The Board of Directors of Marriott International, Inc has approved the spin-off of its wholly owned subsidiary, Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, through the distribution of shares to holders of Marriott International common stock. The Board of Directors also set the distribution ratio, record date, and distribution date for the spin-off.
Upon completion of the spin-off, Marriott International shareholders will own all outstanding shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide common stock. Marriott Vacations Worldwide will be the exclusive developer and manager of vacation ownership and related products under the Marriott brand and the exclusive developer of vacation ownership and related products under the Ritz-Carlton brand. Marriott International will concentrate on its lodging management and franchise business.
JW Marriott, Jr, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International, said, “Our associates in our timeshare business have built the industry’s most admired company, one that delivers the best vacations in the world to more than 400,000 owner families. As the leading 'pure-play' timeshare company, Marriott Vacations Worldwide will have a singular focus on its core business with exclusive rights to the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton brands in the timeshare industry. I have a deep appreciation for what the Marriott Vacations Worldwide team has achieved over the last 27 years, and confidence in great things yet to come.”
According to the company release, the spin-off will be completed through a pro rata dividend of Marriott Vacations Worldwide common stock on November 21, 2011 (the 'distribution date') to Marriott International shareholders of record as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange on November 10, 2011 (the 'record date'). On the distribution date each Marriott International shareholder will receive one share of Marriott Vacations Worldwide common stock for every ten shares of Marriott International Class A common stock held by such shareholder on the record date. The distribution of these shares will be made in book-entry form, which means that no physical share certificates will be issued.
No fractional shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide common stock will be issued. Fractional shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide stock to which Marriott International shareholders of record would otherwise be entitled will be aggregated and sold in the open market. The resulting aggregate net proceeds of the sales will be distributed in a pro rata manner as cash payments to those shareholders of record who would otherwise have received fractional shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide common stock.
Marriott International has received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service and an opinion of tax counsel confirming that the distribution of shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide common stock will qualify as a tax-free distribution to Marriott International shareholders. Cash received in lieu of fractional shares will, however, be taxable. Marriott International shareholders should consult their tax advisors with respect to US federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of the Marriott Vacations Worldwide spin-off.
The distribution does not require shareholder approval, nor is any shareholder action or payment necessary to receive shares through the distribution of Marriott Vacations Worldwide common stock. Following the spin-off, Marriott International’s Class A common stock will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol 'MAR.' Marriott Vacations Worldwide intends to have its common stock listed on the NYSE under the symbol 'VAC.' An Information Statement containing details regarding the distribution of the Marriott Vacations Worldwide common stock and its business and management following the spin-off will be mailed to Marriott International shareholders prior to the distribution date.
Marriott Vacations Worldwide will be based in Orlando, Florida, with more than 60 resorts located in the US and abroad serving more than 400,000 owners and members. Marriott International will remain headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, as a leading global lodging company, with nearly 3,700 properties across 18 brands in more than 70 countries.
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