10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q FORM 10-Q
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2005

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission File Number: 1-11903

 


 

MERISTAR HOSPITALITY CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

MARYLAND   75-2648842

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

4501 NORTH FAIRFAX DRIVE

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

  22203
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(703) 812-7200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  þ    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  þ

 

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding at November 1, 2005 was 87,493,210.

 



Table of Contents

INDEX

 

     Page

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    
    

Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2005 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2004

   2
    

Consolidated Statements of Operations – Three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited)

   3
    

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited)

   4
    

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

   5

ITEM 2.

  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   19

ITEM 3.

  

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

   44

ITEM 4.

  

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

   45
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6.

  

EXHIBITS

   46

SIGNATURES

   47

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

MERISTAR HOSPITALITY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     September 30,
2005
(Unaudited)


    December 31,
2004


 

ASSETS

                

Property and equipment

   $ 2,569,041     $ 2,581,720  

Accumulated depreciation

     (513,559 )     (506,632 )
    


 


       2,055,482       2,075,088  

Assets held for sale

     23,058       —    

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates

     71,465       84,796  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     35,969       34,533  

Insurance claim receivable

     37,070       76,056  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $528 and $691

     41,922       32,979  

Restricted cash

     18,839       58,413  

Cash and cash equivalents

     35,296       60,540  
    


 


     $ 2,319,101     $ 2,422,405  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Debt

   $ 1,613,982     $ 1,573,276  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     81,638       75,527  

Accrued interest

     29,733       41,165  

Due to Interstate Hotels & Resorts

     16,881       21,799  

Other liabilities

     7,618       11,553  
    


 


Total liabilities

     1,749,852       1,723,320  
    


 


Minority interests

     10,100       14,053  

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share

                

Authorized – 100,000 shares

                

Issued – none

     —         —    

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share

                

Authorized – 100,000 shares

                

Issued – 89,982 and 89,739 shares

     900       897  

Additional paid-in capital

     1,468,504       1,465,658  

Accumulated deficit

     (866,274 )     (738,393 )

Common stock held in treasury – 2,491 and 2,372 shares

     (43,981 )     (43,130 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     559,149       685,032  
    


 


     $ 2,319,101     $ 2,422,405  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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MERISTAR HOSPITALITY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

UNAUDITED

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Revenue:

                                

Hotel operations:

                                

Rooms

   $ 130,674     $ 121,053     $ 389,870     $ 378,807  

Food and beverage

     48,035       44,483       158,322       147,936  

Other hotel operations

     12,036       12,518       34,787       43,100  

Office rental, parking and other revenue

     1,908       1,426       4,941       4,021  
    


 


 


 


Total revenue

     192,653       179,480       587,920       573,864  
    


 


 


 


Hotel operating expenses:

                                

Rooms

     33,041       32,000       95,766       94,565  

Food and beverage

     36,323       34,762       112,613       109,284  

Other hotel operating expenses

     7,708       8,182       22,124       27,290  

Office rental, parking and other expenses

     945       682       2,381       1,938  

Other operating expenses:

                                

General and administrative, hotel

     32,328       28,770       93,643       88,950  

General and administrative, corporate

     4,000       2,547       10,361       9,653  

Property operating costs

     30,947       28,292       89,622       85,796  

Depreciation and amortization

     25,728       24,599       73,021       73,058  

Property taxes, insurance and other

     11,092       12,567       33,439       43,337  

Loss on asset impairments

     40,343       —         40,343       —    

Contract termination costs

     1,081       —         1,081       —    
    


 


 


 


Operating expenses

     223,536       172,401       574,394       533,871  
    


 


 


 


Equity in income/loss of and interest earned from unconsolidated affiliates

     2,682       1,600       7,257       4,800  

Hurricane business interruption insurance gain

     —         —         4,290       —    
    


 


 


 


Operating (loss) income

     (28,201 )     8,679       25,073       44,793  

Minority interest income

     3,012       775       3,320       2,392  

Interest expense, net

     (30,152 )     (30,994 )     (91,563 )     (95,586 )

Loss on early extinguishments of debt

     (54,165 )     —         (55,172 )     (7,903 )
    


 


 


 


Loss before income taxes and discontinued operations

     (109,506 )     (21,540 )     (118,342 )     (56,304 )

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (33 )     289       (867 )     796  
    


 


 


 


Loss from continuing operations

     (109,539 )     (21,251 )     (119,209 )     (55,508 )
    


 


 


 


Discontinued operations:

                                

Loss from discontinued operations before income tax

     (5,832 )     (5,557 )     (8,672 )     (23,223 )

Income tax benefit

     —         36       —         159  
    


 


 


 


Loss from discontinued operations

     (5,832 )     (5,521 )     (8,672 )     (23,064 )
    


 


 


 


Net loss

   $ (115,371 )   $ (26,772 )   $ (127,881 )   $ (78,572 )
    


 


 


 


Basic loss per share:

                                

Loss from continuing operations

   $ (1.25 )   $ (0.24 )   $ (1.36 )   $ (0.70 )

Loss from discontinued operations

     (0.07 )     (0.07 )     (0.10 )     (0.29 )
    


 


 


 


Loss per basic share

   $ (1.32 )   $ (0.31 )   $ (1.46 )   $ (0.99 )
    


 


 


 


Diluted loss per share:

                                

Loss from continuing operations

   $ (1.25 )   $ (0.25 )   $ (1.37 )   $ (0.71 )

Loss from discontinued operations

     (0.07 )     (0.06 )     (0.09 )     (0.28 )
    


 


 


 


Loss per diluted share

   $ (1.32 )   $ (0.31 )   $ (1.46 )   $ (0.99 )
    


 


 


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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MERISTAR HOSPITALITY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

UNAUDITED

(Dollars in thousands)

 

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Operating activities:

                

Net loss

   $ (127,881 )   $ (78,572 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     75,184       78,567  

Loss on asset impairments

     46,989       10,022  

Loss on sale of assets, before tax effect

     2,527       13,762  

Loss on early extinguishments of debt

     433       7,903  

Minority interests

     (3,320 )     (2,392 )

Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliate

     1,342       —    

Amortization of unearned stock-based compensation

     848       (3,845 )

Deferred income taxes

     —         (1,233 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                

Insurance claim receivable, less capital expenditure proceeds

     40,895       (3,071 )

Accounts receivable, net

     (8,943 )     8,342  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     2,568       8,985  

Receivables from unconsolidated affiliates

     12,128       (4,800 )

Due to Interstate Hotels & Resorts

     (6,982 )     (9,058 )

Accounts payable, accrued expenses, accrued interest and other liabilities

     (3,952 )     (18,767 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     31,836       5,843  
    


 


Investing activities:

                

Acquisition of hotels, net of cash acquired of $4.1 million

     —         (182,375 )

Capital expenditures for property and equipment

     (171,771 )     (85,632 )

Deposit on investment in hotel

     —         (7,500 )

Proceeds from sales of assets

     45,825       119,323  

Estimated insurance proceeds related to capital expenditures

     7,700       —    

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash

     45,898       (17,187 )

Costs associated with disposition program and other, net

     (2,192 )     (5,653 )
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (74,540 )     (179,024 )
    


 


Financing activities:

                

Prepayments on debt

     (382,571 )     (105,049 )

Scheduled payments on debt

     (16,061 )     (6,991 )

Proceeds from mortgage loans, net of financing costs

     73,374       109,700  

Proceeds from debt issuance, net of financing costs

     320,704       —    

Net borrowings under credit facility revolver, net of financing costs

     22,519       —    

Distributions to minority investors

     —         (141 )

Proceeds from common stock issuance, net of issuance costs

     346       72,261  

Purchase of subsidiary partnership interests

     —         (8,690 )

Repurchase of common stock under employee stock plans

     (851 )     (160 )

Other

     —         (207 )
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     17,460       60,723  
    


 


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     —         (632 )
    


 


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (25,244 )     (113,090 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     60,540       230,884  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 35,296     $ 117,794  
    


 


Supplemental Cash Flow Information

                

Cash paid for interest and income taxes:

                

Interest, net of capitalized interest

   $ 102,751     $ 106,559  

Income tax payments, net of (refunds)

   $ 751     $ (500 )

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

                

Property damage insurance claim receivable

   $ 9,609     $ 60,000  

Senior subordinated debt redeemed in exchange for common stock

   $ —       $ 49,213  

Mortgage foreclosure

   $ —       $ 11,141  

Change of fair value of interest rate swap

   $ 3,981     $ 2,343  

Issuance of stock bonus

   $ 1,022     $ —    

Redemption of OP units

   $ 633     $ 606  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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MERISTAR HOSPITALITY CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

 

1. Organization

 

MeriStar Hospitality Corporation (the “Company”) is a real estate investment trust, or REIT. We own a portfolio of primarily upper upscale, full-service hotels and resorts in the United States. Our portfolio is diversified geographically as well as by franchise and brand affiliations. As of September 30, 2005, we owned 69 hotels with 19,376 rooms, all of which were leased by our taxable subsidiaries. Sixty-seven of these hotels were managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts (“Interstate”), one hotel was managed by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC (“Ritz-Carlton”), a subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc., and one hotel was managed by another subsidiary (“Marriott”) of Marriott International, Inc. (collectively with Interstate and Ritz-Carlton, the “Managers”). During the third quarter of 2005, we entered into agreements to convert the management of one hotel from Interstate to Marriott management, effective during the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

The Managers operate the 69 hotels we owned as of September 30, 2005 pursuant to management agreements with our taxable subsidiaries. Under these management agreements, each taxable subsidiary pays a management fee for each property to the Manager of its hotels. The taxable subsidiaries in turn make rental payments to our subsidiary operating partnership under the participating leases.

 

Under the Interstate management agreements, the base management fee is 2.5% of total hotel revenue, plus incentive payments based on meeting performance thresholds that could total up to an additional 1.5% of total hotel revenue. The agreements have initial terms expiring on January 1, 2011 with three renewal periods of five years each at the option of Interstate, subject to some exceptions. Additionally, our franchise fees generally range from 1.5% to 7.5% of hotel room revenues.

 

Under the existing Ritz-Carlton and Marriott management agreements, the base management fee is 3.0% and 2.5% of total hotel revenue, respectively, through 2005 and 3.0% under both thereafter, plus incentive payments based on meeting performance thresholds that could total up to an additional 2.0% of total revenue and 20% of available cash flow (as defined in the relevant management agreement), respectively. The agreements have initial terms expiring in 2015 and 2024, respectively, with four and three renewal periods of 10 and five years each, respectively, at the option of Ritz-Carlton and Marriott. The Ritz-Carlton and Marriott management agreements include certain limited performance guarantees by the relevant manager which are designed primarily to provide downside performance protection and run through 2005 and up to 2008, respectively. Management, based upon budgets and operating trends, expects payments under these guarantees for 2005 and in the future to be minimal.

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Interim Financial Statements. We have prepared these unaudited interim financial statements according to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. We have omitted certain information and footnote disclosures that are normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements, accompanying notes and other information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial condition and results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year.

 

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries and its controlled affiliates. We consolidate entities (in the

 

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absence of other factors when determining control) when we own over 50% of the voting shares of another company or, in the case of partnership investments, when we own the general partnership interest. Additionally, if we determine that we are an owner in a variable interest entity within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, revision to Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” and that our variable interest will absorb a majority of the entity’s expected losses if they occur, receive a majority of the entity’s expected residual returns if they occur, or both, then we will consolidate the entity. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. One of our properties reports results over 13 four week periods each year. We include 12 weeks of results in each of quarters one through three and 16 weeks of results in quarter four.

 

Use of Estimates. Preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates.

 

Property and Equipment. We record our property and equipment at cost, or at fair value at the time of contribution for contributed property. We use the straight-line method for depreciation. We depreciate the majority of our buildings and improvements over an estimated useful life of 20 to 40 years, or the remaining term of a ground lease (including consideration of renewal options), if shorter. We depreciate furniture, fixtures and equipment over lives ranging from five to seven years, and computers over three to five years. During the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, we recognized depreciation expense of $22.1 million and $24.6 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, we recognized depreciation expense of $67.9 million and $72.6 million, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, we capitalized interest of $3.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, we capitalized interest of $9.1 million and $3.6 million, respectively.

 

Held for Sale Properties. Held-for-sale classification requires that the sale be probable and that the transfer of the asset is expected to be completed within one year, among other criteria. Assessing the probability of the sale requires significant judgment due to the uncertainty surrounding completing the transaction, and as a result, we have developed the following policy to aid in the assessment of probability. We classify the properties we are actively marketing as held for sale once all of the following conditions are met:

 

    Our board has approved the sale,

 

    We have a fully executed agreement with a qualified buyer which provides for no significant outstanding or continuing obligations with the property after sale, and

 

    We have a significant non-refundable deposit.

 

We carry properties held for sale at the lower of their carrying values or estimated fair values less costs to sell. We cease depreciation at the time the asset is classified as held for sale. If material to our total portfolio, we segregate the assets and liabilities relating to our held for sale properties on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash. We classify investments with original maturities of three months or less as cash equivalents. Our cash equivalents include investments in debt securities, including commercial paper, overnight repurchase agreements and money market funds. Restricted cash represents amounts held in escrow in accordance with the requirements of certain of our credit facilities.

 

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. We record as discontinued operations the current and prior period operating results of any asset that has been classified as held for sale or has been disposed of and where we have no continuing involvement. Any gains or losses on final disposition are also included in discontinued operations.

 

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Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a long-lived asset may be impaired, an analysis is performed to determine the recoverability of the asset’s carrying value. When we conclude that we are more likely than not to sell or otherwise dispose of an asset significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life, we perform an impairment analysis on that asset (as is the case for assets we are considering for disposition). We make estimates of the undiscounted cash flows from the expected future operations or potential sale of the asset. If the analysis indicates that the carrying value is not recoverable from these estimates of cash flows, we write down the asset to estimated fair value and recognize an impairment loss. Any impairment losses we recognize on assets held for use are recorded as operating expenses. We record any impairment losses on assets held for sale as a component of discontinued operations.

 

Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities. We recognize a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity only when the liability is incurred, and measure that liability initially at fair value. Hotels of which we dispose may be managed under agreements that require payments as a result of termination. Any such liability will be recognized at the time the asset disposition is complete and a termination notice is provided. At that time, the recognition of the termination obligation will be included in the calculation of the final gain or loss on sale.

 

Stock-Based Compensation. We apply the provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” as amended by SFAS No. 148, for new stock based compensation awards issued under our compensation programs. As permitted by SFAS No. 148, we elected to apply the provisions prospectively, which includes recognizing compensation expense for only those stock options issued in 2003 and after. We grant options with an exercise price equal to the price of our common stock on grant date. Compensation costs related to stock options are included in general and administrative expenses on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. We apply the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” in accounting for our stock options issued under our compensation programs prior to January 1, 2003. As we granted these stock options at fair market value, no compensation cost has been recognized. For our other equity-based compensation plans, we recognize compensation expense over the vesting period based on the fair market value of the award at the date of grant for fixed plan awards, while variable plan awards are re-measured based upon the intrinsic value of the award at each balance sheet date.

 

Had compensation cost been determined based on fair value at the grant date for awards granted prior to our adoption of the fair value method, our net income (loss) and per share amounts would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts indicated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,


   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Net loss, as reported

   $ (115,371 )   $ (26,772 )   $ (127,881 )   $ (78,572 )

Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net loss, net of related tax effect

     959       336       2,333       1,311  

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value-based method for all awards, net of related tax effect

     (967 )     (372 )     (2,354 )     (1,449 )
    


 


 


 


Net loss, pro forma

   $ (115,379 )   $ (26,808 )   $ (127,902 )   $ (78,710 )
    


 


 


 


Loss per share, as reported:

                                

Basic and diluted

   $ (1.32 )   $ (0.31 )   $ (1.46 )   $ (0.99 )

Loss per share, pro forma:

                                

Basic and diluted

   $ (1.32 )   $ (0.31 )   $ (1.46 )   $ (0.99 )

Weighted average fair value of options granted

   $ 2.91     $ 2.87     $ 2.91     $ 1.92  

 

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These pro forma compensation costs may not be representative of the actual effects on reported net loss and loss per share in future years.

