8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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): June 16, 2021

EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware	001-36190	46-3140312
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

11525 N. Community House Road, Suite 100

Charlotte, North Carolina 28277

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)

(980)

345-1600

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

ESH HOSPITALITY, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware	001-36191	27-3559821
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

11525 N. Community House Road, Suite 100

Charlotte, North Carolina 28277

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)

(980)

345-1600

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Extended Stay America, Inc. and Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of ESH Hospitality, Inc., which are attached and trade together as a Paired Share.	STAY	Nasdaq Global Select Market

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ 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.  ☐

Introductory Note

This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed in connection with the completion on June 16, 2021 of the transaction contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 14, 2021, by and among Extended Stay America, Inc. (the “Company”), ESH Hospitality, Inc. (“Hospitality” and together with the Company, the “Paired Entities”), Eagle Parent Holdings L.P. (together with its permitted assigns, “Parent”), Eagle Merger Sub 1 Corporation (“MergerCo 1”) and Eagle Merger Sub 2 Corporation (“MergerCo 2”), as amended by the Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 31, 2021 (the “Amendment”, and so amended, the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, on June 16, 2021, (i) MergerCo 1 merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Company Merger”) and (ii) MergerCo 2 merged with and into Hospitality, with Hospitality continuing as the surviving corporation (together with the Company Merger, the “Mergers”).

Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

On June 16, 2021, in connection with the Mergers, the Paired Entities repaid in full all indebtedness, liabilities and other obligations under, and terminated, each of the (i) Credit Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2016, as amended (the “DB ESA Credit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the lenders party thereto and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent, and other agents identified therein and (ii) Credit Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2016, as amended (the “DB ESH Credit Agreement”, together with the DB ESA Credit Agreement, the “Credit Agreements”), by and among Hospitality, the other guarantors from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent, collateral agent and L/C issuer, and the financial institutions party thereto as lenders. The Paired Entities did not incur any material early termination penalties as a result of such termination of the Credit Agreements.

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

Completion of Acquisition

On June 16, 2021, Parent completed its acquisition of the Paired Entities pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement.

At the effective time of the Mergers (the “Effective Time”), each paired share of the Paired Entities (each a “Paired Share”) (consisting of one share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”) together with one share of class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Hospitality) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than certain Paired Shares as set forth in the Merger Agreement, were converted into a right to receive $18.75 in cash, without interest thereon (the “Merger Consideration”), representing $20.50 per Paired Share as reduced by the Special Dividend described below in Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Each share of series A preferred stock, no par value per share, of Hospitality issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time remained outstanding following the Effective Time.

The description of the Mergers and the Merger Agreement contained in this Item 2.01 does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Paired Entities with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 16, 2021, and is incorporated by reference herein, and the Amendment which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Paired Entities with the SEC on June 2, 2021, and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 3.01. Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

In connection with the completion of the Mergers, the Paired Entities notified the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) on June 16, 2021 that, effective on that date, each Paired Share (other than certain Paired Shares as set forth in the Merger Agreement) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was automatically converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement. As a result, all Paired Shares were removed from trading on Nasdaq. On June 16, 2021, Paired Entities requested that Nasdaq file with the SEC a notification of removal from listing and registration on Form 25 to effect the delisting of the Paired Shares from Nasdaq and the deregistration of such shares under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In addition, the surviving corporations in the Mergers intend to file a Form 15 with the SEC requesting the termination of registration of the Paired Shares under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and the suspension of reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Paired Shares.

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

Upon the Effective Time, each holder of a Paired Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than holders in respect of certain Paired Shares that were not entitled to the Merger Consideration as set forth in the Merger Agreement, ceased to have any rights as a stockholder of the Company or Hospitality (other than the rights of the holders to receive the Merger Consideration).

The information set forth above under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

Item 5.01. Change in Control of Registrant.

As a result of the completion of the Mergers, a change in control of the Paired Entities occurred. The Paired Entities are, following the Effective Time, controlled by a joint venture of affiliates of Blackstone Real Estate Partners IX, L.P. and affiliates of Starwood Opportunity Fund XI Global, L.P. and Starwood Distressed Opportunity Fund XII Global, L.P.

The information set forth above under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.01.

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On June 16, 2021, in connection with the Mergers, all members of the board of directors of the Paired Entities ceased to serve in such capacity at the Effective Time. These departures were not a result of any disagreements with the Paired Entities on any matter relating to their operations, policies or practices.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On June 15, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a special dividend of $1.75 per share of Company Common Stock to holders of record of Company Common Stock as of the close of business on June 15, 2021 (the “Special Dividend”). The Company paid the Special Dividend on June 16, 2021 prior to the Effective Time.

In connection with the Mergers, Hospitality provided a notice of conditional full redemption on May 11, 2021, as amended on June 7, 2021, to the holders thereof in respect of all of its outstanding 4.625% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”), and provided a notice of full redemption on June 16, 2021 to the holders thereof of all of its outstanding 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”). On June 16, 2021, (1) all 2027 Notes were redeemed at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes redeemed plus a make-whole premium and accrued interest up to, but not including, the 2027 Redemption Date in accordance with the indenture governing the 2027 Notes and (2) Hospitality irrevocably deposited with the Trustee for the 2025 Notes an amount that will be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the 2025 Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium and accrued interest to the date of redemption, which date shall be July 16, 2021 in accordance with the indenture governing the 2025 Notes.

