Company Press Release: KeyCorp
January 11, 2000
CLEVELAND, OH -- McDonald Investments Inc., a KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) Company, yesterday announced that it arranged
the sale by merger of Peppertree Resorts, Ltd., an Asheville, North Carolina-based owner of vacation-ownership
resorts, with Equivest Finance, Inc., a timeshare and resort finance company. The transaction closed on November
17, 1999, and was valued at approximately $130 million, less certain escrows and holdbacks for contingencies and
subject to a second closing. Peppertree has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Equivest and will continue to maintain
its offices in Asheville. Peppertree's founder, C. Wayne Kinser, will join the Equivest board of directors.
``Peppertree displayed the focus and commitment throughout the transaction process that was critical to McDonald's
successful efforts in completing a transaction that will create value for the shareholders of Equivest,'' said
Grant Sabroff, senior vice president at McDonald Investments.
``McDonald Investments' team approach was the primary force in facilitating our agreement with Equivest,'' stated
Peppertree Chief Operating Officer John McFarland. ``They guided Peppertree through the acquisition process from
the beginning to a successful end with professionalism, patience and an incredible breadth of knowledge and understanding.
Our two-year relationship with McDonald has been a most positive experience.''
Peppertree Resorts, Ltd. owns 15 vacation-ownership resorts in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Missouri and Wisconsin. Peppertree has a points-based vacation club that has been operating since 1997, and the
company also manages the 275-room Holiday Inn in Asheville, which is also to be acquired by Equivest in a second
closing.
McDonald Investments Inc. is a leading full-service investment firm serving individuals, corporations, institutions
and governments. Established in 1924, it is a subsidiary of one of the nation's largest integrated multi- line
financial services companies. KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY), a Cleveland based financial services company with assets of
approximately $83 billion, provides investment management, retail and commercial banking, consumer finance and
investment banking products and services.
SOURCE: KeyCorp