 

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. Our interest rate risk management objective is to manage the effect of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows. We look to manage interest rates through the use of a combination of fixed and variable rate debt. We only enter into derivative or interest rate transactions for hedging purposes. We recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and measure those instruments at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income based on the derivative’s effectiveness and whether the derivative has been designated as a cash flow or fair value hedge.

 

Acquisition of Hotels. Our hotel acquisitions consist almost exclusively of land, building, furniture, fixtures and equipment. We allocate the purchase price among these asset classes and any acquired intangible assets based upon their respective fair values as required by SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations.”

 

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates. We have non-controlling interests in entities which we account for under the cost method or equity method of accounting. Our investment in MeriStar Investment Partners, L.P. (“MIP”) is a limited partner interest with no participation rights in the management, affairs or operations of the entity, and is accounted for using the cost method. We recognize our preferred return on this investment quarterly as it becomes due to us; this investment is reflected in the “investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates” line on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our investment in Radisson Lexington Avenue Hotel is accounted for using the equity method, since we are presumed to exert significant influence on this entity due to our ownership percentage of 49.99%. Accordingly, we recognize 49.99% of the profit and loss of the entity in which our investment was made. This investment is also reflected in the “investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates” line on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our investments in unconsolidated affiliates are periodically reviewed for other than temporary declines in market value. An impairment is recorded as a reduction to the carrying value of the investment for any declines which are determined to be other than temporary.

 

Accounting for the Impact of the Hurricane Damage to Properties. In August and September 2004, hurricanes Charley and Frances caused substantial damage to a number of our hotels located in Florida. The 2004 hurricane damage and local evacuation orders also caused significant business interruption at many of our Florida properties, including the complete closure of certain hotels. As a result, eight of our hotels were closed for an extended period of time, and four others were affected in varying degrees; all but three of these hotels are now open (on a partial or full basis).

 

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused damage to three of our hotels located in New Orleans and Florida. While the hurricane damage and local evacuation orders caused property damage and business interruption, the operating results of these three properties are not material to our overall performance, and all three of the affected hotels are included in our current disposition program. The hotel located in Florida was only closed briefly.

 

We have comprehensive insurance coverage for both property damage and business interruption. Some properties, mainly those affected by the 2004 hurricanes, are requiring substantial repair and reconstruction and have remained closed while such repairs are completed. As of September 30, 2005, the net book value of the property damage is estimated to be at least $75.1 million; however, we are still assessing the impact of the hurricanes on our properties, and final net book value write-offs could vary from this estimate. Changes to this estimate will be recorded in the periods in which they are determined. We have recorded a corresponding insurance claim receivable for this $75.1 million net book value amount because we believe that it is probable that the insurance recovery, net of deductibles, will exceed the net book value of the damaged portion of these assets. The recovery is based on replacement cost, and we have submitted claims substantially in excess of $75.1 million.

 

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While we expect the insurance proceeds will be sufficient to cover most of the replacement cost of the restoration of these hotels, certain deductibles (primarily windstorm) and limitations will apply. Moreover, while we are receiving and expect to continue to receive interim insurance payments, no determination has been made as to the total amount or timing of those insurance payments, and those insurance payments may not be sufficient to cover the costs of all the restoration of the hotels. To the extent that insurance proceeds, which are calculated on a replacement cost basis, ultimately exceed the net book value of the damaged property, a gain will be recorded in the period when all contingencies related to the insurance claim have been resolved.

 

As of September 30, 2005 and November 1, 2005, three of the properties affected by the 2004 hurricanes and two of the properties affected by the 2005 hurricane remained substantially closed due to hurricane damage. Additionally, as of September 30, 2005, one property affected by a 2004 hurricane that suffered varying amounts of hurricane damage had certain guest rooms, its restaurants, lounge, registration area and conference facilities out of service; this property was open as of November 1, 2005. Where possible and in order to mitigate loss of revenues, some permanent repairs to damaged properties were deferred during the Florida “high season,” which generally lasts from late December through early April, in order to have facilities available to meet demand. These damaged facilities are being removed from service for permanent repairs based upon demand so as to minimize business disruptions. We have hired consultants to assess our business interruption claims and are currently negotiating with our insurance carriers regarding the amount of sustained income losses. To the extent that we are entitled to a recovery under the insurance policies, we will recognize a receivable when it can be demonstrated that it is probable that such insurance recovery will be realized. Any gain resulting from business interruption insurance for lost income will not be recognized until all contingencies related to the insurance recoveries are resolved and collection of the relevant payments is probable. These income recognition criteria will likely often result in business interruption insurance recoveries being recorded in a period subsequent to the period that we experience lost income from the affected properties, resulting in fluctuations in our net income that may reduce the comparability of reported quarterly results for some periods into the future.

 

Under these income recognition criteria, during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we have recorded a business interruption recovery gain of $4.3 million due to receiving recognition of a minimal level of business interruption profit that the insurance companies are willing to recognize without any contingencies at this time for certain of our hurricane-affected properties. Our business interruption claims substantially exceed the amount of this minimal recognition to date. We ultimately expect to recognize additional business interruption insurance gains as we proceed further through the claims process.

 

Through September 30, 2005, we have incurred recoverable costs related to both property damage and business interruption recoveries totaling $75.2 million. In addition, we recorded a receivable of $75.1 million related to the write-off of the net book value of the damaged portion of our assets. We had collected $117.5 million in insurance proceeds through September 30, 2005. We have collected an additional $5.8 million in insurance proceeds from October 1 through November 1, 2005. The cost recoveries are recorded on the expense line item to which they relate; therefore there is no net impact to any line item or our results.

 

Of the total $123.3 million in insurance proceeds collected through November 1, 2005, $115.8 million represents reimbursements on claims related to Hurricane Charley, and $7.5 million represents reimbursements on claims related to Hurricane Frances. While we anticipate that we will ultimately be reimbursed for costs incurred as well as business interruption insurance gains, subject to any policy deductibles and limitations, we have incurred out-of-pocket costs while awaiting reimbursement; no determination has been made as to the total amount or timing of those insurance payments, which may not be sufficient to cover all of the costs incurred. The timing of when we will be fully reimbursed for costs incurred and able to recognize business interruption insurance gains is uncertain.

 

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The following is a summary of hurricane-related activity recorded (in millions):

 

Insurance claim receivables

September 30, 2005


 

Fixed assets net book value write down

   $ 75.1  

Recoverable costs incurred

     75.2  

Business interruption insurance gain

     4.3  

Payments received

     (117.5 )
    


     $ 37.1  
    


 

New Accounting Pronouncements. In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” which requires companies to recognize compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions, and measure that cost based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. We are required to comply with the provisions of this statement beginning with the first quarter of 2006. We do not expect the adoption of this revised standard to have a material effect on our accounting treatment for share-based payments, as we adopted the transition provisions of SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure” on January 1, 2003 and elected to recognize compensation expense for options granted subsequent to December 31, 2002 under the fair-value-based method.

 

The FASB issued Statement No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets, an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29, Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions” in December 2004. This Statement amends Opinion 29 to eliminate the exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance. We are required to comply with the provisions of this statement for the third quarter of 2005. We have not entered into or modified any transactions within the scope of this standard, nor do we have any existing transactions that fall within the scope of SFAS No. 153, therefore the adoption of this statement has not had a material effect on our results of operations.

 

In June 2005, the FASB issued Statement No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections – a Replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3”, which changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle, and applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle. This Statement requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle, unless the change is required by a new pronouncement and the pronouncement states specific transition provisions. This Statement carries forward without change the guidance contained in Opinion 20 for reporting the correction of an error in previously issued financial statements and a change in accounting estimate. We are required to adopt this Statement for accounting changes and corrections of errors made during and after the first quarter of 2006. We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material effect on our results of operations.

 

Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue 04-5, “Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights” was ratified by the FASB in June 2005. At issue is what rights held by the limited partner(s) preclude consolidation in circumstances in which the sole general partner would consolidate the limited partnership. The assessment of limited partners’ rights and their impact on the presumption of control of the limited partnership by the sole general partner should be made when an investor becomes the sole general partner and should be reassessed if there is a change to the terms or in the exercisability of the rights of the limited partners, the sole general partner increases or decreases its ownership of limited partnership interests, or there is an increase or decrease in the number of outstanding limited partnership interests. We are required to adopt the provisions of EITF Issue 04-5 for the first quarter of 2006, and for the third quarter of 2005 for new or modified arrangements. We have not entered into or modified any such arrangements, therefore, the adoption of this ETIF statement has not had, and we do not expect its adoption to have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

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Reclassifications. Certain prior period information has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications have no impact on consolidated net loss.

 

Loss on Early Extinguishments of Debt. Our $54.2 million and $55.2 million loss on early extinguishments of debt recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, consists of $52.2 million in connection with the legal defeasance of our previous secured facility due 2009 and related interest rate swap termination, $1.8 million and $2.8 million, respectively, related to the repurchase of our senior unsecured notes, and $0.2 million related to the repurchase of our senior subordinated notes. Previously, we had reported a loss on early extinguishments of debt of $56.2 million and $57.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, as reported in our press release issued on November 1, 2005. Upon finalization of the calculations, we determined that the loss on early extinguishments of debt for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, was $54.2 million and $55.2 million, respectively; these amounts are reflected in our financial statements included in this Form 10-Q. (See Note 8.)

 

3. Comprehensive Loss

 

Comprehensive loss equaled net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and for the three months ended September 30, 2004, as we no longer have foreign operations. Comprehensive loss was $77.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, which consisted of net loss ($78.6 million) and foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

4. Acquisitions

 

On May 10, 2004 and June 25, 2004, we acquired the 366-room Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia and the 485-room Marriott Irvine in Orange County, California, respectively, for a total purchase price of $185.5 million, plus net acquisition costs and adjustments of $0.9 million.

 

The acquisitions were accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, and the assets and liabilities and results of operations of the hotels have been consolidated in our financial statements since the date of purchase. On an unaudited pro forma basis, revenues, net income and basic and diluted loss per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 would have been reported as follows if the acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of each of the respective periods (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30, 2004


    Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2004


 

Total revenue

   $ 179,480     $ 601,041  

Net loss

     (26,772 )     (76,407 )

Net loss per share:

                

Basic

   $ (0.31 )   $ (0.96 )

Diluted

     (0.31 )     (0.96 )

 

5. Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

    

September 30,

2005


   December 31,
2004


Land

   $ 231,876    $ 244,088

Buildings and improvements

     1,844,222      1,926,813

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

     314,659      295,562

Construction-in-progress

     178,284      115,257
    

  

     $ 2,569,041    $ 2,581,720
    

  

 

We incurred no impairment losses during the first quarter of 2005. During the second quarter of 2005, we recognized an impairment loss of $2.8 million which is recorded in discontinued operations. During the third quarter of 2005, we recognized an impairment loss of $44.1 million; $37.8 million of this loss is related to four assets that previously collateralized our secured facility due 2009 that was defeased during the third quarter of 2005 and are now able to be sold (see Note 8). Of the $44.1 million loss, $3.8 million is recorded in discontinued operations (see Note 13).

 

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During the first, second and third quarters of 2004, we recognized impairment losses of $5.0 million, $2.4 million, and $2.6 million, respectively, all of which are recorded in discontinued operations as of September 30, 2005 (see Note 13).

 

The impairment losses recorded during 2005 and 2004 were triggered by an expectation that a property would be sold significantly before the end of its estimated useful life. The impairment losses were based on our estimates of the fair value of the properties we were actively marketing based on available market data. These estimates required us to make assumptions about the sales prices that we expected to realize for each property as well as the timing of a potential sale. In making these estimates, we considered the operating results of the assets, the market for comparable properties, and quotes from brokers, among other information. In nearly all cases, our estimates reflected the results of an extensive marketing effort and negotiations with prospective buyers. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

 

6. Assets Held for Sale

 

At December 31, 2004, none of our properties met the criteria as prescribed by SFAS No. 144 to classify them as held for sale. At September 30, 2005, one of our properties met our criteria for classification as held for sale. We plan to sell this property in the fourth quarter of 2005. No other assets met the criteria as prescribed by SFAS No. 144 to classify them as held for sale.

 

Assets held for sale as of September 30, 2005 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

    

September 30,

2005


 

Land

   $ 2,380  

Buildings and improvements

     23,240  

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

     3,234  

Construction-in-progress

     133  
    


       28,987  

Accumulated depreciation

     (5,929 )
    


     $ 23,058  
    


 

7. Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

 

Investment in Radisson Lexington Avenue Hotel. On October 1, 2004, we acquired a 49.99% interest in the 705-room Radisson Lexington Avenue Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. We made a total investment of $50 million, which includes a $40 million mezzanine loan that matures on October 1, 2014 and yields $5.8 million of cumulative annual interest, and a $10 million equity interest in the hotel. The mezzanine loan is secured by a pledge of the equity interests held by the borrower in an indirect parent of the owner of the hotel, and has a 10-year term. The loan is subordinate to $150 million in senior notes, but has priority over all equity interests.

 

Our equity investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting, in accordance with our accounting policies as described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. The interest income from the loan, as well as the income related to the 49.99% share in profits and losses, is recorded in a separate line “equity in income/loss of and interest earned from unconsolidated affiliates” within operating activities as the operations of this investment are integral to our operations. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, we recognized interest income of $1.4 million and $4.3 million, respectively, on the mezzanine loan, which is recognized as earned. As of September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the outstanding balance on the loan, including accrued interest receivable, was $40.7 million and $40.8 million, respectively, and our investment in partnership equity was $7.3 million and $9.5 million, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, we recognized ($0.2) million and ($1.3) million, respectively, of equity in net losses on our equity investment.

 

Investment in MIP. In 1999, we, through MeriStar Hospitality Operating Partnership, L.P. (“MHOP”), our principal operating subsidiary, invested $40.0 million in MeriStar Investment Partners, L.P. (“MIP”), a joint

 

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venture established to acquire upscale, full-service hotels. Our cost-basis investment is in the form of a limited partnership interest, in which we earned (through December 9, 2004) a 16% cumulative preferred return with outstanding balances compounded quarterly. In accordance with MIP’s December 2004 amended and restated partnership agreement, the return on our investment and on our remaining unpaid accrued preferred return was reduced to a 12% annual cumulative return rate, and is subordinate only to the MIP debt; and $12.5 million of our $40.0 million investment was upgraded to receive preference in liquidation over all other investments.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2003, we recognized a $25.0 million impairment loss on this investment since, at that time, the decline in the underlying value of our investment was deemed other than temporary. There have been no changes in circumstances in 2004 and 2005 that would require an additional impairment. After recognition of this impairment loss, the book value of the original investment is $15.0 million.

 

In February 2005, MIP completed a $175 million commercial mortgage-backed securities financing, secured by its portfolio of eight hotels. Upon the completion of the financing in February 2005, we received a distribution of $15.5 million, which was applied to reduce our outstanding accrued preferred returns receivable to approximately $4 million at that time.

 

As of September 30, 2005, our total MIP carrying value was $23.5 million, consisting of the $15.0 million adjusted investment balance and $8.5 million of accrued preferred returns receivable.

