-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, O/nXVucjlHDL3dqgKAsPDmtHbqK9myN+dvvO+TallVzWVK1VKWzaCcKV8m4DqrKK hLDvi8HBHyuWekZ8YUL4Bw== 0000928385-99-000954.txt : 19990329 0000928385-99-000954.hdr.sgml : 19990329 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000928385-99-000954 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DEF 14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19990429 FILED AS OF DATE: 19990326 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL INC /DE CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001046311 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: HOTELS & MOTELS [7011] IRS NUMBER: 521209792 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEF 14A SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-13393 FILM NUMBER: 99573813 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 10750 COLUMBIA PIKE CITY: SILVER SPRING STATE: MD ZIP: 20901 BUSINESS PHONE: 3019795000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 10750 COLUMBIA PIKE CITY: SILVER SPRING STATE: MD ZIP: 20901 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: CHOICE HOTELS FRANCHISING INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19971118 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL INC/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19971022 DEF 14A 1 DEFINITIVE SCHEDULE 14A SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_] Check the appropriate box: [_] Preliminary Proxy Statement [X] Definitive Proxy Statement [_] Definitive Additional Materials [_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12 CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INC. (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Certificate) CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INC. (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required. [_] $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. [_] $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3). [_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0- 11. 1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: 2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: 3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:/1/ 4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: 5) (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined) [_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. 1) Amount Previously Paid: 2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: 3) Filing Party: 4) Date Filed: CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 10750 Columbia Pike Silver Spring, Maryland 20901 ------------------------- NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING To Be Held April 29, 1999 ------------------------- To the Stockholders of CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of Choice Hotels International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held on Thursday, April 29, 1999 at the Company corporate office, 10750 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland at 9:00 a.m. (E.S.T.) for the following purposes: 1. To elect two Class II directors to hold office for a three year term ending at the 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified; 2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. Holders of record of Choice Hotels common stock at the close of business on March 10, 1999 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. Stockholders are reminded that your shares of Choice Hotels common stock cannot be voted unless you properly execute and return the enclosed proxy card or make other arrangements to have your shares represented at the meeting. A list of stockholders will be available for inspection at the office of the Company located at the address above, at least 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting. By Order of the Board of Directors CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INC. Michael J. DeSantis Secretary March 29, 1999 Silver Spring, Maryland TO VOTE YOUR SHARES, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND COMPLETE THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE. CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 10750 COLUMBIA PIKE SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND 20901 ------------------------- PROXY STATEMENT ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS APRIL 29, 1999 ------------------------- GENERAL INFORMATION This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Choice Hotels International, Inc. a Delaware corporation ("Choice Hotels" or the "Company"), for use at the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at 9:00 a.m. (E.S.T.) on April 29, 1998, at its Corporate Offices, 10750 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland and at any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof (the "Annual Meeting"). It is anticipated that this Proxy Statement and proxy will first be mailed to the Company's stockholders on or about March 29, 1999. The Company's Annual Report (including certified financial statements) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, has been mailed separately from this Proxy Statement. The Annual Report is not part of the proxy solicitation material. Voting of Proxies Your vote is important. Shares can be voted at the Annual Meeting only if you are present in person or represented by proxy. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, you are urged to sign, date and return the accompanying proxy card. When the enclosed proxy card is properly signed, dated and returned, the stock represented by the proxy will be voted in accordance with your directions. You can specify your voting instructions by marking the appropriate box on the proxy card. If your proxy card is signed and returned without specific voting instructions, your shares of Choice Hotels common stock will be voted as recommended by the directors: "FOR" the election of the two nominees for director named on the proxy card. Abstentions marked on the proxy card are voted "against" the directors' proposals but are counted in the determination of a quorum. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the meeting by (i) filing with ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. in its capacity as transfer agent for the Company (the "Transfer Agent"), at or before the Annual Meeting, a written notice of revocation bearing a later date than the proxy, (ii) executing a later-dated proxy relating to the same shares of Company Common Stock and delivering it to the Transfer Agent at or before the Annual Meeting, or (iii) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person (although attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, in and of itself, constitute a revocation of a proxy). Any written notice revoking a proxy should be sent to ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., Overpeck Centre, 85 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, 07660. Votes Required The close of business on March 10, 1999 has been fixed as the record date for determination of holders of Company Common Stock entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. On that date, there were outstanding and entitled to vote 55,336,553 shares of Company Common Stock. The presence, either in person or by proxy, of persons entitled to cast a majority of such votes constitutes a quorum for the transaction of 1 business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker no-votes on returned proxies are counted as shares present in the determination of whether the shares of stock represented at the Annual Meeting constitute a quorum. A broker "non-vote" occurs when a nominee holding shares of Choice Hotels common stock for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Stockholders are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted for consideration at the Annual Meeting. With regard to the election of directors, votes may be cast in favor of or withheld from nominees. Votes that are withheld will be excluded entirely from the vote and will have no effect. Abstentions may be specified on all proposals other than the election of directors. Each proposal is tabulated separately. Abstentions are counted in tabulations of the votes cast on proposals presented to the stockholders, whereas broker non-votes are not counted for purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved. The affirmative vote of a plurality of shares of Company common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required to elect the directors nominated. "Plurality" means that the individuals who receive the largest number of votes cast are elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors to be chosen at the meeting. Certain members of the Bainum family (including various partnerships, corporations and trusts established by members of the Bainum family) in the aggregate have the right to vote approximately 36.72% of the number of outstanding shares of Company common stock and have indicated an intention to vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors with respect to the election of directors. ELECTION OF CLASS I DIRECTORS The Board of Directors currently consists of three classes of directors, as nearly equal in number as possible. Directors hold office for staggered terms of three years (or less if they are filling a vacancy) and until their successors are elected and qualified. One of the three classes, comprising approximately one third of the directors, is elected each year to succeed the directors whose terms are expiring. The directors in Class II will be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve for a term expiring at the Company's Annual Meeting in the year 2002. The directors in Classes I and III are serving terms expiring at the Company's annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2001 and 2000, respectively. The Company's Board of Directors has proposed the following nominees for election as directors at the annual meeting: Nominees for Class II Directors With Terms Expiring at the Annual Meeting in the Year 2002: Stewart Bainum, Jr. James H. Rempe The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the election of the above- named nominees as directors for a term of three years. Proxies solicited by the Board of Directors will be voted "FOR" the election of the nominees, unless otherwise instructed on the proxy card. Information is provided below with respect to each nominee for election and each director continuing in office. Should one or more of these nominees become unavailable to accept nomination or election as a director, the individuals named as proxies on the enclosed proxy card will vote the shares that they represent for the election of such other persons as the board may recommend, unless the board reduces the number of directors. Mr. Rempe will attain the age of 70 prior to the annual meeting in 2000 and, according to the By-Laws, must retire at the 2000 Annual Meeting. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, the Board of Directors knows of no reason why any of the nominees will be unavailable or unable to serve. 2 Nominees for Election as Directors Class II -- Nominees for Terms Expiring in 2002 Stewart Bainum, Jr., 52, Chairman of the Board of the Company from March 1987 to November 1996 and since October 1997; Director of the Company since 1977; Chairman of the Board of Sunburst Hospitality Corporation ("Sunburst") since November 1996; Chairman of the Board of HCR Manor Care, Inc. since September, 1998; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Manor Care, Inc. from March 1987 to September, 1998; Chief Executive Officer of Manor Care and its subsidiary ManorCare Health Services, Inc. ("MCHS") from March 1987 to September, 1998 and President from June 1989 to September, 1998; Vice Chairman of the Board of Vitalink Pharmacy Services, Inc. ("Vitalink") from December 1994 to September, 1998; Vice Chairman of the Board of Manor Care and subsidiaries from June 1982 to March 1987; Director of Manor Care from August 1981 to September 1998, of Vitalink from September 1991 to September, 1998, of MCHS from 1976 to September 1998; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Vitalink from September 1991 to February 1995 and President and Chief Executive Officer from March 1987 to September 1991. James H. Rempe, 68, Retired, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Manor Care from August 1981 to December 1998; Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company from February 1981 to November 1996; Director of the Company since October 1997; Director of In Home Health Inc. from October 1995 to November, 1998 and Vitalink Pharmacy Services, Inc. from 1994 to September 1998. Directors Whose Term of Office Continue Class I -- Term Expires in 2000 Gerald W. Petitt, 53, President and Chief Executive Officer of Creative Hotel Associates LLC since November 1996; Co-Chairman of the Company from January 1995 to November 1996 and a Director from December 1980 to November 1996 and since October 1997; President from June 1990 to January 1995 and Chief Operating Officer from December 1980 to January 1995; Director of Former Choice from November 1996 to October 1997; Director: Old Westbury Private Capital Fund LLC and Bessemer Trust Co. Jerry E. Robertson, Ph.D., 66, Retired; Executive Vice President, 3M Life Sciences Sector and Corporate Services from November 1986 to March 1994; Director of the Company from 1989 to November 1996 and since October 1997; Director of Manor Care from 1989 to September 1998; Director: Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, Cardinal Health, Inc., Coherent, Inc., Haemonetics, Inc., Medwave, Inc., and Steris Corporation. Class III -- Terms Expire 2000 Barbara Bainum, 54, President, Secretary and Director of the Commonweal Foundation since December 1990, December 1984 and December 1994, respectively; Secretary and Director of Realty Investment Company, Inc. since July 1989 and March 1982, respectively; Family Services Agency, Gaithersburg, Maryland, Clinical Social Work since September 1994; Department of Social Services, Rockville, Maryland, Social Work Case Management from September 1992 to May 1993; member of the Boards of Trustees of Columbia Union College (September 1987 to May 1991) and Atlantic Union College (September 1985 to May 1987); Director of the Company since October 1997 and of Former Choice from November 1996 to October 1997. Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr., 49, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company since August, 1998; President and Chief Operating Officer of St. Joe Company from February 1998 to August 1998, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of St. Joe Company from May 1997 to February 1998; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. from June 1995 to May 1997; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Promus Companies Incorporated from August 1990 to June 1995. Director: FelCor Lodging Trust, Inc., Friendly's Ice Cream Corporation and TBC. 3 Lawrence R. Levitan, 57, Retired, Managing Partner, Northeast and Southeast Regions and Managing Partner, Communications Industry of Andersen Consulting from September 1995 to August, 1997. Various positions with Andersen Consulting since 1963. Director: Sequent Computer Systems. Frederic V. Malek,* 62, Chairman of Thayer Capital Partners since March 1993; Co-Chairman of CB Richard Ellis, Inc. from April 1989 to October 1996; Campaign Manager for Bush-Quayle "92 from January 1992 to November 1992; Vice Chairman of NWA, Inc. (airlines), July 1990 to December 1991; Director of the Company from 1990 to November 1996 and since October 1997; Director: HCR Manor Care, Inc., Sunburst, Aegis Communications, Inc., American Management Systems, Inc., Automatic Data Processing Corp., CB Richard Ellis, Inc., FPL Group, Inc. (an affiliate of Florida Power and Light-power company), Global Vacation Group, Northwest Airlines and various Paine Webber mutual funds. - -------- * Mr. Malek has retired from the Board of Directors effective as of the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the overall performance of the Company. Members of the board are kept informed of the Company's business through discussions with the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer and other members of the Company's management, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in board and committee meetings. At the beginning of 1998, the Board of Directors consisted of nine directors. During the fiscal year, William R. Floyd resigned from the Board of Directors and Stewart Bainum and Robert C. Hazard, Jr. retired. In February 1999, Larry R. Levitan was appointed to fill one of the vacancies. Frederic V. Malek has indicated his intention to retire from the Board of Directors following the Annual Meeting. In fiscal year 1998, the Board of Directors held seven meetings and each director, except for Mr. Malek, attended all of the meetings of the Board of Directors and all of the committees of the Board of Directors on which such director served. Mr. Malek was unable to attend two Board meetings. Committees of the Board The standing committees of the Board of Directors include the Audit Committee and the Compensation/Key Executive Stock Option Plan Committee. At the January 21, 1998 Board Meeting, the Nominating Committee was abolished and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was established. The current members of the standing committees are as follows: Compensation/Key Executive Stock Option Nominating & Corporate Plan Committee Governance Committee Jerry E. Robertson, Chair Gerald W. Petitt, Chair Frederic V. Malek Jerry E. Robertson Barbara Bainum Frederic V. Malek Audit Committee Frederick V. Malek, Chair Jerry E. Robertson Gerald W. Petitt The Compensation/Key Executive Stock Option Plan Committee administers the Company's stock option plans and grant stock options thereunder, reviews compensation of officers and key management employees, recommends development programs for employees such as training, bonus and incentive plans, pensions and retirement, and reviews other employee fringe benefit programs. Prior to Mr. Bainum's retirement from the Board, a Compensation/Key Executive Stock Option Plan Committee No. 2 existed on which he did not serve. The purpose of this second committee was to approve matters that required a committee of "outside directors" for which Mr. Bainum did not qualify. Upon his retirement, the second committee was abolished. The Compensation/Key Executive Stock Option Plan Committee met three times during the 1998 fiscal year. 4 The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for administering the Choice Hotels Corporate Governance Guidelines, determining size and composition of the Board, recommending candidates to fill vacancies on the Board, determining actions to be taken with respect to directors who are unable to perform their duties, setting the company's policies regarding the conduct of business between the company and any other entity affiliated with a director and determining the compensation of non-employee directors. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are a set of principles which provide a benchmark of what is "good" corporate governance. The main tenets of the Guidelines are: . Create value for shareholders by promoting their interests . Focus on the future: formulate and evaluate corporate strategies . Duty of loyalty to the Company by Directors . Annual CEO evaluation by independent directors . Annual approval of 3-year plan and one-year operating plan . Annual assessment of Board effectiveness by Nominating/Governance Committee . No interlocking directorships . Directors are required to reach and maintain ownership of $100,000 of Company stock . Annual report of succession planning and management development by CEO The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was established in January, 1998 and held one meeting in the 1998 fiscal year. The Audit Committee reviews the scope and results of the annual audit, reviews and approves the services and related fees of the Company's independent public accountants, reviews the Company's internal accounting controls and reviews the Company's Internal Audit Department and its activities. The Audit Committee met twice in fiscal year 1998. Compensation of Directors The Company has adopted the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Non-Employee Director Stock Option and Deferred Compensation Stock Purchase Plan ("Option Plan"). Part A of the Plan provides that eligible non-employee directors are granted options to purchase 5,000 shares of the Company's common stock on their first date of election and are granted options to purchase 1,000 shares on their date of election in subsequent calendar years. Part B of the Plan provides that eligible non-employee directors may elect once a year to defer a minimum of 25% of committee fees earned during the ensuing fiscal year. The fees which are so deferred will be used to purchase the Company's common stock on the open market within 15 days after the end of each fiscal quarter. Pending such purchases, the funds will be credited to an Interest Deferred Account, which will be interest bearing. Stock which is so purchased will be deposited in a Stock Deferred Account pending distribution in accordance with the Plan. Pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation Plan adopted by the Company, eligible non-employee directors will receive annually, in lieu of cash, restricted shares of the Company's common stock, the fair market value of which at the time of grant will be equal to $30,000, which will represent the Board of Directors retainer and meeting fees. In addition, all non-employee directors receive $1,610 per diem for Committee meetings attended and are reimbursed for travel expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses. Upon Mr. Bainum's and Mr. Hazard's retirement, the Board of Directors approved the continuing vesting and accelerated vesting, respectively, of their awards under the Option Plan and the Stock Plan. The Board of Directors has also approved the vesting of Mr. Malek's awards under the Option Plan and the Stock Plan upon his retirement following the Annual Meeting. Directors who are employees of the Company receive no separate remuneration for their services as directors. 5 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth the amount of the Company's common stock beneficially owned by (i) each director of the Company, (ii) the Company's chief executive officer, the other four most highly compensated executive officers, a former Chief Executive Officer and two former officers (the "Named Officers"), (iii) all officers and directors of the Company as a group and (iv) all persons who are expected to own beneficially more than 5% of the Company's common stock, as of March 10, 1999, the Record Date. Unless otherwise specified, the address for each of them is 10750 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901.
Shares of Common Stock Percent of Shares Name of Beneficial Owner Beneficially Owned Outstanding(1) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- Stewart Bainum, Jr..................... 15,473,952(2)** 27.84% Barbara Bainum......................... 5,637,599(3)** 10.18% Donald H. Dempsey(4)................... 0 * Michael J. DeSantis.................... 24,155(5) * William R. Floyd(6).................... 150,992(7) * Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr............... 65,842(8) * Larry R. Levitan....................... 0 * Frederic V. Malek...................... 15,204(9) * Thomas Mirgon.......................... 25,627(10) * Gerald W. Petitt....................... 89,055(11) * James H. Rempe......................... 152,050(12) * Jerry E. Robertson, Ph.D............... 29,548(13) * Barry L. Smith(14)..................... 1,490(15) * All Directors and Officers as a Group (11 persons).......................... 15,885,077(16) 28.50% Bruce Bainum........................... 5,624,502(17)** 10.16% Stewart Bainum......................... 10,590,051(18)** 19.14% Ronald Baron........................... 9,697,000(19) 35.59%
- -------- * Less than 1% of class. ** Because of SEC reporting rules, shares held by certain Bainum family entities are attributed to more than one of the Bainums included in this table because such named Bainums have shared voting or dispositive control. Members of the Bainum family (including various partnerships, corporations and trusts established by members of the Bainum family) in the aggregate have the right to vote approximately 36.72% of the number of outstanding shares of Company common stock. 1. Percentages are based on 55,336,553 shares outstanding on March 10, 1999 (the "Record Date") plus, for each person, the shares which would be issued assuming that such person exercises all options it holds which are exercisable on such date or become exercisable within 60 days thereafter. 2. Includes 42,127 shares owned directly by Mr. Bainum, Jr. Also includes 5,417,761 shares owned by Bainum Associates Limited Partnership ("Bainum Associates") and 4,415,250 shares owned by MC Investments Limited Partnership ("MC Investments"), in both of which Mr. Bainum, Jr. is managing general partner with the sole right to dispose of the shares; 3,567,869 shares held directly by Realty Investment Company, Inc. ("Realty"), a real estate management and investment company in which Mr. Bainum, Jr. has shared voting authority; 1,779,628 shares owned by Mid Pines Associates Limited Partnership ("Mid Pines"), in which Mr. Bainum, Jr. is managing general partner and has shared voting authority and 300 shares owned by the Foundation for Maryland's Future, in which Mr. Bainum, Jr. is the sole director. Also includes 250,000 shares which Mr. Bainum, Jr. has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options which are presently exercisable or which become exercisable within 60 days after the Record Date, and 1,017 shares which Mr. Bainum, Jr. has the right to receive upon termination of his employment with the Company pursuant to the terms of the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Non-Qualified Retirement Savings and Investment Plan ("Non-Qualified Savings Plan"). 6 3. Includes 102,677 shares owned directly by Ms. Bainum. Also includes 1,779,628 shares owned by Mid Pines, in which Ms. Bainum's trust is a general partner and has shared voting authority, 3,567,869 shares owned by Realty, in which Ms. Bainum's trust has voting stock and shares voting authority, 112,200 shares owned by Vintage L.P., in which Ms. Bainum is a shareholder and director of the corporate general partner and shares voting authority, and 70,305 shares owned by the Commonweal Foundation, in which Ms. Bainum is President and Director and has shared voting authority. Also includes 3,089 shares of restricted stock issued to Ms. Bainum which shares are not vested, but which Ms. Bainum has the right to vote and 1,831 shares which Ms. Bainum has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options which are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 4. Mr. Dempsey resigned from the Company in July 1998. 5. Includes 13,490 shares which Mr. DeSantis has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options which are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. Also includes 106 and 5,569 shares, respectively under the 401(k) Plan and Non-Qualified Plan. 6. Mr. Floyd resigned from the Company in June 1998. 