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Substantially All Assets to Sunburst Hotel Holding, Inc. for Approximately $32.4 million |
| ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., December 12, 2005 -- Arlington Hospitality,
Inc. and subsidiaries (HOST.PK) today announced that, on December 7, 2005,
the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois approved
the sale of substantially all of the company�s assets. Sunburst Hotel
Holding, Inc. and its affiliates (�Sunburst�), and SJB Equities, Inc. and
its affiliates (�SJB�), both of which are unaffiliated with one another
and with Arlington Hospitality, Inc., have agreed to purchase substantially
all of the assets, pursuant to separate asset purchase agreements.
In addition, Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) has consented to Sunburst�s
assignment and assumption of the development agreement, royalty-sharing
agreement, and individual hotel franchise agreements between Arlington
and affiliates of Cendant (the �Cendant Agreements�). The total consideration
for the sale of the assets, and the assumption of the Cendant Agreements,
is approximately $32.4 million, comprised of $9.6 million in cash and the
assumption of mortgage debt of approximately $22.8 million on the hotel
assets to be purchased.
The auction for the sale of the assets commenced on November 14, 2005 and was extended through November 28, 2005. Chanin Capital Partners served as Arlington�s exclusive financial advisor in connection with the sale of substantially all of Arlington�s assets. Consummation of the transactions contemplated by each purchase agreement is subject to certain closing conditions as set forth in the purchase agreements, and is expected to occur within the next 30 days. Sunburst agreed to purchase substantially all the assets of the company, and assume certain contracts and agreements, except the company�s corporate headquarters office building and those assets being purchased and contracts assumed by SJB. SJB agreed to purchase ownership interests in four hotel joint ventures, and the assumption of certain contracts and agreements, including the construction contracts for an AmeriHost Inn hotel being built in Columbus, Ohio. A copy of the purchase agreements will be included as exhibits to a Form 8-K to be filed on December 13, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The auction and sale process conducted by the company�s management and Chanin Capital Partners was the culmination of strategic efforts to maximize and realize the value of the company�s assets that began in mid-2005. The auction resulted in cash proceeds that are approximately 54 percent higher than contemplated by the stalking horse asset purchase agreement executed by Sunburst in October. Arlington is in the process of evaluating claims, and attempting to sell its corporate headquarters office building, so that it may propose a liquidation plan to the bankruptcy court as soon as practicable after the closing of the purchase agreements. It is unlikely that shareholders of Arlington will receive a cash distribution pursuant to any liquidation plan since any remaining cash will be used to settle creditors� claims and pay administrative costs of the bankruptcy proceeding. Having fulfilled his duties, with the successful conclusion of the auction for the company�s assets, Stephen K. Miller will be stepping down as interim president and chief executive officer, effective December 16, 2005. �It has been a pleasure working with Steve through a very difficult and complicated process,� commented Kenneth M. Fell, Arlington�s chairman of the board. �Steve was instrumental in identifying and attracting bidders for the company�s assets, including Sunburst, in an effort to maximize value for all stakeholders. We appreciate all of his efforts, and wish him well in his future endeavors.� Effective upon Miller�s departure, the board has appointed James B. Dale, the company�s chief financial officer who has been actively involved in the sales process, to serve as acting president and chief executive officer to wind-down the affairs of the company. Miller has agreed to remain in an advisory role to the company as needed, at no expense to the company. The corporate office building continues to be marketed for sale by Cohen Financial, as approved by the Court. Sunburst Hospitality, based in Silver Spring, Md., is a diversified real estate owner and operator, with interests in hotels, golf course and residential developments, multi-family communities and self-storage properties. Currently, Sunburst Hospitality's hotel portfolio includes 30 hotels aggregating approximately 4,500 rooms in 16 states. Arlington Hospitality, Inc. is a hotel development and management company that builds, operates and sells mid-market hotels, primarily AmeriHost Inn hotels. The AmeriHost Inn brand is a mid-market, limited-service hotel brand owned and presently franchised in 20 states and Canada by Cendant Corporation, with over 100 properties. This press release may contain forward-looking statements. |
| Contact:
James B. Dale
|