UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
| Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): | July 10, 2018 | |
PEBBLEBROOK HOTEL TRUST
| (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) | ||
| Maryland | 001-34571 | 27-1055421 |
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction | _____________ (Commission | ______________ (I.R.S. Employer |
| of incorporation) | File Number) | Identification No.) |
| 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, 1100 West, Bethesda, Maryland | 20814 | |
______________________________ (Address of principal executive offices) | ___________ (Zip Code) | |
| Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | (240) 507-1300 | |
Not Applicable
| Former name or former address, if changed since last report | ||
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☑Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☑Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On July 10, 2018, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (“Pebblebrook”) issued a press release announcing that Pebblebrook had filed a preliminary proxy statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to urge shareholders of LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE:LHO) (“LaSalle”) to vote with Pebblebrook against LaSalle’s merger agreement with BRE Landmark L.P. (“BRE”), an affiliate of The Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE:BX) (together with BRE, “Blackstone”), to sell LaSalle to BRE at a price of $33.50 per share (the “Proposed BRE Merger”).
A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
As previously reported, Pebblebrook has made a merger proposal to LaSalle with merger consideration in the form of cash and Pebblebrook’s common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (“Pebblebrook common shares”).
Pebblebrook’s offer provides LaSalle’s shareholders with the option for each LaSalle common share of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (“LaSalle common share”), to elect to receive $37.80 in cash instead of 0.92 Pebblebrook common share, subject to a cap of 20% of LaSalle common shares in aggregate receiving Pebblebrook common shares and customary pro ration if the number of LaSalle common shares elected to receive cash instead of Pebblebrook common shares is oversubscribed. LaSalle’s shareholders may elect to receive a mix of cash and Pebblebrook common shares, and can receive up to 100% in cash if no more than 20% of LaSalle common shares in the aggregate receive the cash option.
Based on Pebblebrook’s 5-day VWAP ($38.89) and 30-day VWAP ($39.77) as of July 9, 2018, the current implied price of Pebblebrook’s offer provides a premium of $2.61, or 7.8%, and $3.33, or 9.9%, respectively, over the $33.50 per share price in the Proposed BRE Merger. Pebblebrook’s offer takes into account and is net of the $112 million termination fee LaSalle agreed to pay Blackstone, which will be payable by Pebblebrook and not borne by LaSalle’s shareholders, other than as ongoing shareholders in the combined company.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. This communication relates to a proposal which Pebblebrook has made for a business combination transaction with LaSalle. In furtherance of this proposal and subject to future developments, Pebblebrook (and, if a negotiated transaction is agreed, LaSalle) may file one or more registration statements, proxy statements, tender or exchange offer statements, prospectuses or other documents with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, tender or exchange offer statement, prospectus or other document Pebblebrook or LaSalle may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF PEBBLEBROOK AND LASALLE ARE URGED TO READ ANY SUCH PROXY STATEMENT, REGISTRATION STATEMENT, TENDER OR EXCHANGE OFFER STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Any definitive proxy statement or prospectus (if and when available) will be delivered to shareholders of LaSalle or Pebblebrook, as applicable. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Pebblebrook through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
Pebblebrook or LaSalle and their respective trustees and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. You can find information about Pebblebrook’s executive officers and trustees in Pebblebrook’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 27, 2018. You can find information about LaSalle’s executive officers and trustees in LaSalle’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 22, 2018. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in one or more registration statements, proxy statements, tender or exchange offer statements or other documents filed with the SEC if and when they become available. You may obtain free copies of these documents using the sources indicated above.
This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering 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.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Pebblebrook’s offer to acquire LaSalle, its financing of the proposed transaction, its expected future performance (including expected results of operations and financial guidance), and the combined company’s future financial condition, operating results, strategy and plans. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “believes,” “estimates,” “potential,” “target,” “opportunity,” “tentative,” “positioning,” “designed,” “create,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “ongoing,” “upside,” “increases” or “continue” and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that change over time and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, assumptions, risks and uncertainties discussed in Pebblebrook’s most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the SEC and assumptions, risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed transaction, as detailed from time to time in Pebblebrook’s and LaSalle’s filings with the SEC, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made in this communication are set forth in other reports or documents that Pebblebrook may file from time to time with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to: (i) the ultimate outcome of any possible transaction between Pebblebrook and LaSalle, including the possibilities that LaSalle will reject a transaction with Pebblebrook, (ii) the ultimate outcome and results of integrating the operations of Pebblebrook and LaSalle if a transaction is consummated, (iii) the ability to obtain regulatory approvals and meet other closing conditions to any possible transaction, including the necessary shareholder approvals, and (iv) the risks and uncertainties detailed by LaSalle with respect to its business as described in its reports and documents filed with the SEC. All forward-looking statements attributable to Pebblebrook or any person acting on Pebblebrook’s behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Pebblebrook undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this communication or to reflect actual outcomes.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| Press release, dated July 10, 2018, regarding Pebblebrook Hotel Trust’s filing of preliminary proxy statement | ||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| PEBBLEBROOK HOTEL TRUST | ||||
| July 10, 2018 | By: | /s/ Raymond D. Martz | ||
| Name: Raymond D. Martz | ||||
| Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary | ||||