NOTE 5 – DEBT

Mortgages

Mortgages payable at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 consisted of the following:


		December 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Mortgage Indebtedness	$	338,529	$	545,036
Net Unamortized Premium		2,313		3,503
Net Unamortized Deferred Financing Costs		(3,021)		(3,880)
	$	337,821	$	544,659

Liabilities Related to Hotel Assets Held for Sale	$	51,428	$	-

Net Unamortized Deferred Financing Costs associated with entering into mortgage indebtedness are deferred and amortized over the life of the mortgages. Net Unamortized Premiums are also amortized over the remaining life of the loans.

Mortgage indebtedness balances are subject to fixed and variable interest rates, which ranged from 2.97% to 6.30% as of December 31, 2016. Aggregate interest expense incurred under the mortgage loans payable totaled $20,916, $26,581 and $31,046 during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 respectively.

Our mortgage indebtedness contains various financial and non-financial covenants customarily found in secured, non-recourse financing arrangements. Our mortgage loans payable typically require that specified debt service coverage ratios be maintained with respect to the financed properties before we can exercise certain rights under the loan agreements relating to such properties. If the specified criteria are not satisfied, the lender may be able to escrow cash flow generated by the property securing the applicable mortgage loan. We have determined that certain debt service coverage ratio covenants contained in the loan agreements securing one of our hotel properties was not met as of December 31, 2016. Pursuant to this loan agreement, the lender has the option to escrow the operating cash flow. However, these covenants do not constitute an event of default for these loans.

As of December 31, 2016, the maturity dates for the outstanding mortgage loans ranged from January 2017 to September 2025.

Subordinated Notes Payable

We have two junior subordinated notes payable in the aggregate amount of $51,548 to the Hersha Statutory Trusts pursuant to indenture agreements which will mature on July 30, 2035, but may be redeemed at our option, in whole or in part, prior to maturity in accordance with the provisions of the indenture agreements. The $25,774 notes issued to Hersha Statutory Trust I and Hersha Statutory Trust II, bear interest at a variable rate of LIBOR plus 3% per annum. This rate resets two business days prior to each quarterly payment. The face value of the notes payable is offset by $970 and $1,023 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, in net deferred financing costs incurred as a result of entering into these indentures. The deferred financing costs are amortized over the life of the notes payable. The weighted average interest rate on our two junior subordinated notes payable during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was 3.75%, 3.33% and 3.28%, respectively. Interest expense in the amount of $1,931, $1,715 and $1,690 was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Credit Facilities

We maintain three unsecured credit agreements which aggregate $1,000,000 with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, Inc. and various other lenders. The first credit agreement provides for a $500,000 senior unsecured credit facility (“Credit Facility”) consisting of a $250,000 senior unsecured revolving line of credit (“Line of Credit”), and a $250,000 senior unsecured term loan (“First Term Loan”). The Credit Facility expires on February 28, 2018, and, provided no event of default has occurred, we may request that the lenders renew the credit facility for an additional one-year period. The Credit Facility is also expandable to $850,000 at our request, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.

Our second credit agreement provides for a $300,000 senior unsecured term loan agreement (“Second Term Loan”) and expires on August 10, 2020.

On August 2, 2016, we entered into our third credit agreement which provides for a $200,000 senior unsecured term loan agreement (“Third Term Loan”) and expires on August 2, 2021.

NOTE 5 – DEBT (CONTINUED)

The amount that we can borrow at any given time under our Line of Credit, and the First, Second and Third Term Loan (each a

“Term Loan” and together the “Term Loans”) is governed by certain operating metrics of designated unencumbered hotel properties known as borrowing base assets. As of December 31, 2016, the following hotel properties were borrowing base assets:



- Holiday Inn Express, Cambridge, MA	- Hampton Inn, Washington, DC
- Hyatt House White Plains, NY	- Nu Hotel, Brooklyn, NY
- Hyatt House Gaithersburg, MD	- The Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia, PA
- Sheraton, Wilmington South, DE	- The Boxer, Boston, MA
- Sheraton Hotel, JFK Airport, New York, NY	- Courtyard, San Diego, CA
- Winter Haven, Miami, FL	- Residence Inn, Coconut Grove, FL
- Hampton Inn, Pearl Street, NY	- Blue Moon, Miami, FL
- Residence Inn, Greenbelt, MD	- Parrot Key Resort, Key West, FL
- Courtyard, Miami, FL	- Courtyard, Brookline, MA
- Residence Inn, Tyson's Corner, VA	- TownePlace Suites, Sunnyvale, CA
- Ritz Carlton, Washington, DC	- Hilton Garden Inn, M Street, Washington, DC
- Hampton Inn, Philadelphia, PA	- Courtyard, Alexandria, VA
- Hampton Inn, Seaport, NY	- Holiday Inn Express, 29th Street, NY
- Envoy Hotel, Boston, MA	- Holiday Inn Express Chester, NY

The interest rate for borrowings under the Line of Credit and Term Loans are based on a pricing grid with a range of one month U.S. LIBOR plus a spread. The following table summarizes the balances outstanding and interest rate spread for each borrowing:


			Outstanding Balance
Borrowing	Spread		December 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Line of Credit	1.70% to 2.45%	$	-	$	27,000
First Term Loan	1.60% to 2.35%		210,520		250,000
Second Term Loan	1.50% to 2.25%		300,000		300,000
Third Term Loan	1.45% to 2.20%		156,100		-

From December 2012 to November 5, 2016, we maintained an interest rate swap, with a $150,000 notional amount, which effectively fixes the interest rate on $150,000 of the First Term Loan at a blended rate of 2.914%. This interest rate swap agreement matured on November 5, 2016.

