Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Announces Amendment Of Westin St. Francis And Fairmont Chicago Loan Agreements

CHICAGO, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: BEE) today announced that it has closed on an amendment to the cross-collateralized mortgage agreements secured by the Westin St. Francis and Fairmont Chicago hotels, which eliminates future principal amortization payments subject to meeting certain financial and other requirements. Combined, the amendment will eliminate $9.3 million in previously scheduled principal amortization payments over the next twelve months and $37.2 million in scheduled payments over the remaining term of the two agreements.  Prior to the amendment, the loans were subject to a 20-year principal amortization schedule.  Both mortgage agreements will continue to bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.09 percent and are set to mature in June of 2017.  Metropolitan Life Insurance Company is the lender for both agreements.

About the Company

Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) which owns and provides value-enhancing asset management of high-end hotels and resorts in the United States, Mexico and Europe. The Company currently has ownership interests in 18 properties with an aggregate of 8,271 rooms and 851,600 square feet of multi-purpose meeting and banqueting space. For a list of current properties and for further information, please visit the Company's website at www.strategichotels.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (the "Company"). Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from the Company's projections. Factors that may contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to the following: ability to obtain, refinance or restructure debt or comply with covenants contained in the Company's debt facilities; volatility in equity or debt markets; availability of capital; rising interest rates and operating costs; rising insurance premiums; cash available for capital expenditures; competition; demand for hotel rooms in the Company's current and proposed market areas; economic conditions generally and in the real estate market specifically, including deterioration of economic conditions and the extent of its effect on business and leisure travel and the lodging industry; ability to dispose of existing properties in a manner consistent with the Company's disposition strategy; delays in construction and development; demand for hotel condominiums; the failure of closing conditions to be satisfied; risks related to natural disasters; the effect of threats of terrorism and increased security precautions on travel patterns and hotel bookings; the outbreak of hostilities and international political instability; legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs; and changes in generally accepted accounting principles, policies and guidelines applicable to REITs.

Additional risks are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those appearing under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc.