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Chartwell Leisure Inc · DEF 14A · For 3/16/98

Filed On 2/9/98   ·   SEC File 0-24794   ·   Accession Number 940180-98-112

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  As Of               Filer                 Filing     On/For/As Docs:Pgs              Issuer               Agent

 2/09/98  Chartwell Leisure Inc             DEF 14A     3/16/98    1:118                                    940180

Definitive Proxy Solicitation Material   ·   Schedule 14A
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: DEF 14A     Definitive Proxy Statement                           118    792K 


Document Table of Contents

Page (sequential) | (alphabetic) Top
 
11st Page
7Proxy Statement
8Available Information
9Table of Contents
11Summary
"The Company
"Parent and Sub
"Failure to Consummate the Merger
"The Special Meeting
12Proxies
"The Merger
13Effective Time
"The Company's Right to Accept Alternative Transactions
"Conditions to Consummation of the Merger
14Purpose and Structure of the Merger
"Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest
"Stock Options
17Financing Agreement
19Source and Amount of Funds
"Stockholders' Rights of Appraisal
"Market Prices and Dividends
20Selected Consolidated Financial Data
22Travelodge Acquisition
"Canadian Acquisition
23Certain Company Projections
25Date, Time and Place; Purpose of the Special Meeting
"Record Date, Voting Rights and Vote Required
27Special Factors
"Background of the Merger
32Recommendation of the Board; Fairness of the Merger
33Financial Advisors; Fairness Opinions
40Certain Effects of the Merger
48Indemnification of Directors and Officers
"Accounting Treatment of the Merger
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences to Stockholders
53The Merger Agreement
"Merger Consideration; Conversion of Shares
"Procedure for Payment
55Dissenting Shares
"Certain Representations and Warranties
56Conduct of Business Pending the Closing
57No Solicitation of Proposals
58Directors' and Officers' Insurance and Indemnification
59Certain Other Covenants
"Parent Payment and Related Matters
60Reasonable Best Efforts
"Consents, Approvals and Filings
64Termination
66Regulatory Matters
"HSR Act
"Canadian Acts
"Other Foreign Regulatory Matters
"Certain Information Concerning the Company
67Directors and Executive Officers
"Directors
69Certain Relationships and Related Transactions with Directors and Officers
"Certain Information Concerning Parent and Sub
"Fees and Expenses
70Market Prices
"Dividends
"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
73Other Business
"Independent Accountants
"Stockholder Proposals for 1998 Annual Meeting
"Incorporation by Reference
77Article I the Merger
"Section 1.1 The Merger
"Section 1.2 Closing
"Section 1.3 Effective Time
"Section 1.4 Effects of the Merger
"Section 1.5 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws
78Section 1.6 Directors; Officers
"Article Ii Effect of the Merger on the Capital Stock of the Constituent Corporations
"Section 2.1 Effect on Capital Stock
"Section 2.2 Stock Options
79Section 2.3 Adjustments
"Article Iii Payment for Shares
"Section 3.1 Payment For Shares
80Article Iv Representations and Warranties
"Section 4.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company
92Section 4.2 Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub
93Article V Covenants
"Section 5.1 Conduct of Business of the Company Prior to the Merger
95Section 5.2 Other Actions
"Article Vi Additional Agreements
"Section 6.1 Preparation of the Proxy Statement
96Section 6.2 Stockholders Meeting
"Section 6.3 Access to Information: Confidentiality
"Section 6.4 Reasonable Best Efforts
"Section 6.5 Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance
98Section 6.6 Public Announcements
"Section 6.7 No Solicitation; Acquisition Transaction Proposals
"Section 6.8 Consents, Approvals and Filings
99Section 6.9 Board Action Relating to Stock Option Plans
"Section 6.10 Name Changes
"Section 6.11 Notices of Certain Events
"Section 6.12 Parent Payment and Related Matters
100Section 6.13 Tax Filings
"Section 6.14 Investment Canada Act
"Article Vii Conditions Precedent
"Section 7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger
101Section 7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub
102Section 7.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company
"Article Viii Termination, Amendment and Waiver
"Section 8.1 Termination
104Section 8.2 Effect of Termination
"Section 8.3 Amendment
"Section 8.4 Extension; Waiver
"Section 8.5 Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or Waiver
105Article Ix General Provisions
"Section 9.1 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties
"Section 9.2 Fees and Expenses
"Section 9.3 Definitions
106Section 9.4 Notices
"Section 9.5 Interpretation
"Section 9.6 Counterparts
"Section 9.7 Entire Agreement; Third-Party Beneficiaries
107Section 9.8 Governing Law
"Section 9.9 Assignment
"Section 9.10 Enforcement
"Section 9.11 Severability
110Lehman Brothers
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_] Check the appropriate box: [_] Preliminary Proxy Statement [_] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [X] Definitive Proxy Statement [_] Definitive Additional Materials [_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to (S) 240.14a-11(c) or (S) 240.14a-12 CHARTWELL LEISURE INC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT IF OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [_] No fee required [X] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. 1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: Common Stock, $.01 par value, of Chartwell Leisure Inc. ("Chartwell Common Stock") 2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: 15,734,136 shares of Chartwell Common Stock 3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): $17.25 4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: $271,413,846 Pursuant to Reg. (S) 240.0-11(c)(1) under the Exchange Act, a fee of $54,306.92 has been paid herewith, which is equal to 1/50th of 1% of $271,534,596 (the value to be transferred to security holders in the transaction). 5) Total fee paid: $54,306.92 [X] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. [_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11-(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. 1) Amount Previously Paid: _________________________________________________ 2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ___________________________ 3) Filing Party: ___________________________________________________________ 4) Date Filed: _____________________________________________________________
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CHARTWELL LEISURE INC. 10 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, SUITE 1250 NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10020 February 9, 1998 Dear Stockholder: You are cordially invited to attend a Special Meeting of Stockholders (together with any postponement or adjournment thereof, the "Special Meeting") of Chartwell Leisure Inc. (the "Company") to be held on Monday, March 16, 1998 at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the offices of Battle Fowler LLP, 75 East 55th Street, New York, New York. A Notice of the Special Meeting, a Proxy Statement containing information about the matters to be acted upon at the Special Meeting and a proxy card are enclosed. At the Special Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 13, 1997, as amended (the "Merger Agreement"), by and between the Company, Whitehall Street Real Estate Limited Partnership IX ("Parent"), and CLI Properties Acquisition Corp., currently a subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), pursuant to which, among other things, Sub will merge with and into the Company (the "Merger"). The surviving corporation after the Merger will be a subsidiary of Parent. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Shares"), other than Shares as to which dissenters' rights of appraisal have been duly asserted and perfected under Delaware law and Shares owned by the Company or by Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent (which will be canceled), will be converted into the right to receive $17.25 per Share in cash, without interest. The accompanying Proxy Statement provides a detailed description of the proposed Merger, and a copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Annex A thereto. You are urged to read this material in its entirety and consider it carefully. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on February 4, 1998 as the record date for determining the holders of Shares entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting (the "Record Date"). Only holders of record of Shares at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY HAS DETERMINED THAT THE MERGER IS FAIR TO AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF STOCKHOLDERS, HAS APPROVED THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT. In determining to approve and recommend adoption of the Merger Agreement, the Board of Directors carefully reviewed and considered the terms and conditions of the proposed Merger, as well as a number of other factors. In addition, the Board of Directors has received the opinions of Lehman Brothers and Chase Securities Inc. as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by the holders of Shares pursuant to the Merger. The full text of each of the opinions of Lehman Brothers and Chase Securities Inc., each of which is dated November 13, 1997, and which sets forth the assumptions made, matters considered and limits on review undertaken, is attached as Annex B and Annex C, respectively, to the accompanying Proxy Statement. Approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon. I URGE YOU TO FILL IN, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND PROMPTLY RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE SO THAT AS MANY SHARES AS POSSIBLE MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING. NO POSTAGE IS NEEDED IF THE PROXY CARD IS MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY STOCK CERTIFICATES WITH THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD.
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If you plan to attend the Special Meeting, please check the appropriate box on your proxy card. You may attend the Special Meeting whether or not you have previously returned your proxy card. Sincerely, /s/ RICHARD L. FISHER Richard L. Fisher Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
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CHARTWELL LEISURE INC. 10 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, SUITE 1250 NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10020 ---------------- NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1998 ---------------- To: The Stockholders of Chartwell Leisure Inc. Notice is Hereby Given that a special meeting of stockholders of Chartwell Leisure Inc. (the "Company") will be held on Monday, March 16, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. local time, at the offices of Battle Fowler LLP, 75 East 55th Street, New York, New York (the "Special Meeting"), for the following purposes: 1. To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 13, 1997, as amended (the "Merger Agreement"), by and between the Company, Whitehall Street Real Estate Limited Partnership IX, a Delaware limited partnership ("Parent"), and CLI Properties Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and currently a subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), pursuant to which: a. Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the "Merger"); the Company will be the surviving corporation in the Merger and will be a subsidiary of Parent; and b. At the effective time of the Merger (the "Effective Time"), each outstanding share of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company (the "Shares"), other than Shares as to which dissenters' rights of appraisal have been duly asserted and perfected under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") and Shares owned by the Company or by Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent (which will be canceled), will be converted into the right to receive $17.25 per Share in cash, without interest. 2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Additional information relating to these matters is set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement which should be read carefully and in its entirety. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY HAS DETERMINED THAT THE MERGER IS FAIR TO AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF STOCKHOLDERS, HAS APPROVED THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT. If the Company's stockholders approve and adopt the Merger Agreement at the Special Meeting and the Merger is consummated, from and after the Effective Time and until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in accordance with applicable law, the directors and officers of Sub will become the directors and officers of the Company, as the surviving corporation in the Merger. Only holders of record of Shares at the close of business on February 4, 1998 (the "Record Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. Reference is made to the attached Proxy Statement for further information with respect to the business to be transacted at the Special Meeting. You are cordially invited to attend the Special Meeting in person. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGES YOU TO DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE POSTAGE PAID
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ENVELOPE. A reply envelope is enclosed for your convenience. Please do not send any stock certificates with the enclosed proxy card. The return of the enclosed proxy will not affect your right to vote if you attend the Special Meeting. By order of the Board of Directors, /s/ Douglas H. Verner DOUGLAS H. VERNER Secretary Dated: February 9, 1998 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR NEED ASSISTANCE IN VOTING YOUR SHARES, PLEASE CALL CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, WHICH IS ASSISTING US, TOLL-FREE AT 1-888-224-2745.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Information contained in this Proxy Statement contains "forward-looking statements" relating to, without limitation, future economic performance, plans and objectives of management for future operations and projections of revenue and other financial items, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate" or "continue" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. The cautionary statements set forth in this Proxy Statement identify important factors with respect to such forward-looking statements, including certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward- looking statements. Certain statements under the captions "SUMMARY" and "SPECIAL FACTORS-- Financial Advisors; Fairness Opinion" and elsewhere in this Proxy Statement constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance and achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
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CHARTWELL LEISURE INC. 10 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, SUITE 1250 NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10020 --------------- PROXY STATEMENT --------------- INTRODUCTION This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the stockholders of Chartwell Leisure Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") from the holders of shares of the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Shares") for use at a Special Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on Monday, March 16, 1998, at 10:00 a.m. local time, at the offices of Battle Fowler LLP, 75 East 55th Street, New York, New York, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof (the "Special Meeting"). This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card are first being mailed to holders of Shares on or about February 9, 1998. At the Special Meeting, holders of Shares on the Record Date (as defined below) will be asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 13, 1997, as amended (the "Merger Agreement"), by and between the Company, Whitehall Street Real Estate Limited Partnership IX, a Delaware limited partnership ("Parent"), and CLI Properties Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and currently a subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), pursuant to which, among other things, Sub will merge with and into the Company (the "Merger"). The Company will be the surviving corporation after the Merger (the "Surviving Corporation") and will be a subsidiary of Parent. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each outstanding Share, other than Shares as to which dissenters' rights of appraisal have been duly asserted and perfected under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") and shares held by the Company, Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent (which will be canceled), will be converted into the right to receive $17.25 in cash, without interest (the "Merger Consideration"). Accordingly, the total amount of Merger Consideration, together with the amounts to be paid to the holders of options to purchase Shares of the Company, to be paid by Parent and Sub in the Merger will be approximately $271 million in cash. As of February 5, 1998, the last trading day before the printing of this Proxy Statement, the closing per Share price of the Company was $16 15/16. As a result of the Merger, the Shares will no longer be publicly traded and Parent will become the sole stockholder of the Surviving Corporation. Following the Merger, persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the Merger will no longer have an opportunity to continue their interests in the Company as an ongoing corporation and therefore will not share in its future earnings and potential growth. See "STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL" and "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Merger Consideration; Conversion of Shares." Only holders of record of Shares at the close of business on February 4, 1998, the record date for the Special Meeting (the "Record Date"), are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, 13,485,999 Shares were issued and outstanding, which constituted the only issued and outstanding class of voting securities of the Company. Consummation of the Merger is conditioned upon, among other things, approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon and the receipt of certain other approvals and consents. Two of the Company's principal stockholders, Chartwell Leisure Associates L.P. II ("CL Associates") and FSNL LLC ("FSNL"), which collectively beneficially own 44.74% of the outstanding Shares, are parties to an agreement with the Company which requires such stockholders to vote their Shares for and against approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement in the same proportion as the Shares held by the other stockholders of the Company voted for and against approval of the Merger. CL Associates is a limited partnership consisting of members of the Fisher Brothers family and a trust for the benefit of Gordon Getty and members of his family. Richard L. Fisher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Martin L. Edelman, President and a director of the Company, and Marc E. Leland and Arnold Fisher, both of whom are directors of the Company, are beneficial owners of CL Associates. FSNL is a limited liability company owned principally by a trust for the benefit of Charles de Gunzberg. Guido Goldman, a director of the Company, is a Manager and beneficial owner of FSNL and a beneficiary of a trust that is a member of FSNL. See "SPECIAL FACTORS-- Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest." The Special Meeting may be postponed or adjourned from time to time until such conditions are satisfied. There can be no assurance that the conditions to the Merger will be satisfied or, where permissible, waived, or that the Merger will be consummated. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Conditions to Consummation of the Merger" and "THE SPECIAL MEETING--Record Date, Voting Rights and Vote Required." --------------- THIS TRANSACTION HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE FAIRNESS OR MERITS OF SUCH TRANSACTION NOR UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL. --------------- The date of this Proxy Statement is February 9, 1998.
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Copies of such reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of the Commission at its principal office at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at its regional offices at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511, and at 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048. Any interested party may obtain copies of such material at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at its principal office at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549. The Company files information electronically with the Commission, and the Commission maintains a Web Site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants (including the Company) that file electronically with the Commission. The address of the Commission's Web Site is (http://www.sec.gov). Such reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Company can also be inspected at the offices of the National Association of Securities Dealers, 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006, which supervises the NASDAQ National Market on which the Shares are traded. NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED, OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES MADE HEREBY, AND IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER PERSON. ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT RELATING TO THE COMPANY HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY THE COMPANY, AND ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT RELATING TO PARENT AND SUB, EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES AND THE PLANS FOR THE SURVIVING CORPORATION FOLLOWING THE MERGER HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY PARENT. THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT SHALL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY, PARENT OR SUB SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE. i
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TABLE OF CONTENTS · Download Table PAGE ---- SUMMARY.................................................................. 1 The Company............................................................ 1 Parent and Sub......................................................... 1 Failure to Consummate the Merger....................................... 1 The Special Meeting.................................................... 1 The Merger............................................................. 2 Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest.............................................................. 4 Stockholders' Rights of Appraisal...................................... 9 Market Prices and Dividends............................................ 9 Selected Consolidated Financial Data................................... 10 Certain Company Projections............................................ 13 THE SPECIAL MEETING...................................................... 15 Date, Time and Place; Purpose of the Special Meeting................... 15 Record Date, Voting Rights and Vote Required........................... 15 Proxies................................................................ 16 Stockholders' Rights of Appraisal...................................... 17 SPECIAL FACTORS.......................................................... 17 Background of the Merger............................................... 17 Recommendation of the Board; Fairness of the Merger.................... 22 Financial Advisors; Fairness Opinions.................................. 23 Purpose and Structure of the Merger.................................... 30 Certain Effects of the Merger.......................................... 30 Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest.............................................................. 31 Indemnification of Directors and Officers.............................. 38 Accounting Treatment of the Merger..................................... 38 Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences to Stockholders................ 38 SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS............................................... 39 STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL........................................ 39 THE MERGER AGREEMENT..................................................... 43 Effective Time......................................................... 43 Merger Consideration; Conversion of Shares............................. 43 Stock Options.......................................................... 43 Procedure for Payment.................................................. 43 Dissenting Shares...................................................... 45 Certain Representations and Warranties................................. 45 Conduct of Business Pending the Closing................................ 46 No Solicitation of Proposals........................................... 47 Directors' and Officers' Insurance and Indemnification................. 48 Certain Other Covenants................................................ 49 Conditions to Consummation of the Merger............................... 51 Termination............................................................ 54 REGULATORY MATTERS....................................................... 56 HSR Act................................................................ 56 Canadian Acts.......................................................... 56 Other Foreign Regulatory Matters....................................... 56 ii
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· Download Table PAGE ---- CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY............................... 56 The Company............................................................ 56 Directors and Executive Officers....................................... 57 Certain Relationships and Related Transactions with Directors and Officers.............................................................. 59 CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARENT AND SUB............................ 59 FEES AND EXPENSES........................................................ 59 MARKET PRICES AND DIVIDENDS.............................................. 60 Market Prices.......................................................... 60 Dividends.............................................................. 60 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT........... 60 Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners........................ 60 OTHER BUSINESS........................................................... 63 INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS.................................................. 63 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1998 ANNUAL MEETING............................ 63 INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE............................................... 63 ANNEX A--Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended ANNEX B--Opinion of Lehman Brothers ANNEX C--Opinion of Chase Securities Inc. ANNEX D--Section 262 of the DGCL iii
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SUMMARY The following is a summary of certain information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement and is presented herein solely to furnish limited introductory information regarding the proposed Merger and the parties thereto. This Summary is not intended to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this Proxy Statement and the Annexes hereto, to which reference is made for a complete statement of the matters discussed below. Stockholders are urged to read this Proxy Statement, including the Annexes hereto, and the documents incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety and to consider them with care. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this summary have the respective meanings ascribed to them elsewhere in the Proxy Statement. THE COMPANY Chartwell Leisure Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is a hotel and motel owner, operator, developer and acquiror. The Company owns, directly or with joint venture partners, 123 hotel properties in both the full-service and limited-service segments, including approximately 10,900 guest rooms, located in 25 states and six Canadian provinces. In the full-service segment, the Company operates 29 hotels aggregating approximately 5,700 guest rooms. The Company's remaining 94 hotels, consisting of approximately 5,200 rooms, operate in the limited-service segment, principally under the Travelodge(R) brand. See "CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY." PARENT AND SUB Parent is a Delaware limited partnership that engages in the business of investing in debt and equity interests in real estate related assets and businesses. WH Advisors, L.L.C. IX, a Delaware limited liability company ("WH Advisors, L.L.C."), acts as the sole general partner of Parent, and Whitehall IX/X, Inc., a Delaware corporation, acts as the managing member of WH Advisors, L.L.C. Parent, Sub, WH Advisors, L.L.C. and Whitehall IX/X, Inc. are all affiliates of The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("GS Group"). See "CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARENT AND SUB." Sub, a Delaware corporation and currently a subsidiary of Parent, was incorporated on November 12, 1997 for the purpose of acquiring the Company and has not engaged in any business activity except in connection with the Merger. Parent intends to enter into arrangements with affiliates of Westmont Hospitality Group, Inc. (collectively, "Westmont") pursuant to which, among other things, Westmont would acquire a minority interest in the Company. If such arrangements are effected prior to the closing of the Merger, Westmont could acquire a direct interest in Sub. Westmont is a hotel investment and management group active in the United States, Canada and Europe which has a long-standing relationship with, and has engaged in a number of hotel acquisitions in cooperation with, members of the GS Group. FAILURE TO CONSUMMATE THE MERGER In the event that the Merger does not occur, the Company intends to use its available cash, which totaled approximately $50 million as of December 31, 1997, to pay down its bank debt and/or pursue the development of certain of its properties. In addition, the Company will also explore the possibility of selling individual properties or groups of properties, although, at this time, the Company has had no discussions with third parties concerning such sales. In certain instances, if the Merger Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay Parent certain fees. See "--The Merger--The Company's Right to Accept Alternative Transactions;" "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Termination." THE SPECIAL MEETING Date, Time and Place. The Special Meeting of stockholders of the Company will be held on Monday, March 16, 1998 at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the offices of Battle Fowler LLP, 75 East 55th Street, New York, New York and at any adjournment or postponement thereof (the "Special Meeting"). 1
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Purpose. At the Special Meeting, holders of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Shares") will be asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, Sub will merge with and into the Company. The Company will be the surviving corporation in the Merger (the "Surviving Corporation") and will be a subsidiary of Parent. See "THE SPECIAL MEETING--Date, Time and Place; Purpose of the Special Meeting." Record Date; Stockholders Entitled to Vote. Only holders of record of Shares issued and outstanding at the close of business on February 4, 1998 (the "Record Date"), are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, 13,485,999 Shares were issued and outstanding and were held by 124 holders of record, which constituted the only issued and outstanding class of voting securities of the Company. See "THE SPECIAL MEETING--Record Date, Voting Rights and Vote Required." Quorum; Vote Required. The presence at the Special Meeting, either in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on the Merger Agreement will constitute a quorum at the Special Meeting. Approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon. Two of the Company's principal stockholders, which collectively beneficially own 44.74% of the outstanding Shares, are parties to an agreement with the Company which requires such stockholders to vote their Shares for and against approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement in the same proportion as the Shares held by the other stockholders of the Company voted for and against approval of the Merger. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest" and "THE SPECIAL MEETING--Record Date, Voting Rights and Vote Required." Proxies. The enclosed proxy provides that each stockholder of the Company may specify that his or her Shares be voted "for" or "against" approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement or that the proxy holder be directed to "abstain" from voting with respect thereto. If properly executed and returned in time for the Special Meeting, the enclosed proxy will be voted in accordance with the choice specified. If a properly executed proxy is returned, but no choice is specified, the Shares will be voted FOR approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement. Votes cast against the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement will not be voted in favor of any adjournment of the Special Meeting for the purpose of additional solicitation of approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement. Any stockholder who executes and returns a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted at the Special Meeting by (i) delivering to the Secretary of the Company at the Company's principal offices before the Special Meeting an instrument of revocation bearing a later date or time than the date or time of the proxy being revoked; (ii) submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or time than the date or time of the proxy being revoked; or (iii) voting in person at the Special Meeting. A stockholder's attendance at the Special Meeting will not by itself revoke a proxy given by such stockholder. See "THE SPECIAL MEETING--Proxies." THE MERGER General. Following approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders of the Company and the satisfaction or waiver of certain other conditions, Sub will merge with and into the Company, and the separate corporate existence of Sub will cease. As a result of the Merger, the Surviving Corporation will be a subsidiary of Parent. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Certain Effects of the Merger." As a result of the Merger, each outstanding Share, other than Shares as to which dissenters' rights of appraisal have been duly asserted and perfected under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") or Shares held by the Company or by Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent (which will be canceled), will be converted into the right to receive $17.25 in cash, without interest (the "Merger Consideration"), upon surrender of the certificate formerly representing such Share. As a result of the Merger, the Shares will no longer be publicly traded and Parent will become the sole stockholder of the Surviving Corporation. Following the Merger, persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the Merger will no longer have an opportunity to continue their interests in the Company as an ongoing corporation and, therefore, will not share in its future earnings and potential growth. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Procedure for Payment." 2
