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EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - Chatham Lodging Trustcldt-ex321_20180331.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - Chatham Lodging Trustcldt-ex312_20180331.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - Chatham Lodging Trustcldt-ex311_20180331.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018
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: 001-34693
 
CHATHAM LODGING TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
Maryland
 
27-1200777
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
222 Lakeview Avenue, Suite 200
 
 
West Palm Beach, Florida
 
33401
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
(561) 802-4477
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
 
 
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.    x  Yes    ¨  No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).    x  Yes    ¨  No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
¨
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    ¨  Yes    x  No
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
Outstanding at May 1, 2018
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest ($0.01 par value per share)
45,871,332



TABLE OF CONTENTS

2


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
CHATHAM LODGING TRUST
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
(unaudited)
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
Investment in hotel properties, net
$
1,314,504

 
$
1,320,082

Cash and cash equivalents
13,403

 
9,333

Restricted cash
25,398

 
27,166

Investment in unconsolidated real estate entities
23,491

 
24,389

Hotel receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $215 and $200, respectively)
5,293

 
4,047

Deferred costs, net
5,486

 
4,646

Prepaid expenses and other assets
5,555

 
2,523

Deferred tax asset, net
30

 
30

Total assets
$
1,393,160

 
$
1,392,216

Liabilities and Equity:
 
 
 
Mortgage debt, net
$
505,179

 
$
506,316

Revolving credit facility
34,000

 
32,000

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
31,775

 
31,692

Distributions and losses in excess of investments of unconsolidated real estate entities
7,458

 
6,582

Distributions payable
5,950

 
5,846

Total liabilities
584,362

 
582,436

Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)


 


Equity:
 
 
 
Shareholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
Preferred shares, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and unissued at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017

 

Common shares, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 45,869,600 and 45,375,266 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
459

 
450

Additional paid-in capital
882,586

 
871,730

Retained earnings (distributions in excess of retained earnings)
(81,311
)
 
(69,018
)
Total shareholders’ equity
801,734

 
803,162

Noncontrolling Interests:
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interest in Operating Partnership
7,064

 
6,618

Total equity
808,798

 
809,780

Total liabilities and equity
$
1,393,160

 
$
1,392,216

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3


CHATHAM LODGING TRUST
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
 
For the three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Revenue:
 
 
 
Room
$
66,251

 
$
64,393

Food and beverage
2,098

 
1,502

Other
3,027

 
2,446

Cost reimbursements from unconsolidated real estate entities
2,657

 
2,494

Total revenue
74,033

 
70,835

Expenses:
 
 
 
Hotel operating expenses:
 
 
 
Room
14,553

 
13,505

Food and beverage
1,740

 
1,252

Telephone
459

 
409

Other hotel operating
721

 
599

General and administrative
6,033

 
5,654

Franchise and marketing fees
5,525

 
5,302

Advertising and promotions
1,565

 
1,331

Utilities
2,699

 
2,370

Repairs and maintenance
3,624

 
3,252

Management fees
2,437

 
2,247

Insurance
333

 
333

Total hotel operating expenses
39,689

 
36,254

Depreciation and amortization
12,036

 
12,004

Property taxes, ground rent and insurance
5,775

 
4,788

General and administrative
3,622

 
3,268

Other charges
(14
)
 

Reimbursed costs from unconsolidated real estate entities
2,657

 
2,494

Total operating expenses
63,765

 
58,808

Operating income
10,268

 
12,027

Interest and other income
2

 
12

Interest expense, including amortization of deferred fees
(6,631
)
 
(6,993
)
Loss on sale of hotel property
(17
)
 

Loss from unconsolidated real estate entities
(754
)
 
(85
)
Income before income tax expense
2,868

 
4,961

Income tax expense

 
(317
)
Net income
2,868

 
4,644

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(20
)
 
(31
)
Net income attributable to common shareholders
$
2,848

 
$
4,613

 
 
 
 
Income per Common Share - Basic:
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common shareholders (Note 9)
$
0.06

 
$
0.12

Income per Common Share - Diluted:
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common shareholders (Note 9)
$
0.06

 
$
0.12

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
Basic
45,753,792

 
38,361,113

Diluted
46,022,690

 
38,573,928

Distributions declared per common share:
$
0.33

 
$
0.33

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4


CHATHAM LODGING TRUST
Consolidated Statements of Equity
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
 
 
Common Shares
 
Additional
Paid - In
Capital
 
Retained earnings (distributions in excess of retained earnings)
 
Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 
Noncontrolling
Interest in
Operating
Partnership
 
Total
Equity
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, January 1, 2017
38,367,014

 
$
380

 
$
722,019

 
$
(45,657
)
 
$
676,742

 
$
4,848

 
$
681,590

Issuance of shares pursuant to Equity Incentive Plan
23,980

 

 
500

 

 
500

 

 
500

Issuance of shares, net of offering costs of $197
6,665

 

 
(63
)
 

 
(63
)
 

 
(63
)
Issuance of restricted time-based shares
5,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of share based compensation

 

 
224

 

 
224

 
438

 
662

Dividends declared on common shares ($0.33 per share)

 

 

 
(12,686
)
 
(12,686
)
 

 
(12,686
)
Distributions declared on LTIP units ($0.33 per unit)

 

 

 

 

 
(207
)
 
(207
)
Reallocation of noncontrolling interest

 

 
164

 

 
164

 
(164
)
 

Net income

 

 

 
4,613

 
4,613

 
31

 
4,644

Balance, March 31, 2017
38,402,659

 
$
380

 
$
722,844

 
$
(53,730
)
 
$
669,494

 
$
4,946

 
$
674,440

Balance, January 1, 2018
45,375,266

 
$
450

 
$
871,730

 
$
(69,018
)
 
$
803,162

 
$
6,618

 
$
809,780

Issuance of shares pursuant to Equity Incentive Plan
21,670

 

 
500

 

 
500

 

 
500

Issuance of shares, net of offering costs of $255
472,664

 
9

 
10,273

 

 
10,282

 

 
10,282

Amortization of share based compensation

 

 
64

 

 
64

 
728

 
792

Dividends declared on common shares ($0.33 per share)

 

 

 
(15,141
)
 
(15,141
)
 

 
(15,141
)
Distributions declared on LTIP units ($0.33 per unit)

 

 

 

 

 
(283
)
 
(283
)
Reallocation of noncontrolling interest

 

 
19

 

 
19

 
(19
)
 

Net income

 

 

 
2,848

 
2,848

 
20

 
2,868

Balance, March 31, 2018
45,869,600

 
$
459

 
$
882,586

 
$
(81,311
)
 
$
801,734

 
$
7,064

 
$
808,798

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5


CHATHAM LODGING TRUST
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
 
For the three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
2,868

 
$
4,644

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation
11,978

 
11,950

Amortization of deferred franchise fees
58

 
54

Amortization of deferred financing fees included in interest expense
239

 
260

Share based compensation
918

 
787

Loss from unconsolidated real estate entities
754

 
85

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Hotel receivables
(1,244
)
 
(2,303
)
Deferred tax asset

 
426

Deferred costs
(117
)
 
(24
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(3,041
)
 
(2,435
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
1,013

 
1,219

Net cash provided by operating activities
13,426

 
14,663

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Improvements and additions to hotel properties
(6,947
)
 
(5,053
)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities
1,019

 

Net cash used in investing activities
(5,928
)
 
(5,053
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Borrowings on revolving credit facility
53,000

 
16,000

Repayments on revolving credit facility
(51,000
)
 
(12,000
)
Payments on mortgage debt
(1,227
)
 
(1,058
)
Payment of financing costs
(931
)
 

Payment of offering costs
(255
)
 
(197
)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares
10,537

 
134

Distributions-common shares/units
(15,320
)
 
(12,805
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(5,196
)
 
(9,926
)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
2,302

 
(316
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period
36,499

 
37,201

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
$
38,801

 
$
36,885

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest
$
6,195

 
$
6,564

Cash paid for income taxes
$
2

 
$
6

-continued-
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing information:
On January 16, 2018, the Company issued 21,670 shares to its independent trustees pursuant to the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan as compensation for services performed in 2017. On January 16, 2017, the Company issued 23,980 shares to its independent trustees pursuant to the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan as compensation for services performed in 2016.
As of March 31, 2018, the Company had accrued distributions payable of $5,950. These distributions were paid on April 27, 2018, except for $839 related to accrued but unpaid distributions on unvested performance based shares and LTIP units (See Note 8). As of March 31, 2017, the Company had accrued distributions payable of $4,831. These distributions were paid on April 28, 2017, except for $554 related to accrued but unpaid distributions on unvested performance based shares.
Accrued share based compensation of $125 and $125 is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Accrued capital improvements of $1,828 and $2,007 are included in accounts payable and accrued expenses as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

6


CHATHAM LODGING TRUST
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share data, unless otherwise specified)
(unaudited)
 
1.    Organization

Chatham Lodging Trust (“we,” “us” or the “Company”) was formed as a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”) on October 26, 2009. The Company is internally-managed and invests primarily in upscale extended-stay and premium-branded select-service hotels.
In January 2014, the Company established an At the Market Equity Offering ("Prior ATM Plan") whereby, from time to time, we may publicly offer and sell up to $50 million of our common shares by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"), in negotiated transactions or in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. ("Cantor") acting as sales agent. On January 13, 2015, the Company entered into a sales agreement with Barclays Capital Inc. (“Barclays”) to add Barclays as an additional sales agent under the Company’s Prior ATM Plan. We filed a $100 million registration statement for a new ATM program (the "ATM Plan" and together with the Prior ATM Plan, the "ATM Plans") on December 28, 2017 to replace the prior program. At the same time, the Company entered into sales agreements with Cantor, Barclays, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, ("Baird"), Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ("Citigroup"), Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated ("Stifel") and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC ("Wells Fargo") as sales agents. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we issued no shares under the ATM Plan. As of March 31, 2018, we had issued 2,147,695 shares under the ATM Plans at a weighted average price of $21.87. As of March 31, 2018, there was approximately $100.0 million available for issuance under the ATM Plan.
In January 2014, the Company established a $25 million dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan (the "Prior DRSPP"). We filed a new $50 million registration statement for the dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan (the "New DRSPP" and together with the Prior DRSPP, the "DRSPPs") on December 28, 2017 to replace the prior program. Under the DRSPPs, shareholders may purchase additional common shares by reinvesting some or all of the cash dividends received on the Company's common shares. Shareholders may also make optional cash purchases of the Company's common shares subject to certain limitations detailed in the prospectus for the DRSPPs. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we issued 466,497 shares under the New DRSPP at a weighted average price of $22.60, which generated $10.5 million of gross proceeds. As of March 31, 2018, we had issued 1,207,969 shares under the DRSPPs at a weighted average price of $21.62. As of March 31, 2018, there was approximately $39.5 million available for issuance under the New DRSPP.
The net proceeds from any share offerings or issuances are contributed to Chatham Lodging, L.P., our operating partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in exchange for partnership interests. Substantially all of the Company’s assets are held by, and all operations are conducted through, the Operating Partnership. Chatham Lodging Trust is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and owns 100% of the common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership. Certain of the Company’s executive officers hold vested and unvested long-term incentive plan units in the Operating Partnership ("LTIP units"), which are presented as non-controlling interests on our consolidated balance sheets.
As of March 31, 2018, the Company wholly owned 40 hotels with an aggregate of 6,020 rooms located in 15 states and the District of Columbia. As of March 31, 2018, the Company also (i) held a 10.3% noncontrolling interest in a joint venture (the “NewINK JV”) with affiliates of Colony NorthStar, Inc. ("CLNS"), which was formed in the second quarter of 2014 and acquired 47 hotels comprising an aggregate of 6,097 rooms from a joint venture (the "Innkeepers JV") between the Company and Cerberus Capital Management ("Cerberus") and (ii) held a 10.0% noncontrolling interest in a separate joint venture (the "Inland JV") with affiliates of CLNS, which was formed in the fourth quarter of 2014 and acquired 48 hotels from Inland American Real Estate Trust, Inc. ("Inland"), comprising an aggregate of 6,401 rooms. We sometimes refer to the NewINK JV and Inland JV collectively as the ("JVs").
To qualify as a REIT, the Company cannot operate the hotels. Therefore, the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries lease the Company's wholly owned hotels to taxable REIT subsidiary lessees (“TRS Lessees”), which are wholly owned by the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) holding company. The Company indirectly (i) owns its 10.3% interest in all of the 47 NewINK JV hotels and (ii) owns its 10% interest in all of the 48 Inland JV hotels through the Operating Partnership. All of the NewINK JV hotels and Inland JV hotels are leased to TRS Lessees, in which the Company indirectly owns noncontrolling interests through its TRS holding company. Each hotel is leased to a TRS Lessee under a percentage lease that provides for rental payments equal to the greater of (i) a fixed base rent amount or (ii) a percentage rent based on hotel revenue. The initial term of each of the TRS leases is 5 years. Lease revenue from each TRS Lessee is eliminated in consolidation.