 

We recognize our preferred return quarterly as it becomes due to us. The income, net of related expense, if any, is recorded in the “equity in income/loss of and interest earned from unconsolidated affiliates” line within operating activities as the operations of this investment are integral to our operations. For the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, we recognized a preferred return of $1.4 million and $1.6 million, respectively, from this investment. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, we recognized a preferred return of $4.3 million and $4.8 million, respectively, from this investment. As of September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, cumulative preferred returns of $8.5 million and $19.7 million, respectively, were due from MIP. We expect that any cumulative unpaid preferred returns will be paid in the future from excess cash flow above our current return and from potential partnership hotel disposition proceeds in excess of debt allocated to individual assets. We evaluate the collectibility of our preferred return based on our preference to distributions and the underlying value of the hotel properties.

 

8. Debt

 

Debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

   

September 30,

2005


    December 31,
2004


 

Credit facility

  $ 25,000       —    

Senior unsecured notes due 2011 – 9.125%

    342,665     $ 355,665  

Senior unsecured notes due 2008 – 9.0%

    251,558       270,500  

Senior unsecured notes due 2009 – 10.5%

    205,894       224,187  

Secured facility, due 2007, with three one-year options to extend

    304,210       —    

Secured facility, due 2009

    —         302,979  

Secured facility, due 2013

    98,109       99,293  

Secured bridge loan, due 2006

    15,000       —    

Convertible subordinated notes, due 2010

    170,000       170,000  

Senior subordinated notes, due 2007

    —         34,225  

Mortgage and other debt, due various

    204,482       125,051  

Unamortized issue discount

    (2,936 )     (3,950 )
   


 


    $ 1,613,982     $ 1,577,950  

Fair value adjustment for interest rate swap

    —         (4,674 )
   


 


    $ 1,613,982     $ 1,573,276  
   


 


 

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Aggregate future maturities as of September 30, 2005 were as follows (in thousands):

 

2005 (three months)

   $ 27,235

2006

     26,078

2007

     11,807

2008

     264,694

2009

     220,155

Thereafter

     1,064,013
    

     $ 1,613,982
    

 

Credit facility. In August 2005, we completed a $100.0 million expansion of our $50.0 million credit facility to a total capacity of $150.0 million. The total $150.0 million facility carries an annual interest rate of the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus 350 basis points, which is 100 basis points less than the original annual interest rate of LIBOR plus 450 basis points. The additional $100.0 million matures in August 2006 and consists of $25.0 million in additional revolver capacity and $75.0 million of term loan capacity. This credit facility is collateralized by 13 of our hotels. Asset disposition proceeds in excess of $30 million must be used to pay down any outstanding balance under the facility and permanently reduce the availability if repaying borrowings under the term loan. The original $50.0 million revolving facility matures in December 2006, as originally provided. As of September 30, 2005 and November 1, 2005, we had borrowings of $25.0 million outstanding against the revolver, and no borrowings outstanding against the term loan. Our available balance under the facility may be temporarily reduced from time to time if assets serving as collateral are sold or while certain brand-related issues on our franchise agreements are being resolved on the 13 hotels used as collateral. A total of $114.2 million was available as of September 30, 2005 and November 1, 2005. We incurred financing costs of $2.5 million related to the expansion of our credit facility.

 

The facility contains financial and other restrictive covenants. The ability to borrow under this facility is subject to compliance with financial covenants, including leverage, fixed charge coverage and interest coverage ratios and minimum net worth requirements. Compliance with these covenants in future periods will depend substantially upon the financial results of our hotels. The agreement governing the credit facility limits our ability to effect mergers, asset sales and change of control events and limits the payments of dividends other than those required for us to maintain our status as a REIT and our ability to incur additional secured and total indebtedness.

 

Senior unsecured notes. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we repurchased $50.2 million of our senior unsecured notes, consisting of $18.9 million of the 9.0% notes due 2008, $13.0 million of the 9.125% notes due 2011, and $18.3 million of the 10.5% notes due 2009. We recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $2.8 million and wrote off deferred financing costs of $0.4 million related to these repurchases which is included in depreciation and amortization expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Secured facilities. In September 2005, we extinguished our secured facility loan that carried an existing balance of $298.1 million due 2009 (“Previous Loan”). We paid $343.6 million in connection with the legal defeasance of the Previous Loan, which had a carrying value of $289.4 million (consisting of $298.1 million in principal balance less $8.7 million fair value adjustment related to the interest rate swap), resulting in a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $54.2 million. Our loss on early extinguishment of debt was reduced to $52.2 million by the $2.0 million write-off of two treasury locks, which had been deferred and were being recognized as reductions to interest expense over the life of the Previous Loan. In addition, we wrote off deferred financing costs of $1.9 million related to this extinguishment which is included in depreciation and amortization expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

The new secured facility loan (“New Loan”) provides for a $312.0 million loan at a rate of LIBOR plus 135 basis points, which has an initial maturity of October 9, 2007, with three one-year extensions at our option. The New Loan is secured by 17 of our properties. The New Loan, which is intended to be securitized, is non-recourse to us, except for certain customary carve-outs, which are guaranteed by MHOP. In September 2005, we sold one

 

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of the properties secured by the New Loan, and used the sale proceeds to repay $7.8 million of the outstanding balance. As of September 30, 2005, our New Loan had an outstanding balance of $304.2 million, and was secured by 16 properties. We incurred financing costs of $6.0 million related to obtaining this loan.

 

Secured bridge loan. In conjunction with the refinancing of the Previous Loan discussed above, we entered into a bridge loan, that provides for a $15.0 million term loan secured by one property with a borrowing rate of LIBOR plus 350 basis points, and has an initial maturity of April 9, 2006, with one six-month extension at our option. We incurred financing costs of $0.2 million related to obtaining this loan.

 

Senior subordinated notes. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we repurchased all $34.2 million of our outstanding 8.75% senior subordinated notes due 2007. We recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $0.2 million and wrote off deferred financing costs of $0.2 million related to this activity. The write off of deferred financing costs is included in depreciation and amortization expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Mortgage and other debt. On January 26, 2005, we entered into a $37.7 million mortgage loan on our Hilton Crystal City hotel that bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.84%. The mortgage requires monthly payments of interest only for the first three years and then monthly payments of interest and principal over the remaining portion of the ten year term of the loan, with the majority of the principal balance due at the end of the ten year term. Our net proceeds of $34.7 million are net of a $3.0 million escrow reserve for future capital expenditures. We incurred financing costs of $0.8 million related to this mortgage.

 

On June 17, 2005, we entered into a $44.0 million mortgage loan on our Hilton Clearwater hotel that bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.68%. The mortgage requires monthly payments of interest only for the first three years and then monthly payments of interest and principal over the remaining portion of the ten year term of the loan, with the majority of the principal balance due at the end of the ten year term. Our net proceeds of $40.7 million are net of a $3.3 million escrow reserve for future capital expenditures. We incurred financing costs of $1.1 million related to this mortgage.

 

Derivatives. In April 2004, we entered into an interest rate swap on the Previous Loan to convert the interest rate from fixed to variable. The September 2005 defeasance of the Previous Loan eliminated the need for that interest rate swap. We paid $8.7 million to terminate the interest rate swap, which represented the fair value of the swap on the date of termination. Because we accounted for the interest rate swap as a fair value hedge of the debt which was extinguished, the $52.2 million loss on early extinguishment of the Previous Loan includes this $8.7 million fair value adjustment. Prior to the termination of the interest rate swap agreement, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, we earned (paid) net cash payments of $(0.06) million and $1.2 million, respectively, under the swap, which were recorded as an (increase in) reduction of interest expense. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, we earned net cash payments of $1.5 million and $3.2 million, respectively, under the swap, which also were recorded as reductions in interest expense. In conjunction with the interest rate swap, we were required to post collateral, which was $12.0 million as of December 31, 2004, and was recorded as restricted cash. Upon the termination of the interest rate swap agreement, our posted collateral balance of $14.4 million was released; we received $5.7 million, which was net of the $8.7 million termination payment.

 

In October 2005, we paid $0.3 million to enter into an interest rate cap agreement on our New Loan secured facility, effective October 10, 2005, with a term of 2 years. Under the interest rate cap agreement, the annual interest rate on the New Loan secured facility will not exceed 7.10%. The interest rate cap will be recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded to interest expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

9. Stockholders’ Equity and Minority Interests

 

Common Stock Transactions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we awarded 133,937 shares of common stock to employees, with a value of $1.0 million, related to our annual incentive plan for 2004.

 

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Of these shares, 63,935 were repurchased as treasury stock to satisfy tax withholding requirements, and 70,002 shares were issued. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we issued 8,218 shares of common stock with a value of $0.06 million, related to shares issued under our employee stock purchase plan.

 

OP Units. Substantially all of our assets are held indirectly by and operated through MeriStar Hospitality Operating Partnership, L.P., our subsidiary operating partnership, (Commission file number 333-63768). Our operating partnership’s partnership agreement provides for five classes of partnership interests: Common OP Units, Class B OP Units, Class C OP Units, Class D OP Units and Profits-Only OP Units (POPs).

 

Common OP Unit holders converted 39,385 and 133,000 of their OP Units, with a value of $0.6 million and $0.6 million, respectively, into common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. A POPs unit holder converted 31,250 POPs for cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

During July 2004, our Board of Directors authorized the elimination of the plan pursuant to which POPs are issued. On December 2, 2004, we completed the redemption of all outstanding POPs. The POPs plan had been accounted for under APB 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” as a fixed plan since December 11, 2001. Under fixed plan accounting, compensation expense is measured on the intrinsic value of the award on the grant date and amortized on a straight line basis over the vesting period. As a result of an accounting analysis performed in conjunction with the elimination of the POPs plan, we have determined that these awards should have been accounted for using variable plan accounting instead of fixed plan accounting. Under variable plan accounting, compensation expense is re-measured based upon the intrinsic value of the award at each balance sheet date and amortized to expense using a ratable vesting formula. Had variable plan accounting been applied from December 11, 2001, compensation expense for each of the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 would have been increased (reduced) by $0.5 million, $(3.7) million, and $(2.7) million, respectively. In order to correct this error, an adjustment of $4.5 million, net of forfeitures, was recorded during the third quarter of 2004 to reduce compensation expense; $4.0 million of this amount relates to 2003 and prior periods while $0.2 million and $0.3 million relate to the first and second quarters of 2004, respectively. This adjustment is included in the “General and administrative, corporate” line in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. We have determined that the adjustments related to correction of this error were immaterial on both a quantitative and qualitative basis to the financial statements for all periods affected. Accordingly, the correction has been made in the 2004 financial statements.

 

Treasury Stock. As of September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, we carried 2.5 million shares and 2.4 million shares, respectively, in treasury stock. We record and carry treasury stock at cost, and generally acquire treasury stock to cover the Company’s minimum tax withholdings related to stock issued for compensation.

 

Dividends. We did not declare or pay any dividends in 2005 or 2004.

 

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10. Loss Per Share

 

The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Basic Loss Per Share:

                                

Loss available to common stockholders from continuing operations

   $ (109,539 )   $ (21,251 )   $ (119,209 )   $ (55,508 )
    


 


 


 


Weighted average number of basic shares of common stock outstanding

     87,492       87,300       87,452       79,599  
    


 


 


 


Basic loss per share from continuing operations

   $ (1.25 )   $ (0.24 )   $ (1.36 )   $ (0.70 )
    


 


 


 


Diluted Loss Per Share:

                                

Loss available to common stockholders from continuing operations

   $ (109,539 )   $ (21,251 )   $ (119,209 )   $ (55,508 )

Minority interest income

     (2,978 )     (735 )     (3,157 )     (2,468 )
    


 


 


 


Adjusted net loss

   $ (112,517 )   $ (21,986 )   $ (122,366 )   $ (57,976 )
    


 


 


 


Weighted average number of basic shares of common stock outstanding

     87,492       87,300       87,452       79,599  

Common stock equivalents:

                                

Operating partnership units

     2,258       2,362       2,175       2,401  

Stock options

     —         —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


Total weighted average number of diluted shares of common stock outstanding

     89,750       89,662       89,627       82,000  
    


 


 


 


Diluted loss per share from continuing operations

   $ (1.25 )   $ (0.25 )   $ (1.37 )   $ (0.71 )
    


 


 


 


 

For the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, 16,875,944 shares and 16,859,005 shares, respectively, consisting of shares issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of stock options and our outstanding convertible notes, were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, 16,930,904 shares and 16,868,465 shares, respectively, consisting of shares issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of stock options, operating partnership units and our outstanding convertible notes, were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

 

11. Related-Party Transactions

 

Subsequent Sale of Hotel to Interstate Hotels & Resorts

 

On October 31, 2005, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement to sell one of our hotels to Interstate, and Interstate paid a $500,000 deposit towards the transaction. The sale is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2005, at a price equal to the fair market value of $14.1 million, consisting of $13.2 million in cash proceeds and $0.9 million in management contract termination fee credits.

 

Sublease of Office Space to Interstate Hotels & Resorts

 

On August 31, 2005, we entered into an agreement to sublease 16,200 square feet of office space to Interstate. The term of the sublease is from December 2005 through August 2013, unless otherwise sooner

 

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terminated pursuant to the terms of the sublease agreement. The annual rent will be $486,000 payable in equal monthly installments, and shall increase by 4% per annum. Interstate shall also receive an abatement of the first nine monthly installments of rent due under the sublease agreement.

 

12. Commitments and Contingencies

 

In the course of document review with respect to the MIP restructuring, we discovered a potential technical REIT qualification issue relating to a wholly-owned subsidiary of MIP, of which we could be deemed to own a de minimis proportionate share. In order to eliminate any uncertainty regarding this issue, we have executed a closing agreement with the Internal Revenue Service that resolves all REIT qualification matters with respect to this potential issue. As a result of our negotiations with the Internal Revenue Service we remain qualified as a REIT for all prior years and continue to operate as a REIT for calendar year 2005.

 

As part of our asset renovation program, as of September 30, 2005, we have entered into contractual obligations with vendors to acquire capital assets and perform renovations totaling approximately $23 million to be expended over the next 12 months. Additionally, as of September 30, 2005, we have entered into contractual obligations related to capital expenditures as a result of hurricanes in the amount of $32 million to be expended over the next 12 months, most of which we expect to be reimbursed by our insurance carriers.

 

13. Dispositions

 

We disposed of four hotels during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. We disposed of 18 hotels in the nine months ended September 30, 2004. As of September 30, 2005, one of our hotels met our criteria for held-for-sale classification (see Note 6). None of our hotels met our criteria for held-for-sale classification as of December 31, 2004. Operating results for the hotels which either have been sold or are classified as held-for-sale, and where applicable, the gain or loss on final disposition, are included in discontinued operations.

 

Summary financial information for hotels included in discontinued operations is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Revenue

   $ 3,551     $ 14,462     $ 19,529     $ 66,842  
    


 


 


 


Loss on asset impairments

   $ (3,810 )   $ (2,581 )   $ (6,646 )   $ (10,022 )

Pretax (loss) gain from operations

     (532 )     (744 )     501       561  

Loss on disposal

     (1,490 )     (2,232 )     (2,527 )     (13,762 )
    


 


 


 


     $ (5,832 )   $ (5,557 )   $ (8,672 )   $ (23,223 )
    


 


 


 


 

Loss on disposal resulted primarily from the recognition of termination fees payable to Interstate with respect to these hotels’ management contracts.

 

14. Consolidating Financial Statements

 

We and certain subsidiaries of MHOP, our subsidiary operating partnership, are guarantors of senior unsecured notes issued by MHOP. We own a one percent general partner interest in MHOP, and MeriStar LP, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, owns approximately a 96 percent limited partner interest in MHOP. All guarantees are full and unconditional, and joint and several. Exhibit 99.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q presents supplementary consolidating financial statements for MHOP, including each of the guarantor subsidiaries. This exhibit presents MHOP’s consolidating balance sheets as of September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, consolidating statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, and consolidating statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

                RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements, which are based on various assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identified by our use of words such as “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “continue,” “potential,” “opportunity,” and similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve these plans, intentions or expectations. All statements regarding our expected financial position, business and financing plans are forward-looking statements.

