Equity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Equity [Abstract]

Equity

Equity

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

In 2015, the Company's board of trustees authorized a share repurchase program to acquire up to $400.0 million of common shares through December 31, 2016 (the "2015 Share Repurchase Program"). On February 17, 2017, the Company's board of trustees increased the authorized amount that may be repurchased by $40.0 million to a total of $440.0 million. On February 16, 2018, the Company's board of trustees extended the duration of the 2015 Share Repurchase Program to February 28, 2019. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company did not repurchase and retire any of its common shares under the share repurchase program.

On February 15, 2019, the Company's board of trustees approved a new share repurchase program to acquire up to $250.0 million of common shares from March 1, 2019 to February 28, 2020 (the "2019 Share Repurchase Program"). During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company repurchased and retired 3,836,582 common shares for approximately $65.6 million, of which $10.3 million was repurchased under the 2015 Share Repurchase Program and $55.3 million was repurchased under the 2019 Share Repurchase Program. As of September 30, 2019, the 2019 Share Repurchase Program had a remaining capacity of $194.7 million.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.33 per Common Share in each of the first, second, and third quarters of 2019 and 2018.

Series A Preferred Shares

On August 31, 2017, the Company designated and authorized the issuance of up to 12,950,000 $1.95 Series A Preferred Shares. The Company issued 12,879,475 Series A Preferred Shares at a price of $28.49 per share. The holders of the Series A Preferred Shares are entitled to receive dividends that are payable in cash in an amount equal to the greater of (i) $1.95 per annum or (ii) the cash distributions declared or paid for the corresponding period on the number of common shares into which a Series A Preferred Share is then convertible.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.4875 on each Series A Preferred Share in each of the first, second, and third quarters of 2019 and 2018.

Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Joint Ventures

The Company consolidates the joint venture that owns the DoubleTree Metropolitan Hotel New York City, which has a third-party partner that owns a noncontrolling 1.7% ownership interest in the joint venture. In addition, the Company consolidates the joint venture that owns The Knickerbocker, which has a third-party partner that owns a noncontrolling 5% ownership interest in the joint venture. Lastly, the Company owns a controlling financial interest in the operating lessee of the Embassy Suites Secaucus Meadowlands, which has a third-party partner that owns a noncontrolling 49% ownership interest in the joint venture. The third-party ownership interests are included in the noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures on the consolidated balance sheets.

Noncontrolling Interest in the Operating Partnership

The Company consolidates the Operating Partnership, which is a majority-owned limited partnership that has a noncontrolling interest. The outstanding OP Units held by the limited partners are redeemable for cash, or at the option of the Company, for a like number of common shares. As of September 30, 2019, 772,743 outstanding OP Units were held by the limited partners. The noncontrolling interest is included in the noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership on the consolidated balance sheets.

Consolidated Joint Venture Preferred Equity

The Company's joint venture that redeveloped The Knickerbocker raised $45.0 million ($44.4 million net of issuance costs) through the sale of redeemable preferred equity under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The purchasers received a 3.25% annual return, plus a 0.25% non-compounding annual return that was paid upon redemption. The preferred equity raised by the joint venture is included in preferred equity in a consolidated joint venture on the consolidated balance sheets. On February 15, 2019, the Company redeemed the preferred equity in full.