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): December 6, 1999
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-15736 52-1468081
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(State of Organization) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
10400 Fernwood Road, Bethesda, MD 20817-1109
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Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (301) 380-2070
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On December 06, 1999, the General Partner sent to the Limited Partners of
the Partnership a letter that accompanied the Partnership's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q. Such a letter is being filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on
Form 8-K.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
(c) Exhibits
99.2 Letter from the General Partner to the Limited Partners of the
Partnership that accompanied the Partnership's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 10, 1999.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on this 10th day of December, 1999.
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: CBM ONE LLC
General Partner
December 10, 1999 By: /s/ Earla L. Stowe
Earla L. Stowe
Vice President
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.: 99.2 Description
Letter from the General Partner to the Limited Partners of the
Partnership that accompanied the Partnership's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 10, 1999.
Exhibit 99.2
Courtyard by Marriott
Limited Partnership
1999 Third Quarter Report
Limited Partner Quarterly Update
Presented for your review is the 1999 Third Quarter Report for Courtyard by
Marriott Limited Partnership (the "Partnership"). A discussion of the
Partnership's performance and hotel operations is included in the attached Form
10-Q, Item 2, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations. You are encouraged to review this report in its entirety.
If you have any further questions regarding your investment, please contact Host
Marriott Partnership Investor Relations at (301) 380-2070.
Strategy for Liquidity
As previously reported, during 1999, the General Partner has been working with a
major investment banking firm to explore alternatives to provide liquidity for
the partners in the Partnership while securing the highest possible value for
the limited partners. More than 70 prospective purchasers were contacted and
Partnership financial information was made available to a number of them for
their review and analysis on a confidential basis. Due to the large number of
Hotels in the Partnership, many prospective purchasers did not have the ability
to consummate a transaction of this size. At this time, the General Partner and
the investment banking firm continue in their efforts to develop a transaction
that would be acceptable to a majority of the limited partners. Many factors,
the most important being the operating performance trends of the Hotels over the
next few months will impact these efforts. The General Partner can make no
assurances as to the outcome of these efforts. However, if a suitable
transaction develops we will advise you through special correspondence.
Transfer and Sale of Limited Partnership Units
As you know, the Partnership Units are a non-traded security. In most cases, the
Partnership Agreement does allow limited partners to transfer Partnership Units
to related parties. In addition, you may, under certain circumstances, sell your
Partnership Units to a third party; however, the General Partner must consent to
such sale. Please note there are certain tax and legal limitations to
transferring Partnership Units including significant tax effects resulting from
the sale of these Units that may impact your decision to sell. In addition to
consulting with your advisors, we recommend that limited partners contact the
General Partner about such limitations before entering into any agreement to
sell your Partnership Units.
If you do wish to request a transfer of your Partnership Units, please contact
our Transfer Agent at 800-797-6812. You will be supplied with the necessary
documents. Please note that the General Partner does not charge any fee for
effecting a transfer.
Cash Distributions
On April 30, 1999, the Partnership made the final 1998 cash distribution of
$3,000 per limited partner unit bringing the total for 1998 to $11,000 per
limited partner unit. On August 10, 1999, the Partnership distributed an interim
1999 distribution of $6,000 per limited partner unit. This distribution was
funded from first and second quarter 1999 Partnership operations. Since
inception, the Partnership has distributed $78,181 per limited partner unit.
We previously reported that we anticipated cash distributions for 1999 would be
similar to the level of the 1998 cash distributions. We want to make you aware
that actual 1999 Hotel operating results through the third quarter are lower
than hotel management's expectations provided to us earlier this year. This is
primarily due to the need to pay higher salaries and benefits for Hotel
employees in order to remain competitive in local labor markets. For more
information on Hotel operating results, please read the Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the
enclosed Form 10-Q.
Based upon actual results through third quarter 1999, we continue to believe
that 1999 cash distributions will be at the same level as 1998. However, if the
declining trends continue, the actual amount available for distribution may be
impacted. The second interim 1999 cash distribution of $2,000 per limited
partner unit from third quarter 1999 operations was made on November 12, 1999.
The final 1999 cash distribution will be made in April 2000.
Capital Expenditures
The Partnership has spent approximately $100 million since inception on capital
improvements at the Hotels. As the Hotels age, the capital expenditure needs are
likely to increase as the Hotels will be coming up for the next cycle of rooms
renovations and other major work such as roof replacements may be required.
Based upon the Manager's estimates, it appears that a capital expenditure
shortfall will occur in 2002. The General Partner and the Manager have begun
initial discussions to address the shortfall. You will be advised in future
correspondence of the impact, if any, of this situation on your investment
results.
Partnership Debt
During the third quarter ended September 10, 1999, in accordance with the terms
of the mortgage loan, the Partnership repaid $5.9 million on the mortgage debt.
This resulted in a principal balance of $307.1 million as of September 10, 1999.
Hotel Operations
During the third quarter of 1999, the combined revenues of the Partnership's 50
Hotels improved when compared to the same period in 1998. However, operating
profit decreased in third quarter 1999 when compared to third quarter 1998 due
to an increase in hotel property-level costs and expenses. For a detailed
discussion of hotel operations, please refer to Item 2 of the Partnership's
Report on Form 10-Q for the 1999 third quarter.
During the third quarter, Courtyard continued its successful national marketing
communications efforts of USA Today print advertising, radio and television
advertising. Courtyard's award-winning commercials appeared on ESPN and CNN
Airport Network. In addition, Courtyard continued to drive significant traffic
to its website, Courtyard.com.
Marriott Rewards continues to offer Courtyard a major competitive advantage over
competitive brands. Courtyard received significant exposure through Marriott
Rewards' extensive third quarter communications plan. During the third quarter,
Marriott Rewards announced a new program component, the ability for members to
earn frequent flyer miles with any of 36 airlines by staying at Marriott. Print
advertising in major consumer publications, member communications and extensive
public relations efforts were implemented to launch the new program.
New supply continues to enter the Courtyard segment, creating a more intense
competitive environment. However, Courtyard's market share premiums over these
competitors remain strong, and Courtyard continues to focus on long-term growth,
product-development and marketing strategies that will allow the brand to
maintain its leadership position.
Estimated 1999 Tax Information
Based on current projections, estimated taxable income of $8,300 will be
allocated to each limited partner unit for the year ending December 31, 1999.
The 1999 tax information, used for preparing your Federal and state income tax
returns will be mailed no later than March 15, 2000. To ensure confidentiality,
we regret that we are unable to furnish your tax information over the telephone.
Unless otherwise instructed, we will mail your tax information to your address
as it appears on this report. Therefore, to avoid delays in delivery of this
important information, please notify the Partnership in writing of any address
changes by January 31, 2000.
We appreciate your continued support and invite you to visit Courtyard Hotels as
you travel throughout the United States.
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