-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, RLqeQN9aK4ih73aDPEurgrZonygRfzcB3AnyfU/+zpkLfiHrkdKE8Ku0LYzgjxto h7p4ERy8Sj+dAd92eAGQIw== 0000950144-98-003231.txt : 19980326 0000950144-98-003231.hdr.sgml : 19980326 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950144-98-003231 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DEF 14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19980430 FILED AS OF DATE: 19980325 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: RFS HOTEL INVESTORS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000906408 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 621534743 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TN FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEF 14A SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-12011 FILM NUMBER: 98572954 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 850 RIDGE LAKE BLVD STE 220 CITY: MEMPHIS STATE: TN ZIP: 38120 BUSINESS PHONE: 9017677005 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 850 RIDGE LAKE BLVD STE 220 CITY: MEMPHIS STATE: TN ZIP: 38120 DEF 14A 1 RFS HOTEL INVESTORS, INC. 1 SCHEDULE 14A (RULE 14A-101) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. ) Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [X] Definitive Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
RFS Hotel Investors, Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required. [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: (5) Total fee paid: [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: (3) Filing Party: (4) Date Filed: 2 RFS HOTEL INVESTORS, INC. ------------------------ NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 30, 1998 ------------------------ The annual meeting of the shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") of RFS Hotel Investors, Inc. (the "Company"), will be held at the Company's offices at 850 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Suite 220, Memphis, Tennessee, on Thursday, April 30, 1998, at 9:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes: 1. To elect two Class II directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of shareholders in 2001. 2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. Only shareholders of the Company of record as of the close of business on March 16, 1998, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. There is enclosed, as a part of this Notice, a Proxy Statement which contains further information regarding the Annual Meeting and the nominees for election to the Board of Directors of the Company. IN ORDER THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO PROMPTLY COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, YOU MAY VOTE PERSONALLY ON ALL MATTERS BROUGHT BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY RETURNED YOUR PROXY. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS /s/ MICHEAL J. PASCAL MICHAEL J. PASCAL Secretary March 30, 1998 3 RFS HOTEL INVESTORS, INC. PROXY STATEMENT GENERAL INFORMATION This Proxy Statement is provided in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of RFS Hotel Investors, Inc. (the "Company") for use at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on April 30, 1998 ("Annual Meeting") and at any adjournments thereof. The mailing address of the principal executive offices of the Company is 850 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Suite 220, Memphis, Tennessee 38120. This Proxy Statement and the Proxy Form, Notice of Meeting and the Company's annual report to shareholders, all enclosed herewith, are first being mailed to the shareholders of the Company on or about March 30, 1998. THE PROXY The solicitation of proxies is being made primarily by the use of the mails. The cost of preparing and mailing this Proxy Statement and accompanying material, and the cost of any supplementary solicitations, which may be made by mail, telephone, telegraph or personally by officers and employees of the Company, will be borne by the Company. The shareholder giving the proxy has the power to revoke it by delivering written notice of such revocation to the Secretary of the Company prior to the Annual Meeting or by attending the meeting and voting in person. The proxy will be voted as specified by the shareholder in the spaces provided on the Proxy Form or, if no specification is made, it will be voted in accordance with the terms thereof. In voting by proxy in regard to the election of the directors, shareholders may vote in favor of the nominees, withhold their votes as to the nominees or withhold their votes as to a specific nominee. Shareholders may not abstain with respect to the election of directors. No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation not contained in this Proxy Statement and, if given or made, such information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorized. This Proxy Statement does not constitute the solicitation of a proxy, in any jurisdiction, from any person to whom it is unlawful to make such proxy solicitation in such jurisdiction. The delivery of this Proxy Statement shall not, under any circumstances, imply that there has not been any change in the information set forth herein since the date of the Proxy Statement. Each outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), and each outstanding share of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock ("Preferred Stock") is entitled to one vote. Cumulative voting is not permitted. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 1998 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments thereof. At the close of business on March 16, 1998, the Company had outstanding 24,389,000 shares of Common Stock and 973,684 shares of Preferred Stock. The Common Stock and the Preferred Stock vote together as a class on all matters being submitted to shareholders at the Annual Meeting. Under Tennessee law and the Company's Charter and Bylaws, if a majority of the votes entitled to be cast is present at the Annual Meeting so as to constitute a quorum, in person or by proxy, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR CLASS II DIRECTORS. 4 No specific provisions of the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, the Company's Charter or the Company's Bylaws address the issue of abstentions or broker non-votes. Brokers holding shares for beneficial owners must vote those shares according to the specific instructions they receive from the owners. However, brokers or nominees holding shares for a beneficial owner may not have discretionary voting power and may not have received voting instructions from the beneficial owner with respect to voting on certain proposals. In such cases, absent specific voting instructions from the beneficial owner, the broker may not vote on these proposals. This results in what is known as a "broker non-vote." A "Broker non-vote" has the effect of a negative vote when a majority of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote is required for approval of a proposal, and "broker non-votes" will not be counted as votes cast but will be counted for the purpose of determining the existence of a quorum. Because the election of directors is a routine matter for which specific instructions from beneficial owners will not be required, no "broker non-votes" will arise in the context of the election of directors. Votes "withheld" from a director-nominee have the effect of a negative vote because a plurality of the shares cast at the Annual Meeting is required for the election of each director. REPORTS OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Under federal securities laws, the Company's directors and executive officers are required to report their ownership of the Common Stock and any changes in ownership to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). These persons are also required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of these reports. Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for those persons, the Company believes that during 1997 its officers and directors complied with all applicable filing requirements. 2 5 OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS The following table sets forth information as of March 16, 1998, regarding each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of its Common Stock and its Preferred Stock. Unless otherwise indicated, such shares are owned directly, and the indicated person has sole voting and investment power.