 

Except for historical information, matters discussed in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

 

Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to:

 

    economic conditions generally and the real estate market specifically;

 

    supply and demand for hotel rooms in our current and proposed market areas;

 

    other factors that may influence the travel industry, including health, safety and economic factors;

 

    competition;

 

    the level of proceeds from asset sales;

 

    cash flow generally, including the availability of capital generally, cash available for capital expenditures, and our ability to refinance debt;

 

    the effects of threats of terrorism and increased security precautions on travel patterns and demand for hotels;

 

    the threatened or actual outbreak of hostilities and international political instability;

 

    governmental actions, including new laws and regulations and particularly changes to laws governing the taxation of real estate investment trusts;

 

    weather conditions generally and natural disasters;

 

    rising interest rates; and

 

    changes in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, policies and guidelines applicable to real estate investment trusts.

 

These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating any forward-looking statements contained in this report or incorporated by reference herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or, in the case of any document incorporated by reference, the date of that document. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section. We undertake no obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this report.

 

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Business Summary

 

We are a real estate investment trust, or REIT, and own a portfolio of primarily upper upscale, full-service hotels and resorts in the United States. Our portfolio is diversified geographically as well as by franchise and brand affiliations. As of September 30, 2005, we owned 69 hotels with 19,376 rooms. Our hotels are located in major metropolitan areas, select secondary markets or resort locations in the United States. All of our hotels are leased by our taxable subsidiaries. Sixty-seven of these hotels were managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts (“Interstate”), one hotel was managed by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC (“Ritz-Carlton”), a subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc., and one hotel was managed by another subsidiary (“Marriott”) of Marriott International, Inc. (collectively with Interstate and Ritz-Carlton, the “Managers”). During the third quarter of 2005, we entered into an agreement to convert the management contract on one hotel from Interstate to Marriott, effective during the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

The Managers operate the 69 hotels we owned as of September 30, 2005 pursuant to management agreements with our taxable subsidiaries. Under these management agreements, each taxable subsidiary pays a management fee for each property to the Manager of its hotels. The taxable subsidiaries in turn make rental payments to our subsidiary operating partnership under the participating leases.

 

Under the Interstate management agreements, the base management fee is 2.5% of total hotel revenue, plus incentive payments based on meeting performance thresholds that could total up to an additional 1.5% of total hotel revenue. The agreements have initial terms expiring on January 1, 2011 with three renewal periods of five years each at the option of Interstate, subject to some exceptions. Additionally, our franchise fees generally range from 1.5 % to 7.5 % of hotel room revenues.

 

Under the existing Ritz-Carlton and Marriott management agreements, the base management fee is 3.0% and 2.5% of total hotel revenue, respectively, through 2005 and 3.0% under both thereafter, plus incentive payments based on meeting performance thresholds that could total up to an additional 2.0% of total revenue and 20% of available cash flow (as defined in the relevant management agreement), respectively. The agreements have initial terms expiring in 2015 and 2024, respectively, with four and three renewal periods of 10 and five years each, respectively, at the option of Ritz-Carlton and Marriott. The Ritz-Carlton and Marriott management agreements include certain limited performance guarantees by the relevant manager which are designed primarily to provide downside performance protection and run through 2005 and up to 2008, respectively. Management, based upon budgets and operating trends, expects payments under these guarantees in the future to be minimal.

 

Subsequent to the July 2002 merger that formed Interstate, we and Interstate separated the senior management teams of the two companies in order to allow each senior management team to devote more attention to its respective company’s matters. During July 2004, we also concluded negotiations with Interstate to terminate the intercompany agreement that governed a number of aspects of our relationship. In exchange for terminating the intercompany agreement, we received, among other things:

 

    the right to terminate up to 600 rooms per year upon the payment of a termination fee equal to 1.5 times the fees earned during the preceding 12 months, with the ability to carry over up to 600 rooms for termination in the succeeding year;

 

    the right to terminate the management contract of a hotel, where Interstate invests in a competing hotel, with no termination fee; and

 

    an extension of the termination fee payment period for terminations related to hotel sales, from 30 months to 48 months.

 

The termination of the intercompany agreement eliminated the last element of our original “paper clip” relationship with Interstate.

 

Separately, we reached an agreement with Interstate regarding the calculation of termination fees payable upon a sale. We received a $2.5 million credit, which was applicable to fees payable with respect to future dispositions; we have applied the entire $2.5 million credit to terminations that occurred during 2004 and 2005.

 

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In January 2005, we notified Interstate that 11 hotels with 3,655 rooms had apparently failed to meet the performance test involving two year operating results versus budgets for those years. We and Interstate are currently in discussions relating to the apparent shortfall, the reasons for such shortfall, and any remedies that are available to us. Until a resolution is reached, Interstate will continue to manage these hotels.

 

Results Overview

 

General

 

We are seeing a continued economic recovery at a more moderate pace, and a related recovery of business. We are experiencing robust revenue growth primarily driven by an increase in room rates, which have improved margins and profitability, in part due to the impact of our renovation program on improving our product. Our strategy currently includes the following key initiatives to increase shareholder value: focus on growth of earnings and cash flow from our existing portfolio using an aggressive asset management program; upgrade our portfolio through extensive renovations; recycle capital into higher yielding hotel investments; improve our capital structure to support internal growth, position the Company for external investment opportunities and increase our fixed charges coverage; and maintain liquidity.

 

We recently expanded our asset disposition program to take advantage of the strong market that exists for asset sales, particularly for assets with residential development potential. We have selected assets to market for sale where we believe we can reinvest the proceeds from their sale and obtain a higher return on our investment. We expect to strengthen our balance sheet through the reduction of debt levels, although, if pricing for certain assets does not develop the way we expect or debt is not available to be repurchased at reasonable prices, we may elect not to sell certain assets or reinvest the proceeds into our existing core hotels through renovation and upgrade activities or by investing in new hotels, improving the growth potential of our portfolio and increasing our return on investment. In a limited number of circumstances, we may also substitute certain properties if opportunities arise that meet our price objective on certain hotels not currently identified in the disposition program. We will continually evaluate the probability that certain assets will be disposed and the timing thereof.

 

We sold three hotels during the third quarter of 2005, generating proceeds of $25.3 million. In addition, four of the assets identified for disposition in our expanded program were secured under our previous secured facility and not available for disposition; this facility was defeased in the third quarter 2005, allowing us flexibility to sell these four assets. We recognized a $44.1 million impairment charge during the third quarter of 2005, of which $37.8 million was related to these four assets. With respect to the nature of dispositions, we may incur impairment charges in the future related to certain assets to be disposed of, if the fair value is less than the carrying value.

 

We have developed a targeted renovation program that is designed to reduce the time and cost required to renovate hotels, allowing us to improve the quality of our hotels faster to take advantage of the rebound in the economy and better manage the disruptions associated with renovations. We accelerated our renovation program for certain key assets, which created some short-term disruption but also positioned these properties to participate more quickly in the lodging industry recovery. We invested approximately $134 million in capital expenditures during 2004. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we invested approximately $86 million in non hurricane-related capital expenditures and expect to invest an additional $41 million (including $12 million of advance payments for 2006 projects) in non hurricane-related capital expenditures during the remainder of 2005 to enhance the quality of our portfolio to meet or exceed the standards of our primary brands – Hilton, Marriott, and Starwood – as well as to improve the competitiveness of these assets in their markets and enable them to more fully participate in the economic recovery. While hotel results are negatively impacted during renovations due to out of service rooms and limitations on the ability to sell other hotel services, we expect to have positioned these renovated properties well to be able to benefit from the economic recovery. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we invested approximately $86 million in hurricane-related capital expenditures. The total expected amount of hurricane-related capital expenditures has not yet been fully determined, however we anticipate it to be well in excess of $150 million, most of which we expect to be reimbursed by our insurance carriers.

 

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Accounting for the Impact of the Hurricane Damage to Properties

 

In August and September 2004, hurricanes Charley and Frances caused substantial damage to a number of our hotels located in Florida. The 2004 hurricane damage and local evacuation orders also caused significant business interruption at many of our Florida properties, including the complete closure of certain hotels. As a result, eight of our hotels were closed for an extended period of time, and four others were affected in varying degrees; all but three of these hotels are now open (on a full or partial basis).

 

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused damage to three of our hotels located in New Orleans and Florida. While the hurricane damage and local evacuation orders caused property damage and business interruption, the operating results of these three properties are not material to our overall performance, and all three of the affected hotels are included in our current disposition program. The hotel located in Florida was only closed briefly.

 

We have comprehensive insurance coverage for both property damage and business interruption. Some properties, mainly those affected by the 2004 hurricanes, are requiring substantial repair and reconstruction and have remained closed while such repairs are completed. As of September 30, 2005, the net book value of the property damage is estimated to be at least $75.1 million; however, we are still assessing the impact of the hurricanes on our properties, and final net book value write-offs could vary from this estimate. Changes to this estimate will be recorded in the periods in which they are determined. We have recorded a corresponding insurance claim receivable for this $75.1 million net book value amount because we believe that it is probable that the insurance recovery, net of deductibles, will exceed the net book value of the damaged portion of these assets. The recovery is based on replacement cost, and we have submitted claims substantially in excess of $75.1 million.

 

While we expect the insurance proceeds will be sufficient to cover most of the replacement cost of the restoration of these hotels, certain deductibles (primarily windstorm) and limitations will apply. Moreover, while we are receiving and expect to continue to receive interim insurance payments, no determination has been made as to the total amount or timing of those insurance payments, and those insurance payments may not be sufficient to cover the costs of all the restoration of the hotels. To the extent that insurance proceeds, which are calculated on a replacement cost basis, ultimately exceed the net book value of the damaged property, a gain will be recorded in the period when all contingencies related to the insurance claim have been resolved.

 

As of September 30, 2005 and November 1, 2005, three of the properties affected by the 2004 hurricanes and two of the properties affected by the 2005 hurricane remained substantially closed due to hurricane damage. Additionally, as of September 30, 2005, one property affected by a 2004 hurricane that suffered varying amounts of hurricane damage had certain guest rooms, its restaurants, lounge, registration area and conference facilities out of service; this property was open as of November 1, 2005. Where possible and in order to mitigate loss of revenues, some permanent repairs to damaged properties were deferred during the Florida “high season,” which generally lasts from late December through early April, in order to have facilities available to meet demand. These damaged facilities are being removed from service for permanent repairs based upon demand so as to minimize business disruptions. We have hired consultants to assess our business interruption claims and are currently negotiating with our insurance carriers regarding the amount of sustained income losses. To the extent that we are entitled to a recovery under the insurance policies, we will recognize a receivable when it can be demonstrated that it is probable that such insurance recovery will be realized. Any gain resulting from business interruption insurance for lost income will not be recognized until all contingencies related to the insurance recoveries are resolved and collection of the relevant payments is probable. These income recognition criteria will likely often result in business interruption insurance recoveries being recorded in a period subsequent to the period that we experience lost income from the affected properties, resulting in fluctuations in our net income that may reduce the comparability of reported quarterly results for some periods into the future.

 

Under these income recognition criteria, during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we have recorded a business interruption recovery gain of $4.3 million due to receiving recognition of a minimal level of

 

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business interruption profit that the insurance companies are willing to recognize without any contingencies at this time for certain of our hurricane-affected properties. Our business interruption claims substantially exceed the amount of this minimal recognition to date. We ultimately expect to recognize additional business interruption insurance gains as we proceed further through the claims process.

 

Through September 30, 2005, we have incurred recoverable costs related to both property damage and business interruption recoveries totaling $75.2 million. In addition, we recorded a receivable of $75.1 million related to the write-off of the net book value of the damaged portion of our assets. We had collected $117.5 million in insurance proceeds through September 30, 2005. We have collected an additional $5.8 million in insurance proceeds from October 1 through November 1, 2005. The cost recoveries are recorded on the expense line item to which they relate; therefore there is no net impact to any line item or our results.

 

Of the total $123.3 million in insurance proceeds collected through November 1, 2005, $115.8 million represents reimbursements on claims related to Hurricane Charley, and $7.5 million represents reimbursements on claims related to Hurricane Frances. While we anticipate that we will ultimately be reimbursed for costs incurred as well as business interruption insurance gains, subject to any policy deductibles and limitations, we have incurred out-of-pocket costs while awaiting reimbursement; no determination has been made as to the total amount or timing of those insurance payments, which may not be sufficient to cover all of the costs incurred. The timing of when we will be fully reimbursed for costs incurred and able to recognize business interruption insurance gains is uncertain.

 

The following is a summary of hurricane-related activity recorded (in millions):

 

Insurance claim receivables

September 30, 2005


 

Fixed assets net book value write down

   $ 75.1  

Recoverable costs incurred

     75.2  

Business interruption insurance gain

     4.3  

Payments received

     (117.5 )
    


     $ 37.1  
    


 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, the nine hotels that were substantially affected in 2005 (four of which have been reopened as of September 30, 2005) realized revenues of $13.4 million and $73.8 million, respectively. These hotels recognized revenues of $5.3 million and $18.6 million, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

Overall Results

 

Revenues from continuing operations were $587.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, compared to $573.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004. This revenue increase is primarily due to improved RevPAR at our comparable hotels (see “Results of Operations” for a definition of comparable hotels), higher food and beverage revenues attributable to increased menu pricing in 2005 and revenues from our two hotels acquired in May and June of 2004, partially offset by a disruption of revenues at properties impacted by hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. While revenues increased, hotel and other operating expenses were relatively flat compared to the same periods in 2004, mainly due to the limited operations of certain hurricane-impacted properties. Property taxes, insurance and other expense reflects a reduction in rental payments under the best efforts rental programs at two properties in the first nine months of 2005 due to the closure of hurricane-impacted properties. We incurred a $55.2 million loss on extinguishment of debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, mainly related to a $52.2 million loss on the defeasance of our previous secured facility (including $8.7 million related to the interest rate swap termination), compared to a $7.9 million loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2004. Our 2005 continuing operations impairment loss includes $34.2 million related to three

 

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assets that previously collateralized our secured facility due 2009 that was defeased during the third quarter of 2005 and are now able to be sold. Additionally, our 2005 and 2004 results include losses of $8.7 million and $23.1 million, respectively, realized at properties in discontinued operations.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Results of Operations

 

Our revenues are derived from the operations of our hospitality properties, including room, food and beverage revenues, as well as from our leases of office, retail and parking rentals. Included in our operating income (but not in revenues) is our cumulative preferred return on our partnership interest in MIP, the interest income on our mezzanine loan to the Radisson Lexington Avenue Hotel and our equity in the income/loss on our Radisson Lexington Avenue Hotel investment. Operating costs include direct costs to run our hotels, management fees to Interstate and others for the management of our properties, depreciation of our properties, impairment charges, property tax and insurance, as well as sales, marketing and general and administrative costs. Our expenses also include interest on our debt, amortization of related debt-issuance costs and minority interest allocations, which represent the allocation of income and losses to outside investors for properties that are not wholly owned.

 

The provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 144 require that current and prior period operating results of any asset that has been classified as held for sale or has been disposed of on or after January 1, 2002, including any gain or loss recognized on the sale, be recorded as discontinued operations. Accordingly, we have reclassified all prior periods presented to comply with this requirement. See Footnote 13, “Dispositions,” included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further information regarding the amounts reclassified.

