As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2015.

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

La Quinta Holdings Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware 90-1032961

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

 

909 Hidden Ridge, Suite 600

Irving, Texas 75038

Telephone: (214) 492-6600

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

La Quinta Holdings Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(Full title of the plan)

 

 

Mark M. Chloupek

Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

La Quinta Holdings Inc.

909 Hidden Ridge, Suite 600

Irving, Texas 75038

Telephone: (214) 492-6600

(Name and address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Michael D. Nathan

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017-3954

Telephone: (212) 455-2000

Facsimile: (212) 455-2502

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of securities

to be registered

 

Amount

to be

registered(1)

 

Proposed

maximum

offering price

per share(2)

 

Proposed

maximum

aggregate

offering price(2)

 

Amount of

registration fee

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

  2,600,000   $24.20   $62,920,000   $7,312

 

 

(1) Covers 2,600,000 shares of common stock of La Quinta Holdings Inc., $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), approved for issuance under the La Quinta Holdings Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”) and, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock that may be offered and issued under the Purchase Plan resulting from stock splits, stock distributions or similar transactions.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act. The fee is based on a price of $24.20 per share of Common Stock, which is based on the average of the high and low sales price per share of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on May 12, 2015.

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information specified in Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be delivered to the participants in the Purchase Plan covered by this Registration Statement as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. Such documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as a prospectus or prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed with the Commission by La Quinta Holdings Inc. (the “Registrant”) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

 

  a) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the Commission on February 25, 2015;

 

  b) The Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the Commission on March 12, 2015;

 

  c) The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, filed with the Commission on April 30, 2015;

 

  d) The Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on March 23, 2015;

 

  e) The Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 11, 2015;

 

  f) The Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on April 8, 2015 (solely those portions that were incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014); and

 

  g) The Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on April 9, 2014, relating to the Registrant’s Common Stock, including all amendments and reports filed for the purposes of updating such description.

All documents that the Registrant subsequently files pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement (except for any portions of such documents furnished, rather than filed, with the Commission and any corresponding exhibits thereto not filed with the Commission) and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement indicating that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.


Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), allows a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation will not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for this limitation of liability.

Section 145 of the DGCL (“Section 145”) provides, among other things, that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal, and provided further that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer, director, employee or agent is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him or her against the expenses which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred.

Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him or her under Section 145.

The Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws provide that the Registrant must indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL and must also pay expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon delivery of an undertaking, by or on behalf of an indemnified person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under the Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws or otherwise.

The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

The Registrant maintains standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to its directors and officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to the Registrant with respect to indemnification payments that it may make to such directors and officers.

The Registrant is currently party to indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers. These agreements require the Registrant to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to the Registrant, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors or executive officers, the Registrant has been informed that, in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.


Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description of Document

  4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of La Quinta Holdings Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36412) filed with the Commission on April 14, 2014).
  4.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of La Quinta Holdings Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-36412) filed with the Commission on April 14, 2014).
  4.3    La Quinta Holdings Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  5.1    Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP as to La Quinta Holdings Inc.
23.2    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP as to WIH La Quinta Inn Hotels
23.3    Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages to this Registration Statement).


Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Irving, Texas, on May 15, 2015.

 

LA QUINTA HOLDINGS INC.
By:

/s/ Wayne B. Goldberg

Name: Wayne B. Goldberg
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned directors and officers of the Registrant, which is filing a Registration Statement on Form S-8 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549 under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, hereby constitute and appoint Wayne B. Goldberg, Keith A. Cline and Mark M. Chloupek, and each of them, any of whom may act without joinder of the other, the individual’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement and any or all amendments or supplements to this Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and does hereby grant unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement and power of attorney has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 15 th day of May, 2015.

 

Signature

 

Title

/s/    Wayne B. Goldberg        

  President and Chief Executive Officer and Director
Wayne B. Goldberg   (principal executive officer)

/s/    Keith A. Cline        

  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Keith A. Cline   (principal financial officer)

/s/    James H. Forson        

  Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
James H. Forson   (principal accounting officer)

/s/    Glenn Alba        

  Director
Glenn Alba  

/s/    Alan J. Bowers        

  Director
Alan J. Bowers  

/s/    Henry G. Cisneros        

  Director
Henry G. Cisneros  

/s/    Giovanni Cutaia        

  Director
Giovani Cutaia  

/s/    Brian Kim        

  Director
Brian Kim  

/s/    Michael Nash        

  Director
Michael Nash  

/s/    Mitesh B. Shah        

  Director
Mitesh B. Shah  

/s/    Gary M. Sumers        

  Director
Gary M. Sumers  

Exhibit 4.3

LA QUINTA HOLDINGS INC.

2015 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

ARTICLE I – PURPOSE

 

1.01 Purpose.

The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which Eligible Employees may purchase Common Stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company and its Affiliates and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. It is the Company’s intention to have the Plan qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. Accordingly, the provisions of the Plan shall be administered in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

ARTICLE II – DEFINITIONS

 

2.01 Affiliate.

“Affiliate” means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company (as determined in accordance with Section 424 of the Code).

 

2.02 Base Compensation.

“Base Compensation” means regular base straight-time gross earnings annualized as of the relevant Offering Commencement Date, excluding payments, if any, for overtime, incentive compensation, commissions, incentive payments, premiums, bonuses, and any other special remuneration of a Participant during an Offering Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, establish a different definition of “Base Compensation” for a subsequent Offering Period prior to the Offering Commencement Date of such subsequent Offering Period.

 

2.03 Board.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.04 Change in Control.

“Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in the Company’s 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, or any successor plan thereto.

 

2.05 Code.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretive guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance.

 

2.06 Committee.

“Committee” means a committee appointed by the Company in accordance with Section 10.01 hereof.


2.07 Common Stock.

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (and any stock or other securities into which such Common Stock may be converted or into which it may be exchanged).

 

2.08 Company.

“Company” means La Quinta Holdings Inc.

 

2.09 Eligible Employees.

“Eligible Employees” means, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4.02, any individual employed by the Company or an Affiliate who has completed at least two (2) years of service with the Company or an Affiliate, except (i) employees who are not employed by the Company or an Affiliate prior to the beginning of an Offering Period or prior to such other time period specified by the Committee; (ii) individuals who provide services to the Company or any of its Affiliates as independent contractors who are reclassified as common law employees for any reason except for federal income and employment tax purposes; and (iii) employees who reside in countries for whom such employees’ participation in the Plan would result in a violation under any corporate or securities laws of such country of residence.

 

2.10 Exchange Act.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section (or rule promulgated under) the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretive guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or other interpretive guidance.

 

2.11 Fair Market Value.

“Fair Market Value” means, on a given date, (i) if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Common Stock reported on the primary exchange on which the Common Stock is listed and traded on such date, or, if there are no such sales on that date, then on the last preceding date on which such sales were reported; (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on any national securities exchange but is quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the average between the closing bid price and ask price reported on such date, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which a sale was reported; or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the amount determined by the Committee in good faith to be the fair market value of the Common Stock.

 

2.12 New Purchase Date.

“New Purchase Date” means a new Purchase Date, as designated by the Committee, if the Committee shortens any Offering Period then in progress.

 

2.13 Notice Period.

“Notice Period” means (i) the two (2) year period following the Offering Commencement Date relating to the applicable shares of Common Stock or (ii) the one (1) year period following the Purchase Date related to the applicable shares of Common Stock that were purchased.


2.14 Offering Commencement Date.

“Offering Commencement Date” means the first day of each Offering Period.

 

2.15 Offering End Date.

“Offering End Date” means the last day of each Offering Period.

 

2.16 Offering Period.

“Offering Period” means a six (6) month period established by the Committee in accordance with Section 5.01.

 

2.17 Participant.

“Participant” means, with respect to an Offering Period, an Eligible Employee who is participating in such Offering Period, as provided in Section 4.01.

 

2.18 Plan.

“Plan” means this La Quinta Holdings Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

 

2.19 Purchase Date.

“Purchase Date” means with respect to any Offering Period, the Offering End Date associated with such Offering Period (or such other date established by the Committee prior to the applicable Offering Commencement Date or pursuant to Section 9.02); provided , however , if any such date is not a Trading Day, the Purchase Date shall be the next business day that is a Trading Day.

 

2.20 Purchase Price.

“Purchase Price” means an amount per share of Common Stock equal to ninety-five percent (95%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Purchase Date, or if such Purchase Date is not a Trading Day, the next business day that is a Trading Day.

 

2.21 Reserves.

“Reserves” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.01.

 

2.22 Rule 16b-3.

“Rule 16b-3” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

 

2.23 Securities Act.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section (or rule promulgated under) the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretive guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or other interpretive guidance.


