It's a deal: Marriott is buying Starwood Hotels for $12.4 billion

It's official.

Marriott International and Starwood Hotels shareholders on Friday voted in favor of a deal that will create the world's largest hotel company.

Marriott is buying Starwood for $12.4 billion. Starwood shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Marriott common stock plus $21.00 in cash.

Starwood, which owns brands including Westin, St. Regis, Sheraton, and Four Points in November agreed to be bought by Marriott last November.

But last month the Chinese insurance giant Anbang made multiple attempts to bust up the deal.

Both Marriott and Anbang made several counterbids, before Anbang unexpectedly walked away last week.

"With today's successful stockholder approval milestone, we are that much closer to completing our transaction," said Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson in a statement.

The two companies have already cleared many of the necessary antitrust regulatory hurdles, and expect the deal to close mid-year.

Here's the press release:

Bethesda, MD and Stamford, CT, April 8, 2016 – Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced that at separate special stockholder meetings today the stockholders of both companies approved proposals relating to Marriott's acquisition of Starwood, which will create the world's largest hotel company. Holders of over 97 percent of Marriott shares present and voting at the meeting, representing over 79 percent of outstanding shares, voted in favor of a proposal to issue shares of Marriott common stock in connection with the transaction, and holders of over 95 percent of Starwood shares present and voting at the meeting, representing over 63 percent of outstanding shares, voted in favor of a proposal to approve the transaction.

Arne Sorenson, Marriott's president and chief executive officer, said, "With today's successful stockholder approval milestone, we are that much closer to completing our transaction. Our teams continue to plan the integration of our two companies, and we are committed to a timely and smooth transition. We appreciate the stockholders' vote of confidence in our ability to drive long-term value and opportunity as a combined company."

Thomas B. Mangas, Starwood's chief executive officer, stated, "Today's vote is a significant step toward closing, and we are grateful for the continued enthusiasm and support for this merger. There is no doubt that this transaction puts our company on the best path forward and we remain excited about the opportunity this combination will create for our stockholders, associates, owners and guests."

At closing Starwood stockholders will receive 0.8 shares of Marriott common stock plus $21.00 in cash for each share of Starwood common stock.

As previously announced, the parties have cleared the pre-merger antitrust review in the United States and Canada and multiple other jurisdictions. The transaction remains on track to close mid-2016 pending completion of Starwood's planned divestiture of its timeshare business expected on or around April 30, 2016, obtaining remaining regulatory approvals, including in the European Union and China, and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

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