7. Includes 150,892 shares which Mr. Floyd has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options which are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 8. Consist of restricted stock not yet vested, but which Mr. Ledsinger has the right to vote. 9. Includes 3,523 shares owed directly; 7,665 shares which Mr. Malek has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options which are presently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date and 4,016 restricted shares granted under the Non-Employer Director Stock Compensation Plan ("Stock Compensation Plan") which are not vested, but which Mr. Malek has the right to vote. 10. Includes 24,073 shares which Mr. Mirgon has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options which are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 11. Includes 77,304 shares held directly by Mr. Petitt and 8,661 shares held in trust for minor children for which Mr. Petitt is trustee. Beneficial ownership of such shares is disclaimed. Also includes 3,090 restricted shares granted under the Stock Compensation Plan which are not yet vested, but which Mr. Petitt has the right to vote. 12. Includes 59,882 shares held directly and 89,861 shares which Mr. Rempe has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options which are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. Also includes 2,477 restricted shares granted under the Stock Compensation Plan which are not yet vested, but which Mr. Rempe has the right to vote. 13. Includes 6,299 shares held directly by Mr. Robertson and 15,500 shares owned by the JJ Robertson Limited Partnership, of which Mr. Robertson and his wife are the general partners with shared voting authority, and 3,354 restricted shares granted under the Stock Compensation Plan which are not yet vested, but which Mr. Robertson has the right to vote. Also includes 4,395 shares which Mr. Robertson has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options which are presently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date and 814 shares acquired pursuant to the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Non-Employee Director Stock Option and Deferred Compensation Stock Purchase Plan. 14. Mr. Smith retired from the Company in April 1998. 15. Consist of 606 shares and 884 shares, respectively which Mr. Smith has the right to receive pursuant to the terms of the 401(k) Plan and the Non- Qualified Savings Plan. 16. Includes a total of 404,935 shares which the officers and directors included in the group have the right to acquire pursuant to stock options which are presently exercisable, or exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date, and a total of 106 shares and 9,657 shares, respectively, which such directors and officers have the right to receive pursuant to the terms of the 401 (k) Plan and the Non-Qualified Savings Plan. 17. Includes 94,500 shares owned directly by Mr. Bainum. Also includes 1,779,628 shares owned by Mid Pines, in which Mr. Bainum is a general partner and has shared voting authority, 3,567,869 shares owned by Realty in which Mr. Bainum's trust has voting stock and shares voting authority, 112,200 shares owned by Vintage L.P., in which Mr. Bainum is a shareholder and director of the corporate general partner and 7 shares voting authority and 70,305 shares owned by the Commonwealth Foundation, in which Mr. Bainum is a Director and has shared voting authority. Mr. Bainum's address is 8737 Colesville Road, Suite 800, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910. 18. Includes 2,523 shares held directly by Mr. Bainum, 3,906,542 shares held directly by the Stewart Bainum Declaration of Trust, of which Mr. Bainum is the sole trustee and beneficiary, his joint interest in 983,878 shares owned by Bainum Associates and 1,248,542 shares owned by MC Investments, each of which is a limited partnership in which Mr. Bainum has joint ownership with his wife as a limited partner and as such has the right to acquire at any time a number of shares equal in value to the liquidation preference of their limited partnership interests; 3,567,869 shares held directly by Realty, in which Mr. Bainum and his wife have shared voting authority; and 70,305 shares held by the Commonweal Foundation of which Mr. Bainum is Chairman of the Board of Directors and has shared voting authority. Also includes 798,711 shares held by the Jane L. Bainum Declaration of Trust, the sole trustee and beneficiary of which is Mr. Bainum's wife, and 7,665 shares which Mr. Bainum has the right to acquire pursuant to stock options which are presently exercisable or which become exercisable within 60 days after the Record Date. Also includes 4,016 shares of restricted stock granted by the issuer to Mr. Bainum under the Stock Compensation Plan, which are not vested but which Mr. Bainum has the right to vote. 19. As of February 3, 1998 based on a Schedule 13-D, as amended, filed by Mr. Baron with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Mr. Baron's address is 450 Park Avenue, Suite 2800, New York, New York 10022. Pursuant to a letter agreement dated January , 1998 between the Company, Mr. Baron and entities under the control of Mr. Baron (together with Mr. Baron, the "Baron Entities"), each Baron Entity covenanted not to (i) acquire any additional shares of stock or security convertible into stock of the Company; (ii) take any action or participate in any transaction which may constitute an event of default under the Existing Credit Facility or (iii) seek representation on the Board of Directors of the Company. 8 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Compensation received by the Named Officers prior to consummation of the Former Choice Spinoff/1/ was paid by Manor Care. Compensation received by the Named Officers after the Former Choice Spinoff, but prior to the Spinoff, was paid by Former Choice. Compensation received by the Named Officers after the Spinoff was paid by the Company. - -------- 1. Prior to becoming a separate, publicly-held company on October 15, 1997 pursuant to the Spinoff (as defined below), the Company was named Choice Hotels Franchising, Inc. and was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Choice Hotels International, Inc. ("Former Choice"). On October 15, 1997, Former Choice distributed to its stockholders its hotel franchising business (which had previously been conducted primarily by the Company) and its European hotel ownership business pursuant to a pro rata distribution to its stockholders of all of the stock of the Company (the "Spinoff"). At the time of the Spinoff, the Company changed its name to "Choice Hotels International, Inc.," and Former Choice changed its name to "Sunburst Hospitality Corporation." For purposes of this Proxy Statement, references to the Company's former parent corporation pior to the Spinoff are to "Former Choice," and references to such corporation after the Spinoff are to "Sunburst." Prior to November 1996, Former Choice and the Company were subsidiaries of Manor Care, Inc. ("Manor Care") which, directly and through its subsidiaries, engaged in the hotel franchising business currently conducted by the Company as well as the ownership and management of hotels (together with the hotel franchising business, the "Lodging Business") and the health care business. On November 1, 1996, Manor Care separated the Lodging Business from its health care business through a pro rata distribution to the holders of Manor Care's common stock of all of the stock of Former Choice (the "Former Choice Spinoff"). In connection with the Former Choice Spinoff, the Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Former Choice and remained as such until consummation of the Spinoff. Summary Compensation Table
Annual Compensation(1) Long-Term Compensation --------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- Name and Principal Fiscal Restricted Stock Option All Other Position Year(1) Salary Bonus Other StockAwards(5) Shares(#)(2) Compensation(3) ------------------ ------- -------- ------- -------- -------------- ------------ --------------- Stewart Bainum, Jr.(4).. 1998 $169,149 $57,829 (5) -- 57,300 $6,453 Chairman 1997A 148,310 47,683 (5) -- -- -- 1997B 656,357 388,520 (5) -- 60,000(6) -- 1996 625,102 337,555 (5) -- 60,000(7) 33,543 Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr.(8)................. 1998 159,633 -- $99,632(9) $825,000 598,563 -- President and Chief Executive Office Thomas Mirgon(10)....... 1998 239,325 92,083 (5) -- 22,500 -- Senior Vice President, Administration 1997A 188,423 51,315 $169,624(11) -- 7,100(12) -- 1997B 58,477 26,315 (5) -- 40,000(13) -- 1996 -- -- -- -- -- -- Michael J. DeSantis(14)........... 1998 166,538 36,750 (5) -- 22,500 1,920 Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.............. 1997A 122,870 19,204 (5) -- 40,000(15) -- 1997B 99,530 3,477 (5) -- -- -- 1996 35,625 -- -- -- -- -- Mark C. Wells(16)....... 1998 167,115 -- 121,130(17) 300,000 65,000 -- Senior Vice President, Marketing William R. Floyd(18).... 1998 224,841 193,634 (5) -- -- 459,975(19) 1997A 437,260 267,233 $139,403(20) -- 65,000(21) -- 1997B 270,373 146,001 (5) $250,000(23) 307,693(24) -- 1996 -- -- -- -- -- -- Barry L Smith(25)....... 1998 162,058 74,354 (5) -- -- 144,337(26) 1997A 254,231 108,000 (5) - 37,900(27) 11,086 1997B 240,000 108,000 (5) - 25,000(28) 11,086 1996 233,650 116,820 (5) -- 5,000(29) 10,427 Donald H. Dempsey(3).... 1998 171,250 -- 46,100(31) 249,152 100,000 --
9 - -------- 1. On September 16, 1997, the Company changed its fiscal year end from May 31 to December 31. Accordingly, the summary compensation information presented for the periods prior to 1998 is for the twelve months ended December 31, 1997 ("1997A"), the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997 ("1997B") and the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996 ("1996"). Summary compensation data paid to the Named Officers during the period between January 1, 1997 and May 31, 1997 are reflected in each of the 1997A and 1997B periods. 2. For Messrs. Bainum, Jr. and Smith, the grants in 1997B and 1996 represent options to purchase shares of Manor Care common stock. In connection with the Former Choice Spinoff, the options to purchase Manor Care common stock were converted, in some cases 100%, to options to purchase Former Choice common stock. For Messrs. Floyd and Mirgon with respect to grants in 1997B and for all of the Named Officers with respect to grants in 1997A, represents options to acquire shares of Former Choice common stock. In connection with the Spinoff, the options to purchase Former Choice common stock were converted to successor options to purchase Company common stock and Sunburst common stock. In all cases, however, the exercise prices were adjusted to maintain the same financial value to the option holder before and after the Former Choice Spinoff and the Spinoff. 3. Represents amounts contributed by Manor Care for 1996, Former Choice for 1997B, Former Choice/Sunburst for 1997A and the Company for 1998 under their respective 401(k) Plan and Non-Qualified Savings Plan, which provide retirement and other benefits to eligible employees, including the Named Officers. The value of the amounts contributed in stock by the Company during 1998 under the 401(k) Plan and Non-qualified Savings Plan, respectively, for the Named Offices were as follows: Mr. Bainum, Jr., $0 and $6,453; Mr. DeSantis, $1,920 and $0; Mr. Floyd, $2,370 and $0; and Mr. Smith, $5,925 and $5,911. 4. For part of 1997B and all of 1996, Mr. Bainum, Jr. was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Manor Care and Former Choice. In November, 1996, he resigned as Chief Executive Officer of Former Choice. The compensation reflected for 1997B and 1996 is the total compensation received for services rendered to both Manor Care and Former Choice. For the period between January 1, 1997 and October 15, 1997, the amount of compensation paid solely by Former Choice was $132,533 for base salary and $47,683 for bonus. From October 15, 1997 to December 31, 1997 the amount of compensation paid solely by the Company was $15,777 for the period between October 16, 1997 and December 31, 1997. 5. The value of perquisites and other compensation does not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the amount of annual salary and bonus paid as to any of the Named Officers. 6. In connection with the Spinoff, these options were converted into options to acquire 60,000 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $12.1130 and 20,000 shares of Sunburst common stock at an exercise price of $7.1894. 7. In connection with the Spinoff, these options were converted into options to acquire 60,000 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $9.2807 and 20,000 shares of Sunburst common stock at an exercise price of $5.5083. 8. Mr. Ledsinger's employment as President and Chief Executive Officer commenced August, 1998. 9. Includes $95,571 in relocation expenses. 10. Mr. Mirgon's employment with the Company and Former Choice commenced March 3, 1997. 11. Consists of $160,994 in relocation expenses and $8,630 in automobile allowance. 12. In connection with the Spinoff, these options were converted into options to purchase 7,878 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $13.2008 and 888 shares of Sunburst common stock at an exercise price of $7.835. 13. In connection with the Spinoff, these options were converted into options to purchase 44,946 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $13.0043 and 5,000 shares of Sunburst common stock at an exercise price of $7.7421. 14. Mr. DeSantis' employment commenced in January 1996. He was appointed Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in June 1997. 15. In connection with the Spinoff, these options were converted into options to purchase 44,946 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $13.2008 and 5,000 shares of Sunburst common stock at an exercise price of $7.835. 16. Mr. Wells' employment as Senior Vice President, Marketing commenced May 1998. 17. Includes $115,638 in relocation expenses. 18. Mr. Floyd's employment as Chief Executive Officer of Former Choice and the Company commenced October 16, 1996 and ended on June 16, 1998. 