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Effective Time. The Merger will become effective when the Certificate of Merger is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later time as is specified in such Certificate (the "Effective Time"). It is currently anticipated that such filing will be made on or as promptly as practicable following the closing date under the Merger Agreement, which will take place only after the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, there can be no assurance as to if or when the Merger will be consummated. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Effective Time" and "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Conditions to Consummation of the Merger." Exchange of Shares. As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, a paying agent selected by Parent ("Paying Agent") will mail to each record holder of a stock certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding Shares, other than Shares as to which dissenters' rights of appraisal have been duly asserted and perfected under the DGCL (the "Certificates"), a form of letter of transmittal and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Certificates for payment pursuant to the Merger. Stockholders should not surrender their Certificates together with their proxy cards for the Special Meeting. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent of a Certificate, together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and any other required documents, and upon acceptance thereof by the Paying Agent, the holder of such Certificate will be entitled to receive in exchange therefor cash in the amount equal to the product of the number of Shares represented by such Certificate multiplied by $17.25 less any withholding taxes and such Certificate will then be cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued on the cash payable upon surrender of the Certificate. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT-- Merger Consideration; Conversion of Shares." The Company's Right to Accept Alternative Transactions. The Company has the right to terminate the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances if it has received a proposal for an Acquisition Transaction which the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") determines represents a more favorable financial alternative to the Company's stockholders than the Merger and that failure to accept such proposal would be reasonably expected to be a breach of, or would be inconsistent with, the Board's fiduciary duties under applicable law. An "Acquisition Transaction" means, generally, a transaction involving any of the following: (i) an acquisition of more than 10% of any class of equity securities of the Company; (ii) a merger, consolidation, share exchange, recapitalization, business combination or other similar transaction; (iii) a sale or other disposition of assets (other than immaterial assets) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in a single transaction or series of related transactions; or (iv) a tender offer or exchange offer for 25 percent or more of the outstanding Shares of capital stock of the Company. Among other requirements, the Company is required to pay Parent a fee of $8,145,000 before the Company can terminate the Merger Agreement because of the receipt of such a proposal. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Termination." If within one year following the date of such termination, any other Acquisition Transaction is consummated by the Company, then the Company will pay to Parent, simultaneously with the consummation of such other Acquisition Transaction, a fee equal to 3% of the aggregate amount of the consideration paid to the Company or its stockholders, as applicable, pursuant to such Acquisition Transaction. Conditions to Consummation of the Merger. The obligations of the Company, Parent and Sub to consummate the Merger are subject to a number of conditions, including, among others, approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon. Two of the Company's principal stockholders, which collectively beneficially own 44.74% of the outstanding Shares, are parties to an agreement with the Company which requires such stockholders to vote their Shares for and against approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement in the same proportion as the number of Shares held by the other stockholders of the Company voted for and against approval and adoption of the Merger. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest" and "THE SPECIAL MEETING--Record Date, Voting Rights and Vote Required." For a more complete discussion of the conditions to the obligations of the Company, Parent and Sub to consummate the Merger, see "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Conditions to Consummation of the Merger." There can be no assurance that the conditions to the Merger will be satisfied or, where permissible, waived, or that the Merger will be consummated. 3
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Background. For a description of the events leading to approval of the Merger Agreement by the Board, see "SPECIAL FACTORS--Background of the Merger." Recommendation of the Board. On November 13, 1997, the Board, pursuant to action by written consent, unanimously authorized and approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, determined that the Merger is fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company and determined to recommend to the stockholders that they vote for approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Background of the Merger." For a discussion of the factors the Board considered in arriving at its determination that the Merger is fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company, see "SPECIAL FACTORS--Recommendation of the Board; Fairness of the Merger." THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT. Opinion of Financial Advisors. The Company engaged Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. ("Bear Stearns"), Lehman Brothers Inc. ("Lehman Brothers") and Chase Securities Inc. ("Chase") to act as its financial advisors to assist the Company in considering strategic alternatives with respect to the Company. The fee payable to Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers upon consummation of the Merger will total approximately $1.36 million each. The fee payable to Chase upon consummation of the Merger will total approximately $679,000. At the November 11, 1997 meeting of the Board, each of Chase and Lehman Brothers delivered their oral opinion (which each subsequently confirmed in writing) as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by the holders of Shares pursuant to the Merger. Lehman Brothers' analysis indicated ranges of imputed values of the Company from a low of $10.87 to a high of $24.23 per Share on a fully-diluted basis. Chase's analysis indicated ranges of imputed values of the Company from a low of $15.37 to a high of $20.49 per Share on a fully-diluted basis. The full text of the opinions of Lehman Brothers and Chase, which set forth the assumptions made, matters considered and limits on review undertaken, are attached hereto as Annex B and Annex C, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. STOCKHOLDERS MAY READ SUCH OPINIONS FOR A DISCUSSION OF ASSUMPTIONS MADE, MATTERS CONSIDERED AND LIMITATIONS ON THE REVIEWS UNDERTAKEN BY LEHMAN BROTHERS AND CHASE, IN RENDERING THEIR RESPECTIVE OPINIONS. For a discussion of certain of the factors that Lehman Brothers and Chase considered in reaching their respective opinions, see "SPECIAL FACTORS-- Financial Advisors; Fairness Opinions" and "SPECIAL FACTORS--Background of the Merger." Purpose and Structure of the Merger. The purpose of the Merger is for Parent to acquire control of, and the entire equity interest in, the Company. Parent and Westmont may enter into certain agreements by which Westmont would hold an equity interest in the Company. Subsequent to the Merger, Parent intends for the Company or its stockholder to take certain actions, including the transfer of certain of their assets to related entities, and the election of the Company or its stockholder to be treated as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Certain Effects of the Merger." The acquisition of the Shares from the holders of such Shares is structured as a cash merger in order to transfer ownership of the Company to Parent in one transaction and to provide cash to the holders of such Shares. The Merger has been structured as a merger of Sub with and into the Company, with the Company to be the Surviving Corporation. As a result of the Merger, stockholders of the Company will not have an opportunity to continue their equity interest in the Company as an ongoing concern and therefore will not share in the future earnings and potential growth of the Company, if any. INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE MERGER; POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Certain members of the Company's management and the Board may be deemed to have certain interests in the Merger that are in addition to their interests as stockholders of the Company generally. The Board was aware of these interests when it considered and approved the Merger Agreement. In the aggregate, the directors and the executive officers of the Company will receive approximately $11.6 million in benefits as a result of the Merger, exclusive of the receipt of the Merger Consideration for their Shares. For a more detailed description of all benefits to be received by the directors and executive officers of the Company, see "SPECIAL FACTORS--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest." Stock Options. All options under the Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Option Plan"), including options which are not yet vested, will be terminated immediately prior to the Effective Time, and the 4
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Company will pay to holders of options ("Options") under the Stock Option Plan an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price of such Option, multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Option, without any interest thereon (the "Option Consideration"). For a description of the outstanding Options held by the executive officers and directors of the Company as of the Record Date, see "SPECIAL FACTORS--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest--Stock Options." Sale of Mexican Joint Venture Interest. In July 1996, Chartwell Mexico Corp., a Delaware corporation and a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a joint venture, Grupo Chartwell de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (the "Mexican Joint Venture"), with a subsidiary of Grupo Piasa, S.A. de C.V., a diversified Mexican real estate and development company ("Grupo Piasa"), for the purpose of developing and operating, or franchising others to operate, lodging facilities in Mexico. The Mexican Joint Venture has one hotel nearing completion with 129 rooms, representing approximately 1% of the Company's rooms and hotels. In addition, it has started construction on a second hotel with 123 rooms which is expected to result in the addition of approximately 1% of the Company's rooms and hotels. The Mexican Joint Venture is a party to a master license agreement, dated as of September 18, 1996 (the "Master License Agreement"), with Travelodge Hotels, Inc. ("Travelodge"), a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Cendant"). Cendant is the successor to HFS Incorporated ("HFS"). Pursuant to the Master Lease Agreement, Travelodge granted the Mexican Joint Venture an exclusive 30-year license to franchise the Travelodge system throughout Mexico. In addition, the Mexican Joint Venture has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Hilton Hotels to develop certain Hilton Hotel products in Mexico. The Mexican Joint Venture has not accounted for any of the Company's revenue, and accounts for approximately 2% of the Company's assets as measured by book value. Grupo Piasa has the right to purchase the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture at its fair market value in the event of a "change of control" in the Company. The Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement constitute a "change of control" for purposes of Grupo Piasa's right to purchase the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture. Grupo Piasa has informed the Company that, as a result of the Merger, Grupo Piasa will exercise its right to acquire the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture unless the Fisher, Getty and/or de Gunzberg families (or at least the Fisher family) and Martin L. Edelman acquire the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Background of the Merger." An entity, Rio Grande Partners (the "Mexican JV Buyer"), to be formed by the principals of CL Associates and FSNL has agreed to purchase the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture for a cash purchase price equal to 110% of all amounts expended and accrued by the Company as of the Effective Time in connection with or related to the Mexican Joint Venture and to indemnify the Company for all liabilities and expenses related to the Mexican Joint Venture. The Mexican JV Buyer will fund the purchase of the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture with capital contributions from the personal funds and working capital of its equity owners. As of the date of the mailing of this Proxy Statement, the purchase price for the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture would be $6,403,000, or approximately $0.475 per Share. The Company expects that this amount will increase as a result of additional expenditures and accruals by the Company in connection with the Mexican Joint Venture prior to the Effective Time, although the Company cannot predict the amount of that increase. The Merger Agreement does not permit the proceeds of the sale of the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture to be distributed by the Company prior to the Effective Time. Those proceeds are one of the assets of the Company on which Parent based its bid for the Company. Changes in the purchase price of the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture will not affect the amount of the Merger Consideration received by the Company's stockholders. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent, Sub and the Company have agreed that, as a condition of the obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger, the Company will sell its interest in the Mexican Joint Venture, and such sale will be for a purchase price of not less than all amounts expended or accrued by the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with or related to the Mexican Joint Venture, which amount will in no event be less than $3,750,000 (the approximate amount expended and accrued by the Company as of the date of the Merger Agreement), and the Company will have no further obligations or liabilities with respect to its investment in the Mexican Joint Venture. 5
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The Board established a special committee (the "Special Committee"), consisting of Rachel Robinson and Michael J. Kennedy, non-employee directors of the Company who are not affiliated with CL Associates or FSNL, in order to negotiate and oversee the proposed sale by the Company of the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture to the Mexican JV Buyer. The Special Committee retained the law firm of Solovay Marshall & Edlin, P.C. ("Special Counsel") to assist in the sale of the Mexican Joint Venture. Special Counsel had previously represented special committees of the Board on various transactions. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 14, 1996 (the "Stock Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company, National Lodging Corp., CL Associates and FSNL, have agreed that, for so long as CL Associates, FSNL and their affiliates continue to own, in the aggregate, at least 20% of the outstanding Shares, CL Associates and FSNL will not, and will not permit any of their affiliates to, enter into any transaction or series of related transactions, or grant or consent to, or otherwise permit, any amendment to, supplement of or waiver under, any agreement or contract, with the Company or any of its subsidiaries (any of the foregoing, an "Affiliate Transaction") unless: (i) it has been determined by a committee of the Board comprised of one or more non-employee directors (the "Independent Committee") that the Affiliate Transaction is in the best interests of the Company and is on fair and reasonable terms, no less favorable to the Company than terms that the Company and a non-affiliated person in a similar situation would agree to in an arms' length transaction; and (ii) if the Affiliate Transaction has a total value in excess of $10,000, the Independent Committee has received a favorable fairness opinion from an appropriate independent party relating to the transaction. In accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Special Committee retained Chase and Lehman Brothers to advise, and render fairness opinions to, the Special Committee with respect to the sale of the Mexican Joint Venture. Rather than retain a separate independent financial adviser, the Special Committee retained Chase and Lehman Brothers because of the relatively small anticipated purchase price for the sale of the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture and their familiarity with the Company. On January 21, 1998, the Special Committee (i) determined that the sale of the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture to the Mexican JV Buyer is in the best interests of the Company and is on fair and reasonable terms, no less favorable to the Company than terms that the Company and a non-affiliated person in a similar situation would agree to in an arms' length transaction, and (ii) received favorable fairness opinions from Lehman Brothers and Chase to the effect that such transaction is fair to the Company from a financial point of view. Stockholders are not being asked to vote upon the sale of Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture. Stockholder approval of the Merger Agreement will not constitute an explicit or implicit approval of that transaction should there occur a subsequent challenge to the fairness of that transaction to the Company despite approval of the transaction by the Special Committee and the receipt of the Lehman Brothers and Chase opinions. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Background of the Merger" and "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Conditions to Consummation of the Merger--Parent and Sub." Relationships with Cendant. Prior to November 22, 1994, the Company was a wholly-owned subsidiary of HFS, a predecessor to Cendant. On November 22, 1994, HFS distributed all of the Company's outstanding Shares to HFS' stockholders (the "Distribution"). Messrs. Edelman, Holmes and Silverman are directors of Cendant. Additionally, Mr. Edelman is a member of Cendant's Executive Committee, Mr. Silverman is the Chairman of the board and Chief Executive Officer of Cendant, and Mr. Holmes is Vice Chairman of Cendant. Due to such commonality of management, certain conflicts of interest may exist with respect to various matters related to the consummation of the Merger. As a result of the Merger, Cendant will receive, in the aggregate, a total of $9,771,000 in repayment of a development advance and a promissory note, as described below. In addition, certain of the directors, officers and employees of Cendant, including Messrs. Edelman, Holmes and Silverman, hold options to purchase Shares, including options granted under the Stock Option Plan, and will receive a total of $5,812,733 from the cancellation of those options in the Merger. Cendant may receive compensation in consideration for the consent of Travelodge, a subsidiary of Cendant (subject to Parent's approval) under the Master License Agreement (the "Master License Agreement") for the Territory of the Dominion of Canada by and between Travelodge and Chartwell Canada Hospitality Corp., a Delaware corporation and an indirect subsidiary of the Company ("Chartwell Canada") described below. 6
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Required Consent of Cendant as Condition to the Merger. The Merger Agreement provides that the obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of certain conditions. One of these conditions is that Parent and Sub will have obtained the consent or waiver of Travelodge under the Master License Agreement evidencing Travelodge's consent to the consummation of the Merger or waiving any of Travelodge's rights, if any, under such agreement relating to the consummation of the Merger, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Conditions to Consummation of the Merger-- Parent and Sub." Cendant Development Advance Agreement. The Company is a party to a Development Advance Agreement, dated as of October 1996 (the "Development Advance Agreement"), by and between the Company and HFS, pursuant to which HFS made a $2.8 million development advance (the "Development Advance") to the Company in December 1996. Pursuant to the Development Advance Agreement, the Development Advance must be repaid by the Company, without interest, on December 31, 2000, but the amount to be repaid will be reduced to the extent that hotels acquired or constructed by the Company become Cendant franchised hotels under franchise agreements of ten years or longer using any Cendant brand other than Wingate Inn. The Development Advance will be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis through December 31, 2000 for each dollar in initial and recurring royalty fees payable to Cendant under those new franchise agreements. As of the date of the mailing of this Proxy Statement, the amount of the Development Advance has been reduced to an amount equal to $2,771,000. The Development Advance Agreement is not, by its terms, terminable as a result of the Merger. Cendant has, however, at the request of the Company, consented to terminate the Development Advance Agreement in consideration of the payment of all amounts due to Cendant at the Effective Time. Cendant Distribution Agreement. On November 22, 1994, HFS, pursuant to the Distribution, distributed all of the Company's outstanding Shares to HFS' stockholders. At the time of the Distribution, the Company and HFS agreed to reserve for future issuance and to issue Shares to certain persons (including certain current and former directors and executive officers of the Company) in connection with the exercise of then- outstanding options (the "Stapled Options") to purchase shares of HFS common stock that were granted pursuant to HFS' 1992 Stock Option Plan (which options were adjusted in connection with the Distribution so that the holders of such options are entitled, upon exercise thereof and without the payment of any additional consideration, to receive one Share for every ten shares of HFS common stock purchased upon such exercise, subject to further adjustment in certain circumstances). For a description of the outstanding Stapled Options held by executive officers and directors of the Company as of the Record Date, see "SPECIAL FACTORS--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest--Stock Options." Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company will pay to holders of Stapled Options an amount equal to the Merger Consideration multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Stapled Option, without any interest thereon. Unsecured Note. Cendant has loaned the Company $7,000,000 pursuant to an Unsecured Note, dated as of November 20, 1996 (the "Note"). The Company has promised to repay to Cendant the principal sum of $7,000,000 with interest thereon commencing January 1, 1997. Interest on the principal balance is due and payable semi-annually at 6%. Consecutive yearly installments of $1,000,000 each are due and payable on January 1, 1999 and on the first day of each January thereafter until the maturity date of the Note, on January 1, 2005. The Merger Agreement provides that the obligation of the Parent and Sub to effect the Merger is subject to pre-payment of amounts outstanding under the Note prior to the Effective Time. Financing Agreement. Pursuant to a financing agreement (the "Financing Agreement") entered into between the Company and Cendant, Cendant agreed to extend up to $75 million in guarantees, security and other credit enhancements ("Future Guarantees") to secure the Company's credit facilities ("Future Facilities") until February 28, 2003. The terms and conditions of each Future Facility and each Future Guaranty are required to be reasonably satisfactory to Cendant. Pursuant to the Financing Agreement, Cendant has guaranteed $75 million of the Company's $80 million Credit Facility. The Financing 7
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Agreement requires the Company to pay Cendant an annual fee equal to $1.5 million. The Company is a party to a Credit Facility among the Company, Chartwell Canada Corp., which is a subsidiary of the Company, the Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, the Bank of Nova Scotia, as Syndication Agent, and certain other banks from time to time parties thereof (the "Credit Facility"). The Merger Agreement provides that the obligation of the Parent and Sub to effect the Merger is subject to the termination of the Financing Agreement without the payment of any amounts by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Relationships with Terrance E. Royer. Terrance E. Royer, Chief Operating Officer of the Company, is an executive officer and beneficial owner of Royco Hotels & Resorts Ltd., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada ("Royco"). Royco, the Company, Chartwell Canada, and Chartwell Lodging Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, are parties to an Amended and Restated Management Services and Franchise Development Agreement, as amended (the "MSFDA"), pursuant to which, among other things, Royco agreed, on behalf of the parties to the MSFDA, to (i) develop new hotel and resort management business for the parties to the MSFDA with respect to certain Canadian hotels and resorts, (ii) develop, promote and service the Travelodge and Thriftlodge franchise businesses for the Company in Canada under the Master License Agreement and (iii) manage the Company's Canadian hotels and provide ongoing management assistance for the Company's U.S. hotels. Additionally, Mr. Royer, through an affiliate of Mr. Royer, submitted a written proposal to acquire the Canadian full-service and limited-service hotels and U.S. limited-service hotels for a purchase price of $145 million ($9.22 per Share), subject to a $5 million holdback to secure the Company's representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities in the asset purchase agreement. Another affiliate of Mr. Royer subsequently submitted an oral bid on the day the Board approved the Merger Agreement to acquire the Company, but that bid did not state a proposed acquisition price. See "SPECIAL FACTORS-- Background of the Merger" and "--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest." On July 1, 1997, Royco entered into an agreement with the Company, pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay Royco, among other things, the sum of $150,000 upon the completion of the sale of the Shares or the sale of the Company's hotels managed by Royco. Vote of CL Associates and FSNL. CL Associates and FSNL beneficially own 44.74% of the issued and outstanding Shares. See "SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT--Security Ownerhsip of Certain Beneficial Owners." Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, CL Associates and FSNL have agreed that, if at any time prior to August 8, 1999, the Company proposes to sell all or substantially all of its assets, to merge or consolidate with any other entity, or to cause the liquidation or dissolution of the Company (each, a "Triggering Event"), and the Company submits the Triggering Event to a vote of its stockholders, then each of CL Associates and FSNL will vote all of its respective Shares entitled to vote on that matter in favor of and against the Triggering Event in the same proportion as the numbers of Shares held by stockholders of the Company other than CL Associates, FSNL and their affiliates ("Nonaffiliated Shares") voted in favor of and against the Triggering Event. Therefore, with respect to the Merger, CL Associates and FSNL will vote their respective Shares in the same proportion as the number of Shares held by stockholders of the Company other than CL Associates, FSNL and their affiliates ("Nonaffiliated Shares") voted in favor of and against the Merger. The number of Nonaffiliated Shares voted in favor of the Merger, plus the number of Shares held by CL Associates and FSNL that are required to be voted in favor of the Merger, must equal a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on the Merger in order for the Merger Agreement to be approved and adopted. Consulting and Employment Agreements. Parent and Sub intend to enter into a one year consulting agreement with Mr. Edelman following the consummation of the Merger, pursuant to which Mr. Edelman will provide certain consulting services to Parent and Sub and will receive a consulting fee of up to $250,000. The final terms and conditions of such consulting agreement have not yet been negotiated. The Company is a party 8
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to an employment agreement with Kenneth J. Weber, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, pursuant to which Mr. Weber receives an annual base salary of $250,000, an annual bonus of $50,000 and an automobile allowance of $1,000 per month expiring in March 1999. That agreement is not terminable as a result of the Merger. No other directors or executive officers of the Company will serve as consultants to or be employed by Parent or its subsidiaries after the Effective Time. For a discussion of these and other interests of certain persons in the Merger, see "SPECIAL FACTORS--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest." Federal Income Tax Consequences. The receipt of cash by a stockholder pursuant to the Merger or pursuant to the exercise of stockholders' rights of appraisal will be a taxable event for such stockholder for federal income tax purposes and may also be a taxable event under applicable local, state and foreign tax laws. For a more complete description of certain federal income tax consequences of the Merger, see "SPECIAL FACTORS--Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences to Stockholders." Source and Amount of Funds. Parent estimates that approximately $280 million will be required, prior to the completion of the Merger, to (i) pay the aggregate Merger Consideration, (ii) pay the holders of outstanding Options, the Option Consideration, (iii) pay to holders of outstanding Stapled Options an amount equal to the Merger Consideration multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Stapled Option, and (iv) pay the other expenses related to the Merger. Parent will obtain the necessary funds for the Merger from (i) capital contributions from its limited partners (which contributions such limited partners are contractually required to make at Parent's request) and (ii) a loan from the GS Group and/or loans from other lenders. If arrangements with Westmont are effected prior to the Merger, Westmont could contribute a portion of such funds. STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL Holders of Shares who do not vote in favor of the Merger and who perfect their appraisal rights in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL (such Shares being referred to herein as the "Dissenting Shares") will be entitled to receive, in lieu of the Merger Consideration, following a statutory appraisal proceeding in the Delaware Court of Chancery, cash in the amount of the fair value of their Shares (exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger) as determined by the court in such appraisal proceeding. For a summary of the procedures applicable to the perfection of appraisal rights, see "STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL" and Annex D hereto. Because of the complexity of the procedures for exercising these rights, stockholders who consider exercising such rights are urged to seek the advice of counsel. Stockholders electing to exercise their appraisal rights must not vote for the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement. If a stockholder returns a signed proxy but does not specify a vote against the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement or a direction to abstain, the proxy will be voted FOR the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement, which will have the effect of waiving that stockholder's appraisal rights. FAILURE TO TAKE ANY REQUIRED STEP ON A TIMELY BASIS IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF APPRAISAL RIGHTS MAY RESULT IN THE TERMINATION OR WAIVER OF SUCH RIGHTS. See "STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL" discussed herein. It is a condition to the obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger that the number of Dissenting Shares not exceed 5% of the outstanding Shares. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Conditions to Consummation of the Merger--Parent and Sub." MARKET PRICES AND DIVIDENDS The principal market on which the Shares are traded is the Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ") under the symbol "CHRT." The Shares began public trading on the NASDAQ on November 14, 1994 under the 9
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symbol "NAGC." From January 1996 until August 8, 1996, the Shares traded under the symbol "NALC" and since August 8, 1996, the Shares have traded under the symbol "CHRT." On February 5, 1998, the last trading day before the printing of this Proxy Statement, the high and low sales prices of the Shares were $16 15/16 and, $16 15/16, respectively. On November 13, 1997, the last trading day before the public announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement, the high and low sales prices of the Shares were $15 7/8 and $15 7/8, respectively. On June 30, 1997, the last full trading day prior to the public announcement that the Company had hired Bear Stearns and Chase to assist the Company in considering strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the Company, the high and low sales prices of the Shares were $13 1/2 and $13, respectively. For information relating to market prices of and dividends on the Shares during the current year and the past two years, see "MARKET PRICES AND DIVIDENDS" discussed herein. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO OBTAIN A CURRENT MARKET QUOTATION FOR THE SHARES. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data of the Company and its subsidiaries since inception for each of the four years ended December 31, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996. The year-end data have been derived from, should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by, the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company, including the notes thereto, for such periods. The data for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 were derived from the Company's unaudited quarterly financial statements, which in the opinion of the Company's management, reflect all adjustments (only normal recurring adjustments) for a fair presentation of such data. The data for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the entire year. 10