SERIES A CONVERTIBLE COMMON STOCK PREFERRED STOCK(4) --------------------------------- --------------------------------- NATURE OF PERCENT OF NATURE OF PERCENT OF NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP CLASS(1) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP CLASS(1) - ------------------------------------ -------------------- ---------- -------------------- ---------- Boston Partners Asset Mgt., L.P........ 2,726,540(2) 11.2% -- -- One Financial Center 43rd Floor Boston, MA 02111 Snyder Capital Management, Inc......... 1,618,100(3) 6.6% -- -- 350 California Street, Suite 1460 San Francisco, CA 94104 RFS, Inc. c/o Promus Hotel Corporation........... -- -- 973,684 100% 755 Crossover Lane Memphis, TN 38117
- --------------- (1) Based on shares outstanding on March 16, 1998. (2) Based on information contained in Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13G dated March 10, 1998 and filed with the SEC in March 1998. Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. reported that it has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares of Common Stock. (3) Based on information contained in Schedule 13G dated February 12, 1997 and filed with the SEC on February 19, 1998. Snyder Capital Management, Inc. reported that it has sole voting power with respect to 98,300 shares of Common Stock, shared voting power with respect to 1,414,900 shares of Common Stock, sole depositive power with respect to 98,300 shares of Common Stock and shared dispositive power with respect to 1,519,800 shares of Common Stock. (4) Each share of Preferred Stock is entitled to one vote. The Preferred Stock and the Common Stock will vote together as a class on all matters being submitted to shareholders at the Annual Meeting. 3 6 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of March 16, 1998 by (i) each director, (ii) each executive officer and (iii) all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, such shares are owned directly, and the indicated person has sole voting and investment power.
AMOUNT AND NATURE OF BENEFICIAL PERCENT OF NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNERSHIP CLASS - ------------------------ -------------------- ---------- Robert M. Solmson(1)(2)..................................... 649,695 2.4% J. William Lovelace(2)(3)................................... 136,100 * Michael J. Pascal(2)(4)..................................... 108,500 * Bruce E. Campbell, Jr.(5)(6)................................ 35,000 * H. Lance Forsdick(5)(6)(7).................................. 448,573 1.6% Harry J. Phillips, Sr.(7)(8)................................ 46,000 * Michael S. Starnes(7)(8).................................... 46,600 * John W. Stokes, Jr.(7)(8)(10)............................... 32,000 * R. Lee Jenkins (9).......................................... 20,000 * All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (9 persons)(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9).................... 1,522,468 5.6%
- --------------- * Represents less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock. (1) Includes 7,086 shares issuable to a trust of which Mr. Solmson's children are beneficiaries and over which Mr. Solmson has sole investment and voting power, upon the trust's exercise of rights to redeem units of partnership interest in RFS Partnership, L.P. for shares of Common Stock (the "Redemption Rights"), 11,500 shares owned by trusts for the benefit of Mr. Solmson's children, 15,500 shares owned by Mr. Solmson's children, 10,000 shares owned by Mr. Solmson's wife, 5,000 shares of restricted Common Stock which vest in October 1998 and 10,000 shares of restricted Common Stock which vest at the rate of 5,000 shares in each of April 1998 and 1999. Prior to vesting, Mr. Solmson is entitled to vote and receive distributions with respect to unvested shares of restricted Common Stock. Any unvested shares at the time Mr. Solmson ceases to be an officer will be forfeited. Also includes 5,609 shares issuable to Mr. Solmson upon exercise of his right to redeem units of limited partnership interest in RFS Partnership, L.P., 155,000 shares issuable to Mr. Solmson upon exercise of vested options granted under the Company's Amended and Restated 1993 Restricted Stock and Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") and 20,000 shares issuable to Mr. Solmson upon exercise of options granted under the Plan which options vest in April, 1998. (2) Does not include 20,000, 10,000 and 5,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted under the Plan in October 1993 to Messrs. Solmson, Lovelace, and Pascal respectively, which options vest in October 1998, or 20,000, 10,000, and 10,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted under the Plan in April 1994 to Messrs. Solmson, Lovelace and Pascal, respectively, which options vest in April 1999 or 60,000, 40,000 and 60,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted under the Plan in February 1997 to Messrs. Solmson, Lovelace and Pascal, respectively, which options vest at the rate of 15,000, 10,000 and 15,000 shares per year in each of February 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. (3) Includes 3,000 shares of restricted Common Stock which vest in October 1998 and 6,000 shares of restricted Common Stock which vest at the rate of 3,000 shares in each of April 1998 and 1999. Prior to vesting, Mr. Lovelace is entitled to vote and receive distributions with respect to unvested shares of 4 7 restricted Common Stock. Any unvested shares at the time Mr. Lovelace ceases to be an officer will be forfeited. Also includes 80,000 shares issuable to Mr. Lovelace upon exercise of vested options granted under the Plan and 10,000 shares issuable to Mr. Lovelace upon exercise of options granted under the Plan which options vest in April 1998. (4) Includes 2,000 shares of restricted Common Stock which will vest in October 1998 and 4,000 shares of restricted Common Stock which vest at the rate of 2,000 shares per year in each of April 1998 and 1999. Prior to vesting, Mr. Pascal is entitled to vote and receive