Edgar Filing: STARWOOD HOTEL & RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Date: March 14, 2016

/s/ Bancroft S. Gordon

Bancroft S. Gordon

Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

8-K

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): March 14, 2016

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware	1-13881	52-2055918
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

10400 Fernwood Road, Bethesda, Maryland		20817
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (301) 380-3000

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:

x	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))

Item 8.01.

Other events

After being notified by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (“Starwood”) that a consortium of potential investors, led by Anbang Insurance Group, had sent Starwood an unsolicited indication of interest in purchasing Starwood, on March 14, 2016 Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”) issued a press release reaffirming its commitment to acquire Starwood. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibit is furnished with this report:

Exhibit 99.1 – Press release issued on March 14, 2016.

Note on Forward-looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, including the parties’ plans for closing the transaction and obtaining approval from various competition authorities; and other anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including the receipt of necessary consents, and other risk factors identified in Marriott’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the joint proxy statement / prospectus on Form S-4 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2016. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this communication. We make these forward-looking statements as of the date of this communication. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication relates to a proposed business combination between Marriott and Starwood. In connection with this proposed business combination, on February 16, 2016, Marriott filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) that contains a joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents concerning the proposed business combination. The registration statement on Form S-4 was declared effective by the Commission on February 17, 2016. Each of Marriott and Starwood mailed the joint proxy statement/prospectus to its respective stockholders beginning on or around February 19, 2016. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF MARRIOTT AND STARWOOD ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents (when available) that Marriott and Starwood file with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, these documents may be obtained from Marriott free of charge by directing a request to investorrelations@marriott.com, or from Starwood free of charge by directing a request to ir@starwoodhotels.com.

SIGNATURE

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.