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CHARTWELL LEISURE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS) · Download Table NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------- ----------------------------------- 1997 1996 1996 1995 1994 1993 ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------ REVENUE Hotel Revenue.......... $91,881 $ 54,111 $ 80,278 $ -- $ -- $ -- Management fee and other income.......... 4,036 2,942 2,957 -- -- -- Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures.............. 4,411 5,104 5,793 -- -- -- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------ Total revenue.......... 100,328 62,157 89,028 -- -- -- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------ OPERATING EXPENSES Hotel operating expense............... 34,898 22,451 33,768 -- -- -- General and administrative........ 19,549 14,155 21,165 2,756 2,742 -- Marketing, franchise and reservation fees.. 9,494 5,619 8,340 -- -- -- Maintenance and property taxes........ 9,214 4,296 7,450 -- -- -- Rent................... 3,881 3,842 5,272 -- -- -- Depreciation and amortization.......... 7,267 6,615 8,585 -- -- -- Minority interest...... 1,503 978 1,271 -- -- -- Office restructuring charge................ 746 -- -- -- -- -- General and administrative, related party......... -- 1,147 1,522 1,747 176 581 Gaming development costs................. -- -- -- 15,482 2,414 -- Provision for (recovery of) losses on gaming assets................ (250) 14,240 16,417 -- -- -- Costs of terminating corporate services agreement............. -- -- 9,500 -- -- -- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------ Total operating expenses.............. 86,302 73,343 113,290 19,985 5,332 581 ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------ OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)................. 14,026 (11,186) (24,262) (19,985) (5,332) (581) INTEREST INCOME (EXPENSE)-NET.......... (2,553) (2,719) (4,093) 2,512 1,184 128 GAIN ON SALE OF SECURITIES............. -- -- -- -- 1,044 -- GAIN ON SALE OF FIXED ASSETS................. 309 -- -- -- -- -- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------ INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE AND EXTRAORDINARY ITEM..... 11,782 (13,905) (28,355) (17,473) (3,104) (453) INCOME TAX (EXPENSE) BENEFIT................ (1,023) (213) (274) (709) 1,273 186 ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------ INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEM..... 10,759 (14,118) (28,629) (18,182) (1,831) (267) EXTRAORDINARY LOSS ON EARLY EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT................... -- (1,477) (1,477) -- -- -- NET INCOME (LOSS)....... $10,759 $(15,595) $(30,106) $(18,182) $(1,831) $ (267) ======= ======== ======== ======== ======= ====== PER SHARE INFORMATION Income (loss) before extraordinary loss.... $ 0.82 $ (2.12) $ (3.84) $ (3.57) $ (0.37) $(0.05) Extraordinary item..... -- (0.22) (0.20) -- -- -- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------ NET INCOME (LOSS)....... $ 0.82 $ (2.34) $ (4.04) $ (3.57) $ (0.37) $(0.05) ======= ======== ======== ======== ======= ====== WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING..... 13,046 6,651 7,455 5,099 5,003 5,001 ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------ · Download Table AT SEPTEMBER 30, AT DECEMBER 31, --------------- ------------------------------ 1997 1996 1996 1995 1994 1993 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ BALANCE SHEET DATA Total Current Assets........... $70,637 $27,788 $30,643 $62,788 $55,840 $ 223 Total Assets................... 282,638 158,229 232,038 87,074 98,895 12,238 Total Current Liabilities...... 19,340 11,306 23,175 552 1,916 197 Total Long-Term Obligations.... 82,627 17,486 94,186 -- -- -- Total Liabilities and Minority Interest...................... 106,726 32,401 120,820 552 1,916 197 Total Stockholders' Equity..... 175,912 125,828 111,218 86,522 96,979 12,041 Book Value Per Share........... $ 13.05 $ 13.29 $ 11.74 $ 15.87 $ 20.95 $ 2.66 (See notes to financial data) 11
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NOTES TO SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA 1. ACQUISITIONS AND SALES OF STOCK Travelodge Acquisition. On January 23, 1996, the Company acquired the outstanding common stock of Forte Hotels, Inc. ("FHI") for $98.8 million plus expenses (the "Travelodge Acquisition"). In related transactions on January 23, 1996, prior to consummation of the Travelodge Acquisition, HFS and Motels of America, Inc. acquired from FHI the Travelodge franchise system and 19 hotel properties, respectively, for an aggregate purchase price of $71.6 million. The principal assets of FHI acquired by the Company included 18 hotels and joint venture interests in 97 other lodging facilities (twelve of which were subsequently disposed). The Company financed approximately $60.4 million of the purchase price with proceeds from a bank revolving credit facility and $38.4 million with existing cash. The Travelodge Acquisition was accounted for by the purchase method. The operating results of the acquired company are included in the consolidated statements of operations from its acquisition date, January 23, 1996. Canadian Acquisition. On October 1, 1996, the Company acquired (the "Canadian Acquisition") from Capital Properties Limited Partnership ("CPLP") 20 hotels and a one-half interest in an additional hotel, consisting of approximately 3,500 guest rooms, which hotels are located throughout Canada and franchised under the "Travelodge" brand name. The Company paid approximately $70.0 million to purchase substantially all of CPLP's existing bank debt and to pay certain specified closing costs (including real estate taxes and transfer taxes), as well as its assumption of liability for identified trade payables and property specific bank debt, aggregating approximately $7.0 million. Also, the Company may be required to make certain contingent payments to CPLP's constituent partners following a preferred return to the Company. In connection with the Canadian Acquisition on October 1, 1996, the Company borrowed $65.9 million under its credit facility. The Canadian Acquisition was accounted for by the purchase method. The operating results of the acquired company are included in the consolidated statements of operations from its acquisition date, October 1, 1996. Sale of Stock. On August 8, 1996, the Company sold four million shares of the Shares to CL Associates and FSNL for an aggregate purchase price of $57.0 million. The following presents the unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 as if all of the transactions described above occurred on January 1, 1996, giving effect to the sale of stock and financing costs associated with the Travelodge Acquisition and Canadian Acquisition. · Download Table NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 -------------------- (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) Revenue............................................... $92,283 Net loss.............................................. $(8,927) Net loss per share.................................... $ (.90) The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations that would have occurred had the transactions been consummated as indicated. 12
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CERTAIN COMPANY PROJECTIONS Prior to the execution of the Merger Agreement, in connection with Parent's review of the Company, the Company provided representatives of Parent information concerning projected 1997 revenues and EBITDA of the Company which was prepared in July 1997, and which the Company, Parent and Purchaser believe is not publicly available. The information described below is presented on an unconsolidated basis and does not reflect consolidated adjustments. Therefore, this information cannot be meaningfully compared with the Company's historical consolidated financial data. CHARTWELL LEISURE INC. PROJECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION PREPARED IN JULY 1997 · Download Table 1997 FORECAST ---------- (IN THOUSANDS) Revenue.......................................................... $135,301 EBITDA*.......................................................... 37,591** -------- * Defined as earnings before interest expense, income tax expenses, depreciation and amortization expenses. EBITDA does not reflect any deduction for corporate overhead. EBITDA is a commonly used measure of financial performance but is not calculated in the same manner by all companies and should not be viewed as an accurate comparative measure. ** Does not include approximately $1.2 million of EBITDA contributed by management fee income and other assets. In November 1997, following the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain employees of the Company provided representatives of Parent with preliminary information concerning projected 1998 revenues and EBITDA of the Company and with different projections of 1997 revenues and EBITDA which the Company, Parent and Sub believe are not publicly available. The projections provided in November 1997 were not prepared, reviewed or approved by the Company's senior financial officers. CHARTWELL LEISURE INC. PROJECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION FURNISHED TO PARENT IN NOVEMBER 1997 · Download Table 1997 FORECAST 1998 FORECAST ------------- ------------- (IN THOUSANDS) Revenue.......................................... $132,931 $140,550 EBITDA*.......................................... 34,541 37,559 -------- 13
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THE COMPANY DOES NOT AS A MATTER OF COURSE MAKE PUBLIC ANY PROJECTIONS AS TO FUTURE PERFORMANCE OR EARNINGS, AND THE PROJECTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT ONLY BECAUSE THE INFORMATION WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO REPRESENTATIVES OF PARENT BY THE COMPANY. THE COMPANY HAS INFORMED PARENT THAT THESE PROJECTED FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE WERE NOT PREPARED WITH A VIEW TO PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLISHED GUIDELINES OF THE COMMISSION OR THE GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS REGARDING PROJECTIONS AND FORECASTS. THE COMPANY HAS ALSO INFORMED PARENT THAT ITS INTERNAL FINANCIAL FORECASTS (UPON WHICH THE PROJECTED FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE PROVIDED TO PARENT WERE BASED IN PART) ARE, IN GENERAL, PREPARED SOLELY FOR INTERNAL USE AND CAPITAL BUDGETING AND OTHER MANAGEMENT DECISION-MAKING PURPOSES AND ARE SUBJECTIVE IN MANY RESPECTS AND THUS SUSCEPTIBLE TO VARIOUS INTERPRETATIONS AND PERIODIC REVISION BASED ON ACTUAL EXPERIENCE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS. PROJECTED INFORMATION OF THIS TYPE IS BASED ON ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE INHERENTLY SUBJECT TO SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC AND COMPETITIVE UNCERTAINTIES AND CONTINGENCIES, ALL OF WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT AND MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE COMPANY, PARENT OR SUB OR THEIR RESPECTIVE FINANCIAL ADVISORS. MANY OF THE ASSUMPTIONS UPON WHICH THE FOREGOING PROJECTED FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE WERE BASED, NONE OF WHICH WERE APPROVED BY PARENT OR SUB, ARE DEPENDENT UPON ECONOMIC FORECASTING (BOTH GENERAL AND SPECIFIC TO THE COMPANY'S BUSINESSES), WHICH IS INHERENTLY UNCERTAIN AND SUBJECTIVE. NONE OF PARENT, SUB, THE COMPANY OR THEIR RESPECTIVE FINANCIAL ADVISORS ASSUMES ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF ANY OF SUCH PROJECTIONS. INCLUSION OF THE FOREGOING PROJECTIONS SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS AN INDICATION THAT PARENT, SUB, THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER PERSON WHO RECEIVED SUCH INFORMATION CONSIDERS IT AN ACCURATE PREDICTION OF FUTURE EVENTS, AND NEITHER SUB NOR PARENT HAS RELIED ON THEM AS SUCH. NONE OF PARENT, SUB OR THE COMPANY, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE FINANCIAL ADVISORS, OR ANY OTHER PARTY, INTENDS TO PUBLICLY UPDATE OR OTHERWISE PUBLICLY REVISE THE PROJECTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE. 14
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THE SPECIAL MEETING DATE, TIME AND PLACE; PURPOSE OF THE SPECIAL MEETING This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the holders of Shares as of the Record Date in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board for use at the Special Meeting to be held on Monday, March 16, 1998 at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the offices of Battle Fowler LLP, 75 East 55th Street, New York, New York, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. At the Special Meeting, holders of Shares as of the Record Date will be asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, Sub will merge with and into the Company. The Company, as the Surviving Corporation, will be a subsidiary of Parent. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each Share, other than Shares as to which dissenters' rights of appraisal have been duly asserted and perfected under the DGCL and Shares which are held by the Company or owned by Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent (which will be canceled), will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration. As a result of the Merger, stockholders of the Company will not have an opportunity to continue their equity interest in the Company as an ongoing concern and therefore will not share in the future earnings and growth of the Company, if any. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Procedure for Payment." The Company's stockholders also will consider and vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY HAS DETERMINED THAT THE MERGER IS FAIR TO AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF STOCKHOLDERS, HAS APPROVED THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT. RECORD DATE, VOTING RIGHTS AND VOTE REQUIRED The Board has fixed the close of business on February 4, 1998 as the Record Date for the determination of holders of Shares entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting. Only holders of record of Shares at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, 13,485,999 Shares were issued and outstanding and were held by approximately 124 holders of record. The Shares are the only outstanding class of voting securities of the Company, and each Share is entitled to one vote on each matter to be acted upon or which may come before the Special Meeting. Votes may be cast at the Special Meeting in person or by properly executed proxy. See "THE SPECIAL MEETING--Proxies." The presence at the Special Meeting, either in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on the Merger Agreement is necessary to constitute a quorum to transact business at the Special Meeting. Abstentions of Shares that are present at the Special Meeting and broker non-votes (i.e., Shares held by brokers in street name that are not entitled to a vote at the Special Meeting due to the absence of specific instructions from the beneficial owners of such Shares) are counted for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present at the Special Meeting, the stockholders who are present and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting may, by majority vote, adjourn the Special Meeting from time to time without notice or other announcement until a quorum is present. Approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement requires, pursuant to the by- laws of the Company and applicable Delaware law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon. Two of the Company's principal stockholders, which collectively beneficially own 44.74% of the outstanding Shares, are parties to an agreement with the Company which requires such stockholders to vote their Shares for and against approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement in the same proportion as the Shares held by the other stockholders of the Company voted for and against approval of the Merger. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest." In determining whether the Merger Agreement has received the requisite number of votes under applicable Delaware law, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted and will have the same effect as a vote against approval and 15
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adoption of the Merger Agreement. THE BOARD ENCOURAGES YOU TO VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT BY SIGNING AND RETURNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY OR ATTENDING THE SPECIAL MEETING. PROXIES This Proxy Statement is being furnished to holders of Shares as of the Record Date in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board for use at the Special Meeting. If a stockholder does not return a properly executed proxy, and does not attend the Special Meeting, such stockholder's Shares will not be voted, which will have the same effect as a vote against approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement. If signed and returned, the proxy will authorize the persons named as proxy to vote on the matters referred to therein. Shares represented by properly executed proxies received prior to or at the Special Meeting and not revoked will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated in such proxies. It is not expected that any matter other than those referred to herein will be brought before the Special Meeting; however, if other matters are properly presented, the persons named as proxies will vote in accordance with their judgment with respect to such matters. EXECUTED PROXIES THAT CONTAIN NO INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY WILL BE VOTED FOR APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO MARK THE RELEVANT BOXES ON THE PROXY TO INDICATE HOW THEIR SHARES ARE TO BE VOTED. Any stockholder who executes and returns a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted at the Special Meeting by (i) delivering to the Secretary of the Company at the Company's principal offices before the Special Meeting an instrument of revocation bearing a later date or time than the date or time of the proxy being revoked; (ii) submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or time than the date or time of the proxy being revoked; or (iii) voting in person at the Special Meeting. A stockholder's attendance at the Special Meeting will not by itself revoke a proxy given by such stockholder. The Special Meeting may be adjourned or postponed by the Company for any reason. If a quorum is not obtained, or if fewer Shares are likely to be voted in favor of approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement than the number required for approval and adoption, the Special Meeting may be adjourned for the purpose of obtaining additional proxies or votes. The Special Meeting may also be adjourned or postponed in order to obtain necessary regulatory approvals. Votes cast against the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement will not be voted in favor of any adjournment of the Special Meeting for the purpose of additional solicitation of approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement. At any subsequent reconvening of the Special Meeting, all proxies will be voted in the same manner as such proxies would have been voted at the original convening of the meeting (except for any proxies which theretofore have been effectively revoked or withdrawn), notwithstanding that they may have been effectively voted on the same or any other matter at a previous meeting. The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, proxies may be solicited by the Company's directors, officers and other employees by personal interview, telephone and telegram. Such persons will receive no additional compensation for such services. In addition, the Company has retained ChaseMellon Shareholder Services to assist in soliciting proxies for a fee estimated at $5,500 plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The Company requests that brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of Shares held of record by such persons and will reimburse such brokers and other fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred when the solicitation materials are forwarded. STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT FORWARD ANY STOCK CERTIFICATES WITH THEIR PROXY CARDS. A TRANSMITTAL FORM WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SURRENDER OF STOCK CERTIFICATES WILL BE MAILED TO STOCKHOLDERS SHORTLY AFTER THE EFFECTIVE TIME (AS DEFINED BELOW) OF THE MERGER. Exchange of Shares. As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, a paying agent selected by Parent ("Paying Agent") will mail to each record holder of a stock certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding Shares, other than Shares as to which dissenters' rights of appraisal have been duly asserted and perfected under the DGCL (the "Certificates"), a form of letter of transmittal and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Certificates for payment therefor. Stockholders should not surrender their Certificates together with their proxy cards for the Special Meeting. Upon surrender to the Paying 16
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Agent of a Certificate, together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and any other required documents, and upon acceptance thereof by the Paying Agent, the holder of such Certificate will be entitled to receive and exchange therefor cash in the amount equal to the product of the number of Shares represented by such Certificate multiplied by $17.25 less any withholding taxes and such Certificate will then be canceled. No interest will be paid or accrued on the cash payable upon surrender of the Certificate. STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL Holders of Shares have the right to demand judicial appraisal of, and obtain a cash payment for, the "fair value" of their Shares (exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger), pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL. In order to exercise such rights, such holders of Shares must not vote in favor of the Merger and must comply with the procedural requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL. The full text of Section 262 of the DGCL is attached hereto as Annex D, and any stockholder of the Company desiring to exercise dissenters' rights of appraisal in connection with the Merger should consult with legal counsel prior to taking any action in order to ensure that the stockholder complies with the applicable statutory provision. Failure to take any of the steps required under Section 262 of the DGCL on a timely basis may result in the loss of appraisal rights. See "STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL" and Annex D hereto. It is a condition to the obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger that the number of Dissenting Shares (as defined below) not exceed 5% of the outstanding Shares. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Conditions to Consummation of the Merger--Parent and Sub." SPECIAL FACTORS BACKGROUND OF THE MERGER Pursuant to an action by written consent, on November 13, 1997, the Board unanimously determined that the Merger is fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company, approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, and determined to recommend to stockholders that they vote for approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement. See "-- Recommendation of the Board; Fairness of the Merger," "--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest" and "CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARENT AND SUB." The following discussion sets forth certain information relating to the background of the Merger. In late 1996 and early 1997, one of the Company's goals had been to grow its business through acquisitions. Accordingly, in the first quarter of 1997, the Company raised approximately $54.4 million pursuant to two equity private placements and a rights offering to its stockholders. This capital, together with the Company's lines of credit with its banking institutions, enabled the Company to place a greater emphasis on the acquisition of underperforming hotels or portfolios of hotels throughout North America. Although during this time, the Company engaged in preliminary discussions with third-parties in connection with the potential acquisition by the Company of hotels and portfolios of hotels, the Company determined not to proceed with any such potential acquisitions because, among other things, the Company believed such potential acquisitions were highly priced and not in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company. In early June 1997, the Company engaged in preliminary discussions with Bear Stearns to assist the Company in determining whether to explore strategic alternatives. On June 16, 1997, the Company engaged Bear Stearns to present a review of the Company's strategic alternatives. Also during June 1997, the Company asked Chase to participate in that review because of Chase's prior involvement with the Company and knowledge of the Company's assets and operations. At a June 30, 1997 meeting of the Board, Bear Stearns and Chase reviewed with the Board, among other things, the strategic alternatives available to the Company, including the possible conversion of the Company into a real estate investment trust, taking no action at all, and the possible sale of the Company. At that meeting, Bear Stearns observed, among other things, that the Company traded at a discount to several comparable 17
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publicly traded companies and expressed its belief that the Company's stock price did not fully reflect the underlying value of its assets or the Company's future performance. Bear Stearns also expressed its belief that several companies might be interested in acquiring the Company or selected assets of the Company at aggregate values in excess of the then market price of the Shares. At such meeting, Bear Stearns also reviewed a preliminary list of possible candidates that might be interested in acquiring the Company or certain of its assets should the Board decide to pursue the alternative of selling the Company or certain of its assets. After hearing Bear Stearns' presentation, the Board determined that the operating limitations in the real estate investment trust structure were incompatible with the Company's operating strategy. The Board then authorized Bear Stearns to make selected inquiries of other companies to determine whether they were interested in pursuing a potential business combination with the Company and, if so, to solicit preliminary indications of interest in order to determine whether a sale of the Company in part or in its entirety was a viable alternative. At such meeting, the Company's Board directed its senior management to announce publicly that the Company had decided to explore strategic alternatives available to the Company, including the possible sale of the Company, and had retained Bear Stearns and Chase to assist the Company in such endeavor. Mr. Fisher and Marc E. Leland, who are representatives of CL Associates, and Guido Goldman, who is a representative of FSNL, and each of whom is a director of the Company, stated that CL Associates and FSNL would be supportive of a sale at an appropriate price. At such meeting, neither the representative of CL Associates nor the representative of FSNL indicated any intention or interest with regard to a purchase of the Company or the Mexican Joint Venture. Such authorization by the Board, however, provided that in light of Grupo Piasa's right to purchase the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture upon a change of control of the Company, and because the Company did not want the exercise of that right to result in renegotiation by bidders for the Company, bids should be solicited for the Company both including and excluding the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture. On June 30, 1997 the Company issued a press release stating that the Company had hired Bear Stearns and Chase to assist the Company in considering strategic alternatives, including the possible sale of the Company. Following the issuance of the press release, Bear Stearns began to receive telephone calls from interested parties. Bear Stearns also made calls to potentially interested parties that had been identified to the Board at the meeting of June 30, 1997. The Company also entered into an engagement letter with Bear Stearns, dated June 30, 1997, pursuant to which Bear Stearns agreed to assist the Company in its consideration of those strategic alternatives. In August 1997, an employee of Bear Stearns who had been involved in the strategic review of the Company and the efforts to market the Company accepted a position with Lehman Brothers. To facilitate the continued dialogue with the interested parties and in order to continue to receive the benefit of this employee's work for the Company, the Company, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers agreed that Lehman Brothers would continue the process initiated by Bear Stearns and that Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers each would be entitled to half of the fees provided for in the June 30, 1997 Bear Stearns engagement letter. During the period from June 30 to September 25, 1997, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and Chase were in contact with approximately sixty companies or groups (including Parent and Westmont on a joint basis) regarding the feasibility of, and their interest in pursuing, a business combination with the Company. During that same time period, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers mailed to approximately forty such companies and groups (the "Preliminary Companies") a letter which described the process which the Company intended to conduct and also included a package of background materials regarding the Company. Such materials also solicited separate proposals for the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture. Approximately fifteen companies expressed to Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers significant interest in purchasing all or a portion of the Company, but none expressed an interest in purchasing the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture. Each of the Preliminary Companies was directed to submit a written non- binding indication of interest to Lehman Brothers, including, among other things, the prices at which they might pursue a transaction, the form of payment, whether or not such indication of interest would be subject to financing, and the likely timing of the transaction. Five of the Preliminary Companies and groups (including Parent and Westmont acting jointly) (the "Interested Companies") submitted non-binding indications of interest to Lehman Brothers, of which some (including an affiliate of Mr. Royer) expressed a non-binding indication of interest to purchase only the Canadian 18
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assets and the limited-service United States hotels of the Company, of which some expressed a non-binding indication of interest to purchase the entire Company (excluding the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture, but including the cash realized from the sale of the Mexican Joint Venture), of which one expressed a non-binding indication of interest to purchase only the U.S. full-service hotels, and none of which expressed a non-binding indication of interest to include the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture in a purchase. In addition to the joint bid submitted by Parent and Westmont (as described below), the range of bids submitted by each of the other Interested Companies varied because each of these bids proposed to purchase different assets of the Company. Two of the Interested Companies proposed to purchase all of the Company's interest in the Canadian full-service and limited-service hotels and the U.S. limited-service hotels along with certain other assets owned by the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $145 million. Another Interested Company bid $150 million for 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Chartwell Lodging Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Finally, a fourth Interested Company bid $125 million for certain specified assets of the Company. At a September 25, 1997 meeting of the Board, the Board discussed the status of the efforts to sell all or a portion of the Company. At such meeting, the Board formalized the retention of Lehman Brothers. Mr. Fisher then reviewed with the Board the results of those marketing efforts and the nature of the indications of interest received from various parties. The Board discussed the various types of transactions which had been discussed with those parties and the tax and other consequences to the Company. Mr. Fisher stated that he expected formal bids to be received shortly and would convene another Board meeting to consider those bids when they were received. From September 1997 to November 6, 1997, certain of the Interested Companies conducted due diligence with respect to the Company. Each Interested Company was provided with access to information, oral management presentations, legal presentations and access to the facilities of the Company and its subsidiaries. There were two preliminary bids submitted during this period, one joint proposal by Parent and Westmont, and one by another bidder. On November 5, 1997, Mr. Fisher authorized Lehman Brothers to notify Parent and Westmont, and the other bidder (the "Final Bidding Companies"), that final and definitive proposals to acquire the Company be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on November 10, 1997. On November 10, 1997, the Company received the final and definitive proposals from the Final Bidding Companies. Both of the Final Bidding Companies submitted a bid to acquire the Company in a merger transaction (excluding the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture but including the cash realized from the sale of the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture). Parent and Westmont jointly offered to pay $17.00 per Share for all of the Company's outstanding Shares and Options. Parent's and Westmont's offer was not subject to its ability to obtain financing to consummate the proposed transaction. However, Parent's and Westmont's offer was subject to certain material conditions requiring the Company to take certain actions before it would consummate a transaction. The other Final Bidding Company offered an aggregate of $265 million (equal to approximately $16.83 per Share) to acquire the Company, but conditioned its proposal upon obtaining the necessary financing to consummate the proposed transaction. Such Final Bidding Company offered to deposit $10 million in escrow upon the execution with the Company of a definitive agreement which would be paid to the Company if the Final Bidding Party was unable to obtain financing. In addition, that Final Bidding Company offered to deposit in escrow an additional $5 million if it was unable to obtain a reasonably satisfactory financing commitment within 30 days of the execution of a definitive merger agreement. On November 11, 1997, the Board met to discuss and review, with the advice of Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns and Chase, the bids submitted by the Final Bidding Companies. Each of Lehman Brothers and Chase presented to the Board its respective analysis of such bids, and delivered their respective oral opinions that each of such bids was fair from a financial point of view to the stockholders of the Company. The Board considered, among other things, the expense that would be incurred by the Company in order to satisfy the conditions proposed by each of the proposals submitted by the Final Bidding Companies. The Board discussed the possibility that the Final Bidding Companies could be induced to increase their bids and improve the terms of their respective proposals by relaxing the conditions set forth therein, and thereby eliminating some of the uncertainty of consummating a transaction with Parent and Westmont. Following the Board's review and 19