On October 7, 2016 we entered into an interest rate swap associated with $150,000 of our $200,000 Third Term Loan. This swap effectively fixes the interest rate of the Third Term Loan at 3.211% and matures on October 3, 2019. See “Note 7 – Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments” for more information regarding interest rate hedging strategies we employ.

The balance of the Term Loans is offset by $3,120 and $2,220 in net deferred financing costs as of December 31, 2016 and

December 31, 2015, respectively. These costs were incurred as a result of originating the term loan borrowings and are amortized over the life of these loans.

The Credit Facility and the Term Loans include certain financial covenants and require that we maintain: (1) a minimum tangible net worth (calculated as total assets, plus accumulated depreciation, less total liabilities, intangibles and other defined adjustments) of $900,000, plus an amount equal to 75% of the net cash proceeds of all issuances and primary sales of equity interests of the parent guarantor or any of its subsidiaries consummated following the closing date; (2) annual distributions not to exceed 95% of adjusted funds from operations; and (3) certain financial ratios, including the following:

·a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.50 to 1.00,

·a maximum leverage ratio of not more than 60%; and

·a maximum secured debt leverage ratio of 45%

NOTE 5 – DEBT (CONTINUED)

The Company is in compliance with each of the covenants listed above as of December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, our remaining borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility and Term Loans was approximately $99,822 based on the borrowing base assets at December 31, 2016. As of February 21, 2017, our borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility and Term Loans was approximately $197,998 as we added seven and removed two borrowing base assets subsequent to December 31, 2016.

The Company recorded interest expense of $17,332, $10,147 and $6,218 related to borrowings drawn on each of the aforementioned credit facilities, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The weighted average interest rate on our credit facilities was 2.82%, 2.69% and 2.82% for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Aggregate annual principal payments for the Company’s credit facility, unsecured term loan and mortgages and subordinated notes payable for the five years following December 31, 2017 and thereafter are as follows:


Year Ending December 31,	Amount

2017	$	160,908
2018		27,237
2019		312,084
2020		301,694
2021		179,704
Thereafter		126,498
Net Unamortized Premium		2,313
	$	1,110,438

Capitalized Interest

We utilize cash, mortgage debt and our unsecured credit facility to finance on-going capital improvement projects at our hotels. Interest incurred on mortgages and the revolving credit facility that relates to our capital improvement projects is capitalized through the date when the assets are placed in service. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we capitalized $0, $0 and $458 respectively, of interest expense related to these projects.

Deferred Financing Costs

As noted above, costs associated with entering into mortgages, notes payable, unsecured term loan and our credit facilities are deferred and amortized over the life of the debt instruments. The deferred costs related to mortgages, term loans and unsecured notes payable are presented as reduction in the respective debt balances. Amortization of deferred costs for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $2,632, $2,650 and $2,768 respectively.

New Debt/Refinance

On November 30, 2016, we repaid in full outstanding mortgage debt with an original principal balance of $6,700 secured by the Holiday Inn Express, Chester, NY. The loan was due to mature on March 1, 2017, and we incurred approximately $94 in expense related to unamortized deferred financing costs and fees.

On October 6, 2016, we repaid in full outstanding mortgage debt with an original principal balance of $13,720 secured by the Hyatt House, Gaithersburg, MD. The loan was due to mature on January 6, 2017, and we incurred approximately $5 in expense related to unamortized deferred financing costs and fees.

On October 6, 2016, we repaid in full outstanding mortgage debt with an original principal balance of $33,030 secured by the Hyatt House, White Plains, NY. The loan was due to mature on January 6, 2017, and we incurred approximately $12 in expense related to unamortized deferred financing costs and fees.

On September 5, 2016, we repaid outstanding mortgage debt with an original principal balance of $55,000 secured by the Holiday Inn Express 29th Street, NY. The loan was due to mature on November 5, 2016, and we incurred approximately $42 in expense related to unamortized deferred financing costs and fees. We also recognized $133 of gain in unamortized original issue premiums related to the property.

NOTE 5 – DEBT (CONTINUED)

On August 2, 2016, we repaid in full outstanding mortgage debt with an original principal balance of $19,250 secured by the Hampton Inn Seaport, NY. The loan was due to mature on October 8, 2016, and we incurred approximately $67 in expense related to unamortized deferred financing costs and fees.

On August 2, 2016, we repaid in full outstanding mortgage debt with an original principal balance of $25,000 secured by the Courtyard Alexandria, VA. The loan was due to mature on October 5, 2016, and we incurred approximately $9 in expense related to unamortized deferred financing costs and fees.

