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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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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) - December 22, 1996
FLORIDA PANTHERS HOLDINGS, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Florida 0-21435 65-0676005
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer of
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
100 Northeast Third Avenue, Second Floor, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code) (954) 768-1900
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Not Applicable
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(Former Name or Former Address; if Changed Since Last Report)
Page 1 of ___ pages.
Exhibit Index at Page ___.
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Item 5. Other Events.
On December 22, 1996, Florida Panthers Holdings, Inc. (the "Company")
entered into two definitive agreements (the "Exchange Agreements"), relating to
the acquisition by the Company of direct and indirect ownership interests in
each of the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Resort & Marina and the Radisson Bahia Mar
Beach Resort, in exchange for 4,450,000 shares and 3,950,000 shares of Panthers
Class A Common Stock, respectively (together the "Exchanges").
The consummation of each of the Exchanges is subject to various
conditions as set forth in the respective Exchange Agreements, including
obtaining the approval of the holders of a majority of the shares of the
Company's Common Stock entitled to vote thereon. The consummation of each of
the Exchanges is contingent upon the consummation of the other Exchange.
The press release dated December 22, 1996, set forth in Exhibit 99
hereto, contains forward-looking statements as defined in Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and
uncertainties, including, without limitation, the effect of economic and market
conditions in markets served by the Company, as well as other risks detailed
from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Item 7. Financial Statement and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits.
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Sequential
Exhibit No. Description Page Number
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<S> <C> <C>
99 Press Release dated December 22, 1996.
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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.
FLORIDA PANTHERS HOLDINGS, INC.
December 23, 1996
By: /s/ Steven M. Dauria
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Steven M. Dauria
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT 99
FLORIDA PANTHERS HOLDINGS, INC. TO ACQUIRE PIER 66 RESORT
HOTEL & MARINA AND BAHIA MAR BEACH RESORT HOTEL
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (December 22, 1996) Florida Panthers Holdings,
Inc. (NASDAQ: PUCK) announced today that it has signed definitive agreements to
acquire the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Resort and Marina and Radisson Bahia Mar Beach
Resort and Marina. Both properties are located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
H. Wayne Huizenga, Chairman of Florida Panthers Holdings, Inc. stated
"The acquisition of these world famous and profitable resort properties and
their strong cash flow is an important step as we begin building Panthers
Holdings into a diversified leisure time based sports and entertainment
company."
Richard Evans, President of Panthers Holdings, also commented "We
anticipate that the addition of these internationally renowned resorts will also
provide abundant opportunities for cross marketing and merchandising of services
and products to be developed by Panthers Holdings."
Panthers Holdings President, Richard Evans, formerly held a similar
position with Gaylord Entertainment where his responsibilities included among
other areas the legendary Opryland Hotel and Theme Park.
Both the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 and Radisson Bahia Mar are owned and
operated by The Rahn Group. Minority investors in these resort properties
include Panthers Holdings board members: Steven R. Berrard, H. Wayne Huizenga,
George D. Johnson, Jr. and Richard C. Rochon. Both properties are managed by the
Rahn Group which will continue in that role once the acquisition is completed.
John Anderson and Peter Roberts, principals of the Rahn Group,
commented "We are extremely excited about this unique opportunity to contribute
and to participate in the future of Panthers Holdings."
Hyatt Regency Pier 66 and Radisson Bahia Mar are among the most
prestigious resorts in the Southeast Untied States. Pier 66 is located on the
Intracoastal Waterway and encompass 22 acres consisting of 380 luxury guest
rooms and 124 yacht slips. The Pier 66 marina ranks among the most exclusive
yacht basins on the East Coast and accommodates yachts up to 200 feet in length.
The Bahia Mar Beach Resort sits on a 40 acre site surrounded by the
Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. The resort includes a 350 slip marina
and hotel containing 297 rooms.
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Bahia Mar is known worldwide for its hosting of the Fort Lauderdale
International Boat Show, the largest of its kind in the world. Bahia Mar was
also the home of Travis McGee, a fictional hero who appeared in over a dozen
popular novels written by the late John D. MacDonald.
The purchase price was determined by using a combined capitalization
rate of about 10 percent less assumption of debt and will result in the issuance
of 8.4 million shares of Florida Panthers Holdings, Inc. Class A common stock.
The transaction is subject to a fairness opinion and shareholder approval.
Florida Panthers Holdings, Inc. operates the Florida Panthers Hockey
Club, the Miami Arena and the Arena Development and Arena Operating Companies.
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