19. In connection with Mr. Floyd's resignation, the Company agreed to continue payments to Mr. Floyd in an amount equal to one year's base salary and automobile allowance in consideration of the cancellation of his employment agreement and confidentiality undertakings. The amount of such payments paid in 1998 is $227,033. 20. Consists of $127,703 in relocation expenses (including $107,831 reported under 1997B) and $11,700 in automobile allowance. 10 21. In connection with the Spinoff, these options were converted into options to purchase 71,631 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $16.488 and 10,833 shares of Sunburst common stock at an exercise price of $9.786. 22 Consists of relocation expenses. 23. Represents a grant of 85,470 restricted shares of Former Choice common stock granted on November 4, 1996. The shares vest in three equal annual installments beginning on November 4, 1997. The restricted shares are entitled to dividends and in connection with the Spinoff, Mr. Floyd received 85,470 shares of Company common stock as a dividend on such shares of Former Choice common stock. In connection with his resignation, Mr. Floyd forfeited 42,735 shares. 24. In connection with the Spinoff, these options were converted into options to purchase 341,515 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $12.2095 and 45,584 shares of Sunburst common stock at an exercise price of $7.2466. 25. Mr. Smith retired from the Company in May 1998. 26. Includes $132,500 in consulting fees paid pursuant to a Consulting Agreement with the Company for a term from Mr. Smith=s retirement through December 15, 1998. 27. In connection with the Spinoff, these options were converted into options to purchase 42,586 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $13.2008 and 4,738 shares of Sunburst common stock at an exercise price of $7.835. 28. In connection with the Former Choice Spinoff and the Spinoff, these options were converted into options to acquire 77,624 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $12.113 and 6,819 shares of Sunburst common stock at an exercise price of $7.1894. 29. In connection with the Former Choice Spinoff, these options were converted into options to acquire 15,183 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $9.2807 and 1,023 shares of Sunburst common stock at an exercise price of $5.5083. 30. Mr. Dempsey resigned from the Company in July 1998. 31. Includes $40,607 in relocation expenses. STOCK OPTION GRANTS IN 1998
Potential Realizable Value of Assumed Rate of Stock Price Appreciation for Individual Grants Option Term(1) ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------- Percentage of Total Options Number of Granted to all Exercise Options Employees in Base Price Expiration Name Granted 1998 Per Share Date 5%(2) 10%(3) ---- --------- -------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Stewart Bainum, Jr. (4).................... 47,300 4.4% $ 14.125 9/23/08 $ 420,170 $ 1,064,798 Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr. (4)................ 598,563 56.2% $ 12.53 7/31/08 $4,716,676 $11,953,063 Thomas Mirgon (4)....... 22,500 2.1% $14.8437 1/26/08 $ 210,040 $ 532,282 Michael J. DeSantis (4).................... 22,500 2.1% $14.8437 1/26/08 $ 210,040 $ 532,292 Mark C. Wells (4)....... 65,000 6 .1% $ 16.00 5/18/08 $ 654,050 $ 1,657,494 William R. Floyd........ 0 -- -- -- -- -- Barry L. Smith.......... 0 -- -- -- -- -- Donald H. Dempsey ...... 100,000 9.4% $14.6563 1/12/08(5) $ 921,730 $ 2,335,840
- -------- 1. The dollar amounts under these columns are the result of calculations at the 5% and 10% rates set by the Securities and Exchange Commission and therefore are not intended to forecast future possible appreciation, if any, of the stock price. Since options are granted at market price, a zero percent gain in the stock price will result in no realizable value to the optionees. 2. A 5% per year appreciation in stock price from $14.125 per share yields $23.0081, from $14.8437 per share yields $24.1788, from $12.53 per share yields $26.0623, from $12.53 per share yields $20.41, and from $14.6563 per share yields $23.8736. 3. A 10% per year appreciation in stock price from $14.125 per share yields $36.6366, from $14.8437 per share yields $38.5007, from $16.00 per share yields $41.4999, from $12.53 per share yields $32.4996, and from $14.6563 per share yields $38.0147. 4. The options granted to the officers vest at the rate of 20% per year on the first through the fifth anniversaries of the date of the stock option grant. 5. Such options were forfeited upon Mr. Dempsey's resignation. 11 AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN 1998 AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
Number of Unexercised Options at December, 31, 1998 -------------------------------- Value of Unexercised Shares Acquired Value in-the-money Options-- on Exercise Realized Exercisable Unexercisable at December 31, 1998(1) --------------- -------- -------------- --------------- ------------------------- Name # $ # # Exercisable Unexercisable ---- --------------- -------- -------------- --------------- ----------- ------------- Stewart Bainum, Jr...... 105,000 $982,107 250,000 152,300 $2,047,611 $ 450,370 Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr..................... -- -- 0 598,563 -- $ 374,102 Thomas Mirgon........... -- -- 10,585 64,839 $ 4,574 $ (11,938) Michael J. DeSantis.. .. -- -- 8,990 58,456 $ 2,690 $ (19,475) Mark C. Wells........... -- -- 0 65,000 -- $(162,500) Donald H. Dempsey....... -- -- 0 0 -- -- William R. Floyd........ -- -- 150,892 0 $ 133,603 -- Barry L. Smith.......... 83,384 731,475 0 0 -- --
- -------- 1. The closing prices of Company common stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on December 31, 1998 was $13.50. The value is calculated on the basis of the difference between the option exercise price and such closing price multiplied by the number of shares of Company common stock underlying the option. Employment Agreements The Company entered into an employment agreement with Stewart Bainum, Jr., providing for Mr. Bainum, Jr.'s employment as Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors. The agreement has a term of three years. Either Choice or Mr. Bainum may terminate the agreement upon 30 days' prior written notice on the first and second anniversary dates of the agreement. Under the agreement, Mr. Bainum, Jr. is currently paid a base salary of $204,000 per annum for services to the Company and a maximum bonus of 60% of Mr. Bainum, Jr.'s base compensation based upon the performance of the Company. The Company entered into an employment agreement Charles A. Ledsinger. The agreement has a term of five years from July 31, 1998 and provides for a base salary of $500,000 per annum, subject to annual adjustments and an annual bonus of up to 60% of his base compensation, based on Company performance. The agreement also provides for a make-whole bonus payment to compensate Mr. Ledsinger for the pro rata portion of a bonus from his previous employer that he forfeited upon employment with the Company. Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Ledsinger was granted 65,842 shares of restricted Company common stock and options to purchase 598,563 shares of common stock, of which 39,900 of the options were incentive stock options granted under the Former Choice 1996 Long Term Incentive Plan. The remainder of the options were non-qualified stock options. The agreement also contains a change of control provision which provides for a severance payment equal to 200% of his base salary and 75% of a prior year's bonus if he is terminated within twelve months of a change of control of the Company. The Company assumed an employment agreement between Former Choice and Thomas Mirgon. The agreement has a term of five years from March 3,1997 and provides for a base salary of $230,000 per annum, subject to annual adjustments and an annual bonus of up to 50% of his base compensation, based on the Company's performance. The agreement also provides for (i) a one-time cash payment of $50,000, payable in two equal installments: the first within 30 days of March 3, 1997 and the second within 30 days of March 3, 1998; and (ii) a grant of 30,000 non-qualified options and 10,000 incentive stock options. The Company entered into an employment agreement with Mark C. Wells. The agreement has a term of five years from May 18, 1998 and provides for a base salary of $275,000 per annum, subject to annual adjustments and an annual bonus of up to 50% of his base compensation, based on performance. Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Wells was granted 18,750 shares of restricted Company common stock and options to purchase 65,000 shares of common stock, of which 16,250 of the options were incentive stock options granted under the Former Choice 1996 Long Term Incentive Plan. The remainder of the options were non- qualified stock options. 12 The Company entered into an employment agreement with Michael J. DeSantis. The agreement has a term of five years from April 29, 1998 and provides for a base salary of $170,000 per annum, subject to annual adjustments and an annual bonus of up to 50% of his base compensation, based on performance. The Company assumed an employment agreement between Former Choice and William R. Floyd, who resigned from the Company in June 1998. The agreement had a term of five years from October 21, 1996 and provided for a base salary of $425,000 per annum, subject to annual adjustments and an annual bonus of up to 60% of his base compensation, based on performance (including a customer satisfaction component). Pursuant to the employment agreement, prior to the Spinoff, Former Choice granted to Mr. Floyd 85,470 shares of restricted Former Choice common stock and options to purchase 307,693 shares of Former Choice common stock, of which 34,188 of the options were incentive stock options granted under the Former Choice 1996 Long Term Incentive Plan. The remainder of the options were non-qualified stock options. Upon assumption of the Employment Agreements by the Company, such restricted stock and options were adjusted and converted into Company common stock and options. In connection with his resignation, the Company and Mr. Floyd entered into an Agreement which terminated the employment agreement and provided for one-year of base salary and automobile allowance, continued vesting of stock options until June 16, 1999, and the vesting of one-half of the restricted common stock which vested on November 4, 1998. The remaining options and restricted stock were forfeited. The Company entered into an employment agreement with Donald H. Dempsey, who resigned from the Company in July, 1998. The agreement had a term of five years from January 12, 1998 and provided for a base salary of $325,000 per annum, subject to annual adjustments, and an annual bonus of up to 55% of his base compensation, based upon the Company's performance. The agreement also provided for an award of 17,000 restricted shares of the Company's common stock and options to acquire 100,000 shares of the Company's common stock, both granted on January 12, 1998. Upon his resignation, all options and restricted stock were forfeited. On December 18, 1997, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with Barry L. Smith under which Smith provided consulting services to the Company upon his retirement in May 1998 until December 15, 1998. Smith received consulting fees of $132,500 during the term of the consulting agreement. Smith agreed that during the term of the agreement, he would not compete with the Company. Retirement Plans The Company has adopted the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the "SERP"). Participants are the CEO and Senior Vice Presidents and other officers who report directly to the CEO. Participants in the SERP receive a monthly benefit for life based upon final average salary and years of service. Final average salary is the average of the monthly base salary, excluding bonuses or commissions, earned in a 60 month period which produces the highest average out of the 120 months of employment, prior to the first occurring of the early retirement date or the normal retirement date. The nominal retirement age is 65, and participants must have a minimum of 15 years of service. Participants may retire at age 60 and may elect to receive reduced benefits commencing prior to age 65, subject to Board approval. All of the Named Officers who are participants, except for Mr. Smith, are age 55 or younger, so that none of their compensation reported above would be included in the final average salary calculation. See "Employment Agreements" for a discussion of the terms applicable to Mr. Floyd's participation in the SERP. 13 Assuming that the following officers continue to be employed by the Company until they reach age 65, their credited years of service are as follows:
Current Years Years of Service Name of Individual of Service at Age 65 ------------------ ------------- ---------------- Charles A. Ledsinger....................... 0 16 Thomas Mirgon.............................. 2 24 Mark C. Wells.............................. 1 17 Michael J. DeSantis........................ 3 28
The table below sets forth estimated annual benefits payable upon retirement to persons in specified compensation and years of service classifications. These benefits are straight life annuity amounts, although participants have the option of selecting a joint and 50% survivor annuity or ten-year certain payments. The benefits are not subject to offset for social security and other amounts. Years of Service/Benefit as Percentage of Final Average Salary
25 or Remuneration 15/15% 20/22.5% more/30% ------------ ------- -------- -------- $300,000 $45,000 $67,500 $90,000 350,000 52,500 78,750 105,000 400,000 60,000 90,000 120,000 450,000 67,500 101,250 135,000 500,000 75,000 112,500 150,000 600,000 90,000 135,000 180,000