7


The TRS Lessees have entered into management agreements with third-party management companies that provide day-to-day management for the hotels. As of March 31, 2018, Island Hospitality Management LLC (“IHM”), which is 51% owned by Jeffrey H. Fisher, the Company's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, managed all 40 of the Company’s wholly owned hotels. As of March 31, 2018, all of the NewINK JV hotels were managed by IHM. As of March 31, 2018, 34 of the Inland JV hotels were managed by IHM and 14 of the Inland JV hotels were managed by Marriott International, Inc. ("Marriott").

2.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and in conformity with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) applicable to interim financial information. These unaudited consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments consisting of normal, recurring adjustments which are considered necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of equity, and consolidated statements of cash flows for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of full year performance due to seasonal and other factors, including the timing of the acquisition of hotels.

The consolidated financial statements include all of the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the related notes thereto as of December 31, 2017, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recently Adopted Accounting Policies

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted accounting guidance under Accounting Standards Codification (ASU) Topic 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" on a modified retrospective basis. Our current revenue streams are not affected under the new model and we did not recognize a cumulative effect adjustment as part of the modified retrospective method of adoption. Furthermore, the new accounting guidance will not materially impact the recognition of or the accounting for disposition of hotels, since we primarily dispose of hotels to third parties in exchange for cash with few contingencies. As it relates to capitalization of costs to acquire customer contracts, the Company has elected to use FASB’s practical expedient which allows us to expense costs to acquire customer contracts as they are incurred due to their short-term nature for a specified number of nights that never exceed one year. This guidance applies to all contracts as of the adoption date.
The Company has applied all relevant disclosures of this standard.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted accounting guidance under ASU 2016-15 ("ASU 2016-15"), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which clarifies and provides specific guidance on eight cash flow classification issues with an objective to reduce the current diversity in practice. The Company has certain cash payments and receipts related to debt extinguishment that will be affected by the new standard. The company has historically classified distributions received from equity method investments under the cumulative earnings approach. As such, no impact due to application of the new guidance. The Company has applied the new guidance on a retrospective basis.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted accounting guidance under ASU 2016-18 ("ASU 2016-18"), Restricted Cash, which requires that the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. This standard addresses presentation of restricted cash in the consolidated statements of cash flows only. Restricted cash represents purchase price deposits held in escrow for potential hotel acquisitions under contract and escrow reserves such as reserves for capital expenditures, property taxes or insurance that are required pursuant to the Company's loans. The Company has applied the new guidance on a retrospective basis.

8



Recently Issued Accounting Standards

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 (“ASU 2016-02”), Leases, which relates to the accounting for leasing transactions.  This standard requires a lessee to record on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases with lease terms of more than 12 months.  In addition, this standard requires both lessees and lessors to disclose certain key information about lease transactions.  Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for similarly to existing guidance for operating leases today. The Company is the lessee on certain air/land rights arrangements and an office lease and expects to record right of use assets and lease liabilities for these leases under the new standard. This guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2019, however, early adoption is permitted. The standard requires a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. The Company is evaluating the impact that ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.


3.    Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts at a level believed to be adequate to absorb estimated probable losses. That estimate is based on past loss experience, current economic and market conditions and other relevant factors. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $0.2 million and $0.2 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

4.    Investment in Hotel Properties

Investment in hotel properties as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Land and improvements
$
291,053

 
$
291,054

Building and improvements
1,142,375

 
1,140,477

Furniture, fixtures and equipment
64,051

 
63,443

Renovations in progress
17,148

 
13,262

 
1,514,627

 
1,508,236

Less: accumulated depreciation
(200,123
)
 
(188,154
)
Investment in hotel properties, net
$
1,314,504

 
$
1,320,082

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company identified indicators of impairment at its Washington PA SHS hotel, primarily due to decreased operating performance and continued economic weakness. As such, the Company was required to perform a test of recoverability. This test compared the sum of the estimated future undiscounted cash flow attributable to the hotel over its remaining anticipated holding period and its expected value upon disposition to our carrying value for the hotel. The Company determined that the estimated undiscounted future cash flow attributable to the hotel did not exceed its carrying value and an impairment existed. As a result, the Company recorded a $6.7 million impairment charge in the consolidated statements of operations during the year ended December 31, 2017. Fair value was determined based on a discounted cash flow model using our estimates of future cash flows and third-party market data, considered Level 3 inputs. We may record additional impairment charges if operating results of this hotel are materially different from our forecasts, the economy and lodging industry weakens, or we shorten our contemplated holding period. There were no impairments as of March 31, 2018.

9


5.    Investment in Unconsolidated Entities

 On June 9, 2014, the Company acquired a 10.3% interest in the NewINK JV, a joint venture between affiliates of NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. ("NorthStar") and the Operating Partnership. The Company accounts for this investment under the equity method. NorthStar merged with Colony Capital, Inc. ("Colony") on January 10, 2017 to form a new company, CLNS, which owns a 89.7% interest in the NewINK JV. The values of NewINK JV assets and liabilities were adjusted to reflect estimated fair market value at the time Colony merged with NorthStar. As of March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company’s share of partners’ capital in the NewINK JV was approximately $50.6 million and $46.6 million, respectively, and the total difference between the carrying amount of investment and the Company’s share of partners’ capital was approximately $58.1 million and $52.4 million, respectively, (for which the basis difference related to amortizing assets is being recognized over the life of the related assets as a basis difference adjustment). The Company serves as managing member of the NewINK JV. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company received cash distributions from the NewINK JV as follows (in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Cash generated from other activities and excess cash
$
719

 
$
822

 
Total
$
719

 
$
822

 

On November 17, 2014, the Company acquired a 10.0% interest in the Inland JV, a joint venture between affiliates of NorthStar and the Operating Partnership. The Company accounts for this investment under the equity method. NorthStar merged with Colony Capital, Inc. ("Colony") on January 10, 2017 to form a new company, CLNS, which owns a 90.0% interest in the Inland JV.  The values of Inland JV assets and liabilities were adjusted to reflect estimated fair market value at the time Colony merged with NorthStar. As of March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company's share of partners' capital in the Inland JV was approximately $34.4 million and $28.2 million, respectively, and the total difference between the carrying amount of the investment and the Company's share of partners' capital is approximately $10.9 million and $8.1 million, respectively (for which the basis difference related to amortizing assets is being recognized over the life of the related assets as a basis difference adjustment).  The Company serves as managing member of the Inland JV. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company received cash distributions from the Inland JV as follows (in thousands):

 
For the three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Cash generated from other activities and excess cash
$
300

 
$

Total
$
300

 
$



On May 9, 2017, the NewINK JV refinanced the $840.0 million loan collateralized by the 47 hotels with a new $850.0 million loan. The new non-recourse loan is with Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. The new loan bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a spread of 2.79%, has an initial maturity of June 7, 2019 and three one-year extension options.

On June 9, 2017, the Inland JV refinanced the $817.0 million loan collateralized by the 48 hotels with a new $780.0 million non-recourse loan with Column Financial, Inc. On June 9, 2017, the Company contributed an additional $5.0 million of capital related to its share in the Inland JV to reduce the debt collateralized by the 48 hotels. The new loan bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a spread of 3.3%, has an initial maturity of July 9, 2019 and three one-year extension options.


10


The Company’s ownership interests in the JVs are subject to change in the event that either the Company or CLNS calls for additional capital contributions to the respective JVs necessary for the conduct of business, including contributions to fund costs and expenses related to capital expenditures. In connection with (i) the non-recourse mortgage loan secured by the NewINK JV properties and the related non-recourse mezzanine loan secured by the membership interests in the owners of the NewINK JV properties  and (ii)  the non-recourse mortgage loan secured by the Inland JV properties, the Operating Partnership provided the applicable lenders with customary environmental indemnities, as well as  guarantees of certain customary non-recourse carve-out provisions such as fraud, material and intentional misrepresentations and misapplication of funds.  In some circumstances, such as the bankruptcy of the applicable borrowers, the guarantees are for the full amount of the outstanding debt, but in most circumstances,  the guarantees are capped at 15% of the debt outstanding at the time in question (in the case of the NewINK JV loans) or 20% of the debt outstanding at the time in question (in the case of the Inland JV loans).  In connection with each of the NewINK JV and Inland JV loans, the Operating Partnership has entered into a contribution agreement with its JV partner whereby the JV partner is, in most cases, responsible to cover such JV partner’s pro rata share of any amounts due by the Operating Partnership under the applicable guarantees and environmental indemnities. The Company manages the JVs and will receive a promote interest in each applicable JV if it meets certain return thresholds for such JV. CLNS may also approve certain actions by the JVs without the Company’s consent, including certain property dispositions conducted at arm’s length, certain actions related to the restructuring of the applicable JV and removal of the Company as managing member in the event the Company fails to fulfill its material obligations under the applicable joint venture agreement.
The Company's investment in the NewINK JV and the Inland JV were $(7.5) million and $23.5 million, respectively, at March 31, 2018 and $(6.6) million and $24.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017. The following table sets forth the combined components of net income (loss), including the Company’s share, related to all JVs for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

 
For the three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Revenue
$
110,174

 
$
108,574

Total hotel operating expenses
78,024

 
74,957

Operating income
$
32,150

 
$
33,617

Net income from continuing operations
$
(11,401
)
 
$
(7,513
)
Net loss
$
(11,401
)
 
$
(7,513
)
 
 
 
 
Loss allocable to the Company
$
(1,153
)
 
$
(760
)
Basis difference adjustment
399

 
675

Total loss from unconsolidated real estate entities attributable to the Company
$
(754
)
 
$
(85
)

11



6.    Debt

The Company’s mortgage loans are collateralized by first-mortgage liens on certain of the Company’s properties. The mortgages are non-recourse except for instances of fraud or misapplication of funds. Mortgage and senior unsecured revolving credit facility debt consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
Collateral
Interest
Rate
 
