UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| For the fiscal year ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| OR | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||||||||||||||||||
For the transition period from to | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commission File Number 001-35169
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) | |||||||||||||
(301 ) 280-7777
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Class | Trading Symbol | Name of Exchange on Which Registered | ||||||||||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ||||||||||||||||||
| Emerging growth company | ||||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No
The aggregate market value of the 161,745,955 common shares of beneficial interest held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $1,526,881,815 based on the closing price of $9.44 as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for such common shares of beneficial interest on June 30, 2020.
As of February 19, 2021, 164,972,516 common shares of beneficial interest of the Registrant, $0.01 par value per share, were outstanding.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Item No. | Form 10-K Report Page | |||||||
| PART I | ||||||||
Item 1. | Business | |||||||
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | |||||||
Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments | |||||||
Properties | ||||||||
Item 3. | Legal Proceedings | |||||||
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | |||||||
| PART II | ||||||||
Item 5. | Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | |||||||
Item 6. | Selected Financial Data | |||||||
Item 7. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | |||||||
Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | |||||||
Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | |||||||
Item 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | |||||||
Item 9A. | Controls and Procedures | |||||||
Item 9B. | Other Information | |||||||
| PART III | ||||||||
Item 10. | Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance | |||||||
Item 11. | Executive Compensation | |||||||
Item 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters | |||||||
Item 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence | |||||||
Item 14. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services | |||||||
| PART IV | ||||||||
Item 15. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules | |||||||
1
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the use of the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "may," "will," "will continue," "intend," "should," "may" or similar expressions. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, beliefs and expectations, such forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events or guarantees of future performance and our actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Currently, one of the most significant factors that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from our forward-looking statements is the continued adverse effect of the current pandemic of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance, the real estate market and the global economy and financial markets. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to impact us will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence. These future developments may include, among others, the duration of the pandemic and its impact on the demand for travel and on levels of consumer confidence, the actions governments, businesses and individuals take in response to the pandemic, the impact of the pandemic on global and regional economies, travel and economic activity, and the pace of recovery when the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. Moreover, investors are cautioned to interpret many of the risks identified under the section entitled “Risk Factors” within this Annual Report on Form 10-K as being heightened as a result of the ongoing and numerous adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional factors that might cause actual outcomes to differ materially from our forward-looking statements include the following: the current global economic uncertainty, increased direct competition, changes in government regulations or accounting rules, changes in local, national and global real estate conditions, declines in the lodging industry, seasonality of the lodging industry, risks related to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, hostilities, including future terrorist attacks or fear of hostilities that affect travel, our ability to obtain lines of credit or permanent financing on satisfactory terms, changes in interest rates, access to capital through offerings of our common and preferred shares of beneficial interest, or debt, our ability to identify suitable acquisitions, our ability to close on identified acquisitions and integrate those businesses, and inaccuracies of our accounting estimates. A discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" within this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Except where the context suggests otherwise, we define certain terms in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as follows:
•"our company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to RLJ Lodging Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, which we refer to as the "Operating Partnership";
•"our hotel properties" refers to the 103 hotels owned by us as of December 31, 2020;
•a "compact full-service hotel" typically refers to any hotel with (1) less than 300 guestrooms and less than 12,000 square feet of meeting space, or (2) more than 300 guestrooms where, unlike traditional full-service hotels, the operations focus primarily on the rental of guestrooms such that a significant majority of its total revenue is generated from room rentals rather than other sources, such as food and beverage;
•a "focused-service hotel" typically refers to any hotel where the operations focus primarily on the rental of guestrooms and that offers services and amenities to a lesser extent than a traditional full-service or compact full-service hotel. For example, a focused-service hotel may have a restaurant, but, unlike a restaurant in a traditional full-service or compact full-service hotel, it may not offer three meals per day and may not offer room service. In addition, a focused-service hotel differs from a compact full-service hotel in that it typically has less than 2,000 square feet of meeting space, if any at all;
•"TRS" refers to each of our taxable REIT subsidiaries that are wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by the Operating Partnership and any disregarded subsidiaries of our TRSs;
•"Average Daily Rate" ("ADR") represents the total hotel room revenues divided by the total number of rooms sold in a given period;
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•"Occupancy" represents the total number of hotel rooms sold in a given period divided by the total number of rooms available; and
•"Revenue Per Available Room" ("RevPAR") is the product of ADR and Occupancy.
For a more in depth discussion of ADR, Occupancy and RevPAR, please refer to the "Key Indicators of Operating Performance" section.
3
PART I
Item 1. Business
Our Company
We are a self-advised and self-administered Maryland real estate investment trust ("REIT") that owns primarily premium-branded, high-margin, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. We are one of the largest U.S. publicly-traded lodging REITs in terms of both number of hotels and number of rooms. Our hotels are concentrated in markets that we believe exhibit multiple demand generators and attractive long-term growth prospects. We believe premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels with these characteristics generate high levels of RevPAR, strong operating margins and attractive returns.
As of December 31, 2020, we owned 103 hotel properties with approximately 22,700 rooms, located in 23 states and the District of Columbia. We owned, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, a 100% interest in 99 of our hotel properties, a 98.3% controlling interest in the DoubleTree Metropolitan Hotel New York City, a 95.0% controlling interest in The Knickerbocker, and 50% interests in entities owning two hotel properties. We consolidate our real estate interests in the 101 hotel properties in which we hold a controlling financial interest, and we record the real estate interests in the two hotel properties in which we hold an indirect 50% interest using the equity method of accounting. We lease 102 of the 103 hotel properties to our TRSs, of which we own a controlling financial interest.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we elect to be taxed as a REIT. Substantially all of our assets and liabilities are held by, and all of our operations are conducted through, the Operating Partnership. We are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. As of December 31, 2020, we owned, through a combination of direct and indirect interests, 99.5% of the units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership ("OP units").
COVID-19
The global outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) and the public health measures that have been undertaken in response have had, and will likely continue to have, a material adverse impact on the global economy and all aspects of our business.
Significant events affecting travel, including the COVID-19 pandemic, typically have an impact on booking patterns, with the full extent of the impact generally determined by the duration of the event and its impact on travel decisions. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including related government restrictions, border closings, quarantining, “shelter-in-place” orders and “social distancing,” have significantly limited non-essential travel and also resulted in increased national unemployment and possible lasting changes in consumer behavior that will create headwinds for our hotel properties even after government restrictions are lifted. Since we cannot estimate when the COVID-19 pandemic and the responsive measures to combat it will end, we cannot estimate the ultimate operational and financial impact of COVID-19 on our business. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly impacted our operations in 2020, and combined with macroeconomic trends such as the current economic recession, reduced consumer spending, including on travel, and increased unemployment, lead us to believe that the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations continue to have a material adverse impact on our financial results and liquidity and such adverse impact may continue well beyond the containment of such outbreak and vaccination distribution.
The Lodging Industry
The lodging industry in the United States consists of public and private entities that operate in an extremely diversified market under a variety of brand names. The key participants in the lodging industry are as follows:
•Owners — own the hotel property and typically enter into a management agreement with an independent third party to manage the hotel property. The hotel properties may be branded and operated under the manager’s brand or branded under a separate franchise agreement.
•Franchisors — own a brand or brands and provide the franchised hotels with brand recognition, marketing support and worldwide reservation systems.
•Managers — responsible for the day-to-day operation of the hotel property, including the employment of the hotel staff, the determination of room rates, the development of sales and marketing plans, the preparation of operating and capital expenditure budgets and the preparation of financial reports for the owner.
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Our Investment and Business Strategies
Our objective is to generate strong returns for our shareholders by acquiring and owning primarily premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels at prices where we believe we can generate attractive returns on investment and long-term value appreciation through proactive asset management. We also intend to selectively dispose of hotel properties when we believe the returns have been maximized or the hotel properties no longer meet our strategy in order to have investment capacity for other opportunities, which may include acquisitions. We intend to pursue this objective through the following investment and business strategies:
Investment Strategies
•Targeted ownership of premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. We believe that premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels have the potential to generate attractive returns relative to other types of hotels due to their ability to achieve RevPAR levels at or close to those generated by traditional full-service hotels, while achieving higher profit margins due to their more efficient operating model and less volatile cash flows.
•Use of premium hotel brands. We believe in affiliating our hotels with premium brands owned by leading international franchisors such as Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt. We believe that utilizing premium brands provides significant advantages because of their guest loyalty programs, worldwide reservation systems, effective product segmentation, global distribution and strong customer awareness.
•Focus on high-growth markets. We focus on owning and acquiring hotel properties in markets that we believe exhibit multiple demand generators and attractive long-term growth prospects. As a result, we believe that these hotel properties generate higher returns on investment.
Business Strategies
•Maximize returns from our hotel properties. We believe that our hotel properties have the potential to generate improvements in RevPAR and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") as a result of our proactive asset management and the anticipated long-term recovery of the United States economy. We actively monitor and advise our third-party management companies on most aspects of our hotels' operations, including property positioning, physical design, capital planning and investment, guest experience and overall strategic direction. We regularly review opportunities to further invest in our hotel properties in an effort to enhance quality and attractiveness, increase long-term value and generate attractive returns on investment.
•Pursue a disciplined hotel acquisition strategy. We seek to acquire additional hotel properties at prices below replacement cost where we believe we can generate attractive returns on investment. We intend to target acquisition opportunities where we can enhance value by pursuing proactive investment strategies such as renovation, repositioning or rebranding.
•Pursue a disciplined capital recycling program. We intend to continue to pursue a disciplined capital allocation strategy designed to maximize the return on our investments by selectively selling hotel properties that are no longer consistent with our investment strategy or whose returns appear to have been maximized. To the extent that we sell our hotel properties, except as may be required by our debt agreements, we intend to redeploy the capital into other investment opportunities, including without limitation, acquisitions, brand conversions, green initiatives and space configuration opportunities.
•Continue to improve our balance sheet. We intend to continue to maintain a flexible capital structure that allows us to execute our strategy. We believe that a strong balance sheet is a key competitive advantage that affords us a lower cost of capital and positions us for growth. We structure our debt profile to maintain financial flexibility and a balanced maturity schedule with access to different forms of financing.
5
Our Hotels
Our hotel properties operate under strong, premium brands, with approximately 87% of our hotel properties operating under existing relationships with Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt. The following table sets forth the brand affiliations of our hotel properties as of December 31, 2020:
| Brand Affiliations | Number of hotels | Percentage of total hotels | Number of rooms | Percentage of total rooms | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marriott | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn | 13 | 12.6 | % | 1,730 | 7.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard | 14 | 13.5 | % | 2,860 | 12.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites | 5 | 4.9 | % | 646 | 2.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Marriott | 5 | 4.9 | % | 1,738 | 7.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Renaissance | 3 | 2.9 | % | 782 | 3.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SpringHill Suites | 3 | 2.9 | % | 437 | 2.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Subtotal | 43 | 41.7 | % | 8,193 | 36.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites | 21 | 20.4 | % | 5,790 | 25.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn | 5 | 4.9 | % | 1,100 | 4.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DoubleTree | 4 | 3.9 | % | 1,397 | 6.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hampton Inn/Hampton Inn & Suites | 2 | 1.9 | % | 313 | 1.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Homewood Suites | 2 | 1.9 | % | 345 | 1.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton | 1 | 1.0 | % | 231 | 1.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Subtotal | 35 | 34.0 | % | 9,176 | 40.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House | 7 | 6.8 | % | 1,188 | 5.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt Place | 3 | 2.9 | % | 466 | 2.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt Centric | 2 | 1.9 | % | 266 | 1.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Subtotal | 12 | 11.6 | % | 1,920 | 8.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham | 8 | 7.8 | % | 2,528 | 11.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Subtotal | 8 | 7.8 | % | 2,528 | 11.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Brand Affiliation | 5 | 4.9 | % | 858 | 3.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 103 | 100.0 | % | 22,675 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Management
We have a dedicated team of asset management professionals that proactively work with our third-party management companies to maximize profitability at each of our hotels to the extent permitted under the REIT rules. Our asset management team monitors the performance of our hotels on a daily basis and holds frequent ownership meetings with corporate operations executives and key personnel at the hotels. Our asset management team works closely with our third-party management companies on key aspects of each hotel's operation, including, among others, revenue management, market positioning, cost structure, capital and operational budgeting, as well as the identification and evaluation of return on investment initiatives and overall business strategy. In addition, we retain approval rights on key staffing positions at many of our hotels, such as the hotel's general manager and director of sales. We believe that our strong asset management process helps to ensure that each hotel is being operated to our and our franchisors' standards, that our hotel properties are being adequately maintained in order to preserve the value of the asset and to ensure the safety of our customers, and that our management companies are maximizing revenues, profits and operating margins.
6
Competition
The U.S. lodging industry is highly competitive. Our hotel properties compete with other participants in the lodging industry for guests in each of their markets on the basis of several factors, including, among others, location, quality of accommodations, convenience, brand affiliation, room rates, service levels, amenities and the availability of lodging and event space. Competition is often specific to the individual markets in which our hotel properties are located and includes competition from existing and new hotels in the focused-service and compact full-service hotel segments and non-traditional accommodations for travelers, such as online services that market homes and condominiums as an alternative to hotel rooms. We believe that hotels, such as our hotels, that are affiliated with leading national brands, such as the Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt brands, will enjoy competitive advantages associated with operating under such brands.
We face competition for the acquisition of hotel properties from institutional pension funds, private equity funds, REITs, hotel companies and other parties who are engaged in the acquisition of hotel properties. Some of these competitors may have substantially greater financial and operational resources and access to capital, a lower cost of capital and/or greater knowledge of the markets in which we seek to invest. This competition may reduce the number of suitable investment opportunities offered to us and decrease the attractiveness of the terms on which we may acquire our targeted hotel investments, including the cost thereof.
Seasonality
The lodging industry is seasonal in nature, which can cause quarterly fluctuations in our revenues. For example, our hotels in the Chicago, Illinois metropolitan area experience lower revenues and profits during the winter months of December through March, while our hotels in Florida generally have higher revenues in the months of January through April. This seasonality can be expected to cause periodic fluctuations in a hotel's room revenues, occupancy levels, room rates, operating expenses and cash flows.
Our Financing Strategy
Over time, we intend to finance our long-term growth with equity issuances and debt financing with staggered maturities. Our strategy with respect to our debt profile is to primarily have unsecured debt and a greater percentage of fixed rate and hedged floating rate debt as compared to unhedged floating rate debt. Our debt is currently comprised of unsecured senior notes, unsecured credit agreements, and mortgage loans secured by certain hotel properties. We have a mix of fixed and floating rate debt; however, the majority of our debt either bears interest at fixed rates or effectively bears interest at fixed rates due to interest rate swaps on the debt.
Organizational Structure
We were formed as a Maryland REIT in January 2011. We conduct our business through a traditional umbrella partnership real estate investment trust ("UPREIT") in which our hotel properties are indirectly owned by the Operating Partnership, through limited partnerships, limited liability companies or other subsidiaries. We are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of December 31, 2020, we owned 99.5% of the OP units in the Operating Partnership. In the future, we may issue OP units from time to time in connection with acquiring hotel properties, financing, compensation or other reasons.
In order for the income from our hotel operations to constitute "rents from real property" for purposes of the gross income tests required for REIT qualification, we cannot directly or indirectly operate any of our hotel properties. Accordingly, we lease our hotels, and we intend to lease any hotels we acquire in the future, to subsidiaries of our TRSs ("TRS lessees"), which are wholly-owned by us. Our TRS lessees have engaged, or will engage, third-party management companies to manage our hotel properties, and any hotel properties we acquire in the future, on market terms.
Our TRS lessees pay rent to us that we intend to treat as "rents from real property," provided that the third-party management companies engaged by our TRS lessees to manage our hotel properties are deemed to be "eligible independent contractors" and certain other requirements are met. Our TRSs are subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes applicable to corporations.
7
Regulation
General
Our hotel properties are subject to various U.S. federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, including regulations relating to common areas and fire and life safety requirements. We believe that each of our hotel properties has the necessary permits and approvals to operate its business.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Our hotel properties must comply with the applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Accessibility Guidelines promulgated thereunder (the "ADA"), to the extent that such hotels are "public accommodations" as defined by the ADA. The ADA may require the removal of structural barriers to access by persons with disabilities in certain public areas of our hotels where such removal is readily achievable. We believe that our hotel properties are in substantial compliance with the ADA and that we will not be required to make substantial capital expenditures to address the requirements of the ADA. However, non-compliance with the ADA could result in imposition of fines or an award of damages to private litigants. The obligation to make readily achievable accommodations is an ongoing one, and we will continue to assess our hotels and to make alterations as appropriate in this respect.
Environmental Matters
Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, a current or previous owner or operator (including tenants) of real estate may be subject to liability related to contamination resulting from the presence or discharge of hazardous or toxic substances at that property and may be required to investigate and clean up such contamination at that property or emanating from that property. These costs could be substantial and liability under these laws may attach without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of the contaminants, and the liability may be joint and several. The presence of contamination or the failure to remediate contamination at our hotels may expose us to third-party liability for cleanup costs, property damage or bodily injury, natural resource damages and costs or expenses related to liens or property use restrictions and materially and adversely affect our ability to sell, lease or develop the real estate or to incur debt using the real estate as collateral.
Our hotel properties are subject to various federal, state, and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Our hotel properties incur costs to comply with these laws and regulations and could be subject to fines and penalties for non-compliance. The costs of complying with environmental, health and safety laws could increase as new laws are enacted and existing laws are modified.
Some of our hotel properties contain asbestos-containing building materials. We believe that the asbestos is appropriately contained in accordance with current environmental regulations and that we have no need for any immediate remediation or current plans to remove the asbestos.
We believe that our hotel properties are in compliance, in all material respects, with all federal, state and local environmental ordinances and regulations regarding hazardous or toxic substances and other environmental matters, the violation of which could have a material adverse effect on us. Although we have not received written notice from any governmental authority of any material noncompliance, liability or claim relating to hazardous or toxic substances or other environmental matters in connection with any of our present properties, we can offer no assurance that a material environmental claim will not be asserted against us in the future.
Insurance
We carry comprehensive general liability, fire, extended coverage, business interruption, rental loss of income coverage and umbrella liability coverage on all of our hotels, including earthquake, wind, flood and hurricane coverage on hotels in areas where we believe such coverages are warranted, in each case with limits of liability that we deem adequate. Similarly, we are insured against the risk of direct physical damage in amounts we believe to be adequate to reimburse us, on a replacement cost basis, for the costs incurred to repair or rebuild each hotel, including loss of income during the reconstruction period. We have selected policy specifications and insured limits which we believe to be appropriate given the relative risk of loss, the cost of the coverage and industry practice. We do not carry insurance for generally uninsurable risks, including, but not limited to losses caused by communicable or infectious diseases, war or governmental actions such as government seizures of property. In the opinion of our management, our hotels are adequately insured.
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Human Capital
As of December 31, 2020, we had 77 employees. We strive to maintain a workplace that is free from discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, ethnicity, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification or any other status protected by applicable laws. We conduct annual trainings to prevent discrimination and harassment and monitor employee conduct year-round.
Our key human capital management objectives are to attract, recruit, hire, develop and promote a deep and diverse bench of talent that translates into a strong and successful workforce. To support these objectives, our human resources programs are designed to develop talent to prepare them for critical roles and leadership positions for the future; reward and support employees through competitive pay and benefit programs; enhance our culture through efforts to foster, promote, and preserve a culture of diversity and inclusion; and evolve and invest in technology, tools, and resources to enable employees at work.
Environmental, Social, and Governance ("ESG")
We set ESG objectives to integrate sustainability across our portfolio. We intend to enhance strategic decision making by identifying and addressing material risks and opportunities that mitigate long-term environmental damage to our hotel properties. We seek to minimize our business impacts by implementing relevant practices that build the resilience of our hotels and stakeholders.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1000, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Our telephone number is (301) 280-7777. Our website is located at www.rljlodgingtrust.com. The information that is found on or accessible through our website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any other report or document that we file with or furnish to the SEC. We have included our website address in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as an inactive textual reference and do not intend it to be an active link to our website.
We make available on our website, free of charge, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. We also make available on our website on the Corporate Governance page under the Investor Relations section various documents related to our corporate governance including our: Board Committee Charters; Corporate Governance Guidelines; Code of Business Conduct and Ethics; Complaint Procedures for Financial and Auditing Matters; Declaration of Trust; and Bylaws.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the SEC are available on the SEC's website, which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The SEC's website address is www.sec.gov.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Set forth below are the risks that we believe are material to our shareholders. You should carefully consider the following risks in evaluating our Company and our business. The occurrence of any of the following risks could materially and adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, the market price of our common shares, and our ability to, among other things, satisfy our debt service obligations and to make distributions to our shareholders, which in turn could cause our shareholders to lose all or a part of their investment. Some statements in this report including statements in the following risk factors constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section entitled "Special Note About Forward-Looking Statements" at the beginning of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Risks Related to Our Business and Hotel Properties
The current outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has significantly adversely impacted and disrupted, and is expected to continue to significantly adversely impact and disrupt, our business, financial performance and condition, operating results and cash flows. Further, the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak has caused severe disruptions in the U.S. and global economy and financial markets and could result in the continuation of widespread business continuity issues for an unknown duration.
Since first being reported in December 2019, the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread globally, including to every state in the United States. The outbreak of COVID-19 has had, and another pandemic in the future could similarly have, significant repercussions across regional and global economies and financial markets. The global impact of the outbreak has
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been rapidly evolving and many countries, including the United States, have reacted by instituting a wide variety of control measures including states of emergency, mandatory quarantines, implementing "shelter in place" orders, border closures, and restricting travel and large gatherings. Furthermore, the outbreak has triggered a global economic recession.
COVID-19 has disrupted our business and has had a material adverse effect, and will continue to materially adversely impact and disrupt, our business, financial performance and condition, operating results and cash flows. The effects of the pandemic on the hotel industry are unprecedented. Global demand for lodging has been drastically reduced and occupancy levels have reached historic lows. Since late February 2020, we have experienced a significant decline in occupancy and RevPAR associated with COVID-19 throughout our portfolio. As of December 31, 2020, 7 of our 103 hotel properties remain closed. All of our open hotels are currently operating at significantly reduced occupancy levels. In addition, we may need or elect to temporarily suspend the operations at our hotels in the future as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not currently known when the suspended operations at our closed hotels will resume at any level, or if we will need to suspend operations at additional hotels.
Additional factors that would negatively impact our ability to operate successfully during or following the COVID-19 pandemic or another pandemic, or that could otherwise significantly adversely impact and disrupt our business, financial performance and condition, operating results and cash flows, include:
•sustained negative consumer or business sentiment, economic metrics or demand for travel, including beyond the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, which could further adversely impact demand for lodging;
•our ability to reopen our hotels in a timely manner, or at all, and our ability to attract customers to our hotels when we are able to reopen;
•increased operational costs to maintain hotels, including hotels that are no longer in operation, and increased sanitation measures at hotels that continue to operate;
•the scaling back or delay of a significant amount of planned capital expenditures, including planned renovation projects, which could adversely affect the value of our properties;
•continued reduction or the elimination of quarterly dividends;
•our increased indebtedness and decreased operating revenues, which could increase our risk of default on our loans;
•continued volatility of our stock price;
•our dependence on our third-party management companies, which are facing similar challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic;
•disruptions in our supply chains, which may impact our hotels that are still operating or have re-opened;
•fluctuations in regional and local economies;
•the continued service and availability of personnel, including our senior leadership team, and our ability to recruit, attract and retain skilled personnel to the extent our management or personnel are impacted by the outbreak of pandemic or epidemic disease and are not available or allowed to conduct work;
•our ability to ensure business continuity in the event our continuity of operations plan is not effective or improperly implemented or deployed during a disruption;
•disruptions as a result of corporate employees working remotely, including risk of cybersecurity incidents and disruptions to internal control procedures; and
•difficulty accessing debt and equity capital on attractive terms, or at all, and a severe disruption and instability in the global financial markets or deteriorations in credit and financing conditions may affect our ability to meet our liquidity needs by restricting or otherwise limiting our access to capital necessary to fund business operations and affect the availability and terms of future borrowings, renewals or refinancings.
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Any of the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including those described above, alone or in combination with others, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The significance, extent and duration of the impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows, remains largely uncertain and dependent on future developments that cannot be accurately predicted at this time, such as the continued severity, duration, transmission rate and geographic spread of COVID-19 in the United States, the extent and effectiveness of the containment measures taken, the effectiveness of the distribution and efficacy of vaccines, and the responses of the overall economy, the financial markets and the population, particularly in areas in which we operate, as containment measures are lifted and, in some cases, reinstated. Furthermore, there can be no guarantee that the demand for lodging, and consumer confidence in travel generally, will recover as quickly as other industries after the COVID-19 pandemic has largely subsided. As a result, we cannot provide an estimate of the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business or when, or if, we will be able to resume normal operations. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic presents material uncertainty and risk with respect to our business, financial performance and condition, operating results and cash flows.
We require a significant amount of cash to service our debt and sustain our operations. Our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control, and we may not be able to generate cash required to service our debt.
Our ability to meet our debt service obligations or refinance our debt depends on our future operating and financial performance and capacity to generate cash. Our performance and capacity to generate cash will be affected by our ability to implement our business strategy successfully, but also certain general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors beyond our control, including the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. If we cannot generate sufficient cash to meet our debt service obligations or fund our other business needs, we may, among other things, need to refinance all or a portion of our debt, obtain additional financing, or continue to delay planned capital expenditures. We cannot assure you that we will be able to generate sufficient cash through any of the foregoing. If we are unable to refinance any of our debt or obtain additional financing on reasonable terms or at all, we may not be able to satisfy our debt obligations.
We will continue to be significantly influenced by the economies and other conditions in the specific markets in which we operate, particularly in the metropolitan areas where we have high concentrations of hotels.
Our hotels located in the Northern California, Southern California, South Florida, Chicago, Illinois, New York, New York, and Houston, Texas metropolitan areas accounted for approximately 12.2%, 10.4%, 8.5%, 8.1%, 7.6%, and 6.2%, respectively, of our total number of rooms available for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. As a result, we are particularly susceptible to adverse market conditions in these areas, including industry downturns, relocation of businesses, localized COVID-19 infection rates and governmental actions to address the pandemic, any oversupply of hotel rooms, political unrest or a reduction in lodging demand. Adverse economic developments in the markets in which we have a concentration of hotels, or in any of the other markets in which we operate, or any increase in hotel supply or decrease in lodging demand resulting from the local, regional or national business or political climate, could materially and adversely affect us.
We are dependent on the performance of the third-party management companies that manage the operations of each of our hotels and we could be materially and adversely affected if such third-party hotel managers do not manage our hotels in our best interests.
Because U.S. federal income tax laws restrict REITs and their subsidiaries from operating or managing hotel properties, we do not operate or manage our hotel properties. Instead, we retain third-party hotel managers to operate our hotel properties pursuant to management agreements. As of December 31, 2020, all of our hotel properties had individual management agreements, 35 of which were with Aimbridge Hospitality ("Aimbridge").
The success of our hotel properties depends largely on our ability to establish and maintain good relationships with the hotel managers. From time to time, disputes may arise between us and our third-party managers regarding their performance or compliance with the terms of the management agreements, which in turn could adversely affect our results of operations. We generally will attempt to resolve any such disputes through discussions and negotiations; however, if we are unable to reach satisfactory results through discussions and negotiations, we may choose to terminate our management agreement, litigate the dispute or submit the matter to third-party dispute resolution, the outcome of which may be unfavorable to us.
In the event that any of our management agreements are terminated, we can provide no assurances that we could find a replacement manager or that our franchisors will consent to a replacement manager in a timely manner, or at all, or that any replacement manager will be successful in operating our hotels. Furthermore, if Aimbridge, as our largest provider of management services, is financially unable or unwilling to perform its obligations pursuant to our management agreements, our
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ability to find a replacement manager or managers for our Aimbridge-managed hotels could be challenging, costly and time consuming.
We are subject to the risks associated with the employment of hotel personnel, particularly with hotels that employ unionized labor.
Our third-party management companies are responsible for hiring and maintaining the labor force at each of our hotels. Although we do not directly employ or manage the employees at our hotels, we still are subject to many of the costs and risks generally associated with the hotel labor force, particularly those hotels with unionized labor. From time to time, the hotel operations may be disrupted as a result of strikes, lockouts, public demonstrations or other negative actions and publicity. The resolution of labor disputes or re-negotiated labor contracts could lead to higher labor costs, either by increases in wages or benefits or by changes in work rules that raise hotel operating costs. We do not have the ability to affect the outcome of these negotiations.
Restrictive covenants in certain of our management and franchise agreements contain provisions limiting or restricting the sale or financing of our hotels, which could have a material and adverse effect on us.
Our management and franchise agreements may contain restrictive covenants that limit or restrict our ability to sell or refinance a hotel without the consent of the management company or franchisor. Some of our franchise agreements provide the franchisor with a right of first offer in the event of certain sales or transfers of a hotel and provide that the franchisor has the right to approve any change in the management company engaged to manage the hotel. Generally, we may not agree to sell, lease or otherwise transfer particular hotels unless the transferee is not a competitor of the management company or franchisor and the transferee assumes the related management and/or franchise agreements. If the management company or franchisor does not consent to the sale or financing of our hotels, we may still sell the hotels, but there could be adverse consequences.
