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HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST and KSL Capital Partners, LLC, have finalized KSL's acquisition of the REIT for approximately $1.4 billion. As of Nov. 28, Hersha became a private company and was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. The companies entered a definitive merger agreement on Aug. 27 under which affiliates of KSL acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Hersha for $10 per share in an all-cash transaction. The companies filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Nov. 28 to make it official. The independent transaction committee of Hersha's board of trustees recommended the merger and the board unanimously approved it, according to Hersha. A special meeting of shareholders was held Nov. 8 to give final approval to the deal.

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT firm Hersha Hospitality Trust will sell seven of its select service properties outside New York for $505 million, or approximately $360,000 per key, according to a statement. Proceeds will go to cover some of the company's debt and provide liquidity. The properties in the deal are the Hotel Courtyard Brookline, Hampton Inn - Philadelphia, Hilton Garden Inn M Street, Hampton Inn - Washington, Courtyard Sunnyvale, Courtyard Los Angeles Westside and TownePlace Suites Sunnyvale. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2022 subject to customary closing conditions, the statement added. The revenue from the sale reduce debt of approximately $460 to $480 million, and around $390 to $410 million of Hersha's corporate debt. The company also wants to reduce mortgage debt by approximately $75 million. The company also wants to reduce mortgage debt by approximately $75 million.

TWO PROMINENT AAHOA members recently came out in support of Choice Hotels International's continuing efforts to merge with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, including one who is among Choice's nominations for Wyndham's board of directors. However, AAHOA said it remains concerned about the impact of the deal and released results of a survey of its members that found most opposed the merger. Since Choice first made its offer for Wyndham public in October after Wyndham's initial rejection the two companies have traded barbs trying to convince Wyndham shareholders to support or reject the deal. When Choice earlier this week named its eight nominees for Wyndham's board, among them was Jay Shah, executive chairman at Hersha Hospitality Trust. While Hersha has not replied to two efforts to solicit a comment from Shah about his opinion on Choice's offer, the candidates are expected to support it if elected in Wyndham's 2024 shareholder meeting. Also, in an article in Reuters about the takeover attempt, Mike Leven, who co-founded AAHOA, spoke in favor of the deal.

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL has named its eight nominees for the board of directors for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to be voted on in Wyndham's 2024 shareholder meeting. The nominees, including Jay Shah, executive chairman at Hersha Hospitality Trust, are expected to support Choice's bid to acquire Wyndham despite multiple rejections by the latter. In response, Wyndham said it will evaluate the nominees as part of its due diligence, but it also said the nominees were "hand-picked to push through their offer." Along with Shah, Choice's nominees are: Barbara Bennett, founder and principal executive of business consulting firm Bennett West LLC. Emanuel Pearlman, founder, chairman and CEO of investment management and financial consulting firm Liberation Investment Group. Fiona Dias, digital commerce consultant who served as the chief strategy officer of online shopping service ShopRunner from 2011 to 2014. James Nelson, CEO of real estate investment trust Global Net Lease, Inc. Nana Mensah, founder, chairman and CEO of food packaging and processing equipment exporter 'XPORTS Inc. Susan Schnabel, founder and co-managing partner of buyout fund advisor aPriori Capital Partners. William Grounds, principal of his advisory business Burraneer Capital Advisors LLC. "These nominees are proven leaders with wide-ranging expertise across relevant industries, including deep proficiency in the hospitality and franchising sectors," said Stewart Bainum, chairman of Choice's board of directors. "We are confident the nominees' industry, finance, governance and board experience will greatly benefit Wyndham shareholders. Most importantly, if elected, the nominees will exercise their independent judgment to serve Wyndham shareholders' best interests, which Choice believes is to move with urgency to maximize the value that could be created for them through a combination with Choice."