Morgans Hotel Group Announces Preliminary Results of Annual Meeting
Stockholders Support Majority of Morgans Directors in Strong Show of Support for Continued Execution of Turnaround Plan
NEW YORK, May 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) ("Morgans" or the "Company"), the New York-based hospitality management company, today announced that, based on the estimates of Okapi Partners, its proxy solicitor, preliminary results from its Annual Meeting held today in New York indicated that stockholders have elected seven of nine of the Company's nominees in a strong show of support for the strategic vision that was initiated following last year's election.
Jason T. Kalisman, Morgans' Chairman of the Board, said, "The Morgans' Board of Directors is pleased to have the continued support of its stockholder base, which has given the Board the mandate to continue the work this board began following last year's annual meeting. We also welcome Marty Edelman, Michelle Russo, Andrew Broad, John Brecker, and Derex Walker and look forward to their contributions. Over the past several months, we have received constructive feedback from our stockholders, and our Board looks forward to continuing that open dialogue. As we have continuously stated, Morgans' Board is constantly exploring all opportunities to do what is right for its stockholders, but from a position of strength and flexibility."
IVS Associates, Inc. ("IVS"), the independent inspector of elections, is tabulating the votes cast at the meeting. The Company will announce final results once IVS has certified as to its final tabulation report.
About Morgans Hotel Group
Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) is widely credited as the creator of the first "boutique" hotel and a continuing leader of the hotel industry's boutique sector. Morgans Hotel Group operates Delano in South Beach, Mondrian in Los Angeles, New York and South Beach, Hudson in New York, Morgans and Royalton in New York, Clift in San Francisco, Shore Club in South Beach and Sanderson and St Martins Lane in London. Morgans Hotel Group has ownership interests or owns several of these hotels. Morgans Hotel Group has other hotels in various stages of development to be operated under management or franchise agreements. These include Delano properties in Las Vegas, Nevada and Moscow, Russia; Mondrian properties in London, England, and Doha, Qatar; and a Morgans Original in Istanbul, Turkey. Morgans Hotel Group also owns a 90% controlling interest in The Light Group, a leading lifestyle food and beverage company. For more information please visit www.morganshotelgroup.com.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the operating performance of our investments, financing needs and consideration of strategic alternatives. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "potential, " "intend," "expect," "endeavor," "seek," "anticipate," "estimate," "overestimate," "underestimate," "believe," "could," "project," "predict, " "continue" or other similar words or expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, including the Company determining not to enter into a strategic transaction. Important risks and factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to economic, business, competitive market and regulatory conditions such as: a sustained downturn in economic and market conditions, both in the U.S. and internationally, particularly as it impacts demand for travel, hotels, dining and entertainment; the Company's levels of debt, its ability to refinance its current outstanding debt, repay outstanding debt or make payments on guaranties as they may become due, general volatility of the capital markets and the Company's ability to access the capital markets and the ability of our joint ventures to do the foregoing; the impact of financial and other covenants in the Company's loan agreements and other debt instruments that limit the Company's ability to borrow and restrict its operations; the Company's history of losses; the Company's ability to compete in the "boutique" or "lifestyle" hotel segments of the hospitality industry and changes in the competitive environment in the Company's industry and the markets where it invests; the Company's ability to protect the value of its name, image and brands and its intellectual property; risks related to natural disasters, terrorist attacks, the threat of terrorist attacks and similar disasters; risks related to the Company's international operations, such as global economic conditions, political or economic instability, compliance with foreign regulations and satisfaction of international business and workplace requirements; the Company's ability to timely fund the renovations and capital improvements necessary to sustain the quality of the properties of Morgans Hotel Group and associated brands; risks associated with the acquisition, development and integration of properties and businesses; the risks of conducting business through joint venture entities over which the Company may not have full control; the Company's ability to perform under management agreements and to resolve any disputes with owners of properties that the Company manages but does not wholly own; potential terminations of management agreements; the impact of any material litigation, claims or disputes, including labor disputes; the seasonal nature of the hospitality business and other aspects of the hospitality industry that are beyond the Company's; and other risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 13, 2014, and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC from time to time. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based upon information known to management as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligations to update or revise any of its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes show that indicated results or events will not be realized.
Contacts:
Investors:
Rich Szymanski
Morgans Hotel Group
T. 212.277.4188
E. [email protected]
Or
Bruce Goldfarb/ Chuck Garske/ Lisa Patel
Okapi Partners
T. 212.297.0720
E. [email protected]
Media:
Dan Gagnier/Nathaniel Garnick
Sard Verbinnen & Co
T. 212.687.8080
SOURCE Morgans Hotel Group Co.
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