 

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Summary data for the three and nine months ended September 30 were as follows (dollars in thousands, except operating data statistics):

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
    2005

    2004

    Percent
Change


    2005

    2004

    Percent
Change


 

Summary of Operations:

                                           

Total revenue from continuing operations

  $ 192,653     $ 179,480     7.3 %   $ 587,920     $ 573,864     2.4 %
   


 


 

 


 


 

Hotel operating expenses

    78,017       75,626     3.2       232,884       233,077     (0.1 )

Other operating expenses

    104,095       96,775     7.6       300,086       300,794     (0.2 )

Loss on asset impairments

    40,343       —       >100.0       40,343       —       >100.0  

Contract termination costs

    1,081       —       >100.0       1,081       —       >100.0  
   


 


 

 


 


 

Total operating expenses

    223,536       172,401     29.7       574,394       533,871     7.6  

Equity in income/loss of and interest earned from unconsolidated affiliates

    2,682       1,600     67.6       7,257       4,800     51.2  

Hurricane business interruption insurance gain

    —         —       —         4,290       —       >100.0  
   


 


 

 


 


 

Operating (loss) income

    (28,201 )     8,679     >(100.0 )     25,073       44,793     (44.0 )

Minority interest

    3,012       775     >100.0       3,320       2,392     38.8  

Interest expense, net

    (30,152 )     (30,994 )   (2.7 )     (91,563 )     (95,586 )   (4.2 )

Loss on early extinguishments of debt

    (54,165 )     —       >(100.0 )     (55,172 )     (7,903 )   >100.0  

Income tax (expense) benefit

    (33 )     289     >(100.0 )     (867 )     796     >(100.0 )
   


 


 

 


 


 

Loss from continuing operations

    (109,539 )     (21,251 )   >100.0       (119,209 )     (55,508 )   >100.0  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

    (5,832 )(A)     (5,521 )(A)   5.6       (8,672 )(B)     (23,064 )(B)   (62.4 )
   


 


 

 


 


 

Net loss

  $ (115,371 )   $ (26,772 )   >100.0 %   $ (127,881 )   $ (78,572 )   62.8 %
   


 


 

 


 


 


(A) Includes loss on asset impairments of $3.8 million and $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Also includes loss on disposal of $1.5 million and $2.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Income tax benefit was $.04 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004.
(B) Includes loss on asset impairments of $6.6 million and $10.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Also includes loss on disposal of $2.5 million and $13.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Income tax benefit was $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Operating Data for our 68 hotels included in continuing operations (19,136 rooms):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    Percent
Change


    2005

    2004

    Percent
Change


 

Average Daily Rate (ADR)

   $ 113.73     $ 103.11     10.3 %   $ 115.19     $ 108.31     6.4 %

Occupancy

     65.8 %     67.0 %   (1.8 )%     65.0 %     69.0 %   (5.8 )%

Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR)

   $ 74.80     $ 69.09     8.3 %   $ 74.91     $ 74.71     0.3 %

 

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Three months ended September 30, 2005 compared with the three months ended September 30, 2004

 

Continuing Operations Results

 

Our 68 properties included in continuing operations include two properties acquired in 2004, seven properties in Florida that were significantly impacted by hurricanes that occurred in August and September 2004, and two properties in New Orleans that were significantly impacted by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. For more information regarding the impact of these hurricanes, see “– Results Overview”. Because of these events, our total results are not comparable between years. In order to provide a useful comparison, where appropriate, this section includes discussion and analysis of our results as a whole and discussion and analysis of results of the 57 comparable hotels that were in normal operations for the current period and the prior year period. The seven hotels that were substantially affected by the 2004 hurricanes (four of which were reopened as of September 30, 2005), the two hotels that were substantially affected by the 2005 hurricanes, and the two hotels acquired in 2004, are excluded from the comparable hotels.

 

Total revenue. Because of the events and changes to our portfolio noted above, our total revenue for the entire portfolio of our 68 hotels in continuing operations is not comparable between years. Total revenue increased by $13.2 million or 7.3% in 2005 compared to the third quarter of 2004. This increase in revenue is primarily due to an increase in ADR attributable to a strategy of increasing room rates and reducing our exposure to lower rated contract business and higher food and beverage revenues attributable to increased menu pricing in 2005, partially offset by the lost revenue at our hurricane affected properties. Overall ADR increased 10.3% for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 when compared with the same period in 2004, primarily due to a focus on increasing business related to higher rated transient and corporate business, reducing trade with lower rated groups, overall increases in our daily rates in general, and an increase in travel due to a general strengthening of the economy. This favorable impact on rooms revenue was partially offset by revenue losses from our hurricane-impacted hotels ($8.1 million). The decrease in occupancy of 1.8% over the same period for the entire portfolio of our 68 hotels in continuing operations was mainly due to rooms out of service as a result of the Florida hurricanes.

 

The following table presents operating data for our 57 comparable hotels:

 

Operating Data for our 57 comparable hotels (16,619 rooms):

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    Percent
Change


 

ADR

   $ 109.78     $ 98.79     11.1 %

Occupancy %

     69.6 %     69.4 %   0.3  

RevPAR

   $ 76.44     $ 68.57     11.5  

 

For the 57 comparable hotels, total revenue increased by $17.5 million or 11.6% from $150.6 million in the third quarter of 2004 to $168.1 million in the third quarter of 2005. The increase in room revenue was primarily due to an increase in ADR of $10.99 or 11.1% and RevPAR of $7.87 or 11.5%, which resulted from a strategy of increasing room rates and reducing our exposure to lower rated contract business, and the general strengthening of the economy and lodging industry. Occupancy was flat from the third quarter of 2004 to the third quarter of 2005, as we focused on increasing ADR, rather than occupancy, through increasing business related to higher rated transient and corporate business, reducing trade with lower rated groups, as well as overall increases in our daily rates in general.

 

Hotel operating expenses. Because of the events noted above, our total hotel operating expenses are not comparable between years. Hotel operating expenses increased by $2.4 million or 3.2% in the three months ended September 30, 2005 as compared to the same period in 2004. The increase was primarily related to increases in labor and related costs, partially offset by the limited operations of certain of the hurricane-impacted properties, including the substantial closure of certain properties. Food and beverage expense decreased by 2.5% of food and beverage revenue mainly due to menu pricing adjustments that have outpaced the increasing cost of

 

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materials, labor and benefits. Rooms expense decreased by 1.2% of rooms revenue mainly due to a decrease in occupancy and occupancy-driven expenses, as we focused on increasing ADR.

 

For the 57 comparable hotels, hotel operating expenses increased 8.3% from the third quarter of 2004, primarily related to increases in labor and related costs. As a percentage of revenue, hotel operating expenses decreased 1.2%. Rooms expense, as a percent of rooms revenue, decreased 0.5% points primarily due to the positive impacts of increasing our ADR which generates additional revenues with little additional cost. Food and beverage margins improved 2.0% points mainly due to menu pricing adjustments that have outpaced the increasing cost of materials, labor and benefits.

 

Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses, which include general and administrative expenses, property operating costs, depreciation and amortization, non-income taxes, insurance and the write-off of deferred financing fees, increased $7.3 million from the third quarter of 2004 to the third quarter of 2005. This increase was primarily due to the following:

 

    General and administrative expense, corporate: Corporate general and administrative costs increased by $1.5 million due to $1.1 million in adjustments that reduced expense in the third quarter ended September 30, 2004 and an increased expense related to incentive plan grants in the third quarter ended September 30, 2005. The 2004 adjustments included $4.5 million to reduce employee compensation costs due to the change in accounting treatment of an equity based compensation plan, partially offset by an adjustment in reserves for the resolution of prior year workers’ compensation and general liability claims, costs related to the Company’s hurricane insurance claims, and higher costs for complying with expanded public company regulatory requirements.

 

    Property taxes, insurance, and other expense: Property taxes, insurance and other expense decreased by $1.5 million from prior year. The decrease was primarily due to reduced property tax expense related to reduced property taxes at our hurricane impacted properties and additional 2005 tax refunds as well as the reduction in hurricane-impacted properties’ expenses in 2005 to the extent that these costs are recoverable; these same properties realized normal operating expenses in the first half of the third quarter of 2004.

 

    Write-off of deferred financing fees: There were $2.3 million of deferred financing fees written off in the third quarter of 2005; $1.9 million of these financing fee write-offs were due to the defeasance of our previous secured facility. The remaining $0.4 million of write-offs related to the repurchase of senior subordinated and senior unsecured notes during the third quarter. These expenses are included in depreciation and amortization expense.

 

Loss on Asset Impairments. The 2005 loss on asset impairment in continuing operations of $40.3 million is primarily comprised of impairment losses of $34.2 million related to three properties that were newly made available for sale as a result of the secured facility refinance and are expected to be sold.

 

Contract Termination Costs. The $1.1 million of contract termination costs incurred in the third quarter of 2005 are due to the termination of the management agreement on one of our hotels that will be managed by Marriott starting in November 2005.

 

Equity in income/loss of and interest earned from unconsolidated affiliates. Equity in income/loss of and interest earned from unconsolidated affiliates consists of income earned from two investments in which we own non-controlling interests and do not consolidate in our financial statements. We recognize a proportionate share of the profit and loss earned by the Radisson Lexington Avenue Hotel, an equity method investment acquired in 2004, as well as interest income on the $40 million loan made to this entity. For the three months ended September 30, 2005, we recognized interest income of $1.4 million, and a $0.2 million equity share of net losses of the investment. In addition, we currently recognize a preferred return of 12% from our investment in MIP, accounted for using the cost method, resulting in current and cumulative preferred return income of $1.4 million in the third quarter of 2005. Our third quarter 2004 income of $1.6 million represents only the current portion of our then 16% preferred return; no cumulative portion of the return was recognized in 2004.

 

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Loss on early extinguishments of debt. For the three months ended September 30, 2005, we recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $54.2 million. This was comprised of $43.5 million of defeasance loss related to the secured facility, as well as $8.7 million cost from the termination of an interest rate swap agreement related to the secured facility refinancing. In addition, there was a $2.0 million loss on early extinguishment of debt related to the senior unsecured and senior subordinated notes during the third quarter of 2005.

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

Loss from discontinued operations during the three months ended September 30, 2005 totaled $5.8 million, including impairment charges of $3.8 million, and a loss on disposition of assets of $1.5 million. Loss from discontinued operations for the same period in 2004 totaled $5.5 million, including impairment charges of $2.6 million, and a loss on disposition of assets of $2.2 million.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2005 compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2004

 

Continuing Operations Results

 

Our results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 for the 68 properties included in continuing operations have been affected by the same factors and events that affected our results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2005, and because of these events, our total results are not comparable between years. In order to provide a useful comparison, where appropriate, this section includes discussion and analysis of our results as a whole and discussion and analysis of results of the 57 comparable hotels that were in normal operations for the current period and the prior year period.

 

Total revenue. Because of the events and changes to our portfolio noted previously, our total revenue for the entire portfolio of our 68 hotels in continuing operations is not comparable between years. Total revenue increased by $14.1 million or 2.4% in the first nine months of 2005 compared to the first nine months of 2004. This increase in revenue is primarily due to an increase in ADR attributable to a strategy of increasing room rates and reducing our exposure to lower rated contract business, higher food and beverage revenues attributable to increased menu pricing in 2005, and the inclusion of a full period of revenues from our two hotels acquired in May and June of 2004 ($30.5 million), partially offset by the lost revenue at our hurricane affected properties. Overall ADR increased 6.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 when compared with the same period in 2004, primarily due to a focus on increasing business related to higher rated transient and corporate business, reducing trade with lower rated groups, overall increases in our daily rates in general, the inclusion of a full period of revenues from two higher rate properties acquired in May and June of 2004 and an increase in travel due to a general strengthening of the economy. This favorable impact on rooms revenue was partially offset by revenue losses from our hurricane-impacted hotels ($55.2 million). The decrease in occupancy of 5.8% over the same period for the entire portfolio of our 68 hotels in continuing operations was due to rooms out of service as a result of the Florida hurricanes, the impact of having fewer available rooms due to hotel room renovations, as well as a focus on increasing daily rates, which resulted in lower group, contract, and internet sales. Approximately 95% of the 5.8% decrease in occupancy was specifically due to the rooms out of service as a result of the Florida hurricanes.

 

The following table presents operating data for our 57 comparable hotels:

 

Operating Data for our 57 comparable hotels (16,619 rooms):

 

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    Percent
Change


 

ADR

   $ 111.20     $ 101.18     9.9 %

Occupancy %

     69.1 %     69.7 %   (0.9 )

RevPAR

   $ 76.79     $ 70.53     8.9  

 

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For the 57 comparable hotels, total revenue increased by $38.5 million or 8.1% from $474.1 million in the first nine months of 2004 to $512.6 million in the first nine months of 2005. The increase in room revenue was primarily due to an increase in ADR of $10.02 or 9.9% and RevPAR of $6.26 or 8.9%, which resulted from a strategy of increasing room rates and reducing our exposure to lower rated contract business, and the general strengthening of the economy and lodging industry. Occupancy decreased 0.9% mainly due to our focus on increasing business related to higher rated transient and corporate business, reducing trade with lower rated groups, as well as overall increases in our daily rates in general.

 

Hotel operating expenses. Because of the events noted above, our total hotel operating expenses are not comparable between years. Hotel operating expenses decreased by $0.2 million or 0.1% in the nine months ended September 30, 2005 as compared to the same period in 2004. The decrease was primarily attributable to the limited operations of certain of the hurricane-impacted properties, including the substantial closure of several properties, partially offset by increases in labor and related costs. Food and beverage expense decreased by 2.7% of food and beverage revenue mainly due to menu pricing adjustments that have outpaced the increasing cost of materials, labor and benefits.

 

For the 57 comparable hotels, hotel operating expenses increased 4.9% from the third quarter of 2004, primarily related to increases in labor and related costs. As a percentage of revenue, hotel operating expenses decreased 1.2%. Rooms expense, as a percent of rooms revenue, decreased 0.3% points primarily due to the positive impacts of increasing our ADR which generates additional revenues with little additional cost. Food and beverage margins improved 2.1% points mainly due to menu pricing adjustments that have outpaced the increasing cost of materials, labor and benefits.

 

Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses include general and administrative expenses, property operating costs, depreciation and amortization, non-income taxes, and insurance and write-off of deferred financing fees. Individual variations in these expenses were as follows:

 

    General and administrative expense, corporate: General and administrative expense, corporate increased $0.7 million mainly due to $1.1 million in adjustments that reduced expense in 2004, and a $1.6 million expense related to incentive plan grants in 2005, partially offset by a $1.1 million expense reduction related to prior years’ workers’ compensation claims in 2005 and a $0.5 million expense reduction related to legal costs in 2005. The 2004 adjustments include $4.5 million ($4.0 million year to date impact) to reduce employee compensation costs due to the adjustment in the accounting treatment of an equity based compensation plan, partially offset by an adjustment in reserves for the resolution of prior year worker’s compensation and general liability claims, costs related to the company’s hurricane insurance claims, and higher costs for complying with expanded public company regulatory requirements.

 

    Property taxes, insurance expense and other expense: In the nine months ended September 30, 2005, expenses for hurricane-impacted properties decreased from the same period in 2004, primarily due to a $4.4 million reduction in rental payments mainly under the best efforts rental programs at South Seas Resort and Sundial Beach Resort. Also, the hurricane-impacted properties’ expenses were reduced in 2005 to the extent that these costs were recoverable; these same properties had normal operating expenses through mid-August 2004. Additionally, the current year expense decreased $1.9 million mainly due to favorable changes in property tax assessments, reduced property taxes at our hurricane impacted properties and additional 2005 tax refunds, and $1.0 million in reductions to sales and use and other tax reserves.

 

    Write-off of deferred financing fees: The current year’s repurchase of $50.2 million of senior unsecured notes and $34.2 million of senior subordinated notes has resulted in a $0.6 million write-off of deferred financing fees. The remaining $1.9 million of deferred financing fees that were written off in 2005 related to the secured facility defeasance. For the same period in 2004, the repurchase of approximately $99.6 million of senior unsecured notes, and the issuance of common stock in exchange for $49.2 million of senior subordinated notes, resulted in a write-off of deferred financing fees of approximately $1.7 million.

 

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Loss on Asset Impairments. The 2005 loss on asset impairment in continuing operations of $40.3 million is primarily comprised of impairment losses of $34.2 million related to three properties that were newly made available for sale as a result of the secured facility refinance and are expected to be sold.

