Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. To Realize $110 Million Gain On Sale Of The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui
June 07 2004 - 10:02AM
PR Newswire (US)
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. To Realize $110 Million Gain On
Sale Of The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui - Fairmont to Continue to Manage
the Resort under Long-term Management Contract - TORONTO, June 7
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. ("FHR"
or the "Company") (TSX/NYSE: FHR) today announced that it has
agreed to sell The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui to Host Marriott
Corporation ("HMT") (NYSE: HMT) for $355 million, or $789,000 per
room. The resort will continue to be known as The Fairmont Kea Lani
Maui and will be managed by Fairmont under the existing long-term
management contract. The transaction is expected to close in
August, subject to customary closing conditions. FHR expects to
reinvest a portion of the proceeds in additional hotels over the
course of the next year. The Company also intends to use the sale
proceeds to acquire the remaining interest in the Fairmont
management company, to increase its share purchases under its
existing share repurchase program and, in the interim, to reduce
existing indebtedness. Maritz, Wolff & Co. recently advised FHR
that it intends to exercise its put option on the remaining 16.5%
interest in the Fairmont management company. This transaction is
expected to be completed in the third quarter, at which time FHR
will own 100% of the Fairmont brand and management company. Maritz,
Wolff & Co. is a significant owner of hotel real estate managed
by Fairmont and will continue to be an important partner in the
future. In February 2001, FHR purchased The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui
and its management contract for $250 million. Following the
completion of the sale, FHR will realize a pre-tax gain of
approximately $110 million and an after-tax gain of about $69
million. "This is an attractive time to capitalize on our success
with The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui. In the three years that we have
owned this resort, it has enjoyed solid growth in operating
performance as a result of our experience in luxury resort
management and Fairmont's strong brand presence in the California
market," commented William R. Fatt, Chief Executive Officer of FHR.
"Importantly, this sale indicates the underlying value of many of
Fairmont's world-class assets. It also reinforces our strategy of
acquiring attractive assets, realizing the value created through
improved performance and then redeploying the capital to continue
growing the company." Continued Mr. Fatt, "We are pleased to have
the opportunity to work with such a well-respected hotel owner as
HMT on such an attractive asset as The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui."
Christopher J. Nassetta, HMT's President and Chief Executive
Officer, commented, "We are delighted to add this luxury resort
located in the exclusive destination of Wailea, Maui to our
portfolio. We look forward to partnering with Fairmont, North
America's largest luxury resort manager, to further build on the
exceptional reputation of The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui." Added Mr.
Nassetta, "We hope this partnership is the first of many
opportunities to build our relationship with FHR through the future
acquisition of hotels that Fairmont could manage." About Fairmont
Hotels & Resorts Inc. FHR is one of North America's leading
owner/operators of luxury hotels and resorts. FHR's managed
portfolio consists of 82 luxury and first-class properties with
more than 33,000 guestrooms in the United States, Canada, Mexico,
Bermuda, Barbados and the United Arab Emirates. It holds an 83.5%
controlling interest in Fairmont Hotels Inc., North America's
largest luxury hotel management company, as measured by rooms under
management. Fairmont manages 44 distinctive city center and resort
hotels such as The Fairmont San Francisco, The Fairmont Banff
Springs and The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. FHR also owns Delta
Hotels, Canada's largest first-class hotel management company,
which manages and franchises 38 city center and resort properties
in Canada. In addition to hotel management, FHR holds real estate
interests in 23 properties and an approximate 35% investment
interest in Legacy Hotels Real Estate Investment Trust, which owns
24 properties. About Host Marriott Corporation Host Marriott is a
Fortune 500 lodging real estate company, which owns 111 upscale and
luxury full-service hotel properties primarily operated under
Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Hyatt and Hilton brand names.
DATASOURCE: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. CONTACT: Investors:
Emma Thompson, Executive Director Investor Relations, Tel: (416)
874-2485, Email: , Website: http://www.fairmont.com/investor;
Media: Laura Fairweather, Executive Director Public Relations, Tel:
(416) 874-2404, Email: , Website: http://www.fairmont.com/
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