Maturity Date
 
3/31/18
Property
Carrying
Value
 
Balance Outstanding on Loan as of
March 31, 2018
 
December 31,
2017
Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility (1)
3.80
%
 
March 8, 2022
 
$

 
$
34,000

 
$
32,000

Residence Inn by Marriott New Rochelle, NY
5.75
%
 
September 1, 2021
 
19,030

 
13,662

 
13,762

Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego, CA
4.66
%
 
February 6, 2023
 
46,511

 
28,321

 
28,469

Homewood Suites by Hilton San Antonio, TX
4.59
%
 
February 6, 2023
 
31,987

 
16,168

 
16,253

Residence Inn by Marriott Vienna, VA
4.49
%
 
February 6, 2023
 
30,125

 
22,132

 
22,251

Courtyard by Marriott Houston, TX
4.19
%
 
May 6, 2023
 
32,209

 
18,274

 
18,375

Hyatt Place Pittsburgh, PA
4.65
%
 
July 6, 2023
 
35,472

 
22,323

 
22,437

Residence Inn by Marriott Bellevue, WA
4.97
%
 
December 6, 2023
 
66,982

 
45,262

 
45,462

Residence Inn by Marriott Garden Grove, CA
4.79
%
 
April 6, 2024
 
38,208

 
33,022

 
33,160

Residence Inn by Marriott Silicon Valley I, CA
4.64
%
 
July 1, 2024
 
78,893

 
64,800

 
64,800

Residence Inn by Marriott Silicon Valley II, CA
4.64
%
 
July 1, 2024
 
86,144

 
70,700

 
70,700

Residence Inn by Marriott San Mateo, CA
4.64
%
 
July 1, 2024
 
62,486

 
48,600

 
48,600

Residence Inn by Marriott Mountain View, CA
4.64
%
 
July 6, 2024
 
55,768

 
37,900

 
37,900

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Savannah, GA
4.62
%
 
July 6, 2024
 
36,099

 
30,000

 
30,000

Hilton Garden Inn Marina del Rey, CA
4.68
%
 
July 6, 2024
 
41,642

 
21,657

 
21,760

Homewood Suites by Hilton Billerica, MA
4.32
%
 
December 6, 2024
 
13,133

 
16,159

 
16,225

Hampton Inn & Suites Houston Medical Center, TX
4.25
%
 
January 6, 2025
 
15,007

 
18,247

 
18,300

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total debt before unamortized debt issue costs
 
 
 
 
$
689,696

 
$
541,227

 
$
540,454

Unamortized mortgage debt issue costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2,048
)
 
(2,138
)
Total debt outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
539,179

 
$
538,316

 
(1)
The interest rate for the senior unsecured revolving credit facility is variable and based on either LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.55% to 2.3%, or prime plus an applicable margin of 0.55% to 1.3%.

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had $34.0 million and $32.0 million, respectively, of outstanding borrowings under its senior unsecured revolving credit facility. At March 31, 2018, the maximum borrowing availability under the senior unsecured revolving credit facility was $250.0 million.
The Company estimates the fair value of its fixed rate debt by discounting the future cash flows of each instrument at estimated market rates. All of the Company's mortgage loans are fixed-rate. Rates take into consideration general market conditions, quality and estimated value of collateral and maturity of debt with similar credit terms and are classified within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The estimated fair value of the Company’s fixed rate debt as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $496.7 million and $506.6 million, respectively.
The Company estimates the fair value of its variable rate debt by taking into account general market conditions and the estimated credit terms it could obtain for debt with similar maturity and is classified within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. As of March 31, 2018, the Company’s only variable rate debt is under its senior unsecured revolving credit facility. The estimated fair value of the Company’s variable rate debt as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $34.0 million and $32.0 million, respectively.

12


As of March 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all of its financial covenants. At March 31, 2018, the Company’s consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio was 3.2 and the bank covenant is 1.5. Future scheduled principal payments of debt obligations as of March 31, 2018, for the current year and each of the next four calendar years and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):
 
Amount
2018 (remaining nine months)
$
4,556

2019
6,992

2020
9,536

2021
21,883

2022
43,954

2023
142,036

Thereafter
312,270

Total debt before unamortized debt issue costs
$
541,227

Unamortized mortgage debt issue costs
(2,048
)
Total debt outstanding
$
539,179


7.    Income Taxes

The Company’s TRS is subject to federal and state income taxes.
The components of income tax expense for the following periods are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
For the three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Federal
$

 
$
271

State

 
46

Tax expense (benefit)
$

 
$
317

As of each reporting date, the Company's management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact management's view with regard to future realization of deferred tax assets. The Company's TRS is expecting increased taxable losses in 2018. As of March 31, 2018, the TRS continues to recognize a full valuation allowance equal to 100% of the gross deferred tax assets, with the exception of the AMT tax credit, due to the uncertainty of the TRS's ability to utilize these deferred tax assets. Management will continue to monitor the need for a valuation allowance.

8.    Dividends Declared and Paid

The Company declared total common share dividends of $0.33 per share and distributions on LTIP units of $0.33 per unit for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The dividends and distributions were as follows:
 
 
Record
Date
 
Payment
Date
 
Common
share
distribution
amount
 
LTIP
unit
distribution
amount
January
1/31/2018
 
2/23/2018
 
$
0.11

 
$
0.11

February
2/28/2018
 
3/30/2018
 
0.11

 
0.11

March
3/29/2018
 
4/27/2018
 
0.11

 
0.11

1st Quarter 2018
 
 
 
 
$
0.33

 
$
0.33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total 2018
 
 
 
 
$
0.33

 
$
0.33


13



9.    Earnings Per Share

The two-class method is used to determine earnings per share because unvested restricted shares and unvested LTIP units are considered to be participating shares. The LTIP units held by the non-controlling interest holders, which may be converted to common shares of beneficial interest, have been excluded from the denominator of the diluted earnings per share calculation as there would be no effect on the amounts since limited partners' share of income or loss would also be added back to net income or loss. Unvested restricted shares, unvested long-term incentive plan units and unvested Class A Performance LTIP units that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future would not be included in the computation of diluted loss per share, for the periods where a loss has been recorded, because they would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented. The following is a reconciliation of the amounts used in calculating basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except share and per share data):
 
For the three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Numerator:
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common shareholders
$
2,848

 
$
4,613

Dividends paid on unvested shares and units
(63
)
 
(42
)
Undistributed earnings allocated to unvested shares and units

 

Net income attributable to common shareholders
$
2,785

 
$
4,571

Denominator:
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares - basic
45,753,792

 
38,361,113

Unvested shares
268,898

 
212,815

Weighted average number of common shares - diluted
46,022,690

 
38,573,928

Basic income per Common Share:
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common shareholders per weighted average basic common share
$
0.06

 
$
0.12

Diluted income per Common Share:
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common shareholders per weighted average diluted common share
$
0.06

 
$
0.12


14


10.    Equity Incentive Plan

The Company maintains its Equity Incentive Plan to attract and retain independent trustees, executive officers and other key employees and service providers. The plan provides for the grant of options to purchase common shares, share awards, share appreciation rights, performance units and other equity-based awards. The plan was amended and restated as of May 17, 2013 to increase the maximum number of shares available under the plan to 3,000,000 shares. Share awards under this plan generally vest over three years, though compensation for the Company’s independent trustees includes share grants that vest immediately. The Company pays dividends on unvested shares and units, except for performance based shares and outperformance based units, for which dividends on unvested performance based shares and units are not paid until those shares or units vest. Certain awards may provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control. In January 2018 and 2017, the Company issued 21,670 and 23,980 common shares, respectively, to its independent trustees as compensation for services performed in 2017 and 2016, respectively. The quantity of shares was calculated based on the average of the closing price for the Company’s common shares on the NYSE for the last ten trading days of 2017. The Company would have distributed 6,491 common shares for services performed in 2018 had this liability classified award been satisfied as of March 31, 2018. As of March 31, 2018, there were 1,405,529 common shares available for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan.
Restricted Share Awards
A summary of the shares granted to executive officers that have not fully vested pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan as of March 31, 2018 is as follows:
Award Type
Award Date
 
Total Shares Granted
 
Vested as of March 31, 2018
2015 Time-based Awards
1/30/2015
 
40,161

 
40,161

2015 Performance-based Awards
1/30/2015
 
36,144

 
12,048

2015 Time-based Awards
6/1/2015
 
8,949

 
5,966

2017 Restricted Board Awards
1/11/2017
 
5,000

 
1,666

Time-based share awards vest over a three-year period. The performance-based share awards will be issued and vest over a three-year period only if and to the extent that long-term performance criteria established by the Board of Trustees are met and the recipient remains employed by the Company through the vesting date.
The Company measures compensation expense for time-based share awards based upon the fair market value of its common shares at the date of grant. For the performance-based shares granted in 2015, compensation expense is based on a valuation of $21.21, per performance share granted, which takes into account that some or all of the awards may not vest if long-term performance criteria are not met during the vesting period. The 2015 performance-based shares did not meet the vesting criteria for 2016 or 2017 causing those shares not to be eligible for future vesting.
The grant date fair values of the performance-based share awards were determined using a Monte Carlo simulation method with the following assumptions:
Performance Award
 
 
 
 
 
Risk Free Interest
Grant Date
 
Volatility
 
Dividend Yield
 
Rate
1/30/2015
 
29%
 
—%
 
0.84%
Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period and is included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company pays dividends on unvested time-based restricted shares. Dividends for performance-based shares are accrued and paid annually only if and to the extent that long-term performance criteria established by the Board of Trustees are met and the recipient remains employed by the Company on the vesting date.

15


A summary of the Company’s restricted share awards for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017 is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Year Ended
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Number of
Shares
 
Weighted -
Average  Grant
Date Fair
Value
 
Number of
Shares
 
Weighted -
Average  Grant
Date Fair
Value
Non-vested at beginning of the period
57,514

 
$
23.78

 
110,825

 
$
22.05

Granted

 

 
5,000

 
20.20

Vested
(27,101
)
 
25.77

 
(32,441
)
 
25.77

Forfeited
(24,096
)
 
$
21.21

 
(25,870
)
 
$
13.17

Non-vested at end of the period
6,317

 
$
23.78

 
57,514

 
$
23.78

    
As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of unrecognized compensation costs related to restricted share awards. As of March 31, 2018, these costs were expected to be recognized over a weighted–average period of approximately 1.5 years. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of expense related to the restricted share awards. This expense is included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Long-Term Incentive Plan Units

LTIP units are a special class of partnership interests in the Operating Partnership which may be issued to eligible participants for the performance of services to or for the benefit of the Company. Under the Equity Incentive Plan, each LTIP unit issued is deemed equivalent to an award of one common share thereby reducing the availability for other equity awards on a one-for-one basis. The Company does not receive a tax deduction for the value of any LTIP units granted to employees. LTIP units, whether vested or not, receive the same per unit profit distributions as other outstanding units of the Operating Partnership, which profit distribution will generally equal per share dividends on the Company’s common shares. Initially, LTIP units have a capital account balance of zero, and do not have full parity with common units with respect to liquidating distributions. The Operating Partnership will revalue its assets upon the occurrence of certain specified events and any increase in valuation will be allocated first to the holders of LTIP units to equalize the capital accounts of such holders with the capital accounts of the Operating Partnership unit holders. If such parity is reached, vested LTIP units may be converted by the holder, at any time, into an equal number of common units in the Operating Partnership, which may be redeemed, at the option of the holder, for cash or at the Company’s option an equivalent number of the Company’s common shares.