Substantially all of our hotel properties operate under either Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt brands; therefore, we are subject to the risks associated with concentrating our portfolio in just three brand families.
90 of the 103 hotel properties that we owned as of December 31, 2020 utilize brands owned by Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt. As a result, our success is dependent in part on the continued success of Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt and their respective brands. We believe that building brand value is critical to increasing demand and building customer loyalty. Consequently, if market recognition or the positive perception of Marriott and/or Hilton and/or Hyatt is reduced or compromised, the goodwill associated with the Marriott-, Hilton-, or Hyatt-branded hotels in our portfolio may be adversely affected. Furthermore, if our relationship with Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt were to deteriorate or terminate as a result of disputes regarding the management of our hotels or for other reasons, Marriott and/or Hilton and/or Hyatt could, under certain circumstances, terminate our current franchise licenses with them or decline to provide franchise licenses for hotels that we may acquire in the future. If any of the foregoing were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on us.
The failure to make and integrate acquisitions of additional hotels could materially and adversely impede our growth.
We can provide no assurances that we will be successful in identifying attractive hotel properties or portfolios of hotel properties or that, once identified, we will be successful in consummating an acquisition or integrating the acquired property or portfolio into our business. We face significant competition for attractive investment opportunities from other investors, some of which have greater financial resources, a lower cost of capital and greater access to debt and equity capital than we do. As a result, we may be unable to acquire certain hotel properties or portfolios of hotel properties that we deem attractive or the purchase price may be significantly elevated or other terms may be substantially more onerous. In addition, we expect to finance future acquisitions through a combination of borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility or other secured or unsecured borrowings, the use of retained cash flows, and offerings of equity and debt securities, which may not be available on advantageous terms, or at all. Any delay or failure on our part to identify, negotiate, finance on favorable terms, consummate and integrate such acquisitions could materially and adversely impede our growth. Following an acquisition or expansion, we may incur acquisition-related costs and assume potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen increased costs or expenses. The integration of such acquisitions, especially acquisitions of portfolios of hotel properties, may cause disruptions to our business, strain management time and resources and materially and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
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Any delay in demand growth due to weaker than anticipated economic growth could materially and adversely affect us and our growth prospects.
The operating performance of our hotel properties in various U.S. markets has significantly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our business strategy depends on achieving revenue and net income growth from anticipated improvement in demand for hotel rooms as part of the growth of the U.S. economy as well as the global economy. Accordingly, any delay or weaker than anticipated economic growth could materially and adversely affect us and our growth prospects. Furthermore, even if the U.S. economy and the global economy continue to grow, we cannot provide any assurances that demand for hotel rooms will increase from current levels. If demand does not increase in the near future, or if demand weakens, our future results of operations and our growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected.
Any difficulties in obtaining the capital necessary to make required periodic capital expenditures and to renovate our hotel properties could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our hotel properties have an ongoing need for renovations and other capital improvements, including the replacement of furniture, fixtures and equipment ("FF&E"), franchisor-required improvements, and renovation or redevelopment of acquisitions. Our lenders will also likely require that we set aside annual amounts for capital improvements to our hotel properties. The costs of these capital improvements could materially and adversely affect us.
We may not be able to fund the capital improvements to our hotel properties or acquisitions solely from the cash provided from our operating activities because we must distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income to shareholders in order to maintain our qualification as a REIT. Consequently, we expect to rely upon the availability of debt or equity capital to fund capital improvements and acquisitions. If we are unable to obtain the capital necessary to make the required periodic capital expenditures and to renovate our hotel properties on favorable terms, or at all, our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Competition from other lodging industry participants in the markets in which we operate could adversely affect occupancy levels and/or ADRs, which could have a material and adverse effect on us.
We face significant competition from owners and operators of other hotels and other lodging industry participants. In addition, we face competition from non-traditional accommodations for travelers, such as online services that market homes and condominiums as an alternative to hotel rooms. Our competitors may have an operating model that enables them to offer accommodations at lower rates than we can, which could result in our competitors increasing their occupancy at our expense and adversely affecting our ADRs. Given the importance of occupancy and ADR at focused-service and compact full-service hotels, this competition could adversely affect our ability to attract prospective guests, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
At December 31, 2020, we had approximately $2.6 billion of debt outstanding, which could materially and adversely affect our operating performance and put us at a competitive disadvantage.
Required repayments of debt and related interest may materially and adversely affect our operating performance. At December 31, 2020, we had approximately $2.6 billion of outstanding debt. In addition, we may incur substantial additional debt, including secured debt, in the future. After taking into consideration the effect of interest rate swaps, approximately 81.3% of our borrowings are fixed. Increases in interest rates on our existing or future variable rate debt would increase our interest expense, which could adversely affect our cash flows and our ability to pay distributions to shareholders.
Because we anticipate that our operating cash flow will be adequate to repay only a portion of our debt at maturity, we expect that we will be required to repay debt through debt refinancings and/or offerings of our securities. The amount of our outstanding debt may adversely affect our ability to refinance our debt.
If we are unable to refinance our debt on acceptable terms, or at all, we may be forced to dispose of one or more of our hotels on disadvantageous terms, which may result in losses to us and may adversely affect the cash available for distributions to our shareholders. In addition, if the prevailing interest rates or other factors at the time of refinancing result in higher interest rates upon refinancing, our interest expense would increase, which would adversely affect our future operating results and liquidity.
Our outstanding debt, and any additional debt borrowed in the future, may subject us to many risks, including the risk that:
•our cash flows from operations may be insufficient to make required payments of principal and interest;
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•we may be required to use a substantial portion of our cash flows to pay principal and interest, which would reduce the cash available for distributions to our shareholders;
•we may be at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt;
•we may be vulnerable to economic volatility, particularly if growth were to slow or stall and reduce our flexibility to respond to difficult market, industry, or economic conditions;
•the terms of any refinancing may not be in the same amount or on terms as favorable as the terms of the debt being refinanced; and
•the use of leverage could adversely affect our ability to borrow more money for operations, capital improvements, to finance future acquisitions of hotel properties, to make distributions to our shareholders, to repurchase common shares, and it could adversely affect the market price of our common shares.
Disruptions in the financial markets could adversely affect our ability to obtain sufficient third-party financing for our capital needs on favorable terms, or at all, which could materially and adversely affect us.
In recent years, the U.S. financial markets experienced significant price volatility, dislocations and liquidity disruptions, which caused stock market prices to fluctuate substantially and the spreads on prospective debt financings to widen considerably. Renewed volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets may negatively impact our ability to access additional financing for our capital needs, including growth, acquisition activities and other business initiatives, on favorable terms or at all, which may negatively affect our business. A prolonged downturn in the financial markets may cause us to seek alternative capital sources of potentially less attractive financing and may require us to further adjust our business plan accordingly. These events also may make it more difficult or costly for us to raise capital through the issuance of new equity or the incurrence of additional secured or unsecured debt, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Replacement of the LIBOR benchmark interest rate could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
In 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), announced it would phaseout LIBOR by the end of 2021. Consequently, at this time, it is not possible to predict whether LIBOR will continue to be viewed as an acceptable market benchmark or what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR.
The transition from LIBOR, or any changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of LIBOR, could have an adverse impact on our current interest rate hedging arrangements. The transition from LIBOR could also create considerable costs and additional risk, which could materially and adversely impact our financial condition or results of operations. Since the proposed alternative rates are calculated differently, the payments under interest rate hedging arrangements that reference the new rates will differ from those that reference LIBOR. We can provide no assurance regarding the future of LIBOR, whether our current interest rate hedging arrangements will continue to use LIBOR as a reference rate or whether any reliance on such rate will be appropriate. Although we are currently unable to assess what the ultimate impact of the transition from LIBOR will be, failure to adequately manage the transition could hinder our ability to establish effective hedges on our variable rate debt.
Our existing indebtedness contains covenants and our failure to comply with all covenants in our debt agreements could materially and adversely affect us.
Our existing indebtedness contains customary and financial covenants that may limit our ability to enter into future indebtedness. In addition, our ability to borrow under our unsecured revolving credit facility is subject to compliance with our financial and other covenants, including covenants relating to debt service coverage ratios and leverage ratios. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we amended our unsecured credit facilities to suspend the testing of all existing financial maintenance covenants for all periods through and including the fourth quarter of 2021 and provides for less restrictive covenants through the first quarter of 2023. Due to the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic into 2021 and beyond, we may not be able to meet the terms of the amended financial covenants once they are effective in 2022. Our failure to comply with covenants in our existing or future indebtedness, as well as our inability to make required principal and interest payments, could cause a default under the applicable debt agreement, which could result in the acceleration of the debt and require us to repay such debt with capital obtained from other sources, which may not be available to us or may be available only on unattractive terms. Furthermore, if we default on secured debt, lenders can take possession of the hotel(s) securing such debt. In addition, debt agreements may contain specific cross-default provisions with respect to specified other indebtedness, giving
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the lenders the right to declare a default on its debt and to enforce remedies, including accelerating the maturity of such debt upon the occurrence of a default under such other indebtedness. If we default on several of our debt agreements or any significant debt agreement, we could be materially and adversely affected.
Costs associated with, or failure to maintain, franchisor operating standards may materially and adversely affect us.
Under the terms of our franchise license agreements, we are required to meet specified operating standards and other terms and conditions. We expect that our franchisors will periodically inspect our hotel properties to ensure that we and the hotel management companies follow brand standards. Failure by us, or any management company that we engage, to maintain these standards or other terms and conditions could result in a franchise license being canceled or the franchisor requiring us to undertake a costly property improvement program. If a franchise license is terminated due to our failure to make required improvements or to otherwise comply with its terms, we also may be liable to the franchisor for a termination payment, which will vary by franchisor and by hotel. If the funds required to maintain franchisor operating standards are significant, we could be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, if we were to lose a franchise license, the underlying value of a particular hotel property could decline significantly from the loss of the associated name recognition, marketing support, participation in guest loyalty programs and the centralized reservation system provided by the franchisor, which could require us to recognize an impairment charge on the hotel property. Furthermore, the loss of a franchise license at a particular hotel property could harm our relationship with the franchisor, which could impede our ability to operate other hotels under the same brand, limit our ability to obtain new franchise licenses from the franchisor in the future on favorable terms, or at all, and cause us to incur significant costs to obtain a new franchise license for the particular hotel.
U.S. federal income tax provisions applicable to REITs may restrict our business decisions regarding the potential sale of a hotel property.
The provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), applicable to REITs require that we hold our hotel properties for investment, rather than primarily for sale in the ordinary course of business, which may cause us to forego or defer sales of hotel properties that otherwise would be in our best interests. Therefore, we may not be able to vary our portfolio promptly in response to economic or other conditions or on favorable terms, which may materially and adversely affect our cash flows, our ability to make distributions to shareholders and the market price of our common shares.
The U.S. federal income tax provisions applicable to REITs provide that any gain realized by a REIT on the sale of property held as inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business is treated as income from a "prohibited transaction" that is subject to a 100% excise tax. We intend to hold our hotel properties for investment with a view of long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring and owning hotel properties, and to make occasional sales of hotel properties consistent with our investment objectives. There can be no assurance, however, that the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") might not contend that one or more of these sales are subject to the 100% excise tax. Moreover, the potential to incur this penalty tax could deter us from selling one or more hotel properties even though it would be in the best interests of us and our shareholders for us to do so. There is a statutory safe harbor available for a limited number of sales in a single taxable year of properties that have been owned by a REIT for at least two years, but that safe harbor likely would not apply to all sale transactions that we might otherwise consider.
Joint venture investments could be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority, our reliance on joint venture partners' financial condition and liquidity and disputes between us and our joint venture partners.
We own certain hotel properties and other real estate investments through joint ventures. In the future, we may enter into additional joint ventures to acquire, develop, improve or partially dispose of hotel properties, thereby reducing the amount of capital required by us to make investments and diversifying our capital sources for growth. Such joint venture investments involve risks not otherwise present in a wholly-owned hotel property or a redevelopment project, including the following:
•we may not have exclusive control over the hotel property or the joint venture, which may prevent us from taking actions that are in our best interest but opposed by our partners;
•joint venture agreements often restrict the transfer of a partner's interest or may otherwise restrict our ability to sell the interest when we desire, or on advantageous terms;
•joint venture agreements may contain provisions pursuant to which one partner may initiate procedures requiring the other partner to choose between buying the other partner's interest or selling its interest to that partner;
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•a partner may, at any time, have economic or business interests or goals that are, or that may become, inconsistent with our business interests or goals;
•a partner may fail to fund its share of required capital contributions or may become bankrupt, which would mean that we and any other remaining partners generally would remain liable for the joint venture's liabilities; or
•we may, in certain circumstances, be liable for the actions of a partner, and the activities of a partner could adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT, even though we do not control the joint venture.
Any of the above might subject a hotel property to liabilities in excess of those contemplated and adversely affect the value of our current and future joint venture investments.
Risks Related to the Lodging Industry
Our ability to make distributions to our shareholders may be adversely affected by various operating risks common to the lodging industry, including competition, over-building and dependence on business travel and tourism.
Our hotel properties have different economic characteristics than many other real estate assets. Unlike other real estate assets, hotels generate revenue from guests that typically stay at the hotel property for only a few nights, which causes the room rate and occupancy levels at each of our hotels to change every day, and results in earnings that can be highly volatile.
In addition, our hotel properties are subject to various operating risks common to the lodging industry, many of which are beyond our control, including, among others, the following:
•seasonality of the lodging industry may cause quarterly fluctuations in our operating results;
•over-building of hotels in the markets in which we operate, which results in an increased supply of hotels that will adversely affect occupancy and revenues at our hotel properties;
•consolidation among companies in the lodging industry may increase the resulting companies' negotiating power relative to ours, and decrease competition among those companies for management and franchise agreements, which could result in higher management or franchise fees;
•increase in the number of brands owned by Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt, which could result in increased competition for our hotels;
•competition from non-traditional accommodations for travelers, such as online services that market homes and condominiums as an alternative to hotel rooms;
•dependence on business and leisure travelers;
•increases in energy costs and other expenses affecting travel, which may affect travel patterns and reduce the number of business and leisure travelers;
•increases in operating costs due to inflation and other factors that may not be offset by increased room rates;
•changes in governmental laws and regulations, fiscal policies and zoning ordinances and the related costs of compliance with laws and regulations, fiscal policies and ordinances;
•adverse effects of international, national, regional and local economic and market conditions;
•adverse effects of worsening conditions in the lodging industry; and
•risks generally associated with the ownership of hotels and real estate, as we discuss in detail below.
The occurrence of any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect us.
The cyclical nature of the lodging industry may cause fluctuations in our operating performance, which could have a material and adverse effect on us.
The lodging industry historically has been highly cyclical in nature. Fluctuations in lodging demand and, therefore, operating performance, are caused largely by general economic and local market conditions, which subsequently affect levels of business and leisure travel. In addition to general economic conditions, new hotel room supply is an important factor that can affect the lodging industry's performance, and overbuilding has the potential to further exacerbate the negative impact of an
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economic recession. Room rates and occupancy, and thus RevPAR, tend to increase when demand growth exceeds supply growth. We can provide no assurances regarding whether, or the extent to which, lodging demand will rebound or whether any such rebound will be sustained. An adverse change in lodging fundamentals could result in returns that are substantially below our expectations or result in losses, which could have a material and adverse effect on us.
Our ownership of hotel properties with ground leases exposes us to the risks that we may be forced to sell such hotel properties for a lower price, we may have difficulties financing such hotel properties, we may be unable to renew a ground lease or we may lose such hotel properties upon breach of a ground lease.
As of December 31, 2020, 12 of our consolidated hotel properties and two of our unconsolidated hotel properties were on land subject to ground leases. Accordingly, we only own a leasehold or similar interest in those 14 hotel properties. Our ground lease agreements require the consent of the lessor or sub-lessor prior to transferring our interest in the ground lease. These provisions may impact our ability to sell our hotel properties which, in turn, could adversely impact the price realized from any such sale. In addition, at any given time, investors may be disinterested in buying hotel properties subject to a ground lease and may pay a lower price for such hotel properties than for a comparable hotel property with a fee simple interest or they may not purchase such hotel properties at any price. Secured lenders may be unwilling to lend, or otherwise charge higher interest rates, for loans secured by a leasehold mortgage as compared to loans secured by a fee simple mortgage. If we are found to be in breach of a ground lease, we could lose the right to use the hotel property. In addition, unless we can purchase a fee simple interest in the underlying land and improvements or extend the terms of these leases before their expiration, as to which no assurance can be given, we will lose our right to own these hotel properties and our interest in the improvements upon expiration of the leases. If we were to lose the right to use a hotel property due to a breach or non-renewal of the ground lease, we would be unable to derive income from such hotel property and we would be required to purchase an interest in another hotel property in an attempt to replace that income, which could materially and adversely affect us.
Technology is used in our operations, and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption or security failure of that technology could harm the business.
We, and our hotel managers and franchisors, rely on information technology networks and systems to process, transmit and store electronic information, and to manage or support a variety of business processes. These information technology networks and systems can be vulnerable to threats such as system, network or internet failures; computer hacking or business disruption; cyber-terrorism; viruses, worms or other malicious software programs; and employee error, negligence or fraud. Although we believe we and our hotel managers and franchisors have taken commercially reasonable steps to protect the security of our systems, there can be no assurance that such security measures will prevent failures, inadequacies or interruptions in system services, or that system security will not be breached.
Any failure to maintain proper function, security and availability of information technology networks and systems could interrupt our operations, our financial reporting and compliance, damage our reputation, and subject us to liability claims or regulatory penalties, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Future terrorist attacks or changes in terror alert levels could materially and adversely affect us.
Historically, terrorist attacks and subsequent terrorist alerts have adversely affected the U.S. travel and hospitality industries, often disproportionately to the effect on the overall economy. The extent of the impact that actual or threatened terrorist attacks in the U.S. or elsewhere could have on domestic and international travel and our business in particular cannot be determined, but any such attacks or the threat of such attacks could have a material and adverse effect on travel and hotel demand and our ability to insure our hotel properties, which could materially and adversely affect us.
We face possible risks associated with natural disasters, weather events, and the physical effects of climate change.
We are subject to the risks associated with natural disasters, weather events, and the physical effects of climate change, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our properties, operations and business. Over time, our hotel properties located in coastal markets and other areas that may be impacted by climate change are expected to experience increases in storm intensity and rising sea-levels causing damage to our hotel properties. As a result, we could become subject to significant losses and/or repair costs that may or may not be fully covered by insurance. Other markets may experience prolonged variations in temperature or precipitation that may limit access to the water needed to operate our hotel properties or significantly increase energy costs, which may subject those properties to additional regulatory burdens, such as limitations on water usage or stricter energy efficiency standards. Weather events and climate change may also affect our business by increasing the cost of (or making unavailable) property insurance on terms we find acceptable in areas most vulnerable to such
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events, increasing operating costs at our hotel properties, such as the cost of water or energy, and requiring us to expend funds as we seek to repair and protect our hotel properties against such risks. There can be no assurance that natural disasters, weather events, or climate change will not have a material adverse effect on our hotel properties, operations or business.
Risks Related to Our Organization and Structure
The share ownership limits imposed by the Code for REITs and our declaration of trust may restrict share transfers and/or business combination opportunities.
In order for us to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding shares may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) at any time during the last half of each taxable year following our first year of taxation as a REIT. Our declaration of trust, with certain exceptions, authorizes our board of trustees to take the necessary actions to preserve our qualification as a REIT. Unless exempted by our board of trustees, no person or entity (other than a person or entity who has been granted an exception) may directly or indirectly, beneficially or constructively, own more than 9.8% of the aggregate of our outstanding common shares, by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, or 9.8% of the aggregate of the outstanding preferred shares of any class or series, by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive.
Our board of trustees may, in its sole discretion, grant an exemption to the share ownership limits, subject to certain conditions and the receipt by our board of trustees of certain representations and undertakings. During the time that such waiver is effective, the excepted holders will be subject to an increased ownership limit. As a condition to granting such limited exemptions, the excepted holders are required to make representations and warranties to us, which are intended to ensure that we will continue to meet the REIT ownership requirements. The excepted holders must inform us if any of these representations becomes untrue or is violated, in which case such excepted holder will lose its limited exemption from the share ownership limits.
It may be difficult or impractical to effect a change in our control under circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of our common shares with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of our common shares.
Certain advance notice provisions of our bylaws may inhibit a change in control. These advance notice provisions may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control of our company that might involve a premium to the market price of our common stock or otherwise be in our shareholders' best interests.
Termination of the employment agreements with our executive officers could be costly and prevent a change in control. The employment agreements that we entered into with each of our executive officers provide that, if their employment with us terminates under certain circumstances (including upon a change in our control), we are required to pay them severance compensation, including accelerating the vesting of their respective equity awards, thereby making it costly to terminate their employment without cause. Furthermore, these provisions could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium paid for our common shares or otherwise be in the best interests of our shareholders.
Our declaration of trust contains provisions that make the removal of our trustees difficult, which could make it difficult for our shareholders to effect changes to our management. Our declaration of trust provides that, subject to the rights of the holders of one or more classes or series of preferred shares to elect or remove one or more trustees, a trustee may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of trustees and that our board of trustees has the exclusive power to fill vacant trusteeships, even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum. These provisions make it more difficult to change our management by removing and replacing trustees and it may delay or prevent a change in control that is in the best interests of our shareholders.
Our rights and the rights of our shareholders to take action against our trustees and officers are limited, which could limit our shareholders' recourse in the event of actions not in our shareholders' best interests.
Under Maryland law, generally, a trustee is required to perform his or her duties in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in our best interest and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. Under Maryland law, trustees are presumed to have acted with this standard of care. In addition, our declaration of trust limits the liability of our trustees and officers to us and our shareholders for monetary damages, except for liability resulting from the:
•actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or
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•active and deliberate dishonesty by the trustee or officer that was established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action adjudicated.
Our declaration of trust and bylaws obligate us, to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding to any present or former trustee or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service to us in that capacity. In addition, we may be obligated to advance the defense costs incurred by our trustees and officers. As a result, we and our shareholders may have more limited rights against our trustees and officers than might otherwise exist absent the current provisions in our declaration of trust and bylaws or that might exist with other companies.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results.
To monitor the accuracy and reliability of our financial reporting, we have established an internal audit function that oversees our internal controls. In addition, we have developed policies and procedures with respect to company-wide business processes and cycles in order to implement an effective system of internal control over financial reporting. We have established, or caused our third-party management companies to establish, controls and procedures designed to ensure that hotel revenues and expenses are properly recorded at our hotels. We cannot be certain that we will be successful in maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and we may determine in the future that our existing internal controls need improvement. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control, we could be materially harmed or we could fail to meet our reporting obligations. In addition, the existence of a material weakness or significant deficiency in our internal controls could result in errors to our financial statements that could require a restatement, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, result in increased costs to remediate any deficiencies, attract regulatory scrutiny or lawsuits and cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, any of which could lead to a substantial decline in the market price of our common shares.
Risks Related to the Real Estate Industry
The illiquid nature of real estate investments could significantly impede our ability to respond to changing economic, financial, and investment conditions or changes in the operating performance of our hotel properties, which could materially and adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.
Real estate investments, including the focused-service and compact full-service hotels in our portfolio, are relatively illiquid. As a result, we may not be able to sell a hotel or hotels quickly or on favorable terms in response to the changing economic, financial and investment conditions or changes in the hotel's operating performance when it otherwise may be prudent to do so. We cannot predict whether we will be able to sell any hotel property we desire to sell for the price or on the terms set by us or whether any price or other terms offered by a prospective purchaser would be acceptable to us. We may be required to expend funds to correct defects or to make improvements before a hotel can be sold, and we cannot provide any assurances that we will have the funds available to correct such defects or to make such improvements. Our inability to dispose of assets at opportune times or on favorable terms could materially and adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.
In some cases, we may be restricted from disposing of properties contributed to us in the future in exchange for our OP units under tax protection agreements with contributors unless we incur additional costs related to indemnifying those contributors.
Uninsured and underinsured losses at our hotel properties could materially and adversely affect us.
We maintain comprehensive property insurance on all of our hotel properties and we intend to maintain comprehensive property insurance on any hotels that we acquire in the future, including fire, terrorism, and extended coverage. Our comprehensive property insurance program has a $250,000 deductible per claim. In addition to the comprehensive property insurance, we maintain general liability insurance at all of our hotel properties. Our general liability insurance program has no deductible. Certain types of catastrophic losses, such as windstorms, earthquakes, floods, and losses from foreign and domestic terrorist activities may not be insurable or may not be economically insurable. Even when insurable, these policies may have high deductibles and/or high premiums. Our coastal hotel properties each have a deductible of 5% of total insured value for a named storm. Our lenders may require such insurance and our failure to obtain such insurance could constitute a default under the loan agreements, which could have a material and adverse effect on us.
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In the event of a substantial loss, our insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover the full current market value or replacement cost of our lost investment, which could have a material and adverse effect on us. Should an uninsured loss or a loss in excess of insured limits occur, or should we be unsuccessful in obtaining coverage from an insurance carrier, we could lose all or a portion of the capital we have invested in a hotel property, as well as the anticipated future revenue from the hotel property. In that event, we might nevertheless remain obligated for any mortgage debt or other financial obligations related to the hotel property.
We could incur significant costs related to government regulation and litigation with respect to environmental matters, which could have a material and adverse effect on us.
Our hotel properties are subject to various U.S. federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that impose liability for contamination. Under these laws, governmental entities have the authority to require us, as the current owner of a hotel property, to perform or pay for the clean-up of contamination at, on, under or emanating from the hotel and to pay for natural resource damages arising from such contamination. Because these laws also impose liability on persons who owned or operated a property at the time it became contaminated, it is possible we could incur cleanup costs or other environmental liabilities even after we sell or no longer operate the hotel properties.
The liabilities and the costs associated with environmental contamination at our hotel properties, defending against the claims related to alleged or actual environmental issues, or complying with environmental, health and safety laws could be material and could materially and adversely affect us. The discovery of material environmental liabilities at our hotel properties could subject us to unanticipated costs, which could significantly reduce or eliminate our profitability and the cash available for distribution to our shareholders.
We may from time to time be subject to litigation that could expose us to uncertain or uninsured costs.
As owners of hotel properties, we may from time to time face potential claims, litigation and threatened litigation from guests, visitors to our hotel properties, contractors, sub-contractors and others. These claims and proceedings are inherently uncertain and their costs and outcomes cannot be predicted with certainty. Some of these claims may result in defense costs, settlements, fines or judgments against us, and some of which are not, or cannot be, covered by insurance. Payment of any such costs, settlements, fines or judgments that are not insured could have a material and adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations. In addition, certain litigation or the resolution of certain litigation may affect the availability or cost of some of our insurance coverage, which could materially and adversely impact our results of operations and cash flows, expose us to increased risks that would be uninsured, and/or adversely impact our ability to attract officers and trustees.
Risks Related to Our Status as a REIT
If we do not qualify as a REIT, or if we fail to remain qualified as a REIT, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax and potentially state and local taxes, which would reduce our earnings and the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders.
If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and any available relief provisions do not apply, we would be subject to U.S. federal and state corporate income tax, and dividends paid to our shareholders would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income. Unless we were entitled to statutory relief under certain Code provisions, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which we failed to qualify as a REIT.
Any determination that we do not qualify as a REIT would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and could materially reduce the value of our common shares. Our additional tax liability could be substantial and would reduce our net earnings available for investment, debt service or distributions to shareholders.
REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan or require us to make distributions of our shares or other securities.
We generally must distribute to our shareholders annually at least 90% of our "REIT taxable income," subject to certain adjustments and excluding any net capital gain. From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our cash flow. In addition we may be subject to limitations on the ability to use our net operating loss carryovers to offset taxable income that we do not distribute. If we do not have other funds available in these situations we could be required to (i) borrow funds on unfavorable terms, (ii) sell investments at disadvantageous prices, (iii) distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions, or (iv) make a taxable distribution of our common shares as part of a distribution in which shareholders may elect to receive our common shares or (subject to a limit measured as a percentage of the total distribution) cash to make
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distributions sufficient to enable us to pay out enough of our REIT taxable income to satisfy the REIT distribution requirements. These alternatives could increase our costs or reduce our shareholders' equity. Thus, compliance with the REIT distribution requirements may hinder our ability to grow, which could adversely affect the value of our shares.
If our leases are not respected as true leases for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we would likely fail to qualify as a REIT.
To qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income tests, pursuant to which specified percentages of our gross income must be passive income, such as rent. For the rent paid pursuant to the hotel leases with our TRSs, which we currently expect will continue to constitute substantially all of our gross income, to qualify for purposes of the gross income tests, the leases must be respected as true leases for U.S. federal income tax purposes and must not be treated as service contracts, joint ventures or some other type of arrangement. We believe that the leases will be respected as true leases for U.S. federal income tax purposes. There can be no assurance, however, that the IRS will agree with this characterization. If the leases were not respected as true leases for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we would not be able to satisfy either of the two gross income tests applicable to REITs and would likely lose our REIT status. Additionally, we could be subject to a 100% excise tax for any adjustment to our leases.
To comply with the restrictions imposed on REITs, we may have to conduct certain activities and own certain assets through TRSs, which will be subject to normal corporate income tax, and we could be subject to a 100% penalty tax on certain income if those transactions are not conducted on arm's-length terms.