2.24 Subscription.

“Subscription” means an Eligible Employee’s authorization for payment to be made by the Eligible Employee for Common Stock purchases under this Plan in the form and manner specified by the Committee (which may include enrollment by submitting forms, by voice response, internet access or other electronic means).

 

2.25 Trading Day.

“Trading Day” means a day on which the national stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed is open for trading.

ARTICLE III – SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

 

3.01 Shares of Common Stock Reserved For the Plan.

Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 9.01, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan shall be 2,600,000. If the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued on any Purchase Date exceeds the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan, the Company shall (i) make a pro-rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for delivery and distribution in as nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and the Committee determines to be equitable, (ii) return the balance of payroll deductions credited to the account of each Participant under the Plan as promptly as practicable, and (iii) have the discretion to terminate any or all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 5.01(a). If any rights granted under the Plan terminate for any reason without having been exercised, the shares of Common Stock not purchased under such rights shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.

 

3.02 Participant’s Interest in Rights to Purchase Common Stock.

(a) Until the applicable shares of Common Stock are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company), a Participant shall only have the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such shares of Common Stock, and no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to such shares of Common Stock.

(b) The Participant shall have no interest in the shares of Common Stock covered by a right to purchase such shares of Common Stock under the Plan until such right has been exercised.

ARTICLE IV – ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

4.01 Enrollment and Participation.

(a) Any individual who, on the day preceding an Offering Commencement Date, qualifies as an Eligible Employee may elect to become a Participant in the Plan for such Offering Period by submitting a Subscription, in the form prescribed for this purpose by the Company. The Subscription shall be filed with the Company in accordance with the procedures as established by the Company. Eligible Employees may not have more than one (1) Subscription in effect with respect to any Offering Period.

(b) Once enrolled in the Plan, a Participant shall continue to participate in the Plan until such Participant ceases to be an Eligible Employee or withdraws from the Plan in accordance with Section


6.03. Under the foregoing automatic enrollment provisions, payroll deductions will continue at the level in effect immediately prior to any new Offering Commencement Date, unless changed in advance by the Participant in accordance with Section 6.03. A Participant who withdraws from the Plan in accordance with Section 6.03 may again become a Participant if such person is then an Eligible Employee, by following the procedure described in Section 4.01(a).

 

4.02 Limitations on Participation.

Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, no Eligible Employee shall be granted a right to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan:

(a) if, immediately after the option is granted, such Eligible Employee owns shares of Common Stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of Common Stock (for purposes of this Section 4.02(a), the rules of Section 424 of the Code shall apply in determining stock ownership of any Eligible Employee), pursuant to the requirements of Section 423(b)(3) of the Code.

(b) which permits such Eligible Employee to purchase shares of Common Stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Affiliates that shall accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 in Fair Market Value of the Common Stock (determined at the time such right to purchase Common Stock is granted) for each calendar year in which such right is outstanding, pursuant to the requirements of Section 423(b)(8) of the Code. When applying the limitations of this Section 4.02(b), the right to purchase Common Stock under an option accrues when the option (or any portion thereof) first becomes exercisable during the calendar year, the right to purchase Common Stock under an option accrues at the rate provided in the option, but in no case may such rate exceed $25,000 of Fair Market Value of such Common Stock (determined at the time such option is granted) for any one (1) calendar year, and a right to purchase Common Stock which has accrued under one option granted pursuant to the Plan may not be carried over to any other option to purchase Common Stock.

ARTICLE V – OFFERING PERIODS

 

5.01 Offering Periods.

(a) The Plan shall be implemented by consecutive Offering Periods with new Offering Commencement Dates commencing on the first Trading Day on or after January 1 and July 1 of each year (or at such other times as may be determined by the Committee). Each Offering Period shall comply with the requirements of Section 423(b)(5) of the Code. The Committee shall have the power to terminate or change the duration and/or frequency of the Offering Periods (including the Offering Commencement Date) with respect to future Offering Periods without shareholder approval. Any such changes shall be announced prior to the scheduled beginning of the affected Offering Period.

(b) A Subscription that is in effect on an Offering End Date will automatically be deemed to be a Subscription for the Offering Period that commences immediately following such Offering End Date, provided that the Participant is still an Eligible Employee and has not withdrawn such Participant’s Subscription in accordance with Section 6.03. Payroll deductions will continue at the level in effect immediately prior to the new Offering Commencement Date, unless changed in advance by the Participant in accordance with Section 6.03.


