJ in connection with the Mergers and will receive a fee for its services of approximately $11million if the Mergers consummate, $1million of which was payable upon rendering its opinion and the remainder of which is contingent upon the consummation of the Mergers. RLJ has agreed to reimburse Barclays for its reasonable expenses and indemnify Barclays for certain liabilities that may arise out of its engagement. Barclays has performed various investment banking services for RLJ in the past, and expects to perform such services in the future, and has received, and expects to receive, customary fees for such services. Specifically, in the past three years, Barclays has performed the following investment banking and financial services: (i)in May2014, as lead underwriter for RLJ’s public offering of RLJ Common Shares and (ii)currently as a lender in RLJ’s revolving credit facility. Other than acting as solicitation agent on the consent solicitation relating to a proposed amendment to the indenture governing FelCor Lodging Limited Partnership’s 6.00% Senior Notes due 2025, Barclays has not provided investment banking or financial services to FelCor in the past two years. Barclays will receive customary fees related to the consent solicitation.
The section of the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “The REIT Merger—Opinion of FelCor’s Financial Advisor” is amended and supplemented as follows:
The second full paragraph on page94 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Selected Publicly Traded Companies Analyses” is replaced, in its entirety, with the following:
FelCor.In performing a selected public companies analysis of FelCor, BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed publicly available financial and stock market information for FelCor and twelve selected companies that BofA Merrill Lynch viewed as generally relevant as U.S. publicly traded lodging REITs (which we refer to as the “FelCor selected REITs”). BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed, among other things, enterprise values of the FelCor selected REITs, calculated as equity values based on closing stock prices on April21, 2017, plus debt, preferred stock and minority interest, and less cash and cash equivalents, as a multiple of calendar year 2017 estimated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciations and amortization, commonly referred to as EBITDA. Financial data of the FelCor selected REITs (other than RLJ) were based on public filings and publicly available consensus estimates. Financial data of FelCor were based on the FelCor forecasts. Financial data of RLJ were based on the RLJ forecasts. The FelCor selected REITs and their respective multiples are as follows:
The bulleted list immediately following the second full paragraph on page94 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Selected Publicly Traded Companies Analyses” is replaced, in its entirety, with the following:
2017EEBITDAMultiple
Host Hotels& Resorts,Inc.
12.4x
Park Hotels& Resorts Inc.
11.4x
LaSalle Hotel Properties
12.0x
Sunstone Hotel Investors,Inc.
12.1x
Ryman Hospitality Properties,Inc.
13.4x
RLJ
10.9x
DiamondRock Hospitality Co.
12.3x
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust
14.5x
Xenia Hotels& Resorts Inc.
11.3x
Chesapeake Lodging Trust
13.0x
Ashford Hospitality Trust,Inc.
11.0x
Ashford Hospitality Prime,Inc.
10.6x
The first paragraph immediately following the bulleted list on page94 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Selected Publicly Traded Companies Analyses” beginning with “BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed, among other things, enterprise values of the FelCor selected REITS…” is deleted in its entirety.
The last paragraph on page94 (which continues onto page95) of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Selected Publicly Traded Companies Analyses” is replaced, in its entirety, with the following:
RLJ.In performing a selected public companies analysis of RLJ, BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed publicly available financial and stock market information for RLJ and the sixteen selected companies that BofA Merrill Lynch viewed as generally relevant as U.S. publicly traded REITs, consisting of twelve U.S. publicly traded full service lodging REITs, which we refer to as the RLJ selected full service REITs, and four U.S. publicly traded select service lodging REITs, which we refer to as the RLJ selected select service REITs and, together with the RLJ selected full service REITs, collectively refer to as the RLJ selected REITs. BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed, among other things, enterprise values of the RLJ selected REITs, calculated as equity values based on closing stock prices on April21, 2017, plus debt, preferred stock and minority interest, less cash and cash equivalents, as a multiple of calendar year 2017 estimated EBITDA. Financial data of the RLJ selected REITs (other than FelCor) were based on public filings and publicly available consensus estimates. Financial data of RLJ were based on the RLJ forecasts. Financial data of FelCor were based on the FelCor forecasts. The RLJ selected REITs and their respective multiples are as follows:
The bulleted list on page95 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Selected Publicly Traded Companies Analyses” is replaced, in its entirety, with the following:
2017EEBITDAMultiple
RLJ Selected Full Service REITs
Host Hotels& Resorts,Inc.
12.4x
Park Hotels& Resorts Inc.
11.4x
LaSalle Hotel Properties
12.0x
Sunstone Hotel Investors,Inc.
12.1x
Ryman Hospitality Properties,Inc.
13.4x
DiamondRock Hospitality Co.
12.3x
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust
14.5x
Xenia Hotels& Resorts Inc.
11.3x
Chesapeake Lodging Trust
13.0x
FelCor
11.5x
Ashford Hospitality Trust,Inc.
11.0x
Ashford Hospitality Prime,Inc.
