Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Discontinued Programs/Partners > Starwood | Starwood Preferred Guest
Reload this Page >

Starwood: "Marriott and Starwood stockholders approve merger"

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Nov 16, 2015, 4:19 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Schutzee
November 16, 2015
BETHESDA, Md. and STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced today that the boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement under which the companies will create the world's largest hotel company. The transaction combines Starwood's leading lifestyle brands and international footprint with Marriott's strong presence in the luxury and select-service tiers, as well as the convention and resort segment, creating a more comprehensive portfolio. The merged company will offer broader choice for guests, greater opportunities for associates and should unlock additional value for Marriott and Starwood shareholders. Combined, the companies operate or franchise more than 5,500 hotels with 1.1 million rooms worldwide. The combined company's pro forma fee revenue for the 12 months ended September 30, 2015 totals over $2.7 billion.
Marriott Shareholder News Release :
http://investor.shareholder.com/mar/...leaseID=942791

Starwood Investor News Release :
https://s1.q4cdn.com/483583335/files...wood-FINAL.pdf

Marriott CEO Linkedin Post:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/marri...-arne-sorenson

November 16, 2015
Originally Posted by Official Starwood Announcement on the SPG website
We’re excited to share the news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts will join together with Marriott International to create the world’s largest hotel company. For our Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®) members, this will mean even more choices in even more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms across 5,500 hotels and resorts in more than 100 countries.

We will work to bring you the very best of SPG and Marriott Rewards®, two of the most rewarding loyalty programs in our industry. Our members are at the core of everything we do, and that will not change.

This is the beginning of a long journey as we combine our two companies. For now, we remain separate, and there is no change to your SPG program status, your Starpoints® or your existing reservations. You will continue to earn Starpoints and elite stay/night credit for your stays, as well as bonus Starpoints for any promotions in which you are participating. There is no change to how you manage your SPG account or book reservations.

Over the coming months, as we have more to share, we’ll be sure to reach out to you by email, at spg.com and via twitter (@spg). In the meantime, we remain at your service wherever you need us — whether in our hotels, at spg.com, on the SPG mobile app or via our Customer Contact Centers.

Thank you for sharing your travels with us.

Chris Holdren
Senior Vice President, Starwood Preferred Guest
November 16, 2015
Originally Posted by Official Starwood Announcement to FT members
Dear members,

Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International to Merge, Creating the World’s Largest Hotel Company, Best Loyalty Program

Today we’re excited to share the news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts will join together with Marriott International to create the world’s largest hotel company. For our SPG members, this will mean 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 Preferred Guest and Marriott Rewards, we are confident that together we will create the most rewarding loyalty program in our industry. Our members are at the core of everything we do, and that will not change.

Today is the first day of a long journey as we combine our two companies. For now, we remain separate, and there is no change to your Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program status, your Starpoints or your existing reservations. You will continue to earn Starpoints and elite stay/night credit for your stays, and bonus Starpoints for any promotions in which are you are participating. There is no change to how you manage your SPG account or book reservations.

Over the coming months, as we have more to share, you’ll continue to be among the first to hear by e-mail, at spg.com and via twitter (@spg). In the meantime, we remain at your service wherever you need us—whether in our hotels, at spg.com, the SPG mobile app, or via our Customer Contact Centers.

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
March 01, 2016
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission will not challenge the proposed merger between Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The waiting period for Marriott's filing with the FTC under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, the merger's first regulatory hurdle, expired on Monday, meaning the deal is cleared to proceed. The Competition Bureau of Canada also will not challenge the transaction. According to Marriott, the companies are cooperating with competition authorities in other parts of the world to obtain approval of the deal. Marriott and Starwood will hold separate stockholder meetings on March 28 to vote on the merger.
http://investor.shareholder.com/MAR/...leaseID=958056
March 14, 2016
Announcement that a consortium including the Chinese company Anbang has made an unsolicited rival bid.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/14/starw...6-a-share.html

March 18, 2016
Starwood determines that the Anbang bid is 'superior' and notifies Marriott of the intention to terminate the merger agreement.
Marriott have until March 28 to make a counter-bid that is as good as or better than Anbang.
Starwood is postponing its stockholder vote, which was scheduled for Monday, March 28th, to a new date to be determined after consultation with Marriott. Starwood’s Board has not changed its recommendation in support of Starwood’s merger with Marriott.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/18/starw...e-in-cash.html

March 21, 2016
Starwood and Marriott sign a revised merger agreement after Marriott submit an increased bid which values Starwood stock at $85.36. This is now the 'superior' proposal.
Under the revised merger agreement Starwood is not allowed to engage in discussions with Anbang. However, Anbang may make another unsolicited offer, up until the time of the Starwood shareholder vote, which is April 8, 2016.