5.02 Grant of Option.

On each Offering Commencement Date, each Participant shall be automatically granted an option to purchase as many shares of Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share of Common Stock) as may be purchased with such Participant’s payroll deductions during the related Offering Period at the Purchase Price, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3.01 and 4.02.

ARTICLE VI – PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

 

6.01 Amount of Payroll Deductions.

An Eligible Employee’s Subscription shall authorize payroll deductions at a rate, in whole percentages, of no less than one percent (1%) and no more than fifteen percent (15%) of such Participant’s Base Compensation on each payroll date that the Subscription is in effect. Payroll deductions shall commence on the first payroll date following the Offering Commencement Date and shall continue until the Participant changes the rate of such Participant’s payroll deductions or terminates such Participant’s participation in the Plan, in each case, as provided in Section 6.03.

 

6.02 Participant’s Account.

All payroll deductions made with respect to a Participant shall be credited to such Participant’s recordkeeping account under the Plan. A Participant may not make any separate cash payment into such account. No interest shall accrue or be paid on any amount withheld from a Participant’s pay under the Plan or credited to the Participant’s account, unless required by law. Except as provided in this Section 6.02, all amounts in a Participant’s account shall be used to purchase whole shares of Common Stock and no cash refunds shall be made from such account. Any amounts that are insufficient to purchase whole shares shall be credited to the Participant’s account, and added to any fractional amounts resulting on subsequent Purchase Dates. Upon liquidation or other closing of a Participant’s account, any fractional amounts shall be paid in cash to the Participant based on the then-current Fair Market Value of the Common Stock. In addition, any amounts that are withheld but unable to be applied to the purchase of Common Stock because of the limitations of Section 4.02 shall be returned to the Participant without interest and shall not be used to purchase shares of Common Stock with respect to any other Offering Period under the Plan.

 

6.03 No Changes in Payroll Deductions; Termination of Subscription.

(a) Except as may be permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion, following the Offer Commencement Date associated with an Offering Period, a Participant may terminate such Participant’s Subscription for the Offering Period (but may not otherwise increase or decrease such Participant’s level of elected payroll deductions under the Subscription with respect to such Offering Period).

(b) Any termination of a Subscription shall only be deemed effective if such Subscription is executed pursuant to procedures established by the Committee. If a Participant terminates such Participant’s Subscription with respect to an Offering Period, the accumulated payroll deductions in such Participant’s account at the time the Subscription is withdrawn shall be paid without interest to such Participant as soon as practicable after receipt of such Participant’s notice of withdrawal and such Participant’s Subscription for the current Offering Period will be automatically terminated, and no further contributions for the purchase of shares of Common Stock will be made during the Offering Period or subsequent Offering Periods until such Participant re-enrolls in the Plan pursuant to Section 4.01(a). Any re-enrollment in the Plan shall be effective only at the commencement of a subsequent Offering Period.


ARTICLE VII – TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

 

7.01 Termination of Employment.

Termination of a Participant’s employment for any reason, including retirement, death or the failure of such Participant to remain an Eligible Employee of the Company or an Affiliate, shall immediately terminate such Participant’s participation in the Plan. In such event, the accumulated payroll deductions in such Participant’s account at the termination of such Participant’s employment shall be paid without interest to such Participant as soon as practicable after such termination of such Participant’s employment and such Participant’s Subscription for the current Offering Period will be automatically terminated, and no further contributions for the purchase of shares of Common Stock will be made during the Offering Period or subsequent Offering Periods. For purposes of this Section 7.01, an Eligible Employee shall not be deemed to have terminated employment or failed to remain in the continuous employ of the Company or an Affiliate in the case of sick leave, military leave, or any other leave of absence approved by the Committee; provided , however , that such leave of absence is for a period of not more than ninety (90) days or re-employment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute.

ARTICLE VIII – EXERCISE OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

8.01 Automatic Exercise.

(a) Unless a Participant terminates such Participant’s Subscription as provided in Section 6.03, a Participant’s right to purchase shares of Common Stock will be automatically exercised on each Purchase Date for the applicable Offering Period. The right to purchase shares of Common Stock will be exercised by using the accumulated payroll deductions in such Participant’s account as of each such Purchase Date to purchase the maximum number of whole shares of Common Stock that may be purchased at the Purchase Price (rounded down to the nearest whole share). The number of shares of Common Stock that will be purchased for each Participant on the Purchase Date shall be determined by dividing (i) such Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions in such Participant’s account as of the Purchase Date by (ii) the Purchase Price.