As previously mentioned in “Note 3 – Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures,” we repaid in full the two mortgages related to the Hampton Inn Herald Square, NY and Hampton Inn Chelsea, NY, two properties contributed to the joint venture with Cindat. The mortgage debt secured by Hampton Inn Herald Square had an original balance of $26,500 and was due to mature on May 1, 2016. The mortgage debt secured by Hampton Inn Chelsea had an original balance of $36,000 and was due to mature on October 1, 2016. In addition, due to our contribution of certain of the borrowing base properties to the Cindat joint venture we were required to pay down $39,480 of the First Term Loan. We incurred a total of $1,049 in expense related to the payment of fees to extinguish debt and related to unamortized deferred financing costs associated with the mortgage debt and term loan repayments.

On February 29, 2016, we repaid in full outstanding mortgage debt with an original principal balance of $8,500 secured by the Hawthorn Suites, Franklin, MA. The loan was due to mature on May 1, 2016, and we incurred approximately $42 in expense related to unamortized deferred financing costs and fees.

On October 27, 2015, we refinanced the outstanding mortgage debt with an original balance of $30,000 secured by the Courtyard by Marriott, Los Angeles, California and simultaneously entered into a new mortgage obligation of $35,000, incurring a loss on debt extinguishment of approximately $10. The new mortgage debt bears interest at a variable rate of one month U.S. dollar LIBOR plus 3.00% and matures on September 29, 2017. Also on October 27, 2015, we entered into an interest rate cap that matures on September 27, 2017 that effectively limits the interest at 3.00% per annum. See “Note 7 – Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments” for more information on the interest rate cap.

On August 10, 2015, we repaid in full outstanding mortgage debt with an original principal balance of $60,000 secured by the Courtyard by Marriott, Miami, FL. In connection with this transaction, we terminated the interest rate swap associated with the mortgage on this property. See “Note 7 – Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments” for more information on this transaction. The loan was due to mature on July 1, 2016, and we incurred approximately $329 in expense in unamortized deferred financing costs and fees.

On June 10, 2015, we refinanced the outstanding mortgage debt with an original principal balance of $55,000 secured by the Hyatt Union Square, New York, NY and simultaneously entered into a new mortgage obligation of $55,750, incurring a loss on debt extinguishment of approximately $212. The new mortgage debt bears interest at a variable rate of one month U.S dollar LIBOR plus 2.30% and matures on June 10, 2019. Also on June 10, 2015, we entered into an interest rate cap that matures on June 10, 2016 that effectively limits the interest at 3.00% per annum. See “Note 7 – Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments” for more information on the interest rate cap.

On April 10, 2015, we refinanced the outstanding mortgage debt with an original principal balance of $38,913 secured by the Courtyard by Marriott, Brookline, MA. The loan was due to mature in July 2015, and we incurred approximately $10 in expense in unamortized deferred financing costs and fees.

On January 30, 2015, we repaid in full outstanding mortgage debt with an original principal balance of $27,500 secured by the Capitol Hill Hotel, Washington, DC and simultaneously entered into a new mortgage obligation of $25,000. The new mortgage debt bears interest at a variable rate of one month U.S. dollar LIBOR plus 2.25% and matures on January 30, 2018. The loan was due to mature in January 2015, and we incurred no loss on debt extinguishment in paying off the loan. We had previously entered into an interest rate swap with respect to the $27,500 mortgage loan that matured on February 1, 2015. In connection with this transaction, we did not enter into a new derivative instrument to fix or cap the rate of interest payable on the $25,000 mortgage loan. See “Note 7 – Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments” for more information on this transaction.

NOTE 5 – DEBT (CONTINUED)

On November 13, 2014, we repaid outstanding mortgage debt on with an original principal balance of $32,000 secured by the Hilton Garden Inn, Tribeca, NY and simultaneously entered into a new mortgage obligation of $46,500 with a new lender. The new mortgage debt bears interest at a variable rate of one month U.S. dollar LIBOR plus 2.30% and matures on November 1,2019.

On October 27, 2014, we repaid $10,179 on our mortgage with Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, LLC for the Residence Inn, Greenbelt, MD property. The loan was due to mature in October 2014, and we incurred no loss on debt extinguishment in paying off the loan.

On February 28, 2014, we refinanced our previous $400,000 unsecured credit facility with a $500,000 unsecured credit facility with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and various other lenders. As a result of this refinance, we expensed $579 in unamortized deferred financing costs and fees, which are included in the Loss on Debt Extinguishment caption of the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014.

On January 31, 2014, we paid down $5,175 of the outstanding debt and modified the mortgage loan on the Duane Street Hotel, New York, NY. As a result, we entered into a $9,500 loan with a maturity date of February 1, 2017. The modified loan bears interest at a variable rate of one month U.S. dollar LIBOR plus 4.50%. The modification also includes an interest rate swap, which effectively fixes the interest rate at 5.433%. As a result of this modification, we expensed $91 in unamortized deferred financial costs and fees during the year ended December 31, 2014.