Organization and Description of Business

Ashford Inc. (the “Company”) is a Nevada corporation that provides products and services primarily to clients in the hospitality industry, including Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (“Ashford Trust”) and Braemar Hotels & Resorts Inc. (“Braemar”). We became a public company in November 2014, and our common stock is listed on the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”). Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “Ashford Inc.” for the period before August 8, 2018 refer to Old Ashford (as defined below), for the period from and including August 8, 2018 through November 6, 2019 refer to Maryland Ashford (as defined below), and for the period beginning on and including November 6, 2019, and thereafter refer to Ashford Inc., a Nevada Corporation.

We provide: (i) advisory services; (ii) asset management services; (iii) hotel management services; (iv) project management services; (v) event technology and creative communications solutions; (vi) mobile room keys and keyless entry solutions; (vii) watersports activities and other travel, concierge and transportation services; (viii) hypoallergenic premium room products and services; (ix) debt placement services; (x) real estate advisory and brokerage services; and (xi) wholesaler, dealer manager and other broker-dealer services. We conduct these activities and own substantially all of our assets primarily through Ashford Hospitality Advisors, LLC (“Ashford LLC”), Ashford Hospitality Services, LLC (“Ashford Services”) and their respective subsidiaries.

We are currently the advisor to Ashford Trust and Braemar. In our capacity as the advisor to Ashford Trust and Braemar, we are responsible for implementing the investment strategies and managing the day-to-day operations of Ashford Trust and Braemar from an ownership perspective, in each case subject to the supervision and oversight of the respective board of directors of Ashford Trust and Braemar. Ashford Trust is focused on investing in full-service hotels in the upscale and upper upscale segments in the U.S. that have revenue per available room (“RevPAR”) generally less than twice the national average. Braemar invests primarily in luxury hotels and resorts with RevPAR of at least twice the U.S. national average. Each of Ashford Trust and Braemar is a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), and the common stock of each of Ashford Trust and Braemar is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).

We provide the personnel and services that we believe are necessary for each of Ashford Trust and Braemar to conduct their respective businesses. We may also perform similar functions for new or additional platforms. In our capacity as an advisor, we are not responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the individual hotel properties owned by either Ashford Trust or Braemar, which duties are, and will continue to be, the responsibility of the hotel management companies that operate the hotel properties owned by Ashford Trust and Braemar. As described further below, Remington, which we acquired on November 6, 2019, operates certain of the hotel properties owned by Ashford Trust and Braemar.

Shareholder Rights Plan

On March 13, 2020, we adopted a shareholder rights plan by entering into a Rights Agreement, dated March 13, 2020, with ComputerShare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent (the “Rights Agreement”). We intend for the shareholder rights plan to improve the bargaining position of our board of directors in the event of an unsolicited offer to acquire our outstanding shares of common stock. Our board of directors implemented the rights plan by declaring a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) that was paid on March 23, 2020, for each outstanding share of our common stock on March 23, 2020 (the “Record Date”), to our stockholders of record on that date. Each of those Rights becomes exercisable on the Distribution Date (defined below) and entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of our Series E Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, at a price of $275 per one one-thousandth of a share of our Series E Preferred Stock represented by such a right, subject to adjustment. The Rights will expire on February 13, 2021 unless the expiration date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed by the Company.

Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates representing our common stock, and no separate certificates evidencing the Rights (the “Rights Certificates”) will be issued. The Rights Agreement provides that, until the date on which the Rights separate and begin trading separately from our common stock (which we refer to as the “Distribution Date”) or earlier expiration or redemption of the Rights: (i) the Rights will be transferred with and only with the shares of our common stock; (ii) new certificates representing shares of our common stock issued after the Record Date or upon transfer or new issuance of shares of our common stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference; and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of our common stock outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of the Summary of Rights (as defined in the Rights Agreement) being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of our common stock represented by such certificate. The Distribution Date will occur, and the Rights would separate and begin trading separately from the shares of our common stock, and Rights Certificates will be caused to evidence the Rights on the earlier to occur of:

10 business days following a public announcement, or the public disclosure of facts indicating, that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired Beneficial Ownership (as defined in the Rights Agreement) of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock (referred to, subject to certain exceptions, as “Acquiring Persons”) (or, in the event an exchange of the Rights for shares of our common stock is effected in accordance with certain provisions of the Rights Agreement and our board of directors determines that a later date is advisable, then such later date that is not more than 20 days after such public announcement); or

ii.

