SC14D9C: Written communication by the subject company relating to a third party tender offer
Published on April 10, 2001
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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SCHEDULE 14D-9
(RULE 14d-101)
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(d)(4)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Entertainment Properties Trust
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(Name of Subject Company)
Entertainment Properties Trust
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Statement)
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $.01 per share
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(Title of Class of Securities)
29380T105
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(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Gregory K. Silvers
Entertainment Properties Trust
30 Pershing Road
Union Station - Suite 201
Kansas City, Missouri 64108
(816) 472-1700
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive
Notice and Communications on Behalf of the Person(s) Filing Statement)
Copies to:
Steven B. Stokdyk
Sullivan & Cromwell
1888 Century Park East
Suite 2100
Los Angeles, California 90067
Telephone: (310) 712-6600
|X| Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary
communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.
CONTACTS
Media: Jon Weis (888) EPR-REIT
Shareholders: MacKenzie Partners, Inc. (800) 322-2885
EPR REVEALS THE FACTS REGARDING GOULD AND BRT
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - April 10, 2001 - Entertainment
Properties Trust (NYSE: EPR) today sent the following letter to its
shareholders:
April 10, 2001
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
Over the last week, you have received materials from
Entertainment Properties Trust regarding our upcoming annual meeting,
the election of our trustee, and the ratification of our accountants.
While the nominating committee of our board unanimously recommends
re-electing Mr. Scott Ward to another term as trustee, this nomination
has been contested by BRT Realty Trust, which has nominated another
candidate.
EPR takes very seriously communications with our shareholders
and knows that your trust is earned through our honest communication
and our hard work to generate the best returns we can while building
the best company we can. In the course of BRT's communications with
you, we believe that they have failed to disclose important facts we
think you should know. WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SET THE RECORD
STRAIGHT.
BRT is not a large, sophisticated real-estate concern and
there is little similarity between EPR and BRT. In fact, we are
concerned that someone responsible for BRT's record, as exhibited
below, is attempting not only to obtain a seat on our board but also
to own a larger percentage of our company.
Scott Ward is a solid candidate in whom we have complete
confidence, and whose interests are aligned with all shareholders. WE
DO NOT WANT EPR TO BECOME ANOTHER BRT REALTY, WITH NO DIVIDENDS,
LIMITED LIQUIDITY, A SMALL ASSET BASE AND CONTROLLED BY MR. GOULD'S
FAMILY. These are the values represented by BRT Realty, and its
candidate Fredric Gould, who is the chairman and chief executive
officer of that company. Mr. Gould can claim he knows how to operate a
business in the interests of all shareholders, but we believe, as you
probably now do, the record is otherwise.
As we have stated previously and continue to make clear, we
are not averse to having qualified independent trustees with
experience that will benefit our shareholders, as indicated by the
makeup of our board. WE ARE AVERSE TO MR. GOULD SERVING AS A TRUSTEE,
and believe that the person responsible for BRT's track record would
only serve as a distraction to our board.
REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU MAY OWN, YOUR VOTE IS
IMPORTANT SO PLEASE ACT PROMPTLY. PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR
TRUSTEES BY RETURNING THE BLUE PROXY CARD TODAY, VOTING FOR SCOTT
WARD, AND IGNORING ANY FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE FROM BRT REALTY OR MR.
GOULD.
Our trustees and management appreciate your continued
support.
Very truly yours,
/s/ David Brain
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David Brain
# # #
Shareholders who have questions about the upcoming annual
meeting, the election of the trustee or BRT's possible offer are
encouraged to contact the company's proxy solicitor, MacKenzie
Partners at (800) 325-2885, or to call the company directly at (888)
EPR-REIT.
Entertainment Properties Trust is a specialty finance company organized
as a real estate investment trust (REIT) whose principal business strategy is to
acquire and develop a diversified portfolio of high-quality properties leased to
major entertainment-related business operators. The company's common shares of
beneficial interest are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker
symbol EPR. The Entertainment Properties Trust company address is 30 Pershing
Road, Suite 201, Kansas City, Missouri 64108. 888-EPR-REIT. FAX 816-472-5794.
The company's website is located at http://www.eprkc.com.
Entertainment Properties Trust ("EPR") has not yet filed its
solicitation/recommendation statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission relating to BRT Realty Trust's possible partial tender offer. If BRT
Realty's partial tender offer is commenced, EPR will issue a
solicitation/recommendation statement which will be available, along with other
filed documents, at no charge on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov or at
http://www.freeedgar.com. EPR strongly advises its shareholders to read EPR's
definitive proxy statement and other definitive materials which have been filed,
and the solicitation/ recommendation statement and other materials when they
become available, because they do and will contain important information. These
documents may also be obtained for free from EPR by directing such request to:
Entertainment Properties Trust, Attention: Investor Relations, 30 Pershing Road,
Suite 201, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, telephone: (888) EPR-REIT, or from
MacKenzie Partners, Inc. at (800) 322-2885 (toll-free) or at (212) 929-5500
(collect) or by e-mail at PROXY@MACKENZIEPARTNERS.COM.