A TRS is a corporation in which a REIT directly or indirectly holds stock and which has elected, with the REIT to be taxable as a regular corporation, at regular corporate income tax rates. As a REIT, we cannot own certain assets or conduct certain activities directly, without risking failing the income or asset tests that apply to REITs. We can, however, hold these assets or undertake these activities through a TRS.
As noted, the income earned through our TRSs will be subject to corporate income taxes. In addition, a 100% excise tax will be imposed on certain transactions between us and our TRSs that are not conducted on an arm’s length basis.
If our TRSs fail to qualify as "taxable REIT subsidiaries" under the Code, we would likely fail to qualify as a REIT.
Rent paid by a lessee that is a "related party tenant" will not be qualifying income for purposes of the gross income tests applicable to REITs. We currently lease and expect to continue to lease substantially all of our hotels to our TRSs, which will not be treated as "related party tenants" so long as they qualify as "taxable REIT subsidiaries" under the Code. To qualify as such, most significantly, a TRS cannot engage in the operation or management of hotels. We believe that our TRSs qualify to be treated as "taxable REIT subsidiaries" for U.S. federal income tax purposes. There can be no assurance, however, that the IRS will not challenge the status of a TRS for U.S. federal income tax purposes or that a court would not sustain such a challenge. If the IRS were successful in disqualifying any of our TRSs from treatment as a "taxable REIT subsidiary," it is likely that we would fail to meet the asset tests applicable to REITs and substantially all of our income would fail to qualify for the gross income tests. If we failed to meet either the asset tests or the gross income tests, we would likely lose our REIT status.
If any management companies that we engage do not qualify as "eligible independent contractors," or if our hotel properties are not "qualified lodging facilities," we would likely fail to qualify as a REIT.
Rent paid by a lessee that is a "related party tenant" of ours generally will not be qualifying income for purposes of the gross income tests applicable to REITs. An exception is provided, however, for leases of "qualified lodging facilities" to a TRS so long as the hotels are managed by an "eligible independent contractor" and certain other requirements are satisfied. We currently lease and expect to continue to lease all or substantially all of our hotels to TRS lessees and we currently engage and expect to continue to engage management companies that are intended to qualify as "eligible independent contractors." In addition, for a management company to qualify as an eligible independent contractor, (i) the management company must not own, directly or through its shareholders, more than 35% of our outstanding shares, and no person or group of persons can own more than 35% of our outstanding shares and the shares (or ownership interest) of the management company and (ii) such company or a related person must be actively engaged in the trade or business of operating "qualified lodging facilities" (as defined below) for one or more persons not related to the REIT or its TRSs at each time that such company enters into a management contract with a TRS or its TRS lessee. Finally, each hotel with respect to which our TRS lessees pay rent must be a "qualified lodging facility." A "qualified lodging facility" is a hotel, motel, or other establishment in which more than one-half of the dwelling units are used on a transient basis, including customary amenities and facilities, provided that no wagering activities are conducted at or in connection with such facility by any person who is engaged in the business of accepting wagers and who is legally authorized to engage in such business at or in connection with such facility. As of the date hereof, we believe the management companies operate qualified lodging facilities for certain persons who are not related to us or our TRS.
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As of the date hereof, we believe that all of the hotels leased to our TRS lessees will be qualified lodging facilities. Although we intend to monitor future acquisitions and improvements of hotels, the REIT provisions of the Code provide only limited guidance for making determinations under the requirements for qualified lodging facilities, and there can be no assurance that these requirements will be satisfied in all cases.
Complying with REIT requirements may force us to forgo and/or liquidate otherwise attractive investment opportunities.
To qualify as a REIT, we must ensure that we meet the gross income tests annually and that at the end of each calendar quarter, at least 75% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash items, government securities and qualified real estate assets. The remainder of our investment in securities (other than government securities and qualified real estate assets) generally cannot include more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. In addition, in general, no more than 5% of the value of our assets (other than government securities and qualified real estate assets) can consist of the securities of any one issuer, no more than 20% of the value of our total assets can be represented by securities of one or more TRSs, and no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by debt instruments issued by publicly offered REITs that are "nonqualified" (i.e., not secured by real property or interests in real property). If we fail to comply with these requirements at the end of any calendar quarter, we must correct the failure within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter or qualify for certain statutory relief provisions to avoid losing our REIT qualification and suffering adverse tax consequences. As a result, we may be required to liquidate from our portfolio, or contribute to a TRS, otherwise attractive investments in order to maintain our qualification as a REIT. These actions could have the effect of reducing our income and amounts available for distribution to our shareholders. In addition, we may be required to make distributions to shareholders at disadvantageous times or when we do not have funds readily available for distribution, and may be unable to pursue investments that would otherwise be advantageous to us. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to make, and, in certain cases, maintain ownership of, certain attractive investments.
We would incur adverse tax consequences if FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated ("FelCor") failed to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes prior to our merger with FelCor.
In connection with the closing of the merger with FelCor on the acquisition date, FelCor received an opinion of counsel to the effect that it qualified as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes under the Code through the acquisition date. FelCor, however, did not request a ruling from the IRS that it qualified as a REIT. If, notwithstanding this opinion, FelCor’s REIT status prior to the acquisition date were successfully challenged, we would face serious tax consequences that would substantially reduce our core funds from operations, and cash available for distribution, including cash available to pay dividends to our shareholders, because:
•FelCor, would be subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax on its net income at regular corporate rates for the years that it did not qualify as a REIT (and, for such years, would not be allowed a deduction for dividends paid to shareholders in computing its taxable income) and we would succeed to the liability for such taxes;
•the deemed sale of assets by FelCor on the acquisition date would be subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax at regular corporate rates (and FelCor would not be allowed a deduction for dividends paid for the deemed liquidating distribution paid to its shareholders) and we would succeed to the liability for such taxes; and
•we would succeed to any earnings and profits accumulated by FelCor, as applicable, for the tax periods that FelCor did not qualify as a REIT and we would have to pay a special dividend and/or employ applicable deficiency dividend procedures (including interest payments to the IRS) to eliminate such earnings and profits to maintain our REIT qualification.
As a result of these factors, FelCor’s failure to qualify as a REIT prior to the acquisition date could impair our ability to expand our business and raise capital and could materially adversely affect the value of our stock. In addition, even if FelCor qualified as a REIT for the duration of its existence, if there is an adjustment to FelCor’s taxable income or dividends-paid deductions, we could be required to elect to use the deficiency dividend procedure to maintain FelCor’s REIT status. That deficiency dividend procedure could require us to make significant distributions to our shareholders and pay significant interest to the IRS.
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Risks Related to Our Common Shares
Our cash available for distribution to shareholders may not be sufficient to pay distributions at expected or required levels, and we may need to borrow funds or rely on other external sources in order to make such distributions, or we may not be able to make such distributions at all, which could cause the market price of our common shares to decline significantly.
We intend to continue to pay regular quarterly distributions to holders of our common shares. All distributions will be made at the discretion of our board of trustees and will depend on our historical and projected results of operations, EBITDA, FFO, liquidity and financial condition, REIT qualification, debt service requirements, capital expenditures and operating expenses, prohibitions and other restrictions under financing arrangements and applicable law and other factors as our board of trustees may deem relevant from time to time. No assurance can be given that our projections will prove to be accurate or that any level of distributions or particular yield will be made or sustained. We may not be able to make distributions in the future or we may need to fund such distributions through borrowings or other external financing sources, which may be available only at unattractive terms, if at all. Any of the foregoing could cause the market price of our common shares to decline significantly.
Future issuances of debt securities, which would rank senior to our common shares upon our liquidation, and future issuances of equity securities (including OP units), which would dilute the holdings of our existing common shareholders and may be senior to our common shares for the purposes of making distributions, periodically or upon liquidation, may negatively affect the market price of our common shares.
In the future, we may issue debt or equity securities or incur additional borrowings. Upon our liquidation, holders of our debt securities and other loans and preferred shares will receive a distribution of our available assets before common shareholders. If we incur debt in the future, our future interest costs could increase, and adversely affect our liquidity, FFO and results of operations. We are not required to offer any additional equity securities to existing common shareholders on a preemptive basis. Therefore, additional common share issuances, directly or through convertible or exchangeable securities (including OP units), warrants or options, will dilute the holdings of our existing common shareholders, and such issuances or the perception of such issuances may reduce the market price of our common shares. Our preferred shares, if issued, would likely have a preference on distribution payments, periodically or upon liquidation, which could eliminate or otherwise limit our ability to make distributions to common shareholders. Because our decision to issue debt or equity securities or incur additional borrowings in the future will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing, nature or success of any future capital raising efforts. Thus, the common shareholders bear the risk that our future issuances of debt or equity securities or our incurrence of additional borrowings will negatively affect the market price of our common shares.
We cannot guarantee that we will repurchase our common shares pursuant to our share repurchase program or that our share repurchase program will enhance long-term shareholder value. Share repurchases could also increase the volatility of the price of our common shares and could diminish our cash reserves.
Our board of trustees authorized a share repurchase program to repurchase up to $250.0 million of our common shares. Although our board of trustees authorized our share repurchase program, our share repurchase program does not obligate us to repurchase any specific dollar amount or to acquire any specific number of shares. Our share repurchase program may be limited, suspended, or discontinued at any time without prior notice. In addition, repurchases of our common shares pursuant to our share repurchase program could affect our share price and increase its volatility. The existence of our share repurchase program could cause our share price to be higher than it would be in the absence of such a program. Additionally, our share repurchase program could diminish our cash reserves, which may impact our ability to finance future growth and to pursue possible future strategic opportunities and acquisitions. There can be no assurance that any share repurchases will enhance shareholder value because the market price of our common shares may decline below the levels at which we repurchased the common shares.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
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Our Hotel Properties
The following table provides a comprehensive list of our hotel properties as of December 31, 2020:
| State | Hotel Property Name | Rooms | State | Hotel Property Name | Rooms | |||||||||||||||
| Alabama | Indiana | |||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Birmingham | 242 | Courtyard Chicago Southeast Hammond | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
| Arizona | Courtyard Indianapolis @ The Capitol | 124 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Phoenix - Biltmore | 232 | Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago SE Hammond | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
| California | Residence Inn Chicago Southeast Hammond | 78 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard San Francisco | 166 | Residence Inn Indianapolis Downtown On The Canal | 134 | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Irvine Orange County | 293 | Residence Inn Indianapolis Fishers | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Los Angeles Downey | 220 | Residence Inn Merrillville | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Los Angeles - International Airport South | 349 | Kentucky | ||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach - Hotel & Resort | 250 | Marriott Louisville Downtown | 616 | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Milpitas Silicon Valley | 267 | Residence Inn Louisville Downtown | 140 | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport - South San Francisco | 316 | Louisiana | ||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport - Waterfront | 340 | Chateau LeMoyne - French Quarter, New Orleans (1) | 171 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles Hollywood | 160 | Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center | 286 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge | 278 | Hotel Indigo New Orleans Garden District | 132 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House Cypress Anaheim | 142 | Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter | 374 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House Emeryville San Francisco Bay Area | 234 | Massachusetts | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House San Diego Sorrento Mesa | 193 | Embassy Suites Boston Waltham | 275 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House San Jose Silicon Valley | 164 | Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill | 304 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House San Ramon | 142 | Maryland | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House Santa Clara | 150 | Residence Inn Bethesda Downtown | 188 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt Place Fremont Silicon Valley | 151 | Residence Inn National Harbor Washington DC | 162 | |||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Palo Alto Los Altos | 156 | Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||||
| San Francisco Marriott Union Square | 401 | Embassy Suites Minneapolis - Airport | 310 | |||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham San Diego Bayside | 600 | New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham Santa Monica At The Pier | 132 | Embassy Suites Secaucus - Meadowlands (2) | 261 | |||||||||||||||||
| Colorado | New York | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Denver Cherry Creek | 134 | Courtyard New York Manhattan Upper East Side | 226 | |||||||||||||||||
| Marriott Denver Airport @ Gateway Park | 238 | DoubleTree Metropolitan Hotel New York City (3) | 764 | |||||||||||||||||
| Marriott Denver South @ Park Meadows | 279 | Hampton Inn Garden City | 143 | |||||||||||||||||
| Renaissance Boulder Flatiron Hotel | 232 | The Knickerbocker New York (4) | 330 | |||||||||||||||||
| SpringHill Suites Denver North Westminster | 164 | North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||
| District of Columbia | Hyatt House Charlotte Center City | 163 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Washington DC Downtown | 198 | Oregon | ||||||||||||||||||
| Homewood Suites Washington DC Downtown | 175 | Courtyard Portland City Center | 256 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt Place Washington DC Downtown K Street | 164 | SpringHill Suites Portland Hillsboro | 106 | |||||||||||||||||
| Florida | Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||||||||
| DoubleTree Grand Key Resort | 216 | Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place | 202 | |||||||||||||||||
| DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando - Lake Buena Vista | 229 | Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel | 300 | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach - Resort & Spa | 244 | Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District | 364 | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale 17th Street | 361 | Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center | 251 | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Fort Myers Estero | 150 | South Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Miami - International Airport | 318 | Courtyard Charleston Historic District | 176 | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Orlando - International Drive South/Convention Center | 244 | The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel | 216 | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Tampa Downtown Convention Center | 360 | Texas | ||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites West Palm Beach Central | 194 | Courtyard Austin Downtown Convention Center | 270 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Key West | 106 | Courtyard Houston By The Galleria | 190 | |||||||||||||||||
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| State | Hotel Property Name | Rooms | State | Hotel Property Name | Rooms | |||||||||||||||
| Hilton Cabana Miami Beach | 231 | Courtyard Houston Downtown Convention Center | 191 | |||||||||||||||||
| Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Plantation Hotel | 250 | Courtyard Houston Sugarland | 112 | |||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Austin | 188 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Atlanta Buckhead | 181 | Embassy Suites Dallas - Love Field | 248 | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Atlanta - Buckhead | 316 | Hyatt Centric The Woodlands | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt Centric Midtown Atlanta | 194 | Residence Inn Austin Downtown Convention Center | 179 | |||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Atlanta Midtown Historic | 90 | Residence Inn Houston By The Galleria | 146 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hawaii | Residence Inn Houston Downtown Convention Center | 171 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Waikiki Beach | 403 | SpringHill Suites Houston Downtown Convention Center | 167 | |||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | Wyndham Houston - Medical Center Hotel & Suites | 287 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile | 306 | Washington | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Midway Airport | 174 | Homewood Suites Seattle Lynnwood | 170 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago Midway Airport | 114 | Wisconsin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hampton Inn Chicago Midway Airport | 170 | Hyatt Place Madison Downtown | 151 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Midway Airport | 174 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Holiday Inn Express & Suites Midway Airport | 104 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Marriott Chicago Midway | 200 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Chicago Naperville | 130 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sleep Inn Midway Airport | 121 | |||||||||||||||||||
(1)We own an indirect 50% ownership interest in this hotel property and we account for the ownership interest using the equity method of accounting. This hotel property is operated without a lease.
(2)We own an indirect 50% ownership interest in the real estate at this hotel property and we record the real estate interests using the equity method of accounting. We lease the hotel property to its TRS, of which we own a controlling financial interest in the operating lessee, so we consolidate the ownership interest in the leased hotel.
(3)We own a 98.3% controlling ownership interest in this hotel property.
(4)We own a 95.0% controlling ownership interest in this hotel property.
Management Agreements
In order to qualify as a REIT, we cannot directly or indirectly operate any of our hotel properties. We lease all but one of our hotel properties to TRS lessees, which in turn engage hotel property management companies to manage our hotel properties. All of our hotel properties are operated pursuant to a management agreement with one of 14 independent management companies. 29 of our hotel properties receive the benefits of a franchise agreement pursuant to a management agreement with Hilton, Hyatt, or Marriott.
As of December 31, 2020, Aimbridge was the management company for 35 of our hotel properties. Our remaining 68 hotel properties were managed by 13 other management companies, including Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Wyndham.
The management agreements have initial terms that range from one to 25 years, and some provide for one or two automatic extension periods ranging from one to 10 years each.
Each management company receives a base management fee between 1.75% and 3.5% of hotel revenues. The management agreements that include the benefits of a franchise agreement incur a base management fee between 3.0% and 7.0% of hotel revenues.
The management companies are also eligible to receive an incentive management fee upon the achievement of certain financial thresholds as set forth in each applicable management agreement. The incentive management fee is generally calculated as a percentage of hotel net operating income after we have received a priority return on our investment in the hotel.
Each of the management agreements provides us with a right to terminate such management agreement if the management company fails to reach certain performance targets (as provided in the applicable management agreement). Certain management agreements also provide us with a right to terminate the management agreement in our sole and absolute discretion. In addition, certain management agreements give us the right to terminate the management agreement upon the sale of the hotel property or for any reason upon payment of a stipulated termination fee. Subject to certain qualifications and applicable cure periods, the management agreements are generally terminable by either party upon material casualty, or
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condemnation of the hotel property, or the occurrence of certain customary events of default. Certain management agreements also stipulate that in the event that a management company elects to terminate a management agreement due to an event of default by us, the management company may elect to recover a termination fee, as liquidated damages, equal to 2.5 times the actual base management fee and incentive management fee earned by the management company under that management agreement in the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in which such termination occurred.
Many of our Aimbridge and White Lodging Services ("WLS") management agreements state that we cannot sell the applicable hotel property to any unrelated third party or engage in certain change of control actions (1) if we are in default under the management agreement, or (2) with or to a person or entity that is known in the community as being of bad moral character or has been convicted of a felony or is in control of or controlled by persons convicted of a felony or would be in violation of any franchise agreement requirements applicable to us. In addition, those Aimbridge and WLS management agreements further require that any future owner of the applicable hotel property, at the option of the management company, assume the management agreement or enter into a new management agreement for such hotel property.
Prior to January 1, 2020, the Wyndham management agreements guaranteed minimum levels of annual net operating income at each of the Wyndham-managed hotels. In 2019, we entered into an agreement with Wyndham to terminate the net operating income guarantee, effective December 31, 2019 and received termination payments totaling $36.0 million from Wyndham, of which $35.0 million was received in 2019 and $1.0 million was received in 2020. In addition, we entered into eight separate transitional franchise and management agreements effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we exercised our option to extend these agreements through December 31, 2021. The transitional franchise and management fees are 3% and 2%, respectively, of hotel revenues. Effective January 1, 2020, we began recognizing the termination payments over the estimated term of the transitional agreements as a reduction to management and franchise fee expense. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we recognized approximately $17.8 million as a reduction to management and franchise fee expense related to the amortization of the termination payments.
Franchise Agreements
As of December 31, 2020, 73 of our hotels operated under franchise agreements with Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt or other hotel brands. This excludes 29 hotel properties that receive the benefits of a franchise agreement pursuant to management agreements with Hilton, Hyatt, or Marriott. In addition, The Knickerbocker is not operated with a hotel brand so the hotel does not have a franchise agreement.
The franchisors provide a variety of benefits to the franchisees, including centralized reservation systems, national advertising, marketing programs and publicity designed to increase brand awareness, personnel training and operational quality at the hotels across the brand system. The franchise agreements generally specify management, operational, record-keeping, accounting, reporting and marketing standards and procedures, all of which our TRS lessees, as the franchisees, must follow. The franchise agreements require our TRS lessees to comply with the franchisors' standards and requirements, including the training of operational personnel, safety, maintaining specified insurance, the types of services and products ancillary to guest room services that may be provided by the TRS lessee, the display of signage and the type, quality and age of furniture, fixtures and equipment included in the guest rooms and the nature of the lobbies and other common areas. The franchise agreements have initial terms ranging from 1 to 30 years. Each of our franchise agreements require that we pay a royalty fee between 3.0% and 6.0% of room revenue, plus additional fees for marketing, central reservation systems and other franchisor costs between 1.0% and 4.3% of room revenue. Certain hotels are also charged a royalty fee of 3.0% of food and beverage revenues.
The franchise agreements also provide for termination at the applicable franchisor's option upon the occurrence of certain events, including the failure to pay royalties and fees, the failure to perform our obligations under the franchise license, bankruptcy and the abandonment of the franchise, or a change in control. The TRS lessee is responsible for making all payments under the applicable franchise agreement to the franchisor; however, we are required to guarantee the obligations under each of the franchise agreements. In addition, many of our existing franchise agreements provide the franchisor with a right of first offer in the event of certain sales or transfers of a hotel and provide the franchisor the right to approve a change in the management company who manages the hotel.
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TRS Leases
In order for us to qualify as a REIT, neither our company nor any of our subsidiaries may directly or indirectly operate any of our hotels. The subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership, as the lessors, lease our hotels to our TRS lessees, which, in turn, are the parties to the existing management agreements with the third-party management companies at each of our hotels. The TRS leases contain the provisions that are described below. For the hotels that are acquired in the future, we intend for the leases to contain substantially similar provisions as to those described below; however, we may, in our discretion, alter any of these provisions with respect to any particular lease.
Lease Terms
Our TRS leases have initial terms that range from three to five years and a majority of the leases can be renewed by our TRS lessees for three successive five-year renewal terms unless the lessee is in default at the expiration of the then-current term. In addition, our TRS leases are subject to early termination by us in the event that we sell the hotel to an unaffiliated party, a change in control occurs or the applicable provisions of the Code are amended to permit us to operate our hotels. Our TRS leases are also subject to early termination upon the occurrence of certain events of default and/or other contingencies described in the lease.
Amounts Payable under the Leases
During the term of each TRS lease, our TRS lessees are obligated to pay us a fixed annual base rent plus a percentage rent and certain other additional charges that our TRS lessees agree to pay under the terms of the respective TRS lease. The percentage rent is calculated based on the revenues generated from the rental of guest rooms, food and beverage sales, and certain other sources, including meeting room rentals.
The TRS leases require our TRS lessees to pay rent, all costs and expenses, management fees, franchise fees, personal property taxes, certain insurance policies and all utility and other charges incurred in the operation of the hotels. The leases also provide for rent reductions and abatements in the event of damage to, destruction, or a partial taking of, any hotel. All of the above mentioned intercompany transactions eliminate in consolidation.
As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we granted base rent abatement concessions to all of our TRS lessees in each of the quarters ending June 30, 2020, September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Given the current economic environment, we are continuing to evaluate whether future lease abatements may be granted.
Maintenance and Modifications
Under each TRS lease, the TRS lessee may, at its expense, make additions, modifications or improvements to the hotel that it deems desirable, and that we approve. In addition, our TRS lessees are required, at their expense, to maintain the hotels in good order and repair, except for ordinary wear and tear, and to make repairs that may be necessary and appropriate to keep the hotel in good order and repair. Under the TRS lease, we are responsible for maintaining, at our cost, any underground utilities or structural elements, including the exterior walls and the roof of the hotel (excluding, among other things, windows and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems). Each TRS lessee, when and as required to meet the standards of the applicable management agreement, any applicable hotel franchise agreement, or to satisfy the requirements of any lender, must establish an FF&E reserve in an amount equal to up to 5% of gross revenue for the purpose of periodically repairing, replacing or refurbishing the furnishings and equipment.
Events of Default
The events of default under each of the leases include, among others: the failure by a TRS lessee to pay rent when due; the breach by a TRS lessee of a covenant, condition or term under the lease, subject to the applicable cure period; the bankruptcy or insolvency of a TRS lessee; cessation of operations by a TRS lessee of the leased hotel for more than 30 days, except as a result of damage, destruction, or a partial or complete condemnation; or the default by a TRS lessee under a franchise agreement subject to any applicable cure period.
Termination of Leases on Disposition of the Hotels or Change of Control
In the event that we sell a hotel to a non-affiliate or a change of control occurs, we generally have the right to terminate the lease by paying the applicable TRS lessee a termination fee to be governed by the terms and conditions of the lease.
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Ground Leases
As of December 31, 2020, 12 of our consolidated hotel properties and two of our unconsolidated hotel properties were subject to ground lease agreements that cover the land under the respective hotel properties. During the year ended December, 31, 2020, one of the unconsolidated joint ventures did not exercise its right to extend the term of the ground lease. Accordingly the ground lease will terminate on October 31, 2021 and the property will revert to the ground lessor at that time. Additional information on the ground leases can be found in Note 10 to our accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The nature of the operations of our hotels exposes our hotel properties, us and the Operating Partnership to the risk of claims and litigation in the normal course of business. Other than routine litigation arising out of the ordinary course of business, we are not presently subject to any material litigation nor, to our knowledge, is any material litigation threatened against us.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "RLJ." For each quarterly period during the year ended December 31, 2020, we paid a cash dividend of $0.01 per common share. For each quarterly period during the year ended December 31 2019, we paid a cash dividend of $0.33 per common share.
On December 31, 2020 and February 19, 2021, the closing price of our common shares as reported on the NYSE was $14.15 and $15.40, respectively.
Share Return Performance
The graph and the table set forth below assume $100 was invested on December 31, 2015 in RLJ Lodging Trust's common shares. The graph and the table compare the total shareholder return of our common shares against the cumulative total returns of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index ("S&P 500 Index") and the Dow Jones U.S. Select Real Estate Hotels Index ("Dow Jones US REIT Hotels Index") between December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2020. The graph assumes an initial investment of $100.00 in our common shares and in each of the indices, and it also assumes the reinvestment of dividends.
| Name | Initial Investment at December 31, 2015 | Value of Initial Investment at December 31, 2016 | Value of Initial Investment at December 31, 2017 | Value of Initial Investment at December 31, 2018 | Value of Initial Investment at December 31, 2019 | Value of Initial Investment at December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RLJ Lodging Trust | $ | 100.00 | $ | 120.22 | $ | 114.62 | $ | 91.45 | $ | 106.46 | $ | 85.37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S&P 500 Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 111.96 | $ | 136.40 | $ | 130.43 | $ | 171.50 | $ | 203.05 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dow Jones US REIT Hotels Index | $ | 100.00 | $ | 108.60 | $ | 114.11 | $ | 108.89 | $ | 137.03 | $ | 126.66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This performance graph shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or incorporated by reference into any filing by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
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Shareholder Information
At February 19, 2021, we had 188 holders of record of our common shares. However, because many of our common shares are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of shareholders, we believe there are substantially more beneficial holders of our common shares than holders of record. At February 19, 2021, there were 13 holders (other than our company) of our OP units. Our OP units are redeemable for cash or, at our election, for our common shares.
In order to comply with certain requirements related to our qualification as a REIT, our declaration of trust provides that, subject to certain exceptions, no person or entity (other than a person or entity who has been granted an exception) may directly or indirectly, beneficially or constructively, own more than 9.8% of the aggregate of our outstanding common shares, by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, or 9.8% of the aggregate of the outstanding preferred shares of any class or series, by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive.
Distribution Information
We intend, over time, to make quarterly distributions to our common shareholders. In order to qualify and maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT, we intend to make annual distributions to our shareholders of at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gain.
The credit agreements governing our $600 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the "Revolver") and our unsecured term loans (the "Term Loans") limit our ability to pay dividends under certain circumstances. If an event of default exists, we may only pay cash dividends in an aggregate amount with respect to any fiscal year not to exceed the greater of (a) the minimum amount required for us to maintain our status as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, or (b) the amount necessary to avoid income or excise tax under the Code. However, if the event of default is a payment default or bankruptcy related, we may not make any cash dividend payments. So long as no event of default exists, the credit agreements do not restrict our ability to pay cash dividends.
The terms of our outstanding preferred stock prohibit us from paying dividends on our common shares unless all accrued preferred dividends then payable have been paid.
Any future distributions will be at the sole discretion of our board of trustees, and their form, timing and amount, if any, will depend upon a number of factors, including our actual and projected financial condition, liquidity, EBITDA, FFO and results of operations, the revenue we actually receive from our properties, our operating expenses, our debt service requirements, our capital expenditures, prohibitions and other limitations under our financing arrangements, as described above, our REIT taxable income, the annual REIT distribution requirements, applicable law and such other factors as our board of trustees deems relevant. To the extent that our cash available for distribution is less than 90% of our REIT taxable income, we may consider various means to cover any such shortfall, including borrowing under the Revolver or other loans, selling certain of our assets, or using a portion of the net proceeds we receive from offerings of equity, equity-related or debt securities or declaring taxable share dividends.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
The Company did not sell any securities during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table summarizes all of the share repurchases during the quarter ended December 31, 2020:
| Period | Total number of shares purchased (1) | Average price paid per share | Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs | Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020 | 7,740 | $ | 8.51 | — | 26,085,190 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| November 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020 | 11,185 | $ | 11.65 | — | 17,305,503 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| December 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 | — | $ | — | — | 15,079,636 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 18,925 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(1)Includes surrendered common shares owned by certain employees to satisfy their statutory minimum federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of restricted common shares of beneficial interest issued under the RLJ Lodging Trust 2015 Equity Incentive Plan ("2015 Plan).