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discussion of the two bids, the Board authorized Mr. Fisher to negotiate with each of the two Final Bidding Companies the most favorable transaction to the stockholders of the Company. Also at the November 11, 1997 Board meeting, the Board established a special committee (the "Special Committee"), consisting of Rachel Robinson and Michael J. Kennedy, non-employee directors of the Company, in order to oversee and negotiate the proposed sale by the Company of its interest in the Mexican Joint Venture. After consulting with Lehman Brothers, Chase and Battle Fowler LLP, the Company's legal counsel ("Battle Fowler"), Mr. Fisher notified each of the Final Bidding Companies that neither of their bids would be accepted, and Mr. Fisher asked each of the Final Bidding Companies to submit a new bid at a higher price. On November 11, 1997, Parent and Westmont jointly submitted to the Company a revised final and definitive proposal of $17.25 per Share, which was subject to fewer conditions than their November 10, 1997 proposal. The other Final Bidding Company did not submit another bid. The Company is unaware of the reason or reasons that the Final Bidding Company did not submit a further bid. On November 11, 1997, representatives of senior management of the Company, Lehman Brothers, Chase and Battle Fowler met at Battle Fowler's offices in New York City to commence negotiations of a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Parent and its legal advisors, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Such negotiations continued in person and by telephone on a continuous basis through November 13, 1997. On November 13, 1997, one of the Interested Companies (not one of the Final Bidding Companies) submitted a written proposal to acquire all of the outstanding stock of the Company (but did not specify whether such bid included or excluded the purchase of the Mexican Joint Venture) at a purchase price equal to $275 million (approximately one percent (1%) higher than the aggregate consideration offered by Parent and Westmont in their final and definitive joint proposal). Additionally, on November 13, 1997, an affiliate of Mr. Royer submitted an oral bid to acquire the Company (which was not accepted by the Company), but that bid did not state the consideration to be received by the stockholders of the Company in that acquisition. Messrs. Fisher and Edelman advised each member of the Board of these bids and discussed with the Board members the fact that the Merger Agreement with Parent was almost fully negotiated and that pursuing either or both proposals might jeopardize the consummation of a transaction with Parent and Westmont, and induce Parent to withdraw its proposal. Consequently, the Board determined not to pursue these proposals. On November 13, 1997, the Board, pursuant to an action by written consent, unanimously authorized and approved the proposed Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, and authorized the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement in substantially the form attached to such written consent (with such changes as management deemed appropriate in respect of certain remaining issues which were not deemed material to the overall transaction) and determined that the Merger Agreement be submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company, and that the Board recommend that such stockholders approve and adopt the Merger Agreement. On November 13, 1997, each of Lehman Brothers and Chase delivered to Mr. Fisher, for the Board, their respective written opinions, that the consideration to be received by the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Merger was fair from a financial point of view. Negotiations between members of senior management of the Company and its legal advisors and representatives of Parent and their legal advisors to finalize the remaining issues in the Merger Agreement continued through November 13, 1997. On November 13, 1997, following the resolution of such open issues, the Company, Parent and Sub executed and delivered the Merger Agreement. On November 13, 1997, the Special Committee had an initial meeting with Chase and Lehman Brothers. On November 14, 1997, the Company issued the following press release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement: Whitehall to Acquire Chartwell Leisure for $17.25 per Share in Cash in a Transaction Valued at $272 Million 20
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NEW YORK, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/--Chartwell Leisure Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRT-- news) today announced that it has reached an agreement in which Whitehall Street Real Estate Limited Partnership IX will acquire Chartwell for $17.25 per share in cash in a transaction valued at approximately $272 million. Chartwell has 15,741,136 of fully diluted shares outstanding. Whitehall, an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co., is a $1.6 billion discretionary real estate investment fund that invests in real estate opportunities worldwide. The acquisition will be made in partnership with Westmont Hospitality Group, Inc., a hotel investment and management company. The transaction, which was unanimously approved by Chartwell's Board of Directors, is expected to close in the first quarter of 1998. The companies signed a definitive merger agreement yesterday. Richard L. Fisher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chartwell, said: "Today's announcement marks the end of an extensive and careful review of alternatives by Chartwell's Board of Directors, the goal of which was to maximize shareholder value. The Board firmly believes that this transaction provides Chartwell shareholders the best return on their investment in our Company." Completion of the transaction is subject to Chartwell shareholder approval and customary closing conditions, including the expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. Chartwell was advised by Lehman Brothers, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and Chase Securities Inc. with regard to this transaction. Chartwell Leisure is a hotel owner/operator and developer. Chartwell Leisure owns, directly or with joint venture partners, 124 hotel properties in both the full-service and limited-service segments, containing approximately 11,100 guest rooms, located in 25 states and six Canadian provinces. On November 24, 1997, the Special Committee had a meeting with Special Counsel. At this meeting, Special Counsel reviewed with the Special Committee the Special Committee's fiduciary and other obligations, and the agreements governing the Mexican Joint Venture, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Merger Agreement and communications between Grupo Piasa and the Company. On November 25, 1997, the Special Committee had a meeting with Chase and Lehman Brothers at which Chase and Lehman Brothers reported to the Special Committee on each of their analyses and valuations of the Mexican Joint Venture. From November 25, 1997 through December 11, 1997, a member of the Special Committee and representatives of the Special Committee had conversations and negotiated with representatives of the Mexican JV Buyer concerning the form of the transaction and the consideration to be paid to the Company by the Mexican JV Buyer. On November 25, 1997, Parent, Sub and Company executed an amendment to the Merger Agreement relating to payments to be made by Parent to the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Certain Other Covenants--Parent Payment and Related Matters." On December 11, 1997, a draft Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Draft JV Purchase Agreement") was agreed to by representatives of the Special Committee and the Mexican JV Buyer. On January 20, 1998, the Special Committee had a meeting with Special Counsel at which it reviewed the conversations and negotiations between the Special Committee and the Mexican JV Buyer, the Draft JV Purchase Agreement, a calculation of the current amount expended and accrued by the Company in connection with the Mexican Joint Venture, the nature of the opinions to be delivered by Chase and Lehman Brothers and proposed action to be taken by the Special Committee, subject to the delivery of the opinions by Chase and Lehman Brothers. On January 21, 1998, the Special Committee had a meeting at which it (i) determined that the sale of the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture to the Mexican JV Buyer is in the best interests of the Company 21
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and is on fair and reasonable terms, no less favorable to the Company than terms that the Company and a non-affiliated person in a similar situation would agree to in an arm's length transaction, and (ii) received favorable fairness opinions from Lehman Brothers and Chase to the effect that such transaction is fair to the Company from a financial point of view. RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD; FAIRNESS OF THE MERGER The Company. In reaching its determination that the Merger is fair to and in the best interests of stockholders, the Board consulted with the Company's management, Chase, Lehman Brothers and legal counsel. Set forth below are factors that the Board considered to be most important in reaching this determination and which support the Board's finding that the Merger is (i) fair and (ii) in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company: (i) the Merger was agreed to by the Board only after issuance by the Company of a press release regarding its review of strategic alternatives, significant publicity concerning the review by the Company of its strategic alternatives and the possibility of the Company being sold, the passage of a significant period of time between issuance of the press release and approval of the Merger Agreement, and contact with a large number of potential bidders over an extended period of time in a lengthy "auction" process; (ii) based on the advice of Chase, Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns, the "auction" process was conducted in a fair, equitable and evenhanded manner and that third parties interested in a transaction with the Company were afforded sufficient time and knowledge to submit a proposal had they wished to do so. See "--Background of the Merger" and "--Financial Advisors; Fairness Opinion"; (iii) a review of the possible alternatives to a sale of the Company in its entirety, including the prospects of selling one or more of the subsidiaries of the Company, conversion to a real estate investment trust, a financial restructuring of the Company, continuing to operate the Company pursuant to management's business plan, the prospects of the Company if it remained independent, the value to the Company's stockholders of such alternatives and the timing and likelihood of achieving additional value from these alternatives, and the possibility that these alternatives might not lead to a higher present value to stockholders than the value of $17.25 to be received by the holders of Shares in the Merger (see "--Background of the Merger"); (iv) the sale of groups of assets of the Company, such as the sale of only the Canadian assets and U.S. limited-service hotels or the U.S. full- service hotels, as some preliminary bidders had proposed, would leave the Company with significant tax liabilities; (v) the presentations of each of Lehman Brothers and Chase, and their respective opinions as to the fairness of the consideration to be received by holders of Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement as discussed in "-- Financial Advisors; Fairness Opinions"; and (vi) CL Associates and FSNL, representing 44.74% of the issued and outstanding Shares, each support the Merger. Set forth below are factors that the Board considered, but which it believed to be of lesser importance, in reaching this determination and which support the Board's finding that the Merger is (i) fair and (ii) in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company: (i) the Board's review and analysis of the Company's business, operations, financial condition, earnings and prospects, as well as the economic and competitive environments facing the Company, including all of which, as a whole, the Board believed supported its decision to pursue the Merger; (ii) the financial terms of the Merger, including the proposed structure of the Merger involving an all cash purchase price and the absence of any financing contingency; (iii) the $17.25 per Share consideration to be paid in the Merger (A) represents a premium for the Shares of approximately 8.6% over the closing price of $15 7/8 per Share on November 13, 1997, the last trading day prior to the public announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement and (B) the per Share consideration to be paid in the Merger represents a premium of approximately 29% over the closing 22
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price of $13 3/8 per Share on June 30, 1997, the last trading day prior to the public announcement that the Company was considering strategic alternatives including a possible sale of the Company; (iv) the Merger Agreement permits the Company to consider unsolicited written proposals from non-affiliates (if required in the exercise of the Board's fiduciary duties to the Company or its stockholders after consultation and based upon the advice of outside legal counsel) to acquire all or a part of the Company and permits the Company to furnish information to and enter into discussions and negotiations with such parties and to terminate the Merger Agreement, subject to certain conditions, including the payment of significant fees and expenses to Parent and Sub (see "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Effective Time," "--No Solicitation of Proposals" and "-- Termination"); (v) pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, each of CL Associates and FSNL will vote all of its respective Shares in the same proportion as the number of Shares held by stockholders of the Company other than CL Associates, FSNL and their affiliates that are voted in favor of and against the Merger; (vi) an entity formed by certain or all of the principals of CL Associates and FSNL proposed to purchase the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture; and (vii) the Merger Agreement was approved unanimously by the Board. Set forth below are certain other material factors that the Board considered in reaching this determination and which weighed against the Board's support of the Merger: (i) certain members of the Company's management and Board have interests in the Merger that are in addition to and not necessarily aligned with the interests in the Merger of the holders of Shares generally; (ii) the possibility that if the Merger were announced but not consummated, the price of the Shares could decline significantly below the current trading price (which reflects, in part, the premium to be paid in the Merger to the holders of Shares); (iii) the terms of the Merger Agreement that set forth the restrictions on the conduct of the Company's business pending closing, conditions to closing and the significant fees and expenses that would become payable in the event of a termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances; and (iv) following the Merger, the Company's stockholders will no longer be able to participate in the potential growth of the Company. The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the Board sets forth a list of material factors considered by the Board, but is not intended to be exhaustive of all factors considered by the Board. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY HAS DETERMINED THAT THE MERGER IS FAIR TO AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF STOCKHOLDERS, HAS APPROVED THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT. Approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon. FINANCIAL ADVISORS; FAIRNESS OPINIONS Opinion of Lehman Brothers In September 1997, the Company engaged Lehman Brothers to act as its financial advisor to assist in the Board's study of strategic alternatives available to the Company. Prior to this time, the Company had retained Bear Stearns and Chase for such purpose. Due to a personnel change whereby an employee of Bear Stearns who had been principally responsible for the strategic review of the Company and the efforts to market the Company moved to Lehman Brothers, Lehman Brothers agreed with Bear Stearns and the Company that Lehman Brothers would participate with Bear Stearns as financial advisor to the Company and that Lehman Brothers would render 23
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the fairness opinion previously contemplated to be rendered to the Board by Bear Stearns. Lehman Brothers acted as the Company's financial advisor in soliciting indications of interest in and proposals for a potential business combination with the Company and negotiating with interested parties, including Parent and Sub. Lehman Brothers was also engaged to render its opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of the Company of the consideration to be received by the stockholders of the Company in the Merger. On November 11, 1997, in connection with the evaluation of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby by the Board, Lehman Brothers delivered its oral opinion, which opinion was subsequently confirmed in writing, that, as of November 13, 1997, and subject to assumptions, factors and limitations as described in that opinion, the consideration to be received by the stockholders of the Company in the Merger was fair, from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of the Company. THE FULL TEXT OF THE WRITTEN OPINION OF LEHMAN BROTHERS IS ATTACHED AS ANNEX B HERETO AND IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. STOCKHOLDERS MAY READ SUCH OPINION FOR A DISCUSSION OF ASSUMPTIONS MADE, MATTERS CONSIDERED AND LIMITATIONS ON THE REVIEW UNDERTAKEN BY LEHMAN BROTHERS IN RENDERING ITS OPINION. THE SUMMARY OF THE OPINION OF LEHMAN BROTHERS SET FORTH HEREIN DESCRIBES ALL MATERIAL ASPECTS OF THE OPINION BUT IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE FULL TEXT OF SUCH OPINION. No limitations were imposed by the Company on the scope of Lehman Brothers's investigation or the procedures to be followed by Lehman Brothers in rendering its opinion. In arriving at its opinion, Lehman Brothers did not ascribe a specific range of values to the Company, but made its determination as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by the stockholders of the Company on the basis of the financial and comparative analyses described below. Lehman Brothers' opinion is for the use and benefit of the Board and was rendered to the Board in connection with its consideration of the Merger Proposal and is not intended to be and does not constitute a recommendation to any Stockholder as to how such Stockholder should vote with respect to the Merger Proposal at the Special Meeting. Lehman Brothers was not requested to opine as to, and its opinion does not in any manner address, the Company's underlying business decision to proceed with or effect the Merger. In arriving at its opinion, Lehman Brothers reviewed and analyzed: (i) the Merger Agreement and the terms of the Merger; (ii) publicly available information concerning the Company which Lehman Brothers believed to be relevant to its analysis; (iii) financial and operating information with respect to the business, operations, properties and prospects of the Company furnished to Lehman Brothers by the Company; (iv) a trading history of the Shares from January 1, 1996 to the present and a comparison of that trading history with those of other companies which Lehman Brothers deemed relevant; (v) a comparison of the historical financial results and present financial condition of the Company with those of other companies which Lehman Brothers deemed relevant; (vi) an evaluation of the specific properties of the Company with respect to the sale of such properties in an orderly liquidation of the Company; and (vii) the results of efforts to solicit indications of interest and proposals from third parties with respect to a purchase of all or a portion of the businesses and/or properties of the Company. In addition, Lehman Brothers had discussions with the management of the Company concerning its business, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, financial condition and prospects and undertook such other studies, analyses and investigations as Lehman Brothers deemed appropriate. In arriving at its opinion, Lehman Brothers assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of the financial and other information used by it in arriving at its opinion without assuming any responsibility for independent verification of such information and further relied upon the assurances of management of the Company that they were not aware of any facts or circumstances that would make such information inaccurate or misleading. With respect to the financial projections of the Company for the remainder of fiscal year 1997, 24
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upon advice of the Company, Lehman Brothers assumed that such projections were reasonably prepared on a basis reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of the Company as to the future financial performance of the Company during such period and that the Company will perform substantially in accordance with such projections during such period. However, in arriving at its opinion, Lehman Brothers was not provided with and did not have any access to detailed financial projections of the Company for any period subsequent to the Company's 1997 fiscal year. In arriving at its opinion, Lehman Brothers conducted only a limited physical inspection of certain of the properties and facilities of the Company and did not make or obtain any evaluation or appraisals of the assets or liabilities of the Company. Lehman Brothers' opinion was necessarily based upon market, economic and other conditions as they existed on, and could be evaluated as of, the date of its opinion. In connection with its opinion, Lehman Brothers performed a variety of financial and comparative analyses, as summarized below. The preparation of a fairness opinion involves various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial and comparative analysis and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances and, therefore, such an opinion is not readily susceptible to summary description. Furthermore, in arriving at its opinion, Lehman Brothers did not attribute any particular weight to any analysis and factor considered by it, but rather made qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor. Accordingly, Lehman Brothers believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that considering any portion of such analyses and factors considered, without considering all analyses and factors considered, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the process underlying its opinion. In its analyses, Lehman Brothers made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic conditions, the competitive environment in the markets in which the Company operates and other matters. Many of these assumptions are beyond the control of the Company. Any estimates contained in these analyses are not necessarily indicative of actual values or predictive of future results or values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than as set forth therein. In addition, analyses relating to the value of businesses do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which businesses actually may be sold. Analysis of Selected Relevant Publicly Traded Companies. Using publicly available information, Lehman Brothers compared selected financial data of the Company with similar data of selected publicly-traded hotel companies engaged in businesses considered by Lehman Brothers to be relevant to those of the Company. Specifically, Lehman Brothers included in its review Bristol Hotel Company, CapStar Hotel Company, Red Roof Inns, Servico Inc. and John Q. Hammons Hotels (the "Lehman Brothers Peer Group"). Lehman Brothers analyzed the trading multiples of this group of comparable companies. Lehman Brothers calculated, among other things, current market price per share (the "Market Price") as a multiple of 1997 earnings per share ("EPS") for each of the Lehman Brothers Peer Group. The 1997 EPS per share estimates were based upon the median of publicly-available earnings estimates made by research analysts as provided by First Call Investor Services. Lehman Brothers also calculated total enterprise value based upon the market value of the equity ("Market Capitalization") as a multiple of estimated 1997 earnings before interest and taxes plus depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") for each of the Lehman Brothers Peer Group. Lehman Brothers calculated the following multiples of the Lehman Peer Group: (i) a range of 13.1x to 28.5x with a mean of 20.7x for the ratio of Market Price to 1997 estimated EPS; and (ii) a range of 6.7x to 13.9x with a mean of 9.5x for the ratio of Market Price to 1997 estimated EBITDA. Applying these multiples to the Company indicated an imputed value of the Company of $10.87 to $24.23 per fully-diluted Share. Because of the lack of a sufficient number of comparable companies and the inherent differences in the businesses, operations and prospects of the Company and the businesses, operations and prospects of the companies included in the Lehman Brothers Peer Group, Lehman Brothers believed it was inappropriate to, and therefore did not, rely solely on the quantitative results of the analysis, and accordingly also made qualitative judgments concerning differences between the financial and operating characteristics of the Company and the companies in the Lehman Brothers Peer Group, which would affect the public trading values of the Company and such comparable companies. Real Estate Valuation Analysis. Lehman Brothers estimated the value of the real estate assets owned by the Company, as well as the value of the non-real estate franchise and management businesses owned by the 25
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Company. Lehman Brothers calculated values of the Company's assets generally based on ranges of capitalization rates with 6.4% as the lowest capitalization rate in any range and 19.0% as the highest rate in any range applied to projected fiscal 1997 EBITDA for income producing properties, plus an adjustment for the estimated value of non-income producing property. Such capitalization rates used in this analysis were determined on the basis of several assumptions regarding factors such as a relatively constant inflation rate (between 2.0% and 4.0%), relatively stable interest rates (a yield between 5.0% and 7.5% on the 30-year U.S. Treasury bond) and the inherent business risks of the Company and the costs of equity capital (which vary according to the different investment risks of such properties). This analysis indicated an imputed equity value (defined as aggregate value minus net debt) of the Company of $16.62 to $19.14 per fully-diluted share. Lehman Brothers also noted that the Original Real Estate Valuation Analysis presented by Bear Stearns to the Board in June 1997 established a range of $17.22 to $19.63 per fully-diluted Share. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Background of the Merger." Historical Stock Price Analysis; Premium Analysis. Lehman Brothers considered various historical data concerning the history of the trading prices for the Shares for the period from January 1, 1996 to November 12, 1997 (the last trading date prior to the execution of the Merger Agreement) and the relationship between price movements of the Shares as compared to two composite indices based upon the Lehman Brothers Hotel REIT Index (which is an index of publicly traded hotel real estate investment trusts) and upon the Lehman Brothers Peer Group for the same period. At November 10, 1997, the closing Share price of the Company was $15.875. From January 1, 1996 to November 10, 1997, the Shares under-performed both the Lehman Brothers Hotel REIT Index and an index of the Lehman Brothers Peer Group. The weighted average closing Share price for the period (which vary according to the different investment risks of such properties) January 1, 1996 through November 10, 1997, was $14.10. Based on the closing price of $15.875 per Share on November 10, 1997 (the last trading date prior to the execution of the Merger Agreement), the $17.25 per Share merger consideration represents an approximate 8.6% premium. Based on the closing price of $13.375 per Share on June 30, 1997 (the last trading day prior to the Company's announcement that it had retained Bear Stearns and Chase to study strategic alternatives for the Company), the $17.25 per Share merger consideration represents an approximate 29% premium. Based on the average closing Share price for the period January 1, 1996 through November 12, 1997, the $17.25 per Share merger consideration represents an approximate 22% premium. Lehman Brothers is an internationally recognized investment banking firm and, as part of its investment banking activities, is regularly engaged in the evaluation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, competitive bids, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for corporate and other purposes. The Board selected Lehman Brothers because of its personnel, expertise, reputation and familiarity with the real estate and hotel industries. Lehman Brothers has consented to the disclosure of and references to its opinion in this Proxy Statement. As compensation for its services in connection with the Merger, the Company has agreed to pay Lehman Brothers a fee equal to $125,000 upon execution by the Company of a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement with respect to the Merger (which represents 50% of the fee agreed to be paid by the Company to Bear Stearns as described below) and a fee upon consummation of the Merger based on the aggregate value of the consideration received by the stockholders of the Company plus the aggregate principal amount of certain indebtedness for money borrowed assumed by Parent in connection with the Merger, net of any cash received by Parent to repay such debt. The fee payable to Lehman Brothers upon consummation of the Merger is expected to total approximately $1.36 million. In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify Lehman Brothers for certain liabilities that may arise out of its engagement by the Company and the rendering of its opinion. In the ordinary course of its business, Lehman Brothers may trade in the Shares for its own account and for the accounts of its customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities. 26
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Opinion of Chase. Pursuant to an engagement letter dated July 9, 1997, the Board formalized its retention of Chase to act as its financial advisor in connection with the consideration by the Company of various strategic and financial alternatives available to it to maximize stockholder value, including the possible sale of all or a portion of the Company. Chase is a nationally recognized firm and, as a part of its investment banking activities, is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with merger transactions and other types of acquisitions, private placements and valuations for corporate and other purposes. The Company selected Chase as its financial advisor on the basis of Chase's experience and expertise in transactions similar to the Merger, its reputation in the lodging and investment communities, and because Chase was familiar with the Company from having previously served as an investment banker for the Company. On November 11, 1997, Chase delivered its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed in writing as of November 13, 1997, that the consideration to be received by the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Merger is fair to such stockholders from a financial point of view. The amount of such consideration was determined pursuant to negotiations between the Company and Parent and Sub and not pursuant to recommendations of Chase. No limitations were imposed by the Company on Chase with respect to the investigations made or procedures followed in rendering its opinion. THE FULL TEXT OF CHASE'S WRITTEN OPINION TO THE COMPANY IS ATTACHED HERETO AS ANNEX C AND IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF CHASE'S OPINION DESCRIBES ALL MATERIAL ASPECTS OF THE OPINION BUT IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE FULL TEXT OF THE OPINION. CHASE'S OPINION IS DIRECTED TO THE BOARD AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A RECOMMENDATION TO ANY STOCKHOLDER OF THE COMPANY AS TO HOW SUCH STOCKHOLDER SHOULD VOTE WITH RESPECT TO THE MERGER. In connection with its opinion, Chase, among other things: (i) reviewed publicly available financial and other data with respect to the Company, including the consolidated financial statements for recent years and interim periods to September 30, 1997 and certain other relevant financial and operating data relating to the Company made available to Chase from published sources and from the internal records of the Company; (ii) reviewed the Merger Agreement; (iii) reviewed certain publicly available information concerning the trading of, and the trading market for, the Common Stock; (iv) compared the Company from a financial point of view with certain other companies in the lodging industry which Chase deemed to be relevant; (v) considered the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of selected recent business combinations of companies in the lodging industry which Chase deemed to be comparable, in whole or in part, to the Merger; (vi) reviewed and discussed with the management of the Company certain information of a business and financial nature regarding the Company, furnished to Chase by them, including management forecasts of the Company and its portfolio of hotel properties for 1997, and historical financial information regarding the Company's hotel properties; (vii) made inquiries regarding and discussed the Merger and the Merger Agreement and other matters related thereto with the Company's counsel; and (viii) performed such other analyses and examinations as Chase deemed appropriate. The opinion provided by Chase is based on the value of the entire Company, including the Mexican Joint Venture. An estimated value of $3.7 million (representing all capital contributed by the Company as of November 6, 1997 plus certain allocated corporate overhead expenses) was utilized as an estimate of the cash proceeds which were expected to be received by the Company in connection with the sale of the Mexican Joint Venture. In connection with its review, Chase did not assume any obligation independently to verify the foregoing information and relied on the 1997 forecasts prepared by the Company's management and provided to Chase. Chase assumed for purposes of its opinion, with the consent of the Company, that the 1997 forecasts were reasonably prepared on the basis reflecting the best available estimates and judgments of the Company's management at the time of preparation as to the future financial performance of the Company. The Company does not publicly disclose internal management forecasts of the type provided to Chase by management in 27