March 28, 2016
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. said it received a higher takeover offer from a group led by Anbang Insurance Group Co., putting the Chinese company back into battle with Marriott International Inc. for control of the hotel operator.
Starwood said it’s in negotiations with the Anbang group after receiving a nonbinding offer of $82.75 a share in cash, or about $14 billion, according to a statement Monday. That compares with Marriott’s stock-and-cash offer valued at $75.91 a share, or about $12.8 billion, based on March 24th’s closing price. Marriott, in its own statement Monday, reaffirmed its commitment to buy Starwood, saying its proposal offers stockholders greater long-term value.
Shares of Starwood rose 2.4 percent to $84.06 at 10:29 a.m. New York time. Marriott climbed 4 percent to $71.35.
The new offer from Anbang, which is working with J.C. Flowers & Co. and Primavera Capital, shows the insurer won’t easily back down as it seeks to build its hotel holdings. The Beijing-based company last year purchased Manhattan’s landmark Waldorf Astoria for $1.95 billion, and is in a deal to acquire luxury-property owner Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. for about $6.5 billion. Gaining Starwood would add brands such as Sheraton, W and St. Regis, as well as about $4 billion worth of real estate.
Starwood said it received a non-binding bid of $81 a share on March 26 from the Anbang group, which increased its offer after subsequent discussions. Starwood is negotiating terms of a binding proposal and said it will “carefully consider the outcome of its discussions with the consortium” in order to determine the best course of action for shareholders.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...er-from-anbang

March 31, 2016

China’s Anbang Drops Bid for Starwood Hotels
Operator of Sheraton, other hotels seen returning to Marriott’s previous takeover offer

http://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-a...way-1459455942
Print Wikipost

Starwood: "Marriott and Starwood stockholders approve merger"

 
Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 28, 2016, 6:49 pm
  #3031  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: YYC/MNL
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy SE
Posts: 520
I'm excited with this back and forth action. Personally, I don't want SPG to disappear. I'm hoping Marriott concedes.
flipstah is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 7:04 pm
  #3032  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: BA Gold; AA Lfe Time PLT ; Marriott Titanium, LFT GLD
Posts: 1,276
Originally Posted by CPRich
I believe it was a circuitous way of pointing out that you probably have a horde, not a hoard.
Or possibly a "herd" rather than a "horde".

Depends on the nature of the kids I guess.

The term "horde" is generally used in a context associated with say, Attila the Hun. As in "Attila's horde left none living"....

Or "Once MAR's horde of bean counters were finished rewriting the SPG T&C's all platinum benefits were vaporized"

Last edited by nonesuch flyer; Mar 28, 2016 at 7:10 pm Reason: Edited to reduce sacarsm aimed at MAR
nonesuch flyer is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 7:07 pm
  #3033  
Marriott Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Hyatt Explorist; Vistana 5* Elite; Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 6,177
Originally Posted by SkiAdcock
. . .

Back to a question I had before. Since HOT was encouraging its shareholders to vote for the merger w/ Marriott, what happens if they did cast votes yes before the AnBang offer? Do those votes get null & void & HOT sends out another hey please vote this way now? Legit question. I'm not a M&A/shareholder type, so appreciate the input.

. . .
If a shareholder wishes to change their vote, they are able to do so prior to the April 8 special shareholder meeting.
controller1 is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 7:54 pm
  #3034  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,009
Originally Posted by nonesuch flyer
The term "horde" is generally used in a context associated with say, Attila the Hun. As in "Attila's horde left none living"....
horde
noun
1. a large group, multitude, number, etc.; a mass or crowd:
a horde of tourists.
2. a tribe or troop of Asian nomads.

Pretty sure he was going with the primary definition.

A horde of FT'er supports bangbang's offer....
CPRich is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 8:06 pm
  #3035  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Originally Posted by TravelinSperry
Cash is King. No one wants Marriott stock which could go up - but could also go way down. As a shareholder you want cash. Then if I think Marriott's stock is such a good deal - I'll use my cash to buy some.
Stimpy prefers MAR stock
TMM1982 is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 8:10 pm
  #3036  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
Originally Posted by CPRich
I believe it was a circuitous way of pointing out that you probably have a horde, not a hoard.
Yes, or as foghorn leghorn would say:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8JtnEUPvpus
Boghopper is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 8:25 pm
  #3037  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
Programs: UA 50K, refugee from AC E50K, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 5,132
Originally Posted by flipstah
I'm hoping Marriott concedes.
Let's not forget that MAR, to their credit, still wins by losing. They'll get a very nice cash infusion of $450 + legal costs. Pretty good for a few months of work ...

