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EX-99.1 - EX-99.1 - RLJ Lodging Trusta17-11736_7ex99d1.htm

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 15, 2017

 

RLJ LODGING TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland

 

001-35169

 

27-4706509

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification Number)

 

3 Bethesda Metro Center
Suite 1000
Bethesda, MD

 

20814

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(301) 280-7777
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

x

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

o

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

 

 

 



 

Item 8.01.

Other Events.

 

As previously disclosed, RLJ Lodging Trust (“RLJ”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated (“FelCor”) and certain of their respective affiliates, dated April 23, 2017.  RLJ has updated the presentation that it may use from time to time in discussing the proposed transaction with various parties. The updated presentation is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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 significant risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performances, 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 RLJ expects or anticipates 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. RLJ’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future events, actions, plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Although RLJ believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, RLJ 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 materially and adversely affect RLJ’s or the combined company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects, as well as the ability to make distributions to shareholders, 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (“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 Transaction and Where to Find It

 

This communication relates to the proposed merger transaction pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement.

 

In connection with the proposed merger, RLJ expects to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of RLJ and FelCor that also constitutes a prospectus of RLJ, which joint proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed or otherwise disseminated to RLJ shareholders and FelCor stockholders when it becomes available. RLJ and FelCor also plan to file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the

 

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proposed transaction. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND 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 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 Section 10 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 March 28, 2017 in connection with its 2017 annual meeting of shareholders and in Form 4s 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 Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 28, 2017. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be 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.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

99.1

 

Investor Presentation Material

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

RLJ LODGING TRUST

 

 

 

 

Date: May 15, 2017

By:

/s/ Frederick D. McKalip

 

 

Frederick D. McKalip
Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

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EXHIBIT LIST

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

99.1

 

Investor Presentation Material

 

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