A summary of the Company's LTIP Unit awards for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017 is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Year Ended
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Number of
Shares
 
Weighted -
Average  Grant
Date Fair
Value
 
Number of
Shares
 
Weighted -
Average  Grant
Date Fair
Value
Non-vested at beginning of the period
482,056

 
$
16.58

 
295,551

 
$
14.36

Granted
244,917

 
16.94

 
223,922

 
19.20

Vested
(67,275
)
 
16.42

 
(37,417
)
 
14.73

Non-vested at end of the period
659,698

 
$
20.08

 
482,056

 
$
16.58



16


On June 1, 2015, the Company's Operating Partnership granted 183,300 Class A Performance LTIP units, as recommended by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”), pursuant to a long-term, multi-year performance plan (the “Outperformance Plan”). The awards granted pursuant to the Outperformance Plan are subject to two separate performance measurements, with 60% of the award (the "Absolute Award") based solely on the Company's total shareholder return ("TSR") (the "Absolute TSR Component") and 40% of the award (the "Relative Award") measured by the Company's TSR (the "Relative TSR Component") relative to the other companies (the "Index Companies") that were constituents of the SNL US REIT Hotel Index (the "Index") during the entire measurement period. Under the Absolute TSR Component, 37.5% of the Absolute Award is earned if the Company achieves a 25% TSR over the measurement period. That percentage increases on a linear basis with the full Absolute Award being earned at a 50% TSR over the measurement period. For TSR performance below 25%, no portion of the Absolute Award will be earned. Under the Relative TSR Component, 37.5% of the Relative Award is earned if the Company is at the 50th percentile of the Index Companies at the end of the measurement period. That percentage increases on a linear basis with the full Relative Award earned if the Company is at the 75th percentile of the Index Companies at the end of the measurement period. If the Company is below the 50th percentile of the Index Companies at the end of the measurement period, no portion of the Relative Award will be earned. Compensation expense is based on an estimated value of $14.13 per Class A Performance LTIP unit, which takes into account that some or all of the awards may not vest if long-term performance criteria are not met during the vesting period. Awards earned under the Outperformance Plan will vest 50% at the end of the three-year measurement period on June 1, 2018 and 25% each on the one-year and two-year anniversaries of the end of the three-year measurement period, or June 1, 2019 and 2020, respectively, and provided that the recipient remains employed by the Company through the vesting dates. In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the executive officers’ employment agreements), Outperformance Plan awards will be earned contingent upon the attainment of a pro rata TSR hurdle for the Absolute Award and achievement of the relative TSR percentile for the Relative Award based upon the in-place formula and using the Change of Control as the end of measurement period. Vesting continues to apply to awards earned upon a Change of Control, subject to full acceleration upon termination without cause or resignation for good reason within 18 months of the Change of Control. Prior to vesting, holders of Class A Performance LTIP Units will not be entitled to vote their Class A Performance LTIP units. In addition, under the terms of the Class A Performance LTIP units, a holder of a Class A Performance LTIP unit will generally (i) be entitled to receive 10% of the distributions made on a common unit of the Operating Partnership during the period prior to vesting of such Class A Performance LTIP unit (the “Pre-Vesting Distributions”), (ii) be entitled, upon the vesting of such Class A Performance LTIP unit, to receive a special one-time “catch-up” distribution equal to the aggregate amount of distributions that were paid on a common unit during the period prior to vesting of such Class A Performance LTIP unit minus the aggregate amount of Pre-Vesting Distributions paid on such Class A Performance LTIP unit, and (iii) be entitled, following the vesting of such Class A Performance LTIP unit, to receive the same amount of distributions paid on a common unit of the Operating Partnership.
    
Time-Based Equity Incentive Awards

On March 1, 2018, the Company’s Operating Partnership, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, granted 97,968 time-based awards (the “2018 Time-Based LTIP Unit Award”). The grants were made pursuant to award agreements that provide for time-based vesting (the "LTIP Unit Time-Based Vesting Agreement").

A summary of time-based LTIP unit awards granted, as recommended by the Compensation Committee, are as follows:

Grant Date
 
Number of Shares Granted
 
Estimated Value Per Share
 
Vesting 1st Year Date
 
Vesting 2nd Year Date
 
Vesting 3rd Year Date
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
January 28, 2016
 
72,966

 
$
16.69

 
1/28/2017
 
1/28/2018
 
1/28/2019
March 1, 2017
 
89,574

 
$
18.53

 
3/1/2018
 
3/1/2019
 
3/1/2020
March 1, 2018
 
97,968

 
$
16.83

 
3/1/2019
 
3/1/2020
 
3/1/2021
    
Time-based LTIP Unit Awards will vest ratably provided that the recipient remains employed by the Company through the applicable vesting date, subject to acceleration of vesting in the event of the recipient’s death, disability, termination without cause or resignation with good reason, or in the event of a change of control of the Company. Prior to vesting, a holder is entitled to receive distributions on the LTIP Units that comprise the 2018 Time-Based LTIP Unit Awards and the prior year LTIP unit Awards set forth in the table above.



17


Performance-Based Equity Incentive Awards
On January 28, 2016, the Company’s Operating Partnership, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, also granted 39,285 performance-based LTIP unit awards (the "2016 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards"). The grants were made pursuant to award agreements that provide for performance-based vesting. The 2016 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards are comprised of Class A Performance LTIP Units that will vest only if and to the extent that (i) the Company achieves certain long-term performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee and (ii) the recipient remains employed by the Company through the applicable vesting date, subject to acceleration of vesting in the event of the recipient’s death, disability, termination without cause or resignation with good reason, or in the event of a change of control of the Company. Compensation expense is based on an estimated value of $11.09 per 2016 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Award, which takes into account that some or all of the awards may not vest if long-term performance criteria are not met during the vesting period.

The 2016 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards vest based on the following:

(a) The number of Class A Performance LTIP Units that most nearly equals (but does not exceed) one-third of the Class A Performance LTIP Units issued pursuant to such 2016 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Award shall vest on January 28, 2017, if the Total Shareholder Return for the 12-month period beginning January 28, 2016 and ending on January 27, 2017 is 8% or more. The units available for vesting did vest on January 28, 2017.

(b) The number of Class A Performance LTIP Units that most nearly equals (but does not exceed) one-third of the Class A Performance LTIP Units issued pursuant to such 2016 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Award shall vest on January 28, 2018, if the Total Shareholder Return for the 12-month period beginning January 28, 2017 and ending on January 27, 2018 is 8% or more. The units available for vesting did vest on January 28, 2018.

(c) The number of Class A Performance LTIP Units that most nearly equals (but does not exceed) one-third of the Class A Performance LTIP Units issued pursuant to such 2016 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Award shall vest on January 28, 2019, if the Total Shareholder Return for the 12-month period beginning January 28, 2018 and ending on January 27, 2019 is 8% or more.

(d) All of the Class A Performance LTIP Units issued pursuant to such 2016 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Award (less any Class A Performance LTIP Units that previously vested under paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) above), shall vest on January 28, 2019, if the average Total Shareholder Return for the 36-month period ending on January 27, 2019 is 8% or more.

For purposes of the 2016 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards, "Total Shareholder Return" means, with respect to the measurement periods described in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, the total percentage return per common share of the Company based on the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the NYSE on the last trading day immediately preceding the first day of the applicable measurement period compared to the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the NYSE on the last trading day of such measurement period and assuming contemporaneous reinvestment in Company common shares of all dividends and other distributions at the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the date such dividend or other distribution was paid.

On March 1, 2017, the Company's Operating Partnership, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, granted 134,348 performance-based awards (the "2017 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards"). The grants were made pursuant to award agreements that provide for performance-based vesting. The 2017 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards are comprised of Class A Performance LTIP Units that will vest only if and to the extent that (i) the Company achieves certain long-term performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee and (ii) the recipient remains employed by the Company through the vesting date, subject to acceleration of vesting in the event of the recipient’s death, disability, termination without cause or resignation with good reason, or in the event of a change of control of the Company. Compensation expense is based on an estimated value of $19.65 per 2017 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Award, which takes into account that some or all of the awards may not vest if long-term performance criteria are not met during the vesting period.

18


On March 1, 2018, the Company's Operating Partnership, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, also granted 146,949 performance-based awards (the "2018 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards"). The grants were made pursuant to award agreements that provide for performance-based vesting. The 2018 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards are comprised of Class A Performance LTIP Units that will vest only if and to the extent that (i) the Company achieves certain long-term performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee and (ii) the recipient remains employed by the Company through the vesting date, subject to acceleration of vesting in the event of the recipient’s death, disability, termination without cause or resignation with good reason, or in the event of a change of control of the Company. Compensation expense is based on an estimated value of $17.02 per 2018 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Award, which takes into account that some or all of the awards may not vest if long-term performance criteria are not met during the vesting period.

The 2017 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards may be earned based on the Company’s relative TSR performance for the three-year period beginning on March 1, 2017 and ending on February 28, 2020. The 2018 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards may be earned based on the Company’s relative TSR performance for the three-year period beginning on March 1, 2018 and ending on February 28, 2021. The 2017 and 2018 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards, if earned, will be paid out between 50% and 150% of target value as follows:

 
Relative TSR Hurdles (Percentile)
 
Payout Percentage
Threshold
25th
 
50%
Target
50th
 
100%
Maximum
75th
 
150%

Payouts at performance levels in between the hurdles will be calculated by straight-line interpolation. The TSR hurdles are based on the Company’s performance relative to the average TSR for the companies included in the SNL US Hotel REIT Index. TSR will be calculated to include share price appreciation plus dividends assuming the reinvestment of dividends as calculated by a third-party such as SNL Financial. The Company will estimate the aggregate compensation cost to be recognized over the service period determined as of the grant date under ASC 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures, and will calculate the value at the grant date based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions.

A holder of a Class A Performance LTIP Unit will generally (i) only be entitled, during the period prior to the vesting of such Class A Performance LTIP Unit, to receive 10% of the distributions made on a common unit of limited partnership interest (“Common Unit”) in the Operating Partnership (the “Pre-Vesting Distributions”), and (ii) be entitled, upon the vesting of such Class A Performance LTIP Unit, to a special one-time “catch-up” distribution equal to the aggregate amount of distributions that were paid on a Common Unit during the period prior to vesting of such Class A Performance LTIP Unit minus the aggregate amount of Pre-Vesting Distributions paid on such Class A Performance LTIP Unit. In addition, prior to the vesting of a Class A Performance LTIP Unit, the holder of such Class A Performance LTIP Unit will not be entitled to vote on such Class A Performance LTIP Unit.

The LTIP units' fair value was determined using a Monte Carlo approach. In determining the discounted value of the LTIP units, the Company considered the inherent uncertainty that the LTIP units would never reach parity with the other common units of the Operating Partnership and thus have an economic value of zero to the grantee. Additional factors considered in reaching the assumptions of uncertainty included discounts for illiquidity; expectations for future dividends; significant dependency on the efforts and services of our executive officers and other key members of management to implement the Company's business plan; available acquisition opportunities; and economic environment and conditions.