10.6x
RLJ Selected Select Service REITs
AppleHospitalityREIT,Inc.
12.6x
Summit Hotel Properties
14.2x
Hersha Hospitality Trust
13.0x
Chatham Lodging Trust
12.1x
The first paragraph immediately following the bulleted list on page95 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Selected Publicly Traded Companies Analyses” beginning with “BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed, among other things, enterprise values of the RLJ selected REITS…” is deleted in its entirety.
The first paragraph on page96 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Selected Publicly Precedent Transactions Analyses” is replaced, in its entirety, with the following:
BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed, to the extent publicly available, financial information relating to twenty selected transactions involving companies in the lodging industry. BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed transaction values, calculated as the enterprise value implied for the target company based on the consideration payable in the selected transaction, as a multiple of the target company’s one-year forward estimated EBITDA (which we refer to in this section of this proxy statement as one-year forward EBITDA multiples). The observed median and mean one-year forward estimated EBITDA multiples for the selected transactions were 12.4x and 12.9x, respectively. BofA Merrill Lynch then deducted from FelCor’s 2017 estimated EBITDA the EBITDA attributable to certain assets that were assumed for disposition in the FelCor forecasts. BofA Merrill Lynch then applied a selected range of one-year forward estimated EBITDA multiples of 11.0x to 14.0x, derived from the selected transactions to FelCor’s calendar year 2017 estimated EBITDA, as adjusted for dispositions. Estimated financial data of the selected transactions were based on publicly available information at the time of announcement of the relevant transaction. Estimated financial data of FelCor were based on the FelCor forecasts. Net disposition proceeds, after transaction costs and debt attributable to the disposed assets, totaled $514million, per the FelCor forecasts, and were assumed as cash on the balance sheet for the purposes of BofA Merrill Lynch’s analysis. The selected transactions and their respective multiples are as follows:
The bulleted list immediately following the first paragraph on page96 of the Definitive Proxy Statement under the subheading “—Selected Publicly Precedent Transactions Analyses” is replaced, in its entirety, with the following:
Acquiror
Target
One-YearForward EBITDAMultiple
(32
)
(32
)
(32
)
(31
)
Less: General and Administrative
(17
)
(15
)
(15
)
(16
)
(16
)
Adjusted EBITDA
$
$
$
$
$
Less: Capital Expenditures
(119
)
(126
)
(86
)
(64
)
(33
)
Less: Other(a)
(39
)
(27
)
(29
)
(28
)
(28
)
Unlevered Free Cash Flow
$
$
$
$
$
(a) Other includes non-cash general and administrative expenses, taxes and working capital requirements.
The section of the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “—RLJ Projections Provided to FelCor” is replaced, in its entirety, with the following:
RLJ Projections Provided to FelCor
The following is a summary of the unaudited prospective financial information for calendar years 2017 through 2020, which was prepared by RLJ’s management and provided to FelCor and FelCor’s financial advisors, BofA Merrill Lynch, on February12, 2017 by RLJ with an extrapolation for calendar year 2021 as prepared by FelCor’s management (which we refer to as the “RLJ Unadjusted Projections”). The following table presents a summary of the RLJ Unadjusted Projections for RLJ on a standalone basis and includes RLJ’s share of partnerships and joint ventures. The FelCor management team made no adjustments or changes to the unaudited prospective financial information of the RLJ Unadjusted Projections that were provided by RLJ for calendar years 2017 through 2020.
YearEndedDecember31,
2017E
2018E
2019E
2020E
2021E
($inmillions)
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
$
$
$
$
$
Unlevered Free Cash Flow(2)
$
$
$
$
$
(1) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial performance measure composed of EBITDA, further adjusted to exclude (1)transaction and pursuit costs, (2)non-cash gain or loss on the sale of assets, (3)amortization of share-based compensation, (4)non-cash income taxes, (5)property-level severance costs, (6)debt modification and extinguishment costs, and (7)other income and expenses outside the normal course of operations.
(2) Unlevered Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less certain items such as capital expenditures and changes in working capital. Unlevered Free Cash Flow should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of operating performance or cash provided by operating activities as a cash flow measurement.
(3) Below is further detail on how the above amounts are calculated:
YearsEndinginDecember31,
($mm)
2017E
2018E
2019E
2020E
2021E
Revenues
$
1,126
$
1,156
$
1,182
$
1,219
$
1,250
Hotel Operating Costs
(725
)
(744
)
(765
)
(790
)
(809
)
Hotel EBITDA
$
$
$
$
$
Other Adjustments
Less: General and Administrative
(27
)
(28
)
(28
)
(29
)
(30
)
Adjusted EBITDA
$
$
$
$
$
Less: Capital Expenditures
(86
)
(119
)
(111
)
(83
)
(83
)
Less: Other(a)
(29
)
(21
)
(23
)
(35
)
(28
)
Unlevered Free Cash Flow(b)
$
$
$
$
$
(a) Other includes non-cash general and administrative expenses, taxes and working capital requirements.