(2)The maximum number of shares that may yet be repurchased under the share repurchase program is calculated by dividing the total dollar amount available to repurchase shares by the closing price of our common shares on the last business day of the respective month.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Intentionally omitted.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our accompanying consolidated financial statements, the related notes included thereto, and Item 1A., "Risk Factors", all of which appear elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We are a self-advised and self-administered Maryland REIT that owns primarily premium-branded, high-margin, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. Our hotels are concentrated in markets that we believe exhibit multiple demand generators and attractive long-term growth prospects. We believe premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels with these characteristics generate high levels of RevPAR, strong operating margins and attractive returns. Focused-service and compact full-service hotels typically generate most of their revenue from room rentals, have limited food and beverage outlets and meeting space and require fewer employees than traditional full-service hotels. We believe these types of hotels have the potential to generate attractive returns relative to other types of hotels due to their ability to achieve RevPAR levels at or close to those achieved by traditional full-service hotels, while achieving higher profit margins due to their more efficient operating model and less volatile cash flows.
COVID-19
The global outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) and the public health measures that have been undertaken in response have had, and will likely continue to have, a material adverse impact on the global economy and all aspects of our business.
Significant events affecting travel, including the COVID-19 pandemic, typically have an impact on booking patterns, with the full extent of the impact generally determined by the duration of the event and its impact on travel decisions. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including related government restrictions, border closings, quarantining, “shelter-in-place” orders and “social distancing,” have significantly limited non-essential travel and also resulted in increased national unemployment and possible lasting changes in consumer behavior that will create headwinds for our hotel properties even after government restrictions are lifted. Since we cannot estimate when the COVID-19 pandemic and the responsive measures to combat it will end, we cannot estimate the ultimate operational and financial impact of COVID-19 on our business. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly impacted our operations in 2020, and combined with macroeconomic trends such as the current economic recession, reduced consumer spending, including on travel, and increased unemployment, lead us to believe that the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations continue to have a material adverse impact on our financial results and liquidity and such adverse impact may continue well beyond the containment of such outbreak and vaccination distribution.
We have taken various actions to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by strengthening our balance sheet and liquidity position. Operational measures we have taken include:
•Suspension of Hotel Operations: We previously announced the suspension of operations at 57 of our hotel properties. The decision to suspend operations was made in response to the elimination of lodging demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the related government and health official mandates in many markets. As government mandated stay-in-place restrictions were lifted, we developed a framework to open hotels in a socially and financially responsible way. We have reopened 50 of the 57 suspended hotel properties as of December 31, 2020, and subsequent to the end of the year have reopened 2 additional hotel properties. We will continue to evaluate reopening the remaining 5 suspended hotel properties based on market conditions. In the markets where stay-in-place restrictions are reinstated, we would consider temporarily re-suspending hotel operations where demand is inadequate.
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•Cost Containment Initiatives: We continue to work in concert with our hotel management companies to materially reduce operating expenses and preserve liquidity by putting stringent operational cost containment measures in place. Such measures include significantly reducing staffing at our hotel properties, reducing energy costs, eliminating non-essential amenities and services, and closing several floors and most food and beverage outlets at our hotel properties that remain open.
•Capital Investment Reduction: We reduced our 2020 capital expenditure program by deferring all capital investments, other than completing projects that were substantially underway and nearing completion. Near-term, we will take appropriate steps to protect and preserve the hotel properties.
•Return On Investment ("ROI") Project Suspensions: We reviewed all 2020 ROI initiatives and suspended most of these projects.
At the corporate level, we have taken and continue to take aggressive actions to increase liquidity and preserve cash including:
•Common Stock Dividend: Our board of trustees authorized first, second, third and fourth quarter common cash dividends of $0.01 per common share, which reflects a significant reduction compared to our dividend payout prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to monitor our financial performance and the economic outlook to assess whether it is appropriate to resume a regular quarterly common dividend at a level determined to be prudent based on the economic outlook.
•Share Repurchase: We suspended all repurchases of our common shares and our $1.95 Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares (the "Series A Preferred Shares"), as applicable.
•Increased Liquidity: We enhanced our liquidity position by drawing $400.0 million on our $600.0 million corporate line of credit. As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $934.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reserves. By drawing $400.0 million on our credit facility, we have ensured significant liquidity to meet our obligations over an extended period of time.
For more information, see "Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors" included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our Customers
The majority of our hotels consist of premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. As a result of this property profile, the majority of our customers are transient in nature. Transient business typically represents individual business or leisure travelers. The majority of our hotels are located in business districts within major metropolitan areas. Accordingly, business travelers represent the majority of the transient demand at our hotels. As a result, the effects of COVID-19 and other factors impacting business travel have a greater effect on our business than factors impacting leisure travel.
Group business is typically defined as a minimum of 10 guestrooms booked together as part of the same piece of business. Group business may or may not use the meeting space at any given hotel. Given the limited meeting space at the majority of our hotels, group business that utilizes meeting space represents a small component of our customer base.
A number of our hotel properties are affiliated with brands marketed toward extended-stay customers. Extended-stay customers are generally defined as those staying five nights or longer.
Key Indicators of Operating Performance
We use a variety of operating, financial and other information to evaluate the operating performance of our business. These key indicators include financial information that is prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") as well as other financial measures that are non-GAAP measures. In addition, we use other information that may not be financial in nature, including industry standard statistical information and comparative data. We use this information to measure the operating performance of our individual hotels, groups of hotels and/or business as a whole. We also use these metrics to evaluate the hotels in our portfolio and potential acquisition opportunities to determine each hotel's contribution to cash flow and its potential to provide attractive long-term total returns. The key indicators include:
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•Average Daily Rate — ADR represents the total hotel room revenues divided by the total number of rooms sold in a given period. ADR measures the average room price attained by a hotel and ADR trends provide useful information concerning the pricing environment and the nature of the customer base at a hotel or group of hotels. We use ADR to assess the pricing levels that we are able to generate, as changes in rates have a greater impact on operating margins and profitability than changes in occupancy.
•Occupancy — Occupancy represents the total number of hotel rooms sold in a given period divided by the total number of rooms available. Occupancy measures the utilization of our hotels' available capacity. We use occupancy to measure demand at a specific hotel or group of hotels in a given period. Additionally, occupancy levels help us determine the achievable ADR levels.
•Revenue Per Available Room — RevPAR is the product of ADR and occupancy. RevPAR does not include non-room revenues, such as food and beverage revenue or other revenue. We use RevPAR to identify trend information with respect to room revenues from comparable hotel properties and to evaluate hotel performance on a regional basis.
RevPAR changes that are primarily driven by changes in occupancy have different implications for overall revenues and profitability than the changes that are driven primarily by changes in ADR. For example, an increase in occupancy at a hotel would lead to additional variable operating costs (including housekeeping services, utilities and room supplies) and could also result in an increase in other revenue and other operating expense. Changes in ADR typically have a greater impact on operating margins and profitability as they only have a limited effect on variable operating costs.
ADR, Occupancy and RevPAR are commonly used measures within the lodging industry to evaluate operating performance. RevPAR is an important statistic for monitoring operating performance at the individual hotel property level and across our entire business. We evaluate individual hotel RevPAR performance on an absolute basis with comparisons to budget and prior periods, as well as on a regional and company-wide basis. ADR and RevPAR include only room revenue. Room revenue comprised approximately 84.1% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020, and it is dictated by demand (as measured by occupancy), pricing (as measured by ADR) and our available supply of hotel rooms.
We also use non-GAAP measures such as FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the operating performance of our business. For a more in depth discussion of the non-GAAP measures, please refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section.
Principal Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
The principal factors affecting our operating results include the overall demand for lodging compared to the supply of available hotel rooms and other lodging options, and the ability of our third-party management companies to increase or maintain revenues while controlling expenses.
•Demand — The demand for lodging, especially business travel, generally fluctuates with the overall economy. Historically, periods of declining demand are followed by extended periods of relatively strong demand, which typically occurs during the growth phase of the lodging cycle.
•Supply — The development of new hotels is driven largely by construction costs, the availability of financing, the expected performance of existing hotels and other lodging options.
We expect that our ADR, Occupancy and RevPAR performance will be impacted by macroeconomic factors such as regional and local employment growth, government spending, personal income and corporate earnings, office vacancy rates, business relocation decisions, airport activity, business and leisure travel demand, new hotel construction and the pricing strategies of our competitors. In addition, our ADR, Occupancy and RevPAR performance are dependent on the continued success of the Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt hotel brands.
•Revenues — Substantially all of our revenues are derived from the operation of hotels. Specifically, our revenues are comprised of:
◦Room revenue — Occupancy and ADR are the major drivers of room revenue. Room revenue accounts for the majority of our total revenues.
◦Food and beverage revenue — Occupancy, the nature of the hotel property and the type of customer staying at the hotel are the major drivers of food and beverage revenue (i.e., group business typically generates more food and beverage revenue through catering functions as compared to transient business, which may or may not utilize the hotel's food and beverage outlets).
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◦Other revenue — Occupancy and the nature of the hotel property are the main drivers of other ancillary revenue, such as parking fees, resort fees, gift shop sales and other guest service fees. Some hotels, due to the limited focus of the services offered and size or space limitations at the hotel, may not have the type of facilities that generate other revenue.
•Property Operating Expenses — The components of our property operating expenses are as follows:
◦Room expense — These expenses include housekeeping and front office wages and payroll taxes, reservation systems, room supplies, laundry services and other room-related costs. Like room revenue, occupancy is the major driver of room expense. These costs can increase based on an increase in salaries and wages, as well as the level of service and amenities that are provided at the hotel property.
◦Food and beverage expense — These expenses primarily include food, beverage and labor costs. Occupancy and the type of customer staying at the hotel (i.e., catered functions are generally more profitable than restaurant, bar, and other food and beverage outlets that are located on the hotel property) are the major drivers of food and beverage expense, which correlates closely with food and beverage revenue.
◦Management and franchise fee expense — A base management fee is computed as a percentage of gross hotel revenues. An incentive management fee is typically paid when the hotel's operating income exceeds certain thresholds, and it is generally calculated as a percentage of hotel operating income after we have received a priority return on our investment in the hotel. A franchise fee is computed as a percentage of room revenue, plus an additional percentage of room revenue for marketing, central reservation systems and other franchisor costs. Certain hotels will also pay an additional franchise fee which is computed as a percentage of food and beverage revenue. For a more in depth discussion of the management and franchise fees, please refer to the "Our Hotel Properties — Management Agreements" and "Our Hotel Properties — Franchise Agreements" sections.
◦Other operating expense — These expenses include labor and other costs associated with the sources of our other revenue, as well as the labor and other costs associated with the administrative departments, sales and marketing, repairs and maintenance, and utility costs at the hotel properties.
Most categories of variable operating expenses, including labor costs, fluctuate with changes in occupancy. Increases in occupancy are accompanied by increases in most categories of variable operating expenses, while increases in ADR typically only result in increases in certain categories of operating costs and expenses, such as management fees, franchise fees, travel agency commissions, and credit card processing fees, all of which are based on hotel revenues. Therefore, changes in ADR have a more significant impact on operating margins than changes in occupancy.
Results of Operations
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, we owned 103 and 104 hotel properties, respectively. Based on when a hotel property is acquired, sold, or closed for renovation, the operating results for certain hotel properties are not comparable for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. For the comparison between the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the non-comparable properties include 48 hotels that were sold between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020.
For similar operating and financial data and discussion of our results for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to our results for the year ended December 31, 2018, refer to Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under Part II of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which was filed with the SEC on February 26, 2020 and is incorporated herein by reference.
COVID-19
We believe the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations continue to have a material adverse impact on our financial results and liquidity, and such adverse impact may continue well beyond the containment of such outbreak. The economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted our business and the overall lodging industry. Certain of our hotel properties have temporarily suspended all operations and, while our other hotel properties are operating in a limited capacity, as a result of these operational changes, the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 will not be comparable to the same period in 2019.
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Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2020 to the year ended December 31, 2019
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Room revenue | $ | 397,754 | $ | 1,317,085 | $ | (919,331) | (69.8) | % | |||||||||||||||
| Food and beverage revenue | 40,384 | 177,499 | (137,115) | (77.2) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other revenue | 34,949 | 71,608 | (36,659) | (51.2) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | 473,087 | 1,566,192 | (1,093,105) | (69.8) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Room expense | 124,063 | 329,077 | (205,014) | (62.3) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Food and beverage expense | 35,220 | 134,206 | (98,986) | (73.8) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Management and franchise fee expense | 21,057 | 120,797 | (99,740) | (82.6) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other operating expense | 211,216 | 373,130 | (161,914) | (43.4) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total property operating expenses | 391,556 | 957,210 | (565,654) | (59.1) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 194,168 | 211,584 | (17,416) | (8.2) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment loss | — | 13,500 | (13,500) | (100.0) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Property tax, insurance and other | 103,470 | 119,287 | (15,817) | (13.3) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 41,141 | 45,252 | (4,111) | (9.1) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Transaction costs | (158) | 1,211 | (1,369) | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 730,177 | 1,348,044 | (617,867) | (45.8) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other income | 1,941 | 1,242 | 699 | 56.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 4,237 | 8,720 | (4,483) | (51.4) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (100,169) | (91,295) | (8,874) | 9.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) on sale of hotel properties, net | 2,703 | (9,300) | 12,003 | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of indebtedness, net | — | (214) | 214 | (100.0) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Loss) income before equity in loss from unconsolidated joint ventures | (348,378) | 127,301 | (475,679) | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in loss from unconsolidated joint ventures | (8,454) | (1,673) | (6,781) | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Loss) income before income tax (expense) benefit | (356,832) | 125,628 | (482,460) | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax (expense) benefit | (51,970) | 3,751 | (55,721) | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | (408,802) | 129,379 | (538,181) | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures | 2,327 | 289 | 2,038 | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership | 2,034 | (487) | 2,521 | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred distributions - consolidated joint venture | — | (186) | 186 | (100.0) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Redemption of preferred equity - consolidated joint venture | — | (1,153) | 1,153 | (100.0) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to RLJ | (404,441) | 127,842 | (532,283) | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred dividends | (25,115) | (25,115) | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders | $ | (429,556) | $ | 102,727 | $ | (532,283) | — | % | |||||||||||||||
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Revenues
Total revenues decreased $1.1 billion, or 69.8%, to $473.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $1.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was a result of a $919.3 million decrease in room revenue, a $137.1 million decrease in food and beverage revenue, and a $36.7 million decrease in other revenue.
Room Revenue
Beginning in March 2020, we experienced a significant decline in occupancy and RevPAR due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Room revenue decreased $919.3 million, or 69.8%, to $397.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 from $1.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was a result of a $126.5 million decrease in room revenue attributable to the non-comparable properties and a $792.8 million decrease in room revenue attributable to the comparable properties. The decrease in room revenue from the comparable properties was attributable to a 66.8% decrease in RevPAR primarily due to a decline in demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following are the key hotel operating statistics for the comparable properties owned at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively:
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | % Change | |||||||||||||||
| Occupancy | 33.8 | % | 79.1 | % | (57.2) | % | |||||||||||
| ADR | $ | 142.41 | $ | 183.18 | (22.3) | % | |||||||||||
| RevPAR | $ | 48.13 | $ | 144.80 | (66.8) | % | |||||||||||
Food and Beverage Revenue
Food and beverage revenue decreased $137.1 million, or 77.2%, to $40.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $177.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was a result of a $13.8 million decrease in food and beverage revenue attributable to the non-comparable properties and a $123.3 million decrease in food and beverage revenue attributable to the comparable properties. The decrease in food and beverage revenue attributable to the comparable properties was primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other Revenue
Other revenue, which includes revenue derived from ancillary sources such as parking fees, resort fees, gift shop sales and other guest service fees, decreased $36.7 million, or 51.2%, to $34.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $71.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was due to a $6.9 million decrease in other revenue attributable to the non-comparable properties and a $29.7 million decrease in other revenue attributable to the comparable properties primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Property Operating Expenses
Property operating expenses decreased $565.7 million, or 59.1%, to $391.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $957.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was due to a $91.1 million decrease in property operating expenses attributable to the non-comparable properties and a $474.5 million decrease in property operating expenses attributable to the comparable properties.
The components of our property operating expenses for the comparable properties owned at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were as follows (in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Room expense | $ | 123,728 | $ | 300,505 | $ | (176,777) | (58.8) | % | |||||||||||||||
| Food and beverage expense | 35,226 | 125,316 | (90,090) | (71.9) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Management and franchise fee expense | 20,977 | 104,994 | (84,017) | (80.0) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other operating expense | 210,393 | 334,019 | (123,626) | (37.0) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total property operating expenses | $ | 390,324 | $ | 864,834 | $ | (474,510) | (54.9) | % | |||||||||||||||
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The decrease in property operating expenses attributable to the comparable properties was due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost savings measures we adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Management and franchise fee expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 included a reduction in management and franchise fee expense of $17.8 million related to the recognition of the Wyndham termination payment. Other operating expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 included property-level severance expense of approximately $8.2 million. This amount included $6.7 million related to severance for associates at our New York City hotels operating under collective bargaining agreements.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $17.4 million, or 8.2%, to $194.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $211.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was a result of a $16.4 million decrease in depreciation and amortization expense attributable to the non-comparable properties and a $1.0 million decrease in depreciation and amortization expense attributable to the comparable properties.
Impairment Loss
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we recorded an impairment loss of $13.5 million related to two hotel properties. The impairment was due to adverse changes in the operating performance of the hotels. There was no impairment loss recorded for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Property Tax, Insurance and Other
Property tax, insurance and other expense decreased $15.8 million, or 13.3%, to $103.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $119.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was attributable to an $8.7 million decrease in property tax, insurance and other expense attributable to the non-comparable properties and a $7.1 million decrease in property tax, insurance and other expense attributable to the comparable properties. The decrease in property tax, insurance and other expense attributable to the comparable properties was primarily due to changes to pre-merger insurance reserves in the prior year and a decrease in rent expense related to rent abatements and the impact of COVID-19 on percentage rent obligations in the current year, which were partially offset by an increase in property insurance premiums.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expense decreased $4.1 million, or 9.1%, to $41.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $45.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in general and administrative expense was primarily attributable to the reversal of an accrued liability related to the settlement of a dispute with the National Retirement Fund of $1.8 million and a net decrease in other general and administrative expenses resulting from our response to COVID-19.
Interest Expense
The components of our interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows (in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior Notes | $ | 23,767 | $ | 23,793 | $ | (26) | (0.1) | % | |||||||||||||||
| Revolver and Term Loans | 55,413 | 42,272 | 13,141 | 31.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loans | 16,949 | 20,754 | (3,805) | (18.3) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | 4,416 | 4,100 | 316 | 7.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Undesignated interest rate swaps | (376) | 376 | (752) | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total interest expense | $ | 100,169 | $ | 91,295 | $ | 8,874 | 9.7 | % | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense increased $8.9 million, or 9.7%, to $100.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $91.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in interest expense was primarily attributable to the outstanding balance of $400.0 million on the Revolver, the entirety of which was incurred in March 2020, and an increase in pricing as a result of the amendments of the Revolver and Term Loans during the year ended December 31, 2020. The Revolver had no outstanding balance for the year ended December 31, 2019. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in interest expense related to refinancing transactions that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2019, and unrealized gains on certain discontinued cash flow hedges.
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Gain (Loss) on Sale of Hotel Properties, net
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we sold one hotel property for a sales price of approximately $4.9 million. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we sold 47 hotel properties in five separate transactions for a total sales price of approximately $721.0 million. In connection with these transactions, we recorded a net gain on sale of $2.7 million and a net loss on sale of $9.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Equity in Loss from Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
Equity in loss from unconsolidated joint ventures increased $6.8 million to a loss of $8.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 from a loss of $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to the impact of COVID-19 and an impairment loss of $6.5 million related to one of our unconsolidated joint ventures during the year ended December 31, 2020. The impairment loss was related to the write down of our investment in this joint venture as we determined the property ground lease will terminate on October 31, 2021 and the property will revert to the ground lessor at that time. This was partially offset by the impact of a loss on the sale of certain assets in June 2019 by unconsolidated joint ventures that did not recur in 2020.
Income Taxes
As part of our structure, we own TRSs that are subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes. Income tax expense increased $55.7 million to a $52.0 million expense for the year ended December 31, 2020, from a $3.8 million benefit for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in income tax expense was primarily due to recording a valuation allowance on 100% of our deferred tax assets during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We consider the following non-GAAP financial measures useful to investors as key supplemental measures of our performance: (1) FFO, (2) Adjusted FFO, (3) EBITDA, (4) EBITDAre and (5) Adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered along with, but not as alternatives to, net income as a measure of our operating performance. FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, EBITDAre, and Adjusted EBITDA, as calculated by us, may not be comparable to FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDA as reported by other companies that do not define such terms exactly as we define such terms.
Funds From Operations
We calculate funds from operations ("FFO") in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT"), which defines FFO as net income or loss, excluding gains or losses from sales of real estate, impairment, the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, plus depreciation and amortization, and adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Historical cost accounting for real estate assets implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values instead have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, most real estate industry investors consider FFO to be helpful in evaluating a real estate company’s operations. We believe that the presentation of FFO provides useful information to investors regarding our operating performance and can facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and between REITs, even though FFO does not represent an amount that accrues directly to common shareholders. Our calculation of FFO may not be comparable to measures calculated by other companies who do not use the NAREIT definition of FFO or do not calculate FFO per diluted share in accordance with NAREIT guidance. Additionally, FFO may not be helpful when comparing us to non-REITs. We present FFO attributable to common shareholders, which includes our OP units, because our OP units may be redeemed for common shares. We believe it is meaningful for the investor to understand FFO attributable to all common shares and OP units.
We further adjust FFO for certain additional items that are not in NAREIT’s definition of FFO, such as hotel transaction costs, non-cash income tax expense or benefit, the amortization of share-based compensation, and certain other income or expenses that we consider outside the normal course of operations. We believe that Adjusted FFO provides useful supplemental information to investors regarding our ongoing operating performance that, when considered with net income and FFO, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of our operating performance.
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The following table is a reconciliation of our GAAP net income to FFO attributable to common shareholders and unitholders and Adjusted FFO attributable to common shareholders and unitholders for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (408,802) | $ | 129,379 | |||||||
| Preferred dividends | (25,115) | (25,115) | |||||||||
| Preferred distributions - consolidated joint venture | — | (186) | |||||||||
| Redemption of preferred equity - consolidated joint venture | — | (1,153) | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 194,168 | 211,584 | |||||||||
| Impairment loss | — | 13,500 | |||||||||
| (Gain) loss on sale of hotel properties, net | (2,703) | 9,300 | |||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures | 2,327 | 289 | |||||||||
| Adjustments related to consolidated joint ventures (1) | (298) | (298) | |||||||||
| Adjustments related to unconsolidated joint ventures (2) | 8,299 | 4,379 | |||||||||
| FFO | (232,124) | 341,679 | |||||||||
| Transaction costs | (158) | 1,211 | |||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of indebtedness, net | — | 214 | |||||||||
| Amortization of share-based compensation | 12,200 | 11,459 | |||||||||
| Non-cash income tax expense (benefit) (3) | 51,486 | (6,818) | |||||||||
| Unrealized (gain) loss on discontinued cash flow hedges | (376) | 394 | |||||||||
| Corporate and property-level severance (4) | 8,653 | — | |||||||||
| Other (income) expenses (5) | (1,125) | 2,144 | |||||||||
| Adjusted FFO | $ | (161,444) | $ | 350,283 | |||||||
(1)Includes depreciation and amortization expense allocated to the noncontrolling interest in the consolidated joint ventures.
(2)Includes our ownership interest in the depreciation and amortization expense, impairment loss, and loss on sale of the unconsolidated joint ventures.
(3)Includes non-cash income tax expense of $59.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 due to recording a valuation allowance on 100% of deferred tax assets.
(4)Includes corporate-level severance of $0.5 million and property-level severance of $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Property-level severance for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes $6.7 million related to severance for associates at our New York City hotels operating under collective bargaining agreements.
(5)Represents income and expenses outside of the normal course of operations, including debt modification costs, legal and other costs, non-cash changes to pre-merger insurance reserves, and hurricane-related costs that were not reimbursed by insurance. Other expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes a benefit of $1.8 million due to the reversal of an accrued liability related to the settlement of the National Retirement Fund matter.
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EBITDA and EBITDAre
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") is defined as net income or loss excluding: (1) interest expense; (2) provision for income taxes, including income taxes applicable to sales of assets; and (3) depreciation and amortization. We consider EBITDA useful to an investor in evaluating and facilitating comparisons of our operating performance between periods and between REITs by removing the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest expense) and asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) from our operating results. In addition, EBITDA is used as one measure in determining the value of hotel acquisitions and disposals.
In addition to EBITDA, we present EBITDAre in accordance with NAREIT guidelines, which defines EBITDAre as net income or loss excluding interest expense, income tax benefit or expense, depreciation and amortization expense, gains or losses from sales of real estate, impairment, and adjustments for unconsolidated joint ventures. We believe that the presentation of EBITDAre provides useful information to investors regarding our operating performance and can facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and between REITs.
We also present Adjusted EBITDA, which includes additional adjustments for items such as gains or losses on extinguishment of indebtedness, transaction costs, the amortization of share-based compensation, and certain other income or expenses that we consider outside the normal course of operations. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful supplemental information to investors regarding our ongoing operating performance that, when considered with net income, EBITDA and EBITDAre, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of our operating performance.
The following table is a reconciliation of our GAAP net income to EBITDA, EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (408,802) | $ | 129,379 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 194,168 | 211,584 | |||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 95,932 | 82,575 | |||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 51,970 | (3,751) | |||||||||
| Adjustments related to unconsolidated joint ventures (1) | 2,237 | 2,799 | |||||||||
| EBITDA | (64,495) | 422,586 | |||||||||
| (Gain) loss on sale of hotel properties, net | (2,703) | 9,300 | |||||||||
| Impairment loss | — | 13,500 | |||||||||
| Loss on sale of unconsolidated joint ventures (2) | — | 2,075 | |||||||||
| Impairment loss of unconsolidated joint ventures (3) | 6,546 | — | |||||||||
EBITDAre | (60,652) | 447,461 | |||||||||
| Transaction costs | (158) | 1,211 | |||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of indebtedness, net | — | 214 | |||||||||
| Amortization of share-based compensation | 12,200 | 11,459 | |||||||||
| Corporate and property-level severance (4) | 8,653 | — | |||||||||
| Other (income) expenses (5) | (1,125) | 2,144 | |||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (41,082) | $ | 462,489 | |||||||
(1)Includes our ownership interest in the interest, depreciation, and amortization expense of the unconsolidated joint ventures.
(2)Includes our ownership interest in the loss on sale of the unconsolidated joint ventures associated with two resort hotel properties we owned in Myrtle Beach, SC.
(3)Includes our ownership interest in the impairment loss of one of our unconsolidated joint ventures.
(4)Includes corporate-level severance of $0.5 million and property-level severance of $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Property-level severance for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes $6.7 million related to severance for associates at our New York City hotels operating under collective bargaining agreements.
(5)Represents income and expenses outside of the normal course of operations, including debt modification costs, legal and other costs, non-cash changes to pre-merger insurance reserves, and hurricane-related costs that were not reimbursed by insurance. Other expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes a benefit of $1.8 million due to the reversal of an accrued liability related to the settlement of the National Retirement Fund matter.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our short-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of the funds necessary to pay for operating expenses and other expenditures directly associated with our hotel properties, including:
•recurring maintenance and capital expenditures necessary to maintain our hotel properties in accordance with brand standards;
•operating lease obligations that mainly consist of ground lease agreements for 12 of our hotel properties;
•operating shortfalls in hotel properties where operations were suspended and hotels with low occupancy;
•interest expense and scheduled principal payments on outstanding indebtedness;
•distributions necessary to qualify for taxation as a REIT; and
•corporate and other general and administrative expenses.
We expect to meet our short-term liquidity requirements generally through the net cash provided by operations, existing cash balances, short-term borrowings under our Revolver, proceeds from the sale of hotel properties, proceeds from financings, and proceeds from public offerings of common shares.
Our long-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of the funds necessary to pay for costs of acquiring additional hotel properties, renovations and other capital expenditures that need to be made periodically with respect to our hotel properties, and scheduled debt payments, at maturity or otherwise.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of government and health official mandates to avoid nonessential travel, we continue to operate open hotels under aggressive operating cost containment plans, including significantly reduced staffing, elimination of non-essential amenities and services, and the closure of several floors and most food and beverage outlets. Significant events affecting travel, including the COVID-19 pandemic, typically have an impact on booking patterns, with the full extent of the impact generally determined by the duration of the event and its impact on travel decisions. We believe the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations continue to have a material adverse impact on our financial results and liquidity, and such adverse impact may continue well beyond the containment of such outbreak.
We can make no assurances that the assumptions used to estimate our liquidity requirements will remain accurate because the magnitude, duration and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic are uncertain. These uncertainties make it difficult to predict the impact on our business, financial condition or near- or longer-term financial or operational results with certainty.
We have taken further actions to improve our liquidity position, including capital expenditure and operating expense reductions, suspending ROI initiatives, and reducing dividend payments on our common shares.
As of December 31, 2020, we had $934.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reserves, including $400.0 million drawn from our $600.0 million Revolver.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we entered into two amendments to our Revolver and unsecured Term Loans. Key terms of the most recent amendments include the following:
•Waiver of quarterly financial covenants through the fourth quarter of 2021 (the "covenant waiver period"), unless we satisfy the requirements for early termination of the covenant waiver period.
•After the end of the covenant waiver period, certain covenant thresholds have been modified through the first quarter of 2023.