The grant date fair value of the performance LTIP awards were determined using a Monte Carlo simulation method with the following assumptions (based on the three-year risk free U.S. Treasury yield over the measurement period of the LTIP awards):

19


 
Grant Date
Volatility
Dividend Yield
Risk Free Interest Rate
Discount
Outperformance Plan
6/1/2015
26%
4.5%
0.95%
—%
2016 Time-Based LTIP Unit Awards
1/28/2016
28%
—%
0.79%
7.5%
2016 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards
1/28/2016
30%
5.8%
1.13%
—%
2017 Time-Based LTIP Unit Awards
3/1/2017
24%
—%
0.92%
7.5%
2017 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards
3/1/2017
25%
5.8%
1.47%
—%
2018 Time-Based LTIP Unit Awards
3/1/2018
26%
—%
2.07%
7.5%
2018 Performance-Based LTIP Unit Awards
3/1/2018
26%
6.2%
2.37%
—%
The Company recorded $0.7 million and $0.4 million in compensation expense related to the LTIP units for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there was $7.8 million and $4.4 million, respectively, of total unrecognized compensation cost related to LTIP units. This cost is expected to be recognized over approximately 2.4 years, which represents the weighted average remaining vesting period of the LTIP units. As of June 1, 2017, the Company determined that a revaluation event occurred, as defined in the Code, and 112,251 and 223,922 LTIP units awarded in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and held by six officers of the Company had achieved full parity with the common units of the Operating Partnership with respect to liquidating distributions and all other purposes. As of March 31, 2018, 66% and 33% of these time-based and performance based units awarded in 2016 and time-based units awarded 2017, respectively, have vested. Accordingly, these LTIP units awarded in 2010, 2016 and 2017 are allocated their pro-rata share of the Company's net income. The cumulative number of LTIPs that have achieved full parity are 593,948 of the total LTIPs granted of 1,022,165.

11.    Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

The nature of the operations of the Company's hotels exposes those hotels, the Company and the Operating Partnership to the risk of claims and litigation in the normal course of their business. IHM is currently a defendant in two (2) related class action lawsuits pending in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. The first class action lawsuit was filed on October 21, 2016 under the title Ruffy, et al, v. Island Hospitality Management, LLC, et al. Case No. 16-CV-301473 and the second class action was filed on March 21, 2018 under the title Doonan, et al, v. Island Hospitality Management, LLC, et al. Case No. 18-CV-325187. The class actions relate to hotels operated by IHM in the state of California and owned by affiliates of the Company and the NewINK JV, and/or certain third parties. The complaints allege various wage and hour law violations based on alleged misclassification of certain hotel managerial staff and violation of certain California statutes regarding incorrect information contained on employee paystubs. The plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, money damages, penalties, and interest. None of the potential classes has been certified and we are defending our case vigorously. As of March 31, 2018, included in accounts payable is $0.2 million which represents an estimate of the Company’s total exposure to the litigation and is also its estimated maximum possible loss that the Company may incur.

Hotel Ground Rent

The Courtyard Altoona hotel is subject to a ground lease with an expiration date of April 30, 2029 with an extension option by the Company of up to 12 additional terms of five years each. Monthly payments are determined by the quarterly average room occupancy of the hotel. Rent is currently equal to approximately $8,000 per month when monthly occupancy is less than 85% and can increase up to approximately $20,000 per month if occupancy is 100%, with minimum rent increased by two and one-half percent (2.5%) on an annual basis.

The Residence Inn Gaslamp hotel is subject to a ground lease with an expiration date of January 31, 2065 with an extension option by the Company of up to three additional terms of ten years each. Monthly payments are currently approximately $40,000 per month and increase 10% every five years. The hotel is subject to annual supplemental rent payments calculated as 5% of gross revenues during the applicable lease year, minus 12 times the monthly base rent scheduled for the lease year.

20


The Residence Inn New Rochelle is subject to an air rights lease and garage lease that each expire on December 1, 2104. The lease agreements with the City of New Rochelle cover the space above the parking garage that is occupied by the hotel as well as 128 parking spaces in a parking garage that is attached to the hotel. The annual base rent for the garage lease is the hotel’s proportionate share of the city’s adopted budget for the operations, management and maintenance of the garage and established reserves to fund for the cost of capital repairs. Aggregate rent for 2018 is approximately $26,000 per quarter.
The Hilton Garden Inn Marina del Rey hotel is subject to a ground lease with an expiration date of December 31, 2067. Minimum monthly payments are currently approximately $47,500 per month and a percentage rent payment equal to 5% to 25% of gross income based on the type of income less the minimum rent is due in arrears.
Office Lease
The Company entered into a new corporate office lease in September 2015. The lease is for a term of 11 years and includes a 12-month rent abatement period and certain tenant improvement allowances. The Company has a renewal option of up to two successive terms of five years each. The Company shares the space with related parties and is reimbursed for the pro-rata share of rentable space occupied by the related parties.
Future minimum rental payments under the terms of all non-cancellable operating ground leases and the office lease under which the Company is the lessee are expensed on a straight-line basis regardless of when payments are due. The following is a schedule of the minimum future payments required under the ground, air rights, garages leases and office lease as of March 31, 2018, for the remainder of 2018 and for each of the next five calendar years and thereafter (in thousands):
 
 
Other Leases(1)
 
Office Lease
 
Amount
2018 (remaining nine months)
$
953

 
$
581

2019
1,273

 
792

2020
1,320

 
812

2021
1,326

 
832

2022
1,329

 
853

2023
1,332

 
873

Thereafter
69,225

 
2,436

Total
$
76,758

 
$
7,179


(1) Other leases includes ground, garage and air rights leases at our hotels.
Management Agreements
The management agreements with IHM have an initial term of five years and automatically renew for two five-year periods unless IHM provides written notice to us no later than 90 days prior to the then current term’s expiration date of their intent not to renew. The IHM management agreements provide for early termination at the Company’s option upon sale of any IHM-managed hotel for no termination fee, with six months advance notice. The IHM management agreements may be terminated for cause, including the failure of the managed hotel to meet specified performance levels. Base management fees are calculated as a percentage of the hotel's gross room revenue. If certain financial thresholds are met or exceeded, an incentive management fee is calculated as 10% of the hotel's net operating income less fixed costs, base management fees and a specified return threshold. The incentive management fee is capped at 1% of gross hotel revenues for the applicable calculation.

21


The company renewed six management agreements in 2017. The updated agreements are summarized as follows:
Property
Homewood Suites Billerica
Homewood Suites Bloomington
Homewood Suites Maitland
Homewood Suites Dallas
Homewood Suites Brentwood
Homewood Suites Farmington
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Renewal Date
4/1/2017

4/1/2017

5/1/2017

5/1/2017

6/1/2017

8/1/2017

Original Management Fee
2.0
%
2.0
%
2.0
%
2.0
%
2.0
%
2.0
%
Amended Management Fee
3.0
%
3.0
%
3.0
%
3.0
%
3.0
%
3.0
%
Original Monthly Accounting Fee
$
1,000

$
1,000

$
1,000

$
1,000

$
1,000

$
1,000

Amended Monthly Accounting Fee
$
1,200

$
1,200

$
1,200

$
1,200

$
1,200

$
1,200

Original Monthly Revenue Management Fee
$
550

$
550

$
550

$
550

$
550

$
550

Amended Monthly Revenue Management Fee
$
1,000

$
1,000

$
1,000

$
1,000

$
1,000

$
1,000

Management fees totaled approximately $2.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Franchise Agreements
The fees associated with the franchise agreements are calculated on the specified percentage of the hotel's gross room revenue. Franchise and marketing fees totaled approximately $5.5 million and $5.3 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

12.    Related Party Transactions

Mr. Fisher owns 51% of IHM. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had hotel management agreements with IHM to manage all 40 of its wholly owned hotels. As of March 31, 2018, all 47 hotels owned by the NewINK JV and 34 of the 48 hotels owned by the Inland JV are managed by IHM. Hotel management, revenue management and accounting fees accrued or paid to IHM for the hotels owned by the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were $2.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the amounts due to IHM were $1.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively.
Cost reimbursements from unconsolidated real estate entities revenue represent reimbursements of costs incurred on behalf of the NewINK JV, Inland JV and an entity, Castleblack Owner Holding, LLC ("Castleblack"), which is 97.5% owned by affiliates of CLNS and 2.5% owned by Mr. Fisher. These costs relate primarily to corporate payroll costs at the NewINK and Inland JVs where the Company is the employer. As the Company records cost reimbursements based upon costs incurred with no added markup, the revenue and related expense has no impact on the Company’s operating income or net income. Cost reimbursements from the JVs are recorded based upon the occurrence of a reimbursed activity.
Various shared office expenses and rent are paid by the Company and allocated to the NewINK JV, the Inland JV, Castleblack and IHM based on the amount of square footage occupied by each entity. Insurance expense for medical, workers compensation and general liability are paid by the NewINK JV and allocated back to the hotel properties or applicable entity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were $1.8 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

22


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Dollar amounts presented in this Item 2 are in thousands, except per share data, unless otherwise specified.

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. In this report, we use the terms “the Company," “we” or “our” to refer to Chatham Lodging Trust and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

The following information contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of the lodging industry and our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flow and plans and objectives. These statements generally are characterized by the use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “should,” “may” or similar expressions. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, our actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Some factors that might cause such a difference include the following: local, national and global economic conditions, increased direct competition, changes in government regulations or accounting rules, changes in local, national and global real estate conditions, declines in lodging industry fundamentals, increased operating costs, seasonality of the lodging industry, our ability to obtain debt and equity financing on satisfactory terms, changes in interest rates, our ability to identify suitable investments, our ability to close on identified investments and inaccuracies of our accounting estimates. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The forward-looking statements should also be read in light of the risk factors identified in the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as updated by the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC under the Exchange Act.

Overview

We are a self-advised hotel investment company organized in October 2009 that commenced operations in April 2010. Our investment strategy is to invest in upscale extended-stay and premium-branded select-service hotels in geographically diverse markets with high barriers to entry near strong demand generators. We may acquire portfolios of hotels or single hotels. We expect that a significant portion of our portfolio will consist of hotels in the upscale extended-stay or select-service categories, including brands such as Homewood Suites by Hilton®, Residence Inn by Marriott®, Hyatt Place®, Courtyard by Marriott®, SpringHill Suites by Marriott®, Hilton Garden Inn by Hilton®, Embassy Suites®, Hampton Inn® and Hampton Inn and Suites®.

The Company's future hotel acquisitions may be funded by issuances of both common and preferred shares or the issuance of partnership interests in our operating partnership, Chatham Lodging, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership"), draw-downs under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility, the incurrence or assumption of debt, available cash, proceeds from dispositions of assets or distributions from our 10.3% investment in a joint venture with affiliates of Colony NorthStar, Inc. (“CLNS”) that owns 47 hotels (the "NewINK JV") or distributions from our 10.0% investment in a joint venture with CLNS that owns 48 hotels (the "Inland JV" and together with the NewINK JV, the "JVs"). We intend to acquire quality assets at attractive prices and improve their returns through knowledgeable asset management and seasoned, proven hotel management while remaining prudently leveraged.
    
At March 31, 2018, our leverage ratio was 33.6% based on the ratio of our net debt (total debt outstanding before deferred financing costs less unrestricted cash and cash equivalents) to hotel investments at cost, including the JV investments. Over the past several years, we have maintained a leverage ratio between the mid-30s and the low 50s to fund our acquisitions and JV investments. As of March 31, 2018, we have total debt of $541.2 million at an average rate of approximately 4.6%. Accordingly, our debt coverage ratios currently are favorable and, as a result, we are comfortable in this leverage range and believe we have the capacity and flexibility to take advantage of acquisition opportunities as they arise. We intend to continue to fund our investments with a prudent balance of debt and equity.