 

Contract Termination Costs. The $1.1 million of contract termination costs incurred in the first nine months of 2005 due to the termination of the management agreement on one of our hotels.

 

Equity in income/loss of and interest earned from unconsolidated affiliates. Equity in income/loss of and interest earned from unconsolidated affiliates consists of income earned from two investments in which we own non-controlling interests and do not consolidate in our financial statements. We recognize a proportionate share of the profit and loss earned by the Radisson Lexington Avenue Hotel, an equity method investment acquired in 2004, as well as interest income on the $40 million loan made to this entity. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we recognized interest income of $4.3 million, partially offset by a $1.3 million equity share of net losses. In addition, we currently recognize a preferred return of 12% from our investment in MIP, accounted for using the cost method, resulting in current and cumulative preferred return income of $4.3 million in the first nine months of 2005. Our 2004 income of $4.8 million represents only the current portion of our 16% preferred return; no cumulative portion of the return was recognized.

 

Hurricane business interruption insurance gain. In the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we recognized $4.3 million of business interruption gain, based on insurance company acknowledgement of this minimum level of profit that certain of our properties would have earned. For additional information regarding hurricane business interruption gain, see “Results Overview – Accounting for the Impact of the Hurricane Damage to Properties.”

 

Loss on early extinguishments of debt. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $55.2 million. This was comprised of $43.5 million of defeasance loss related to the secured facility, as well as $8.7 million cost from the termination of an interest rate swap agreement related to the secured facility refinancing. In addition, there was a $3.0 million loss on early extinguishment of debt related to the senior unsecured and senior subordinated notes during the first nine months of 2005.

 

Interest expense, net. Net interest expense declined 4.2% or $4.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005 compared to the same period in 2004, primarily as a result of 2004 repurchases of approximately $99.6 million of senior unsecured notes and the issuance of common stock in 2004 in exchange for $49.2 million of senior subordinated notes. The interest savings from these repurchases were somewhat offset by the placement of lower interest rate mortgages, and increases in LIBOR. Additionally, the $298.1 million secured facility was refinanced in September 2005 at an interest rate that is 309 basis points lower.

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

Loss from discontinued operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 totaled $8.7 million, including impairment charges of $6.6 million, and a loss on disposition of assets of $2.5 million. Loss from discontinued operations for the same period in 2004 totaled $23.1 million, including impairment charges of $10.0 million, and a loss on disposition of assets of $13.8 million.

 

Funds From Operations (FFO)

 

Substantially all of our non-current assets consist of real estate, and in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, those assets are subject to straight-line depreciation, which reflects the assumption that the value of real estate assets, other than land, will decline ratably over time. That assumption is often not true with respect to the actual market values of real estate assets (and, in particular, hotels), which fluctuate based on economic, market and other conditions. As a result, management and many industry investors believe the presentation of GAAP operating measures for real estate companies to be more informative and

 

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useful when other measures, adjusted for depreciation and amortization, are also presented. In an effort to address these concerns, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, adopted a definition of Funds From Operations, or FFO, which we have also adopted.

 

NAREIT defines FFO as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of real estate, real estate-related depreciation and amortization, and after comparable adjustments for our portion of these items related to unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Extraordinary items and cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle as defined by GAAP are also excluded from the calculation of FFO. As defined by NAREIT, FFO also does not include reductions from asset impairment charges. The Securities and Exchange Commission, however, has recommended that FFO include the effect of asset impairment charges, which is the presentation we have adopted for all historical presentations of FFO. We believe FFO is an indicative measure of our operating performance due to the significance of our hotel real estate assets and provides beneficial information to investors.

 

FFO should not be considered as an alternative to any other performance measures prescribed by GAAP. Although FFO is considered a standard benchmark utilized by the investment community, our FFO may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure reported by other companies.

 

FFO

 

We use FFO as a measure of our performance. The following reconciles our GAAP net loss to FFO on a diluted basis (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
    2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Net loss

  $ (115,371 )   $ (26,772 )   $ (127,881 )   $ (78,572 )

Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets

    22,149       24,614       68,146       72,734  

Loss on disposal of assets

    1,490       2,232       2,527       13,762  

Unconsolidated affiliate adjustments

    990       —         3,407       —    

Equity compensation adjustment

    —         (4,513 )(E)     —         (3,983 )(E)

Minority interest to common OP unit holders

    (2,978 )     (735 )     (1,882 )     (2,469 )
   


 


 


 


FFO

  $ (93,720 )(A)   $ (5,174 )(B)   $ (55,683 )(C)   $ 1,472 (D)
   


 


 


 


FFO per share

  $ (1.04 )(A)   $ (0.06 )(B)   $ (0.64 )(C)   $ 0.02 (D)
   


 


 


 


Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for FFO

    89,750       89,662       87,452       82,060  
   


 


 


 



(A) Funds from operations included the effect of asset impairment charges, loss on early extinguishments of debt, write off of deferred financing fees, contract termination costs, and related minority interest amounts recognized during the three months ended September 30, 2005 totaling $(101.5) million or $(1.13) per diluted share. The weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding at September 30, 2005 on a fully diluted basis was 87.7 million.
(B) Funds from operations included the effect of asset impairment charges and exclude an equity compensation adjustment recognized during the three months ended September 30, 2004 totaling $(7.1) million or $(0.08) per diluted share. The weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding at September 30, 2004 on a fully diluted basis was 89.7 million.
(C) Funds from operations included the effect of asset impairment charges, loss on early extinguishments of debt, write off of deferred financing fees, contract termination costs, and related minority interest amounts recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 totaling $(103.1) million or $(1.18) per diluted share. The weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding at September 30, 2005 on a fully diluted basis was 87.6 million.
(D) Funds from operations included the effect of asset impairment charges, loss on early extinguishments of debt, and write off of deferred financing fees and exclude an equity compensation adjustment recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2004 totaling $(23.6) million or $(0.29) per diluted share. The weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding at September 30, 2004 on a fully diluted basis was 82.1 million.
(E)

Our net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 includes a $4.5 million and $4.0 million adjustment, respectively, to reduce compensation expense as a result of the adjustment to our previous accounting for POPs compensation plan (see Note 9 to the

 

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financial statements). We have removed the impact of this adjustment from our calculation of FFO, as presented in this report, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 presented above. Had FFO not been adjusted for this item, our FFO would have been $(0.7) million (($0.01) per share) and $5.5 million ($0.07 per share) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, respectively. As a result, the 2004 FFO reported above does not equal the FFO reported in our press release issued on November 1, 2005.

 

The following reconciles our outstanding shares used to calculate net loss per share to our outstanding shares used to calculate FFO per diluted share (amounts in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


         2005    

       2004    

       2005    

        2004    

Reconciliation from Basic Shares:

                    

Weighted average number of basic shares of common stock outstanding for basic net loss per share calculation

   87,492    87,300    87,452     79,599

Additional common stock equivalents for FFO:

                    

Operating partnership units

   2,258    2,362    —       2,401

Stock options

   —      —      —       60
    
  
  

 

Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for diluted FFO

   89,750    89,662    87,452     82,060
    
  
  

 

Reconciliation from Diluted Shares:

                    

Weighted average number of diluted shares of common stock outstanding for diluted net loss per share calculation

   89,750    89,662    89,627     82,000

Additional common stock equivalents for FFO:

                    

Operating partnership units

   —      —      (2,175 )   —  

Stock options

   —      —      —       60
    
  
  

 

Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for diluted FFO

   89,750    89,662    87,452     82,060
    
  
  

 

 

Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources

 

Our principal sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations, funds from borrowings, funds from the sales of assets and existing cash on hand. Our principal uses of cash include the funding of working capital obligations, debt service, debt repurchases, investments in hotels (including capital projects and acquisitions), and escrow requirements. Our strategy includes considering opportunities to repay debt and to reduce our overall cost of borrowing, such as through repaying more expensive debt with the proceeds from low interest rate mortgages and asset sales and the use of interest rate caps. We believe we currently have sufficient cash on hand, and we expect to have adequate cash flow during the next twelve months in order to fund our operations, capital commitments and debt service obligations. We did not pay a dividend on our common stock during 2004, nor do we expect to pay one in 2005. Our current and future liquidity is, however, greatly dependent upon our operating results, which are driven largely by overall economic conditions. While economic conditions are generally improving, if general economic conditions are significantly worse than we expect for an extended period, this will likely have a negative effect on our projections of available cash flow and liquidity.

 

Factors that may influence our liquidity include:

 

    Factors that affect our results of operations, including general economic conditions, demand for business and leisure travel, public concerns about travel safety related primarily to terrorism and related concerns, capital investments required to maintain our property’s competitive position, insurance coverage and timing of hurricane-related expenditures and related insurance receipts, and other operating risks described under the caption, “Risk Factors—Operating Risks” in Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004;

 

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    Factors that affect our access to bank financing and the capital markets, including operational risks, high leverage, covenant compliance, interest rate fluctuations, and other risks described under the caption “Risk Factors—Financing Risks” in Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004; and

 

    Other factors described previously under the caption, “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

We generally intend to hold unrestricted cash balances of $30 million to $40 million in our operating accounts as a hedge against economic and geopolitical uncertainties, as well as to provide for our recurring cash requirements. We established a $50 million secured revolving bank line in December 2003, maturing in December 2006. In August 2005, this revolving bank line was expanded by $100 million to a total capacity of $150 million; the additional $100 million will mature in August 2006 and consists of $25 million in additional revolver capacity and $75 million of term loan capacity. The total $150 million facility carries an annual interest rate of the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus 350 basis points; 100 basis points less than the facility’s original annual interest rate of LIBOR plus 450 basis points. This credit facility increases our flexibility in managing our liquidity, however, asset disposition proceeds in excess of $30 million must be used to pay down any outstanding balance under the facility and permanently reduce the availability if repaying borrowings under the term loan. Additionally, our available balance under this facility may be temporarily reduced from time to time if assets serving as collateral are sold or while certain brand-related issues on our franchise agreements are being resolved on the 13 hotels used as collateral. As of September 30, 2005 and November 1, 2005, $114.2 million of the credit facility was available.

 

In 1999, we, through MeriStar Hospitality Operating Partnership, L.P. (“MHOP”), our principal operating subsidiary, invested $40.0 million in MeriStar Investment Partners, L.P. (“MIP”), a joint venture established to acquire upscale, full-service hotels. Our cost-basis investment is in the form of a limited partnership interest, in which we earned (through December 9, 2004) a 16% cumulative preferred return with outstanding balances compounded quarterly. In accordance with MIP’s December 2004 amended and restated partnership agreement, the return on our investment and on our remaining unpaid accrued preferred return was reduced to a 12% annual cumulative return rate, and is subordinate only to the MIP debt; and $12.5 million of our $40.0 million investment was upgraded to receive preference in liquidation over all other investments.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2003, we recognized a $25.0 million impairment loss on this investment since, at that time, the decline in the underlying value of our investment was deemed other than temporary. There have been no changes in circumstances in 2004 and 2005 that would require an additional impairment. After recognition of this impairment loss, the book value of the original investment is $15.0 million.

 

In February 2005, MIP completed a $175 million commercial mortgage-backed securities financing, secured by its portfolio of eight hotels. Upon the completion of the financing in February 2005, we received a distribution of $15.5 million, which was applied to reduce our outstanding accrued preferred returns receivable to approximately $4 million.

 

As of September 30, 2005, our total MIP carrying value was $23.5 million, consisting of the $15.0 million adjusted investment balance and $8.5 million of accrued preferred returns receivable.

 

We invested approximately $134 million in capital expenditures during 2004. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we invested approximately $86 million in non hurricane-related capital expenditures and expect to invest an additional $41 million (including $12 million of advance payments for 2006 projects) in non hurricane-related capital expenditures during the remainder of 2005. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we invested approximately $86 million in hurricane-related capital expenditures. The total amount of hurricane-related capital expenditures has not yet been fully determined, however we anticipate it to be well in excess of $150 million, most of which we expect to be reimbursed by our insurance carriers.

 

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As part of our strategy to manage our leverage, we may repurchase debt with available cash, including proceeds from asset sales, or retire debt with higher interest rates and issue debt with lower interest rates, thereby reducing our overall interest expense, lowering cost of borrowing and improving financial ratios. This strategy provides us with more liquidity and flexibility in managing our business.

 

We repurchased all $34.2 million of our 8.75% senior subordinated notes due 2007 during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. In addition, we repurchased $50.2 million of our senior unsecured notes, consisting of $18.9 million of the 9.0% notes due 2008, $13.0 million of the 9.125% notes due 2011, and $18.3 million of the 10.5% notes due 2009 during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Following these repurchases, we had no outstanding senior subordinated notes and $800.1 million of outstanding senior unsecured notes. In 2004, we retired $49.2 million of our senior subordinated notes and purchased $99.6 million of our senior unsecured notes. These transactions have allowed us to reduce our cost of borrowing and improve our credit statistics.

 

With our expanded asset disposition program (see discussion below) and the additional capacity of our senior credit facility, we will continue to monitor the market for debt repurchase opportunities and repurchase debt when economically and financially advantageous. Toward that end, the remaining $205.9 million of our 10.5% senior unsecured debt becomes callable on December 15, 2005 at a price of 105.25% of its outstanding principal amount plus interest. We may strategically repurchase our senior unsecured notes through exercising the call provisions on the 10.5% senior unsecured notes or through open market purchases of any of the tranches depending upon pricing and availability in accordance with our expanded asset disposition program, with a focus on repurchasing the 10.5% senior unsecured notes. The actual amount acquired will be a function of pricing and availability as well as the results of our asset disposition program, however we expect to repurchase, through a call offer, a portion of the 10.5% senior unsecured notes in December 2005, and the remainder in the first half of 2006.

 

In September 2005, we refinanced our secured facility loan that carried an existing balance of $298.1 million due 2009 (“Previous Loan”). We paid $343.6 million in connection with the legal defeasance of the Previous Loan, which had a carrying value of $289.4 million (consisting of $298.1 million in principal balance less $8.7 million fair value adjustment related to the interest rate swap), resulting in a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $54.2 million. Our loss on early extinguishment of debt was reduced to $52.2 million by the $2.0 million write-off of two treasury locks, which had been deferred and were being recognized as reductions to interest expense over the life of the Previous Loan. The new loan consists of a $312.0 million secured facility loan due in October 2007, with three one-year extensions at our option, and a $15.0 million bridge loan due in April 2006, with one six-month extension at our option. We expect to repay the $15.0 million bridge loan with proceeds from the disposition of the assets securing it. The new secured facility loan allows for significant interest savings and increased flexibility compared to the previous secured facility loan. The interest rate on the new secured facility loan is 309 basis points lower than the previous secured facility loan interest rate. The new secured facility loan also provides greater flexibility for property disposition and substitution, and released approximately $45 million of cash that was held in escrow ($39 million under the previous secured facility loan, plus $6 million under the interest rate swap agreement net of the $8.7 million termination payment). In late September 2005, we sold one hotel secured by the facility and used the $7.8 million proceeds to pay down the balance to $304.2 million.

 

The new secured facility loan also eliminated the need for the interest rate swap agreement and its related cash collateral balance, as discussed above. We paid $8.7 million to terminate the interest rate swap, which represented the fair value of the swap on the date of termination. Because we accounted for the interest rate swap as a fair value hedge of the debt which was extinguished, the $52.2 million loss on early extinguishment of the Previous Loan includes this $8.7 million fair value adjustment.

 

In October 2005, we paid $0.3 million to enter into an interest rate cap agreement on our new secured facility, effective October 10, 2005, with a term of 2 years. Under the interest rate cap agreement, the annual interest rate on the New Loan secured facility will not exceed 7.10%. The interest rate cap will be recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded to interest expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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On January 26, 2005, we entered into a $37.7 million mortgage loan on our Hilton Crystal City hotel that bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.84%. The mortgage requires monthly payments of interest only for the first three years and then monthly payments of interest and principal over the remaining portion of the ten year term of the loan, with the majority of the principal balance due at the end of the ten year term. Our net proceeds of $34.7 million are net of a $3.0 million escrow reserve for future capital expenditures. We incurred financing costs of $0.8 million related to this mortgage.