In October 1997, the Company established the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Retirement Savings and Investment Plan (the "401(k) Plan"). The 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution retirement, savings and investment plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and includes a cash or deferred arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Code. All employees age 21 or over and who have worked for the Company for a twelve month period during which such employee completed at least 1,000 hours will be eligible to participate. Subject to certain non-discrimination requirements, each employee will be able to contribute an amount to the 401(k) Plan on a pre-tax basis up to 15% of the employee's salary, but not more than the current Federal limit of $10,0 00. The Company will match contributions made by its employees subject to certain limitations. The amount of the match will be equal to a percentage of the amount of salary reduction contribution made on behalf of a participant during the plan year based upon a formula that involves the profits of the Company for the year and the number of years of service of the participant. Amounts contributed by the Company pursuant to its 401(k) Plan for Named Officers are included in the Summary Compensation Table under the column headed "All Other Compensation." The Company also adopted the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Non-Qualified Retirement Savings and Investment Plan ("Non-Qualified Savings Plan"). Certain select highly compensated members of management of the Company will be eligible to participate in the Non-Qualified Savings Plan. The Non-Qualified Savings Plan is structured so as to provide the participants with a pre-tax savings vehicle to the extent that pre-tax savings are limited under the 401(k) Plan as a result of various governmental regulations, such as non-discrimination testing. Amounts contributed by the Company under its Non-Qualified Savings Plan for fiscal year 1998 for the Named Officers are included in the Summary Compensation Table under the column headed "All Other Compensation." The Company match under the 401(k) Plan and the Non-Qualified Savings Plan is limited to a maximum aggregate of 6% of the annual salary of a participant. Likewise, participant contributions under the two plans will not exceed the aggregate of 15% of the annual salary of a participant. 14 THE FOLLOWING COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT AND THE PERFORMANCE GRAPH THAT APPEARS IMMEDIATELY AFTER SUCH REPORT SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE SOLICITING MATERIAL OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN ANY DOCUMENT SO FILED. BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION During part of fiscal year 1998, there were two compensation committees for the Company, the Compensation/Key Executive Stock Option Plan Committee (the "Committee") and the Compensation/Key Executive Stock Option Plan Committee No. 2 ("Committee No. 2"). The role of Committee No. 2, which was comprised of "outside directors" as defined in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, was to approve awards under the 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan to the Chief Executive Officer and the Named Officers defined below. However, since the retirement of Stewart Bainum from the Board of Directors, the role of Committee No. 2 has been assumed by the Committee and Committee No. 2 has been abolished. The current members of the Committee, Messrs. Robertson (Chairman), Malek and Ms. Bainum, were appointed effective November 21, 1997. The following philosophy and principles have been set forth as a framework within which the Committee will operate. Compensation Committee Philosophy and Guiding Principles . Attract and retain talented management; . Closely align management's interests and actions with those of shareholders through the establishment of appropriate award vehicles; . Reward employees for enhancing shareholder value through sustained improvement in earnings per share; . Position base pay at market so that the Company can vary total compensation costs with financial results by means of variable pay; and . Recognize the concept that executive officers individually, and as a group, should have a significant ownership stake in the Company. Executive Compensation Policies Compensation Levels The Committee relates total compensation levels for the Company's executive officers to the total compensation paid to similarly situated executives based on various independently published compensation surveys, primarily conducted and evaluated by independent consultants. Summary data on companies of similar size in the service sector are used as the primary comparison and companies in the hotel industry are used as a secondary comparison. Total compensation is targeted to approximate the median of the competitive market data and comparison companies. However, because of the performance-oriented nature of the incentive programs, total compensation may exceed market norms when the Company's targeted performance goals are exceeded. Similarly, total compensation may lag the market when performance goals are not achieved. Compensation for the executive officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer, was set in January 1998. In June 1998, William R. Floyd, Chief Executive Officer and President, resigned from the Company. In September 1998, Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr. was appointed Chief Executive Officer and President. For the twelve months ended December 31, 1998, compensation for the current President and Chief Executive Officer was slightly below the median while compensation for all of the other executive officers, as a group, was at or above the median. 15 One of the comparison companies, LaQuinta Hotel Corporation, was not included as part of the Peer Group Index (defined below) for the performance graph, see "Performance Graph", because it in July 1998, it was acquired by Meditrust Companies, which has diversified holdings in real estate, healthcare and hospitality. It was included as a comparison company for compensation purposes because such comparison was done before the acquisition. Policy with Respect to Qualifying Compensation for Deductibility Section 162(m) of the Code imposes a $1 million ceiling on tax-deductible compensation paid to the Chief Executive Officer and the next four most highly compensated executive officers. The Company's policy with respect to the deductibility limit of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally is to preserve the federal income tax deductibility of compensation paid when it is appropriate and is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. However, the Company reserves the right to authorize the payment of nondeductible compensation if it deems that is appropriate. In connection with Charles A. Ledsinger's employment agreement, Mr. Ledsinger was granted 65,842 non-performance based restricted shares of Company Common Stock which vest in three equal annual installments beginning July 31, 1999. At vesting (unless Mr. Ledsinger elects to defer receipt), the fair market value of the stock will be compensation to Mr. Ledsinger and included in calculating the $1 million ceiling. Additionally, the employment agreement provides for options to purchase 498,563 shares of Company Common Stock which were granted outside of the 1997 Incentive Plan and which vest in five equal monthly installments beginning July 31, 1999. Upon the exercise of such options by Mr. Ledsinger during any fiscal year, his gain (the difference between the fair market value on the date of exercise and the exercise price) will be included in calculating the compensation for that fiscal year for which the federal income tax deduction is disallowed. The Committee intends to monitor the Company's compensation programs with respect to such laws. Annual Compensation The base salary pay practice as previously adopted by the Former Choice Compensation Committee is to target compensation at the 55th percentile of the market range among the comparison groups for a particular position and to adjust as appropriate for experience and performance. Annual merit adjustments for the executive officers affecting compensation paid in the twelve months ended December 31, 1998 were set in January 1998. In 1997, the Committee revised its performance measurements for awards under the annual cash bonus program to focus heavily on management's responsibility to deliver earnings per share based on earnings per share from continuing operations at established annual targets. For executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, the measurements include specific performance objectives directly accountable to the executive officer. These performance objectives, where applicable, could include licensee/customer satisfaction and RevPAR and would incorporate each executive officer's accountability for the successful execution of key initiatives tied to achievement of the Company's strategic plan. For the 1998 fiscal year, the awards under the annual cash bonus program were based 75% on achieving increased earnings per share and 25% on achieving performance objectives. For this period, actual performance exceeded the goals for earnings per share. Long- Term Incentives The Company will award long-term incentives under the 1997 Incentive Plan. The plan gives the Committee the latitude of awarding Incentive Stock Options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, and other types of long-term incentive awards. The recommended awards were developed by analyzing peer group average market data and the Company's past practice. The Committee reviewed and approved a Stock Option Guide Chart for the Company's executives which utilizes a market based salary multiple to establish a competitive range of stock options from which executive awards could be determined. 16 Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Floyd served as Chief Executive Officer and President until June 1998. His base salary was established by his rights under his employment agreement, approved by the Committee. The base salary was reviewed each year by the Committee and was subject to merit increases based primarily on his achievement of performance objectives and the comparison to competitive market data and the comparison companies. In September 1997, the Committee approved a 5% merit increase to Mr. Floyd's base salary. Under the annual cash bonus program, Mr. Floyd had the potential to be awarded up to 60% of his base salary if bonus objectives were achieved. Unlike the other executive officers, Mr. Floyd's bonus objectives were tied 100% to earning per share. Mr. Floyd received his full bonus payout for fiscal year 1997 in February 1998. Mr. Ledsinger was appointed Chief Executive Officer and President in August 1998. His base salary is established by his rights under his employment agreement, approved by the Committee. The base salary is reviewed each year by the Committee and is subject to merit increases based primarily on his achievement of performance objectives and the comparison to competitive market data and the comparison companies. The performance objectives vary from year to year but in general relate to such matters as positioning the Company for growth, achieving the Company's strategic plan and other various financial goals. Although no specific weights are assigned to any particular objective, a greater emphasis is placed on corporate and personal performance than on competitive practices within the industry. In February 1999, the Committee approved a 5% annualized (3.75% pro rata) merit increase to Mr. Ledsinger's base salary. Under the annual cash bonus program, Mr. Ledsinger has the potential to be awarded up to 60% of his base salary if bonus objectives are achieved. Unlike the other executive officers, Mr. Ledsinger's bonus objectives are tied 100% to earning per share. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, actual performance exceeded the goals for earnings per share. In addition to the pro rata bonus payout for fiscal year 1998, Mr. Ledsinger's employment agreement provided for a make-whole provision with respect to the pro rata portion of a bonus from his previous employer which he forfeited when he accepted employment with the Company. THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Jerry E. Robertson, Chairman Frederic V. Malek Barbara Bainum 17 PERFORMANCE GRAPH The following graph compares the performance of Choice common stock with the performance of the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index ("NYSE Composite Index") and a peer group index (the "Peer Group Index") by measuring the changes in common stock prices from October 16, 1997, plus assumed reinvested dividends. The Commission's rules require that the Company select a peer group in good faith with which to compare its stock performance by selecting a group of companies in lines of business similar to its own. Accordingly, the Company has selected a peer group that includes companies which are actively traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Stock Market and which are in the franchising and/or hospitality industry. The common stock of the following companies have been included in the Peer Group Index: Prime Hospitality Corporation, Marriott International, Inc., Promus Hotel Corporation, Cendent Corporation and Hilton Hotels Corp. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on October 16, 1997, in each of Choice common stock, the NYSE Composite Index and the Peer Group Index, and that all dividends were reinvested. In addition, the graph weighs the constituent companies on the basis of their respective capitalization, measured at the beginning of each relevant time period.