23


We are a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for federal income tax purposes. In order to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), we cannot operate our hotels. Therefore, our Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries lease our hotel properties to taxable REIT subsidiary lessees (“TRS Lessees”), who in turn engage eligible independent contractors to manage the hotels. Each of the TRS Lessees is treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary for federal income tax purposes and is consolidated within our financial statements for accounting purposes. However, since we control both the Operating Partnership and the TRS Lessees, our principal source of funds on a consolidated basis is from the operations of our hotels. The earnings of the TRS Lessees are subject to taxation as regular C corporations, as defined in the Code, potentially reducing the TRS Lessees’ cash available to pay dividends to us, and therefore our funds from operations and the cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

Financial Condition and Operating Performance Metrics

We measure our financial condition and hotel operating performance by evaluating financial metrics and measures such as:
Revenue Per Available Room (“RevPAR”),
Average Daily Rate (“ADR”),
Occupancy,
Funds From Operations (“FFO”),
Adjusted FFO,
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”),
Adjusted EBITDA, and
Adjusted Hotel EBITDA

We evaluate the hotels in our portfolio and potential acquisitions using these metrics to determine each hotel’s contribution toward providing income to our shareholders through increases in distributable cash flow and increasing long-term total returns through appreciation in the value of our common shares. RevPAR, ADR and Occupancy are hotel industry measures commonly used to evaluate operating performance. RevPAR, which is calculated as total room revenue divided by total number of available rooms, is an important metric for monitoring hotel operating performance, and more specifically hotel revenue.

“Non-GAAP Financial Measures” herein provides a detailed discussion of our use of FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Hotel EBITDA and a reconciliation of FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA to net income or loss, measurements recognized by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).


24


Results of Operations

Industry Outlook

We believe that the lodging industry’s performance is correlated to the performance of the economy overall, and specifically, key economic indicators such as GDP growth, employment trends, corporate travel and corporate profits. Trends for many of these indicators appear to be healthy.  Lodging industry performance is also impacted by room supply growth, which is currently increasing.  Overall U.S. room supply increased 1.8% in 2017, but supply in the Upscale segment, in which most of our hotels operate, increased by 6.0% in 2017.  Smith Travel Research is projecting U.S. hotel supply growth to increase 2.0% in 2018. Continued supply growth could negatively impact RevPAR growth. We are currently projecting a 2018 RevPAR change of -1.5% to +0.5% as compared to 2017.

Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2018 to the three months ended March 31, 2017

Results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 include the operating activities of our 40 wholly owned hotels and our investments in the NewINK JV and Inland JV. We wholly owned 38 hotels at January 1, 2017. Accordingly, the comparisons below are influenced by the fact that we acquired one hotel in Portsmouth, NH on September 20, 2017, one hotel in Summerville, SC on November 15, 2017 and one hotel in Springfield, VA on December 6, 2017. We also sold a hotel in San Diego, CA on December 20, 2017.

Revenues

Revenue, which consists primarily of room, food and beverage and other operating revenues from our wholly owned hotels, was as follows for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
 
% Change
Room
$
66,251

 
$
64,393

 
2.9
%
Food and beverage
2,098

 
1,502

 
39.7
%
Other
3,027

 
2,446

 
23.8
%
Cost reimbursements from unconsolidated real estate entities
2,657

 
2,494

 
6.5
%
Total revenue
$
74,033

 
$
70,835

 
4.5
%
Total revenue was $74.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, up $3.2 million compared to total revenue of $70.8 million for the corresponding 2017 period. Total revenue related to the hotels acquired during 2017 contributed $5.6 million of the increase, while the sale of one hotel in 2017 reduced revenue by $1.5 million. Since all of our hotels are select-service or limited-service hotels, room revenue is the primary revenue source as these hotels do not have significant food and beverage revenue or large group conference facilities. Room revenue comprised 89.5% and 90.9%, respectively, of total revenue for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Room revenue was $66.3 million and $64.4 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, with $4.8 million of the increase in 2018 attributable to the hotels acquired during in 2017 and a loss of room revenue attributable to the one hotel sold in 2017 of $1.5 million. At the 37 comparable hotels owned by the Company throughout the 2017 and 2018 periods, room revenue was down $1.5 million or 2.4%, driven primarily by RevPAR decrease of 2.5%.
Food and beverage revenue was $2.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, up $0.6 million compared to $1.5 million for the corresponding 2017 period. Food and beverage revenue related to the hotels acquired in 2017 contributed $0.6 million of the increase.
Other operating revenue, comprised of meeting room, gift shop, in-room movie and other ancillary amenities revenue, was up $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Other operating revenue was $3.0 million and $2.4 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The increase related to the hotels acquired in 2017 contributed $0.2 million of the increase. The increase was primarily due to increases in parking and miscellaneous room income.
Cost reimbursements from unconsolidated real estate entities, comprised of payroll costs at the JVs and an entity which is 97.5% owned by affiliates of CLNS and 2.5% by Mr. Fisher, where the Company is the employer, were $2.7 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The costs reimbursements were offset by the reimbursed costs from unconsolidated real estate entities included in operating expenses.

25


As reported by Smith Travel Research, industry RevPAR for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 increased 3.5% and 3.4%, respectively, in the 2018 and 2017 periods as compared to the respective prior periods. RevPAR at our wholly owned hotels decreased 2.4% and increased 1.2%, respectively, in the 2018 and 2017 periods as compared to the respective prior periods primarily due to lower growth in our specific markets primarily due to new supply.
    
In the table below, we present both actual and same property room revenue metrics. Actual Occupancy, ADR and RevPAR metrics reflect the performance of the hotels for the actual days such hotels were owned by the Company during the periods presented. Same property Occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR results for the 40 hotels wholly owned by the Company as of March 31, 2018 reflect the performance of the hotels during the entire period, regardless of our ownership during the period presented, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Results for the hotels for periods prior to our ownership were provided to us by prior owners and have not been adjusted by us.

 
For the three months ended March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Percentage Change
 
Same Property (40 hotels)
 
Actual (40 hotels)
 
Same Property (40 hotels)
 
Actual (38 hotels)
 
Same Property (40 hotels)
 
Actual (40/38 hotels)
Occupancy
75.6
%
 
75.6
%
 
76.6
%
 
76.7
%
 
(1.3
)%
 
(1.4
)%
ADR
$
161.74

 
$
161.74

 
$
163.72

 
$
163.26

 
(1.2
)%
 
(0.9
)%
RevPAR
$
122.31

 
$
122.31

 
$
125.35

 
$
125.26

 
(2.4
)%
 
(2.4
)%
    
RevPAR decreased 2.4% due to a decrease in ADR of 1.2% and a decrease in occupancy of 1.3%.

Hotel Operating Expenses

Hotel operating expenses consist of the following for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
 
% Change
Hotel operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Room
$
14,553

 
$
13,505

 
7.8
%
Food and beverage
1,740

 
1,252

 
39.0
%
Telephone
459

 
409

 
12.2
%
Other
721

 
599

 
20.4
%
General and administrative
6,033

 
5,654

 
6.7
%
Franchise and marketing fees
5,525

 
5,302

 
4.2
%
Advertising and promotions
1,565

 
1,331

 
17.6
%
Utilities
2,699

 
2,370

 
13.9
%
Repairs and maintenance
3,624

 
3,252

 
11.4
%
Management fees
2,437

 
2,247

 
8.5
%
Insurance
333

 
333

 
%
Total hotel operating expenses
$
39,689

 
$
36,254

 
9.5
%

Hotel operating expenses increased $3.4 million or 9.5% to $39.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $36.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase was primarily due to the three hotels acquired in 2017 and increasing labor costs.
Room expenses, which are the most significant component of hotel operating expenses, increased $1.1 million or 7.8% from $13.5 million in 2017 to $14.6 million in the first quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to the three hotels acquired in 2017 and increasing labor costs.
The remaining hotel operating expenses increased $2.4 million, from $22.7 million in the first quarter of 2017 to $25.1 million in the first quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to the three hotels acquired in 2017.

26


Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expense remained level at $12.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and $12.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Depreciation is generally recorded on our assets over 40 years for buildings, 20 years for land improvements, 15 years for building improvements and one to ten years for furniture, fixtures and equipment from the date of acquisition on a straight-line basis. Depreciable lives of hotel furniture, fixtures and equipment are generally between the date of acquisition and the date that the furniture, fixtures and equipment will be replaced. Amortization of franchise fees is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective franchise agreement.

Property Taxes, Ground Rent and Insurance

Total property taxes, ground rent and insurance expenses increased $1.0 million from $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase is due to both the three hotels that were acquired in 2017 and increases at our other properties.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses principally consist of employee-related costs, including base payroll, bonuses and amortization of restricted stock and awards of long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”) units in the Operating Partnership. These expenses also include corporate operating costs, professional fees and trustees’ fees. Total general and administrative expenses (excluding amortization of stock based compensation of $0.9 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively) increased $0.2 million to $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 to $2.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Other Charges

Other charges decreased from $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $14 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Reimbursed Costs from Unconsolidated Real Estate Entities

Reimbursed costs from unconsolidated real estate entities, comprised of corporate payroll costs at the NewINK and Inland JVs and an entity which is 97.5% owned by affiliates of CLNS and 2.5% by Mr. Fisher, where the Company is the employer, were $2.7 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The cost reimbursements were offset by the cost reimbursements from unconsolidated real estate entities included in revenues.

Interest and Other Income

Interest on cash and cash equivalents and other income decreased $10 thousand from $12 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $2 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
Interest Expense, Including Amortization of Deferred Fees
Interest expense decreased $0.4 million from $7.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $6.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and is comprised of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
 
% Change
Mortgage debt interest
$
5,917

 
$
6,186

 
(4.3
)%
Credit facility interest and unused fees
472

 
547

 
(13.7
)%
Amortization of deferred financing costs
242

 
260

 
(6.9
)%
Total
$
6,631

 
$
6,993

 
(5.2
)%

The decrease in interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017 is primarily due to lower principal balances on our mortgage debt and the sale of the Carlsbad hotel which was encumbered by mortgage debt. Interest expense on the Company's senior unsecured revolving credit facility decreased

27


primarily due to a decrease in utilization of the credit facility for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Loss on Sale of Hotel Property

Loss on sale of hotel property increased $17 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018 due to additional expenses related to the sale of the Homewood Suites Carlsbad hotel on December 20, 2017.    

Loss from Unconsolidated Real Estate Entities

Loss from unconsolidated real estate entities was $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase is largely attributable to an increase in interest expense.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $0.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively. We are subject to income taxes based on the taxable income of our TRS Lessees at a combined federal and state tax rate of approximately 25%.

Net Income

Net income was $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to net income of $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The change in net income was due to the factors discussed above.