•Covenant to maintain a minimum liquidity of $125.0 million through the end of the covenant waiver period.
•An increase in pricing until such time that certain requirements are met to revert back to the pre-amendments pricing grid.
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•Imposition of certain restrictions during the covenant relief period including restrictions on share repurchases, dividend and distribution payments (with certain exceptions, including for the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.01 per common share, the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.4875 per Series A Preferred Share and other payments for purposes of maintaining REIT status).
•Addition of limitations on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, usage of proceeds from asset sales, investments and discretionary capital expenditures, in each case subject to various exceptions and requiring certain mandatory repayments, and a requirement to pledge the equity interests in certain subsidiaries that own unencumbered properties to secure the Revolver and Term Loans until such time that our leverage ratio is no greater than 6.50x for two consecutive quarters.
•We are permitted to make investments during the covenant relief period, including up to $200.0 million of hotel acquisitions, depending on the outstanding balance on the Revolver, and approximately $175.0 million of capital expenditures, depending on overall liquidity.
Based on these actions and our assumptions regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect to have sufficient liquidity to satisfy our obligations over an extended period of time.
Sources and Uses of Cash
As of December 31, 2020, we had $934.8 million of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reserves as compared to $927.2 million at December 31, 2019.
Cash flows from Operating Activities
The net cash flow used in operating activities totaled $168.7 million and the net cash flow provided by operating activities totaled $397.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The cash flows used in or provided by operating activities generally consist of the operating shortfalls as a result of our hotels operating in the current low demand environment due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, cash paid for corporate expenses and other working capital changes. Cash flow from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 included a one-time termination payment of $35.0 million from Wyndham. Refer to the "Results of Operations" section for further discussion of our operating results for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Cash flows from Investing Activities
The net cash flow used in investing activities totaled $66.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to $73.3 million in routine capital improvements and additions to our hotel properties, partially offset by $5.2 million of net cash proceeds from the sale of a hotel property.
The net cash flow provided by investing activities totaled $530.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 primarily due to $685.9 million of net cash proceeds from the sale of hotel properties, partially offset by $157.4 million in routine capital improvements and additions to our hotel properties.
Cash flows from Financing Activities
The net cash flow provided by financing activities totaled $243.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to $400.0 million in borrowings on our revolving credit facility. This was offset by $86.5 million in distributions to shareholders and unitholders, $64.2 million paid to repurchase common shares, $4.1 million in deferred financing cost payments, and $3.4 million in scheduled mortgage loan principal payments.
The net cash flow used in financing activities totaled $385.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 primarily due to $254.6 million in distributions to shareholders and unitholders, $79.6 million paid to repurchase common shares, a payment of $45.6 million to redeem the preferred equity in a consolidated joint venture, and $10.1 million in deferred financing cost payments.
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Capital Expenditures and Reserve Funds
We maintain each of our hotel properties in good repair and condition and in conformity with applicable laws and regulations, franchise agreements and management agreements. The cost of all such routine improvements and alterations are paid out of FF&E reserves, which are funded by a portion of each hotel property’s gross revenues. Routine capital expenditures are administered by the property management companies. However, we have approval rights over the capital expenditures as part of the annual budget process for each of our hotel properties.
From time to time, certain of our hotel properties may undergo renovations as a result of our decision to upgrade portions of the hotels, such as guestrooms, public space, meeting space, and/or restaurants, in order to better compete with other hotels and alternative lodging options in our markets. In addition, upon acquisition of a hotel property we often are required to complete a property improvement plan in order to bring the hotel up to the respective franchisor’s standards. If permitted by the terms of the management agreement, funding for a renovation will first come from the FF&E reserves. To the extent that the FF&E reserves are not available or sufficient to cover the cost of the renovation, we will fund all or the remaining portion of the renovation with cash and cash equivalents on hand, our Revolver and/or other sources of available liquidity.
With respect to some of our hotels that are operated under franchise agreements with major national hotel brands and for some of our hotels subject to first mortgage liens, we are obligated to maintain FF&E reserve accounts for future capital expenditures at these hotels. The amount funded into each of these reserve accounts is generally determined pursuant to the management agreements, franchise agreements and/or mortgage loan documents for each of the respective hotels, and typically ranges between 3.0% and 5.0% of the respective hotel’s total gross revenue. As of December 31, 2020, approximately $29.9 million was held in FF&E reserve accounts for future capital expenditures. In addition, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations, we have worked with the brands, third-party managers, and lenders to allow the use of available restricted cash reserves to cover operating shortfalls at certain hotels.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We consider our accounting policies over investment in hotel properties and revenue recognition to be our critical accounting policies. See Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for further descriptions of such accounting policies. We have set forth below the accounting policies that we believe require material subjective or complex judgments and have the most significant impact on our financial condition and results of operations. It is possible that the actual amounts may differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions. We evaluate our estimates, assumptions and judgments on an ongoing basis, based on information that is available to us, our business and industry experience, and various other matters that we believe are reasonable and appropriate for consideration under the circumstances.
Impairment
We assess the carrying value of our investments in hotel properties whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The recoverability is measured by comparing the carrying amount to the projected undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated from the operations and the eventual disposition of the hotel properties over the estimated hold period, which take into account current market conditions and our intent with respect to holding or disposing of the hotel properties. If our analysis indicates that the carrying value is not recoverable on a projected undiscounted cash flow basis, we will recognize an impairment loss for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. The determination of fair value is subjective and is based in part on assumptions and estimates that could differ materially from actual results in future periods. The fair value is determined through various valuation techniques, including internally developed discounted cash flow models, comparable market transactions, third-party appraisals, the net sales proceeds from pending offers, or the net sales proceeds from transactions that closed subsequent to the end of the reporting period. The use of projected future cash flows is based on assumptions that are consistent with a market participant’s future expectations for the travel industry and the economy in general, including discount rates, sales proceeds in the reversion year, average daily rates, occupancy rates, operating expenses and capital expenditures, and our intent with respect to holding or disposing of the underlying hotel properties. Fair value may also be based on assumptions including, but not limited to, room revenue multiples and comparable sales adjusted for capital expenditures, if necessary.
43
Purchase Price Allocation
Our acquisitions generally consist of land, land improvements, buildings, building improvements, furniture, fixtures and equipment, and inventory. We allocate the purchase price among the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values at the date of acquisition. We estimate the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed by using a combination of the market, cost and income approaches. We determine the fair value by using market data and independent appraisals available to us and making numerous estimates and assumptions, such as estimates of future income growth, capitalization rates, discount rates, capital expenditures and cash flow projections at the respective hotel properties. The determination of fair value is subjective and is based in part on assumptions and estimates that could differ materially from actual results in future periods.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk includes the risks that arise from changes in interest rates, equity prices and other market changes that affect market sensitive instruments. Our primary market risk exposure is to changes in interest rates on our variable rate debt. As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $2.0 billion of total variable rate debt outstanding (or 76.0% of total indebtedness) with a weighted-average interest rate of 3.72% per annum.
Our interest rate risk objectives are to limit the impact of interest rate fluctuations on earnings and cash flows and to lower our overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, we manage our exposure to fluctuations in market interest rates through the use of fixed rate debt instruments to the extent that reasonably favorable rates are obtainable. We have entered into derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps to mitigate our interest rate risk or to effectively lock the interest rate on a portion of our variable rate debt. We do not enter into derivative or interest rate transactions for speculative purposes. After taking into consideration the effect of interest rate swaps, 81.3% of our total indebtedness was fixed or effectively fixed. Excluding the $400.0 million outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility and taking into consideration the effect of interest rate swaps, 97% of our total indebtedness was fixed or effectively fixed. As of December 31, 2020, if market interest rates on our variable rate debt not subject to interest rate swaps were to increase by 1.00%, or 100 basis points, interest expense would decrease future earnings and cash flows by less than $5.8 million annually, taking into account our existing contractual hedging arrangements.
The following table provides information about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For debt obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2020, the following table presents the principal repayments and related weighted-average interest rates by contractual maturity dates (in thousands):
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed rate debt (1) | $ | 3,279 | $ | 140,386 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 474,888 | $ | 618,553 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average interest rate | 5.01 | % | 5.01 | % | — | % | — | % | 6.00 | % | 5.77 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable rate debt (1) | $ | — | $ | 350,000 | $ | 625,000 | $ | 581,000 | $ | 400,000 | $ | 1,956,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average interest rate (2) | — | % | 2.68 | % | 4.73 | % | 2.85 | % | 3.92 | % | 3.72 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total (3) | $ | 3,279 | $ | 490,386 | $ | 625,000 | $ | 581,000 | $ | 874,888 | $ | 2,574,553 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Excludes $6.7 million and $2.4 million of net deferred financing costs on the Term Loans and mortgage loans, respectively.
(2)The weighted-average interest rate gives effect to interest rate swaps, as applicable.
(3)Excludes a total of $22.3 million related to fair value adjustments on debt.
Our ultimate realized gain or loss with respect to interest rate fluctuations will depend on the exposures that arise during future periods, prevailing interest rates, and our hedging strategies at that time.
Changes in market interest rates on our fixed rate debt impact the fair value of our debt, but such changes have no impact to our consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2020, the estimated fair value of our fixed rate debt was $628.0 million, which is based on having the same debt service requirements that could have been borrowed at the date presented, at prevailing current market interest rates. If interest rates were to rise by 1.00%, or 100 basis points, and our fixed rate debt balance remained constant, we expect the fair value of our debt would decrease by approximately $2.4 million.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Refer to the Index to Financial Statements on page F-1.
44
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company's management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act), as required by paragraph (b) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that as of December 31, 2020, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information we are required to disclose in reports filed or submitted with the Securities and Exchange Commission (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act). The Company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluations of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The Company's management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on this assessment, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.
The effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears on page F-2 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Exchange Act) during the period ended December 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other information
None.
45
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information called for by this Item is contained in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information called for by this Item is contained in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters
The information called for by this Item is contained in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, or in Item 5 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence
The information called for by this Item is contained in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information called for by this Item is contained in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and is incorporated herein by reference.
46
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
The following is a list of documents filed as a part of this report:
(1) Financial Statements — Refer to the Index to Financial Statements on page F-1
(2) Financial Statement Schedules — The following financial statement schedule is included herein on pages F-40 through F-44:
Schedule III — Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation for RLJ Lodging Trust
All other schedules for which a provision is made in Regulation S-X are either not required to be included herein under the related instructions, are inapplicable, or the related information is included in the footnotes to the applicable financial statement and, therefore, have been omitted.
(3) Exhibits — The exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are noted below:
Exhibit Index
| Exhibit Number | Description of Exhibit | ||||||||||
| 3.1 | |||||||||||
| 3.2 | |||||||||||
| 3.3 | |||||||||||
| 3.4 | |||||||||||
| 3.5 | |||||||||||
| 3.6 | |||||||||||
| 4.1 | |||||||||||
| 4.2 | |||||||||||
| 4.3 | |||||||||||
| 4.4 | |||||||||||
| 4.5 | |||||||||||
| 4.6 | |||||||||||
| 4.7* | |||||||||||
| 10.1 | |||||||||||
47
48
49
| 10.37 | |||||||||||
| 10.38 | |||||||||||
| 21.1* | |||||||||||
| 23.1* | |||||||||||
| 31.1* | |||||||||||
| 31.2* | |||||||||||
| 32.1* | |||||||||||
| 101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document | Submitted electronically with this report | |||||||||
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | Submitted electronically with this report | |||||||||
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document | Submitted electronically with this report | |||||||||
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | Submitted electronically with this report | |||||||||
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document | Submitted electronically with this report | |||||||||
| 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document | Submitted electronically with this report | |||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and included in Exhibit 101) | ||||||||||
_______________________________________________________________________________
*Filed herewith
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
Not applicable.
50
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on February 26, 2021.
| RLJ LODGING TRUST | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ LESLIE D. HALE | ||||||||||
| Leslie D. Hale President and Chief Executive Officer and Trustee | |||||||||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ ROBERT L. JOHNSON | Executive Chairman and Trustee | February 26, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Robert L. Johnson | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ LESLIE D. HALE | President and Chief Executive Officer and Trustee (Principal Executive Officer) | February 26, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Leslie D. Hale | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ SEAN M. MAHONEY | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | February 26, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Sean M. Mahoney | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ CHRISTOPHER A. GORMSEN | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | February 26, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Christopher A. Gormsen | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ EVAN BAYH | Trustee | February 26, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Evan Bayh | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ ARTHUR R. COLLINS | Trustee | February 26, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Arthur R. Collins | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ NATHANIEL A. DAVIS | Trustee | February 26, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Nathaniel A. Davis | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ PATRICIA L. GIBSON | Trustee | February 26, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Patricia L. Gibson | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ ROBERT M. LA FORGIA | Trustee | February 26, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Robert M. La Forgia | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ ROBERT J. MCCARTHY | Trustee | February 26, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Robert J. McCarthy | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ GLENDA G. MCNEAL | Trustee | February 26, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Glenda G. McNeal | ||||||||||||||
51
Item 8. Financial Statements
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| RLJ Lodging Trust: | |||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | F-2 | ||||
| Consolidated Financial Statements | |||||
F-4 | |||||
F-5 | |||||
F-7 | |||||
F-10 | |||||
F-11 | |||||
F-40 | |||||
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of RLJ Lodging Trust
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of RLJ Lodging Trust and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income, of changes in equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, including the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
F-2
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Impairment Assessment of Investments in Hotel Properties
As described in Notes 2 and 3 to the consolidated financial statements, management assesses the carrying value of its investments in hotel properties whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. As of December 31, 2020, investments in hotel properties totaled $4.5 billion and for the year ended December 31, 2020 there were no impairment losses. Hotel property recoverability is measured by comparing the carrying amount to management’s projected undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated from the operations and the eventual disposition of the hotel properties over the estimated hold period, which takes into account current market conditions and management’s intent with respect to holding or disposing of the hotel properties. If management’s analysis indicates that the carrying value is not recoverable on a projected undiscounted cash flow basis, the Company will recognize an impairment loss for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. The projected undiscounted future cash flows include assumptions that are consistent with a market participant’s future expectations for the travel industry and the economy in general, including sales proceeds in the reversion year, average daily rates, occupancy rates, operating expenses and capital expenditures, and management’s intent with respect to holding or disposing of the underlying hotel properties.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the impairment assessment of investments in hotel properties is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgments used by management to identify events or changes in circumstances indicating that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable and to develop the projected undiscounted future cash flows; and (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment and subjectivity in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence related to management’s identification of events or changes in circumstances indicating that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable and to the aforementioned significant assumptions.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s impairment assessment of investments in hotel properties, including controls over the identification of events or changes in circumstances indicating that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable and the development of projected undiscounted future cash flows. These procedures also included, among others, testing management’s process for identifying investments in hotel properties to be evaluated for impairment and developing the projected undiscounted future cash flows. Testing management’s process included (i) evaluating the appropriateness of the projected undiscounted future cash flow model; (ii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the model; and (iii) evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions related to sales proceeds in the reversion year, average daily rates, occupancy rates, operating expenses and capital expenditures, and management’s intent with respect to holding or disposing of the hotel properties. Evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions involved considering (i) the current and past performance of the hotel properties; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
McLean, Virginia February 26, 2021
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2001.
F-3
RLJ Lodging Trust
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
| Investment in hotel properties, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | |||||||||||
| Restricted cash reserves | |||||||||||
| Hotel and other receivables, net of allowance of $292 and $251, respectively | |||||||||||
| Lease right-of-use assets | |||||||||||
| Deferred income tax asset, net | |||||||||||
| Prepaid expense and other assets | |||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Liabilities and Equity | |||||||||||
| Debt, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accounts payable and other liabilities | |||||||||||
| Advance deposits and deferred revenue | |||||||||||
| Lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Accrued interest | |||||||||||
| Distributions payable | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities | |||||||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10) | |||||||||||
| Equity | |||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity: | |||||||||||
| Preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized | |||||||||||
| Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares, $0.01 par value, 12,950,000 shares authorized; 12,879,475 shares issued and outstanding, liquidation value of $328,266, at December 31, 2020 and 2019 | |||||||||||
| Common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized; 165,002,752 and 169,852,246 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively | |||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | |||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Distributions in excess of net earnings | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | |||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest: | |||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures | |||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership | |||||||||||
| Total noncontrolling interest | |||||||||||
| Total equity | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
RLJ Lodging Trust
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues | |||||||||||||||||
| Room revenue | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Food and beverage revenue | |||||||||||||||||
| Other revenue | |||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | |||||||||||||||||
| Expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Room expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Food and beverage expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Management and franchise fee expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Other operating expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Total property operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||||||||
| Impairment loss | |||||||||||||||||
| Property tax, insurance and other | |||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | |||||||||||||||||
| Transaction costs | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) on sale of hotel properties, net | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| (Loss) gain on extinguishment of indebtedness, net | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| (Loss) income before equity in (loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Equity in (loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| (Loss) income before income tax (expense) benefit | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Income tax (expense) benefit | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests: | |||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Preferred distributions - consolidated joint venture | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Redemption of preferred equity - consolidated joint venture | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to RLJ | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Preferred dividends | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Basic per common share data: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income per share attributable to common shareholders | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares | |||||||||||||||||
F-5
| Diluted per common share data: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income per share attributable to common shareholders | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares | |||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive (loss) income: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate derivatives | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Reclassification of unrealized gain on discontinued interest rate derivatives to interest expense | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive (loss) income | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests: | |||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Preferred distributions - consolidated joint venture | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to RLJ | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
RLJ Lodging Trust
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
| Shareholders’ Equity | Noncontrolling Interest | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock | Common Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Par Value | Additional Paid-in Capital | Distributions in Excess of Net Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Operating Partnership | Consolidated Joint Ventures | Preferred Equity in a Consolidated Joint Venture | Total Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain on interest rate derivatives | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemption of Operating Partnership units | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of restricted stock | — | — | ( | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares acquired to satisfy minimum required federal and state tax withholding on vesting restricted stock | — | — | ( | ( | ( | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares acquired as part of a share repurchase program | — | — | ( | ( | ( | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeiture of restricted stock | — | — | ( | ( | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contributions from consolidated joint venture partners | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions on preferred shares | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions on common shares and units | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred distributions - consolidated joint venture | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7
RLJ Lodging Trust
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
| Shareholders’ Equity | Noncontrolling Interest | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock | Common Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Par Value | Additional Paid-in Capital | Distributions in Excess of Net Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Operating Partnership | Consolidated Joint Ventures | Preferred Equity in a Consolidated Joint Venture | Total Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized loss on interest rate derivatives | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reclassification of unrealized gain on discontinued cash flow hedges to interest expense | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemption of Operating Partnership units | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of restricted stock | — | — | ( | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares acquired to satisfy minimum required federal and state tax withholding on vesting restricted stock | — | — | ( | ( | ( | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares acquired as part of a share repurchase program | — | — | ( | ( | ( | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeiture of restricted stock | — | — | ( | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contributions from consolidated joint venture partners | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions on preferred shares | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions on common shares and units | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred distributions - consolidated joint venture | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemption of preferred equity - consolidated joint venture | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-8
RLJ Lodging Trust
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
| Shareholders’ Equity | Noncontrolling Interest | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock | Common Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Par Value | Additional Paid-in Capital | Distributions in Excess of Net Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Operating Partnership | Consolidated Joint Ventures | Total Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized loss on interest rate derivatives | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemption of Operating Partnership units | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of restricted stock | — | — | ( | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares acquired to satisfy minimum required federal and state tax withholding on vesting restricted stock | — | — | ( | ( | ( | — | — | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares acquired as part of a share repurchase program | — | — | ( | ( | ( | — | — | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeiture of restricted stock | — | — | ( | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contributions from consolidated joint venture partners | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions on preferred shares | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions on common shares and units | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-9
RLJ Lodging Trust
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Amounts in thousands)
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| (Gain) loss on sale of hotel properties, net | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on extinguishment of indebtedness, net | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | |||||||||||||||||
| Other amortization | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Unrealized (gain) loss on discontinued cash flow hedges | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Equity in loss (income) from unconsolidated joint ventures | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Distributions of income from unconsolidated joint ventures | |||||||||||||||||
| Impairment loss | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of share-based compensation | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Hotel and other receivables, net | |||||||||||||||||
| Prepaid expense and other assets | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and other liabilities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Advance deposits and deferred revenue | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Accrued interest | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Net cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from the sale of hotel properties, net | |||||||||||||||||
| Improvements and additions to hotel properties | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures in excess of earnings | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash flow (used in) provided by investing activities | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Borrowings under Revolver | |||||||||||||||||
| Repayments under Revolver | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Redemption of senior notes | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from mortgage loans | |||||||||||||||||
| Scheduled mortgage loan principal payments | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Repayments of mortgage loans | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Repurchase of common shares under a share repurchase program | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Repurchase of common shares to satisfy employee tax withholding requirements | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Distributions on preferred shares | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Distributions on common shares | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Distributions on Operating Partnership units | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Payments of deferred financing costs | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Preferred distributions - consolidated joint venture | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Redemption of preferred equity - consolidated joint venture | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Contributions from consolidated joint venture partners | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reserves | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reserves, beginning of year | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reserves, end of year | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-10
RLJ Lodging Trust
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
1. General
Organization
RLJ Lodging Trust (the "Company") was formed as a Maryland real estate investment trust ("REIT") on January 31, 2011. The Company is a self-advised and self-administered REIT that acquires primarily premium-branded, high-margin, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2011.
Substantially all of the Company’s assets and liabilities are held by, and all of its operations are conducted through, RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership"). The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. As of December 31, 2020, there were 165,775,045 units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“OP units”) outstanding and the Company owned, through a combination of direct and indirect interests, 99.5 % of the outstanding OP units.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company owned 103 hotel properties with approximately 22,700 rooms, located in 23 states and the District of Columbia. The Company, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, owned a 100 % interest in 99 of its hotel properties, a 98.3 % controlling interest in the DoubleTree Metropolitan Hotel New York City, a 95.0 % controlling interest in The Knickerbocker, and 50 % interests in entities owning two hotel properties. The Company consolidates its real estate interests in the 101 hotel properties in which it holds a controlling financial interest, and the Company records the real estate interests in the two hotels in which it holds an indirect 50 % interest using the equity method of accounting. The Company leases 102 of the 103 hotel properties to its taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRS"), of which the Company owns a controlling financial interest.
COVID-19
The global outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) and the public health measures that have been undertaken in response have had, and will likely continue to have, a material adverse impact on the Company's financial results and liquidity, and such adverse impact may continue well beyond the containment of such outbreak and vaccination distribution. Since the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to impact our operations will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain, the Company cannot estimate the impact on its business, financial condition or near- or longer-term financial or operational results with reasonable certainty.
Given the impact on lodging demand, the Company has taken various actions to help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operating results and to preserve liquidity. Operational measures the Company has taken include:
•Suspension of Hotel Operations: The Company had previously announced the suspension of operations at 57 of its hotel properties. As government mandated stay-in-place restrictions were lifted, the Company developed a framework to open the suspended hotels. The Company has reopened 50 of its hotel properties as of December 31, 2020, and subsequent to the end of the year has reopened 2 hotel properties. The Company continues to evaluate reopening the remaining 5 suspended hotel properties based on market conditions. The remaining suspended hotel properties are generally located within the central business districts of New York City and San Francisco, or are part of a cluster where the Company owns multiple hotels in the same immediate area. In the markets where stay-in-place restrictions are reinstated, the Company would consider temporarily re-suspending hotel operations where demand is inadequate.
•Cost Containment Initiatives: The Company continues to operate with reduced operating expenses by implementing stringent operational cost containment measures. These measures include significantly reduced staffing, reduced energy costs, elimination of non-essential amenities and services and the closure of several floors and most food and beverage outlets at properties that remain open.
•Capital Investment Reduction: The Company reduced its 2020 capital expenditure program by deferring all capital investments, other than completing projects that were substantially underway and nearing completion.
•Return on Investment ("ROI") Project Suspensions: The Company suspended most of the 2020 ROI projects.
In addition, the Company has taken aggressive actions to increase liquidity and preserve cash at the corporate level including:
F-11
•Common Stock Dividend: The Company’s board of trustees authorized the first, second, third and fourth quarter common cash dividends of $0.01
•Share Repurchase: The Company suspended all repurchases of its common shares and Series A Preferred Shares (defined below), as applicable.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, the Operating Partnership and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and joint ventures in which the Company has a majority voting interest and control. For the controlled subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned, the third-party ownership interest represents a noncontrolling interest, which is presented separately in the consolidated financial statements. The Company also records the real estate interests in two joint ventures in which it holds an indirect 50 % interest using the equity method of accounting. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and the amounts of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts in these financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation with no impact to net income and comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity or cash flows.
Revenue
Substantially all of the Company's revenues are derived from the operation of hotel properties. The Company generates room revenue by renting hotel rooms to customers at its hotel properties. The Company generates food and beverage revenue from the sale of food and beverage to customers at its hotel properties. The Company generates other revenue from parking fees, resort fees, gift shop sales and other guest service fees at its hotel properties.
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. A contract's transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company's contracts generally have a single performance obligation, such as renting a hotel room to a customer, or providing food and beverage to a customer, or providing a hotel property-related good or service to a customer. The Company's performance obligations are generally satisfied at a point in time.
The Company allocates revenue to the performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. The Company determines the standalone selling price based on the price it charges each customer for the use or consumption of the promised good or service.
The Company's revenue is recognized when control of the promised good or service is transferred to the customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for the promised good or service. The revenue is recorded net of any sales and occupancy taxes collected from the customer. All rebates or discounts are recorded as a reduction to revenue, and there are no material contingent obligations with respect to rebates and discounts offered by the hotel properties.
F-12
The timing of revenue recognition, billings, and cash collections results in the Company recognizing hotel and other receivables and advance deposits and deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheet. Hotel and other receivables are recognized on the consolidated balance sheets when the Company has provided a good or service to the customer and is waiting for the customer to submit consideration to the Company. Advance deposits and deferred revenue are recognized on the consolidated balance sheets when cash payments are received in advance of the Company satisfying its performance obligation. Advance deposits and deferred revenue consist of amounts that are refundable and non-refundable to the customer. The advance deposits and deferred revenue are recognized as revenue in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income when the Company satisfies its performance obligation to the customer.
For the majority of its goods or services and customers, the Company requires payment at the time the respective good or service is provided to the customer. The Company's payment terms vary by the type of customer and the goods or services offered to the customer. The Company applied a practical expedient to not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts that have an original expected length of one year or less. Any contracts that have an original expected length of greater than one year are insignificant.
Investment in Hotel Properties
The Company’s acquisitions generally consist of land, land improvements, buildings, building improvements, furniture, fixtures and equipment ("FF&E"), and inventory. The Company may also acquire intangible assets or liabilities related to in-place leases, management agreements, franchise agreements, and advanced bookings. The Company allocates the purchase price among the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values at the date of acquisition. The Company estimates the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed by using a combination of the market, cost and income approaches. The Company determines the fair value by using market data and independent appraisals available to us and making numerous estimates and assumptions, such as estimates of future income growth, capitalization rates, discount rates, capital expenditures and cash flow projections at the respective hotel properties. Transaction costs are expensed for acquisitions that are considered business combinations and capitalized for asset acquisitions.
The Company’s investments in hotel properties are carried at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of 15 years for land improvements, 15 years for building improvements, 40 years for buildings, and to years for FF&E. Maintenance and repairs are expensed and major renewals or improvements to the hotel properties are capitalized. Indirect project costs, including interest, salaries and benefits, travel and other related costs that are directly attributable to the development, are also capitalized. Upon the sale or disposition of a hotel property, the asset and related accumulated depreciation accounts are removed and the related gain or loss is included in the gain or loss on sale of hotel properties in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. A sale or disposition of a hotel property that represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial results is presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
In accordance with the guidance on impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, the Company does not consider the "held for sale" classification on the consolidated balance sheet until it is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year and the other requisite criteria for such classification have been met. The Company does not depreciate assets so long as they are classified as held for sale. Upon designation as held for sale and quarterly thereafter, the Company reviews the realizability of the carrying value, less costs to sell, in accordance with the guidance. Any such adjustment to the carrying value is recorded as an impairment loss.
The Company assesses the carrying value of its investments in hotel properties whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The recoverability is measured by comparing the carrying amount to the projected undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated from the operations and the eventual disposition of the hotel properties over the estimated hold period, which take into account current market conditions and the Company’s intent with respect to holding or disposing of the hotel properties. If the Company’s analysis indicates that the carrying value is not recoverable on a projected undiscounted cash flow basis, the Company will recognize an impairment loss for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. The fair value is determined through various valuation techniques, including internally developed discounted cash flow models, comparable market transactions, third-party appraisals, the net sales proceeds from pending offers, or the net sales proceeds from transactions that closed subsequent to the end of the reporting period. The use of projected future cash flows is based on assumptions that are consistent with a market participant’s
F-13
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
If the Company determines that it does not have a controlling financial interest in a joint venture, either through a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity or through the Company's voting interest in a voting interest entity, but the Company exercises significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the joint venture, the Company accounts for the joint venture using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company's investment is adjusted each reporting period to recognize the Company's share of the net earnings or losses of the joint venture, plus any contributions to the joint venture, less any distributions received from the joint venture and any adjustment for impairment. In addition, the Company's share of the net earnings or losses of the joint venture is adjusted for the straight-line depreciation of the difference between the Company's basis in the investment in the unconsolidated joint venture as compared to the historical basis of the underlying net assets in the joint venture at the date of acquisition.
