0000950157-15-001318.txt : 20151116 0000950157-15-001318.hdr.sgml : 20151116 20151116161719 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950157-15-001318 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 425 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20151116 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20151116 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: STARWOOD HOTEL & RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000316206 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: HOTELS & MOTELS [7011] IRS NUMBER: 521193298 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 425 SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-07959 FILM NUMBER: 151234714 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE STARPOINT CITY: STAMFORD STATE: CT ZIP: 06902 BUSINESS PHONE: 203-964-4000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15147 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD STREET 2: SUITE H-210 CITY: SCOTTSDALE STATE: AZ ZIP: 85254 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: STARWOOD HOTEL & RESORTS WORLDWIDE INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19980306 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: STARWOOD LODGING CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19950215 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HOTEL INVESTORS CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: STARWOOD HOTEL & RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000316206 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: HOTELS & MOTELS [7011] IRS NUMBER: 521193298 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 425 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE STARPOINT CITY: STAMFORD STATE: CT ZIP: 06902 BUSINESS PHONE: 203-964-4000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15147 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD STREET 2: SUITE H-210 CITY: SCOTTSDALE STATE: AZ ZIP: 85254 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: STARWOOD HOTEL & RESORTS WORLDWIDE INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19980306 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: STARWOOD LODGING CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19950215 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HOTEL INVESTORS CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 425 1 form425.htm CORPORATE CUSTOMER EMAIL
Filed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Subject Company: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Commission File No.: 1-7959
The following communication was first sent to corporate customers beginning on November 16, 2015.
 
Corporate Customer email:

 
Dear [Name]:

Today we’re excited to announce that Starwood Hotels & Resorts will be joining together with Marriott International to create the world’s largest hotel company. You certainly have a lot to look forward to with even more choices in even more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms across 5,500 hotels in more than 100 countries.

As we look to bring together the very best of Starwood and Marriott, we are confident we will create the premier company in our industry.  Our customers are at the core of everything we do, and that will not change. Your account manager will keep you updated as we progress through the integration.

We’re at the beginning of a long journey, but for now we remain two separate companies. Rest assured, there is no change to your RFP bid or your existing reservations.

In the coming months, as we have more to share, you’ll continue to be among the first to hear.  In the meantime, we remain at your service wherever you need us—whether in our hotels, with your Starwood Sales Organization account lead, at spg.com, the SPG mobile app, or via our Customer Contact Centers.

All my best,


Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This communication includes “forward-looking” statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases.  Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding Starwood’s and Marriot’s expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future.  Among other things, these forward-looking statements may include statements regarding the proposed combination of Starwood and Marriott; our beliefs relating to value creation as a result of a potential combination with Marriott; the expected timetable for completing the transactions; benefits and synergies of the transactions; future opportunities for the combined company; and any other statements regarding Starwood’s and Marriott’s future beliefs, expectations, plans, intentions, financial condition or performance. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “should,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” or other words of similar meaning.  Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements.  Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, our financial and business prospects, our capital requirements, our financing prospects, our relationships with associates and labor unions, our ability to consummate potential acquisitions or dispositions or the spin-off of our vacation ownership business and its concurrent acquisition by Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (“ILG”) or realize the anticipated benefits of the spin-off and concurrent acquisition by ILG, and those disclosed as risks in other reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in Part I of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K as well as on Marriott’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Other risks and uncertainties include the timing and likelihood of completion of the proposed transactions between Starwood and Marriott, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals for the proposed transactions that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the transactions; the possibility that Starwood’s stockholders may not approve the proposed transactions; the possibility that Marriott’s stockholders may not approve the proposed transactions; the possibility that the expected synergies and value creation from the proposed transactions will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; the risk that the businesses of Starwood and Marriott will not be integrated successfully; disruption from the proposed transactions making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; the risk that unexpected costs will be incurred; the possibility that the proposed transactions do not close, including due to the failure to satisfy the closing conditions; as well as more specific risks and uncertainties. We caution readers that any such statements are based on currently available operational, financial and competitive information, and they should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinion only as of the date on which they were made.  Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to review or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances as they occur.
 
 


 
NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION
This communication is neither an offer to buy, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.  No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
The proposed transaction involving Marriott and Starwood will be submitted to Starwood’s stockholders and Marriott’s stockholders for their consideration.  In connection with the proposed transaction, Marriott will prepare a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement/prospectus for Starwood’s stockholders and Marriott’s stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Starwood will mail the joint proxy statement/prospectus to its stockholders, Marriott will mail the joint proxy statement/prospectus to its stockholders and Starwood and Marriott will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC.  This communication is not intended to be, and is not, a substitute for such filings or for any other document that Marriott or Starwood may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction.  SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.  The registration statement, the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials (when they become available) and any other documents filed or furnished by Marriott or Starwood with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.  In addition, security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus from Marriott by going to its investor relations page on its corporate web site at www.marriott.com and from Starwood by going to its investor relations page on its corporate web site at www.starwoodhotels.com.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION
Marriott, Starwood, their respective directors and certain of their respective executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction.  Information about Marriott’s directors and executive officers is set forth in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 7, 2015 and information about Starwood’s directors and executive officers is set forth in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 17, 2015.  These documents are available free of charge from the sources indicated above, and from Marriott by going to its investor relations page on its corporate web site at www.marriott.com and from Starwood by going to its investor relations page on its corporate web site at www.starwoodhotels.com.  Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction will be included in the registration statement, the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials Marriott and Starwood file with the SEC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sard Verbinnen & Co
Page 2