10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of our board of directors prior to such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in the Beneficial Ownership by a person or group of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock.

The Rights also become exercisable if a person or group that already beneficially owns 10% or more of our common stock acquires any additional shares of our common stock without the approval of our board of directors, except that the Distribution Date will not occur as a result of our company, one of our subsidiaries, one of our employee benefit plans or a trustee for one of those plans, or Mr. Monty J. Bennett and certain of his affiliates and associates acquiring additional shares of our common stock, and those persons will not be Acquiring Persons.

If a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person at any time after the date of the Rights Agreement, with certain limited exceptions, the Rights will become exercisable for shares of our common stock (or, in certain circumstances, shares of our Series E Preferred Stock or other of our securities that are similar) having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the right. From and after the announcement that any person has become an Acquiring Person, if the Rights evidenced by a Rights Certificate are or were at any time on or after the earlier of: (i) the date of such announcement; or (ii) the Distribution Date acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an associate or affiliate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights. In addition, if, at any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person: (i) we consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other person; (ii) any person consolidates with us, or merges with and into us and we are the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the shares of our common stock are or will be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person (or of ours) or cash or any other property; or (iii) 50% or more of our consolidated assets or Earning Power (as defined in the Rights Agreement) are sold, then proper provision will be made so that each holder of a right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise of a right at the then current exercise price of the right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. Upon the occurrence of an event of the type described in this paragraph, if our board of directors so elects, we will deliver upon payment of the exercise price of a right an amount of cash or securities equivalent in value to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a right. If we fail to meet that obligation within 30 days following of the announcement that a person has become an Acquiring Person, we must deliver, upon exercise of a right but without requiring payment of the exercise price then in effect, shares of our common stock (to the extent available) and cash equal in value to the difference between the value of the shares of our common stock otherwise issuable upon the exercise of a right and the exercise price then in effect. Our board of directors may extend the 30-day period described above for up to an additional 60 days to permit the taking of action that may be necessary to authorize sufficient additional shares of our Common Stock to permit the issuance of such shares of our Common Stock upon the exercise in full of the Rights.

COVID-19, Management’s Plans and Liquidity

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) was identified in Wuhan, China, which subsequently spread to other regions of the world, and has resulted in significant travel restrictions and extended shutdown of numerous businesses in every state in the United States. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic. Our clients Ashford Trust and Braemar have reported that the negative impact on room demand within their respective portfolios stemming from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is significant, which has resulted and is expected to result in significantly reduced occupancy and RevPAR. Furthermore, the prolonged presence of the virus has resulted in health or other government authorities imposing widespread restrictions on travel and other businesses. The hotel industry has experienced postponement or cancellation of a significant number of business conferences and similar events. Following the government mandates and health official orders, the Company dramatically reduced staffing and expenses at its products and services businesses and at our corporate office. COVID-19 has had a significant negative impact on the Company’s operations and financial results to date. The Company expects that the COVID-19 pandemic will have a significant negative impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flow in 2020. As a result, in March 2020, the Company declared 50% of the cumulative preferred dividend which was due with respect to its Series D Convertible Preferred Stock for the first quarter of 2020, reduced the compensation of its board of directors, executive officers and other employees, amended payment terms pursuant to certain hotel management agreements to better manage corporate working capital, reduced planned capital expenditures, and significantly reduced operating expenses. The Company adopted a remote-work policy at its corporate office in an effort to protect the health and safety of its employees and does not anticipate these policies to have any adverse impact on its ability to continue to operate its business.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company’s consolidated net worth was less than $23.2 million, which resulted in a breach of a financial covenant related to our credit agreement with Ashford Hospitality Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and letters of credit issuer, and the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Term Loan Agreement”). Effective June 23, 2020, the Company and Bank of America N.A. executed the Fifth Amendment to the Term Loan Agreement (the “Fifth Amendment”). The Fifth Amendment (a) establishes a 0.50% LIBOR floor, (b) eliminates the consolidated net worth financial covenant, and (c) waives the violation of the consolidated net worth financial covenant that occurred on March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020, our subsidiaries were in compliance in all material respects with all covenants or other requirements set forth in our debt and related agreements as amended. However, there can be no guarantee that our subsidiaries’ will remain in compliance for the remainder of the fiscal year. Due to the significant negative impact of COVID-19 on the operations of our subsidiaries, we expect that within the next twelve months, our JSAV and RED subsidiaries will violate debt covenants pursuant to certain existing debt agreements which have no recourse to Ashford Inc. As a result, JSAV and RED may be required to immediately repay debt balances of $20.2 million and $2.6 million, respectively, which have therefore been classified as current liabilities within our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2020. The JSAV and RED subsidiary loans, which are expected to violate debt covenants, are secured by the respective subsidiary’s tangible assets. All of our subsidiaries’ debt has no recourse to Ashford Inc. with the exception of $3.8 million of debt held by the entity that conducts RED’s legacy U.S. Virgin Islands operations which is currently not expected to violate debt covenants. See note 6.