distributions with respect to unvested shares of restricted Common Stock. Any unvested shares at the time Mr. Pascal ceases to be an officer will be forfeited. Also includes 65,000 shares issuable to Mr. Pascal upon exercise of vested options granted under the Plan and 10,000 shares issuable to Mr. Pascal upon exercise of options granted under the Plan which options vest in April 1998. (5) Includes 1,000 shares of restricted Common Stock which will vest in August 1998 for Messrs. Campbell, Starnes and Stokes and January 1999 for Mr. Phillips. Also includes 2,000 shares of restricted Common Stock issued under the Plan which shares vest at the rate of 1,000 shares per year in each of April 1998 and 1999 for Messrs. Campbell, Forsdick, Starnes, Stokes and Phillips. Prior to vesting, the director is entitled to vote and receive distributions with respect to unvested shares. Any unvested shares at the time a director ceases to be a director will be forfeited. (6) Includes 15,000 shares issuable upon exercise of vested options granted under the Plan and an additional 5,000 shares issuable to each non-employee director upon exercise of options granted under the Plan which options vest in April 1998. Does not include 5,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted under the Plan to each non-employee director which options vest in April 1999. (7) Includes 20,573 shares issuable to Mr. Forsdick upon exercise of his right to redeem units of limited partnership interest in RFS Partnership, L.P. Also includes 1,000 shares owned by Mr. Forsdick's wife. (8) Includes 1,000 shares owned by Mr. Stokes' wife. (9) Includes 8,000 shares of restricted Common Stock which vest at a rate of 2,000 shares in each of September 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. Prior to vesting, Mr. Jenkins is entitled to vote and receive distributions with respect to unvested shares. Any unvested shares at the time a director ceases to be a director will be forfeited. Also includes 5,000 shares issuable upon exercise of vested options granted under the Plan. Does not include 20,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted under the Plan, which options vest at the rate of 5,000 shares in each of September 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. ELECTION OF CLASS II DIRECTORS COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Director Meetings. The business of the Company is under the general management of its Board of Directors as provided by the Company's Bylaws and the laws of Tennessee, the Company's state of incorporation. The Company's Charter requires that a majority of the Company's directors must not be officers, directors or employees of the Company or affiliates of any advisor to the Company, lessee of the Company's properties, or any entity which is an affiliate of the Company ("Independent Directors"). There are presently seven directors, including six Independent Directors. The Board of Directors holds regular quarterly meetings during the Company's fiscal year. The Board of Directors held nine meetings during 1997. All directors attended more than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees on which they served in 1997, except Messrs. Campbell and Stokes, who each attended six of nine meetings of the Board of Directors and the meetings of the committees on which they served. 5 8 The Company presently has an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee of its Board of Directors. The Company may, from time to time, form other committees as circumstances warrant. Such committees have authority and responsibility as delegated by the Board of Directors. Audit Committee. The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee, which currently consists of Messrs. Stokes and Campbell. The Audit Committee makes recommendations concerning the engagement of independent public accountants, reviews with the independent public accountants the plans and results of the audit engagement, approves professional services provided by the independent public accountants, reviews the independence of the independent public accountants, considers the range of audit and non-audit fees and reviews the adequacy of the Company's internal accounting controls. The Audit Committee met once in 1997, with both members in attendance at that meeting. Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors has established a Compensation Committee, which currently consists of Messrs. Campbell, Phillips and Starnes. Messrs. Solmson and Forsdick act as a special compensation committee for the purpose of awarding compensation and benefits to Independent Directors. The Compensation Committee determines compensation for the Company's executive officers and administers the Plan as it relates to executive officers and key employees. The Compensation Committee met twice in 1997, and all members were present. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS Each director who is not an employee of the Company has received 10,000 restricted shares of Common Stock (except H. Lance Forsdick, who has received 5,000 shares), subject to certain restrictions, and options to acquire 25,000 shares of Common Stock. Each non-employee director's rights in such restricted Common Stock vest at the rate of 20% per year of service, beginning one year after the date of receipt. Each director is entitled to vote and receive dividends paid with respect to the restricted shares of such Common Stock prior to vesting. The options vest at the rate of 20% per year. Any unvested shares or options at the time a non-employee director ceases to be a director will be forfeited. In addition, the Company reimburses directors for their out-of-pocket expenses in connection with their service on the Board of Directors. The Directors do not receive annual or per meeting cash compensation. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR NOMINEES FOR CLASS II DIRECTORS The Company's Charter divides the Board of Directors into three classes as nearly equal in number as possible, with each class serving a term of three years. Generally, one full class of Directors is elected by the shareholders of the Company at each annual meeting. The Board of Directors currently has set the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors at eight. The Company has no Nominating Committee of its Board of Directors; the entire Board of Directors acts in such capacity. The Board of Directors has nominated the two present Class II directors, Messrs. Campbell and Forsdick, to serve as Class II directors for a three year-term expiring at the Company's Annual Meeting in 2001. The remaining members of the Board of Directors will continue as members thereof until their respective terms expire as indicated below or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. 6 9 If any nominee becomes unavailable or unwilling to serve the Company as a director for any reason, the persons named as proxies in the Proxy Form are expected to consult with management of the Company in voting the shares represented by them. The Board of Directors has no reason to doubt the availability of either nominee, and each has indicated his willingness to serve as a director of the Company if elected. NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS CLASS II DIRECTORS (TERMS EXPIRING IN 2001) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRUCE CAMPBELL, age 66, is Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of National Commerce Bancorporation, a national bank holding company. Mr. Campbell has held that position since 1993. Prior to 1993, Mr. Campbell was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Commerce Bancorporation, positions he held since 1977. During such period, Mr. Campbell was also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank of Commerce, Memphis, Tennessee, a wholly-owned national banking subsidiary of National Commerce Bancorporation. He has been a director of the Company since 1993. Committees: Audit, Compensation (Chairman) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. LANCE FORSDICK, SR., age 58, was Chairman of the Board of RFS, Inc., lessee of the Company's hotels, from 1974 until February 1996, when RFS, Inc. was acquired by Doubletree Corporation. Prior to 1974, Mr. Forsdick held various positions in the real estate and hotel development and management business. He has been a director of the Company since 1993. Committees: Special Compensation Committee INCUMBENT DIRECTORS -- CLASS III (TERMS EXPIRING IN 1999) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ROBERT M. SOLMSON, age 50, is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company. He has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since the Company's formation in 1993 and President from 1993 to February 1996 and since February 1998. Committees: Special Compensation Committee - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HARRY J. PHILLIPS, SR., age 68, is Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc., a waste disposal company. Mr. Phillips has held that position since 1988. Prior to 1988, Mr. Phillips was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Browning-Ferris, positions he had held for several years. He is also a director of National Commerce Bancorporation, Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc., and Buckeye Technologies. He has been a director of the Company since January 1994. Committees: Compensation - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- R. LEE JENKINS, age 67, is also a director of National Commerce Bancorporation. He was President of Plough, Inc. and Executive Vice President-Consumer Operations of Schering-Plough Corporation from 1976 through 1989. Committees: None 7 10 INCUMBENT DIRECTORS -- CLASS I (TERMS EXPIRING IN 2000) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MICHAEL S. STARNES, age 52 is Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of M.S. Carriers, Inc., a truckload carrier in Memphis, Tennessee, positions he has held since 1986. He has been a director of the Company since 1993. Committees: Compensation - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOHN W. STOKES, JR., age 60, is Vice Chairman of Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc., a position he has held since 1983. He has been an employee and director of Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. since 1970 and President of its Equity Capital Markets Group since 1990. He is a director of Morgan Keegan Inc. and O'Charley's, Inc. He has been a director of the Company since 1993. Committees: Audit - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN COMPANY AND DIRECTORS Mr. Stokes, who is a director of the Company, is President of the Equity Capital Markets Group of Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. ("Morgan Keegan") and is also a director of Morgan Keegan. Mr. Phillips, who is a director of the Company, is also a director of Morgan Keegan. Morgan Keegan was the managing underwriter of the Company's initial public offering and three subsequent public offerings and has performed financial advisory services for the Company and has received investment banking fees and other compensation in connection with each of those offerings and financial advisory assignments. FRANCHISE LICENSES The Lessees hold all of the franchise licenses for the hotels currently owned by the Partnership and are expected to hold all of the franchise licenses for any subsequently acquired hotel properties leased to the Lessees. During 1997, the Partnership paid franchise license application fees for the hotels owned by the Partnership in the aggregate amount of approximately $34,000. 8 11 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SUMMARY OF COMPENSATION TABLE The following table summarizes the compensation paid or accrued by the Company for the last three fiscal years to those persons who: (1) served as the Company's chief executive officer ("CEO"); (2) were the Company's only other executive officers; and (3) two additional individuals not serving as executive officers but whose total annual salary and bonuses exceeded $100,000 collectively, the "Named Executive Officers."