(b) At the time an option granted under the Plan is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the shares of Common Stock issued to a Participant under the Plan are disposed of, the Participant must make adequate provisions for any applicable federal, state or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the Purchase Date or the disposition of the shares of Common Stock. At any time, the Company or an Affiliate may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s compensation the amount necessary to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to the sale or disposition of shares of Common Stock by the Participant earlier than as described in Section 423(a)(1) of the Code.

 

8.02 Delivery of Common Stock.

(a) As promptly as practicable after each Purchase Date, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased by each Participant pursuant to Section 8.01 shall be deposited into an account established in the Participant’s name with the broker designed by the Committee for such purpose.

(b) Shares of Common Stock that are purchased under the Plan will be held in an account in the Participant’s name in uncertificated form. Furthermore, shares of Common Stock to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the “street name” of such Participant.


ARTICLE IX – CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION; ADJUSTMENTS UPON DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

 

9.01 Changes in Capitalization.

Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, (i) the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan that has not yet been exercised, (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock that have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but have not yet been placed under option (collectively, the “ Reserves ”), (iii) the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in Section 3.01, (iv) the Purchase Price per share and (v) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased by any Participant on any Purchase Date during an Offering Period, shall, if applicable, be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock (including any such change in the number of shares of Common Stock effected in connection with a change in domicile of the Company), or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or any increase or decrease in the value of a share of Common Stock resulting from a spinoff or split-up; provided , however , that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Committee, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an option.

 

9.02 Adjustments Upon Dissolution, Liquidation or Change in Control.

(a) In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any Offering Period then in progress will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such action, unless otherwise provided by the Committee.

(b) In the event of a Change in Control, the applicable Offering Period will be shortened by setting a New Purchase Date on which such Offering Period shall end. The New Purchase Date will occur on or before the date of the consummation of the Company’s proposed Change in Control. The Committee will notify each Participant, in writing or electronically, prior to the New Purchase Date, that the applicable Purchase Date has been changed to the New Purchase Date and that the Participant’s option will be exercised automatically on the New Purchase Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 6.03. Alternatively, the Committee and the successor corporation may provide that each outstanding option under the Plan will be assumed or an equivalent option will be substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation. For purposes of this Section 9.02(b), an option granted under the Plan shall be deemed to be assumed, without limitation, if, at the time of issuance of the stock or other consideration upon a Change in Control, each holder of an option under the Plan would be entitled to receive the same number and kind of shares of stock or the same amount of property, cash or securities as such holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the holder had been, immediately prior to the transaction, the holder of the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the option at such time (after giving effect to any adjustments in the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the option as provided for in Section 9.01; provided , however , that if the consideration received in the transaction is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code), the Committee may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise of the option to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of shares of Common Stock in the transaction.


ARTICLE X – ADMINISTRATION

 

10.01 Appointment of Committee.

The Company’s Board shall appoint a Committee to administer the Plan. To the extent required for transactions under the Plan to qualify for the exemptions available under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (“ Rule 16b-3 ”), all actions relating to awards to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be taken by the Board unless each person who serves on the Committee is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 or such actions are taken by a sub-committee of the Committee (or the Board) comprised solely of “non-employee directors.”

 

10.02 Authority of Committee.

The Committee shall have full and plenary authority, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to (i) promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan, (ii) interpret the provisions and supervise the administration of the Plan, and (iii) take all action in connection therewith or in relation thereto as it deems advisable. All determinations by the Committee under the Plan shall, to the full extent permitted by law, be final and binding on upon all parties. The Company shall pay all expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination, or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Committee shall be fully indemnified by the Company with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation.

ARTICLE XI – MISCELLANEOUS

 

11.01 Amendment and Termination.

(a) The Board may at any time and for any reason terminate the Plan. Except as provided in Article IX, no such termination of the Plan may affect options previously granted, provided that the Plan or an Offering Period may be terminated by the Committee on a Purchase Date or by the Board’s setting a new Purchase Date with respect to an Offering Period then in progress if the Board determines that termination of the Plan and/or the Offering Period is in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders or if continuation of the Plan and/or the Offering Period would cause the Company to incur adverse accounting charges as a result of a change after the effective date of the Plan in the generally accepted accounting principles applicable to the Plan. Either the Board or the Committee may amend the Plan. Except as provided in Section 9.01 and in this Section 11.01, no amendment to the Plan shall make any change in any option previously granted that adversely affects the rights of any Participant. In addition, to the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 or Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any applicable law or regulation), the Company shall obtain stockholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree as so required.