 

On June 17, 2005, we entered into a $44.0 million mortgage loan on our Hilton Clearwater hotel that bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.68%. The mortgage requires monthly payments of interest only for the first three years and then monthly payments of interest and principal over the remaining portion of the ten year term of the loan, with the majority of the principal balance due at the end of the ten year term. Our net proceeds of $40.7 million are net of a $3.3 million escrow reserve for future capital expenditures. We incurred financing costs of $1.1 million related to this mortgage.

 

We recently expanded our asset disposition program to take advantage of the strong market that exists for asset sales, particularly for assets with residential development potential. We have selected assets to market for sale where we believe we can reinvest the proceeds from their sale and obtain a higher return on our investment. We expect to strengthen our balance sheet through the reduction of debt levels, although, if pricing for certain assets does not develop the way we expect or debt is not available to be repurchased at reasonable prices, we may elect not to sell certain assets or reinvest the proceeds into our existing core hotels through renovation and upgrade activities or by investing in new hotels, improving the growth potential of our portfolio and increasing our return on investment. In a limited number of circumstances, we may also substitute certain properties if opportunities arise that meet our price objective on certain hotels not currently identified in the disposition program. We will continually evaluate the probability that certain assets will be disposed and the timing thereof.

 

We sold three hotels during the third quarter of 2005, generating proceeds of $25.3 million. In addition, four of the assets identified for disposition in our expanded program were secured under our previous secured facility and not available for disposition; this facility was defeased in the third quarter 2005, allowing us flexibility to sell these four assets. We recognized a $44.1 million impairment charge during the third quarter of 2005, of which $37.8 million was related to these four assets. With respect to the nature of dispositions, we may incur impairment charges in the future related to certain assets to be disposed of, if the fair value is less than the carrying value.

 

In August and September 2004 and August 2005, a number of our hotels located in Florida and two hotels located in New Orleans incurred substantial damage and business interruption. While we have comprehensive insurance coverage for both property damage and business interruption, we are experiencing a decline in revenues at these properties due to the full or partial closure of certain hotels, and accounting rules do not permit us to recognize any income from business interruption insurance or gains on replacement of damaged property until all contingencies associated with the related insurance payments have been resolved. Additionally, we may experience a timing delay between cash outflows and cash inflows, as we may incur costs to rebuild the damaged properties, and temporary negative cash flows associated with affected properties, that may not be reimbursed by the insurance carriers for several periods, or if we are unable to agree on certain coverage issues or the scope of coverage, reimbursements may take several years to recover through litigation. Additionally, we are liable for any policy deductibles. While this timing difference continues to impact our short term liquidity, we believe that we will be able to meet all of our short term cash needs through a variety of means, including the placement of mortgages, borrowings under our credit facility, and reducing capital expenditures, if necessary. The resolution and reimbursement of our insurance claims will be applied to the repayment of our credit facility and mortgages, and other sources from which we have drawn to cover the net cash outflow of hurricane-related expenditures. For more information regarding the impact of these hurricanes, see “—Results Overview.”

 

As of September 30, 2005, we had $18.8 million of cash held in escrow, which was required by certain debt agreements. Our cash balance held in escrow may increase or decrease based upon the performance of our encumbered hotels and our ability to obtain timely capital reimbursements. Of the $18.8 million, approximately $9.9 million was available to fund capital expenditures as of September 30, 2005. Our required balance of cash

 

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held in escrow significantly declined during the third quarter of 2005 due to the release of $45 million of escrow. The $45 million escrow release consists of $39 million under our secured facility refinance, plus $6 million under the interest rate swap agreement ($14 million total released escrow less the $8.7 million termination payment), which was terminated in conjunction with the secured facility refinance, both of which are discussed further above.

 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

The following table shows our consolidated cash flows, generated by (used in) our various activities, for the nine months ended September 30 (in thousands):

 

     2005

    2004

    2005 vs 2004

 

Operating activities

   $ 31,836     $ 5,843     $ 25,993  

Investing activities

     (74,540 )     (179,024 )     104,484  

Financing activities

     17,460       60,723       (43,263 )

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period – unrestricted

     35,296       117,794       (82,498 )

 

Cash flow from operations increased in the first three quarters of 2005 compared to 2004, primarily due to the impact of margin improvements due to the refocusing of our portfolio assets, as well as the generation of new revenues from our hotels acquired in 2004, and as a result of the lodging industry economic recovery. Additionally, we realized net cash inflow of $48.6 million related to our insurance claim receivable. We have allocated $7.7 million of proceeds received to investing activities, which is an estimate of the portion of reimbursements for hurricane-related capital expenditures at our properties damaged by the hurricanes. The remaining $40.9 million change in our insurance claim receivable is related to operating expenditures, and is therefore reflected within operating activities. Our cash flow from operations is reduced by the $52.2 million loss on early extinguishment of debt related to our previous secured facility defeasance.

 

We used a net $74.5 million of cash for investing activities during the first nine months of 2005, consisting of:

 

    $171.8 million in capital expenditures (including $9.1 million of capitalized interest); and

 

    $2.2 million in costs primarily associated with the disposition program; partially offset by

 

    $45.9 million decrease in restricted cash, mainly related to escrows released under our secured facility refinance and through the termination of our interest rate swap agreement;

 

    $45.8 million of proceeds from the sale of hotel assets; and

 

    $7.7 million allocation of insurance proceeds related to capital expenditures.

 

We used a net $179.0 million of cash from investing activities during the first nine months of 2004, primarily due to:

 

    $182.4 million for acquisition of hotels, net of cash acquired;

 

    $85.6 million in capital expenditures (including $3.6 million of capitalized interest);

 

    $7.5 million for a deposit on an investment in a hotel; and

 

    $17.2 million increase in cash restricted for mortgage escrows; partially offset by

 

    $119.3 million of proceeds from the sale of hotel assets.

 

We generated a net $17.5 million of cash from financing activities during the first nine months of 2005 due mainly to:

 

    the incurrence of $320.7 million in debt, net of financing costs;

 

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    the incurrence of $73.4 million in mortgage loans, net of financing costs; and

 

    net borrowings of $22.5 million under our credit facility, net of financing costs; partially offset by

 

    prepayments on long-term debt of $382.6 million; and

 

    scheduled payments on long-term debt of $16.1 million.

 

We generated a net $60.7 million of cash from financing activities during the first nine months of 2004 primarily due to:

 

    proceeds from mortgage incurrence, net of issuance costs, of $109.7 million; and

 

    net proceeds from common stock issuances of $72.3 million; partially offset by

 

    prepayments on long-term debt of $105.0 million;

 

    scheduled payments on long-term debt of $7.0 million; and

 

    the purchase of subsidiary partnership interests for $8.7 million.

 

We must distribute to stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gains, to preserve the favorable tax treatment accorded to REITs under the Internal Revenue Code. Under certain circumstances, we may be required to make distributions in excess of cash available for distribution in order to meet the Internal Revenue Code requirements. In that event, we would seek to borrow additional funds or sell additional non-core assets for cash, or both, to the extent necessary to obtain cash sufficient to make the distributions required to retain our qualification as a REIT. Any future distributions will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be determined by factors including our operating results, restrictions imposed by our borrowing agreements, capital expenditure requirements, the economic outlook, the distribution requirements for REITs under the Internal Revenue Code and such other factors as our Board of Directors deems relevant. Our senior unsecured notes indenture permits the payment of dividends in order to maintain REIT qualification when we fall below a 2 to 1 fixed charge coverage ratio. The timing and amount of any future distributions is dependent upon these factors, and we cannot provide assurance that any such distributions will be made in the future.

 

In the course of document review with respect to the MIP restructuring, we discovered a potential technical REIT qualification issue relating to a wholly-owned subsidiary of MIP, of which we could be deemed to own a de minimis proportionate share. In order to eliminate any uncertainty regarding this issue, we have executed a closing agreement with the Internal Revenue Service that resolves all REIT qualification matters with respect to this potential issue. As a result of our negotiations with the Internal Revenue Service we remain qualified as a REIT for all prior years and continue to operate as a REIT for calendar year 2005.

 

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Debt

 

Debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

    

September 30,

2005


    December 31,
2004


 

Credit facility

   $ 25,000       —    

Senior unsecured notes due 2011 – 9.125%

     342,665     $ 355,665  

Senior unsecured notes due 2008 – 9.0%

     251,558       270,500  

Senior unsecured notes due 2009 – 10.5%

     205,894       224,187  

Secured facility, due 2007, with three one-year options to extend

     304,210       —    

Secured facility, due 2009

     —         302,979  

Secured facility, due 2013

     98,109       99,293  

Secured bridge loan, due 2006

     15,000       —    

Convertible subordinated notes, due 2010

     170,000       170,000  

Senior subordinated notes, due 2007

     —         34,225  

Mortgage and other debt, due various

     204,482       125,051  

Unamortized issue discount

     (2,936 )     (3,950 )
    


 


     $ 1,613,982     $ 1,577,950  

Fair value adjustment for interest rate swap

     —         (4,674 )
    


 


     $ 1,613,982     $ 1,573,276  
    


 


 

Credit facility. In August 2005, we completed a $100.0 million expansion of our $50.0 million credit facility to a total capacity of $150.0 million. The total $150.0 million facility carries an annual interest rate of the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus 350 basis points, which is 100 basis points less than the original annual interest rate of LIBOR plus 450 basis points. The additional $100.0 million matures in August 2006 and consists of $25.0 million in additional revolver capacity and $75.0 million of term loan capacity. Asset disposition proceeds in excess of $30 million must be used to pay down any outstanding balance under the facility and permanently reduce the availability if repaying borrowings under the term loan. The original $50.0 million revolving facility matures in December 2006, as originally provided. As of September 30, 2005 and November 1, 2005, we had borrowings of $25.0 million outstanding against the revolver, and no outstanding borrowings under the term loan. Our available balance under the facility may be temporarily reduced from time to time if assets serving as collateral are sold or while certain brand-related issues on our franchise agreements are being resolved on the 13 hotels used as collateral. A total of $114.2 million was available as of September 30, 2005 and November 1, 2005. We incurred financing costs of $2.5 million related to the expansion of our credit facility.

 

The facility contains financial and other restrictive covenants. The ability to borrow under this facility is subject to compliance with financial covenants, including leverage, fixed charge coverage and interest coverage ratios and minimum net worth requirements. Compliance with these covenants in future periods will depend substantially upon the financial results of our hotels. The agreement governing the credit facility limits our ability to effect mergers, asset sales and change of control events and limits the payments of dividends other than those required for us to maintain our status as a REIT and our ability to incur additional secured and total indebtedness.

 

Senior unsecured notes. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we repurchased $50.2 million of our senior unsecured notes, consisting of $18.9 million of the 9.0% notes due 2008, $13.0 million of the 9.125% notes due 2011, and $18.3 million of the 10.5% notes due 2009. We recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $2.8 million and wrote off deferred financing costs of $0.4 million related to these repurchases which is included in depreciation and amortization expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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Secured facilities. In September 2005, we extinguished our secured facility loan that carried an existing balance of $298.1 million due 2009 (“Previous Loan”). We paid $343.6 million in connection with the legal defeasance of the Previous Loan, which had a carrying value of $289.4 million (consisting of $298.1 million in principal balance less $8.7 million fair value adjustment related to the interest rate swap), resulting in a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $54.2 million. Our loss on early extinguishment of debt was reduced to $52.2 million by the $2.0 million write-off of two treasury locks, which had been deferred and were being recognized as reductions to interest expense over the life of the Previous Loan. In addition, we wrote off deferred financing costs of $1.9 million related to this extinguishment which is included in depreciation and amortization expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

The new secured facility loan (“New Loan”) provides for a $312.0 million loan at a rate of LIBOR plus 135 basis points, which has an initial maturity of October 9, 2007, with three one-year extensions at our option. The New Loan is secured by 17 of our properties. Of the 19 properties that were covered under the Previous Loan that was refinanced, two are not included in the collateral pool for the New Loan as our present intention is to sell these properties, one of which was refinanced under the secured bridge loan. The New Loan, which is intended to be securitized, is non-recourse to us, except for certain customary carve-outs, which are guaranteed by MHOP. In September 2005, we sold one of the properties secured by the New Loan, and used the sale proceeds to repay $7.8 million of the outstanding balance. As of September 30, 2005, our New Loan had an outstanding balance of $304.2 million, and was secured by 16 properties. We incurred financing costs of $6.0 million related to obtaining this loan.

 

The New Loan allows for significant interest savings and increased flexibility compared to the Previous Loan. The interest rate on the New Loan is 309 basis points lower than the Previous Loan interest rate. The New Loan also provides greater flexibility for property disposition and substitution, and released approximately $45 million of cash that was held in escrow ($39 million under the Previous Loan, plus $6 million under the interest rate swap agreement net of the $8.7 million termination payment).

 

Secured bridge loan. In conjunction with the refinancing of the Previous Loan discussed above, we entered into a bridge loan, that provides for a $15.0 million term loan secured by one property with a borrowing rate of LIBOR plus 350 basis points, and has an initial maturity of April 9, 2006, with one six-month extension at our option. One property included in the Previous Loan is covered under the bridge loan. We expect to repay the $15.0 million bridge loan with proceeds from the disposition of the assets securing it. We incurred financing costs of $0.2 million related to obtaining this bridge loan.

 

Senior subordinated notes. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we repurchased all $34.2 million of our outstanding 8.75% senior subordinated notes due 2007. We recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $0.2 million and wrote off deferred financing costs of $0.2 million related to this activity. The write off of deferred financing costs is included in depreciation and amortization expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Mortgage and other debt. On January 26, 2005, we entered into a $37.7 million mortgage loan on our Hilton Crystal City hotel that bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.84%. The mortgage requires monthly payments of interest only for the first three years and then monthly payments of interest and principal over the remaining portion of the ten year term of the loan, with the majority of the principal balance due at the end of the ten year term. Our net proceeds of $34.7 million are net of a $3.0 million escrow reserve for future capital expenditures. We incurred financing costs of $0.8 million related to this mortgage.

 

On June 17, 2005, we entered into a $44.0 million mortgage loan on our Hilton Clearwater hotel that bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.68%. The mortgage requires monthly payments of interest only for the first three years and then monthly payments of interest and principal over the remaining portion of the ten year term of the loan, with the majority of the principal balance due at the end of the ten year term. Our net proceeds of $40.7 million are net of a $3.3 million escrow reserve for future capital expenditures. We incurred financing costs of $1.1 million related to this mortgage.

 

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Derivatives. In April 2004, we entered into an interest rate swap on the Previous Loan to convert the interest rate from fixed to variable. The September 2005 defeasance of the Previous Loan eliminated the need for that interest rate swap. We paid $8.7 million to terminate the interest rate swap, which represented the fair value of the swap on the date of termination. Because we accounted for the interest rate swap as a fair value hedge of the debt which was extinguished, the $52.2 million loss on early extinguishment of the Previous Loan includes this $8.7 million fair value adjustment. Prior to the termination of the interest rate swap agreement, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, we earned (paid) net cash payments of $(0.06) million and $1.2 million, respectively, under the swap, which were recorded as an (increase in) reduction of in interest expense. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, we earned net cash payments of $1.5 million and $3.2 million, respectively, under the swap, which also were recorded as a reduction in interest expense. In conjunction with the interest rate swap, we were required to post collateral, which was $12.0 million as of December 31, 2004, and was recorded as restricted cash. Upon the termination of the interest rate swap agreement, our posted collateral balance of $14.4 million was released; we received $5.7 million, which was net of the $8.7 million termination payment.