The Company assesses the carrying value of its investment in unconsolidated joint ventures whenever events or changes in circumstances may indicate that the carrying value of the investment exceeds its fair value on an other-than-temporary basis. When an impairment indicator is present, the Company will estimate the fair value of the investment, which will be determined by using internally developed discounted cash flow models, comparable market transactions, third-party appraisals, the net sales proceeds from pending offers, or the net sales proceeds from transactions that closed subsequent to the end of the reporting period. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, and management determines that the decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary, the Company will recognize an impairment loss on its investment in the joint venture.
Intangible Assets
In a business combination, the Company may acquire intangible assets related to in-place leases, management agreements, franchise agreements, advanced bookings, and other intangible assets. The Company recognizes each of the intangible assets at fair value. The Company estimated the fair value of the intangible assets by using market data and independent appraisals, and by making numerous estimates and assumptions. The below market lease intangible assets are amortized over the remaining terms of the respective leases as adjustments to rental expense in property tax, insurance and other in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The advanced bookings intangible assets are amortized over the duration of the hotel room and guest event reservations period at the respective hotel property to depreciation and amortization in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The other intangible assets are amortized over the remaining non-cancelable term of the related agreement, or the useful life of the respective intangible asset, to depreciation and amortization in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
F-14
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include all cash and highly liquid investments that mature three months or less when they are purchased. The Company maintains its cash at domestic banks, which, at times, may exceed the limits of the amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Restricted Cash Reserves
Restricted cash reserves consist of all cash that is required to be maintained in a reserve escrow account by a management agreement, franchise agreement, and/or a mortgage loan agreement for the replacement of FF&E and the funding of real estate taxes and insurance.
Hotel Receivables
Hotel receivables consist mainly of receivables due from hotel guests and meeting and banquet room rentals. The Company typically does not require collateral as ongoing credit evaluations are performed. An allowance for doubtful accounts is established against any receivable that is estimated to be uncollectible.
Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs are the costs incurred to obtain long-term financing. The deferred financing costs are recorded at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, over the respective term of the financing agreement and are included as a component of interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The Company expenses unamortized deferred financing costs when the associated financing agreement is refinanced or repaid before the maturity date, unless certain criteria are met that would allow for the carryover of such costs to the refinanced agreement. The Company presents the deferred financing costs for its Term Loans (as defined in Note 7) and mortgage loans on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the respective debt liability, which is included in debt, net, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company presents the deferred financing costs for its unsecured revolving credit facility (the "Revolver") on the balance sheet as an asset, which is included in prepaid expense and other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Transaction Costs
The Company incurs costs during the review of potential hotel property acquisitions and dispositions, including legal fees and other professional service fees. In addition, if the Company completes a hotel property acquisition, the Company may incur transfer taxes and integration costs, including professional fees and employee-related costs. If the Company completes a hotel property acquisition that is considered to be an asset acquisition, the transaction costs are capitalized on the consolidated balance sheets. If the Company completes a hotel property acquisition that is considered to be a business combination, the transaction costs are expensed as incurred in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
Derivative Financial Instruments
In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to the effects of interest rate changes. The Company utilizes a variety of borrowing vehicles, including the Revolver and medium and long-term financings. The Company reduces its risk to interest rate changes by following its established risk management policies and procedures, including the use of derivative financial instruments to manage, or hedge, interest rate risk. To mitigate the Company's exposure to interest rate changes, the Company uses interest rate derivative instruments, typically interest rate swaps, to convert a portion of its variable rate debt to fixed rate debt. The Company attempts to require the hedging derivative instruments to be effective in reducing the interest rate risk exposure that they are designated to hedge. This effectiveness is essential in order to qualify for hedge accounting. Derivative instruments that meet the hedging criteria are formally designated as cash flow hedges at the inception of the derivative contract. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
Interest rate swap agreements contain a credit risk that the counterparties may be unable to fulfill the terms of the agreement. The Company has minimized the credit risk by evaluating the creditworthiness of its counterparties, who are limited to major banks and financial institutions, and it does not anticipate nonperformance by these counterparties.
F-15
The estimated fair values of the derivatives are determined by using available market information and appropriate valuation methods. Considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange.
The Company recognizes all derivatives as assets or liabilities on its consolidated balance sheet at fair value. The gains and losses on the derivatives that have been determined to be effective cash flow hedges are reported in other comprehensive income (loss) and are reclassified to interest expense in the period in which the interest expense is recognized on the underlying hedged item. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized in earnings immediately.
When the terms of an underlying transaction are modified, or when the underlying hedged item ceases to exist, and the interest rate derivative no longer qualifies for hedge accounting, all changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument are marked-to-market with the changes in fair value recognized in earnings each period until the derivative instrument matures.
Leases
On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) using the modified retrospective transition approach. This ASU provides the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e. lessees and lessors). The comparative historical periods will be presented in accordance with ASC 840, Leases.
As a lessee in a lease contract, the Company recognizes a lease right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company is a lessee in a variety of lease contracts, such as ground leases, parking leases, office leases and equipment leases. The Company classifies its leases as either an operating lease or a finance lease based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase of the leased asset. For operating leases, the Company recognizes lease expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. For finance leases, the Company recognizes lease expense on the effective interest method, which results in the interest component of each lease payment being recognized as interest expense and the lease right-of-use asset being amortized into amortization expense using the straight-line method over the term of the lease. For leases with an initial term of 12 months or less, the Company will not recognize a lease right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the consolidated balance sheet and lease expense will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
At the lease commencement date, the Company determines the lease term by incorporating the fixed, non-cancelable lease term plus any lease extension option terms that are reasonably certain of being exercised. The ability to extend the lease term is at the Company's sole discretion. The Company calculates the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term in order to determine the lease liability and the related lease right-of-use asset that is recognized on the consolidated balance sheet.
Certain lease contracts may include an option to purchase the leased property, which is at the Company's sole discretion. The Company's lease contracts do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
The Company's leases include a base lease payment, which is recognized as lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In addition, certain of the Company's leases may include an additional lease payment that is based on either (i) a percentage of the respective hotel property's financial results, or (ii) the frequency to which the leased asset is used; all of which are recognized as variable lease expense, when incurred, in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The variable lease expense incurred by the Company was not based on an index or rate.
F-16
Noncontrolling Interests
The consolidated financial statements include all subsidiaries controlled by the Company. For the controlled subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned, the third-party ownership interest represents a noncontrolling interest, which is presented separately in the consolidated financial statements.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company consolidated the Operating Partnership, which has a 0.5 % third-party ownership interest. The third-party ownership interest is included in the noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheets. The portion of the income and losses associated with the third-party ownership interest are included in the noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company consolidated the joint venture that owns the DoubleTree Metropolitan Hotel New York City hotel property; this joint venture has a 1.7 % third-party ownership interest in the joint venture. The Company also consolidated the joint venture that owns The Knickerbocker hotel property; this joint venture has a 5 % third-party ownership interest in the joint venture. In addition, the Company consolidated the operating lessee of the Embassy Suites Secaucus - Meadowlands hotel property through its 51% controlling financial interest in the operating lessee of the joint venture; this joint venture has a 49 % third-party ownership interest in the joint venture. The third-party ownership interest is included in the noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheets. The income and losses associated with the third-party ownership interest are included in the noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
Income Taxes
The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that it distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, subject to certain adjustments and excluding any net capital gain, to shareholders. The Company's intention is to adhere to the REIT qualification requirements and to maintain its qualification for taxation as a REIT.
As a REIT, the Company is generally not subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on the portion of taxable income that is distributed to shareholders. If the Company fails to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, the Company will be subject to U.S. federal income taxes at regular corporate rates (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) and it may not be able to qualify as a REIT for four subsequent taxable years. As a REIT, the Company may be subject to certain state and local taxes on its income and property, and to U.S. federal income and excise taxes on undistributed taxable income. Taxable income from non-REIT activities managed through the Company's TRSs is subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes at the applicable rates.
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases, and for net operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards. The deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted income tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled. The effect on the deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the new rate is enacted. However, deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is more likely than not that they will be realized based on consideration of all available evidence, including the future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future projected taxable income and tax planning strategies. Valuation allowances are provided if, based upon the weight of the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
Earnings Per Common Share
Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period excluding the weighted-average number of unvested
F-17
Share-based Compensation
The Company may issue share-based awards as compensation to officers, employees, non-employee trustees and other eligible persons under the RLJ Lodging Trust 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2015 Plan"). The vesting of the awards issued to the officers and employees is based on either the continued employment (time-based) or the relative total shareholder returns of the Company and continued employment (performance-based), as determined by the board of trustees at the date of grant. For time-based awards, the Company recognizes compensation expense for the unvested restricted shares on a straight-line basis over the vesting period based upon the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant, adjusted for forfeitures. For performance-based awards, the Company recognizes compensation expense over the requisite service period for each award, based on the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant, as determined using a Monte Carlo simulation, adjusted for forfeitures.
Non-employee trustees may elect to receive unrestricted shares under the 2015 Plan as compensation that would otherwise be paid in cash for their services. The shares issued to the non-employee trustees in lieu of cash compensation are unrestricted and include no vesting conditions. The Company recognizes compensation expense for the unrestricted shares issued in lieu of cash compensation based upon the fair market value of the shares on the date of issuance.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which modifies the measurement approach for credit losses on financial assets measured on an amortized cost basis from an "incurred loss" method to an "expected loss" method. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-11, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. The Company adopted this new standard on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The guidance modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing or modifying some of the disclosures, while also adding new disclosures. The Company adopted this new standard on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The guidance provides optional expedients for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or another reference rate expected to be discontinued at the end of 2021 because of reference rate reform. The guidance is effective immediately and expires on December 31, 2022. Based on the Company's assessment, the adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
3. Investment in Hotel Properties
Investment in hotel properties consisted of the following (in thousands):
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||
| Land and improvements | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Buildings and improvements | |||||||||||
| Furniture, fixtures and equipment | |||||||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Investment in hotel properties, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
F-18
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized depreciation expense related to its investment in hotel properties of approximately $193.3 million, $209.6 million and $233.8 million, respectively.
Impairment
4. Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company owned 50 % interests in joint ventures that owned two hotel properties. During the year ended December 31, 2020, one of the unconsolidated joint ventures did not exercise its right to extend the term of the ground lease. Accordingly the ground lease will terminate on October 31, 2021 and the property will revert to the ground lessor at that time. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $6.5 million to write down the Company's investment in this joint venture, which is included in equity in (loss) income of unconsolidated entities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company sold two hotels located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In addition, the joint ventures that were associated with these two hotels sold their assets. The Company had owned 50 % interests in these joint ventures. The Company recorded a loss of $2.1 million as a result of the joint ventures' sale of their assets, which is included in equity in (loss) income of unconsolidated entities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Refer to Note 5, Sale of Hotel Properties, for more information regarding the sale of the hotels.
The Company accounts for the investments in these unconsolidated joint ventures under the equity method of accounting. The Company makes adjustments to the equity in (loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures related to the difference between the Company's basis in the investment in the unconsolidated joint ventures as compared to the historical basis of the assets and liabilities of the joint ventures. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the unconsolidated joint ventures' debt consisted entirely of non-recourse mortgage debt.
The following table summarizes the components of the Company's investments in unconsolidated joint ventures (in thousands):
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||
| Equity basis of the joint venture investments | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
| Cost of the joint venture investments in excess of the joint venture book value | |||||||||||
| Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures | $ | $ | |||||||||
The following table summarizes the components of the Company's equity in income from unconsolidated joint ventures (in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating (loss) income | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation of cost in excess of book value | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Impairment loss | ( | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Loss on sale | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Equity in (loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||
F-19
5. Sale of Hotel Properties
In connection with the sale of hotel properties for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, the Company recorded a gain of $2.7 million, a loss of $9.3 million, and a gain of $30.9 million, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold one hotel property for a sales price of approximately $4.9 million.
The following table discloses the hotel property that was sold during the year ended December 31, 2020:
| Hotel Property Name | Location | Sale Date | Rooms | |||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Houston Sugarland | Stafford, TX | December 1, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company sold 47 hotel properties in five separate transactions for a total sales price of approximately $721.0 million.
The following table discloses the hotel properties that were sold during the year ended December 31, 2019:
| Hotel Property Name | Location | Sale Date | Rooms | |||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Boulder Longmont | Longmont, CO | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Salt Lake City Airport | Salt Lake City, UT | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Fort Lauderdale SW Miramar | Miramar, FL | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Austin Airport | Austin, TX | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites San Antonio Downtown Market | San Antonio, TX | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hampton Inn & Suites Clearwater St. Petersburg | Clearwater, FL | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hampton Inn Fort Walton Beach | Fort Walton, FL | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hampton Inn & Suites Denver Tech Center | Denver, CO | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hampton Inn West Palm Beach Airport Central | West Palm Beach, FL | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn Bloomington | Bloomington, IN | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn West Palm Beach Airport | West Palm Beach, FL | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn Durham Raleigh Research Triangle Park | Durham, NC | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Longmont Boulder | Longmont, CO | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Detroit Novi | Novi, MI | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Chicago Oak Brook | Oak Brook, IL | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Plantation | Plantation, FL | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Salt Lake City Airport | Salt Lake City, UT | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn San Antonio Downtown Market Square | San Antonio, TX | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale SW Miramar | Miramar, FL | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Silver Spring | Silver Spring, MD | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SpringHill Suites Boulder Longmont | Longmont, CO | June 25, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort | Myrtle Beach, SC | June 27, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort | Myrtle Beach, SC | June 27, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Austin Northwest Arboretum | Austin, TX | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Denver West Golden | Golden, CO | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Boulder Louisville | Louisville, CO | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Louisville Northeast | Louisville, KY | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard South Bend Mishawaka | Mishawaka, IN | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hampton Inn Houston Galleria | Houston, TX | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House Houston Galleria | Houston, TX | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
F-20
| Hyatt House Austin Arboretum | Austin, TX | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House Dallas Lincoln Park | Dallas, TX | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House Dallas Uptown | Dallas, TX | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Austin Northwest Arboretum | Austin, TX | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Austin North Parmer Lane | Austin, TX | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Denver West Golden | Golden, CO | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Boulder Louisville | Louisville, CO | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Louisville Northeast | Louisville, KY | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SpringHill Suites Austin North Parmer Lane | Austin, TX | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SpringHill Suites Louisville Hurstbourne North | Louisville, KY | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SpringHill Suites South Bend Mishawaka | Mishawaka, IN | August 14, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Columbia | Columbia, MD | September 12, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Austin South | Austin, TX | November 22, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Austin South Airport | Austin, TX | November 22, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Marriott Austin South | Austin, TX | November 22, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Austin South | Austin, TX | November 22, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SpringHill Suites Austin South | Austin, TX | November 22, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company sold seven hotel properties and a parcel of land for a total sales price of approximately $530.9 million.
The following table discloses the hotel properties that were sold during the year ended December 31, 2018:
| Hotel Property Name | Location | Sale Date | Rooms | |||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Boston Marlborough | Marlborough, MA | February 21, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill Hotel | Philadelphia, PA | March 27, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Napa Valley | Napa, CA | July 13, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||
| DoubleTree Hotel Columbia | Columbia, MD | August 7, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||
| The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club | St. Petersburg, FL | August 28, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||
| DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont | Burlington, VT | September 27, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Holiday Inn San Francisco - Fisherman's Wharf | San Francisco, CA | October 15, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
F-21
6. Revenue
The Company recognized revenue from the following geographic markets (in thousands):
| For the year ended December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Room Revenue | Food and Beverage Revenue | Other Revenue | Total Revenue | ||||||||||||||||||||
| South Florida | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Southern California | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern California | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| New York City | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington, DC | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Denver | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charleston | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| For the year ended December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Room Revenue | Food and Beverage Revenue | Other Revenue | Total Revenue | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern California | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Southern California | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| New York City | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Florida | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Austin | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Denver | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington, DC | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisville | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
F-22
| For the year ended December 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Room Revenue | Food and Beverage Revenue | Other Revenue | Total Revenue | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern California | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| South Florida | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern California | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| New York City | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Austin | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Denver | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington, DC | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tampa | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
7. Debt
The Company's debt consisted of the following (in thousands):
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||
| Senior Notes | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Revolver | |||||||||||
| Term Loans, net | |||||||||||
| Mortgage loans, net | |||||||||||
| Debt, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
Senior Notes
The Company's senior unsecured notes are referred to as the "Senior Notes". The Company's Senior Notes consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Outstanding Borrowings at | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate | Maturity Date | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior unsecured notes (1) (2) (3) | June 2025 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Requires payments of interest only through maturity.
(2)The senior unsecured notes include $20.9 million and $25.6 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to acquisition related fair value adjustments on the Senior Notes.
If an event of default under the indenture governing the Senior Notes exists, the Company is not permitted to (i) incur additional indebtedness, except to refinance maturing debt with replacement debt, as defined under our indentures; (ii) pay dividends in excess of the minimum distributions required to qualify as a REIT; (iii) repurchase capital stock; or (iv) merge. The Senior Notes are subject to a maximum unsecured leverage maintenance covenant, which is based on asset value that is calculated at historical cost.
In addition, the Senior Notes are subject to various incurrence covenants that limit the ability of the Company's subsidiary, FelCor Lodging Limited Partnership ("Felcor LP"), to incur additional debt if these covenants are violated. Failure to meet these incurrence covenants thresholds does not, in and of itself, constitute an event of default under the Senior Notes indenture. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all covenants except the interest coverage ratio, which, as a result, currently prohibits FelCor LP from incurring additional debt.
F-23
As of December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants.
Revolver and Term Loans
The Company has the following unsecured credit agreements in place:
•$600.0 million revolving credit facility with a scheduled maturity date of May 18, 2024 and a one year extension option if certain conditions are satisfied (the "Revolver");
•$150.0 million term loan with a scheduled maturity date of January 22, 2022 (the "$150 Million Term Loan Maturing 2022");
•$400.0 million term loan with a scheduled maturity date of January 25, 2023 (the "$400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2023");
•$225.0 million term loan with a scheduled maturity date of January 25, 2023 (the "$225 Million Term Loan Maturing 2023"); and
•$400.0 million term loan with a scheduled maturity date of May 18, 2025 (the "$400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2025").
The $150 Million Term Loan Maturing 2022, the $400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2023, the $225 Million Term Loan Maturing 2023, and the $400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2025 are collectively the "Term Loans". The credit agreements contain certain financial covenants relating to the Company’s maximum leverage ratio, minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, maximum secured indebtedness, maximum unencumbered leverage ratio and minimum unsecured interest coverage ratio. If an event of default exists, the Company is not permitted to make distributions to shareholders, other than those required to qualify for and maintain REIT status. As of December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was not required to comply with certain financial covenants, as described below.
The borrowings under the Revolver and Term Loans bear interest at variable rates equal to the London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus an applicable margin. The margin ranges from 1.35 % to 2.50 %, depending on the Company’s leverage ratio, as calculated under the terms of each facility. The Company incurs an unused facility fee on the Revolver of between 0.20 % and 0.25 %, based on the amount by which the maximum borrowing amount exceeds the total principal balance of the outstanding borrowings.
| Outstanding Borrowings at | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate at December 31, 2020 (1) | Maturity Date | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revolver (2) | May 2024 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| $150 Million Term Loan Maturing 2022 | January 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2023 | January 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $225 Million Term Loan Maturing 2023 | January 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2025 | May 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs, net (3) | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Revolver and Term Loans, net | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Interest rate at December 31, 2020 gives effect to interest rate hedges.
(2)At December 31, 2020 and 2019, there was $200.0 million and $600.0 million of remaining capacity on the Revolver, respectively. The Company has the ability to further increase the total capacity on the Revolver to $750.0 million, subject to certain lender requirements. The Company also has the ability to extend the maturity date for an additional one year period ending May 2025 if certain conditions are satisfied.
(3)Excludes $4.1 million and $3.4 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to deferred financing costs on the Revolver, which are included in prepaid expense and other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
F-24
The Revolver and Term Loans are subject to various financial covenants. A summary of the most restrictive covenants is as follows:
| Covenant | Compliance | |||||||||||||
| Leverage ratio (1) | ≤ 7.00x | N/A (3) | ||||||||||||
| Fixed charge coverage ratio (2) | ≥ 1.50x | N/A (3) | ||||||||||||
| Secured indebtedness ratio | ≤ 45.0% | N/A (3) | ||||||||||||
| Unencumbered indebtedness ratio | ≤ 60.0% | N/A (3) | ||||||||||||
| Unencumbered debt service coverage ratio | ≥ 2.00x | N/A (3) | ||||||||||||
| Maintain minimum liquidity level | ≥ $125.0 million | Yes | ||||||||||||
(1)Leverage ratio is net indebtedness, as defined in the Revolver and Term Loan agreements, to corporate earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA"), as defined in the Revolver and Term Loan agreements.
(2)Fixed charge coverage ratio is Adjusted EBITDA, generally defined in the Revolver and Term Loan agreements as EBITDA less furniture, fixtures and equipment ("FF&E") reserves, to fixed charges, which is generally defined in the Revolver and Term Loan agreements as interest expense, all regularly scheduled principal payments, preferred dividends paid, and cash taxes paid.
(3)The Company is not currently required to comply with these covenants, as described below.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company entered into two amendments to its Revolver and Term Loans. The amendments suspend the testing of all existing financial maintenance covenants under the Revolver and the Term Loan agreements for all periods through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021 (the “Covenant Relief Period”). In addition, for periods following the Covenant Relief Period, the amendments modify the covenant thresholds for the leverage ratio and unencumbered debt service coverage ratio as follows:
•Increasing the maximum leverage ratio to 8.50 x for the first two quarters following the Covenant Relief Period, 8.00 x for the third and fourth quarters following the Covenant Relief Period, 7.50 x for the fifth quarter following the Covenant Relief Period (such period, the "Leverage Relief Period"), and returning to 7.00 x for the quarter ending June 30, 2023.
•Reducing the minimum unencumbered debt service coverage ratio to 1.65 x for the first three quarters following the Covenant Relief Period.
•The Company is required to maintain a minimum liquidity level of $125.0 million.
Pursuant to the amendments and through the date that the financial statements are delivered for the quarter ending March 31, 2022 (the "Restriction Period"), the Company is subject to the following restrictions:
•The net cash proceeds from asset sales, equity issuances and incurrences of indebtedness will, subject to various exceptions, be required to be applied as a mandatory prepayment of certain amounts outstanding under the Revolver and the Term Loans.
•Additional negative covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, make prepayments of other indebtedness, make dividends and distributions (with certain exceptions, including for the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.01 per common share, the payment of a quarterly cash dividend on the Company’s Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares and other payments for purposes of maintaining REIT status) and stock repurchases. In addition, there are limitations on capital expenditures exceeding $175.0 million, and investments, including acquisitions or mergers, exceeding $200.0 million. All of these limitations are subject to various exceptions.
•Requirement to pledge the equity interests in certain subsidiaries that own unencumbered properties to secure the Revolver and Term Loans. The equity pledge requirement is also required to be satisfied following the Restriction Period until such time as the leverage ratio is no greater than 6.50x for two consecutive fiscal quarters (the "Covenant Relief Pledged Collateral Period").
•Extension of (1) the mandatory prepayment requirement applicable to dispositions of unencumbered properties through the end of the Covenant Relief Pledged Collateral Period and (2) the requirement to maintain a minimum liquidity level of $125.0 million through the end of the Leverage Relief Period.
F-25
The amendments further provide that, until the earlier of (1) April 1, 2023 or the day after the end of the fifth quarter immediately following the end of the Covenant Relief Period and (2) such time as the leverage ratio is less than or equal to 7.00x, borrowings under the Revolver and the Term Loan agreements will bear interest, at the Company's election, at a per annum rate of (i) in the case of the Revolver, (a) LIBOR plus a margin of 250 basis points or (b) a Base Rate, as defined in the credit agreement, plus a margin of 150 basis points, and (ii) in the case of each of the Term Loans, (a) LIBOR plus a margin of 240 basis points or (b) a Base Rate, as defined in the credit agreement, plus a margin of 140 basis points. The amendments also add a floor of 0.25 % to the LIBOR interest rate determination, subject to certain exceptions, under both the Revolver and the Term Loan agreements.
At the Company's election, the Restriction Period and the Covenant Relief Period may be terminated early if the Company is at such time able to comply with the applicable financial covenants. If the Company assesses that it is unlikely to meet the financial covenant thresholds for periods following the Covenant Relief Period, then the Company will seek an extension of the Covenant Relief Period.
Mortgage Loans
The Company's mortgage loans consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Principal balance at | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Assets Encumbered | Interest Rate at December 31, 2020 | Maturity Date | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loan (1) | April 2022 | (5) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loan (2) | June 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loan (3) | October 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loan (4) | October 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loan (1) | April 2024 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loan (1) | April 2024 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs, net | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total mortgage loans, net | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)The hotels encumbered by the mortgage loan are cross-collateralized. Requires payments of interest only through maturity.
(2)Includes $0.3 million and $0.5 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to a fair value adjustment on a mortgage loan.
(3)Includes $0.9 million and $1.4 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to fair value adjustments on the mortgage loans.
(4)Includes $0.3 million and $0.4 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to a fair value adjustment on the mortgage loan.
Certain mortgage agreements are subject to various maintenance covenants requiring the Company to maintain a minimum debt yield or debt service coverage ratio ("DSCR"). Failure to meet the debt yield or DSCR thresholds is not an event of default, but instead triggers a cash trap event. During the cash trap event, the lender or servicer of the mortgage loan controls cash outflows until the loan is covenant compliant. In addition, certain mortgage loans have other requirements including continued operation and maintenance of the hotel property. At December 31, 2020, five mortgage loans failed to meet the DSCR threshold and were in a cash trap event. The Company was in compliance with all other maintenance covenants associated with the other mortgage loan at December 31, 2020 and 2019.
F-26
Interest Expense
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Senior Notes | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Revolver and Term Loans | |||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loans | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | |||||||||||||||||
| Undesignated interest rate swaps | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Total interest expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Future Minimum Principal Payments
As of December 31, 2020, the future minimum principal payments were as follows (in thousands):
| 2021 | $ | ||||
| 2022 | |||||
| 2023 | |||||
| 2024 | |||||
| 2025 | |||||
| Total (1) | $ | ||||
F-27
8. Derivatives and Hedging
The Company's interest rate swaps consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Notional value at | Fair value at | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hedge type | Interest rate | Maturity | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | April 2021 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | April 2021 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | April 2021 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | April 2021 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | June 2021 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | June 2021 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | June 2021 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | December 2022 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | December 2022 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | December 2022 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | December 2022 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | November 2023 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (1) | December 2023 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (1) | December 2023 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | September 2021 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | September 2022 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (2) | September 2025 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (3) | April 2024 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (3) | April 2024 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (3) | April 2024 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (3) | April 2024 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (3) | April 2024 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (3) | April 2024 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (3) | April 2024 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (3) | April 2024 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | December 2024 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow | December 2024 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swap-cash flow (4) | January 2026 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Effective in January 2021.
(2)Effective in September 2021.
(3)Effective in April 2021.
(4)Effective in July 2021.
F-28
The following interest rate swaps have not been designated as hedging instruments (in thousands):
| Notional value at | Fair value at | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative type | Interest rate | Maturity | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap (1) | September 2020 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap (1) | September 2020 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap (1) | September 2020 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap (1) | October 2020 | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the aggregate fair value of the interest rate swap liabilities of $69.1 million and $24.2 million, respectively, was included in accounts payable and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2019, the aggregate fair value of the interest rate swap assets of $4.3 million was included in prepaid expense and other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, there was approximately $69.1 million and $19.5 million, respectively, of unrealized losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to interest rate hedges that are effective in offsetting the variable cash flows. There was no ineffectiveness recorded on the designated hedges during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2020, approximately $19.7 million of the amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss were reclassified into interest expense. For the year ended December 31, 2019, approximately $5.4 million of the amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income were reclassified into interest expense. Approximately $27.7 million of the unrealized losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2020 is expected to be reclassified into interest expense within the next 12 months.
9. Fair Value
Fair Value Measurement
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in the principal or most advantageous market. The fair value hierarchy has three levels of inputs, both observable and unobservable:
•Level 1 — Inputs include quoted market prices in an active market for identical assets or liabilities.
•Level 2 — Inputs are market data, other than Level 1, that are observable either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted market prices in an inactive market, and other observable information that can be corroborated by market data.
•Level 3 — Inputs are unobservable and corroborated by little or no market data.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company used the following market assumptions and/or estimation methods:
•Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash reserves, hotel and other receivables, accounts payable and other liabilities — The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments approximate fair value because of their short term maturities.
•Debt — The Company estimated the fair value of the Senior Notes by using publicly available trading prices for the Senior Notes, which are Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The Company estimated the fair value of the Revolver and Term Loans by using a discounted cash flow model and incorporating various inputs and assumptions for the effective borrowing rates for debt with similar terms, which are Level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. The Company estimated the fair value of the mortgage loans using a discounted cash flow model and incorporating various inputs
F-29
and assumptions for the effective borrowing rates for debt with similar terms and the loan to estimated fair value of the collateral, which are Level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy.