October 10, December 31, March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31, 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 ----------- ------------ --------- -------- ------------- ------------ --- Choice Hotels 100 94.1 108 79.8 74.6 80.5 NYSE Composite Index 100 101.5 114.2 116.3 102.0 121.8 Peer Group 100 100.6 111.4 98.3 65.5 77.8
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS RELATED TRANSACTIONS Creative Hotel Associates LLC is a franchisee of the Company with Sleep Inns in Ormond Beach, Florida and Albuquerque, New Mexico and a Comfort Inn and Suites in Carbondale, Colorado. Robert C. Hazard, Jr. is 18 Chairman of Creative Hotel Associates LLP and Gerald W. Petitt is the President and Chief Executive Officer. Total payments to the Company for fiscal year 1998 were $212,000. The Company and Creative Hotels have also entered into an agreement which provides for no royalty fees for two selected hotels for a period of five years. Mr. Petitt is a director of the Company and Mr. Hazard, Jr. retired from the Board of Directors in August, 1998. Pursuant to its relocation policy, the Company entered into a bridge loan agreement with Charles A. Ledsinger in the amount of $754,000 for the purchase of his residence. The bridge loan was interest-free and was repaid in March 1999. Also under its relocation policy, the Company purchased Mr. Ledsinger Jr.'s previous residence. Relationship with Manor Care Stewart Bainum, Jr. is the Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors and is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of HCR Manor Care, the parent company of Manor Care. Additionally, Stewart Bainum, who retired as a Director of the Company in August 1998, is a director of HCR Manor Care and James Rempe, who is a Director of the Company, served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Manor Care until December 1998. Additionally, Messrs. Bainum, Bainum Jr. and Rempe, as well as certain other officers and directors of HCR Manor Care own shares and/or options or other rights to acquire shares of the Company. In connection with the Spinoff, the Company, Sunburst and Manor Care entered into an Omnibus Amendment and Guaranty Agreement (the "Amendment and Guaranty") pursuant to which the Company (i) became a party to certain agreements entered into between Manor Care and Former Choice at the time of the Former Choice Spinoff, (ii) guaranteed Sunburst's payment obligations under the Gaithersburg Lease and the Silver Spring Lease (each as defined below), (iii) guaranteed Sunburst's payment obligations to Manor Care under an agreement pursuant to which Manor Care provided to Former Choice/Sunburst certain consulting services, and (iv) guaranteed Sunburst's payment obligations under a loan note (the "MNR Note") in the principal amount of $225,772,500 payable by Former Choice to MNR Finance Corp., a subsidiary of Manor Care. The Gaithersburg Lease and the Silver Spring Lease and the related guarantees were terminated in May, 1998, see "Relationship with Sunburst--Lease Agreements." All amounts due under the MNR Note were repaid at the time of the Spinoff. Relationship with Sunburst In connection with the Spinoff, the Company and Sunburst entered into certain agreements intended to govern the relationship between the parties after the Spinoff. In addition, Sunburst is the Company's largest franchisee, with a portfolio of 88 hotels containing 12,125 rooms located in 28 states as of March 1999. The material terms of certain of these agreements and other arrangements, entered into between the Company and Sunburst, including the franchise agreements with respect to Sunburst's hotels, are described below. Distribution Agreement In connection with the Spinoff, the Company and Sunburst entered into a Distribution Agreement which provided for, among other things, the principal corporate transactions required to effect the Spinoff, the assumption by the Company of all liabilities relating to its business and the allocation between the Company and Sunburst of certain other liabilities, certain indemnification obligations of Sunburst and Choice and certain other agreements governing the relationship between the Company and Sunburst with respect to or in consequence of the Spinoff. Subject to certain exceptions, the Company has agreed to indemnify Sunburst and its subsidiaries against any loss, liability or expense incurred or suffered by Sunburst or its subsidiaries arising out of or related to the failure by the Company to perform or otherwise discharge liabilities allocated to and assumed by the Company under the Distribution Agreement, and Sunburst has agreed to indemnify the Company against any loss, liability or expense incurred or suffered by the Company arising out of or related to the failure by Sunburst to perform or otherwise discharge the liabilities retained by Sunburst under the Distribution Agreement. The foregoing cross-indemnities do not apply to indemnification for tax claims and liabilities, which are addressed in the Tax Sharing Agreement described below. 19 To avoid adversely affecting the intended tax consequences of the Spinoff, each of the Company and Sunburst will agree to comply in all material respects with each representation and statement made to any taxing authority in connection with the IRS tax ruling or any other tax ruling obtained by the Company and Sunburst in connection with the Spinoff. Under the Distribution Agreement, each of the Company and Sunburst were granted access to certain records and information in the possession of the other, and requires the retention of such information in its possession for specified periods and thereafter requires that each party give the other prior notice of its intention to dispose of such information. In addition, the Distribution Agreement provides for the allocation of shared privileges with respect to certain information and requires each of the Company and Sunburst to obtain the consent of the other prior to waiving any shared privilege. In accordance with the Distribution Agreement, the Company agreed to assume and pay certain liabilities of Sunburst, subject to the Company maintaining a minimum net worth of $40 million, at the date of the Spinoff. As of December 31, 1997 the Company reflected a $25 million receivable due from Sunburst on its consolidated balance sheet. In 1998, net payments of approximately $8 million were collected from Sunburst in cash. On December 28, 1998, the Company and Sunburst amended the Strategic Alliance Agreement (defined below) entered into in connection with the Spinoff. As part of that amendment, the Company exchanged the remaining $17 million balance in return for, among other things, the termination of Sunburst's option for the exclusive rights to the MainStay Suites brand and a commitment from Sunburst to build a total of 25 MainStay Suites. Strategic Alliance Agreement At the time of the Spinoff, the Company and Sunburst entered into a Strategic Alliance Agreement pursuant to which: (i) Sunburst granted a right of first refusal to the Company to franchise any lodging property that Sunburst develops or acquires and intends to operate under franchise; (ii) Sunburst has also agreed, barring a material change in market conditions, to continue to develop Sleep Inns and MainStay Suites hotels so that it will have opened a total of 14 Sleep Inns and 15 MainStay Suites hotels by October 15, 2001 (48 months of the Spinoff); (iii) The Company granted to Sunburst an option, exercisable under certain circumstances, to purchase the brand names, marks, franchise agreements and other assets of the MainStay Suites hotel system; (iv) the Company and Sunburst agreed to continue to cooperate with respect to matters of mutual interest, including new product and concept testing for the Company in hotels owned by Sunburst; and (v) Sunburst authorized the Company to negotiate with third party vendors on Sunburst's behalf for the purchase of certain items. The Strategic Alliance Agreement extends for a term of 20 years with rights of mutual termination on the fifth, tenth and fifteenth anniversaries. On December 28, 1998, Sunburst and the Company amended the Strategic Alliance Agreement to: (i) cancel Sunburst's option to acquire the MainStay Suites system; (ii) change Sunburst's development obligations to 13 Sleep Inns and 25 MainStay Suites by October 15, 2001; and (iii) provide certain other global amendments to Sunburst's franchise agreements. Amendment and Guaranty In connection with the Spinoff, the Company entered into the Amendment and Guaranty for the purpose of adding the Company as a party to certain agreements entered into between Former Choice and Manor Care in connection with the Former Choice Spinoff and adding the Company as a guarantor of certain payment obligations of Sunburst to Manor Care pursuant to agreements between Former Choice and Manor Care. For a discussion of the Amendment and Guaranty, see "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions--Relationship with Manor Care" and "--Lease Agreements." Term Note In connection with the Spinoff, the Company loaned to Sunburst approximately $115 million which was used by Sunburst to repay approximately $96 million outstanding under Former Choice's credit facility and to repay that portion of the Former Choice indebtedness under the MNR Note allocated to Sunburst in connection with the Spinoff (approximately $37 million). 20 This loan is represented by a Term Note in an aggregate principal amount of $115 million (the "Term Note"). The Term Note has a maturity of five years and initially accrues interest monthly at an simple rate of 11% per annum though October 14, 2000. At October 15, 2000, interest accrues at a rate of 11% per annum compounded daily. The Term Note is subordinated to all senior debt of Sunburst and contains certain restrictive covenants comparable to those contained in Sunburst's senior credit facility (including restrictions on Sunburst's ability to make certain investments, incur debt, pay dividends, dispose of assets and create liens on its assets). Corporate Services Agreement The Company and Sunburst entered into a Corporate Services Agreement which provides that the Company will provide to Sunburst certain corporate support services, including human resources, accounting, tax and computer systems support, and Sunburst will provide to the Company certain services including asset management and accounts payable processing. As of March 31, 1999, all services provided by each party under the Corporate Services Agreement, except for human resources and tax services provided by the Company, will be terminated. During fiscal year 1998, the Company paid Sunburst $168,660 and Sunburst paid the Company $1,664,750 for services under the Corporate Services Agreement. Consulting Agreement The Company and Sunburst entered into a Consulting Agreement in which Sunburst will provide consulting and advisory services to the Company related to financial issues affecting Sunburst. The term of the agreement commences October 15, 1997 and terminated on November 1, 2001. Sunburst is entitled to an annual retainer fee equal to 30% of the annual compensation (including base salary, incentive bonus and fringe benefits) paid to James A. MacCutcheon by Sunburst during such period. If Mr. MacCutcheon ceases to be employed by Sunburst, the agreement can be terminated by either party, but if terminated by Sunburst, then the Company shall pay Sunburst a termination fee equal to 30% of any amount due by Sunburst to Mr. MacCutcheon under his employment agreement as a result of his separation, During fiscal year 1998, the Company paid Sunburst $116,268 pursuant to the Consulting Agreement. Tax Sharing Agreement The Company and Sunburst have entered into a Tax Sharing Agreement for purposes of allocating tax liabilities of Former Choice from before the Spinoff among the Company and Sunburst and their respective subsidiaries. In general, Sunburst will be responsible for (i) filing consolidated federal income tax returns for the Sunburst affiliated group and combined or consolidated state tax returns for any group that includes a member of the Sunburst affiliated group, including in each case the Company and its subsidiaries for the periods of time that such companies were members of the applicable group and (ii) paying the taxes relating to such tax returns to the applicable taxing authorities (including any subsequent adjustments resulting from the redetermination of such tax liabilities by the applicable taxing authorities). The Company will reimburse Sunburst for the portion of such taxes that relates to the Company and its subsidiaries, as determined based on their hypothetical separate company income tax liabilities. The Company and Sunburst have agreed to cooperate with each other, and to share information, in preparing such tax returns and in dealing with other tax matters. Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement In connection with the Spinoff, the Company and Sunburst entered into an Employee Benefits and Other Employment Matters Allocation Agreement (the "Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement"). The Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement provides for the allocation subsequent to the Spinoff of employee benefits, as they relate to employees who remained employed by Sunburst or its subsidiaries ("Sunburst Employees") after the Spinoff and employees who are employed by the Company or its subsidiaries after the Spinoff ("Choice Employees"). Pursuant to the Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement, Sunburst will continue sponsorship of 21 the various Sunburst profit sharing plans, stock plans and health and welfare plans with respect to Sunburst Employees. The Company has established a number of plans which allow it to provide to its employees substantially the same benefits currently provided to them as employees of Former Choice. The Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement provides for cross-guarantees between the Company and Sunburst with respect to the payment of benefits under certain plans and for cross-indemnification with respect to employment-related claim relating to prior to the Spinoff. The Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement also provided for the adjustment of outstanding options to purchase shares of Sunburst common stock held by Sunburst Employees, Choice Employees and employees of Manor Care who hold such options as a result of the Former Choice Spinoff. As a result of these adjustments, the Company granted options to purchase approximately 5,222,474 shares of common stock to Choice Employees, Sunburst Employees and employees of Manor Care. Lease Agreements Pursuant to the Amendment and Guaranty, the Company was added as a guarantor of Sunburst's obligations under a lease for certain office space in Gaithersburg, Maryland (the "Gaithersburg Lease") a lease agreement with respect to the complex at 10750 and 10770 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland (the "Silver Spring Complex") at which Sunburst's principal executive offices were located (the "Silver Spring Lease"). Additionally, Sunburst and Choice entered into a sublease agreement (the "Silver Spring Sublease") with respect to the Silver Spring Lease for the Company's principal executive offices at 10750 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20901. The Gaithersburg Lease, the Silver Spring Lease and the Silver Spring Sublease were canceled in May, 1998. In fiscal year 1998, the Company paid to Sunburst $977,500 under the Silver Spring Sublease. Transitional Service Agreements The Company and Sunburst have entered into a number of agreements pursuant to which the Company provides, or will provide, certain continuing services to Sunburst for a transitional period. Such services will be provided on market terms and conditions. Subject to the termination provisions of the specific agreements, Sunburst will be free to procure such services from outside vendors or may develop an in-house capability in order to provide such services internally. Management believes that these agreements are based on commercially reasonable terms including pricing and payment terms. The primary transitional services agreements are summarized below. Pursuant to the Employee Benefits Administration Agreement, the Company provides certain benefits, compensation and other services. Such other services may include benefit plan administration and accounting, COBRA administration, regulatory compliance and certain fiduciary services. Pursuant to the Tax Administration Agreement, the Company provides certain sales, use, occupancy, real and personal property tax return administration, audit and appeals services for Sunburst. Pursuant to the Vehicle Lease Agreement, the Company provides the use of certain vehicles to Sunburst. Franchise Agreements The Clarion, Comfort, Econo Lodge, Sleep Inn, Quality, MainStay Suites and Rodeway marks are each owned by the Company. Each hotel property owned by Sunburst is subject to a franchise agreement between the Company and Sunburst, as franchisee (the "Franchise Agreements"). (The material terms of such agreements are described below.) Total fees paid to the Company for franchising, royalty, marketing and reservation fees for fiscal year 1998 were $11.2 million. Term. Each Franchise Agreement has an initial term of 20 years, except the agreement for Tempe, Arizona which is a year to year agreement. The Franchise Agreements have varying original dates, from 1982 through 22 1996. Certain Franchise Agreements allow for unilateral termination by either party on the 5th, 10th, or 15th anniversary of the Franchise Agreement. Termination by Sunburst. Sunburst (except with respect to one property as described below) may terminate a Franchise Agreement if the Company defaults on its material obligations under such Franchise Agreement and fails to cure such defaults within 30 days following written notice. The Franchise Agreement with respect to the Quality Hotel--Arlington (the "Non-Standard Franchise Agreement") does not allow Sunburst to terminate such Franchise Agreement. Termination by Choice. The Company (except with respect to the Non-Standard Franchise Agreement) may suspend or terminate a Franchise Agreement at any time, if, among other things, Sunburst (a) fails to submit reports when due; (b) fails to pay amounts due under such Franchise Agreement; (c) fails to pay its debts generally as they become due; or (d) receives two or more notices of default for similar reasons for any 12 month period. The Company (except with respect to the Non- Standard Franchise Agreement) may terminate a Franchise Agreement immediately upon notice to Sunburst if, among other things, (a) certain bankruptcy events occur with respect to Sunburst; (b) Sunburst loses possession or the right to possession of the Property; (c) Sunburst breaches transfer restrictions in the related Franchise Agreement; (d) any action is taken to dissolve or liquidate Sunburst; or (e) there is a threat or danger to the public health and safety in the continued operation of the Property. If a Franchise Agreement is terminated by the Company for any of the reasons discussed in the immediately preceding two sentences, Sunburst is required to pay Special Interest equal to the product of (i) the average monthly gross room revenue for the preceding 12 months, multiplied by (ii) the royalty fee percentage (more fully described below), multiplied by (iii) the number of months unexpired under the term of the related Franchise Agreement (in no event less than $21-$50 multiplied by the specified room count). The Non-Standard Franchise Agreement has termination provisions similar to those in the other Franchise Agreements. The Company may terminate the Non- Standard Franchise Agreement immediately upon notice to Sunburst if, among other things, (a) certain bankruptcy events occur with respect to Sunburst; (b) certain breaches of the related agreements are not remedied; (c) any action is taken to dissolve or liquidate Sunburst; or (d) legal proceedings against Sunburst are not dismissed within a certain period of time. Upon termination, the Franchise Agreement for the Rodeway Inn-Phoenix (Tempe) calls for Special Interest of the greater of (i) $50,000 and (ii) the sum of the previous two years of fees paid by the licensee. Fees. The Franchise Agreements require the payment of certain fees and charges, including the following: (a) a royalty fee of between 1.93% to 5.0% of monthly gross room revenues; (b) a marketing fee of between 0.7% and 2.5% plus $0.28 per day multiplied by the specified room count; and (c) a reservation fee of 0.88% to 1.75% of monthly gross room revenues (or 1% of monthly gross room revenues plus $1.00 per room confirmed through Choice's reservation system). The marketing fee and the reservation fee are subject to reasonable increases during the term of the franchise if the Company raises such fees uniformly among all its franchisees, generally. Late payments (i) will be a breach of the Franchise Agreement and (ii) will accrue interest from the date of delinquency at a rate of 1.5% per month or portion thereof. In December 1998, the Company and Sunburst entered into an amendment which provided that (i) Sunburst shall pay an application fee of $20,000 on all future franchise agreements, and (ii) no royalties, marketing or reservation fees shall be payable for a period of two years for the next ten franchise agreements entered into after the amendment. Certain Covenants. The Franchise Agreements impose certain affirmative obligations upon the Company including: (a) to lend the Franchisor an operations manual; (b) to utilize money collected from marketing and reservation fees to 23 promote those aspects of the franchise business; and (c) to periodically inspect the Property. The Franchise Agreements also impose affirmative obligations upon Sunburst including: (a) to participate in a specified reservation system; (b) to keep and comply with the up-to-date version of the Company's rules and regulations for properly running the specified franchise; (c) to prepare monthly financial and other records; (d) to not interfere with the franchised mark(s) and the Company's rights thereto; and (e) to maintain certain specified insurance policies. Assignments. Sunburst is prohibited from directly or indirectly selling, assigning, transferring, conveying, pledging or mortgaging its interest in the Franchise Agreement, or any equity interest in such franchise interests without the consent of the Company except that, among other things, certain percentages of ownership interests in Sunburst may be transferred without the Company's consent. The Company's consent to such transfers, will not be given unless, among other things: (a) all monetary obligations due under the Franchise Agreement are paid to the Company; (b) no defaults under the Franchise Agreement remain uncured; (c) the transferee agrees in writing to upgrade the related Property to the then-current standards; and (d) the transferee agrees to remain liable for all obligations under the Franchise Agreement so transferred. The Company is permitted to assign all or any part of its rights or obligations under the Franchise Agreements. However, the Franchise Agreements (with the exception of the Non-Standard Franchise Agreement) do not permit the Company to absolve itself from the obligations that it transfers under the Franchise Agreement. Upon the assignment of the Company's obligations under the Non-Standard Franchise Agreement, the Company will no longer be liable with respect to the obligations it so transfers. Noncompetition Agreement The Company and Sunburst have entered into a noncompetition agreement that defines the rights and obligations with respect to certain businesses to be operated by the Company and Sunburst. Under the noncompetition agreement, for a period of five years from the date of the Spinoff, subject to the exceptions set forth below, Sunburst will be prohibited from conducting any business that competes with the business operated by Former Choice transferred to the Company as part of the Spinoff ("the Choice Business"). Sunburst will also be prohibited from acquiring any entity conducting a business that competes with the Choice Business, with certain exceptions outlined below, unless, prior to such acquisition, Sunburst offers to sell such competing business to the Company on substantially the same terms and conditions; provided, however, that Sunburst will not be required to make such an offer to the Company where the competing business is not readily divisible from other businesses permitted to be held or acquired by Sunburst and the gross sales from such competing business for the 12 months prior to such acquisition do not exceed the greater of $1,000,000 (as adjusted for increases to the Consumer Price