(b) Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any Participant’s rights may be considered to have been adversely affected, the Board or the Committee shall be entitled to change the Offering Period, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, permit payroll tax withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each Participant properly correspond


with amounts withheld from the Participant’s compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Board or the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, are advisable and consistent with the Plan.

(c) Upon termination of the Plan, the date of termination shall be considered a Purchase Date, and any cash remaining in Participant accounts will be applied to the purchase of Common Stock, unless determined otherwise by the Board. Upon termination of the Plan, the Board shall have authority to establish administrative procedures regarding the exercise of outstanding rights to purchase shares of Common Stock or to determine that such rights shall not be exercised.

 

11.02 Use of Funds.

All payroll deductions received or held by the Company or any Affiliate under this Plan may be used by the Company or such Affiliate for any corporate purpose and neither the Company nor such Affiliate shall be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.

 

11.03 Transferability; Notice of Disposition.

(a) Neither payroll deductions credited to a Participant’s account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of a right to purchase Common Stock or to receive shares of Common Stock under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in Section 7.01. Any such attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, or other disposition shall be void ab initio . During a Participant’s lifetime, rights to purchase shares of Common Stock that are held by such Participant shall be exercisable only by such Participant.

(b) Each Participant shall notify the Company, in writing, if such Participant disposes of any of the shares of Common Stock purchased in any Offering Period pursuant to the Plan if such disposition occurs within the Notice Period. The Company may, at any time during the Notice Period, place a legend or legends on any book entry representing shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan requesting that the Company’s transfer agent notify the Company of any transfer of such shares of Common Stock. The obligation of the Participant to provide such notice shall continue notwithstanding the placement of any such legend on the book entry.

 

11.04 Term; Stockholder Approval of the Plan.

The Plan shall be effective upon its approval by the Board and shall be approved by the stockholders of the Company, in any manner permitted by applicable corporate law, within twelve (12) months before or after the Plan is adopted by the Board. No purchase of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan shall occur prior to such stockholder approval. The Plan shall terminate on the earliest of (i) termination of the Plan by the Committee (which termination may be effected by the Board at any time), (ii) the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the approval of the Plan by the stockholders or (iii) issuance of all of the shares of Company Stock available for issuance under the Plan.

 

11.05 No Employment Rights; Effect of the Plan.

(a) The Plan does not, directly or indirectly, create in any employee or class of employees, any right with respect to continuation of employment with the Company or any of its Affiliates, and it shall not be deemed to interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate employing such person to terminate, or otherwise modify, an employee’s employment at any time.

(b) The provisions of the Plan shall, in accordance with its terms, be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, all successors of each Participant, including, without limitation, such Participant’s estate and the executors, administrators or trustees thereof, heirs and legatees, and any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy or representative of creditors of such Participant.


11.06 Governing Law.

The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed wholly within the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

 

11.07 Miscellaneous.

(a) Notices . All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

(b) Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares of Stock . Shares of Common Stock shall not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, applicable state securities laws and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares of Common Stock may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares of Common Stock are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Common Stock if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

Exhibit 5.1

May 15, 2015

La Quinta Holdings Inc.

909 Hidden Ridge, Suite 600

Irving, Texas 75038

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to La Quinta Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to up to 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”), which may be issued by the Company pursuant to the La Quinta Holdings Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”).

We have examined the Registration Statement, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Amended Certificate”) and the Plan, which have been filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement. We also have examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.

In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that upon issuance and delivery in accordance with the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the Delaware General Corporation Law.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated February 24, 2015, relating to the financial statements of La Quinta Holdings Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of La Quinta Holdings Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2014.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Dallas, Texas

May 15, 2015

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of La Quinta Holdings Inc. on Form S-8 of our report dated February 26, 2014, relating to the combined financial statements of WIH La Quinta Inn Hotels as of December 31, 2012 and 2013 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K of La Quinta Holdings Inc. dated March 23, 2015.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Miami, Florida

May 15, 2015