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connection with Chase's review of the proposed Merger. Such forecasts were not prepared with a view toward public disclosure. In addition, such forecasts were based upon numerous variables and assumptions that are inherently uncertain, including, without limitation, factors related to general economic and competitive conditions. Accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from those set forth in such forecasts. Chase has assumed no liability for such forecast. Chase also assumed that there have been no material changes in the Company's assets, financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects since the date of its last financial statements made available to Chase, except for such changes disclosed by management of the Company to Chase prior to the date of Chase's opinion. Chase relied on advice of counsel and independent accountants to the Company as to all legal and financial reporting matters with respect to the Company, the Merger and the Merger Agreement, including the status and financial reporting of litigation involving the Company. Chase assumed that the Merger will be consummated in a manner that complies in all respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and other applicable federal and state statutes, rules and regulations. In addition, Chase did not assume responsibility for making an independent evaluation, appraisal or environmental inspection of any of the assets or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of the Company, nor was Chase furnished with any such appraisals. Finally, Chase's opinion is based on economic, monetary, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to Chase as of the date of its opinion. Accordingly, although subsequent developments may affect Chase's opinion, Chase did not assume any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm its opinion. Chase also assumed that the Merger will be consummated in accordance with the terms described in the Merger Agreement, without any further amendments thereto, and without waiver by the Company of any of the conditions to its obligations thereunder. Set forth below is a brief summary of the report presented by Chase to the Board on November 11, 1997, in connection with its opinion. Marketing Summary. The Company issued a press release on June 30, 1997, stating that it had hired Bear Stearns and Chase to "help Chartwell consider strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the Company." Subsequently, a comprehensive marketing effort on behalf of the Company was conducted. Comparable Company Analysis. Using public and other available information, Chase calculated the trading multiples of estimated 1997 operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") at which comparable lodging companies were trading on November 8, 1997. The following nine publicly traded lodging companies ("Chase Peer Group") were analyzed: Bristol Hotel Company; Capstar Hotel Company; LaQuinta Inns, Inc.; Prime Hospitality Corp.; Servico Inc.; Boykin Lodging Company; Equity Inns Inc.; Innkeepers USA Trust and Winston Hotels Inc. Trading multiples for the Chase Peer Group based on November 8, 1997 closing stock prices resulted in a range of trading multiples from 9.0x to 13.4x estimated 1997 EBITDA. Chase evaluated the comparability of the Company relative to the Chase Peer Group and deemed certain public companies less comparable than others. Based on this analysis, Chase computed an adjusted range of public company trading multiples of 9.25x to 11.25x estimated 1997 EBITDA. Utilizing the Company's estimated 1997 EBITDA of $26.8 million, Chase imputed a range of value based on the adjusted public company trading multiples. Such analysis yielded a range of enterprise value from $248 million to $301 million, and a range of equity value from $15.37 to $18.77 per fully-diluted share. Equity value per Share for this purpose is equal to enterprise value less net debt of $31.8 million plus option proceeds divided by the 15.7 million Shares outstanding or subject to issuance. Comparable Transactions Analysis. To the extent information was publicly available, Chase reviewed the consideration paid in mergers and acquisitions in which the target company was deemed comparable to the Company. The following seven comparable transactions were reviewed (acquiror/target): Sunstone Hotel Investors/Kahler Realty Corp.; Equity Inns/Hampton Inn Hotels; Capstar Hotel/Highgate Portfolio; Tiger R/E Fund/Kahler Realty; Bristol Hotel/Holiday Inns; Doubletree/Red Lion Hotels; and Accor/Motel 6. Chase analyzed the consideration in such transactions as a multiple of the target companies' operating earnings before interest, taxes, deprecation and amortization ("EBITDA") for the latest twelve months ("LTM EBITDA"). 28
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Such analysis yielded a range of LTM EBITDA multiples from 6.8x to 13.8x with a mean and median of 10.9x and 11.5x LTM EBITDA, respectively. Chase determined that certain transactions were less comparable and accordingly adjusted the range of transaction multiples. This analysis yielded a range of enterprise value from $261 million to $315 million, and equity value from $16.22 to $19.62 per fully-diluted share. Equity value per Share for this purpose is equal to enterprise value less net debt of $31.8 million plus option proceeds divided by the 15.7 million Shares outstanding or subject to issuance. No publicly traded company or merger transaction used in the comparable transactions analysis is identical to the Company or the Merger. Accordingly, an analysis of the results of the foregoing is not mathematical; rather, it involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics of the companies and other factors that could affect the public trading value of the companies to which the Company and the Merger are being compared. Analysis by Property/Asset. Chase reviewed financial information which was provided by the Company regarding fiscal year 1996 and 1997 estimated operational performance of each of the 121 hotel properties owned (in whole or in part) or managed by the Company and assigned an EBITDA multiple ranging from 5.0x to 12.0x to each of the hotel properties in the portfolio. Chase determined the range of EBITDA multiples which were applied to each of the Company's hotel properties based on a review of lease terms, average daily hotel rates and occupancy rates. After certain adjustments including net debt of $31.8 million on September 30, 1997, estimated franchise and other termination fees, sale proceeds from the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture and other assets, this analysis yielded an equity value of $212 million to $277 million, or $15.70 to $20.49 per share. Excluded from this analysis were costs associated with liquidating the hotel portfolio. Equity value per Share for this purpose is equal to enterprise value less net debt of $31.8 million divided by 13.5 million primary Shares, excluding costs associated with liquidating the portfolio and joint ventures. In connection with its opinion, Chase performed procedures to reconfirm, as necessary, certain of the analyses described above and reviewed the assumptions on which such analyses were based and on the factors considered in connection therewith. While the foregoing summary describes all analyses and examinations that Chase deems material to its opinion, it is not a comprehensive description of all analyses and examinations actually conducted by Chase. The preparation of a fairness opinion necessarily is not susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. Chase believes that its analyses and the summary set forth above must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses and of the factors considered, without considering all analyses and factors, would create an incomplete view of the process underlying the analyses set forth in its presentation to the Company. Accordingly, the ranges of valuations resulting from any particular analysis described above should not be taken to be Chase's view of the actual value of the Company. In performing its analyses, Chase made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The analyses performed by Chase are not necessarily indicative of the actual values or actual future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by such analyses. Such analyses were prepared solely as part of Chase's analysis of the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Merger consideration to the Company's stockholders and were provided to the Company in connection with the delivery of Chase's opinion. The analyses do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which a company might actually be sold or the prices at which any securities may trade at any time in the future. Chase used in its analyses various projections of future performance prepared by the management of the Company. The projections are based on numerous variables and assumptions which are inherently unpredictable and must be considered not certain of occurrence as projected. Accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from those set forth in such projections. As described above, Chase's opinion and presentation to the Company were among the many factors taken into consideration by the Board in making its determination to approve, and to recommend that its stockholders approve, the Merger. 29
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Chase has consented to the disclosure of the references to its opinion in this Proxy Statement. Pursuant to the engagement letter dated July 9, 1997, the Company engaged Chase to act as its financial advisor in connection with the consideration by the Company of various strategic and financial alternatives available to it. As compensation for Chase's services, the Company has agreed to pay Chase a fee equal to the lesser of $1 million or 0.25% of the Merger Consideration. The fee payable to Chase upon consummation of the Merger is expected to total approximately $679,000. In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify Chase for certain liabilities that may arise out of its engagement by the Company and the rendering of its opinion. Chase Manhattan Bank, an affiliate of Chase, is the administrative agent for the Company's credit facility which will be repaid at the Effective Time. Engagement of Bear Stearns. In connection with its engagement by the Company, Bear Stearns analyzed and discussed with the Board strategic alternatives available to the Company, including the possible sale to the Company, and assisted the Company in identifying and contacting potential acquirors of all or a portion of the Company's business. Bear Stearns was not requested to, and did not, render any opinion to the Board with respect to the fairness of the Merger. As compensation for Bear Stearns' analysis of strategic alternatives available to the Company during June 1997 the Company paid Bear Stearns a fee of $100,000. Pursuant to an engagement letter dated June 30, 1997, the Company agreed to pay Bear Stearns a fee equal to $250,000 upon execution by the Company of a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement with respect to the Merger (of which Bear Stearns, pursuant to its agreement with the Company and Lehman Brothers to split Bear Stearns' fee with Lehman Brothers, is entitled to $125,000), and a fee (the "Merger Fee") upon consummation of the Merger based on the aggregate value of the consideration received by the stockholders of the Company plus the aggregate principal amount of certain indebtedness for money borrowed assumed by Parent in connection with the Merger, net of any cash received by Parent to repay such debt. The $250,000 fee will be credited against the Merger Fee. Based on a price for the Shares of $17.25 per Share, the fee payable to Bear Stearns upon consummation of the Merger would total approximately $1.36 million. In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify Bear Stearns for certain liabilities that may arise out of its engagement by the Company and the rendering of its opinion. PURPOSE AND STRUCTURE OF THE MERGER The purpose of the Merger is for Parent to acquire control of, and the entire equity interest in, the Company. Parent and Westmont may enter into certain agreements by which Westmont could acquire a direct interest in Sub and thereby would hold an equity interest in the Company. See "--Certain Effects of the Merger" The acquisition of the Shares from the holders of such Shares is structured as a cash merger in order to transfer ownership of the Shares to Parent in one transaction and to provide cash to the holders of such Shares. The Merger has been structured as a merger of Sub with and into the Company, with the Company to be the Surviving Corporation, in order to provide flexibility with respect to certain financial, operational and tax planning considerations. After the Merger, the Surviving Corporation will be a subsidiary of Parent. For additional information concerning the purpose of the Merger, see "-- Background of the Merger," "--Recommendation of the Board; Fairness of the Merger" and "--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest" and "CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARENT AND SUB." CERTAIN EFFECTS OF THE MERGER At the Effective Time, (i) Sub will merge with and into the Company and the separate corporate existence of Sub will cease, (ii) the Surviving Corporation will be a subsidiary of Parent, (iii) all the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises of the Company and Sub will vest in the Surviving Corporation and (iv) all obligations, duties, debts and liabilities of the Company and Sub will be the obligations, duties, debts and liabilities of the Surviving Corporation. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company will be amended such that the Certificate of Incorporation of Sub in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the 30
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Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and the By-Laws of Sub in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation. Immediately after the Effective Time, the directors and officers of Sub will be the directors of the Surviving Corporation. Upon completion of the Merger, Parent intends to conduct a detailed review of the Company and its assets, corporate structure, operations, properties, policies, management and personnel and consider what, if any, changes would be desirable in light of the circumstances which then exist. Such changes could include changes in the Company's business, operations, policies, property portfolio, corporate structure, management and personnel. Subsequent to the Merger, Parent intends for the Company or its stockholder to take certain actions, including the transfer of certain of their assets to related entities, and the election of the Company or its stockholder to be treated as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes. Parent presently intends to enter into management arrangements with Westmont pursuant to which Westmont would manage the day-to-day operations of the Company's facilities. In addition, it is contemplated that Westmont would acquire a minority equity interest in the Company concurrently with or following consummation of the Merger for the same cost per share paid by Parent in the Merger. Further, Parent is presently in discussions to sell up to an aggregate of 10% of its equity investment in the Company to Bridge Street Real Estate Fund 1998, L.P. ("Bridge Street") and Stone Street Real Estate Fund 1998, L.P. ("Stone Street") for the same cost per Share paid by Parent in the Merger, at or following the consummation of the Merger. Bridge Street and Stone Street are funds affiliated with Parent established to make investments for the benefit of certain employees, country advisors, limited partners and managing directors and their spouses of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and other operating companies of GS Group. In the future, Parent may seek to refinance any outstanding indebtedness of the Company, enter into new financing arrangements and incur new debt, sell equity in the Company, purchase new assets or sell some or all of the Company's existing assets. Additionally, Parent is exploring the feasibility of selling or contributing the Company's Canadian assets to an entity that would be controlled by Parent and/or Westmont. As a result of the Merger, the Shares will no longer be publicly traded and Parent will become the sole stockholder of the Surviving Corporation. Following the Merger, persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the Merger will no longer have an opportunity to continue their interests in the Company as an ongoing corporation and therefore will not share in its future earnings and potential growth. Trading in the Shares on NASDAQ will cease immediately following the Effective Time. At the Effective Time, the Shares will be delisted from NASDAQ. Registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act also will be terminated, as will the ongoing disclosure requirements thereunder. Stockholders who properly perfect their statutory appraisal rights under and in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL will have the right to seek appraisal of their Shares. See "STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL." INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE MERGER; POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Certain members of the Company's management and the Board may be deemed to have certain interests in the Merger that are in addition to their interests as stockholders of the Company generally. The Board was aware of and discussed these interests in connection with its consideration and approval of the Merger Agreement. In considering the recommendation of the Board in respect of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, the stockholders of the Company should be aware of these interests which may present actual or potential conflicts of interest with respect to the Merger. Stock Options. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company will (a) terminate the Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Option Plan") immediately prior to the Effective Time without prejudice to the rights of the holders of options (the "Options") awarded pursuant thereto and (b) except for automatic grants of Options to directors under the Stock Option Plan, grant no additional Options under the Stock Option Plan. The 31
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Company has obtained the consent of each holder of an Option (whether or not then vested or exercisable) under the Stock Option Plan at the Effective Time to the cancellation of such holder's Options (without regard to the exercise price of such Option), to take effect immediately prior to the Effective Time. Each such consent requires the Company to pay in respect of each Option an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price of such Option, multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Option, without any interest thereon (the "Option Consideration"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment may be withheld in respect of any Option until the consent of the holder thereof to its cancellation as contemplated hereby is obtained. The surrender of an Option to the Company will be deemed a release of any and all rights the holder had or may have had in such Option, other than the right to receive the Option Consideration in respect thereof. The following presents the aggregate amounts of all benefits to be received by insiders, including stay bonuses, contractual severance, moving reimbursement, consulting arrangements and option profits exercisable as a direct result of the Merger. · Download Table STAY CONSULTING OPTION BONUSES ARRANGEMENT PROFITS(A) TOTAL -------- ----------- ---------- ---------- Martin Edelman................... $300,000(b) $250,000(c) $1,693,125 $2,243,125 Michael Kennedy.................. 118,125 118,125 Richard L. Fisher................ 2,485,625 2,485,625 Marc E. Leland................... 174,375 174,375 Douglas H. Verner(d)............. 430,625 430,625 Kenneth J. Weber(e).............. 475,000 475,000 Samuel Rosenberg................. 50,000 362,500 412,500 Rachel Robinson.................. 29,925 29,925 Guido Goldman.................... 29,925 29,925 Stephen Holmes................... 205,275 205,275 Henry Silverman.................. 4,136,981 4,136,981 Len Howell(d).................... 546,875 546,875 Adrian Werner(d)................. 265,000 265,000 Terrance Royer(f)................ 68,750 68,750 -------- (a) Includes currently vested and non-vested options (all options vest at the Effective Time). (b) Up to $300,000--to be decided by the Board. (c) Approximate--final terms have not been agreed. (d) In addition, the Company has notified Douglas H. Verner, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, Leonard Howell, Jr., Vice President of Development, and Adrian Werner, Vice President of Construction, that it will not renew the terms of their respective employment agreements with the Company which terminate at the end of February 1998. Accordingly, pursuant to such employment agreements, the Company is obligated to pay to Messrs. Verner, Howell and Werner, severance payments of $48,750, $37,500 and $37,500, respectively. The Company is also obligated to reimburse Mr. Howell for moving expenses in the amount of $10,000. (e) In addition, Mr. Weber has an employment contract with the Company through March 1999. (f) Does not include any consideration to be received by Royco, of which Mr. Royer is an executive officer and beneficial owner, if management contracts covering Canadian properties owned by the Company are terminated. 32
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As of the Record Date, executive officers and directors of the Company held outstanding Options as follows: · Enlarge/Download Table WEIGHTED NUMBER WEIGHTED AVERAGE VESTED NON-VESTED OF OPTION NON- AVERAGE NON- OPTION OPTION TOTAL NAME AND TITLE SHARES PRICE VESTED VESTED VESTED VESTED CONSIDERATION CONSIDERATION PROFIT -------------- --------- ------- ------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ------------- ----------- Martin L. Edelman....... 15,000 $ 16.75 15,000 -- $ 7,500 $ 7,500 Martin L. Edelman....... 15,000 $ 9.875 10,000 5,000 73,750 $ 36,875 110,625 Martin L. Edelman....... 300,000 $ 13.25 100,000 200,000 400,000 800,000 118,125 Martin L. Edelman....... 150,000 $ 14.75 -- 150,000 -- 375,000 375,000 --------- ------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- 480,000 125,000 355,000 13.40 13.84 $ 481,250 $1,211,875 $1,693,125 Michael J. Kennedy...... 15,000 $ 16.75 15,000 -- $ 7,500 -- $ 7,500 Michael J. Kennedy...... 15,000 $ 9.875 10,000 5,000 73,750 $ 36,875 $ 110,625 --------- ------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- 30,000 25,000 5,000 14.00 9.88 $ 81,250 $ 36,875 $ 118,125 Richard L. Fisher....... 15,000 $ 9.875 10,000 5,000 $ 73,750 $ 36,875 $ 110,625 Richard L. Fisher....... 500,000 $ 13.25 166,667 333,333 666,668 1,333,332 $ 2,000,000 Richard L. Fisher....... 150,000 $ 14.75 -- 150,000 -- 375,000 $ 375,000 --------- ------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- 665,000 176,667 488,333 13.06 13.68 $ 740,418 $1,745,207 $ 2,485,625 Marc E. Leland.......... 15,000 $ 9.875 10,000 5,000 $ 73,750 $ 36,875 $ 110,625 Marc E. Leland.......... 15,000 $ 13.00 5,000 10,000 21,250 42,500 $ 63,750 --------- ------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- 30,000 15,000 15,000 10.92 11.96 $ 95,000 $ 79,375 $ 174,375 Douglas H. Verner....... 65,000 $10.625 21,667 43,333 10.63 10.63 $ 143,544 $ 287,081 $ 430,625 Kenneth J. Weber........ 100,000 $ 13.25 33,333 66,667 $ 133,332 $ 266,668 $ 400,000 Kenneth J. Weber........ 30,000 $ 14.75 -- 30,000 -- 75,000 $ 75,000 --------- ------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- 130,000 33,333 96,667 13.25 13.72 $ 133,332 $ 341,668 $ 475,000 Samuel Rosenberg........ 75,000 $ 13.25 25,000 50,000 $ 100,000 $ 200,000 $ 300,000 Samuel Rosenberg........ 25,000 $ 14.75 -- 25,000 -- 62,500 $ 62,500 --------- ------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- 100,000 25,000 75,000 13.25 13.75 $ 100,000 $ 262,500 $ 362,500 Rachel Robinson......... 15,000 $16.875 5,000 10,000 $ 1,875 $ 3,750 $ 5,625 Rachel Robinson......... 15,000 $ 15.63 -- 15,000 -- 24,300 $ 24,300 --------- ------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- 30,000 5,000 25,000 16.88 16.13 $ 1,875 $ 28,050 $ 29,925 Guido Goldman........... 15,000 $16.875 5,000 10,000 $ 1,875 $ 3,750 $ 5,625 Guido Goldman........... 15,000 $ 15.63 -- 15,000 -- 24,300 $ 24,300 --------- ------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- 30,000 5,000 25,000 16.88 16.13 $ 1,875 $ 28,050 $ 29,925 Terrance Royer.......... 25,000 $ 14.50 25,000 -- 14.50 0.00 $ 68,750 -- $ 68,750 Stephen Holmes.......... 11,900 $ 0.00 10,650 -- 0.00 0.00 $ 205,275 -- $ 205,275 Henry Silverman......... 239,825 $ 0.00 239,825 -- 0.00 0.00 $4,136,981 -- $ 4,136,981 --------- ------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Total Options........... 1,836,725 708,392 1,128,333 $6,189,550 4,020,681 $10,210,231 ========= ======= ========= ========== ========== =========== Sale of Mexican Joint Venture Interest. In July 1996, Chartwell Mexico Corp., a Delaware corporation and a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a joint venture, Grupo Chartwell de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (the "Mexican Joint Venture"), with a subsidiary of Grupo Piasa, S.A. de C.V., a diversified Mexican real estate and development company ("Grupo Piasa"), for the purpose of developing and operating, or franchising others to operate, lodging facilities in Mexico under the Travelodge and Thriftlodge brand names. The Mexican Joint Venture has one hotel nearing completion with 129 rooms, representing approximately 1% of the Company's total number of rooms and hotels. In addition, it has started construction on a second hotel with 123 rooms which is expected to result in the addition of approximately 1% to the Company's total number of rooms and hotels. The Mexican Joint Venture is a party to a master license agreement (the "Master License Agreement"), dated as of September 18, 1996, with Travelodge Hotels, Inc. ("Travelodge"), a subsidiary of Cendant, pursuant to which Travelodge granted the Mexican Joint Venture an exclusive 30-year license to franchise the Travelodge system throughout Mexico. In addition, the Mexican Joint Venture has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Hilton Hotels to develop certain Hilton Hotel products in Mexico. The Mexican Joint Venture has not accounted for any of the Company's revenue and accounts for approximately 2% of the Company's assets as measured by book value. 33
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As described in "SPECIAL FACTORS--Background of the Merger" the Board offered to potential third-party bidders the opportunity to submit bids for the Company both including and excluding the Mexican Joint Venture. The Company did not receive any final and definitive proposals for the Company that included the Mexican Joint Venture. Grupo Piasa has the right to purchase the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture at its fair market value in the event of a "change of control" in the Company. The Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement constitute a "change of control" for purposes of Grupo Piasa's right to purchase the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture. Grupo Piasa has informed the Company that, as a result of the Merger, Grupo Piasa will exercise its right to acquire the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture unless the Fisher, Getty and/or de Gunzberg families (or at least the Fisher family) and Martin L. Edelman acquire the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture. No third-party bidder submitted a proposal which included the purchase of the Mexican Joint Venture. An entity, Rio Grande Partners (the "Mexican JV Buyer"), to be formed by the principals of Chartwell Leisure Associates L.P. II, a Delaware limited partnership ("CL Associates"), and FSNL LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company ("FSNL"), beneficial owners of 44.74% of the issued and outstanding Shares, will agree to purchase the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture for a cash purchase price equal to 110% of all amounts expended and accrued by the Company as of the Effective Time (an amount to be not less than $3,750,000) in connection with or related to the Mexican Joint Venture and to indemnify the Company for all liabilities and expenses related to the Mexican Joint Venture. The Mexican JV Buyer will fund the purchase of the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture with capital contributions from the personal funds and working capital of its equity owners. As of the date of the mailing of this Proxy Statement, the purchase price for the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture would be $6,403,000, or approximately $0.475 per Share. The Company expects that this amount will increase as a result of additional expenditures and accruals by the Company in connection with the Mexican Joint Venture prior to the Effective Time, although the Company cannot predict the amount of that increase. CL Associates is a limited partnership consisting of members of the Fisher Brothers' family and a trust for the benefit of Gordon Getty and members of his family. Richard L. Fisher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Martin L. Edelman, President and director of the Company, Marc E. Leland, a director of the Company, and Arnold Fisher, a director of the Company, are beneficial owners of CL Associates. FSNL is a limited liability company owned principally by a trust for the benefit of Charles de Gunzburg. Guido Goldman, a director of the Company, is a Manager and beneficial owner of FSNL and a beneficiary of a trust that is a member of FSNL. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent, Sub and the Company have agreed that, as a condition of the obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger, the Company will sell its interest in the Mexican Joint Venture, and such sale will be for a purchase price of not less than all amounts expended or accrued by the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with or related to the Mexican Joint Venture, which amount will in no event be less than $3,750,000 (the approximate amount expended and accrued by the Company as of the date of the Merger Agreement), and the Company will have no further obligations or liabilities with respect to its investment in the Mexican Joint Venture. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 14, 1996 (the "Stock Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Company, National Lodging Corp., CL Associates and FSNL, CL Associates and FSNL have agreed that, for so long as CL Associates, FSNL and their affiliates continue to own, in the aggregate, at least 20% of the outstanding Shares, CL Associates and FSNL will not, and will not permit any of their affiliates to, enter into any transaction or series of related transactions, or grant or consent to, or otherwise permit, any amendment to, supplement of or waiver under, any agreement or contract, with the Company or any of its subsidiaries (any of the foregoing, an "Affiliate Transaction") unless: (i) it has been determined by a committee of the Board comprised of one or more non-employee directors (the "Independent Committee") that the Affiliate Transaction is in the best interests of the Company and is on fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company than terms that the Company and a non-affiliated person in a similar 34
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situation would agree to in an arms' length transaction; and (ii) if the Affiliate Transaction has a total value in excess of $10,000, the Independent Committee has received a favorable fairness opinion from an appropriate independent party relating to the transaction. Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Board has established the Special Committee, consisting of Rachel Robinson and Michael J. Kennedy, non- employee directors of the Company, who are not affiliated with CL Associates or FSNL, in order to negotiate and oversee the proposed sale by the Company of the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture to the Mexican JV Buyer. The Special Committee retained the law firm of Solovay Marshall & Edlin, P.C. ("Special Counsel") to assist in the sale of the Mexican Joint Venture. Special Counsel had previously represented special committees of the Board on various transactions. Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Special Committee retained Chase and Lehman Brothers to advise, and render fairness opinions to, the Special Committee with respect to the sale of the Mexican Joint Venture. Rather than retain a separate independent financial adviser, the Special Committee retained Chase and Lehman Brothers because of the relatively small anticipated purchase price of the sale of the Mexican Joint Venture and their familiarity with the Company. On January 21, 1998, the Special Committee (i) determined that the sale of the Mexican Joint Venture to the Mexican JV Buyer is in the best interests of the Company and is on fair and reasonable terms, no less favorable to the Company than terms that the Company and a non-affiliated person in a similar situation would agree to in an arms' length transaction, and (ii) received fairness opinions from Lehman Brothers and Chase relating to the sale of the Mexican Joint Venture to the effect that such transaction is fair to the Company from a financial point of view. Stockholders are not being asked to vote upon the sale of the Company's interest in the Mexican Joint Venture. Stockholder approval of the Merger Agreement will not constitute an explicit or implicit approval of that transaction should there occur a subsequent challenge to the fairness of that transaction to the Company despite approval of the transaction by the Special Committee and receipt of the Lehman Brothers and Chase opinions. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Background of the Merger"; "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Conditions to Consummation of the Merger--Parent and Sub." Relationships with Cendant. Prior to November 22, 1994, the Company was a wholly-owned subsidiary of HFS, the predecessor to Cendant. On November 22, 1994, HFS distributed all of the Company's outstanding Shares to HFS' stockholders (the "Distribution"). Messrs. Edelman, Holmes and Silverman are directors of Cendant. Additionally, Mr. Edelman is a member of the Executive Committee of Cendant, Mr. Silverman is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Cendant, and Mr. Holmes is Vice Chairman of Cendant. Due to such commonality of management, certain conflicts of interest may exist with respect to various matters related to the consummation of the Merger. As a result of the Merger, Cendant will receive, in the aggregate, a total of $9,771,000 in repayment of a development advance and a promissory note, as described below. In addition, certain of the directors, officers and employees of Cendant hold options to purchase Shares, including Options granted under the Stock Option Plan, and will receive a total of $5,812,733 from the cancellation of those options in the Merger. Cendant may receive compensation in consideration for the consent of Travelodge, a subsidiary of Cendant (subject to Parent's approval) under the Master License Agreement (the "Master License Agreement") for the Territory of the Dominion of Canada by and between Travelodge and Chartwell Canada Hospitality Corp., a Delaware corporation and an indirect subsidiary of the Company ("Chartwell Canada"), dated as of September 30, 1996, as described below. Required Consent of Cendant as Condition to the Merger. The Merger Agreement provides that the obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of certain conditions. One of these conditions is that Parent and Sub will have obtained the consent or waiver of Travelodge under the Master License Agreement evidencing Travelodge's consent to the consummation of the Merger or waiving any of Travelodge's rights, if any, under such agreement relating to the consummation of the Merger, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Conditions to Consummation of the Merger--Parent and Sub." Cendant Development Advance Agreement. The Company is a party to a Development Advance Agreement, dated as of October 1996 (the "Development Advance Agreement"), by and between the Company and HFS, pursuant to which HFS made a $2.8 million development advance (the 35
