Page 1 of 11 Pages
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 25)*
CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
-----------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
COMMON
-----------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
169905106
-----------------------------------------------------
(CUSIP Number)
Linda S. Martinson, Esq. (212) 583-2000
767 Fifth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10153
-----------------------------------------------------
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
February 24, 2003
-----------------------------------------------------
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box [ ].
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [ ].
(A fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class
of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7.)
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities,
and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).
SEC 1746 (12-91)
Amendment Number 25 to Schedule 13D (continued)
CUSIP No. 169905106 Page 2 of 11 Pages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Baron Capital Group, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
2(C) OR 2(E) [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 340,000
BENEFICIALLY --------------------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 5,387,201
REPORTING --------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 340,000
--------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,387,201
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,727,201
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
15.4%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
HC, CO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT
Amendment Number 25 to Schedule 13D (continued)
CUSIP No. 169905106 Page 3 of 11 Pages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
BAMCO, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
2(C) OR 2(E) [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY --------------------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 4,544,500
REPORTING --------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH
--------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
4,544,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
4,544,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
12.2%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IA, CO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT
Amendment Number 25 to Schedule 13D (continued)
CUSIP No. 169905106 Page 4 of 11 Pages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Baron Capital Management, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
2(C) OR 2(E) [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 340,000
BENEFICIALLY --------------------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 842,701
REPORTING --------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 340,000
--------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
842,701
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,182,701
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
3.2%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IA, CO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT
Amendment Number 25 to Schedule 13D (continued)
CUSIP No. 169905106 Page 5 of 11 Pages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Baron Asset Fund
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
2(C) OR 2(E) [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY --------------------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 3,500,000
REPORTING --------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH
--------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,500,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,500,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
9.4%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IV, OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT
Amendment Number 25 to Schedule 13D (continued)
CUSIP No. 169905106 Page 6 of 11 Pages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Ronald Baron
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
2(C) OR 2(E) [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 480,908
BENEFICIALLY --------------------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 5,387,201
REPORTING --------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 480,908
--------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,387,201
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,868,109
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
15.8%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT
Page 7 of 11 Pages
Item 1. Security and Issuer
(a) Name of Issuer:
CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
10750 Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20901
(c) Title and Class of Securities:
Common
Item 2. Identity and Background
(a) Name:
Baron Capital Group, Inc. ('BCG')
BAMCO, Inc. ('BAMCO')
Baron Capital Management, Inc. ('BCM')
Baron Asset Fund ('BAF')
Ronald Baron
(b) Business Address:
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
(c) Present Principal Employment:
BCG: Holding company
BAMCO: Investment adviser
BCM: Investment adviser
BAF: Registered investment company
Ronald Baron: Chairman and CEO: BCG, BAMCO, BCM and BAF
767 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10153
(d) Record of Convictions:
No material change.
(e) Record of Civil Proceedings:
No material change.
(f) Citizenship: No material change.
Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration
Since the last filing, BCM directed the purchase of 11,100 shares for
the Issuer for its Investment Advisory clients for an aggregate purchase
price of $235,098. All of the shares were paid for by cash assets in the
respective clients' accounts and/or by margin borrowings pursuant to
standard margin agreements.
Page 8 of 11 Pages
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction
No material change.
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer
(a) Amount and percentage beneficially owned:
BCG: 5,727,201 15.4%
BAMCO: 4,544,500 12.2%
BCM: 1,182,701 3.2%
BAF: 3,500,000 9.4%
Ronald Baron: 5,868,109 15.8%
(b) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or direct the vote:
BCG: 340,000
BAMCO: 0
BCM: 340,000
BAF: 0
Ronald Baron: 480,908
(ii) shared power to vote or direct the vote:
BCG: 5,387,201
BAMCO: 4,544,500
BCM: 842,701
BAF: 3,500,000
Ronald Baron: 5,387,201
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition:
BCG: 340,000
BAMCO: 0
BCM: 340,000
BAF: 0
Ronald Baron: 480,908
(iv) shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
BCG: 5,387,201
BAMCO: 4,544,500
BCM: 842,701
BAF: 3,500,000
Ronald Baron: 5,387,201
*Reporting Persons may be deemed to share power to vote and
dispose of shares referred to herein as a result of control
relationships (BCG and Ronald Baron with respect to all of
the shares; BAMCO with respect to its advisory clients' shares)
and pursuant to investment advisory relationships with advisory
clients. Reporting Persons disclaim beneficial ownership
of the shares for which they share power.
(c) A schedule of transactions effected in the last sixty days is
attached hereto.
Page 9 of 11 Pages
(d) Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
No material change.
(e) Ownership of Less than Five Percent:
Not applicable.
Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with
Respect to Securities of the Issuer
No material change.
Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits
Exhibit 99 - 60 days of trading.
Signature
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete
and correct.
Date: March 6, 2003
Baron Capital Group, Inc., BAMCO, Inc.,
Baron Capital Management, Inc. and Baron Asset
Fund
By:
/s/ Ronald Baron
_______________________________________
Ronald Baron, Chairman and CEO
Ronald Baron, Individually
By:
/s/ Ronald Baron
_______________________________________
Ronald Baron