Material Trends or Uncertainties

We are not aware of any material trends or uncertainties, favorable or unfavorable, that may be reasonably anticipated to have a material impact on either the capital resources or the revenues or income to be derived from the acquisition and operation of properties, loans and other permitted investments, other than those referred to in this report and in the risk factors identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

28


Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We consider the following non-GAAP financial measures useful to investors as key supplemental measures of our operating performance: (1) FFO, (2) Adjusted FFO, (3) EBITDA, (4) Adjusted EBITDA and (5) Adjusted Hotel EBITDA. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered along with, but not as alternatives to, net income or loss as prescribed by GAAP as a measure of our operating performance.
FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA do not represent cash generated from operating activities under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income or loss, cash flows from operations or any other operating performance measure prescribed by GAAP. FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA are not measures of our liquidity, nor are FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions. These measurements do not reflect cash expenditures for long-term assets and other items that have been and will be incurred. FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA may include funds that may not be available for management’s discretionary use due to functional requirements to conserve funds for capital expenditures, property acquisitions, and other commitments and uncertainties.
We calculate FFO in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment
Trusts ("NAREIT"), which defines FFO as net income or loss (calculated in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains or losses from sales of real estate, impairment write-downs, the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, plus depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs), and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures following the same approach. We believe that the presentation of FFO provides useful information to investors regarding our operating performance because it measures our performance without regard to specified non-cash items such as real estate depreciation and amortization, gain or loss on sale of real estate assets and certain other items that we believe are not indicative of the property level performance of our hotel properties. We believe that these items reflect historical cost of our asset base and our acquisition and disposition activities and are less reflective of our ongoing operations, and that by adjusting to exclude the effects of these items, FFO is useful to investors in comparing our operating performance between periods and between REITs that also report FFO using the NAREIT definition.
We calculate Adjusted FFO by further adjusting FFO for certain additional items that are not addressed in NAREIT’s definition of FFO, including other charges, losses on the early extinguishment of debt and similar items related to our unconsolidated real estate entities that we believe do not represent costs related to hotel operations. We believe that Adjusted FFO provides investors with another financial measure that may facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and between REITs that make similar adjustments to FFO.

29


The following is a reconciliation of net income to FFO and Adjusted FFO for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands, except share data):
 
 
For the three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Funds From Operations (“FFO”):
 
 
 
Net income
$
2,868

 
$
4,644

Loss on sale of hotel property
17

 

Depreciation
11,978

 
11,950

Adjustments for unconsolidated real estate entity items
1,678

 
1,471

FFO attributable to common share and unit holders
16,541

 
18,065

Other charges
(14
)
 

Adjustments for unconsolidated real estate entity items
12

 
7

Adjusted FFO attributable to common share and unit holders
$
16,539

 
$
18,072

Weighted average number of common shares and units
 
 
 
Basic
46,085,461

 
38,618,888

Diluted
46,354,359

 
38,813,703

Diluted weighted average common share count used for calculation of adjusted FFO per share may differ from diluted weighted average common share count used for calculation of GAAP Net Income per share by LTIP units, which may be converted to common shares of beneficial interest if Net Income per share is negative and Adjusted FFO is positive. Unvested restricted shares and unvested LTIP units that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future would not be included in the computation of diluted loss per share for the periods where a loss has been recorded because they would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented.
We calculate EBITDA for purposes of the credit facility debt covenants as net income or loss excluding: (1) interest expense; (2) provision for income taxes, including income taxes applicable to sale of assets; (3) depreciation and amortization; and (4) unconsolidated real estate entity items including interest, depreciation and amortization excluding gains or losses from sales of real estate. We believe EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance because it helps investors compare 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, we use EBITDA as one measure in determining the value of hotel acquisitions and dispositions.
We calculate Adjusted EBITDA by further adjusting EBITDA for certain additional items, including other charges, impairment write downs, gains or losses on the sale of real estate, losses on the early extinguishment of debt, amortization of non-cash share-based compensation and similar items related to our unconsolidated real estate entities which we believe are not indicative of the performance of our underlying hotel properties entities. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with another financial measure that may facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and between REITs that report similar measures.

30


The following is a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”):
 
 
 
Net income
$
2,868

 
$
4,644

Interest expense
6,631

 
6,993

Income tax expense

 
317

Depreciation and amortization
12,036

 
12,004

Adjustments for unconsolidated real estate entity items
3,908

 
3,313

EBITDA
25,443

 
27,271

Other charges
(14
)
 

Adjustments for unconsolidated real estate entity items
(11
)
 
15

Loss on sale of hotel property
17

 

Share based compensation
918

 
787

Adjusted EBITDA
$
26,353

 
$
28,073


31


Adjusted Hotel EBITDA is defined as net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, corporate general and administrative, impairment loss, loss on early extinguishment of debt, other charges, interest and other income and income or loss from unconsolidated real estate entities. We present Adjusted Hotel EBITDA because we believe it is useful to investors in comparing our hotel operating performance between periods and comparing our Adjusted Hotel EBITDA margins to those of our peer companies. Adjusted Hotel EBITDA represents the results of operations for our wholly owned hotels only.
The following is a presentation of Adjusted Hotel EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):
 
 
For the three months ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income
 
$
2,868

 
$
4,644

Add:
Interest expense
6,631

 
6,993

 
Income tax expense

 
317

 
Depreciation and amortization
12,036

 
12,004

 
Corporate general and administrative
3,622

 
3,268

 
Loss from unconsolidated real estate entities
754

 
85

 
Loss on sale of hotel property
17

 

Less:
Interest and other income
(2
)
 
(12
)
 
Other charges
(14
)
 

 
Adjusted Hotel EBITDA
$
25,912

 
$
27,299

    
Although we present FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA because we believe they are useful to investors in comparing our operating performance between periods and between REITs that report similar measures, these measures have limitations as analytical tools. Some of these limitations are:

FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA do not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA do not reflect funds available to make cash distributions;
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA do not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debts;
Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may need to be replaced in the future, and FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;
Non-cash compensation is and will remain a key element of our overall long-term incentive compensation package, although we exclude it as an expense when evaluating our ongoing operating performance for a particular period using Adjusted EBITDA;
Adjusted FFO, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA do not reflect the impact of certain cash charges (including acquisition transaction costs) that result from matters we consider not to be indicative of the underlying performance of our hotel properties; and
Other companies in our industry may calculate FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure.

32


In addition, FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA do not represent cash generated from operating activities as determined by GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income or loss, cash flows from operations or any other operating performance measure prescribed by GAAP. FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA are not measures of our liquidity. Because of these limitations, FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA only supplementally. Our consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere are prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Sources and Uses of Cash

Our principal sources of cash include net cash from operations and proceeds from debt and equity issuances. Our principal uses of cash include acquisitions, capital expenditures, operating costs, corporate expenditures, interest costs, debt repayments and distributions to equity holders.
As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of approximately $38.8 million and $36.9 million, respectively. Additionally, we had $216.0 million available under our $250.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2018.
For the three months ended March 31, 2018, net cash flows provided by operations were $13.4 million, driven by net income of $2.9 million, $13.9 million of non-cash items, including $12.3 million of depreciation and amortization, $0.9 million of share-based compensation expense and $0.7 million related to income from unconsolidated entities. In addition, changes in operating assets and liabilities due to the timing of cash receipts, payments for real estate taxes, payments of corporate compensation and payments from our hotels resulted in net cash outflow of $3.4 million. Net cash flows used in investing activities were $5.9 million, primarily related to capital improvements on our 40 wholly owned hotels of $6.9 million, offset by distributions of $1.0 million from unconsolidated real estate entities. Net cash flows used by financing activities were $5.2 million, comprised of $10.5 million of common equity proceeds raised through sales under our dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan ("DRSPP"), net borrowings of our senior unsecured revolving credit facility of $2.0 million, offset by principal payments or payoffs on mortgage debt of $1.2 million, payments of deferred financing and offering costs of $1.2 million, and distributions to shareholders of $15.3 million.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, net cash flows provided by operations were $14.7 million, driven by net income of $4.6 million, $13.2 million of non-cash items, including $12.3 million of depreciation and amortization and $0.8 million of share-based compensation expense and $0.1 million related to loss from unconsolidated entities. In addition, changes in operating assets and liabilities due to the timing of cash receipts, payments for real estate taxes, payments of corporate compensation and payments from our hotels resulted in net cash outflow of $3.1 million. Net cash flows used in investing activities were $5.1 million, primarily related capital improvements on our 38 wholly owned hotels. Net cash flows used by financing activities were $9.9 million, comprised of $0.1 million raised through our dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan ("DRSPP"), net borrowings of our senior unsecured revolving credit facility of $4.0 million, principal payments or payoffs on mortgage debt of $1.0 million, payments of deferred financing and offering costs of $0.2 million, and distributions to shareholders of $12.8 million.
In March 2016, we changed the monthly dividend and distribution from $0.10 to $0.11 per common share and LTIP unit. We declared total dividends of $0.33 and $0.33 per common share and LTIP unit for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.


33


Liquidity and Capital Resources

At March 31, 2018, our leverage ratio was 33.6% based on the ratio of our net debt (total debt outstanding before deferred financing costs less unrestricted cash and cash equivalents) to hotel investments at cost, including our JV investments. Over the past several years, we have maintained a leverage ratio between the mid-30s and the low 50s to fund our acquisitions and investments in joint ventures. At March 31, 2018, we have total debt of $541.2 million at an average rate of approximately 4.6%. Accordingly, our debt coverage ratios are currently favorable and we are comfortable in this leverage range and believe we have the capacity and flexibility to take advantage of acquisition opportunities as they arise. We intend to continue to fund our investments with a prudent balance of debt and equity. We will pay down borrowings on our senior unsecured revolving credit facility with excess cash flow until we find other uses of cash such as investments in our existing hotels, hotel acquisitions or further joint venture investments.
At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had $34.0 million and $32.0 million, respectively, in outstanding borrowings under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility. At March 31, 2018, the maximum borrowing availability under the senior unsecured revolving credit facility was $250.0 million. We also had mortgage debt on individual hotels aggregating $507.2 million and $508.5 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Our senior unsecured credit facility contains representations, warranties, covenants, terms and conditions customary for credit facilities of this type, including a maximum leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and minimum net worth financial covenants, limitations on (i) liens, (ii) incurrence of debt, (iii) investments, (iv) distributions, and (v) mergers and asset dispositions, covenants to preserve corporate existence and comply with laws, covenants on the use of proceeds of the senior unsecured revolving credit facility and default provisions, including defaults for non-payment, breach of representations and warranties, insolvency, non-performance of covenants, cross-defaults and guarantor defaults.

On March 8, 2018, we refinanced our senior unsecured credit facility with a new maturity date in March 2023, which includes the option to extend the maturity by an additional year, and replaces our previous $250 million senior unsecured credit facility that was scheduled to mature in 2020. Borrowing costs have been reduced by 0 to 15 basis points from comparable leverage-based pricing levels in our previous credit facility. At our current leverage level, the borrowing cost under the new facility is LIBOR plus 1.65 percent. We were in compliance with all financial covenants at March 31, 2018. We expect to meet all financial covenants during the remainder of 2018 based upon our current projections.
We expect to meet our short-term liquidity requirements generally through net cash provided by operations, existing cash balances and, if necessary, short-term borrowings under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility or through the encumbrance of any unencumbered hotels. We believe that our net cash provided by operations will be adequate to fund operating obligations, pay interest on any borrowings and fund dividends in accordance with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code. We expect to meet our long-term liquidity requirements, such as hotel property acquisitions and debt maturities or repayments through additional long-term secured and unsecured borrowings, the issuance of additional equity or debt securities or the possible sale of existing assets.
In January 2014, the Company established a $25 million dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan (the "Prior DRSPP"). We filed a new $50 million registration statement for the dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan (the "New DRSPP" and together with the Prior DRSPP, the "DRSPPs") on December 28, 2017 to replace the prior program. Under the DRSPPs, shareholders may purchase additional common shares by reinvesting some or all of the cash dividends received on the Company's common shares. Shareholders may also make optional cash purchases of the Company's common shares subject to certain limitations detailed in the prospectus for the DRSPPs. As of March 31, 2018, we had issued 466,497 shares under the New DRSPP at a weighted average price of $22.60. As of March 31, 2018, there was approximately $39.5 million available for issuance under the New DRSPP.