Based on these factors, as well as, our negative $29.0 million working capital position as of March 31, 2020, the Company has determined that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require that in making this determination, the Company cannot consider any remedies that are outside of the Company’s control and have not been fully implemented. As a result, the Company could not consider future potential fundraising activities, whether through equity or debt offerings, disposition of assets or the likelihood of obtaining waivers as we could not conclude they were probable of being effectively implemented. Further, the Company could not consider continued cash payment of advisory fees and other revenues from Ashford Trust and Braemar, two of the Company's key customers, because each of Ashford Trust and Braemar currently exhibits conditions that create substantial doubt about the ability for each to continue as a going concern. Also, the continued cash payment of such advisory fees and other revenues remains subject to the discretion of the independent board members of each of Ashford Trust and Braemar, which is not within the Company's control. As such, the Company’s ability to remain in compliance with the financial covenants related to our Term Loan Agreement, as amended, for the next twelve months is outside of management’s control. Accordingly, the Company has classified the entire $35.0 million outstanding under our Term Loan Agreement, as amended, as a current liability on our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2020.

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Other Developments

On March 13, 2020, the Company entered into the Extension Agreement (the “Extension Agreement”), related to the Ashford Trust Enhanced Return Funding Program (the “Ashford Trust ERFP Agreement”). Under the terms of the Extension Agreement, the remaining ERFP commitment funding deadline under the Ashford Trust ERFP Agreement of $11.4 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, has been extended from January 22, 2021 to December 31, 2022. See note 9.

On March 16, 2020, the Company announced that in light of the uncertainty created by the effects of the COVID-19, effective March 21, 2020, the base salary for its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Monty J. Bennett, will be temporarily reduced by 20% and the base salary for certain other Company officers, including its Chief Financial Officer and its other named executive officers, will be temporarily reduced by 15% until the effects of COVID-19 have subsided and it has been determined that the Company is in a healthy financial position. Any amounts relinquished pursuant to the reduction may be paid by the Company in the future.

On March 16, 2020, in light of the uncertainty created by the effects of COVID-19, each non-employee serving on the Board agreed to a 25% reduction in their annual cash retainers. In addition, effective as of May 14, 2020, the Board agreed further that this reduced amount would be payable 75% in cash and 25% in equity (common stock of Ashford Inc.). This arrangement will be effective until such time as the Board determines in its discretion that the effects of COVID-19 have subsided. Any amounts relinquished pursuant to the reduction in fees may be paid by the Company in the future, as determined by the Board in its discretion.

On March 16, 2020, the Company announced that the Board had declared and the Company would pay 50% of the cumulative preferred dividend which was due with respect to its Series D Convertible Preferred Stock for the first quarter of 2020. See note 11.