On June 16, 2021, the Paired Entities issued a press release announcing the completion of the Mergers. The full text of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Following the consummation of the Mergers, the Company merged with and into Hospitality, with Hospitality continuing as the surviving corporation.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated June 16, 2021.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, ESH Hospitality, Inc., for itself and as successor corporation to Extended Stay America, Inc., has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	ESH HOSPITALITY, INC.
Date: June 16, 2021
	By:	/s/ Christopher Dekle
	Name:	Christopher Dekle
	Title:	General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Blackstone and Starwood Capital Group Complete Acquisition of Extended Stay America

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Extended Stay America, Inc. (“ESA”) and its paired-share REIT, ESH Hospitality, Inc. (“ESH” and, together with ESA, “Extended Stay” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: STAY) today announced the completion of their previously announced acquisition by funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners (“Blackstone”) and Starwood Capital Group for $20.50 per paired share in cash in a transaction valued at approximately $6 billion.

As required under the terms of the Company’s definitive merger agreement, the Board of Directors of ESA, on June 15, 2021, declared a special cash dividend of $1.75 per share of common stock of ESA that was paid immediately before the effective time of the mergers to holders of record as of the close of business on June 15, 2021. Company shareholders who held their paired shares of common stock on the record date for the special cash dividend and through the effective time of the mergers are entitled to receive an aggregate of $20.50 in cash, consisting of the $1.75 special cash dividend and merger consideration which, as reduced by the $1.75 special cash dividend, was comprised of $10.40 per share of ESA common stock and $8.35 per share of Class B common stock of ESH. As a result of the transaction, the paired shares will cease trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as lead financial advisor to the Company and BofA Securities also served as financial advisor to the Company. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP acted as legal counsel.

J.P. Morgan, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Deutsche Bank acted as financial advisors and provided debt financing to Blackstone and Starwood. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acted as legal advisor to Blackstone, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal advisor to Starwood Capital.

About Extended Stay America

Extended Stay America, Inc. (“ESA”) and its brand Extended Stay America^® is the leading brand in the mid-priced extended stay segment in the U.S. with 651 hotels. ESA’s subsidiary, ESH Hospitality, Inc., is the largest lodging REIT in North America by unit and room count, with 561 hotels and approximately 62,500 rooms in the U.S. ESA also franchises an additional 90 Extended Stay America^® hotels. Visit www.esa.com for more information.

About Blackstone Real Estate

Blackstone is a global leader in real estate investing. Blackstone’s real estate business was founded in 1991 and has $196 billion of investor capital under management. Blackstone is one of the largest property owners in the world, owning and operating assets across every major geography and sector, including logistics, multifamily and single family housing, office, hospitality and retail. Our opportunistic funds seek to acquire undermanaged, well-located assets across the world. Blackstone’s Core+ strategy invests in substantially stabilized real estate globally through regional open-ended funds focused on high-quality assets and Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (BREIT), a non-listed REIT that invests in U.S. income-generating assets. Blackstone Real Estate also operates one of the leading global real estate debt businesses, providing comprehensive financing solutions across the capital structure and risk spectrum, including management of Blackstone Mortgage Trust (NYSE: BXMT).

About Starwood Capital Group

Starwood Capital Group is a private investment firm with a core focus on global real estate, energy infrastructure and oil & gas. The Firm and its affiliates maintain 16 offices in seven countries around the world, and currently have approximately 4,100 employees. Since its inception in 1991, Starwood Capital Group has raised over $55 billion of equity capital, and currently has in excess of $75 billion of assets under management. Through a series of comingled opportunity funds and Starwood Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (SREIT), a non-listed REIT, the Firm has invested in virtually every category of real estate on a global basis, opportunistically shifting asset classes, geographies and positions in the capital stack as it perceives risk/reward dynamics to be evolving. Starwood Capital also manages Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD), the largest commercial mortgage real estate investment trust in the United States, which has successfully deployed over $63 billion of capital since inception and manages a portfolio of over $17 billion across debt and equity investments. Over the past 29 years, Starwood Capital Group and its affiliates have successfully executed an investment strategy that involves building enterprises in both the private and public markets. Additional information can be found at starwoodcapital.com.

Extended Stay Contacts:

Investors or Media

Rob Ballew

ir@esa.com

(980) 345-1546

Blackstone

Jeffrey Kauth

Jeffrey.Kauth@Blackstone.com

(212) 583-5395

Starwood Capital Group

Tom Johnson / Dan Scorpio

Abernathy MacGregor Group

tbj@abmac.com / dps@abmac.com

Tel: (212) 371-5999

XML

Cover	Jun. 16, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Jun. 16, 2021
Entity Registrant Name	EXTENDED STAY AMERICA, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	001-36190
Entity Tax Identification Number	46-3140312
Entity Address, Address Line One	11525 N. Community House Road, Suite 100
Entity Address, City or Town	Charlotte
Entity Address, State or Province	NC
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	28277
City Area Code	980
Local Phone Number	345-1600
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	STAY
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001581164
Amendment Flag	false
ESH Hospitality, Inc.
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ESH HOSPITALITY, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	001-36191
Entity Tax Identification Number	27-3559821
Entity Address, Address Line One	11525 N. Community House Road, Suite 100
Entity Address, City or Town	Charlotte
Entity Address, State or Province	NC
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	28277
City Area Code	980
Local Phone Number	345-1600
Entity Central Index Key	0001507563