Anbang on the other hand will have nothing but a pile of legal bills if their bid doesn't win. (They'll also have forced MAR to burn some cash but that may or may not be useful down the road.)
RCyyz is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 8:33 pm
  #3038  
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,120
Well, it looks like I might have to work to get back to Platinum again.

I was thinking that if I was a *wood shareholder, I would be pretty pi**ED at starwood accepting Marriott's original low ball bid.
Vulcan is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 8:42 pm
  #3039  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Originally Posted by flipstah
I'm excited with this back and forth action. Personally, I don't want SPG to disappear. I'm hoping Marriott concedes.
I'm not sure that SPG as we know it today doesn't "disappear" regardless, no one knows what Anbang's plans will be should they be successful just as no one knows what MAR would do post-acquisition either. Getting excited either way is just setting yourself up for potential disappointment.
ryan182 is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 8:57 pm
  #3040  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
Programs: UA 50K, refugee from AC E50K, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 5,132
Originally Posted by ryan182
Getting excited either way is just setting yourself up for potential disappointment.
Under MAR, we are almost certainly assured that SPG will be, to be polite, watered down. In addition, to achieve the $250+ mil of "synergies" we would see some SPG people fired and more than likely some properties closed or at least sold off to anyone who wants to buy.

Under Anbang, there's a much greater likelihood that SPG will stay the way it is for at least a while before evolving in what I feel would be gentle steps as opposed to one fell swoop. I also believe (and have nothing to base this on other than my own biases) that Anbang wants SPG as the beginning of an empire. As such, we're more likely to see building and expansion vs contraction / consolidation as we would under MAR.
RCyyz is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 9:04 pm
  #3041  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: BA Gold; AA Lfe Time PLT ; Marriott Titanium, LFT GLD
Posts: 1,276
Originally Posted by ryan182
I'm not sure that SPG as we know it today doesn't "disappear" regardless, no one knows what Anbang's plans will be should they be successful just as no one knows what MAR would do post-acquisition either.
I think we have a clear model for MAR's plan for SPG... its called Marriott Rewards.

Anbang only has the SPG template. As they have been acquiring properties, it seems likely they will expand. No one knows for sure but the odds seem to favor SPG changing far less if Anbang gets control.
nonesuch flyer is offline  
Old Mar 28, 2016, 11:57 pm
  #3042  
JK
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OnBusiness, SPG Lifetime Plat 100, AmEx Centurion & BAPP, Superking Westin Heavenly Bed :)
Posts: 1,142
Originally Posted by CPRich
I believe it was a circuitous way of pointing out that you probably have a horde, not a hoard.
Ahh, you're very right! Well done Boghopper, you win!
JK is offline  
Old Mar 29, 2016, 12:07 am
  #3043  
JK
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OnBusiness, SPG Lifetime Plat 100, AmEx Centurion & BAPP, Superking Westin Heavenly Bed :)
Posts: 1,142
I suspect this news will not be well received by the HOT Board (and perhaps Shareholders):

FCA Said to Step Up Probe on ICBC, CCB London Branches: Caixin
By Bloomberg News


(Bloomberg) -- U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority to step up probe on London branches of China Construction Bank and Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Caixin reports, citing unidentified people familiar.
  • Probe to focus on financial crime, money laundering
  • FCA has positive feedback on ICBC’s London branches: report cites an unidentified person close to ICBC
  • ICBC, CCB declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg
Link: Here

If I recall correctly, CCB (albeit NY Branch) are providing the financing for the Anbang bid, and this news adds another layer of "discomfort" (along with the Regulatory question mark by the Chinese Insurance regulator) to the Consortium's bid.

Last edited by JK; Mar 29, 2016 at 12:37 am Reason: Editted to add Link as requested by *mhdena*
JK is offline  
Old Mar 29, 2016, 12:31 am
  #3044  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,933
Where is the link to your story?
mhdena is offline  
Old Mar 29, 2016, 12:35 am
  #3045  
JK
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OnBusiness, SPG Lifetime Plat 100, AmEx Centurion & BAPP, Superking Westin Heavenly Bed :)
Posts: 1,142
Originally Posted by mhdena
Where is the link to your story?
Google would have got you there, but here you go: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...cb-caixin-says
JK is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.