34


In January 2014, we also established our At the Market Equity Offering ("Prior ATM Plan") whereby, from time to time, we may publicly offer and sell our common shares having an aggregate maximum offering price of up to $50 million of our common shares by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NYSE, in negotiated transactions or in transactions that are deemed to be “at-the-market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. ("Cantor") acting as sales agent. On January 13, 2015, the Company entered into a sales agreement with Barclays Capital Inc. (“Barclays”) to add Barclays as an additional sales agent under the Company’s Prior ATM Plan. We filed a $100 million registration statement for a new ATM program (the "ATM Plan" and together with the Prior ATM Plan, the "ATM Plans") on December 28, 2017 to replace the prior program. At the same time, the Company entered into sales agreements with Cantor, Barclays, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, ("Baird"), Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ("Citigroup"), Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated ("Stifel") and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC ("Wells Fargo") as sales agents. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we issued no shares under the ATM Plan. Total shares issued under the ATM Plans since the inception of the plan are 2,147,695 at a weighted average price of $21.87 raising gross proceeds of approximately $47.0 million. As of March 31, 2018, there was approximately $100.0 million available for issuance under the ATM Plan.
We intend to continue to invest in hotel properties as suitable opportunities arise. We intend to finance our future investments with free cash flow, the net proceeds from additional issuances of common and preferred shares, issuances of common units in our Operating Partnership or other securities, borrowings or asset sales. The success of our acquisition strategy depends, in part, on our ability to access additional capital through other sources. There can be no assurance that we will continue to make investments in properties that meet our investment criteria. Additionally, we may choose to dispose of certain hotels as a means to provide liquidity.

Dividend Policy

Our current common share dividend policy is generally to distribute, annually, approximately 100% of our annual taxable income. The amount of any dividends is determined by our Board of Trustees. Our current monthly dividend and distribution rate is $0.11 per common share and LTIP unit. The aggregate amount of dividends and distributions declared for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $0.33 per common share and LTIP unit.

Capital Expenditures

We intend to maintain each hotel property in good repair and condition and in conformity with applicable laws and regulations and in accordance with the franchisors' standards and any agreed-upon requirements in our management and loan agreements. After we acquire a hotel property, we may be required to complete a property improvement plan (“PIP”) in order to be granted a new franchise license for that particular hotel property. PIPs are intended to bring the hotel property up to the franchisors' standards. Certain of our loans require that we escrow, for property improvement purposes, at the hotels collateralizing these loans, amounts up to 5% of gross revenue from such hotels. We intend to spend amounts necessary to
comply with any reasonable loan or franchisor requirements and otherwise to the extent that such expenditures are in the best interest of the hotel. To the extent that we spend more on capital expenditures than is available from our operations, we intend to fund those capital expenditures with available cash and borrowings under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, we invested approximately $6.9 million and $5.1 million, respectively, on capital investments in our hotels. We expect to invest an additional $26.1 million on renovations, discretionary and emergency expenditures on our existing hotels for the remainder of 2018.

The Company is continuing with plans to expand two Residence Inns located in Sunnyvale, CA. The expansions are expected to include a new lobby and public spaces in each location. We are not certain when the expansions of the two Sunnyvale Residence Inns will commence. It is possible that one or both of these projects will commence in 2018, but the timing is uncertain due to potential delays related to finalizing plans, obtaining approvals from local authorities and ensuring costs to complete the expansions justify the investment. While we do not have final budgets for these projects, we currently anticipate that total expenditures will be approximately $80 million to $90 million, but these costs are subject to change.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We had no material off-balance sheet arrangements at March 31, 2018, other than non-recourse debt associated with the NewINK JV and the Inland JV. In connection with certain non-recourse mortgage loans in either the NewINK JV or Inland JV, our Operating Partnership could require us to repay our pro rata share of portions of each respective JVs indebtedness in connection with certain customary non-recourse carve-out provisions such as environmental conditions, misuse of funds and material misrepresentations.


35


Contractual Obligations

The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2018 and the effect these obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods (in thousands).
  
Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligations
Total
 
Less Than
One Year
 
One to Three
Years
 
Three to Five
Years
 
More Than Five
Years
Corporate office lease (1)
$
7,179

 
$
581

 
$
1,604

 
$
2,558

 
$
2,436

Revolving credit facility, including interest (2)
41,631

 
1,455

 
3,880

 
36,296

 

Ground leases
76,758

 
953

 
2,593

 
3,987

 
69,225

Property loans, including interest (2)
627,968

 
24,437

 
63,197

 
220,185

 
320,149

Total
$
753,536

 
$
27,426

 
$
71,274

 
$
263,026

 
$
391,810

(1)
The Company entered into a new corporate office lease in 2015. The lease is for eleven years and includes a 12-month rent abatement period and certain tenant improvement allowances. The Company shares the space with related parties and is reimbursed for the pro-rata share of rentable space occupied by related parties.
(2)
Does not reflect paydowns or additional borrowings under the senior unsecured revolving credit facility after March 31, 2018. Interest payments are based on the interest rate in effect as of March 31, 2018. See Note 6, “Debt” to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for additional information relating to our property loans.
In addition to the above listed obligations, we pay management and franchise fees to our hotel management companies and franchisors based on the revenues of our hotels.
The Company’s ownership interests in the JVs are subject to change in the event that either we or CLNS calls for additional capital contributions to the respective JVs necessary for the conduct of that JV's business, including contributions to fund costs and expenses related to capital expenditures. We manage the NewINK JV and Inland JV and will receive a promote interest in the applicable JV if it meets certain return thresholds. CLNS may also approve certain actions related to the JVs without the Company’s consent, including certain property dispositions conducted at arm’s length, certain actions related to the restructuring of the JVs and removal of the Company as managing member in the event the Company fails to fulfill its material obligations under the respective joint venture agreements.
In connection with certain non-recourse mortgage loans in either the NewINK JV or Inland JV, our Operating Partnership could require us to repay our pro rata share of portions of each respective JVs indebtedness in connection with certain customary non-recourse carve-out provisions such as environmental conditions, misuse of funds and material misrepresentations.

Inflation

Operators of hotels, in general, possess the ability to adjust room rates daily to reflect the effects of inflation. However, competitive pressures may limit the ability of our management companies to raise room rates.

Seasonality

Demand for our hotels is affected by recurring seasonal patterns. Generally, we expect that we will have lower revenue, operating income and cash flow in the first and fourth quarters and higher revenue, operating income and cash flow in the second and third quarters. These general trends are, however, influenced by overall economic cycles and the geographic locations of our hotels.


36


Critical Accounting Policies

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, which 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. While we do not believe the reported amounts would be materially different, application of these policies involves the exercise of judgment and the use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. All of our significant accounting policies, including certain critical accounting policies, are disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
    
Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Refer to Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for all new recently issued accounting standards.

37


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

We may be exposed to interest rate changes primarily as a result of our assumption of long-term debt in connection with our acquisitions and upon refinancing of existing debt. Our interest rate risk management objectives are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, we seek to borrow primarily at fixed rates or variable rates with the lowest margins available and, in some cases, with the ability to convert variable rates to fixed rates. With respect to variable rate financing, we will assess interest rate risk by identifying and monitoring changes in interest rate exposures that may adversely impact expected future cash flows and by evaluating hedging opportunities.

The Company estimates the fair value of its fixed rate debt by discounting the future cash flows of each instrument at estimated market rates. Rates take into consideration general market conditions, maturity and fair value of the underlying collateral. The estimated fair value of the Company’s fixed rate debt at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $496.7 million and $506.6 million, respectively.

At March 31, 2018, our consolidated debt was comprised of floating and fixed interest rate debt. The fair value of our fixed rate debt indicates the estimated principal amount of debt having the same debt service requirements that could have been borrowed at the date presented, at then current market interest rates. The following table provides information about the maturities of our financial instruments as of March 31, 2018 that are sensitive to changes in interest rates (dollars in thousands):


2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
Thereafter
 
Total/ Weighted Average
 
Fair Value
Floating rate:

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

Debt

 

 

 

 
$
34,000

 

 

 
$
34,000

 
$
34,000

Average interest rate (1)

 

 

 

 
3.80
%
 

 

 
3.80
%
 

Fixed rate:

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

Debt
$4,556
 
$6,992
 
$9,536
 
$
21,883

 
$
9,954

 
$
142,036

 
$312,270
 
$
507,227

 
$
496,740

Average interest rate
4.71
%
 
4.70
%
 
4.68
%
 
5.26
%
 
4.63
%
 
4.66
%
 
4.62
%
 
4.66
%
 

(1) Weighted average interest rate based on borrowings at LIBOR of 1.9% plus a margin of 1.65% and prime rate of 4.5% plus a margin of 0.65% at March 31, 2018.
We estimate that a hypothetical 100 basis points increase on the variable interest rate would result in additional interest expense of approximately $0.3 million annually. This assumes that the amount outstanding under our floating rate debt remains $34.0 million, the balance as of March 31, 2018.    

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

The nature of the operations of the Company's hotels exposes those hotels, the Company and the Operating Partnership to the risk of claims and litigation in the normal course of their business. IHM is currently a defendant in two (2) related class action lawsuits pending in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. The first class action lawsuit was filed on October 21, 2016 under the title Ruffy, et al, v. Island Hospitality Management, LLC, et al. Case No. 16-CV-301473 and the second class action was filed on March 21, 2018 under the title Doonan, et al, v. Island Hospitality Management, LLC, et al. Case No. 18-CV-325187. The class actions relate to hotels operated by IHM in the state of California and owned by affiliates of the Company and the NewINK JV, and/or certain third parties. The complaints allege various wage and hour law violations based on alleged misclassification of certain hotel managerial staff and violation of certain California statutes regarding incorrect information contained on employee paystubs. The plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, money damages, penalties, and interest. None of the potential classes has been certified and we are defending our case vigorously. As of March 31, 2018, included in accounts payable is $0.2 million which represents an estimate of the Company’s total exposure to the litigation and is also its estimated maximum possible loss that the Company may incur.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
    
There have been no material changes in the risk factors described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

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Item 6. Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
 
Exhibit
Number
  
Description of Exhibit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Chatham Lodging Trust (1)
 
 
 
 
Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Chatham Lodging Trust(2)
 
 
 
  
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
  
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
  
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
101.INS
  
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
101.SCH
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
101.CAL
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.DEF
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.LAB
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.PRE
  
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
*
Furnished herewith. Such certification shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
 
(1
)
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016 (File No. 001-34693).
 
 
(2
)
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 21, 2015 (File No. 001-34693).


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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
 
 
 
CHATHAM LODGING TRUST
 
 
 
 
Dated:
May 1, 2018
 
By: /s/ JEREMY B. WEGNER
 
 
 
Jeremy B. Wegner
 
 
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and duly authorized officer of the registrant)

41