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"Development Advance") to the Company in December 1996. Pursuant to the Development Advance Agreement, the Development Advance must be repaid by the Company, without interest, on December 31, 2000, but the amount to be repaid will be reduced to the extent that hotels acquired or constructed by the Company become Cendant franchised hotels under franchise agreements of ten years or longer using any Cendant brand other than Wingate Inn. The Development Advance will be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis through December 31, 2000 for each dollar in initial and recurring royalty fees payable to Cendant under those new franchise agreements. As of the date of the mailing of this Proxy Statement, the amount of the Development Advance has been reduced to an amount equal to $2,771,000. The Development Advance Agreement is not, by its terms, terminable as a result of the Merger. Cendant has, however, at the request of the Company, consented to terminate the Development Advance Agreement in consideration of the payment of all amounts due to Cendant at the Effective Time. Cendant Distribution Agreement. On November 22, 1994, HFS, pursuant to the Distribution, distributed all of the Company's outstanding Shares to Cendant's stockholders. At the time of the Distribution, the Company and HFS agreed to reserve for future issuance and to issue Shares to certain persons (including certain current and former directors and executive officers of the Company) in connection with the exercise of then- outstanding options (the "Stapled Options") to purchase shares of HFS common stock that were granted pursuant to Cendant's 1992 Stock Option Plan (which options were adjusted in connection with the Distribution so that the holders of such options are entitled, upon exercise thereof and without the payment of any additional consideration, to receive one Share for every ten shares of HFS common stock purchased upon such exercise, subject to further adjustment in certain circumstances). For a description of the outstanding Stapled Options held by executive officers and directors of the Company as of the Record Date, see "SPECIAL FACTORS--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest--Stock Options." Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company will pay to holders of Stapled Options an amount equal to the Merger Consideration multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Stapled Option, without any interest thereon. Unsecured Note. Cendant has loaned the Company $7,000,000 pursuant to an Unsecured Note, dated as of November 20, 1996 (the "Note"). The Company has promised to repay to Cendant the principal sum of $7,000,000 with interest thereon commencing January 1, 1997. Interest on the principal balance is due and payable semi-annually at 6%. Consecutive yearly installments of $1,000,000 each are due and payable on January 1, 1999 and on the first day of each January thereafter until the maturity date of the Note, on January 1, 2005. The Merger Agreement provides that prior to the Effective Time, the Company will repay in full the outstanding amount of the Note. The Merger Agreement provides that the obligation of the Parent and Sub to effect the Merger is subject to pre-payment of amounts outstanding under the Note prior to the Effective Time. Financing Agreement. Pursuant to a financing agreement (the "Financing Agreement") entered into between the Company and Cendant, Cendant agreed to extend up to $75 million in guarantees, security and other credit enhancements ("Future Guarantees") to secure the Company's credit facilities ("Future Facilities") until February 28, 2003. The terms and conditions of each Future Facility and each Future Guaranty are required to be reasonably satisfactory to Cendant. Pursuant to the Financing Agreement, Cendant has guaranteed $75 million of the Company's $80 million Credit Facility. The Financing Agreement requires the Company to pay Cendant an annual fee equal to $1.5 million. The Company is a party to a Credit Facility among the Company, Chartwell Canada Corp., which is a subsidiary of the Company, the Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, the Bank of Nova Scotia, as Syndication Agent; and certain other banks from time to time parties thereof (the "Credit Facility"). The Merger Agreement provides that the obligation of the Parent and Sub to effect the Merger is subject to the termination of the Financing Agreement without the payment of any amounts by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Relationships with Terrance E. Royer. Terrance E. Royer, Chief Operating Officer of the Company, is an executive officer and beneficial owner of Royco Hotels & Resorts Ltd., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada ("Royco"). Royco, the Company, Chartwell Canada, and Chartwell Lodging Inc., a California 36
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corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, are parties to an Amended and Restated Management Services and Franchise Development Agreement, as amended (the "MSFDA"), pursuant to which, among other things, Royco agreed, on behalf of the parties to the MSFDA, to (i) develop new hotel and resort management business for the parties to the MSFDA with respect to certain Canadian hotels and resorts; (ii) develop, promote and service the Travelodge and Thriftlodge franchise business for the Company in Canada under the Master License Agreement; and (iii) manage the Company's Canadian hotels and provide ongoing management assistance for the Company's U.S. hotels. Additionally, Mr. Royer, through an affiliate of Mr. Royer, submitted a written proposal to acquire the Canadian full-service and limited service hotels and U.S. limited service hotels for a purchase price of $145 million, subject to a $5 million holdback to secure the Company's representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities in the asset purchase agreement. Another affiliate of Mr. Royer subsequently submitted an oral bid on the day the Board approved the Merger Agreement to acquire the Company, but that bid did not state a proposed acquisition price. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Background of the Merger" and "-- Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest." On July 1, 1997, Royco entered into an agreement with the Company, pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay Royco, among other things, the sum of $150,000 upon the completion of the sale of the Shares or the sale of the Company's hotels managed by Royco. Vote of CL Associates and FSNL. CL Associates and FSNL beneficially own 44.74%, of the issued and outstanding Shares. See "SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT." Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, CL Associates and FSNL have agreed that, if at any time prior to August 8, 1999, the Company proposes to sell all or substantially all of its assets, to merge or consolidate with any other entity, or to cause the liquidation or dissolution of the Company (each, a "Triggering Event"), and the Company submits the Triggering Event to a vote of its stockholders, then each of CL Associates and FSNL will vote all of its respective Shares entitled to vote on that matter in favor of and against the Triggering Event in the same proportion as the numbers of Shares held by stockholders of the Company other than CL Associates, FSNL and their affiliates ("Nonaffiliated Shares") voted in favor of and against the Triggering Event. Therefore, with respect to the Merger, CL Associates and FSNL will vote their respective Shares in the same proportion as the number of Shares held by stockholders of the Company other than CL Associates, FSNL and their affiliates ("Nonaffiliated Shares") voted in favor of and against the Merger. The number of Nonaffiliated Shares voted in favor of the Merger plus the same number of Shares held by CL Associates and FSNL that are required to be voted in favor of the Merger must equal a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on the Merger in order for the Merger Agreement to be approved and adopted. Consulting and Employment Agreements. Parent and Sub intend to enter into a one year consulting agreement with Mr. Edelman following the consummation of the Merger pursuant to which Mr. Edelman will provide certain consulting services to Parent and Sub and will receive a consulting fee of up to $250,000. The final terms and conditions of such consulting agreement have not yet been negotiated. The Company is a party to an employment agreement with Kenneth J. Weber, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, pursuant to which Mr. Weber receives an annual base salary of $250,000, an annual bonus of $50,000 and an automobile allowance of $1,000 per month, expiring in March 1999. That agreement is not terminable as a result of the Merger. No other directors or executive officers of the Company will serve as consultants to or be employed by Parent or its subsidiaries after the Effective Time. Relationships with Mr. Edelman. Mr. Edelman is of counsel to Battle Fowler LLP, a New York City law firm that is representing the Company in various matters, including the Merger Agreement and the Merger, and has represented the Company and certain affiliates of the Company in the past with respect to various legal matters. 37
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INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent, Sub and the Company have agreed that the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Corporation contain the provisions with respect to indemnification set forth in the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company on the date of the Merger Agreement, which provisions will not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years after the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who at any time prior to the Effective Time were directors or officers of the Company in respect of actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement), unless such modification is required by law. The Company will, and from and after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation will, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each person who is, or has been at any time prior to the date of the Merger Agreement or who becomes prior to the Effective Time, an officer or director of the Company (the "Indemnified Parties") against all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), liabilities or judgments or amounts that are paid in settlement with the approval of the indemnifying party of or in connection with any threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation based on or arising out of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company whether pertaining to any matter existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time and whether asserted or claimed prior to, or at or after, the Effective Time ("Indemnified Liabilities"), including all Indemnified Liabilities based on, or arising out of, or pertaining to the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, in each case, to the full extent a corporation is permitted under the DGCL to indemnify its own directors or officers (and Parent and the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, will pay expenses in advance of the final disposition of any such action or proceeding to each Indemnified Party to the full extent permitted by law, subject to the receipt of an undertaking contemplated by Section 145(e) of the DGCL to refund such advances if it is determined that the Indemnified Party was not entitled thereto). For a period of three years after the Effective Time, Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain in effect the current policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by the Company (provided that Parent may substitute therefor policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions that are no less advantageous in any material respect to the Indemnified Parties) with respect to matters arising before the Effective Time; provided, that Parent will only be obligated to maintain such insurance in such scope and amount as is available at annual premiums during such period not in excess of 150% of the per annum rate of the aggregate annual premium currently paid by the Company for such insurance on the date of the Merger Agreement. The obligations of the Company, Parent and the Surviving Corporation are intended to be for the benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party, his or her heirs and his or her personal representatives and will be binding on all successors and assigns of Parent, Sub, the Company and the Surviving Corporation. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT--Directors' and Officers' Insurance and Indemnification." ACCOUNTING TREATMENT OF THE MERGER The Merger will be accounted for under the "purchase" method of accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Therefore, the aggregate consideration paid by Sub in connection with the Merger will be allocated to the Company's assets and liabilities based on their fair market values, with any excess being treated as goodwill. The assets and liabilities and results of operations of the Company will be consolidated into the assets and liabilities and results of operations of Parent subsequent to the Effective Time. CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO STOCKHOLDERS In general, under the Code, the receipt of cash by a stockholder pursuant to the Merger or pursuant to the exercise of stockholders' rights of appraisal will be a taxable event for such stockholder for federal income tax purposes and may also be a taxable event under applicable local, state and foreign tax laws. Generally, a 38
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stockholder will recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash that he or she has received, and (ii) the tax basis in the Shares surrendered in exchange therefor. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss (if the Shares are held as a capital asset). Such gain or loss must be calculated separately for each block of Shares (e.g., Shares acquired at the same price in a single transaction) held by the stockholder. Stockholders will not be entitled to use the installment method to report any gain with respect to the exchange of the Shares because the Shares are publicly traded. The discussion of federal income tax consequences described in the preceding paragraph includes the material tax consequences to the stockholders of the Company, but does not discuss all aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to a stockholder and may not apply to (i) Shares acquired upon exercise of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options or otherwise as compensation; (ii) certain tax-exempt stockholders; (iii) stockholders that are subject to special tax provisions, such as banks and insurance companies; (iv) certain nonresident aliens and foreign corporations; and (v) stockholders who do not hold the Shares as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. A stockholder may be subject to information reporting and to backup withholding at a rate of 31% of all amounts paid to the stockholder, unless such stockholder provides proof of an applicable exemption or a correct taxpayer identification number, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements under the Code. THE DISCUSSION OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES SET FORTH ABOVE IS BASED ON EXISTING LAW AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT. EACH STOCKHOLDER IS URGED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER TAX ADVISOR TO DETERMINE THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO HIM OR HER OF THE MERGER (INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS). SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS Parent estimates that approximately $280 million will be required, prior to the completion of the Merger, to (i) pay the aggregate Merger Consideration, (ii) pay the holders of outstanding Options, the Option Consideration, (iii) pay to holders of outstanding Stapled Options an amount equal to the Merger Consideration multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Stapled Option, and (iv) pay the other expenses related to the Merger. Parent will obtain the necessary funds for the Merger from (i) capital contributions from its limited partners (which contributions such limited partners are contractually required to make at Parent's request) and (ii) a loan from the GS Group and/or loans from other lenders. If arrangements with Westmont are effected prior to the Merger, Westmont could contribute a portion of such funds. STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL Pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, any holder of Shares who does not wish to accept the consideration to be paid pursuant to the Merger Agreement may dissent from the Merger and elect to have the fair value of such stockholder's Shares (the "Dissenting Shares") (exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger) judicially determined and paid to such stockholder in cash, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, provided that such stockholder complies with the provisions of Section 262. The following discussion is not a complete statement of the law pertaining to appraisal rights under Delaware law, and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of Section 262, which is provided in its entirety as Annex D to this Proxy Statement. All references in Section 262 and in this summary to a "stockholder" are to the record holder of the Shares as to which appraisal rights are asserted. Under Section 262, where a proposed merger is to be submitted for approval at a meeting of stockholders, the corporation must notify each of its stockholders that appraisal rights are available, and must include in such notice a copy of Section 262. This Proxy Statement constitutes such notice to stockholders of the Company. Any stockholder who wishes to exercise such appraisal rights or who wishes to preserve the right to do so should 39
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review carefully Annex D to this Proxy Statement because failure to comply with the procedures specified in Section 262 timely and properly will result in the loss of appraisal rights. Moreover, because of the complexity of the procedures for exercising the right to seek appraisal of the Shares, the Company believes that stockholders who consider exercising such rights should seek the advice of counsel. Any holder of Shares wishing to exercise the right to dissent from the Merger and demand appraisal under Section 262 of the DGCL must satisfy each of the following conditions: (i) Such stockholder must deliver to the Company a written demand for appraisal of such stockholder's shares before the vote on the Merger Agreement at the Special Meeting. This written demand for appraisal must be in addition to and separate from any proxy or vote against the Merger Agreement; merely voting against, abstaining from voting or failing to vote in favor of approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement will not constitute a demand for appraisal within the meaning of Section 262. (ii) Such stockholder must not vote for approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement. A failure to vote will satisfy this requirement, but a vote in favor of the Merger Agreement, by proxy or in person, or the return of a signed proxy that does not specify a vote against approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement or a direction to abstain in connection with the proposal, will constitute a waiver of such stockholder's right of appraisal and will nullify any previously filed written demand for appraisal because, in the absence of express contrary instructions, such Shares will be voted in favor of the proposal. Accordingly, a stockholder who desires to perfect appraisal rights with respect to any of such stockholder's Shares must, as one of the procedural steps involved in such perfection, either (i) refrain from executing and returning the enclosed proxy card and from voting in person in favor of the proposal to approve the Merger Agreement, or (ii) check either the "Against" or the "Abstain" box next to the Proposal on such card or vote in person against the proposal or register in person an abstention with respect thereto. (iii) Such stockholder must continuously hold such shares from the date of making the demand through the Effective Time. Accordingly, a stockholder who is the record holder of Shares on the date the written demand for appraisal is made but who thereafter transfers such shares prior to the Effective Time will lose any right to appraisal in respect of such Shares. A demand for appraisal should be executed by or on behalf of the stockholder of record, fully and correctly, as such stockholder's name appears on such stock certificates, should specify the stockholder's name and mailing address, the number of Shares owned and that such stockholder intends thereby to demand appraisal of such stockholder's Shares. If the Shares are owned of record in a fiduciary capacity, such as by a trustee, guardian or custodian, execution of the demand should be made in that capacity, and if the Shares are owned of record by more than one person as in a joint tenancy or tenancy in common, the demand should be executed by or on behalf of all owners. An authorized agent, including one or more joint owners, may execute a demand for appraisal on behalf of a stockholder; however, the agent must identify the record owner or owners and expressly disclose the fact that, in executing the demand, the agent is acting as agent for such owner or owners. A record holder such as a broker who holds Shares as nominee for several beneficial owners may exercise appraisal rights with respect to the Shares held for one or more other beneficial owners while not exercising such rights with respect to the Shares held for one or more beneficial owners; in such case, the written demand should set forth the number of Shares as to which appraisal is sought, and where no number of Shares is expressly mentioned the demand will be presumed to cover all Shares held in the name of the record owner. Stockholders who hold their Shares in brokerage accounts or other nominee forms and who wish to exercise appraisal rights are urged to consult with their brokers to determine the appropriate procedures for the making of a demand for appraisal by such a nominee. A stockholder who elects to exercise appraisal rights should mail or deliver a written demand to: Chartwell Leisure Inc., 10 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1250, New York, New York 10020, Attention: Secretary. Within ten days after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation must give written notice that the Merger has become effective to each stockholder who has complied with Section 262. Any stockholder who has complied with Section 262 and is entitled to appraisal rights may, within 20 days after the date of mailing such 40
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notice, demand in writing from the Surviving Corporation the appraisal of such stockholder's Shares. Within 120 days after the Effective Time, but not thereafter, either the Surviving Corporation or any stockholder who has complied with the requirements of Section 262 may file a petition in the Delaware Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the value of the Shares held by all dissenting stockholders. Neither the Company nor Sub presently intends to file such a petition, and stockholders seeking to exercise appraisal rights should not assume that the Surviving Corporation will file such a petition or that the Surviving Corporation will initiate any negotiations with respect to the fair value of such Shares. Accordingly, stockholders who desire to have their Shares appraised should initiate any petitions necessary for the perfection of their appraisal rights within the time periods and in the manner prescribed in Section 262. Inasmuch as the Surviving Corporation has no obligation to file such a petition, the failure of a stockholder to do so within the period specified could nullify such stockholder's previous written demand for appraisal. In any event, at any time within 60 days after the Effective Time (or at any time thereafter with the written consent of the Surviving Corporation), any stockholder who has demanded appraisal has the right to withdraw the demand and to accept payment of the consideration provided in the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company has agreed to give Sub prompt notice of any demands for appraisal of Shares received by the Company, and, prior to the Effective Time, (i) Sub will have the right to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands and (ii) the Company will not, except with the prior written consent of Sub, make any payment with respect to, or offer to settle, any such demands. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT-- Dissenting Shares." Within 120 days after the Effective Time, any stockholder who has complied with the provisions of Section 262 to that point in time will be entitled to receive from the Surviving Corporation, upon written request, a statement setting forth the aggregate number of Shares not voted in favor of the Merger Agreement and with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such shares. The Surviving Corporation must mail such statement to the stockholder within 10 days of receipt of such request. If a petition for an appraisal is timely filed, after a hearing on such petition the Delaware Chancery Court will determine which stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights and will appraise the "fair value" of their Shares, exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. The costs of the action may be determined by the Delaware Chancery Court and taxed upon the parties as the Delaware Chancery Court deems equitable. Upon application of a dissenting stockholder, the Delaware Chancery Court may also order that all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and the fees and expenses of experts, be charged pro rata against the value of all of the Shares entitled to appraisal. STOCKHOLDERS CONSIDERING SEEKING APPRAISAL SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE FAIR VALUE OF THEIR SHARES AS DETERMINED UNDER SECTION 262 COULD BE MORE THAN, THE SAME AS OR LESS THAN THE CONSIDERATION THEY WOULD RECEIVE PURSUANT TO THE MERGER AGREEMENT IF THEY DID NOT SEEK APPRAISAL OF THEIR SHARES AND THAT INVESTMENT BANKING OPINIONS ARE NOT OPINIONS AS TO FAIR VALUE UNDER SECTION 262. In determining fair value, the Delaware Chancery Court is to take into account all relevant factors. In Weinberger v. UOP, Inc., the Delaware Supreme Court discussed the factors that could be considered in determining fair value in an appraisal proceeding, stating that "proof of value by any techniques or methods which are generally considered acceptable in the financial community and otherwise admissible in court" should be considered, and that "fair price obviously requires consideration of all relevant factors involving the value of a company." The Delaware Supreme Court stated that, in making this determination of fair value, the court must consider market value, asset value, dividends, earnings prospects, the nature of the enterprise and any other facts which could be ascertained as of the date of the merger that throw any light on future prospects of the merged corporation. In Weinberger, the Delaware Supreme Court stated that "elements of future value, including the nature of the enterprise, which are known or susceptible of proof as of the date of the merger and not the product of speculation, may be considered." Section 262 provides that fair value is to be "exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger." 41
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Any stockholder who has duly demanded an appraisal in compliance with Section 262 will not, after the Effective Time, be entitled to vote the Shares subject to such demand for any purpose or be entitled to the payment of dividends or other distributions on those shares (except dividends or other distributions payable to holders of record of Shares as of a record date prior to the Effective Time). At any time within 60 days after the Effective Time, any stockholder who has demanded appraisal rights will have the right to withdraw such demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered in the Merger; after this period, the stockholder may withdraw such demand for appraisal only with the consent of the Surviving Corporation. If no petition for appraisal is filed with the Delaware Chancery Court within 120 days after the Effective Time, or if such stockholder has withdrawn such demand for appraisal as discussed in the preceding sentence, such stockholder's rights to appraisal will cease, and all holders of Shares will be entitled to receive the Merger Consideration. Any stockholder may withdraw such stockholder's demand for appraisal by delivering to the Surviving Corporation a written withdrawal of such stockholder's demand for appraisal and acceptance of the Merger, except that (i) any such attempt to withdraw made more than 60 days after the Effective Time will require written approval of the Surviving Corporation and (ii) no appraisal proceeding in the Delaware Chancery Court will be dismissed as to any stockholder without the approval of the Delaware Chancery Court, and such approval may be conditioned upon such terms as the Delaware Chancery Court deems just. FAILURE TO COMPLY STRICTLY WITH THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN SECTION 262 OF THE DGCL WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF A STOCKHOLDER'S STATUTORY APPRAISAL RIGHTS. CONSEQUENTLY, ANY STOCKHOLDER WISHING TO EXERCISE APPRAISAL RIGHTS IS URGED TO CONSULT LEGAL COUNSEL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO EXERCISE SUCH RIGHTS. 42
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THE MERGER AGREEMENT The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Merger Agreement not summarized elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. The following summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which is attached as Annex A to this Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference. References to sections herein refer to the corresponding sections in the Merger Agreement. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Proxy Statement or in the following summary have the respective meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement. EFFECTIVE TIME The Merger will become effective, and the Effective Time will occur, upon the filing of a Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the DGCL or at such later time as specified in such certificate. Such filing will be made contemporaneously with or as promptly as practicable following the closing date under the Merger Agreement, which will take place as soon as practicable following the last to be satisfied or waived of all of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement (other than the delivery of certain bring-down certificates), or such other time as agreed to in writing by the Company, Parent and Sub (the "Closing Date"). There can be no assurance as to if or when the Merger will be consummated. If the Merger has not been consummated on or prior to May 15, 1998, the Merger Agreement may be terminated by either the Company or Parent, unless there has been a material breach of its obligations under the Merger Agreement. See "-- Conditions to Consummation of the Merger" and "--Termination." (SECTIONS 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 AND 8.1) MERGER CONSIDERATION; CONVERSION OF SHARES At the Effective Time, each Share (other than Dissenting Shares and Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time held by the Company, Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent) will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration. See "--Procedure for Payment." All such Shares, when so converted, will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be canceled and retired and will cease to exist, and each holder of Shares will cease to have any rights with respect thereto (including, without limitation, the right to vote), except the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without interest, upon surrender of certificates representing such Shares. (SECTION 3.1) STOCK OPTIONS Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company will (i) terminate the Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Option Plan") without prejudice to the rights of the holders of options (the "Options") awarded pursuant thereto and (ii) except for automatic grants of Options to directors of the Company under the Stock Option Plan, grant no additional Options under the Stock Option Plan. The Company will obtain the consent of each holder of an Option (whether or not then exercisable) under the Stock Option Plan at the Effective Time to the cancellation of such holder's Options (without regard to the exercise price of such Option), to take effect immediately prior to the Effective Time. Each such consent will require the Company to pay in respect of each Option, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price of such Option, multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Option, without any interest thereon (the "Option Consideration"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment may be withheld in respect of any Option until the consent of the holder thereof to its cancellation as contemplated thereby is obtained. The surrender of an Option to the Company will be deemed a release of any and all rights the holder had or may have had in such Option, other than the right to receive the Option Consideration in respect thereof. (SECTION 2.2) PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT Prior to the Effective Time, Parent will deposit or cause to be deposited with or for the account of the Paying Agent for the benefit of the stockholders cash in an aggregate amount sufficient to pay the Merger Consideration 43