LONG TERM COMPENSATION AWARDS ------------------------ COMPENSATION RESTRICTED SECURITIES ------------------- OTHER ANNUAL STOCK UNDERLYING ALL OTHER NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION AWARDS OPTIONS COMPENSATION - --------------------------- ----- -------- -------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------ Robert M. Solmson......... 1997 $225,000 $112,500 -- -- 75,000(3) -- Chairman of the Board 1996 225,000 112,500 -- -- --(4) -- and Chief Executive 1995 192,500 96,250 -- -- --(4) -- Officer Minor W. Perkins.......... 1997 $225,000 $112,500 -- -- 75,000(3) -- President 1996(1) 164,375 112,500 -- 75,000(5) 200,000(6) -- 1995 -- -- -- -- -- -- J. William Lovelace....... 1997 $190,000 $ 95,000 -- -- 50,000(3) -- Executive Vice President 1996 190,000 95,000 -- -- --(4) -- 1995 165,000 82,500 -- -- --(4) -- Michael J. Pascal......... 1997 $165,000 $ 82,500 -- -- 75,000(3) -- Secretary, Treasurer and 1996 165,000 82,500 -- -- --(4) -- Chief Financial Officer 1995 137,500 68,750 -- -- --(4) -- William Crosby............ 1997 $115,500 $ 20,000 -- -- 25,000(3) -- Vice President 1996 110,250 30,000 -- -- -- -- 1995 93,450 15,000 -- -- 25,000(9) -- Angie Mock................ 1997 $100,000 $ 25,000 -- -- 25,000(3) -- Vice President 1996(2) 46,215 12,000 -- 5,000(7) 25,000(8) -- 1995 -- -- -- -- -- --
- --------------- (1) For the period April 8, 1996 (date of hire) to December 31, 1996. (2) For the period July 8, 1996 (date of hire) to December 31, 1996. (3) The options vest at the rate of 20% per year over five years beginning in February 1998. See "Security Ownership of Management." Also, see "Security Ownership of Management" for a summary of options granted in 1993 and 1994 which vested in part in 1997. (4) See "Security Ownership of Management" for a summary of options granted in prior years which vested in part in 1997. (5) The shares of restricted Common Stock began to vest at the rate of 20% per year over five years in April 1997. See "Security Ownership of Management." (6) The options began to vest at the rate of 20% per year over five years in April 1997. See "Security Ownership of Management." (7) The shares of restricted Common Stock began to vest at the rate of 20% per year over five years in July 1997. (8) The options began to vest at the rate of 20% per year over five years in July 1997. (9) The options began to vest at the rate of 20% per year in January 1996. 9 12 OPTION GRANTS The following table sets forth information regarding grants of stock options during the 1997 calendar year pursuant to the Plan:
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT INDIVIDUAL GRANTS ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES ------------------------- OF NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL STOCK PRICE SHARES OPTIONS APPRECIATION FOR UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE OPTION TERM(2) OPTIONS EMPLOYEES IN PRICE PER EXPIRATION ---------------------- GRANTED FISCAL YEAR SHARE(1) DATE 5% 10% ---------- ------------ --------- ---------- -------- ---------- Robert M. Solmson...... 75,000 23% $16.875 2/26/05 $604,280 $1,447,355 Minor W. Perkins....... 75,000 23% 16.875 2/26/05 604,280 1,447,355 J. William Lovelace.... 50,000 15% 16.875 2/26/05 407,853 964,903 Michael J. Pascal...... 75,000 23% 16.875 2/26/05 604,280 1,447,355 Angie Mock............. 25,000 8% 16.875 2/26/05 201,427 482,452 William Crosby......... 25,000 8% 16.875 2/26/05 201,427 482,452
---------------- (1) The exercise price per share is the closing price for the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the effective date of grant. (2) Represents potential realizable value at assumed annual rates of stock price appreciation over the exercise price for the options for the option term. AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES The following table sets forth information regarding the exercise of options during the Company's 1997 fiscal year by the Named Executive Officers and regarding unexercised options at December 31, 1997. No separate share appreciation rights were granted during 1997:
NUMBER OF SECURITIES UNDERLYING VALUE OF UNEXERCISED UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS DECEMBER 31, 1997 DECEMBER 31, 1997 SHARES ACQUIRED ------------------------- ------------------------- NAME ON EXERCISE VALUE REALIZED EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE - ---- --------------- -------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- Robert M. Solmson.... -- -- 175,000/100,000 $825,938/$378,750 Minor W. Perkins..... -- -- 75,000/180,000 $280,938/$536,250 J. William Lovelace.. -- -- 90,000/60,000 $420,625/$220,000 Michael J. Pascal.... -- -- 75,000/75,000 $307,188/$249,063 William Crosby....... 5,000 $23,750 15,000/30,000 $ 69,688/$115,625 Angie Mock........... -- -- 10,000/40,000 $ 36,875/$147,500
- --------------- (1) Based on a per share market price of $19.9375 at December 31, 1997. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS Effective November 18, 1997, Messrs. Solmson, Lovelace and Pascal, the Company's three executive officers (collectively, the "Executives"), entered into employment agreements (the "Employment Agreements") with RFS Managers, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Subsidiary") which provides management services to the Company pursuant to a Management Services Agreement. Each 10 13 Employment Agreement provides for a three year term which is renewed for a new three year term at the end of each year. Under the Employment Agreements, in 1998 Messrs. Solmson, Lovelace and Pascal will receive base salaries in the amounts of $231,750, $195,700 and $169,950 respectively. In addition, the Employment Agreements provide that each of Messrs. Solmson, Lovelace and Pascal is entitled to a cash bonus payable on or before April 1, 1999 at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. In addition, the Subsidiary may provide Messrs. Solmson, Lovelace and Pascal other incentive compensation, including but not limited to, grants of stock options and shares of restricted Common Stock, in accordance with rules and criteria established by the Compensation Committee of the Company. Under each Employment Agreement, termination of the officer without cause or for death or disability requires the Subsidiary to pay the officer annual base salary for the remainder of the three year term. In the event of voluntary termination or termination with cause, the officer will remain subject to the noncompetition clause in the Employment Agreement (described below). Termination for cause includes the officer's conviction of a crime involving some act of dishonesty or moral turpitude, theft or embezzlement or malicious infliction of damage to the Subsidiary's or the Company's property or business opportunity, material and intentional breach of the noncompetition covenant, continuous neglect of duties or refusal to follow unambiguous duly adopted written directions of the Board of the Company or abuse of alcohol, drugs or other substances. Each Employment Agreement terminates upon the death or disability of the officer, and the officer is entitled to certain benefits in the event of a termination resulting from disability. Each Employment Agreement provides that, in the event of a termination of the officer's employment for cause or the officer's voluntary termination, the officer may not own any interest in a hotel property other than properties owned by the Company and the Partnership or manage or in any other capacity engage in the acquisition, development, operation or management of any hotel property located within 20 miles of any hotel property owned by the Company or the Partnership for a period of two years. Under each Employment Agreement, in the event of the Company's termination of an Executive's employment or the Executive's resignation for good reason ("Good Reason"), as defined below, following a change in control of the Company, as defined below ("Change of Control"), the Executive will be entitled to a cash amount equal to three times the Executive's average annual base salary and cash bonus for the fiscal year in which the Change of Control occurs and the two preceding fiscal years or, if the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than this period of time, then the average annual base salary and cash bonus paid or earned during the term of the Executive's employment (including the fiscal year in which the Change of Control occurs) and to continuation of insurance benefits, as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control, for one year following the termination of the Executive's employment by the Company or the Executive's resignation for Good Reason. In addition, any unvested stock options or restricted stock granted to the Executive under the Plan will vest and become immediately exercisable upon a Change of Control. A Change of Control is generally defined in the Employment Agreements to mean (i) the acquisition by any person of securities representing 50% or more of the Company's outstanding voting securities, (ii) a change in the majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, unless the change is previously approved by at least 80% of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company, (iii) the merger of the Company with another corporation where immediately after such merger, the persons holding a majority of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Company prior to the merger hold less than a majority 11 14 of the combined voting power of such company, (iv) the sale by the Company of all or substantially all of its assets to another corporation or person where immediately after such sale, the persons holding a majority of the then-outstanding securities of the Company prior to the merger hold less than a majority of the combined voting power of the Company, (v) the sale or transfer by the Company to a non-affiliated business of the operations or assets that generated at least two-thirds of the consolidated revenues of the Company and its subsidiaries for the prior four quarters and (vi) the filing of a Form 8-K by the company with the SEC disclosing that a change in control has occurred. For purposes of the Employment Agreements, "Good Reason" is generally defined as (i) a change in the Executive's status, position or responsibilities that does not represent a promotion, (ii) a reduction in the Executive's base salary or bonus, (iii) a required relocation to a location more than thirty miles away from the Company's principal executive offices, (iv) failure to continue to provide benefits to the Executive substantially similar to material benefits enjoyed by material breach of the Employment Agreement by the Company and (v) the failure of the Company to assume the Employment Agreement following the Change of Control. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION IN COMPENSATION DECISIONS There are no compensation committee interlocks or insider participation in compensation decisions during 1997. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION GENERAL The Compensation Committee is responsible for setting and administering compensation policies, fixing salaries of and awarding performance bonuses to executive officers and determining awards of restricted stock and grants of stock options to officers and key employees under the Plan. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is comprised of Messrs. Campbell, Phillips and Starnes, each of whom is an Independent Director of the Company. The Compensation Committee approved employment agreements between the Subsidiary and the following four executive officers of the Company with annual base cash compensation for 1997 as follows:
1997 ANNUAL BASE CASH COMPENSATION ----------------- Robert M. Solmson........................................ $225,000 Minor W. Perkins......................................... $225,000 J. William Lovelace...................................... $190,000 Michael J. Pascal........................................ $165,000
Each executive officer received a bonus as set forth below: Robert M. Solmson........................................ $112,500 Minor W. Perkins......................................... $112,500 J. William Lovelace...................................... $ 95,000 Michael J. Pascal........................................ $ 82,500
12 15 The Compensation Committee has approved employment agreements between the Subsidiary and the following three executive officers of the Company with annual base cash compensation for 1998 as follows:
1998 ANNUAL BASE CASH COMPENSATION ----------------- Robert M. Solmson........................................ $231,750 J. William Lovelace...................................... $195,700 Michael J. Pascal........................................ $169,950
Mr. Perkins resigned his position as President of the Company effective February 28, 1998. The Compensation Committee believes incentive compensation should provide a meaningful portion of the executive officers' total compensation. In addition to the annual base cash compensation, for 1998, each executive officer named above will be entitled to a cash bonus at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. In addition, the Subsidiary may provide Messrs. Solmson, Lovelace and Pascal other incentive compensation, including but not limited to, grants of stock options and shares of restricted Common Stock, in accordance with rules and criteria established by the Compensation Committee of the Company. The Compensation Committee believes it is important in attracting and retaining qualified executives to provide certain compensation benefits to such persons in the event of a change in control of the Company. The Compensation Committee has approved the change in control provisions of the Employment Agreements which provide that the Executive Officers may be entitled to receive a cash amount equal to three times their respective average annual base salaries and cash bonuses for the fiscal year in which the Change of Control occurs and the two preceding fiscal years or, if the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than this period of time, then the average annual base salary and cash bonus paid or earned during the term of the Executive's employment (including the fiscal year in which the Change of Control occurs). Because none of the Company's executive officers receives annual compensation in excess of $1 million, the Company has not taken any position with respect to the cap on tax deductibility of compensation in excess of that amount established under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. The Company has begun to study the impact of the cap on long-term and incentive compensation of its executive officers and will consider implementing changes in future years to its long-term and incentive compensation strategy in response to the cap. OPTION GRANTS AND RESTRICTED STOCK The Compensation Committee believes that significant stock ownership by the executive officers of the Company provides a major incentive to such officers to adopt and follow corporate strategies that enhance shareholder value. In 1993, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of stock options to acquire an aggregate of 175,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $13.50, the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the date of grant and approved the issuance of 50,000 shares of restricted Common Stock. In 1994, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of stock options to acquire an aggregate of 200,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $16.63 per share, the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the date of grant and approved the issuance of an aggregate of 50,000 shares of restricted Common Stock to the executive officers pursuant to the Plan. The 1993 and 1994 grants were made to the Company's three executive officers who served during those years. In 1995, options to acquire an aggregate of 25,000 shares were granted to a new officer at an exercise price of $14.625 per share, the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of grant. In 1996, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of 75,000 shares of restricted Common Stock and options to purchase 200,000 13 16 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $17.00 per share, the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the date of grant to the Company's President, Mr. Perkins, and of 5,000 shares of Restricted Common Stock and options to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $15.625 per share, the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the date of grant to Ms. Mock in connection with their appointments as executive officers. In 1997, options to acquire an aggregate of 325,000 shares were granted to the Named Executive Officers at an exercise price of $16.875 per share, the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of the grant. The options were allocated among the recipients based on the relative positions held by each recipient and the Compensation Committee's determination of their relative importance to the implementation of the Company's long range plan and business strategy. The Compensation Committee determined that it