Under the deal, Whitehall will take all outstanding common shares of the self-advised hospitality REIT for $23 per share, cash. The price is a premium of approximately 28% over Equity Inns' 90-day average closing share price, according to Equity executives, and a premium of approximately 19% over the REIT's closing price on June 20.

"After careful and thorough analysis, our board has endorsed this transaction with Whitehall as being in the best interests of the company and our shareholders," Equity's president and CEO Howard Silver explains in a statement. "The board of directors has unanimously adopted the agreement and the merger, and recommends that Equity Inns' shareholders approve the agreement and the merger. We are pleased that the offer provides compelling value and we look forward to working with Whitehall to quickly complete the transaction."

Equity Inns, the third largest hotel REIT based on number of hotels owned, owns 132 hotels with 15,731 rooms spread across 35 states. It most recently entered the Los Angeles market with a five-hotel, $114.2-million deal with a partnership controlled by the principals of Huntington Hotels, as GlobeSt.com previously reported.

"Equity Inns' strategy of aligning itself with the leading brands in the lodging industry has proven highly effective. The company has demonstrated a solid ability to create value and has strategically positioned itself as a leader in its industry," adds Jonathan Langer, managing director of Goldman, Sachs' Real Estate Principal Investment Area. Goldman, Sachs & Co., through the Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds, has raised more than $20 billion of discretionary equity capital across 10 funds since 1991.

Merrill Lynch & Co. is acting as the exclusive financial advisor to Equity Inns and Hunton & Williams LLP is the company's legal counsel. For Whitehall, Goldman, Sachs & Co. is the exclusive financial advisor and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal advisor.

Instant Insights /

Equity Inns To Sell in $2.2B Transaction

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