 

In October 2005, we paid $0.3 million to enter into an interest rate cap agreement on our New Loan secured facility, effective October 10, 2005, with a term of 2 years. Under the interest rate cap agreement, the annual interest rate on the New Loan secured facility will not exceed 7.10%. The interest rate cap will be recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded to interest expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Asset Acquisitions

 

During 2004, we invested in three properties, each of them having exceptional quality and exhibiting superior growth potential, and being located in three of the top performing markets in the country. We believe these factors will enable these investments to produce superior returns for our shareholders. Our two consolidated hotels, and while not consolidated into our results, the hotel for which we record equity in income/loss, realized three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 combined RevPAR of $157.84 and $151.65, respectively. RevPAR for our comparable hotels during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 was $76.44 and $76.79, respectively. The higher RevPAR of the acquired hotels is indicative of their quality and overall earnings power.

 

On May 10, 2004 we acquired the four-star, four-diamond rated Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia for a purchase price of $93 million. The 366-room luxury hotel is operated by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC under a long-term contract. The hotel features nearly 18,000 square feet of meeting space, which can accommodate meetings of up to 900 guests.

 

Additionally, on June 25, 2004, we acquired the 485-room Marriott Irvine in Orange County, California, for a purchase price of $92.5 million. The hotel is operated by a subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. under a long-term contract. The hotel features 30,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 13,000 square foot ballroom, that can accommodate meetings of up to 1,500 guests.

 

On October 1, 2004, we acquired a 49.99% interest in the 705-room Radisson Lexington Avenue Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. We made a total investment of $50 million, which includes a $40 million mezzanine loan that matures on October 1, 2014 and yields $5.8 million of cumulative annual interest, and a $10 million equity interest in the hotel. The mezzanine loan is secured by a pledge of the equity interests held by the borrower in an indirect parent of the owner of the hotel, and has a 10-year term. The loan is subordinate to $150 million in senior notes, but has priority over all equity interests.

 

We will continue to be highly selective with potential acquisitions, focusing primarily on larger properties located in major urban markets or high-end resort destinations with high barriers to new competition, premium brand affiliations, significant meeting space and superior growth potential. The terms of our senior note indentures may limit our ability to obtain financing beyond certain limited exceptions (including up to $300 million of mortgage indebtedness, of which $13.4 million was available at September 30, 2005, and $50 million of general indebtedness) to acquire assets as we are below the required fixed charge coverage ratio of 2 to 1, at which level we would be permitted to generally incur debt without restriction.

 

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Asset Dispositions

 

We have completed our previously announced portfolio repositioning disposition program that repositioned our portfolio into one generally consisting of larger assets with significant meeting space operated under major brands in urban or high-end resort locations. Between January 1, 2003 and September 30, 2005, we disposed of 40 hotels with 9,052 rooms for total gross proceeds of $329.4 million in cash and $11.2 million in reduction of debt. Of these 40 hotels, 15 hotels were disposed of in 2003, 21 hotels were disposed of in 2004 and four hotels were disposed of in 2005. Management believes the reshaping of our portfolio over the past two years contributed to an increase in RevPAR, which, for our entire portfolio of properties (all periods exclude nine properties affected by hurricanes in 2004), increased to $79.45 from $60.59 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2003, respectively.

 

We recently expanded our asset disposition program to take advantage of the strong market that exists for asset sales, particularly for assets with residential development potential. We have selected assets to market for sale where we believe we can reinvest the proceeds from their sale and obtain a higher return on our investment. We expect to strengthen our balance sheet through the reduction of debt levels, although, if pricing for certain assets does not develop the way we expect or debt is not available to be repurchased at reasonable prices, we may elect not to sell certain assets or reinvest the proceeds into our existing core hotels through renovation and upgrade activities or by investing in new hotels, improving the growth potential of our portfolio and increasing our return on investment. In a limited number of circumstances, we may also substitute certain properties if opportunities arise that meet our price objective on certain hotels not currently identified in the disposition program. We will continually evaluate the probability that certain assets will be disposed and the timing thereof.

 

We sold three hotels during the third quarter of 2005, generating proceeds of $25.3 million. In addition, four of the assets identified for disposition in our expanded program were secured under our previous secured facility and not available for disposition; this facility was defeased in the third quarter 2005, allowing us flexibility to sell these four assets. We recognized a $44.1 million impairment charge during the third quarter of 2005, of which $37.8 million was related to these four assets. With respect to the nature of dispositions, we may incur impairment charges in the future related to certain assets to be disposed of, if the fair value is less than the carrying value.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

We have developed a targeted renovation program that is designed to reduce the time and cost required to renovate hotels, allowing us to improve the quality of our hotels faster to take advantage of the rebound in the economy and better manage the disruptions associated with renovations. We accelerated our renovation program for certain key assets, which created some short-term disruption but also positioned these properties to participate more quickly in the lodging industry recovery. We make ongoing capital expenditures in order to keep our hotels competitive in their markets and to comply with franchise obligations, as described further in “Operating Risks” (the potential adverse impact of our failure to meet the requirements contained in our franchise and licensing agreements) included in Item 1 – Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2004. Additionally, certain of our hotels’ management contracts and franchise agreements contain reserve requirements for property improvements. We fund our capital expenditures primarily from cash generated from operations and existing cash on hand and intend to use a portion of the proceeds from the sales of assets to provide capital for renovation work. We invested approximately $134 million in capital expenditures during 2004. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we invested approximately $86 million in non hurricane-related capital expenditures and expect to invest an additional $41 million (including $12 million of advance payments for 2006 projects) in non hurricane-related capital expenditures during the remainder of 2005. The emphasis is on completing these projects on budget with minimal disruptions to operations. We focus on complete room and facility renovations, eliminating to the degree possible, piecemeal work where the typical consumer might not ascribe value to the improvements. We believe we are timing this work appropriately to take full advantage of the economic recovery. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we invested approximately $86

 

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million in hurricane-related capital expenditures. The total amount of hurricane-related capital expenditures has not yet been fully determined, however we anticipate it to be well in excess of $150 million, most of which we expect to be reimbursed by our insurance carriers.

 

Other Financial Information

 

Hurricane Related Insurance Recoveries

 

We have comprehensive insurance coverage for both property damage and business interruption. Some properties are requiring substantial repair and reconstruction and have remained closed while such repairs are completed. As of September 30, 2005, the net book value of the property damage is estimated to be at least $75.1 million; however, we are still assessing the impact of the hurricanes on our properties, and final net book value write-offs could vary from this estimate. Changes to this estimate will be recorded in the periods in which they are determined. We have recorded a corresponding insurance claim receivable for this $75.1 million net book value amount because we believe that it is probable that the insurance recovery, net of deductibles, will exceed the net book value of the damaged portion of these assets. The recovery is based on replacement cost, and we have submitted claims substantially in excess of $75.1 million.

 

While we expect the insurance proceeds will be sufficient to cover most of the replacement cost of the restoration of these hotels, certain deductibles (primarily windstorm) and limitations will apply. Moreover, while we are receiving and expect to continue to receive interim insurance payments, no determination has been made as to the total amount or timing of those insurance payments, and those insurance payments may not be sufficient to cover the costs of all the restoration of the hotels. To the extent that insurance proceeds, which are on a replacement cost basis, ultimately exceed the net book value of the damaged property, a gain will be recorded in the period when all contingencies related to the insurance claim have been resolved.

 

As a result of the damage caused by the hurricanes, our properties experienced varying periods of business interruption and impacts on operations, including closure of certain hotels. We have hired consultants to assess our business interruption claims and are currently negotiating with our insurance carriers regarding the amount of sustained income losses. To the extent that we are entitled to a recovery under the insurance policies, we will recognize a receivable when it can be demonstrated that it is probable that such insurance recovery will be realized. Any gain resulting from business interruption insurance for lost income will not be recognized until all contingencies related to the insurance recoveries are resolved and collection of the relevant payments is probable. These income recognition criteria will result in business interruption insurance recoveries being recorded in a period subsequent to the period that we experience lost income from the affected properties, resulting in fluctuations in our net income that may reduce the comparability of reported quarterly results for some periods into the future.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” which requires companies to recognize compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions, and measure that cost based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. We are required to comply with the provisions of this statement beginning with the first quarter of 2006. We do not expect the adoption of this revised standard to have a material effect on our accounting treatment for share-based payments, as we adopted the transition provisions of SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure” on January 1, 2003 and elected to recognize compensation expense for options granted subsequent to December 31, 2002 under the fair-value-based method.

 

The FASB issued Statement No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets, an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29, Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions” in December 2004. This Statement amends Opinion 29 to eliminate the exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance. We were required to

 

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comply with the provisions of this statement for the third quarter of 2005. We have not entered into or modified any transactions within the scope of this standard, nor do we have any existing transactions that fall within the scope of SFAS No. 153, therefore the adoption of this statement did not have a material effect on our results of operations.

 

In June 2005, the FASB issued Statement No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections a Replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3”, which changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle, and applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle. This Statement requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle, unless the change is required by a new pronouncement and the pronouncement states specific transition provisions. This Statement carries forward without change the guidance contained in Opinion 20 for reporting the correction of an error in previously issued financial statements and a change in accounting estimate. We are required to adopt this Statement for accounting changes and corrections of errors made during and after the first quarter of 2006. We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material effect on our results of operations.

 

Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue 04-5, “Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights” was ratified by the FASB in June 2005. At issue is what rights held by the limited partner(s) preclude consolidation in circumstances in which the sole general partner would consolidate the limited partnership. The assessment of limited partners’ rights and their impact on the presumption of control of the limited partnership by the sole general partner should be made when an investor becomes the sole general partner and should be reassessed if there is a change to the terms or in the exercisability of the rights of the limited partners, the sole general partner increases or decreases its ownership of limited partnership interests, or there is an increase or decrease in the number of outstanding limited partnership interests. We are required to adopt the provisions of EITF Issue 04-5 for the first quarter of 2006, and for the third quarter of 2005 for new or modified arrangements. We have not entered into or modified any such arrangements, and we do not expect the adoption of this EITF to have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Our interest rate risk management objective is to manage the effect of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows. We look to manage interest rates through the use of a combination of fixed and variable rate debt. To achieve our objectives, we may borrow at a combination of fixed and variable rates, and may enter into derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps, caps and treasury locks in order to mitigate our interest rate risk on a related financial instrument. We only enter into derivative or interest rate transactions for hedging purposes, and not for trading purposes. We do not engage in speculative transactions.

 

On August 1, 2005, we amended and expanded our credit facility from $50 million to $150 million. The $150 million credit facility bears an annual interest rate of one month LIBOR plus 350 basis points. As of September 30, 2005, we had total outstanding borrowings of $25 million under the credit facility.

 

On September 12, 2005, we refinanced our secured facility loan. The previous $298 million (originally $330 million) secured facility loan due 2009 bore a fixed annual interest rate of 8.01%. The new $304 million (originally $312 million) secured facility loan due October 2007, with three one-year extensions, bears a floating annual interest rate of one month LIBOR plus 135 basis points. Also on September 12, 2005, we entered into a $15 million bridge loan due April 2006, with one six-month extension, that bears a floating annual interest rate of one month LIBOR plus 350 basis points.

 

In October 2005, we paid $0.3 million to enter into an interest rate cap agreement on our New Loan secured facility, effective October 10, 2005, with a term of 2 years. Under the interest rate cap agreement, the annual interest rate on the New Loan secured facility will not exceed 7.10%.

 

On April 2, 2004, we entered into an interest rate swap on our previous $298 million (originally $330 million) secured facility due 2009, effectively converting the interest the facility bears from a fixed rate to a floating rate. Under the swap, we received fixed-rate payments of 8.01% and paid floating rate payments based on a one month LIBOR plus 444 basis points on an initial $307 million notional amount. On September 12, 2005, we refinanced this debt and terminated the associated interest rate swap.

 

The table below provides information about our debt obligations that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table presents scheduled maturities and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates. Weighted average interest rates are based on implied forward rates in the yield curve as of October 25, 2005.

 

Expected Maturity Date

($ in millions)

 

    2005

    2006

    2007

    2008

    2009

    Thereafter

    Total

  Fair Value
as of
9/30/05


Debt:

                                                           

Fixed rate

  $ 1.2     $ 4.9     $ 5.3     $ 257.9     $ 212.9     $ 787.5     $ 1,269.7   $ 1,364.6

Average interest rate

    6.31 %     6.28 %     6.28 %     8.93 %     10.35 %     8.20 %            

Variable rate

  $ 26.0     $ 21.2     $ 6.5     $ 6.8     $ 7.2     $ 276.5     $ 344.2   $ 344.2

Average interest rate

    7.12 %     7.44 %     6.14 %     6.23 %     6.30 %     6.37 %            
                                                   

 

Total debt

                                                  $ 1,613.9   $ 1,708.8
                                                   

 

 

As a result of our variable rate debt, we are exposed to market risks related to changes in interest rates. In the future, we intend to manage our interest rate exposure using a mix of fixed and floating interest rate debt. A change in one month LIBOR of 50 basis points would result in an increase or decrease in current annual interest expense of approximately $1.7 million.

 

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and regulations, and that the information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial and chief accounting officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures based closely on the definition of “disclosure controls and procedures” in Rule 13a-1(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired objectives, and management was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Also, we have investments in certain unconsolidated entities. As we do not control or manage these entities, our disclosure controls and procedures with respect to these entities are substantially more limited than those we maintain with respect to our consolidated subsidiaries.

 

As of September 30, 2005, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer, and our chief accounting officer of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, we concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2005 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description of Document


3.1    Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-4568), and filed with the Commission on July 24, 1996).
3.1.1    Articles of Amendment of Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Incorporation dated August 11, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.1 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, and filed with the Commission on March 6, 2002).
3.1.2    Articles of Amendment of Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Incorporation dated June 30, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.2 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, and filed with the Commission on March 6, 2002).
3.2    Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our Registration Statement No. 333-66229, and filed with the Commission on October 28, 1998).
3.2.1    Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant dated and effective April 22, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2.1 to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, and filed with the Commission on May 14, 2003).
3.2.2    Third Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant dated and effective December 14, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2.2 to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, and filed with the Commission on August 5, 2005).
10.5.2    Non-Employee Directors’ Incentive Plan, as amended on May 26, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5.2 to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, and filed with the Commission on August 5, 2005).
10.21*    Executive Employment Agreement, effective January 1, 2005, between MeriStar Hospitality Corporation, MeriStar Hospitality Operating Partnership, L.P. and Paul W. Whetsell (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, and filed with the Commission on August 5, 2005).
10.22    Loan Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2005, between various subsidiaries of MeriStar Hospitality Corporation and Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB and/or various co-lenders. **
10.23    Mezzanine Loan Agreement, dated September 12, 2005, between various subsidiaries of MeriStar Hospitality Corporation and Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB and/or various co-lenders. **
10.24    Loan Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2005, between various subsidiaries of MeriStar Hospitality Corporation and Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB and/or various co-lenders. **
10.25    Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Agreement, dated August 1, 2005, between subsidiaries of MeriStar Hospitality Corporation and Lehman Brothers, Inc. and various of its affiliates. **
13    Financial Statements of MeriStar Hospitality Operating Partnership, L.P. as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. **
31.1    Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 302 Certification of Chief Executive Officer. **
31.2    Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 302 Certification of Chief Financial Officer. **
32.1    Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 906 Certification of Chief Executive Officer. **
32.2    Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 906 Certification of Chief Financial Officer. **
99.1    Consolidating Financial Information of MeriStar Hospitality Operating Partnership, L.P. **

* Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed pursuant to Item 14(c) of Form 10-Q.
** Filed herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

MERISTAR HOSPITALITY CORPORATION

By:

 

/s/ DONALD D. OLINGER        

   

Donald D. Olinger

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

MeriStar Hospitality Corporation

 

Dated: November 9, 2005

 

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