would be in the best interests of the Company and the shareholders to provide an incentive to such officers to sustain increases in shareholder value over an extended period; consequently, the options granted to the officers become exercisable at a rate of 20% per year over five years and expire if the officer leaves the Company voluntarily or is discharged for cause. If an officer is discharged by the Company without cause, unvested options will immediately become exercisable and will remain exercisable for a period of 30 days after such discharge, at which time they will expire. The shares of restricted Common Stock granted to the executive officers vest at the rate of 20% per year over five years. The officers are entitled to vote and receive distributions with respect to unvested shares of restricted Common Stock. Any unvested shares at the time an officer ceases to be an officer will be forfeited. Upon the resignation of Mr. Perkins, which was effective February 28, 1998, he forfeited 45,000 shares of restricted Common Stock and options to purchase 180,000 shares of Common Stock. Upon a change of control of the Company, any unvested shares of restricted Common Stock and any unvested options to purchase Common Stock immediately vest. The foregoing report has been furnished by the members of the Compensation Committee. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE: Bruce E. Campbell, Jr. (Chairman) Harry J. Phillips Michael S. Starnes 14 17 PERFORMANCE GRAPH The following graph compares the yearly percentage change in the Company's shareholder return on the Common Stock for the period August 6, 1993 (initiation of trading) through December 31, 1997, with the changes in the Standard and Poor's 500 Stock Index (the "S&P 500 Index") and the SNL Securities Hotel REIT Index for the same period, assuming a base share price of $100 for the Common Stock and each index for comparison purposes. Total return equals appreciation in stock price plus dividends paid, and assumes that all dividends are reinvested. The performance graph is not necessarily indicative of future investment performance. The Hotel REIT Index is comprised of fourteen publicly traded REITs which focus on investments in hotel properties. RFS HOTEL INVESTORS, INC. STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE
MEASUREMENT PERIOD RFS HOTEL SNL HOTEL REITS (FISCAL YEAR COVERED) INVESTORS, INC. S&P 500 INDEX 08/06/93 100.00 100.00 100.00 12/31/93 141.64 105.16 147.83 12/31/94 149.19 106.54 150.23 12/31/95 187.88 146.58 197.75 12/31/96 236.84 180.09 302.17 12/31/97 258.53 240.19 396.17
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1999 The Board of Directors will make provision for presentation of appropriate proposals by shareholders at the 1999 annual meeting of shareholders, provided that such proposals are submitted by eligible shareholders who have complied with the relevant regulations of the SEC. Shareholder proposals intended to be submitted 15 18 for presentation at the 1999 annual meeting of shareholders of the Company must be in writing and must be received by the Company at its executive offices on or before December 1, 1998 for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and the form of proxy relating to the 1999 annual meeting. RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. serves as auditors for the Company and its subsidiaries and will continue to so serve until and unless changed by action of the Board of Directors. A representative of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if he desires to do so and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions. OTHER MATTERS The Board of Directors knows of no other business to be brought before the Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted on such matters in accordance with the judgment of the persons named as proxies therein, or their substitutes, present and acting at the meeting. The Company will furnish to each beneficial owner of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, upon written request to Michael J. Pascal, the Company's Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, at 850 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee 38120, telephone (901) 767-7005, a copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, including the financial statements and financial statement schedules filed by the Company with the SEC. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS /S/ MICHAEL J. PASCAL MICHAEL J. PASCAL Secretary March 30, 1998 16 19 PROXY NO. OF SHARES ______ RFS HOTEL INVESTORS, INC. 850 RIDGE LAKE BOULEVARD, SUITE 220, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 38120 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints Robert M. Solmson and Michael J. Pascal, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint such person's substitute, and hereby authorizes each of them to vote, as designated below, all the shares of capital stock of RFS Hotel Investors, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on March 16, 1998, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 30, 1998, or any adjournment thereof as specified below. 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through the nominee's name below) [ ]FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED BELOW CLASS II -- TERM EXPIRING 2001 -- BRUCE CAMPBELL AND H. LANCE FORSDICK, SR. [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees 2. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR. DATED: , 1998 --------------------- Please sign exactly as name appears in left. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. ------------------------------ Signature ------------------------------ Signature if held jointly -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----