(b) In determining unlevered free cash flow, FelCor management based its calculations on information as provided by RLJ management.
The section of the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “The REIT Merger—Trustees and Management of RLJ After the Mergers” is amended and supplemented as follows:
The following supplemental disclosure is hereby added to the end of the first paragraph on page107 of the Definitive Proxy Statement:
The FelCor director that will be appointed to the RLJ Board has not yet been determined.
The following supplemental disclosure is hereby added to the end of the second paragraph on page107 of the Definitive Proxy Statement:
Except for certain of the executive officers of FelCor remaining with the Combined Company for a transitional period, none of the executive officers of FelCor will continue as an executive officer of the Combined Company following the effective time of the Mergers.
*****
Forward Looking Statements
The information presented herein may contain forward looking statements. These forward looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which RLJ and FelCor operate and beliefs of and assumptions made by RLJ management and FelCor management, involve uncertainties that could significantly affect the financial results of RLJ or FelCor or the combined company. Words such as “projects,” “will,” “could,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “may,” and “might” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the anticipated benefits of the proposed merger between FelCor and RLJ, including future financial and operating results, the attractiveness of the value to be received by FelCor stockholders, the attractiveness of the value to be received by RLJ, the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the timing of future events, anticipated administrative and operating synergies, the anticipated impact of the merger on net debt ratios, cost of capital, future dividend payment rates, forecasts of FFO accretion, projected capital improvements, expected sources of financing, and descriptions relating to these expectations. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to expected synergies, improved liquidity and balance sheet strength — are forward looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward looking statements. Some of the factors that may affect outcomes and results include, but are not limited to: (i)national, regional and local economic climates, (ii)changes in the real estate industry, financial markets and interest rates, or to the business or financial condition of either company or business, (iii)increased or unanticipated competition for the companies’ properties, (iv)risks associated with acquisitions, including the integration of the combined companies’ businesses, (v)the potential liability for the failure to meet regulatory requirements, including the maintenance of REIT status, (vi)
availability of financing and capital, (vii)risks associated with achieving expected revenue synergies or cost savings, (viii)risks associated with the companies’ ability to consummate the merger and the timing of the closing of the merger, (ix)the outcome of claims and litigation involving or affecting either company, (x)applicable regulatory changes, and (xi)those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the SEC by RLJ and FelCor from time to time, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in their respective most recently filed reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Neither RLJ nor FelCor, except as required by law, undertakes any duty to update any forward looking statements appearing in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
Additional Information about the Proposed Mergers and Where to Find It
This communication relates to the proposed transaction to the terms of the Merger Agreement.
In connection with the proposed merger, RLJ has filed with the SEC a registration statement on FormS-4 (File No.333-218439), and RLJ and FelCor have filed with the SEC a definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus, which was first mailed to security holders of RLJ and FelCor on July18, 2017. RLJ and FelCor also plan to file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction.INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ALL RELATED SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS THERETO AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and all related supplements and amendments and all other relevant documents (if and when they become available) filed by RLJ and FelCor with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by RLJ with the SEC will be available free of charge on RLJ’s website at www.rljlodgingtrust.com or by emailing RLJ Investor Relations at ir@rljlodgingtrust.com or at 301-280-7774. Copies of the documents filed by FelCor with the SEC will be available free of charge on FelCor’s website at www.felcor.com or by contacting FelCor Investor Relations at asalami@felcor.com or at 972-444-4967.
This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Participants in the Solicitation
RLJ and FelCor and their respective trustees, directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed merger. You can find information about RLJ’s executive officers and Trustees in RLJ’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March28, 2017 in connection with its 2017 annual meeting of shareholders and in Form4s of RLJ’s trustees and executive officers filed with the SEC. You can find information about FelCor’s executive officers and directors in Amendment No.1 to FelCor’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December31, 2016 on Form10-K/A filed with the SEC on April28, 2017 and in Form4s of FelCor’s directors and executive officers filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants is included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC if and when they become available. You may obtain free copies of these documents from RLJ or FelCor using the sources indicated above.
About RLJ LODGING TRUST (NYSE:RLJ) RLJ Lodging Trust is a real estate investment trust. The Company is engaged in the acquisition of focused-service and compact full-service hotels. The Company owns approximately 130 hotels with over 20,900 rooms, located in approximately 20 states and the District of Columbia, and an interest in a mortgage loan secured by a hotel. Its hotels’ brand affiliations include Residence Inn, Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, Marriott and Renaissance by Marriott; Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Suites, DoubleTree, Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Hyatt House, Hyatt Place and Hyatt by Hyatt. Its operating partnership is RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P. The Company’s properties include Courtyard San Francisco, Hyatt House Cypress Anaheim, Hyatt House Emeryville San Francisco Bay Area, Hyatt House San Ramon and Hyatt House Santa Clara in California, and Renaissance Boulder Flatiron Hotel, Residence Inn Boulder Louisville, Residence Inn Longmont Boulder and SpringHill Suites Boulder Longmont in Colorado.