The fair value of the Company's debt was as follows (in thousands):
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior Notes | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Revolver and Term Loans, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loans, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt, net | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Recurring Fair Value Measurements
The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2020 (in thousands):
| Fair Value at December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap liability | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands):
| Fair Value at December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap asset | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap liability | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
The fair values of the derivative financial instruments are determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows for each derivative. The Company determined that the significant inputs, such as interest yield curves and discount rates, used to value its derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and that the credit valuation adjustments associated with the Company’s counterparties and its own credit risk utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties. As of December 31, 2020, the Company assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and determined that the credit valuation adjustments were not significant to the overall valuation of its derivatives. As a result, the Company determined that its derivative valuations in their entirety are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Non-recurring Fair Value Measurements
The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands):
| Fair Value at December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Impaired hotel properties | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
F-30
10. Commitments and Contingencies
Operating Leases
As of December 31, 2020, 12 of Company's hotel properties were subject to ground lease agreements that cover the land underlying the respective hotels. The ground leases are classified as operating leases. The total ground lease expense was $12.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, which consisted of $11.6 million of fixed lease expense and $0.8 million of variable lease expense. The total ground lease expense was $15.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, which consisted of $11.6 million of fixed lease expense and $4.1 million of variable lease expense. The total ground lease expense was $22.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The total ground lease expense is included in property tax, insurance and other in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
The Company's ground leases consisted of the following (in millions):
| Ground Lease Expense | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For the year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hotel Property Name | Initial Term Expiration | Extension Term(s) Expiration | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill | 2028 | — | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham San Diego Bayside | 2029 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista | 2032 | 2057 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Palo Alto Los Altos | 2033 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center | 2038 | 2083 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marriott Louisville Downtown | 2053 | 2153 (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport Waterfront | 2059 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham New Orleans French Quarter | 2065 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Charleston Historic District | 2096 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Austin Downtown Convention Center and Residence Inn Downtown Convention Center | 2100 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Waikiki Beach | 2112 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Excludes $6.6 million of ground lease expense related to hotel properties sold during the year ended December 31, 2018.
The future lease payments for the Company's operating leases are as follows (in thousands):
| December 31, 2020 | |||||
| 2021 | $ | ||||
| 2022 | |||||
| 2023 | |||||
| 2024 | |||||
| 2025 | |||||
| Thereafter | |||||
| Total future lease payments | |||||
| Imputed interest | ( | ||||
| Lease liabilities | $ | ||||
F-31
The following table presents certain information related to the Company's operating leases as of December 31, 2020:
| Weighted average remaining lease term | |||||
| Weighted average discount rate | % | ||||
Restricted Cash Reserves
The Company is obligated to maintain cash reserve funds for future capital expenditures at the hotels (including the periodic replacement or refurbishment of FF&E) as determined pursuant to the management agreements, franchise agreements and/or mortgage loan documents. The management agreements, franchise agreements and/or mortgage loan documents require the Company to reserve cash ranging typically from 3.0 % to 5.0 % of the individual hotel’s revenues. Any unexpended amounts will remain the property of the Company upon termination of the management agreements, franchise agreements or mortgage loan documents. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, approximately $35.0 million and $44.7 million, respectively, was available in the restricted cash reserves for future capital expenditures, real estate taxes and insurance. In addition, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations, the Company has worked with the hotel brands, third-party managers and lenders to allow the use of available restricted cash reserves to cover operating shortfalls at certain hotels.
Litigation
Other than the legal proceeding mentioned below, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is currently involved in any regulatory or legal proceedings that management believes will have a material and adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Prior to the Company's merger with FelCor Lodging Trust, Inc. ("FelCor"), an affiliate of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC ("IHG"), which was previously the management company for three of FelCor's hotels (two of which were sold in 2006, and one of which was converted by FelCor into a Wyndham brand and operation in 2013), notified FelCor that the National Retirement Fund ("NRF") in which the employees at those hotels had participated had assessed a withdrawal liability of $8.3 million, with required quarterly payments including interest, in connection with the termination of IHG’s operation of those hotels. During the year ended December, 31 2020, the Company settled the dispute with IHG and NRF.
Management Agreements
As of December 31, 2020, 102 of the Company's consolidated hotel properties were operated pursuant to long-term management agreements with initial terms ranging from to 25 years, with 13 different management companies as noted in the table below. This number includes 29 consolidated hotel properties that receive the benefits of a franchise agreement pursuant to management agreements with Hilton, Hyatt, or Marriott.
| Management Company | Number of Hotel Properties | |||||||
| Aimbridge Hospitality | ||||||||
| Crestline Hotels and Resorts | ||||||||
| Davidson Hotels and Resorts | ||||||||
| Hilton Management and affiliates | ||||||||
| HEI Hotels and Resorts | ||||||||
| Highgate Hotels | ||||||||
| Hyatt Corporation and affiliates | ||||||||
| InnVentures | ||||||||
| Marriott International, Inc. | ||||||||
| Sage Hospitality | ||||||||
| Urgo Hotels | ||||||||
| White Lodging Services | ||||||||
| Wyndham | ||||||||
F-32
Each management company receives a base management fee between 1.75 % and 3.5 % of hotel revenues. Management agreements that include the benefits of a franchise agreement incur a base management fee between 3.0 % and 7.0 % of hotel revenues. The management companies are also eligible to receive an incentive management fee if hotel operating income, as defined in the management agreements, exceeds certain thresholds. The incentive management fee is generally calculated as a percentage of hotel operating income after the Company has received a priority return on its investment in the hotel.
Management fees are included in management and franchise fee expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company incurred management fee expense of approximately $13.2 million, $45.5 million and $57.3 million, respectively.
Franchise Agreements
As of December 31, 2020, 72 of the Company's consolidated hotel properties were operated under franchise agreements with initial terms ranging from to 30 years. This number excludes 29 consolidated hotel properties that receive the benefits of a franchise agreement pursuant to management agreements with Hilton, Hyatt, or Marriott. In addition, The Knickerbocker is not operated with a hotel brand so the hotel does not have a franchise agreement. Franchise agreements allow the hotel properties to operate under the respective brands. Pursuant to the franchise agreements, the Company pays a royalty fee between 3.0 % and 6.0 % of room revenue, plus additional fees for marketing, central reservation systems and other franchisor costs between 1.0 % and 4.3 % of room revenue. Certain hotels are also charged a royalty fee of 3.0 % of food and beverage revenues.
Franchise fees are included in management and franchise fee expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company incurred franchise fee expense of approximately $25.6 million, $75.3 million and $80.8 million, respectively.
Wyndham Agreements
Prior to January 1, 2020, the Wyndham management agreements guaranteed minimum levels of annual net operating income at each of the Wyndham-managed hotels. In 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with Wyndham to terminate the net operating income guarantee effective December 31, 2019 and received termination payments totaling $36.0 million from Wyndham, of which $35.0 million was received in 2019 and $1.0 million was received in 2020. These amounts are included in advance deposits and deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. In addition, in conjunction with the termination of the net operating income guarantee, the Company entered into transitional franchise and management agreements effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company exercised its option to extend the agreements through December 31, 2021. The transitional franchise and management fees are 3 % and 2 %, respectively, of hotel revenues. Effective January 1, 2020, the Company began recognizing the termination payments over the estimated term of the transitional agreements as a reduction to management and franchise fee expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized approximately $17.8 million as a reduction to management and franchise fee expense related to the amortization of the termination payments.
Other
11. Equity
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
Under the declaration of trust for the Company, there are 450,000,000 Common Shares authorized for issuance.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company repurchased and retired 5,489,335 common shares for approximately $62.6 million, of which $26.0 million was repurchased under a share repurchase program that expired February 29, 2020 and $36.6 million was repurchased under a share repurchase program that was approved by the Company's board of trustees on February 14, 2020 to acquire up $250.0 million of Common Shares from March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021
F-33
("2020 Share Repurchase Program"). As of December 31, 2020, the 2020 Share Repurchase Program had a remaining capacity of $213.4 million. In April 2020, the Company suspended further repurchases of its common shares pursuant to the 2020 Share Repurchase Program due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the Company is not permitted to repurchase common shares as part of the Revolver and Term Loans amendments discussed in Note 7 above. The 2020 Share Repurchase Program expires pursuant to its terms on February 28, 2021.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company repurchased and retired 4,575,170 common shares for approximately $77.8 million, of which $10.3 million was repurchased under a share repurchase program that expired February 28, 2019, and $67.5 million was repurchased under a share repurchase program that expired February 29, 2020.
During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company repurchased and retired 1,162,557 Common Shares for approximately $21.8 million under a share repurchase program that expired February 28, 2019.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.04 per Common Share. During each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company declared a cash dividend of $1.32
Series A Preferred Share
Under the declaration of trust for the Company, there are 50,000,000 preferred shares authorized for issuance.
During each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company declared a cash dividend of $1.95
Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Joint Ventures
The Company consolidates the joint venture that owns the DoubleTree Metropolitan Hotel New York City hotel property, which has a third-party partner that owns a noncontrolling 1.7 % ownership interest in the joint venture. In addition, the Company consolidates the joint venture that owns The Knickerbocker hotel property, which has a third-party partner that owns a noncontrolling 5 % ownership interest in the joint venture. The third-party ownership interests are included in the noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures on the consolidated balance sheets.
Noncontrolling Interest in the Operating Partnership
The Company consolidates the Operating Partnership, which is a majority-owned limited partnership that has a noncontrolling interest. As of December 31, 2020, the Operating Partnership had 165,775,045 OP units outstanding, of which 99.5 % of the outstanding OP units were owned by the Company and its subsidiaries, and the noncontrolling 0.5 % ownership interest was owned by other limited partners.
As of December 31, 2020, the limited partners owned 772,293 OP units. The outstanding OP units held by the limited partners are redeemable for cash, or at the option of the Company, for a like number of Common Shares. The noncontrolling interest is included in the noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership on the consolidated balance sheets.
Consolidated Joint Venture Preferred Equity
The Company's joint venture that redeveloped The Knickerbocker raised $45.0 million ($44.4 million net of issuance costs) through the sale of redeemable preferred equity under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The purchasers received a 3.25 % annual return, plus a 0.25 % non-compounding annual return that was paid upon redemption. On February 15, 2019, the Company redeemed the preferred equity in full.
12. Equity Incentive Plan
Pursuant to the terms of the RLJ Lodging Trust 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2015 Plan"), the Company may issue share-based awards to officers, employees, non-employee trustees and other eligible persons under the 2015 Plan. The 2015 Plan provides for a maximum of 7,500,000 Common Shares to be issued in the form of share options, share appreciation rights, restricted share awards, unrestricted share awards, share units, dividend equivalent rights, long-term incentive units, other equity-based awards and cash bonus awards.
F-34
Share Awards
From time to time, the Company may award unvested restricted shares under the 2015 Plan as compensation to officers, employees and non-employee trustees. The issued shares vest over a period of time as determined by the board of trustees at the date of grant. The Company recognizes compensation expense for time-based unvested restricted shares on a straight-line basis over the vesting period based upon the fair market value of the shares on the date of issuance, adjusted for forfeitures.
Non-employee trustees may also elect to receive unrestricted shares under the 2015 Plan as compensation that would otherwise be paid in cash for their services. The shares issued to non-employee trustees in lieu of cash compensation are unrestricted and include no vesting conditions. The Company recognizes compensation expense for the unrestricted shares issued in lieu of cash compensation on the date of issuance based upon the fair market value of the shares on that date.
A summary of the unvested restricted shares is as follows:
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Shares | Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value | Number of Shares | Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value | Number of Shares | Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unvested at January 1, | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unvested at December 31, | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized approximately $8.7 million, $8.6 million and $10.2 million, respectively, of share-based compensation expense related to restricted share awards.
As of December 31, 2020, there was $13.7 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested restricted share awards and these costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.4 years. The total fair value of the shares vested (calculated as the number of shares multiplied by the vesting date share price) during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was approximately $5.2 million, $5.5 million and $9.5 million, respectively.
Performance Units
From time to time, the Company may award performance units under the 2015 Plan as compensation to officers and employees. The performance units vest over a four years period, including three years of performance-based vesting (the “performance units measurement period”) plus an additional one year of time-based vesting. These performance units may convert into restricted shares at a range of 0 % to 200 % of the number of performance units granted contingent upon the Company achieving an absolute total shareholder return and a relative total shareholder return over the measurement period at specified percentiles of the peer group, as defined by the awards. If at the end of the performance units measurement period the target criterion is met, then 50 % of the restricted shares will vest immediately. The remaining 50 % will vest one year later. The award recipients will not be entitled to receive any dividends prior to the date of conversion. For any restricted shares issued upon conversion, the award recipient will be entitled to receive payment of an amount equal to all dividends that would have been paid if such restricted shares had been issued at the beginning of the performance units measurement period. The fair value of the performance units is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation, and an expected term equal to the requisite service period for the awards of four years. The Company estimates the compensation expense for the performance units on a straight-line basis using a calculation that recognizes 50 % of the grant date fair value over three years and 50 % of the grant date fair value over four years .
A summary of the performance unit awards is as follows:
| Date of Award | Number of Units Granted | Grant Date Fair Value | Conversion Range | Risk Free Interest Rate | Volatility | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 2018 | $ | 0% to 150% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 2019 | $ | 0% to 200% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 2020 | $ | 0% to 200% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
F-35
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized approximately $3.5 million, $2.9 million and $2.1 million, respectively, of share-based compensation expense related to the performance unit awards.
As of December 31, 2020, there was $7.1 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to the performance unit awards and these costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years.
13. Earnings per Common Share
Basic earnings per Common Share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of Common Shares outstanding during the period excluding the weighted-average number of unvested restricted shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per Common Share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of Common Shares outstanding during the period, plus any shares that could potentially be outstanding during the period. The potential shares consist of the unvested restricted share grants and unvested performance units, calculated using the treasury stock method. Any anti-dilutive shares have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation.
Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating shares and are considered in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. If there were any undistributed earnings allocable to the participating shares, they would be deducted from net income attributable to common shareholders used in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations.
The limited partners’ outstanding OP Units (which may be redeemed for Common Shares under certain circumstances) have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation as there was no effect on the amounts for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, since the limited partners’ share of income would also be added back to net income attributable to common shareholders.
The computation of basic and diluted earnings per Common Share is as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data):
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Numerator: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to RLJ | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Less: Preferred dividends | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Dividends paid on unvested restricted shares | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Undistributed earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares | |||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders excluding amounts attributable to unvested restricted shares | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Denominator: | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of Common Shares - basic | |||||||||||||||||
| Unvested restricted shares | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of Common Shares - diluted | |||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income per share attributable to common shareholders - basic | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income per share attributable to common shareholders - diluted | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
F-36
14. Income Taxes
Current income tax expense represents the amounts expected to be reported on the Company’s income tax returns, and deferred tax expense or benefit represents the change in the net deferred tax assets and liabilities. The deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities as measured by the enacted tax rates that will be in effect when these differences reverse.
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases, and for net operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards. The deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted income tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled. The effect on the deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the net rate is enacted. However, deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is more likely than not that they will be realized based on consideration of all available evidence, including the future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future projected taxable income and tax planning strategies.
The components of the income tax provision are as follows (in thousands):
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Current: | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| State | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred: | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| State | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Income tax (expense) benefit | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||
The provision for income taxes is different from the amount of income tax (expense) benefit that is determined by applying the applicable U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to pretax income as a result of the following differences (in thousands):
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Expected U.S. federal tax benefit (expense) at statutory rate | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||
| Tax impact of REIT election | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Expected tax benefit (expense) at TRS | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Change in valuation allowance | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| State income tax benefit (expense), net of federal benefit | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Reassessment of acquired NOLs | |||||||||||||||||
| Impact of rate changes | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Other permanent items | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Impact of provision to return/deferred adjustments | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Income tax (expense) benefit | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||
F-37
Deferred income taxes represent the tax effect from continuing operations of the differences between the book and tax basis of the assets and liabilities. The deferred tax assets (liabilities) include the following (in thousands):
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Partnership basis | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
| Prepaid expenses | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | |||||||||||
| Property and equipment | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Incentive and vacation accrual | |||||||||||
| Deferred revenue - key money | |||||||||||
| Allowance for doubtful accounts | |||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||
| Net operating loss carryforwards | |||||||||||
| Federal historic tax credit | |||||||||||
| Wyndham guarantee | |||||||||||
| Valuation allowance | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Deferred tax assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
Deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is more likely than not that they will be realized based on the consideration of all available evidence, including the future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future projected taxable income, and tax planning strategies. Valuation allowances are provided if, based upon the weight of the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company would record a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount that is most likely to be utilized in future periods to offset taxable income. Based upon the available objective evidence at December 31, 2020, the Company determined it was more likely than not that the deferred tax assets related to the net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards of its primary TRS would not be utilized in future periods. The Company considered all available evidence, both positive and negative, including cumulative losses in recent years and its current forecast of future income in its analysis. As a result, the Company recorded a $59.3 million valuation allowance to fully reserve these deferred tax assets and recorded income tax expense totaling $52.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had a valuation allowance of approximately $80.7 million and $21.3 million, respectively, related to NOL carryforwards, historic tax credits, and other deferred tax assets of its TRSs.
As discussed in Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies, the Company terminated its agreements with Wyndham effective December 31, 2019. The termination triggered the reassessment of the utilization of NOLs acquired in the merger with FelCor. As a result, the Company recorded a deferred tax benefit during the year ended December 31, 2019 to recognize additional deferred tax assets related to NOLs that would have otherwise expired absent the termination.
The Company’s NOLs will begin to expire in 2024 for federal tax purposes and 2020 to 2040 for state tax purposes. The Company's historic tax credits begin to expire in 2035. The annual utilization of these NOLs and tax credits is limited pursuant to federal and state tax laws.
The Company is subject to examination by U.S. federal and various state and local jurisdictions. The tax years subject to examination vary by jurisdiction. With few exceptions, as of December 31, 2020, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal or state and local tax examinations by tax authorities for the tax years of 2015 and before.
15. Segment Information
F-38
16. Supplemental Information to Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands)
| For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reserves | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Restricted cash reserves | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reserves | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Interest paid | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Income taxes paid | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Operating cash flow lease payments for operating leases | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for lease obligation due to remeasurement | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Supplemental investing and financing transactions | |||||||||||||||||
| In conjunction with the sale of hotel properties, the Company recorded the following: | |||||||||||||||||
| Sale of hotel properties | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Escrow related to certain post-closing obligations | |||||||||||||||||
| Purchase option for land subject to a ground lease | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Transaction costs | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Operating prorations | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Receipt of forfeited deposit | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from the sale of hotel properties, net | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Supplemental non-cash transactions | |||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair market value of designated interest rate swaps | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||
| Accrued capital expenditures | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Distributions payable | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
F-39
RLJ Lodging Trust
Schedule III - Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation
December 31, 2020
(amounts in thousands)
| Initial Costs | Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition | Gross Amount at December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | Debt | Land & Improvements | Building & Improvements | Land, Building & Improvements | Land & Improvements | Buildings & Improvements | Total (1) | Accumulated Depreciation | Date Acquired | Depreciation Life | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marriott Denver South @ Park Meadows | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marriott Louisville Downtown | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marriott Chicago Midway | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Renaissance Boulder Flatiron Hotel | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Plantation Hotel | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Chicago Southeast Hammond | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Indianapolis @ The Capitol | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Midway Airport | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Houston Sugarland | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Austin Downtown Convention Center | 2007 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Indianapolis Fishers | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Chicago Southeast Hammond | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Houston By The Galleria | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Indianapolis Downtown On The Canal | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Merrillville | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Chicago Naperville | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Louisville Downtown | 2007 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Austin Downtown Convention Center | 2007 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SpringHill Suites Denver North Westminster | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Denver Cherry Creek | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago SE Hammond | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Key West | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago Midway Airport | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hampton Inn Chicago Midway Airport | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
F-40
| Initial Costs | Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition | Gross Amount at December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | Debt | Land & Improvements | Building & Improvements | Land, Building & Improvements | Land & Improvements | Buildings & Improvements | Total (1) | Accumulated Depreciation | Date Acquired | Depreciation Life | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Midway Airport | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sleep Inn Midway Airport | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Holiday Inn Express & Suites Midway Airport | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TGI Friday's Chicago Midway | 2006 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hampton Inn Garden City | 2007 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Houston By The Galleria | 2007 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Los Angeles Downey | 2008 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Tampa Downtown Convention Center | 2010 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites Washington DC Downtown | 2010 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Fort Myers Estero | 2010 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Homewood Suites Washington DC Downtown | 2010 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hotel Indigo New Orleans Garden District | 2010 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn National Harbor Washington DC | 2010 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center | 2010 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles Hollywood | 2010 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DoubleTree Metropolitan Hotel New York City | 2010 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel | 2011 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Atlanta Buckhead | 2011 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marriott Denver Airport @ Gateway Park | 2011 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites West Palm Beach Central | 2011 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place | 2011 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Charleston Historic District | 2011 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Bethesda Downtown | 2012 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard New York Manhattan Upper East Side | 2012 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge | 2012 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Boston Waltham | 2012 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Houston Downtown Convention Center | 2013 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
F-41
| Initial Costs | Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition | Gross Amount at December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | Debt | Land & Improvements | Building & Improvements | Land, Building & Improvements | Land & Improvements | Buildings & Improvements | Total (1) | Accumulated Depreciation | Date Acquired | Depreciation Life | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Houston Downtown Convention Center | 2013 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SpringHill Suites Houston Downtown Convention Center | 2013 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Waikiki Beach | 2013 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard San Francisco | 2013 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Atlanta Midtown Historic | 2013 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SpringHill Suites Portland Hillsboro | 2013 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hilton Cabana Miami Beach | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House Charlotte Center City | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House Cypress Anaheim | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House Emeryville San Francisco Bay Area | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House San Diego Sorrento Mesa | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House San Jose Silicon Valley | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House San Ramon | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt House Santa Clara | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt Centric The Woodlands | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt Place Fremont Silicon Valley | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt Place Madison Downtown | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Irvine Orange County | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courtyard Portland City Center | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt Atlanta Midtown | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DoubleTree Grand Key Resort | 2014 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyatt Place Washington DC Downtown K Street | 2015 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Homewood Suites Seattle Lynnwood | 2015 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence Inn Palo Alto Los Altos | 2015 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Austin | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando - Lake Buena Vista | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Atlanta - Buckhead | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Birmingham | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Dallas - Love Field | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach - Resort & Spa | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale 17th Street | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
F-42
| Initial Costs | Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition | Gross Amount at December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | Debt | Land & Improvements | Building & Improvements | Land, Building & Improvements | Land & Improvements | Buildings & Improvements | Total (1) | Accumulated Depreciation | Date Acquired | Depreciation Life | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Los Angeles - International Airport South | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach - Hotel & Resort | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Miami - International Airport | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Milpitas Silicon Valley | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Minneapolis - Airport | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Orlando - International Drive South/Convention Center | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites Phoenix - Biltmore | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport - South San Francisco | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport - Waterfront | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Francisco Marriott Union Square | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Knickerbocker New York | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill | 2017 | 9 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham Houston - Medical Center Hotel & Suites | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham San Diego Bayside | 2017 | 10 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyndham Santa Monica At The Pier | 2017 | 15 - 40 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
F-43
The change in the total cost of the hotel properties is as follows:
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Land and Buildings and Improvements | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of period | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Add: Acquisitions | |||||||||||||||||
| Add: Improvements | |||||||||||||||||
| Less: Sale of hotel properties | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Impairment loss | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
The change in the accumulated depreciation of the real estate assets is as follows:
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Accumulated Depreciation | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of period | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||
| Add: Depreciation for the period | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Sale of hotel properties | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||
F-44
Exhibit 4.7
RLJ LODGING TRUST
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES
The following summary of our common shares and certain provisions of Maryland law and our declaration of trust and bylaws does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to Maryland law and to our declaration of trust and bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
General
Our declaration of trust provides that we may issue up to 450,000,000 common shares, par value $0.01 per share. Our declaration of trust authorizes our board of trustees to amend our declaration of trust to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized common shares or the number of shares of any class or series without shareholder approval.
Maryland law provides, and our declaration of trust provides, that none of our shareholders is personally liable for any of our obligations solely as a result of that shareholder’s status as a shareholder.
Voting Rights of Common Shares
Subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding the restrictions on transfer and ownership of shares of beneficial interest and except as may otherwise be specified in the terms of any class or series of shares of beneficial interest, each outstanding common share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of trustees, and, except as provided with respect to any other class or series of shares of beneficial interest, the holders of such common shares will possess the exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees.
Under the Maryland statute governing real estate investment trusts formed under the laws of that state, or the Maryland REIT law, a Maryland real estate investment trust generally cannot amend its declaration of trust or merge with another entity unless declared advisable by a majority of its board of trustees and approved by the affirmative vote of shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the real estate investment trust’s declaration of trust. Our declaration of trust provides that these actions (other than certain amendments to the provisions of the declaration of trust related to the removal of trustees, the restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares and the termination of our existence) may be taken if declared advisable by a majority of our board of trustees and approved by the vote of shareholders holding a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Dividends, Distributions, Liquidation and Other Rights
Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of shares and to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding the restrictions on transfer and ownership of shares, holders of our common shares are entitled to receive dividends on such common shares if, as and when authorized by the board of trustees, and declared by us out of assets legally available therefor. Such holders also are entitled to share ratably in the assets of our company legally available for distribution to shareholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up after payment or establishment of reserves for all debts and other liabilities of our company and any shares with preferential rights related thereto.
Holders of common shares have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or redemption rights, have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any securities of our company and have no appraisal rights. Subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding the restrictions on transfer and ownership of shares, common shares will have equal dividend, liquidation and other rights.
Power to Reclassify Our Unissued Common Shares or Preferred Shares
Our declaration of trust authorizes our board of trustees to classify and reclassify any unissued common shares or preferred shares into other classes or series of shares and to establish the number of shares in each class or series and to set the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption for each such class or series.
Power to Increase or Decrease Authorized Common Shares and Issue Additional Common and Preferred Shares
We believe that the power of our board of trustees to amend our declaration of trust to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares, to issue additional authorized but unissued common shares or preferred shares and to classify or reclassify unissued common shares or preferred shares and thereafter to cause to issue such classified or reclassified shares will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise. The additional classes or series will be available for issuance without further action by our shareholders, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded.
Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer
With certain exceptions, our declaration of trust generally prohibits any person or entity (other than a person or entity who has been granted an exception) from directly or indirectly, beneficially or constructively, owning more than 9.8% of the aggregate of our outstanding common shares, by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive. However, our declaration of trust permits (but does not require) exceptions to be made for shareholders provided that our board of trustees determines that such exceptions will not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT. For more information regarding these ownership restrictions and certain other restrictions intended to protect our qualification as a REIT, see “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”
Stock Exchange Listing
Our common shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “RLJ.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is Wells Fargo Shareowners Services, a division of Wells Fargo Bank N.A.
Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws
Our Board of Trustees
Our declaration of trust and bylaws provide that the number of trustees of our company may be established by our board of trustees, but may not be fewer than two nor more than 15. Our declaration of trust and bylaws provide that any vacancy, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of trustees, may be filled by a majority of the remaining trustees, even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum. Any individual elected to fill such vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.
Pursuant to our bylaws, each of our trustees will be elected by our shareholders to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies under Maryland law. Holders of our common shares will have no right to cumulative voting in the election of trustees. Trustees will be elected by a majority of all the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present; provided, however, that if on the record date for such meeting the number of trustee nominees exceeds the number of trustees to be elected, then a plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient. For purposes of the election of trustees, a majority of the votes cast means the number of shares voted for a trustee must exceed the number of shares voted against that trustee. Any incumbent trustee who does not receive a majority of the votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the election of that trustee shall tender his or her resignation to the board of trustees within three (3) days after certification of the results, for consideration by the nominating and corporate governance committee of our board of trustees. The nominating and corporate governance committee will make a recommendation to our board of trustees on whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. Our board of trustees will act on the recommendation and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it within 90 days from the date of the certification of the election results. The trustee who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in our board of trustee’s decision. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our board of trustees shall be required to accept any resignation tendered by an incumbent trustee if such trustee shall have received more votes against than for his or her election at two consecutive annual meetings of shareholders for the election of trustees at which a quorum was present and the number of trustee nominees equaled the number of trustees to be elected at each such annual meeting of shareholders.
Our bylaws provide that at least a majority of our trustees must be “independent,” with independence being defined in the manner established by our board of trustees and in a manner consistent with listing standards established by the NYSE.
Removal of Trustees
Our declaration of trust provides that, subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred shares to elect or remove one or more trustees, a trustee may be removed only for cause (as defined in our declaration of trust) and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of trustees.
Business Combinations
Under provisions of the MGCL that apply to Maryland real estate investment trusts, certain “business combinations” (including a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in certain circumstances specified under the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between a Maryland real estate investment trust and any interested shareholder, or an affiliate of such an interested shareholder, are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. Maryland law defines an interested shareholder as:
•any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the trust’s outstanding voting shares; or
•an affiliate or associate of the trust who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting shares of the trust.