On March 20, 2020, Lismore Capital LLC (“Lismore”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an agreement to seek modifications, forbearances or refinancings of Ashford Trust’s loans (the “Ashford Trust Agreement”). Pursuant to the Ashford Trust Agreement, Lismore shall, during the term of the agreement (which commenced on March 20, 2020 and shall end on the date that is twelve months following the commencement date, or upon it being terminated by Ashford Trust on not less than thirty days written notice) negotiate the refinancing, modification or forbearance of the existing mortgage and mezzanine debt on Ashford Trust’s hotels. For the purposes of the Ashford Trust Agreement, financing shall include, without limitation, senior or subordinate loan financing, provided in any single transaction or a combination of transactions, including, mortgage loan financing, mezzanine loan financing, or subordinate loan financing encumbering the applicable hotel or unsecured loan financing.

In connection with the services provided by Lismore, Lismore shall be paid an advisory fee of up to 50 basis points (0.50%) of the aggregate amount of the modifications, forbearances or refinancings, of Ashford Trust’s mortgage and mezzanine debt (the “Ashford Trust Financings”) calculated and payable as follows: (i) 0.125% of the aggregate amount of potential Ashford Trust Financings upon execution of the Ashford Trust Agreement; (ii) 0.125% payable in six equal installments beginning April 20, 2020 and ending on September 20, 2020; provided, however, in the event Ashford Trust does not complete, for any reason, Ashford Trust Financings during the term of the Ashford Trust Agreement equal to or greater than $4,114,740,601, then Ashford Trust shall offset, against any fees owed by Ashford Trust or its affiliates pursuant to the advisory agreement, a portion of the fee paid by Ashford Trust to Lismore pursuant to this section equal to the product of (x) the amount of Ashford Trust Financings completed during the term of the Ashford Trust Agreement minus $4,114,740,601 multiplied by (y) 0.125%; and (iii) 25 basis points (0.25%) payable upon the acceptance by the applicable lender of any Ashford Trust Financing. As of March 31, 2020, the $5.0 million initial amount is recognized as deferred revenue, which will be recognized over the twelve month term, and a receivable in our condensed consolidated financial statements. See note14.

On March 20, 2020, Lismore entered into an agreement to seek modifications, forbearances or refinancings of Braemar’s loans (the “Braemar Agreement”). Pursuant to the Braemar Agreement, Lismore shall, during the term of the agreement (which commenced on March 20, 2020 and shall end on the date that is twelve months following the commencement date, or upon it being terminated by Braemar on not less than thirty days written notice) negotiate the refinancing, modification or forbearance of the existing mortgage and mezzanine debt on Braemar’s hotels. For the purposes of the Braemar Agreement, financing shall include, without limitation, senior or subordinate loan financing, provided in any single transaction or a combination of transactions, including, mortgage loan financing, mezzanine loan financing, or subordinate loan financing encumbering the applicable hotel or unsecured loan financing.

In connection with the services provided by Lismore, Lismore shall be paid an advisory fee of up to 50 basis points (0.50%) of the aggregate amount of the modifications, forbearances or refinancings, of Braemar’s mortgage and mezzanine debt (the “Braemar Financings”) calculated and payable as follows: (i) 0.125% of the aggregate amount of potential Braemar Financings upon execution of the Braemar Agreement; (ii) 0.125% payable in six equal installments beginning April 20, 2020 and ending on September 20, 2020; provided, however, in the event Braemar does not complete, for any reason, Braemar Financings during the term of the Braemar Agreement equal to or greater than $1,091,250,000, then Braemar shall offset, against any fees owed by Braemar or its affiliates pursuant to the advisory agreement, a portion of the fee paid by Braemar to Lismore pursuant to this section equal to the product of (x) the amount of Braemar Financings completed during the term of the Braemar Agreement minus $1,091,250,000 multiplied by (y) 0.125%; and (iii) 25 basis points (0.25%) payable upon the acceptance by the applicable lender of any Braemar Financing. As of March 31, 2020, the $1.4 million initial amount is recognized as deferred revenue, which will be recognized over the twelve month term, and a receivable in our condensed consolidated financial statements. See note 14.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the operations of our advisory and asset management business, hospitality products and services business, and entities that we consolidate. In this report, the terms the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Ashford Inc. and all entities included in its condensed consolidated financial statements.