8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): April 7, 2021

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	001-31775	86-1062192
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS employer identification number)
14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1200
Dallas
Texas		75254
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (972) 490-9600

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14-a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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. ¨

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock	AHT	New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, Series D	AHT-PD	New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, Series F	AHT-PF	New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, Series G	AHT-PG	New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, Series H	AHT-PH	New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, Series I	AHT-PI	New York Stock Exchange

ITEM 8.01    OTHER EVENTS.

On April 7, 2021, Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) finalized a settlement agreement entered into as of March 30, 2021 (the “Settlement Agreement”) concerning an action pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas captioned Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. v. Cygnus Capital, Inc., et al., case number 3:21-cv-00125-M (N.D. Tex.) (the “Cygnus Lawsuit”). The Settlement Agreement is with all parties in the Cygnus Lawsuit, including (i) Brent L. Guinn, solely in his capacity as Trustee of the AHT Excess Ownership Charitable Trust, (ii) Cygnus Capital, Inc., Cygnus Capital Advisers, LLC, Cygnus General Partners, LLC, Cygnus Capital Real Estate Advisors II, LLC, Cygnus Opportunity Fund, LLC, Cygnus Property Fund IV, LLC, Cygnus Property Fund V, LLC, Christopher Swann (collectively, “Cygnus”), Richard Burns, Shannon Johnson, William Miller, Jr., and Roderick Newton II (together with Cygnus, the “Cygnus Parties”), (iii) ThornTree Capital Partners, LP, ThornTree Capital Master Fund LP, and ThornTree Capital GP LLC (collectively, the “ThornTree Parties”) and (iv) Rebecca Harvey (“Harvey,” together with the Cygnus Parties and ThornTree Parties, the “Defendants”).

The Settlement Agreement provides for the voluntary dismissal, with prejudice, of the Cygnus Lawsuit. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Cygnus has agreed to customary standstill restrictions with respect to the Company, which will expire on December 31, 2025, and to abstain from voting at the 2021 annual shareholder meeting. The Settlement Agreement also provides for mutual releases between and among the Company, on the one hand, and the Defendants, on the other hand, of all claims that were or could have been asserted in the Cygnus Lawsuit.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and assumptions in this Current Report contain or are based upon “forward-looking” information and are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this Current Report include, among others, statements about the Company’s strategy and future plans. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. When we use the words “will likely result,” “may,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “should,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” or similar expressions, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company’s control.

These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without limitation: the impact of COVID-19, and the rate of adoption and efficacy of vaccines to prevent COVID-19, on our business and investment strategy; the timing and outcome of the SEC’s investigation; our ability to regain S-3 eligibility; our ability to repay, refinance or restructure our debt and the debt of certain of our subsidiaries; anticipated or expected purchases or sales of assets; our projected operating results; completion of any pending transactions; our understanding of our competition; market trends; projected capital expenditures; the impact of technology on our operations and business; general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of our common stock and preferred stock; availability, terms and deployment of capital; availability of qualified personnel; changes in our industry and the markets in which we operate, interest rates or the general economy; and the degree and nature of our competition. These and other risk factors are more fully discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

The forward-looking statements included in this Current Report are only made as of the date of this Current Report. Such forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance taking into account all information currently known to us. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations can change as a result of many potential events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and other objectives may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider this risk when you make an investment decision concerning our securities. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company can give no assurance that these forward-looking statements will be attained or that any deviation will not occur. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, changes in expectations, or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: April 7, 2021

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.
By:	/s/ ROBERT G. HAIMAN
	Robert G. Haiman
	Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

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Document and Entity Information	Apr. 07, 2021
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Apr. 07, 2021
Entity Registrant Name	ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001232582
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity File Number	001-31775
Entity Tax Identification Number	86-1062192
Entity Address, Address Line One	14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1200
Entity Address, City or Town	Dallas
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	75254
City Area Code	972
Local Phone Number	490-9600
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	AHT
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Preferred Stock, Series D
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Preferred Stock, Series D
Trading Symbol	AHT-PD
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Preferred Stock, Series F
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Preferred Stock, Series F
Trading Symbol	AHT-PF
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Preferred Stock, Series G
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Preferred Stock, Series G
Trading Symbol	AHT-PG
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Preferred Stock, Series H
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Preferred Stock, Series H
Trading Symbol	AHT-PH
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Preferred Stock, Series I
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Preferred Stock, Series I
Trading Symbol	AHT-PI
Security Exchange Name	NYSE