2008 Dispositions
In 2008, we sold, at book value, two limited-service properties and two land parcels for cash proceeds of $33 million, and we received a $22 million equity interest in the entity that purchased one of the land parcels. We accounted for each of the sales under the full accrual method in accordance with FAS No. 66 and each property will continue to operate under our brands pursuant to management or franchise agreements. Also, in 2008, we sold our interest in an entity that leases four hotels. In conjunction with that transaction, we received cash proceeds totaling $5 million, and the sales price of the investment approximated its book value.

2007 Acquisitions
During 2007, we acquired one full-service property, one limited-service property, and one extended-stay property for cash consideration of $199 million. These three properties were acquired in conjunction with a land assemblage for a large hotel complex that is still in the formative development stage. In addition, we acquired certain land parcels in 2007 for cash consideration of $52 million. Also during 2007, we acquired the fee simple interest in the improvements of three properties and the leasehold interest in the ground underlying the three properties for cash consideration of $58 million. The purchase included one full-service property and two limited-service properties, which were each sold later in the same year.

During the first half of 2007, we were party to a venture that developed and marketed fractional ownership and residential interests. In the second half of 2007, we purchased our partner's interest in the joint venture for $6 million. In conjunction with that transaction, we acquired assets and liabilities totaling $90 million and $84 million, respectively, on the date of the purchase. During the first half of 2007, we were party to another venture that was established to develop and market timeshare and residential interests. In the second half of 2007, we purchased our partner's interest in that joint venture, and concurrent with this transaction, we purchased additional land and assets from our partner as well. Aggregate cash and notes payable issued for these transactions totaled $106 million, and we acquired assets and liabilities totaling $182 million and $76 million, respectively, on the date of purchase.

2007 Dispositions
In 2007, we sold nine properties for cash proceeds of $601 million and recognized gains totaling $24 million. We continue to operate eight of the nine properties under long-term agreements. We sold two parcels of land for $55 million in cash proceeds that were under development and recognized a gain of $2 million. We also sold the fee simple interest in the improvements of three properties and the leasehold interest in the ground underlying the three properties, initially acquired in early 2007, for book value and received $58 million in cash proceeds. We continue to manage the properties under long-term agreements. We accounted for each of the foregoing sales under the full accrual method in accordance with FAS No. 66. During the year, we also sold our interests in five joint ventures for cash proceeds of $30 million and recognized gains totaling $13 million. We had other asset sales during the year, which generated proceeds totaling $1 million. Cash flows totaling $745 million for all the preceding dispositions in 2007 are reflected in the "Dispositions" line in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In 2007, we also sold land that was under development. Due to a contingency in the sales contract, we accounted for this sale under the deposit method of FAS No. 66. Accordingly, the cash proceeds, totaling $90 million, were reflected in "Other investing activities" in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. In 2008, the contingency was resolved and we recorded a gain of $1 million.

2006 Acquisitions
During 2006, we acquired one full-service property for $130 million including aggregate cash consideration of $46 million plus the assumption of debt. In addition we acquired three other full-service properties for aggregate cash consideration of $134 million. We sold each of the four properties to third-party owners during the 2007 fiscal year.

2006 Dispositions
In 2006 we sold our interest in the 50/50 joint venture with Whitbread PLC ("Whitbread"), which held 46 hotels consisting of more than 8,000 rooms and we received approximately $164 million in cash, net of transaction costs, which was approximately equal to the investment's book value. We continue to manage the hotels under the Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts brands. We also sold our minority interest in five other joint ventures during 2006 for cash proceeds of $64 million and recognized gains of $43 million. Additionally, one cost method investee redeemed the preferred stock we held for $81 million in cash consideration and we recognized income of $25 million on the redemption.

During 2006 we also sold 10 full-service properties for cash proceeds of $487 million and recognized gains totaling $14 million. We accounted for each of the sales under the full accrual method in accordance with FAS No. 66 and continue to operate eight of the properties under long-term management agreements. The sold properties included eight properties purchased in 2005 from CTF Holdings Ltd. and certain of its affiliates (collectively "CTF"). For additional information regarding the CTF transaction, see the "2005 Acquisitions" caption in Footnote No. 8, "Acquisitions and Dispositions," in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Prior to the sale of one property, we reclassified balances associated with that property in conformity with other "held and used" properties, in the first half of 2006 as the property was not expected to be sold within one year of its classification as "held for sale." In conjunction with that reclassification, we recorded depreciation expense of $2 million in the first half of 2006 that would have been recognized had the asset been continuously classified as "held and used." Cash proceeds of $26 million for one hotel sold in 2006 are not reflected in the disposition proceeds of $487 million, as the proceeds were initially recorded as a deposit because of a contingency, and impacted the "Other investing activities" section of our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows rather than "Dispositions." The contingency was subsequently resolved and sale accounting was achieved in 2006. Other asset sales generated cash proceeds of $2 million.

Late in 2006, we sold a 75 percent interest in a joint venture to a third party for its book value of $14 million. At the time of the sale, the joint venture's only asset was a parcel of land. In conjunction with the sale, we made a $25 million bridge loan to the joint venture, which matured in early 2007. Following the guidance found in EITF 98-8, "Accounting for Transfers of Investments That Are in Substance Real Estate," and FAS No. 66 due to our continuing involvement with the joint venture, we consolidated the joint venture for the period of time that the bridge loan was outstanding. The bridge loan was subsequently repaid and we account for our remaining interest in the joint venture under the equity method as required by APB Opinion No. 18, "The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock."

In 1988, the Company as landlord, entered into a 59-year ground lease with a lessee for land that was improved with a hotel that is owned by the lessee. The hotel was previously branded a Marriott property. The lease contained contractual rental increases over the term of the lease and annual ground rent on the land totaled approximately $5 million in 2006. The lease also contained a provision that permitted the lessee, under certain circumstances, to purchase the land for a fixed price. We and the lessee had various discussions in 2006 concerning the land as well as the hotel. During the 2006 second quarter, it became probable that none of the proposed transactions were acceptable to both parties and the lessee indicated its intent to exercise its option to purchase the land. Accordingly, in the 2006 second quarter, we reclassified the land from the "Property and equipment" caption in our Consolidated Balance Sheets to the "Assets held for sale" caption and recorded a $37 million non-cash charge to adjust the carrying amount to net realizable value. We completed the sale of the land, at book value, to the lessee in 2007 and this transaction is reflected in the figures noted earlier for dispositions in 2007.

> Back to top of page

> Go to next page