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(hereinafter referred to as the "Payment Fund"). For purposes of determining the Payment Fund, Parent will assume that no stockholder will perfect his right to appraisal of his Shares. Promptly after the Effective Time but in no event later than five business days after the Effective Time, Parent will mail or cause the Paying Agent to mail to each holder of record a certificate or certificates, which immediately prior to the Effective Time evidenced outstanding Shares (the "Certificates"), a form of letter of transmittal (which will specify that delivery will be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates will pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent and will be in such form and have such other provisions as Parent may reasonably specify) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for payment therefor. Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Paying Agent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed and such other customary documents as may be required pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such Certificate will be entitled to receive in exchange therefor cash in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of Shares theretofore represented by such Certificate and (y) the Merger Consideration, and, in either case, the Certificate so surrendered will forthwith be canceled. No interest will be paid or accrued on the Merger Consideration payable upon the surrender of any Certificate. If payment is to be made to a person other than the person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered, it will be a condition of payment that the Certificate so surrendered will be promptly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such payment will pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the payment to a person other than the registered holder of the surrendered Certificate or established to the satisfaction of Parent and the Surviving Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT FORWARD CERTIFICATES TO THE PAYING AGENT UNTIL THEY HAVE RECEIVED TRANSMITTAL FORMS. STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT RETURN CERTIFICATES WITH THE ENCLOSED PROXY. The Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender of Certificates in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement will be deemed to have been issued and paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Shares theretofore represented by such Certificates. At and after the Effective Time, there will be no registration of transfers of Shares which were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for any reason, such Certificates will be canceled and exchanged for cash as provided in the Merger Agreement. At the close of business on the day of the Effective Time, the stock ledger of the Company will be closed. The Paying Agent will invest the Payment Fund, as directed by Parent, in (i) direct obligations of the United States of America, (ii) obligations for which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged to provide for the payment of principal and interest, (iii) commercial paper rated the highest quality by either Moody's Investors Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Corporation, or (iv) certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements or bankers' acceptances of commercial banks with capital exceeding $500 million; and any net earnings with respect to the Payment Fund will be the property of and paid over to Parent as and when requested by Parent; provided, however, that any Taxes payable with respect to the Payment Fund will be the sole obligation and liability of Parent; provided, further that any such investment or any such payment of earnings will not delay the timely receipt by holders of Certificates of the Merger Consideration or otherwise impair such holders' respective rights hereunder. Any portion of the Payment Fund which remains undistributed to the holders of Certificates for 365 days after the Effective Time will be delivered to Parent, upon demand, and any holders of Certificates that have not theretofore complied with the terms of the Merger Agreement will thereafter (subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, abandoned property, escheat and other similar laws) look only to Parent, and only as general creditors thereof, for payment of their claim for any Merger Consideration. None of Parent, Sub, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent will be liable to any person in respect of any payments or distributions payable from the Payment Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law. If any Certificates will not have been surrendered prior to 44
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the time which any Merger Consideration in respect of such Certificate would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any governmental entity, any amounts payable in respect of such certificate will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear of all claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto. Parent will be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to the Merger Agreement to any holder of Shares, Options or Certificates such amounts as Parent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any provision of applicable state, local or foreign tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by Parent, such withheld amounts will be treated for all purposes of the Merger Agreement as having been paid to such holders in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by Parent. (SECTION 3.1) DISSENTING SHARES The Merger Agreement provides that Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a stockholder (if any) who has not voted in favor of the Merger or consented thereto in writing and who has the right to and has properly delivered a demand for appraisal in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL (or any successor provision) will not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration unless such holder fails to perfect or otherwise loses such holder's right to such appraisal, if any. See "STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL." The Merger Agreement further provides that, if after the Effective Time, any such stockholder fails to perfect or loses any such right to appraisal, such Dissenting Shares will be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in accordance with terms of the Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Merger is rescinded or abandoned, then the right of any holder to be paid the fair value of such holder's Dissenting Shares will cease. The Company has agreed in the Merger Agreement to give Parent prompt notice of any demands for appraisal received by the Company and any withdrawal of such demands, and Parent will have the right to participate in and direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. The Company will not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to, or offer to settle or settle, any such demands. (SECTION 2.1) CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES The Company. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company has made representations and warranties to Parent and Sub regarding, among other things, (i) the Company's organization, standing and power, (ii) the Company's capital structure, (iii) the Company's authority and noncontravention, (iv) certain filings with the SEC, (v) the accuracy of information contained in this Proxy Statement and certain other SEC filings relating to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (vi) the absence of certain changes or events and the absence of undisclosed material liabilities, (vii) collective bargaining, employment agreements and labor matters, (viii) employee benefits matters, (ix) taxes, (x) the required vote of the Company's stockholders in connection with approval of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, (xi) the Company's compliance with applicable laws, (xii) opinions of Lehman Brothers and Chase, (xiii) brokers, (xiv) litigation, (xv) material contracts, (xvi) unlawful payments and contributions, (xvii) real property, (xviii) the absence of an anti-takeover plan and the inapplicability of state takeover statutes to the Merger and the Merger Agreement, (xix) insurance, (xx) affiliate transactions and (xxi) the disclosure schedules of the Merger Agreement. (SECTION 4.1) Parent and Sub. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent and Sub have made representations and warranties to the Company regarding, among other things, (i) Parent's and Sub's organization, standing and power, (ii) Parent's and Sub's authority and noncontravention, (iii) the accuracy of information supplied by Parent and Sub, contained in this Proxy Statement and certain other SEC filings relating to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (iv) the ownership structure and purpose of Sub and (v) brokers. (SECTION 4.2) 45
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CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE CLOSING The Merger Agreement provides that, except as previously disclosed by the Company in the disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement to Parent and Sub, or as expressly contemplated by the Merger Agreement, during the period from the date of the Merger Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, act and carry on their respective businesses (including businesses conducted through the Company's joint ventures) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and use their reasonable best efforts to preserve intact their current business organizations (and the Company's joint ventures), keep available the services of their current key officers and employees and preserve the goodwill of those engaged in material business relationships with them, and to that end, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Company will not, and, except as previously disclosed by the Company in the disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement to Parent and Sub (subject, only where expressly stated therein, to the consent of Parent), will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of Parent: (a) (i) except for a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any outstanding capital stock, (ii) split, combine or reclassify any of its outstanding capital stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its outstanding capital stock, or (iii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of outstanding capital stock or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares; (b) issue, sell, grant, pledge or otherwise encumber any shares of its capital stock, any other voting securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such shares, voting securities or convertible or exchangeable securities, other than upon the exercise of Options outstanding on the date of the Merger Agreement and except for automatic grants of options to directors of the Company under the Stock Option Plan; (c) amend its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other comparable charter or organizational documents; (d) directly or indirectly acquire, make any investment in, or make any capital contributions to, any person (other than any wholly-owned Subsidiary) or except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, acquire, lease or agree to manage any assets or properties; (e) directly or indirectly sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise encumber or subject to any lien or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets (including stock or other ownership interests in any properties or Subsidiaries), other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for the sale of (i) the stock of Chartwell Mexico Corp. or (ii) the Company's interest in Grupo Chartwell de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.; (f) purchase or sell any real property or other material asset or enter into any agreement to purchase or sell the same; (g) modify the terms of, terminate or fail in any material respect to comply with the terms of any lease, franchise agreement or joint venture agreement, or enter into any new lease, franchise agreement or joint venture agreement; (h) undertake any material construction or alteration with respect to any Asset; (i) (i) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness of another person, other than indebtedness owing to or guarantees of indebtedness owing to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire debt securities or (iii) make any loans or advances to any other person, other than to the Company or to any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company and other than routine advances to employees consistent with past practice, and except, in the case of clause (i), for borrowings under existing credit facilities in the ordinary course of business; 46
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(j) make any tax election or settle or compromise any income tax liability of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries. The Company will, before filing or causing to be filed any tax return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, consult with and obtain the approval of Parent and its advisors as to the positions and elections that may be taken or made with respect to such return; (k) pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction, (i) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or in accordance with their terms, of liabilities reflected or reserved against in, or contemplated by, the most recent consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto) of the Company included in the required reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed by the Company with the Commission since January 1, 1996 filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Merger Agreement or incurred since the date of such financial statements in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (ii) the repayment of outstanding indebtedness under the Company's existing credit facilities; (l) grant or agree to grant to any employee any increase in wages or bonus, severance, profit sharing, retirement, deferred compensation, insurance or other compensation or benefits, or establish any new compensation or benefit plans or arrangements, or amend or agree to amend any of the Company's existing employee benefit plans, except for stay, severance and other bonus payments, and as may be required under existing agreements (including collective bargaining agreements) or normal, regularly scheduled increases in nonofficer employees consistent with past practices or as required by law such that all severance, bonus or stay payments, together with severance payments will not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate; (m) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or as otherwise expressly permitted by the Merger Agreement, enter into or amend any employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement; (n) waive any claims or rights other than in the ordinary course of doing business so long as such claims or rights do not either (i) have a value in excess of $500,000 in the aggregate or (ii) are with respect to affiliates of the Company; (o) make any change in any method of accounting or accounting practice or policy except as required by any changes in GAAP; (p) incur, enter into, amend, modify or terminate any material commitment, contract or agreement (including with respect to any management agreements, leases, capital expenditures or purchases of assets); (q) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization or any agreement relating to an Acquisition Transaction Proposal (as hereinafter defined) (other than as expressly permitted by the Merger Agreement); (r) engage in any transaction with, or enter into any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with, or amend, modify or terminate any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, directly or indirectly, any of the Company's affiliates, officers or directors, including, without limitation, any transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings with any affiliate, officer or director or other person covered under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act that would be required to be disclosed under such Item 404, other than pursuant to such agreements, arrangements, or understandings existing on the date of the Merger Agreement and as previously disclosed by the Company in the disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement to Parent and Sub, other than the sale of the Mexican Joint Venture; (s) close, shut down, or otherwise eliminate any of the Company's hotel properties; or (t) authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any of, the foregoing actions. (Section 5.1) NO SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS Unless the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms thereof, the Merger Agreement prohibits the Company, its Subsidiaries, any of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents or affiliates (including, without limitation, any investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by the 47
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Company or any of its Subsidiaries), from, directly or indirectly, initiating, soliciting or encouraging (including by way of furnishing non-public information), or entering into, or maintaining or continuing discussions or negotiating with any person in furtherance of, an Acquisition Transaction (as defined below); provided, however, that nothing in the Merger Agreement will prohibit the Board from furnishing information to, or entering into discussions or negotiations with, any person (other than an affiliate of the Company) that makes an unsolicited written proposal for an Acquisition Transaction Proposal after the date hereof, if the Board, after consultation with and based upon the advice of outside legal counsel, determines in good faith that the failure to engage in such negotiations or discussions, or disclose such non-public information, would be reasonably expected to be a breach of, or would be inconsistent with, the fiduciary duties of the Board of the Company under applicable law, and prior to taking such action, the Company provides written notice to Parent within 24 hours of receipt of any such proposal to the effect that it is taking such action (which notice will identify the nature and material terms of the proposal and the person or persons making the same). The Company will promptly deliver to Parent a copy of any Acquisition Transaction Proposal and promptly notify Parent of any indication that any person is considering making an Acquisition Transaction Proposal or of any request for non-public information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries or for access to the properties, books or records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, by any person that may be considering making, or has made, an Acquisition Transaction Proposal and will keep Parent fully and timely informed of the status of the same. For purposes of this Proxy, "Acquisition Transaction" means a transaction involving any of the following (other than the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement with Parent or Sub) involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries: (v) any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of more than 10% of any class of equity securities of the Company; (w) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, recapitalization, business combination or other similar transaction; (x) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of any assets (other than immaterial assets) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in a single transaction or series of related transactions; or (y) any tender offer or exchange offer for 25 percent or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company. An "Acquisition Transaction Proposal" means any offer or proposal for, or any indication of interest in, an Acquisition Transaction. This paragraph does not prohibit the Company from taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any disclosure to the Company's stockholders or making such disclosure as, in each case, may be required under applicable law; provided that the Company will not withdraw or modify, or propose to withdraw or modify, its position with respect to the Merger or approve or recommend, or propose to approve or recommend, an Acquisition Transaction Proposal except as expressly permitted above. The Company agrees not to, in connection with an Acquisition Transaction Proposal, (x) furnish any information to any third party unless such third party signs a confidentiality agreement no less favorable to the Company than the confidentiality agreements signed by affiliates of Parent and (y) release any third party from, or waive any provision of, any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which the Company is a party, unless the Board has determined in good faith, after consultation with and based upon the advice of outside legal counsel, that failing to release such third party or waive such provisions would be reasonably expected to be a breach of, or would be inconsistent with, the fiduciary duties of the Board of the Company under applicable law. (SECTION 6.7) DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' INSURANCE AND INDEMNIFICATION The Merger Agreement provides that the certificate of incorporation and by- laws of the Surviving Corporation will contain the provisions with respect to indemnification set forth in the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company on the date of the Merger Agreement, which provisions will not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years after the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who at any time prior to the Effective Time were directors or officers of the Company in respect of actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement), unless such modification is required by law. The Company will, and from and after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation will, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or 48
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who becomes prior to the Effective Time, an officer or director of the Company (the "Indemnified Parties") against all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), liabilities or judgments or amounts that are paid in settlement with the approval of the indemnifying party of or in connection with any threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation based on or arising out of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company whether pertaining to any matter existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time and whether asserted or claimed prior to, or at or after, the Effective Time ("Indemnified Liabilities"), including all Indemnified Liabilities based on, or arising out of, or pertaining to the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in each case, to the full extent a corporation is permitted under the DGCL to indemnify its own directors or officers (and Parent and the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, will pay expenses in advance of the final disposition of any such action or proceeding to each Indemnified Party to the full extent permitted by law, subject to the receipt of an undertaking contemplated by Section 145(e) of the DGCL to refund such advances if it is determined that the Indemnified Party was not entitled thereto). Without limiting the foregoing, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation is brought against any Indemnified Parties (whether arising before or after the Effective Time), (i) the Indemnified Parties may retain counsel satisfactory to them and the Company (or them and Parent and the Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time) and the Company (or after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation) will pay all fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified Parties promptly as statements therefor are received; and (ii) the Company (or after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation) will use all reasonable efforts to assist in the vigorous defense of any such matter; provided that neither the Company, Parent nor the Surviving Corporation will be liable for any settlement effected without its prior written consent. Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under the Merger Agreement, upon learning of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, will notify the Company (or after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation) (but the failure so to notify will not relieve a party from any liability which it may have under the Merger Agreement except to the extent such failure prejudices such party), and will deliver to the Company (or after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation) the undertaking contemplated by Section 145(e) of the DGCL. The Indemnified Parties as a group may retain only one law firm to represent them with respect to each such matter unless there is, under applicable standards of professional conduct, a conflict on any significant issue between the positions of any two or more Indemnified Parties. The Company, Parent and Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, including provisions relating to advances of expenses incurred in defense of any action or suit, existing in favor of the Indemnified Parties with respect to matters occurring through the Effective Time, will survive the Merger and continue in full force and effect for a period of not less than six years from the Effective Time; provided, however, that all rights to indemnification in respect of any Indemnified Liabilities asserted or made within such period will continue until the disposition of such Indemnified Liabilities. For a period of three years after the Effective Time, Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain in effect the current policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by the Company (provided that Parent may substitute therefor policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions that are no less advantageous in any material respect to the Indemnified Parties) with respect to matters arising before the Effective Time; provided, that Parent will only be obligated to maintain such insurance in such scope and amount as is available at annual premiums during such period not in excess of 150% of the per annum rate of the aggregate annual premium currently paid by the Company for such insurance on the date of the Merger Agreement. The foregoing provisions are intended to be for the benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party, his or her heirs and his or her personal representatives and will be binding on all successors and assigns of Parent, Sub, the Company and the Surviving Corporation. (SECTION 6.5) CERTAIN OTHER COVENANTS Parent Payment and Related Matters. Notwithstanding anything in the Merger Agreement to the contrary, at or prior to the Closing, the Company may make any of the payments set forth under "sources and 49
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uses" in the written disclosure schedules previously delivered by the Company to Parent and Sub. Immediately prior to the Effective Time (so long as the conditions to Closing set forth in the Merger Agreement have been satisfied or waived), Parent or Sub will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in an amount equal to the amount of the then outstanding indebtedness owed under the Credit Facility (as hereinafter defined) after giving effect to amounts, if any, paid to the administration agent by or on behalf of Parent and Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time in satisfaction of indebtedness owed under the Credit Facility, but in no event more than the sum of (i) $25,976,000; plus (ii) $3,200,000, but only if the sale of the real property located at 28 SouthWest Freeway, Houston, Texas has not occurred; plus (iii) $1,800,000, but only if the sale of the real property located at SWC 202 Freeway and 44th Street, Phoenix, Arizona has not occurred; plus (iv) amounts expended by the Company with respect to the extraordinary capital expenditures, or other extraordinary expenditures, in each case, as previously disclosed by the Company in the disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement to Parent and Sub; plus (v) $2,500,000.00, plus (vi) (to the extent it is a positive number) or minus the absolute value of (to the extent it is a negative number), the Hedge Amount (as defined below) minus cash on hand, if any, of the Company at the Effective Time. In addition, at the Effective Time, Parent will, or will cause the Surviving Corporation to pay the Option Consideration on behalf of the Company. For purposes of the Merger Agreement, the term "Hedge Amount" means the amount determined by subtracting (x) $64,392,867 from (y) the U.S. dollar equivalent (determined immediately prior to the Effective Time) of 91 million Canadian dollars (based on the most recent exchange rate appearing on Reuters Screen page FWEC available immediately prior to the Effective Time). (SECTION 6.12) Access to Information; Confidentiality. The Merger Agreement provides that the Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford to Parent and to Parent's officers, employees, counsel, financial advisors and other representatives reasonable access during normal business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time to all its owned and leased properties (including as required to perform any environmental studies or reviews of such properties), books, contracts, commitments, tax returns, personnel and records and, during such period, the Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, furnish as promptly as practicable to Parent, its counsel, financial advisors and other representatives, such information concerning its business, properties, financial condition, operations and personnel as Parent may from time to time reasonably request. Any such access or investigation will not affect the representations or warranties made by the Company contained in the Merger Agreement. Except as required by law, Parent and the Company will hold, and will cause their respective directors, officers, partners, employees, accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other representatives and affiliates to hold, any non-public information obtained from the other party in confidence in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement, dated August 14, 1997, by and between the Company and Parent. (SECTION 6.3) Reasonable Best Efforts. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions and other agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement, each of the parties thereto agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the satisfaction of the respective conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in the Merger Agreement will obligate the Company or its Subsidiaries to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of their respective assets to cause a termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act or the Canadian Acts. (SECTION 6.4) Consents, Approvals and Filings. The Company and Parent will make and cause their respective Subsidiaries to make all necessary filings, as soon as practicable, including, without limitation, those required under the HSR Act, the Canadian Acts and the Exchange Act in order to facilitate prompt consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. In addition, the Company and Parent will each use their reasonable best efforts, and will cooperate fully with each other (i) to comply as promptly as practicable with all governmental requirements applicable to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; (ii) to obtain as promptly as practicable all necessary permits, orders or other consents of governmental entities and consents of all third parties necessary for the consummation of the Merger and the 50
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other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; and (iii) to cause a termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act and Canadian Acts without the entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of an order enjoining the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby at as early a date as possible. Each of the Company and Parent will use reasonable efforts to provide such information and communications to governmental entities as such governmental entities may reasonably request. Each of the parties thereto will provide to the other party copies of all applications in advance of filing or submission of such applications to governmental entities in connection with the Merger Agreement, and copies of all correspondence with such governmental entities, and will keep all the parties timely apprised of the status of the foregoing. (SECTION 6.8) Public Announcements. The Merger Agreement also provides that Parent and Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, will consult with each other before issuing, and provide each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release, Commission filing or other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, and will not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required by applicable law, court process or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange or automated quotation system. (SECTION 6.6) Name Changes. At or promptly after the Effective Time, the Merger Agreement provides that Parent and Sub will change the name of the Company, and such name will not contain the word or words "Chartwell" or "Chartwell Leisure," or any derivative thereof and neither the Surviving Corporation nor any Subsidiary may use any such name in any manner in the future. (SECTION 6.10) Tax Filings. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent will be responsible for preparing and will file all Tax Returns for taxable periods ending prior to the Effective Date which are required to be filed by the Company and its Subsidiaries after the Effective Date. (SECTION 6.13) Investment Canada Act. The Merger Agreement provides that the Company agrees that it will cause its Subsidiaries in Canada to cease to engage in any publication, distribution, or sale of any books, magazines, periodicals or newspapers in print or machine readable form, and will cease to engage in any production, distribution, sale, exhibition or rental of any film recordings or video recordings, not later than three (3) days prior to Closing. (SECTION 6.14) CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER The Company, Parent and Sub. The Merger Agreement provides that the obligation of each party to the Merger Agreement to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or written waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions: (i) the Merger Agreement and the Merger will have been approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of the requisite number of stockholders of the Company, and in the manner as will be required pursuant to the Company's certificate of incorporation, by-laws and the DGCL; (ii) no statute, rule, regulation, temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger will be in effect; provided, however, that the party invoking this condition will use its best efforts to have any such temporary restraining order, injunction, order, restraint or prohibition vacated; (iii) all material filings required to be made prior to the Effective Time with, and all material consents, approvals, permits and authorizations required to be obtained prior to the Effective Time from, governmental entities, including, without limitation, those previously disclosed by the Company in the disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement to Parent and Sub, in connection with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby by the Company, Parent and Sub will have been made or obtained (as the case may be); and (iv) the waiting periods (and any extension thereof) applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act and the Canadian Acts (as hereinafter defined) will have been terminated or will have otherwise expired. (SECTION 7.1) 51
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The Company. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to the satisfaction or written waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions: (i) the representations and warranties of Parent and Sub set forth in the Merger Agreement that are qualified as to materiality or Parent Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) will be true and correct and the representations and warranties of Parent and Sub set forth in the Merger Agreement that are not so qualified will be true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date. In addition, all such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except to the extent such representation or warranty speaks of an earlier date (without regard to any qualifications for materiality or Parent Material Adverse Effect) except to the extent that any such failure to be true and correct (other than any such failure the effect of which is immaterial) individually and in the aggregate with all such other failures would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, and the Company will have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by the General Partner of Parent to the effect set forth in this paragraph; (ii) Parent and Sub will have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by them under the Merger Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and the Company will have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by the General Partner of Parent to such effect; (iii) all indebtedness owed by the Company under the Credit Facility will have been repaid in full, and such Credit Agreement, dated August 28, 1996 (the "Credit Facility"), among the Company, Chartwell Canada Corp., Various Banks, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as syndication agent, and Chase Manhattan, as administration agent, will have been terminated; (iv) the Company will have received from Parent the payments referenced above under the heading "Parent Payment and Related Matters"; and (v) neither Lehman Brothers nor Chase will have withdrawn, revoked, amended or modified its fairness opinion in any material respect prior to the mailing by the Company of this Proxy Statement to its stockholders. For purposes of the Merger Agreement, "Parent Material Adverse Effect" means any change or effect that is or is reasonably expected to be materially adverse to the condition (financial or otherwise), business, assets or results of operations, of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or adversely affects the ability of the Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement in any material respect or materially impairs or delays the Parent's ability to perform its obligations thereunder. (SECTION 7.3) Parent and Sub. The obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger are further subject to the satisfaction or written waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions: (i) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the Merger Agreement that are qualified as to materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) will be true and correct and the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the Merger Agreement that are not so qualified will be true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date. For purposes of the Merger Agreement, "Company Material Adverse Effect" means any event that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or any change or effect that adversely, or is reasonably expected to adversely, affect the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement in any material respect or materially impairs or delays the Company's ability to perform its obligations thereunder; provided, that (i) only for purposes of the Company's representations and warranties as to compliance with applicable laws and real property; and (ii) with respect to the conditions to the obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger, as to (a) the truth and correctness of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the Merger Agreement and (B) there having not been, since September 30, 1997, any changes or events which, individually or in the aggregate, have had or reasonably would be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Company Material Adverse Effect will also include a material adverse effect with respect to (i) the assets and businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries located in Canada, taken as a whole, and (ii) the assets and businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries related to full service properties located in the United States, taken as a whole. In addition, (i) all such representations and warranties of the Company will be true and correct as of the date hereof and as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except to the extent such representation or 52
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warranty speaks of an earlier date (without regard to any qualifications for materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect) except to the extent that any such failure to be true and correct (other than any such failure the effect of which is immaterial) individually and in the aggregate with all such other failures would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and Parent will have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company to the effect set forth in this paragraph; (ii) the Company will have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under the Merger Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and Parent will have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect; (iii) the number of Dissenting Shares will constitute no greater than 5% of the total number of Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time; (iv) the Company will have sold the Mexican Joint Venture for a purchase price in cash of not less than all amounts expended or accrued by the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with or related to the Mexican Joint Venture, which amount will in no event be less than $3,750,000, and the Company will have no further obligations or liabilities with respect to its investment in the Mexican Joint Venture; (v) except as previously disclosed by the Company in the disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement to Parent and Sub, at the Effective Time after giving effect to (a) the payment by the Company of all fees and expenses related to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including, without limitation, the payment of any real property transfer taxes) and (b) the payments by Parent contemplated under the heading "Parent Payment and Related Matters," and the application of such payment proceeds by the Company as described therein, all outstanding indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries for borrowed money, capitalized lease obligations and similar obligations, other than the amounts owed to the Company or its Subsidiaries and amounts previously disclosed by the Company in the disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement to Parent and Sub, will, at the Effective Time, have been repaid in full and all liens with respect to such indebtedness will have been fully and effectively released and discharged, in each case without the incurrence by the Company or any Subsidiary or joint venture of the Company of any default or prepayment or other penalty, cost or charge other than repayment of the principal amount of such indebtedness together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and the Company will have received a customary payoff letter from Chase Manhattan or other authorized lender under the Credit Facility in respect of the indebtedness under the Credit Facility; (vi) since September 30, 1997, there will not have been any changes or events which, individually or in the aggregate, have had or reasonably would be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (vii) all consents of third parties previously disclosed by the Company in the disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement to Parent and Sub will have been obtained, including the consent or waiver of Travelodge Hotels, Inc., a subsidiary of Cendant ("Travelodge"), under the Master License Agreement for the Territory of the Dominion of Canada by and between Travelodge and Chartwell Canada Hospitality Corp., dated as of September 30, 1996, evidencing its consent to the consummation of the Merger or waiving any Travelodge rights, if any, under such agreement relating to the consummation of the Merger, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent; (viii) as of the Effective Time, the Second Amended and Restated Financing Agreement between Cendant and the Company, dated as of July 24, 1996, will have been terminated without the payment of any amounts by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries therefor; (ix) all legal, investment banking, accounting, advisory, consulting, and other third party professional, printing and Commission fees and expenses incurred, paid or accrued by the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with the negotiation, execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby (including amounts payable to Bear Stearns, Chase and Lehman Brothers) will not exceed $7,000,000; (x) the Agreement of Lease between Fisher 40th 3rd Company and Hawaiian Realty, Inc., as landlord, and the Company, as tenant, dated February 29, 1996 (the "New York Office Lease") will have terminated without the incurrence, payment or accrual by the Company and its Subsidiaries of any cash costs or expenses other than rent through the later of December 31, 1997 or the Effective Time on the terms set forth in the New York Office Lease; (xi) the Parent will have no reasonable basis to believe that the aggregate withdrawal liability of the Commonly Controlled Entities, if all Commonly Controlled Entities were to withdraw from all Multiemployer Plans as of the date hereof, would exceed $5,000,000; and (xii) the Company will have obtained, and delivered copies thereof to Parent, the consents of holders of Options. (SECTION 7.2) 53
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TERMINATION The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated thereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, notwithstanding approval thereof by the stockholders of the Company in any one of the following circumstances: (a) By the written mutual consent of Parent and the Company; (b) By Parent or the Company, if, without any material breach by such terminating party of its obligations under the Merger Agreement, the Merger has not occurred on or before May 15, 1998; (c) By Parent or the Company, if (x) any statute, rule or regulation has been promulgated by any governmental entity prohibiting or restricting the Merger or (y) any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental entity has issued an order, decree or ruling, or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or other action has become final and non-appealable provided that a party may not terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to this clause (iii) if it has not complied with its obligations under the headings "--Reasonable Best Efforts" and "--Consents, Approvals and Filings"; (d) By Parent or the Company if, upon a vote at a duly held Stockholders Meeting or any adjournment thereof, any required approval of the stockholders of the Company has not been obtained; (e) By the Company, if it has received an Acquisition Transaction Proposal (other than from an affiliate of the Company), and (A) the Board determines (i) in its good faith judgment that such Acquisition Transaction Proposal represents a more favorable financial alternative to the Company's stockholders than the Merger and (ii) after consultation with and based upon the advice of outside legal counsel, determines in good faith that failure to accept such Acquisition Transaction Proposal would be reasonably expected to be a breach of, or would be inconsistent with, the Board's fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) the Company has complied with its obligations set forth under the heading "--No Solicitation Proposals" and has indicated in the notice delivered pursuant thereto that the Company intends to terminate the Merger Agreement, such notice having been received by Parent at least two (2) business days prior to any such termination and (C) during such two (2) business day-period the Company, together with its financial and legal advisors, will have considered any adjustment in the terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby, including an increase in the Merger Consideration, that Parent may propose; provided that such termination pursuant to this clause (v) will not be effective until the Company has made payment of the $8,145,000 termination fee required by the Merger Agreement; (f) By Parent, if the Board of the Company has (A) withdrawn, modified or amended in any adverse respect its approval or recommendation of the Merger Agreement, the Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby, (B) failed to include in this Proxy Statement such recommendation, (C) endorsed or recommended to its stockholders an Acquisition Transaction Proposal, (D) resolved to do any of the foregoing or (E) if the Company has received a written Acquisition Transaction Proposal and has not rejected such Acquisition Transaction Proposal within ten (10) business days of its receipt thereof; (g) By Parent or the Company, if (A) the other party has failed to comply in any material respect with any of the covenants and agreements (or in any respect with regard to covenants and agreements qualified by materiality) contained in the Merger Agreement to be complied with or performed by such party at or prior to such date of termination, and such failure continues for ten (10) business days after the actual receipt by such party of a written notice from the other party setting forth in detail the nature of such failure, or (B) a representation or warranty of the other party contained in the Merger Agreement will be untrue in any material respect or a representation or warranty qualified as to materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect or Parent Material Adverse Effect, as the case may be, will be untrue in any respect; and (h) By Parent, if any of the conditions to the obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger set forth in the Merger Agreement has become incapable of being fulfilled and has not been waived by Parent, or by the Company if any of the conditions to the obligations of the Company to effect the Merger set forth in the Merger Agreement has become incapable of being fulfilled and has not been waived by the Company. 54
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If the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby are terminated: (i) By the Company, if it will have received an Acquisition Transaction Proposal (other than from an affiliate of the Company), and (A) the Company's Board determines (x) in its good faith judgment that such Acquisition Transaction Proposal represents a more favorable financial alternative to the Company's stockholders than the Merger and (y) after consultation with and based upon the advice of outside legal counsel, in good faith that failure to accept such Acquisition Transaction Proposal would be reasonably expected to be a breach of, or would be inconsistent with, the Board's fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) the Company will have complied with its obligations set forth under the heading "--No Solicitation; Acquisition Transaction Proposals" in the Merger Agreement and have indicated in the notice delivered pursuant thereto that the Company intends to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph, such notice having been received by Parent at least two (2) business days prior to any such termination and (C) during such two (2) business-day period the Company, together with its financial and legal advisors, will have considered any adjustment in the terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including an increase in the Merger Consideration, that Parent may propose; provided that such termination pursuant to this paragraph will not be effective until the Company has made payment of the full fee required by the Merger Agreement; (ii) By Parent, if the Board of the Company will have (A) withdrawn, modified or amended in any adverse respect its approval or recommendation of the Merger Agreement, the Merger or the transactions contemplated thereby, (B) failed to include in the Proxy Statement such recommendation, (C) endorsed or recommended to its stockholders an Acquisition Transaction Proposal, (D) resolved to do any of the foregoing or (E) if the Company will have received a written Acquisition Transaction Proposal and will not have rejected such Acquisition Transaction Proposal within ten (10) business days of its receipt thereof; or (iii) By Parent or the Company if (x), at the time of the Meeting, an Acquisition Transaction Proposal will have been pending or an Acquisition Transaction Proposal will have been previously announced, and (y), upon a vote of the stockholders at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof, any required approval of the stockholders of the Company with respect to the Merger will not have been obtained; then, (x) in the case of a termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, the Company will pay Parent concurrently with such termination a fee of $8,145,000 (the "Fee"), which amount will be payable in immediately available funds, (y) in the case of a termination of the Merger Agreement as contemplated by clause (iii) above if within one year following the date of such termination of the Merger Agreement the applicable pending or previously announced Acquisition Transaction Proposal is consummated by the Company, then the Company will pay the Fee to Parent simultaneously with the consummation of such Acquisition Transaction Proposal or (z) in the case of a termination of the Merger Agreement as contemplated by clause (iii) above, if within one year following the date of such termination of the Merger Agreement any other Acquisition Transaction Proposal is consummated by the Company, then the Company will pay to Parent, simultaneously with the consummation of such other Acquisition Transaction Proposal, a fee equal to 3% of the aggregate amount of the consideration paid to the Company or its stockholders, as applicable, pursuant to such Acquisition Transaction Proposal. Following any payment of the Fee, the Company will have no further liability or obligation to Parent or Sub. If the Company does not consummate the Merger on or prior to May 15, 1998 solely as a result of the failure of the closing condition in the Merger Agreement that neither Chase nor Lehman Brothers will have withdrawn, revoked, amended or modified its fairness opinion in any material respect prior to the mailing by the Company of this definitive Proxy Statement to its stockholders, then the Company will promptly pay to Parent a fee of $4,073,000, which amount will be payable in immediately available funds. (ARTICLE VIII) 55
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REGULATORY MATTERS Certain federal, state and foreign regulatory requirements must be complied with before the Merger is consummated. The Company and Parent are not aware of any other governmental consents or approvals that are required prior to the parties' consummation of the Merger other than those described below. It is presently contemplated that if such additional governmental consents and approvals are required, such consents and approvals will be sought. There can be no assurance, however, that any such additional consents or approvals will be obtained. HSR ACT The Merger is not subject to the requirements of the HSR Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, which provide that certain acquisition transactions may not be consummated until certain information has been furnished to the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission and until certain waiting periods have been terminated or have expired. CANADIAN ACTS Pursuant to the Investment Canada Act, Parent is required to file a notification with respect to the transaction with the Canadian Department of Industry within thirty days following the Effective Time. This notification requirement is a statutory reporting requirement only and does not impose any further obligations or restrictions with respect to the Merger, the Merger Agreement, or the transactions contemplated thereby. OTHER FOREIGN REGULATORY MATTERS The Company, directly or through subsidiaries, owns properties and conducts business operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In connection with the Merger, the laws of certain of these foreign countries, in addition to the Canadian Acts described above, may require the filing of information or documents with governmental authorities therein. The Company, Parent and Sub intend to comply with all relevant filing requirements of these jurisdictions. Parent and the Company do not expect that such foreign government approvals and notifications will affect the timing of or the ability to effect the consummation of the Merger; however, there can be no assurances with respect thereto. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY THE COMPANY The Company is a hotel and motel owner, operator, developer and acquiror. The Company owns, directly or with joint venture partners, 123 hotel properties in both the full-service and limited-service segments, including approximately 10,900 guest rooms, located in 25 states and six Canadian provinces. In the full-service segment, the Company operates 29 hotels aggregating approximately 5,700 guest rooms. The Company's remaining 94 hotels, consisting of approximately 5,200 rooms, operate in the limited- service segment, principally under the Travelodge(R) brand. Additional information concerning the Company and its subsidiaries is contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 30, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997, its Proxy Statement dated March 28, 1997 in connection with the annual meeting of the Company's stockholders held on May 1, 1997, its Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 2, 1997 and Forms 8-K/A, dated February 7, 1997 and February 26, 1997, and its other public filings. See "AVAILABLE INFORMATION" and "INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE." 56
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Set forth below are the name, age, business address, present principal occupation or employment and five-year employment history of each director and executive officer of the Company. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each person listed below is Chartwell Leisure Inc., 605 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10158. Each named person is a citizen of the United States. Directors. RICHARD L. FISHER, age 56, has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since January 24, 1996, and a Director of the Company since December 20, 1995. Mr. Fisher has been self-employed, engaged in private investment activities, financial management and real estate ownership and development, among other businesses, since prior to 1990. Mr. Fisher is a principal of Fisher Brothers, one of the largest owners of commercial real estate in New York City. Mr. Fisher is a limited partner in CL Associates, the President, a director and a stockholder in the general partner of CL Associates and a partner in various affiliates of CL Associates. Mr. Fisher is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and the Horace Mann School located in Riverdale, New York, the Board of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the National Advisory Board of The Chase Manhattan Bank. Arnold Fisher and Richard L. Fisher are first cousins. MARTIN L. EDELMAN, age 56, has been a Director of the Company since November 22, 1994 and President of the Company since January 24, 1996. Mr. Edelman was the Vice Chairman of the Board of the Company from December 1995 until March 1996. He has also been a director of Cendant and a member of its Executive Committee since November 1993. Mr. Edelman has been of counsel to Battle Fowler LLP, a New York City law firm that provides services to the Company, since January 1994 and was a partner of that firm from 1972 through 1993. Mr. Edelman also serves as director of Avis Rent a Car, Inc. and Capital Trust. Mr. Edelman has also served as a consultant to the Fisher Brothers family, an affiliate of CL Associates since January 1995. Mr. Edelman is also a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. HENRY R. SILVERMAN, age 57, has been a Director of the Company since September 1994. Currently, he is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cendant. He was Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Executive Officer of HFS, a predecessor of Cendant, from May 1990 until December 1997 and was the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from November 1994 until January 24, 1996. Mr. Silverman is a former General Partner of The Blackstone Group ("Blackstone"), a New York investment banking firm, having held such position from February 1990 to December 1991. STEPHEN P. HOLMES, age 41, has been a Director of the Company since November 1994. Mr. Holmes was Vice Chairman of Cendant from 1996 to December 1997, a Director of Cendant since June 1994 and was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cendant from July 1992 to July 1996 and was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company from November 1994 until February 1996. Mr. Holmes was a director of AMRE, Inc., a home remodeling and improvement company. AMRE, Inc. filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in 1996. Mr. Holmes was employed by Blackstone from February 1990 through September 1991 as a Vice President and Managing Director. MICHAEL J. KENNEDY, age 60, has been a Director of the Company since November 22, 1994. Mr. Kennedy has been an attorney with his own law firm in New York City since 1976. Mr. Kennedy also serves as a director of Avis Rent a Car, Inc. RACHEL ROBINSON, age 75, has been a Director of the Company since August 8, 1996. Ms. Robinson has been the Chairperson of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, a charitable foundation that creates and administers scholarships for minority youth, since 1973. MARC E. LELAND, age 58, has been a Director of the Company since December 20, 1995. Mr. Leland has been President of Marc E. Leland & Associates, engaged in financial consulting and private investment activities, since 1984. Mr. Leland is a Vice President and director of CL Corp., the general partner of CL Associates, and a general partner in FGT, L.P., which is a limited partner of CL Associates. Mr. Leland was the Assistant Secretary 57
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of the Treasury for International Affairs from 1981 to 1984. Mr. Leland is a director of Noble Drilling Corporation, a company that provides contract drilling services for the oil and gas industry worldwide. DR. GUIDO GOLDMAN, age 60, has been a Director of the Company since August 8, 1996. Dr. Goldman is a Manager of FSNL and a trustee of a trust and the beneficiary of another trust, both of which are members of FSNL. Dr. Goldman has been Chairman of the Board and President of First Spring Corporation, engaged in private asset management since 1985, and Director of the Program for the Study of Germany and Europe at the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies of Harvard University since 1989 and the Director of the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies from 1969 to 1994. See "SPECIAL FACTORS--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interests." ARNOLD FISHER, age 64, has been a Director at the Company since March 20, 1997. Mr. Fisher has been self-employed, engaged in private investment activities, financial management and real estate ownership and development, among other businesses, since prior to 1990. Mr. Fisher is a principal of Fisher Brothers, and has been a principal since prior to 1990. Mr. Fisher is a partner in CL Associates, a stockholder in the general partner of CL Associates, and a partner in various affiliates of CL Associates. Arnold Fisher and Richard L. Fisher are first cousins. Executive Officers. The following table sets forth certain information regarding the executive officers of the Company currently in office: · Download Table NAME OFFICE OR POSITIONS HELD ---- ------------------------ Richard L. Fisher.............. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Martin L. Edelman.............. Director and President Terrance E. Royer.............. Chief Operating Officer Kenneth J. Weber............... Chief Financial Officer Douglas H. Verner.............. Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Samuel Rosenberg............... Treasurer and Comptroller For biographical information about Messrs. Fisher and Edelman, see "-- Directors." TERRANCE E. ROYER, age 49, is currently the Chief Operating Officer of the Company and has held such office since March 1997. Mr. Royer is also currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Royco Hotels & Resorts Ltd., a Calgary based hotel management and franchise company. Mr. Royer has held such office since 1992. In 1972 Mr. Royer co-founded The Relax Group of Companies, and was associated with such company until 1992. The Relax Group of Companies consisted of over 41 companies which were involved in the hospitality industry in North America. Mr. Royer is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Calgary Economic Development Authority and is a founding member of the Advisory Council for the Canadian Tourism Research Institute, which is affiliated with the Conference Board of Canada. KENNETH J. WEBER, age 51, is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and has held such office since March 4, 1996. From September 1992 until February 1996, Mr. Weber was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Omni Hotels, a company engaged in the ownership and management of hotels. From January 1987 until September 1992 he was the Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Red Lion Hotels, a company engaged in the ownership and management of hotels. From 1973 to 1986, Mr. Weber held various positions in the hospitality industry. Mr. Weber currently serves on the Financial Officer Board of the American Hotel and Motel Association. DOUGLAS H. VERNER, age 43, is currently the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company and has held such offices since January 23, 1996. Mr. Verner was the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Forte Hotels from November 1984 until January 1996. He is also Chairman of the Copyright Committee of the American Hotel and Motel Association. 58
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SAMUEL ROSENBERG, age 39, is currently the Treasurer and Comptroller for the Company and has held such office since March 1996. From October 1986 until March 1996, Mr. Rosenberg was employed by Fisher Brothers and from 1992 until March 1996, Mr. Rosenberg was the Comptroller of Fisher Brothers. Each of the named executive officers has, since the formation of the Company in November 1994, served in a managerial or executive capacity with the Company or its affiliates, except for Mr. Royer who commenced his employment with the Company as Chief Operating Officer in February 1997. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS WITH DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS Except as set forth below or as provided under "SPECIAL FACTORS--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger; Potential Conflicts of Interest", since January 1, 1997, the Company's executive officers and directors were not indebted to, and did not have significant business relations with, the Company. Until December 15, 1997, the Company leased approximately 18,700 square feet of office space located at 605 Third Avenue, New York, New York for a period of ten years from an affiliate of CL Associates and an unaffiliated third party. Under this lease, the Company was obligated to pay approximately $542,000 per year for each of the first five years, and approximately $600,000 per year for each of the last five years, of the term of the lease for the use of such office space. The Company terminated its lease with such affiliate of CL Associates and such other unaffiliated third party, effective December 15, 1997. No termination fees were required to be paid by the Company in connection therewith. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARENT AND SUB Parent is a Delaware limited partnership that engages in the business of investing in debt and equity interests in real estate related assets and businesses. WH Advisors, L.L.C. acts as the sole general partner of Parent, and Whitehall IX/X, Inc. acts as the managing member of WH Advisors, L.L.C. Parent, Sub, WH Advisors, L.L.C. and Whitehall IX/X, Inc. are all affiliates of GS Group. Whitehall IX/X, Inc. is a subsidiary of GS Group. GS Group is a holding partnership that (directly and indirectly through subsidiaries or affiliated companies or both) is a leading international investment banking organization in the business of buying and selling securities, both foreign and domestic, and in making investments on behalf of its partners. The Goldman Sachs Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("GS Corp."), is the sole general partner of GS Group. The principal address and telephone number of Parent, Sub, Whitehall IX/X, Inc., GS Group and GS Corp. are 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004 and (212) 902-1000. Except as described in this Proxy Statement, since the formation of the Company, there have been no contacts, negotiations or transactions between Sub, Parent or, to the best knowledge of Sub, any of its affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company or its affiliates, on the other hand, concerning a merger, consolidation or acquisition, a tender offer or other acquisition of securities, an election of directors, or a sale or other transfer of a material amount of assets. FEES AND EXPENSES Except as provided in the Merger Agreement, whether or not the Merger will be consummated, each of Parent, Sub and the Company will pay its own expenses incident to preparing for, entering into and carrying out the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, other than (i) the expenses incurred in connection with printing and mailing proxy materials to stockholders, which will be paid by the Company and (ii) real property transfer taxes, which will be paid by the Company. See "THE MERGER AGREEMENT-- Termination." 59
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MARKET PRICES AND DIVIDENDS MARKET PRICES The principal market on which the Shares are traded is NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "CHRT." The Shares commenced trading on NASDAQ on November 14, 1994 under the symbol "NAGC." From January 1996 until August 8, 1996, the Shares traded under the symbol "NALC" and, since August 8, 1996, have traded under the symbol "CHRT." On February 5, 1998, the last trading day before the printing of this Proxy Statement, the high and low sales prices of the Shares were $16 15/16 and $16 15/16, respectively. On November 13, 1997, the last trading day before the public announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement, the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock were $15 7/8 and $15 7/8, respectively. On