merger agreement

Eliminated from the deal are three hotels in Canada, a changelinked to tax issues, according to a press release issued thismorning. The other alterations to the deal involve deferringclosings for five hotels in Europe until after the merger and notassuming fiscal responsibility for Sheraton Holding Corp's issuanceof $600 million in senior notes, thereby lessening the debtinvolved in the takeover. The initial closing of themultibillion-dollar merger is on schedule to close April 10.

The hospitality giants revealed the sales transaction inNovember, two months after GlobeSt.com reported the two were intalks about a deal. Among the more notable properties that willswitch ownership to Host Marriott when the deal closes are the1,746-room Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers; the W New York, a688-room property; the 1,216-room Sheraton Boston Hotel; the1,044-room Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina; the WestinSeattle, an 891-room hotel; and the W Seattle, a 426-roomfacility.