Index during the term) or 5% of gross sales of the businesses to be acquired. Subject to the foregoing, however, the noncompetition agreement does not prohibit Sunburst from engaging in the following activities: (i) the continued operation and development of any business operated as of the date of the Spinoff by Former Choice and retained by Sunburst; (ii) any activities otherwise permitted under the Strategic Alliance Agreement; (iii) the ownership of up to 5% of the equity interests of a publicly-traded entity that competes with the Company's business; and (iv) the ownership of equity interests of any entity that competes with the Company's business, if (A) the competing business does not comprise such entity's primary business, (B) the gross sales of such entity for the prior 12 months attributable to such competing business does not exceed 20% of such entity's consolidated gross sales, and (C) neither the fair market value of, nor the value, if any, attributed by the acquisition agreement to, the competing business is in excess of $5,000,000 (as adjusted for increases to the Consumer Price Index during the term). During the term of the noncompetition agreement, subject to the exceptions set forth below, the Company will be prohibited from conducting any business that competes with the business operated by Former Choice and retained by Sunburst in the Spinoff (the "Hotel Business"). The Company is also prohibited from acquiring any entity conducting a business that competes with the Hotel Business, with certain exceptions outlined below, unless, prior to such acquisition, the Company offers to sell such competing business to 24 Sunburst on substantially the same terms and conditions; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to make such an offer to Sunburst where the competing business is not readily divisible from other business permitted to be held or acquired by the Company and the gross revenues from such competing business for the 12 months prior to such acquisition do not exceed the greater of $1,000,000 (as adjusted for increases to the Consumer Price Index during the term) or 5% of gross sales of the businesses to be acquired. Subject to the foregoing, however, the noncompetition agreement will not prohibit the Company from the following activities: (i) continued operation and development of any business operated as of the date of the Spinoff by the Company, (ii) any activities otherwise permitted under the Strategic Alliance Agreement, (iii) the ownership of up to 5% of the equity interests of a publicly-traded entity that competes with the Hotel Business, (iv) the ownership of equity interests of any entity that competes with the Hotel Business, if (A) the competing business does not comprise such entity's primary business, (B) the gross revenue of such entity for the prior 12 months attributable to such competing business does not exceed 20% of such entity's consolidated gross sales, and (C) neither the fair market value of, nor the value, if any, attributed by the acquisition agreement to, the competing business is in excess of $5,000,000 (as adjusted for increases to the Consumer Price Index during the term). Potential Conflict The ongoing relationship between the Company and Sunburst resulting from the agreements and arrangements described above may potentially give rise to conflict of interest between the Company and Sunburst. With respect to the agreements between the parties, the potential exists for disagreements as to the quality of the services provided by the parties and as to contract compliance. Nevertheless, the Company believes that there will be sufficient mutuality of interest between the two companies to result in a mutually productive relationship. In addition, Stewart Bainum Jr. serves as Chairman of the Boards of Directors of both the Company and Sunburst. Frederick V. Malek serves as a director of each of the Company and Sunburst. As a result of the Spinoff, Messrs. Bainum, Jr. and Malek, as well a certain other officers and directors of the Company and of Sunburst, also own shares and/or options or other right to acquire shares in each of the Company and Sunburst. Appropriate polices and procedures are followed by the Board of Directors of the Company and Sunburst to limit the involvement of the overlapping directors (and, if appropriate, relevant officers of such companies) in conflict situations, including requiring them to abstain from voting as directors of either the Company or Sunburst on certain matters which present a conflict between the two companies. SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act") requires the Company's reporting officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of the Company's Common Stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), the New York Stock Exchange and the Company. Based solely on the Company's review of the forms filed with the Commission and written representations from reporting persons that they were not required to file Form 5 for certain specified years, the Company believes that all of its reporting officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners complied with all filing requirements applicable to them during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, except for the following late filings: (i) Michael J. DeSantis was one day late in filing a Form 4, and (ii) Joseph M. Squeri was three days late in filing a Form 4. SOLICITATION OF PROXIES The Company will bear the cost of the solicitation. In addition to solicitation by mail, the Company will request banks, brokers and other custodian nominees and fiduciaries to supply proxy material to the beneficial owners of Company common stock of whom they have knowledge, and will reimburse them for their expenses 25 in so doing; and certain directors, officers and other employees of the Company, not specially employed for the purpose, may solicit proxies, without additional remuneration therefor, by personal interview, mail, telephone or telegraph. RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Since 1980, Arthur Andersen LLP has served as the Company's independent public accounting firm. It is expected that representatives of Arthur Andersen will be present at the annual meeting. They will be given an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and it is expected that they will be available to respond to appropriate questions. PROCEDURES FOR STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS Under the Company's Bylaws, nominations for director may be made only by the Board of Directors or a committee of the board, or by a stockholder entitled to vote who has delivered notice to the Company not less than 60, nor more than 90, days before the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting. The Bylaws also provide that no business may be brought before an annual meeting except as specified in the notice of meeting (which includes stockholder proposals that the Company is required to set forth in its proxy statement under SEC Rule 14a-8) or as otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board or by a stockholder entitled to vote who has delivered notice to the Company (containing certain information specified in the Bylaws) within the time limits described above for a nomination for the election of a director. These requirements are separate and apart from, and in addition to, the SEC's requirements that a stockholder must comply with in order to have a stockholder proposal included in the Company's proxy statement under SEC Rule 14a-8. Stockholder Proposals for 2000 Annual Meeting Stockholder proposals intended to be presented at the Company's 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Company's Corporate Secretary no later than February 28, 2000. Such proposals must meet the requirements set forth in the rules and regulations of the SEC in order to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's 2000 proxy materials. OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING The Board of Directors does not know of any matters which will be brought before the 1999 annual meeting other than those specifically set forth in the notice of meeting. If any other matters are properly introduced at the meeting for consideration, including, among other things, consideration of a motion to adjourn the meeting to another time or place, the individuals named on the enclose proxy card will have discretion to vote in accordance with their best judgment, unless otherwise restricted by law. By Order of the Board of Directors Michael J. DeSantis Secretary Dated: March 29, 1999 26 CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 10750 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901 PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD APRIL 29, 1999 The undersigned hereby appoints JERRY E. ROBERTSON and CHARLES A. LEDSINGER, JR. and each of them, the true and lawful attorneys and proxies, with full power of substitution, to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (The "Company") to be held on April 29, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. at the Company's Corporate Headquarters, Choice Centre, 10770 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland and at any adjournment thereof, and to vote all shares of common stock held of record which the undersigned could vote, with all the powers the undersigned would possess if personally present at such meeting, as designated below. All shares of Company common stock that are represented at the Annual Meeting by properly executed proxies received prior to or at the Annual Meeting and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions indicated herein. If no instructions are indicated for the Election of Directors, such proxies will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendation as set forth herein with respect to such proposal. CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INC., ANNUAL MEETING, APRIL 29, 1999 AT 9:00 A.M. DIRECTIONS TO CHOICE CENTRE 10770 Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20901 From Washington, DC - 16th Street North to Route 29 (Colesville Road). Pass over the Beltway (495), at which point Colesville Road becomes Columbia Pike. Choice Centre is on the left side approximately 2 miles past the Beltway. From National Airport to Headquarters - Take George Washington Parkway approximately 8 miles to the Beltway I-495 North. Go North and follow Beltway as it curves East to (2nd Silver Spring Exit 30 North Colesville Road). Go approximately 2 1/2 miles to Choice Hotels Headquarters on your left side. From Dulles Airport to Headquarters - Use Dulles Free Access (stay off toll road). Go East approximately 18 miles to I-495 North Beltway. Go North and follow Beltway as it curves east to (2nd Silver Spring Exit 30 North Colesville Road). Go approximately 2 1/2 miles to Choice Hotels Headquarters on your left hand side. From BWI to Headquarters - Take 195 west for 4 miles. The take I-95 south for 14 miles to Highway 198 west toward Burtonsville. Go west 3 miles to Route 29 (Colesville Road). Turn left on Route 29 (south) and go approximately 7 miles to Choice Hotels Headquarters - next to Mobil gas station. From Baltimore, MD - Take I-95 South to Highway 198 west toward Burtonsville. Go west 3 miles to Route 29 (Colesville Road). Turn left on Rte. 29 (south) and go approximately 7 miles to Choice Centre. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE PROPOSED DIRECTORS Election of two Directors: FOR all nominees WITHHOLD listed below AUTHORITY (except as marked to vote for all nominees NOMINEES: Stewart Bainum, Jr. to the contrary) Listed to the right and James H. Rempe [ ] [ ] (Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominee's name in the space provided below) __________________________________________ If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, please mark the following box and promptly return this Proxy Card. Dated _____________________ 1999 ---------------------------------- Signature ---------------------------------- Signature (Signatures should correspond exactly with the name or names appearing above. Attorneys, trustees, Executors, administrators, guardians and others signing in a representative capacity should designate their full titles. If the signer is a corporation, please sign the full corporate name by a duly authorized officer.) FOLD AND DETACH HERE -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----