Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Signs Agreement To Sell The Four Seasons Punta Mita Resort To Cascade Investment, L.L.C.
Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. announced today that the Company has signed an agreement with Cascade Investment, L.L.C. to sell the Four Seasons Punta Mita resort and the adjacent La Solana land parcel for gross consideration of $200 million, or approximately $1.1 million per key. Adjusting for the allocation of the land value, the sale represents approximately $980,000 per key.
The sale includes 173 guest rooms and suites and a variety of resort restaurants and amenities. The sale also includes a 48 acre developable site directly adjacent to the resort, referred to as La Solana. The transaction, which is subject to certain closing conditions and regulatory approval, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014.
"The sale of the Four Seasons Punta Mita is a meaningful opportunity to realize the tremendous value that Strategic Hotels has created in this resort since acquiring it in 2001," said Raymond L. "Rip" Gellein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. "Consistent with our stated strategy, the proceeds from the transaction will be used to de-leverage the company's balance sheet. As we move forward, we will continue to be opportunistic buyers and sellers of assets to further strengthen our balance sheet, enhance our overall portfolio and position the company for sustained growth."
Cascade Investment is the private investment arm for Bill Gates. It is a shareholder of Strategic Hotels, owning approximately 6.4% of the Company's common equity.
About the Company
Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) which owns and provides value-enhancing asset management of high-end hotels and resorts in the United States and Europe. The Company currently has ownership interests in 16 properties with an aggregate of 7,865 rooms and 835,000 square feet of meeting space. For a list of current properties and for further information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.strategichotels.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (the "Company"). Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's future financial results, positive trends in the lodging industry and the Company's continued focus on improving profitability. Actual results could differ materially from the Company's projections. Factors that may contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to the following: the effects of economic conditions and disruption in financial markets upon business and leisure travel and the hotel markets in which the Company invests; the Company's liquidity and refinancing demands; the Company's ability to obtain, refinance or extend maturing debt; the Company's ability to maintain compliance with covenants contained in its debt facilities; stagnation or deterioration in economic and market conditions, particularly impacting business and leisure travel spending in the markets where the Company's hotels operate and in which the Company invests, including luxury and upper upscale product; general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of the Company's shares of common stock; availability of capital; the Company's ability to dispose of properties in a manner consistent with its investment strategy and liquidity needs; hostilities and security concerns, including future terrorist attacks, or the apprehension of hostilities, in each case that affect travel within or to the United States, Germany or other countries where the Company invests; difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions; the Company's failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; risks related to natural disasters; increases in interest rates and operating costs, including insurance premiums and real property taxes; contagious disease outbreaks; delays and cost-overruns in construction and development; marketing challenges associated with entering new lines of business or pursuing new business strategies; the Company's failure to maintain its status as a REIT; changes in the competitive environment in the Company's industry and the markets where the Company invests; changes in real estate and zoning laws or regulations; legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs; changes in generally accepted accounting principles, policies and guidelines; and litigation, judgments or settlements.
Additional risks are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, including those appearing under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Qs. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.