A person is not an interested shareholder under the statute if the board of trustees approves in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested shareholder. In approving a transaction, however, the board of trustees may provide that its approval is subject to compliance at or after the time of the approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board of trustees.
After the five-year prohibition, unless, among other conditions, the trust’s common shareholders receive a minimum price (as described under Maryland law) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its shares, any business combination between the trust and an interested shareholder generally must be recommended by the board of trustees and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
•80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares of the trust; and
•two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting shares of the trust other than shares held by the interested shareholder with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to be effected or shares held by an affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder.
These provisions of the MGCL do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by a trust’s board of trustees prior to the time that the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. Our board of trustees, pursuant to the statute, has determined to opt out of the business combination provisions of the MGCL and, consequently, the five-year prohibition and, accordingly, the supermajority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations between us and an interested shareholder, unless our board in the future alters or repeals this resolution. As a result, any person who later becomes an interested shareholder may be able to enter into business combinations with our company without compliance by us with the supermajority vote requirements and the other provisions of the statute.
Our board of trustees may not determine to become subject to such business combination provisions in the future without shareholder approval. An alteration or repeal of the resolution of our board of trustees will not have any effect on any business combinations that have been consummated or upon any agreements existing at the time of such modification or repeal.
Control Share Acquisitions
Maryland law provides that “control shares” of a Maryland real estate investment trust acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights except to the extent approved at a special meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares in a Maryland real estate investment trust in respect of which any of the following persons is entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power of such shares in the election of trustees: (1) a person who makes or proposes to make a control share acquisition; (2) an officer of the trust; or (3) an employee of the trust who is also a trustee of the trust. “Control shares” are voting shares that, if aggregated with all other such shares previously acquired by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing trustees within one of the following ranges of voting power:
•one-tenth or more but less than one-third;
•one-third or more but less than a majority; or
•a majority or more of all voting power.
Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained
shareholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of ownership of, or the power to direct the exercise of voting power with respect to, issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay expenses and making an “acquiring person statement” as described in the MGCL), may compel our board of trustees to call a special meeting of shareholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the control shares. If no request for a special meeting is made, we may present the question at any shareholders meeting.
If voting rights of control shares are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an “acquiring person statement” as required by Maryland law, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the trust may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or of any meeting of shareholders at which the voting rights of such shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a shareholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other shareholders may exercise appraisal rights, unless appraisal rights are eliminated under the declaration of trust. Our declaration of trust eliminates all appraisal rights of shareholders. The control share acquisition statute does not apply (1) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if we are a party to the transaction or (2) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the declaration of trust or bylaws of the trust.
Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of our common shares. Our board of trustees may not amend or eliminate such provision without shareholder approval.
Subtitle 8
Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL permits a Maryland real estate investment trust with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent trustees to elect to be subject, by provision in its declaration of trust or bylaws or a resolution of its board of trustees and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the declaration of trust or bylaws, to any or all of the following five provisions:
•a classified board;
•a two-thirds shareholder vote requirement for removing a trustee;
•a requirement that the number of trustees be fixed only by vote of the trustees;
•a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining trustees and for the remainder of the full term of the class of trustees in which the vacancy occurred; and
•a requirement that requires the request of the holders of at least a majority of all votes entitled to be cast to call a special meeting of shareholders.
We have opted out of all of the provisions of Subtitle 8 through provisions contained in our declaration of trust, as amended and supplemented, and must receive the approval of a majority of shareholders casting votes on the matter to opt in to any of the provisions of Subtitle 8; however, pursuant to provisions in our declaration of trust and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we currently (1) require the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter for the removal of any trustee from our board, which removal will be allowed only for cause, and (2) require, unless called by the Executive Chairman of our board of trustees, the President or Chief Executive Officer or our board of trustees, the written request of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of all votes entitled to be cast at such meeting to call a special meeting. In addition, provisions in our declaration of trust and bylaws provide that the number of trustees may be determined by our board and that our trustees may fill vacancies on our board and, therefore, as a practical matter, shareholders may not have the ability to determine the number of trustees on our board or to fill vacancies on our board other than vacancies resulting from the removal of a trustee.
Amendment of Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws and Approval of Extraordinary Transactions
Under the Maryland REIT law, a Maryland real estate investment trust generally cannot amend its declaration of trust or merge with another entity unless declared advisable by a majority of the board of trustees and approved by the affirmative vote of shareholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter unless a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, is set forth in the real estate investment trust’s declaration of trust. Our declaration of trust provides that such actions (other than certain amendments to the provisions of our declaration of trust related to the removal of trustees, the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our shares and termination of the trust) may be taken if declared advisable by a majority of our board of trustees and approved by the vote of shareholders holding a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Our bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new bylaws adopted, by the vote of a majority of the board of trustees or by the affirmative vote of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Meetings of Shareholders
Under our bylaws, annual meetings of shareholders will be held each year at a date and time as determined by our board of trustees. Special meetings of shareholders may be called only by a majority of the trustees then in office, by the executive chairman of our board of trustees, our president or our chief executive officer. Additionally, subject to the provisions of our bylaws, special meetings of the shareholders shall be called by our secretary upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Only matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered and acted upon at such a meeting. Maryland law and our bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting by unanimous written consent, if that consent sets forth that action and is signed by each shareholder entitled to vote on the matter.
Advance Notice of Trustee Nominations and New Business
Our bylaws provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of shareholders, nominations of persons for election to our board of trustees and the proposal of business to be considered by shareholders at the annual meeting may be made only:
•pursuant to our notice of the meeting;
•by or at the direction of our board of trustees; or
•by a shareholder who was a shareholder of record both at the time of giving of the notice of the meeting and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws.
With respect to special meetings of shareholders, only the business specified in our notice of meeting may be brought before the meeting of shareholders. Nominations of persons for election to our board of trustees may be made only:
•pursuant to our notice of the meeting;
•by or at the direction of our board of trustees; or
•provided that our board of trustees has determined that trustees shall be elected at such meeting, by a shareholder who is a shareholder of record both at the time of giving of the notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in our bylaws.
The purpose of requiring shareholders to give advance notice of nominations and other proposals is to afford our board of trustees the opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees or the advisability of the other proposals and, to the extent considered necessary by our board of trustees, to inform shareholders and make recommendations regarding the nominations or other proposals. The advance notice procedures also permit a more orderly procedure for conducting our shareholder meetings. Although our bylaws do not give our board of trustees the power to disapprove timely shareholder nominations and proposals, our bylaws may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of trustees or proposals for other action if the proper procedures are not followed, and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of trustees to our board of trustees or to approve its own proposal.
Anti-takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws
The provisions of our declaration of trust on removal of trustees and the advance notice provisions of our bylaws could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control of our company that might involve a premium price for holders of our common shares or otherwise be in the best interests of our shareholders. Likewise, if our board of trustees were to opt into the business combination provisions of the MGCL or certain of the provisions of Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL, with shareholder approval, or if the provision in our bylaws opting out of the control share acquisition provisions of the MGCL were amended or rescinded, these provisions of the MGCL could have similar anti-takeover effects.
Indemnification and Limitation of Trustees’ and Officers’ Liability
The Maryland REIT law permits a Maryland real estate investment trust to include in its declaration of trust a provision limiting the liability of its trustees and officers to the trust and its shareholders for money damages except for liability resulting from actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. Our declaration of trust contains such a provision that eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
The Maryland REIT law permits a Maryland real estate investment trust to indemnify and advance expenses to its trustees, officers, employees and agents to the same extent as permitted by the MGCL for directors and officers of a Maryland corporation. The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or are threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:
•the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;
•the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or
•in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.
However, under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify a director or officer for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or if the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses.
In addition, the MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of:
•a written affirmation by such director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and
•a written undertaking by such director or officer or on such director’s or officer’s behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the director did not meet the standard of conduct.
Our declaration of trust and bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to:
•any present or former trustee or officer (including any individual who, at our request, serves or has served as a director, trustee, officer, partner, member, employee or agent of another real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise) against any claim or liability to which he or she may become subject by reason of service in such capacity; and
•any present or former trustee or officer who has been successful in the defense of a proceeding to which he or she was made a party by reason of service in such capacity.
Our declaration of trust and bylaws also permit us, with the approval of our board of trustees, to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of ours in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of our company or a predecessor of our company.
In addition, upon completion of our initial public offering, we entered into indemnification agreements with each of our trustees and executive officers that provide for indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
Insofar as the foregoing provisions permit indemnification of trustees, officers or persons controlling us for liability arising under the Securities Act, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
REIT Qualification
Our declaration of trust provides that our board of trustees may revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without approval of our shareholders, if we determine that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT.
Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer
In order to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, our shares must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made) or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, no more than 50% of the value of our outstanding shares (after taking into account options to acquire common shares) may be owned, directly, indirectly, or through attribution, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) at any time during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made).
Because our board of trustees believes that it is essential for us to qualify as a REIT, our declaration of trust, subject to certain exceptions, contains restrictions on the number of our shares of beneficial interest that a person may own.
In order to assist us in complying with the limitations on the concentration of ownership of our shares imposed by the Code, our declaration of trust generally prohibits any person or entity (other than a person or entity who has been granted an exception) from directly or indirectly, beneficially or constructively, owning more than 9.8% of the aggregate of our outstanding common shares, by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, or 9.8% of the aggregate of the outstanding preferred shares of any class or series, by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive. However, our declaration of trust permits (but does not require) exceptions to be made for shareholders provided that our board of trustees determines that such exceptions will not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT.
Our declaration of trust will also prohibit any person from (1) beneficially or constructively owning our shares of beneficial interest that would result in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code, (2) transferring our shares if such transfer would result in us being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without regard to any rules of attribution), (3) beneficially or constructively owning our shares that would result in our owning (directly or constructively) 10% or more of the ownership interest in a tenant of our real property if income derived from such tenant for our taxable year would result in more than a de minimis amount of non-qualifying income for purposes of the REIT tests that, taking into account any other non-qualifying gross income of ours, would cause us to fail to satisfy an applicable REIT gross income requirement, and (4) beneficially or constructively owning our shares that would cause us otherwise to fail to qualify as a REIT, including, but not limited to, as a result of any “eligible independent contractor” (as defined in Section 856(d)(9)(A) of the Code) that operates a “qualified lodging facility” (as defined in Section 856(d)(9)(D)(i) of the Code) on behalf of a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, failing to qualify as such. Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial ownership of our shares that will or may violate any of the foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will be required to give notice immediately to us and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of such transfers on our qualification as a REIT. The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if our board of trustees determines that it is no longer in our best interest to attempt to qualify, or to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT. In addition, our board of trustees may determine that compliance with the foregoing restrictions is no longer required for our qualification as a REIT.
Our board of trustees, in its sole discretion, may waive the 9.8% ownership limit for common shares or preferred shares for a shareholder that is not an individual if such shareholder provides information and makes representations to the board that are satisfactory to the board, in its reasonable discretion, to establish that such person’s ownership in excess of the 9.8% limit for common or preferred shares would not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT. As a condition of granting the waiver, our board of trustees, in its sole discretion, may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, or an opinion of counsel in either case in form and substance satisfactory to our board of trustees in order to determine or ensure our qualification as a REIT.
In addition, our board of trustees from time to time may increase the share ownership limits. However, the share ownership limits may not be increased if, after giving effect to such increase, five or fewer individuals could own or constructively own in the aggregate, more than 49.9% in value of the shares then outstanding.
If any transfer of our shares of beneficial interest occurs which, if effective, would result in any person beneficially or constructively owning shares in excess, or in violation, of the above transfer or ownership limitations, known as a prohibited owner, then that number of shares, the beneficial or constructive ownership of which otherwise would cause such person to violate the transfer or ownership limitations (rounded up to the nearest whole share), will be automatically transferred to a charitable trust for the exclusive benefit of a charitable beneficiary, and the prohibited owner will not acquire any rights in such shares. This automatic transfer will be considered effective as of the close of business on the business day before the violative transfer. If the transfer to the charitable trust would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of the above transfer or ownership limitations, then the transfer of that number of shares that otherwise would cause any person to violate the above limitations will be void. Shares held in the charitable trust will continue to constitute issued and outstanding shares. The prohibited owner will not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in the charitable trust, will have no rights to dividends or other distributions and will not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in the charitable trust. The trustee of the charitable trust will be designated by us and must be unaffiliated with us or any prohibited owner and will have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares held in the charitable trust, and these rights will be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the trust’s charitable beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid before our discovery that shares have been transferred to the trustee will be paid by the recipient of such dividend or distribution to the trustee upon demand, and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid will be paid when due to the trustee. Any dividend or distribution so paid to the trustee will be held in trust for the trust’s charitable beneficiary. Subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that such shares have been transferred to the charitable trust, the
trustee, in its sole discretion, will have the authority to:
•rescind as void any vote cast by a prohibited owner prior to our discovery that such shares have been transferred to the charitable trust; and
•recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the trust’s charitable beneficiary.
However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee will not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote.
Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that shares have been transferred to the charitable trust, and unless we buy the shares first as described below, the trustee will sell the shares held in the charitable trust to a person, designated by the trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the share ownership limits in our declaration of trust. Upon the sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited owner and to the charitable beneficiary. The prohibited owner will receive the lesser of:
•the price paid by the prohibited owner for the shares or, if the prohibited owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the charitable trust (for example, in the case of a gift or devise), the market price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the charitable trust; and
•the price per share received by the trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the charitable trust (less any commission and other expenses of a sale).
The trustee may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of dividends and distributions paid to the prohibited owner and owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee. Any net sale proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the prohibited owner will be paid immediately to the charitable beneficiary. If, before our discovery that our shares have been transferred to the charitable trust, such shares are sold by a prohibited owner, then:
•such shares will be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the charitable trust; and
•to the extent that the prohibited owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that the prohibited owner was entitled to receive as described above, the excess must be paid to the trustee upon demand.
In addition, shares held in the charitable trust will be deemed to have been offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of:
•the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the charitable trust (or, in the case of a gift or devise, the market price at the time of the gift or devise); and
•the market price on the date we, or our designee, accepts such offer.
We may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of dividends and distributions paid to the prohibited owner and owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee. We may pay the amount of such reduction to the trustee for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. We will have the right to accept the offer until the trustee has sold the shares held in the charitable trust. Upon such a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited owner and any dividends or other distributions held by the trustee will be paid to the charitable beneficiary.
All certificates representing our shares will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.
Every shareholder of record of more than 5% (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) in value of the outstanding shares will be required to give written notice to us within 30 days after the end of each taxable year stating the name and address of each actual owner, the number of shares of each class and series of shares that each actual owner beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which such shares are held. Each such shareholder shall provide to us such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limitations. In addition, each shareholder shall upon demand be required to provide to us such information as we may request, in good faith, in order to determine our status as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.
These share ownership limitations could delay, deter or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common shares or might otherwise be in the best interest of our shareholders.
EXHIBIT 21.1
List of Subsidiaries of RLJ Lodging Trust
| RLJ LODGING TRUST, L.P. | ||
| RLJ LODGING TRUST LIMITED PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ LODGING ACQUISITIONS, LLC | ||
| RLJ LODGING TRUST MASTER TRS, INC. | ||
| RLJ LODGING II REIT SUB, LLC | ||
| RLJ REAL ESTATE III REIT SUB, LLC | ||
| DBT MET HOTEL VENTURE GP, LLC | ||
| DBT MET HOTEL VENTURE, LP | ||
| RLJ C CHARLESTON HD LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ C CHARLESTON HD, LLC | ||
| RLJ C HOUSTON HUMBLE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ C HOUSTON HUMBLE LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ C HOUSTON HUMBLE LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ C HOUSTON HUMBLE, LP | ||
| RLJ C NY UPPER EASTSIDE LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ C NY UPPER EASTSIDE, LLC | ||
| RLJ C PORTLAND DT LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ C PORTLAND DT, LLC | ||
| RLJ C SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ C SAN FRANCISCO LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ C SAN FRANCISCO LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ C SAN FRANCISCO, LP | ||
| RLJ C WAIKIKI LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ C WAIKIKI, LLC | ||
| RLJ CABANA MIAMI BEACH LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ CABANA MIAMI BEACH, LLC | ||
| RLJ DBT KEY WEST CONDOS, LLC | ||
| RLJ DBT KEY WEST LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ DBT KEY WEST, LLC | ||
| RLJ EM IRVINE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ EM IRVINE LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ EM IRVINE LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ EM IRVINE, LP | ||
| RLJ EM WALTHAM LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ EM WALTHAM, LLC | ||
| RLJ HGN EMERYVILLE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HGN EMERYVILLE LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HGN EMERYVILLE LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ HGN EMERYVILLE, LP | ||
| RLJ HP FREMONT GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HP FREMONT LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HP FREMONT LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ HP FREMONT, LP | ||
| RLJ HP MADISON DT LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ HP MADISON DT, LLC | ||
EXHIBIT 21.1
| RLJ HP WASHINGTON DC LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ HP WASHINGTON DC, LLC | ||
| RLJ HS SEATTLE LYNNWOOD LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ HS SEATTLE LYNNWOOD, LLC | ||
| RLJ HY ATLANTA MIDTOWN, LLC | ||
| RLJ HY ATLANTA MIDTOWN LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH CHARLOTTE LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH CHARLOTTE, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH CYPRESS GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH CYPRESS LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH CYPRESS LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH CYPRESS, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH EMERYVILLE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH EMERYVILLE LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH EMERYVILLE LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH EMERYVILLE, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN DIEGO GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN DIEGO LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN DIEGO LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN DIEGO, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN JOSE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN JOSE LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN JOSE LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN JOSE, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN RAMON LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN RAMON GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN RAMON LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH SAN RAMON, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH SANTA CLARA GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH SANTA CLARA LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH SANTA CLARA LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH SANTA CLARA, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH WOODLANDS GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH WOODLANDS LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ HyH WOODLANDS LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ HyH WOODLANDS, LP | ||
| RLJ II - C AUSTIN DT LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - C AUSTIN DT LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ II - C CHICAGO MAG MILE LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - C CHICAGO MAG MILE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - C HAMMOND LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - C HAMMOND, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - C HOUSTON GALLERIA GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - C HOUSTON GALLERIA, L.P. | ||
| RLJ II - C HOUSTON GALLERIA LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - C HOUSTON GALLERIA LESSEE, L.P. | ||
| RLJ II - C INDY CAPITOL LESSEE, LLC | ||
EXHIBIT 21.1
| RLJ II - C MIDWAY LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - C MIDWAY, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - C SUGARLAND GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - C SUGARLAND LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - C SUGARLAND LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ II - C SUGARLAND, LP | ||
| RLJ II - CR AUSTIN DT GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - CR AUSTIN DT, LP | ||
| RLJ II - EM DOWNEY GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - EM DOWNEY LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - EM DOWNEY LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ II - EM DOWNEY, LP | ||
| RLJ II - F CHERRY CREEK LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - F CHERRY CREEK, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - F HAMMOND LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - F HAMMOND, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - F KEY WEST LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - F KEY WEST, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - F MIDWAY LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - F MIDWAY, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - HA GARDEN CITY LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - HA GARDEN CITY, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - HA MIDWAY LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - HA MIDWAY, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - HG MIDWAY LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - HG MIDWAY, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - HOLX MIDWAY LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - HOLX MIDWAY, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - INDY CAPITOL HOTELS, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - MH DENVER S LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - MH DENVER S, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - MH LOUISVILLE DT LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - MH LOUISVILLE DT, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - MH MIDWAY LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - MH MIDWAY, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - MIDWAY PARKING, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - MIDWAY RESTAURANT LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - MIDWAY RESTAURANT, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R AUSTIN DT GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R AUSTIN DT LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R AUSTIN DT LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ II - R AUSTIN DT, LP | ||
| RLJ II - R FISHERS LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R FISHERS, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R HAMMOND LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R HAMMOND, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R HOUSTON GALLERIA GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
EXHIBIT 21.1
| RLJ II - R HOUSTON GALLERIA LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R HOUSTON GALLERIA LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ II - R HOUSTON GALLERIA, LP | ||
| RLJ II - R INDY CANAL LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R LOUISVILLE DT KY LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R LOUISVILLE DT KY, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R MERRILLVILLE LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R MERRILLVILLE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R WARRENVILLE LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - R WARRENVILLE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - RH BOULDER LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - RH BOULDER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - RH PLANTATION LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - RH PLANTATION, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - S WESTMINSTER LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - S WESTMINSTER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - SLE MIDWAY LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II - SLE MIDWAY, LLC | ||
| RLJ II JUNIOR MEZZANINE BORROWER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II JUNIOR MEZZANINE LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ II SENIOR MEZZANINE BORROWER, LLC | ||
| RLJ II SENIOR MEZZANINE LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - C BUCKHEAD, INC | ||
| RLJ III - C BUCKHEAD LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - C BUCKHEAD PARENT, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - DBT MET HOTEL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - DBT MET MEZZ BORROWER GP, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - DBT MET MEZZ BORROWER, LP | ||
| RLJ III - DBT METROPOLITAN MANHATTAN GP, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - DBT METROPOLITAN MANHATTAN LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - DBT METROPOLITAN MANHATTAN, LP | ||
| RLJ III - EM FORT MYERS, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - EM FORT MYERS LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - EM TAMPA DT, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - EM TAMPA DT LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - EM WEST PALM BEACH, INC. | ||
| RLJ III - EM WEST PALM BEACH LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - EM WEST PALM BEACH PARENT, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - F WASHINGTON DC, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - F WASHINGTON DC LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - HG NEW ORLEANS CONVENTION CENTER LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - HG NEW ORLEANS CONVENTION CENTER, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - HGN HOLLYWOOD GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - HGN HOLLYWOOD LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - HGN HOLLYWOOD LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ III - HGN HOLLYWOOD, LP | ||
| RLJ III - HGN PITTSBURGH GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
EXHIBIT 21.1
| RLJ III - HGN PITTSBURGH LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - HGN PITTSBURGH LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ III - HGN PITTSBURGH, LP | ||
| RLJ III - HS WASHINGTON DC, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - HS WASHINGTON DC LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - MH DENVER AIRPORT, INC | ||
| RLJ III - MH DENVER AIRPORT LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - MH DENVER AIRPORT PARENT, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - R NATIONAL HARBOR LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - R NATIONAL HARBOR, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - RH PITTSBURGH GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - RH PITTSBURGH LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - RH PITTSBURGH LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ III - RH PITTSBURGH, LP | ||
| RLJ III - ST. CHARLES AVE HOTEL LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ III - ST. CHARLES AVE HOTEL, LLC | ||
| RLJ R ATLANTA MIDTOWN LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ R ATLANTA MIDTOWN, LLC | ||
| RLJ R BETHESDA LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ R BETHESDA, LLC | ||
| RLJ R HOUSTON HUMBLE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ R HOUSTON HUMBLE LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ R HOUSTON HUMBLE LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ R HOUSTON HUMBLE, LP | ||
| RLJ R LOS ALTOS GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ R LOS ALTOS LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ R LOS ALTOS LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ R LOS ALTOS, LP | ||
| RLJ S HILLSBORO LESSEE, LLC | ||
| RLJ S HILLSBORO, LLC | ||
| RLJ S HOUSTON HUMBLE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ S HOUSTON HUMBLE LESSEE GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ S HOUSTON HUMBLE LESSEE, LP | ||
| RLJ S HOUSTON HUMBLE, LP | ||
| RANGERS SUB I, LLC | ||
| RANGERS GENERAL PARTNER, LLC | ||
| RLJ LODGING FUND II ACQUISITIONS, LLC | ||
| RLJ REAL ESTATE FUND III ACQUISITIONS, LLC | ||
| BHR OPERATIONS, L.L.C. | ||
| BIRMINGHAM ES HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| BIRMINGHAM ES LEASING, L.L.C. | ||
| BIRMINGHAM HOTEL HOLDCO, L.L.C. | ||
BIRMINGHAM LEASING HOLDCO, L.L.C. | ||
| CHARLESTON MILLS HOUSE HOTEL HOLDCO, L.L.C. | ||
| CHARLESTON MILLS HOUSE HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| CHARLESTON MILLS HOUSE LESSEE, L.L.C. | ||
| DEERFIELD BEACH ES HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
EXHIBIT 21.1
| DEERFIELD BEACH ES LEASING, L.L.C. | ||
| DEERFIELD BEACH HOTEL HOLDCO, L.L.C. | ||
| DEERFIELD BEACH LEASING HOLDCO, L.L.C. | ||
| DJONT LEASING, L.L.C. | ||
| DJONT OPERATIONS, L.L.C. | ||
| DJONT/CMB BUCKHEAD LEASING, L.L.C. | ||
| DJONT/CMB ORSOUTH LEASING, L.L.C. | ||
| DJONT/CMB SSF LEASING, L.L.C. | ||
| DJONT/JPM HOSPITALITY LEASING (SPE), L.L.C. | ||
| DJONT/JPM HOSPITALITY LEASING HOLDCO (SPE), L.L.C. | ||
| DJONT/JPM LEASING, L.L.C. | ||
| DJONT/JPM PHOENIX LEASING, L.L.C. | ||
| EPT MEADOWLANDS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | ||
| FCH HH KNICKERBOCKER LEASING, L.L.C. | ||
| FCH HH KNICKERBOCKER OWNER, L.P. | ||
| FELCOR AUSTIN DOWNTOWN HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR AUSTIN DOWNTOWN LESSEE, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR CHAT-LEM, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR DALLAS LOVE FIELD OWNER, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR EIGHT HOTELS, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR FQ HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR FQ LESSEE, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR HOLDINGS TRUST | ||
| FELCOR HOTEL ASSET COMPANY, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR HOTEL OPERATING COMPANY, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR LAX LESSEE, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR LODGING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | ||
| FELCOR MILPITAS OWNER, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR PENNSYLVANIA COMPANY, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR SANTA MONICA LESSEE, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR SANTA MONICA OWNER, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR TRS BORROWER 4, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR TRS HOLDINGS, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR UNION SQUARE HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR UNION SQUARE LESSEE, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR/CMB BUCKHEAD HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR/CMB ORSOUTH HOLDINGS, L.P. | ||
| FELCOR/CMB ORSOUTH HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR/CMB SSF HOLDINGS, L.P. | ||
| FELCOR/CMB SSF HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR/CSS (SPE), L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR/CSS HOLDINGS, L.P. | ||
FELCOR/CSS HOTELS, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR/IOWA-NEW ORLEANS CHAT-LEM HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR/JPM HOSPITALITY (SPE), L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR/JPM HOSPITALITY HOLDCO (SPE), L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR/JPM HOTELS, L.L.C. | ||
EXHIBIT 21.1
| FELCOR/JPM PHOENIX HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| FELCOR/LAX HOTELS, L.L.C. | ||
| FT. LAUDERDALE ES HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| FT. LAUDERDALE ES LEASING, L.L.C. | ||
| FT. LAUDERDALE HOTEL HOLDCO, L.L.C. | ||
| FT. LAUDERDALE LEASING HOLDCO, L.L.C. | ||
| HI CHAT-LEM/IOWA-NEW ORLEANS JOINT VENTURE | ||
| KNICKERBOCKER HOLDING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. | ||
| KNICKERBOCKER HOTEL OWNER GP, L.L.C. | ||
| KNICKERBOCKER HOTEL OWNER, L.L.C. | ||
| KNICKERBOCKER LEASING HOLDCO GP, L.L.C. | ||
| KNICKERBOCKER LEASING HOLDCO, L.L.C. | ||
| KNICKERBOCKER MASTER LESSEE, L.P. | ||
| KNICKERBOCKER TRS, L.L.C. | ||
| LOVEFIELD BEVERAGE CORPORATION | ||
| MIAMI AP HOTEL HOLDCO, L.L.C. | ||
| MIAMI AP HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| MINNEAPOLIS ES HOTEL, L.L.C. | ||
| MINNEAPOLIS ES LEASING, L.L.C. | ||
| MINNEAPOLIS HOTEL HOLDCO, L.L.C. | ||
| MINNEAPOLIS LEASING HOLDCO, L.L.C. | ||
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (No. 333-227054 and No. 333-227055) and Form S-8 (No. 333-174205 and No. 333-203947) of RLJ Lodging Trust of our report dated February 26, 2021 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedule and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
McLean, Virginia
February 26, 2021
EXHIBIT 31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Leslie D. Hale, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of RLJ Lodging Trust;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures, and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of trustees (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
| RLJ LODGING TRUST | |||||
| Dated: February 26,2021 | /s/ LESLIE D. HALE | ||||
| Leslie D. Hale | |||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
EXHIBIT 31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Sean M. Mahoney, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of RLJ Lodging Trust;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures, and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of trustees (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
| RLJ LODGING TRUST | |||||
| Dated: February 26,2021 | /s/ SEAN M. MAHONEY | ||||
| Sean M. Mahoney | |||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||
EXHIBIT 32.1
Certification Pursuant To
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of RLJ Lodging Trust (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Leslie D. Hale, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and I, Sean M. Mahoney, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, certify, to our knowledge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
| RLJ LODGING TRUST | |||||
| Dated: February 26,2021 | /s/ LESLIE D. HALE | ||||
| Leslie D. Hale | |||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
| /s/ SEAN M. MAHONEY | |||||
| Sean M. Mahoney | |||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||