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Organization and Description of Business
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization and Description of Business 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 and related 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:
i.
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, 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 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 and 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 and beyond. 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 cash 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.
We are required to maintain certain financial ratios under various debt and related agreements. If we violate covenants in any debt or related agreement, we could be required to repay all or a portion of our indebtedness before maturity at a time when we might be unable to arrange financing for such repayment on attractive terms, if at all. Violations of certain debt covenants may result in the inability of our subsidiaries to borrow unused amounts under their respective lines of credit, even if repayment of some or all of their borrowings is not required. As of June 30, 2020, we were in compliance in all material respects with all covenants or other requirements set forth in our $35 million Term Loan Agreement, as amended. As of June 30, 2020, Presentation Technologies LLC (“JSAV”) was not in compliance with certain debt covenants pursuant to existing debt agreements which have no recourse to Ashford Inc., including the leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios, which constituted an “Event of Default” as such term is defined under the applicable loan agreements. Following an Event of Default, JSAV’s lender can generally elect to accelerate all principal and accrued interest payments that remain outstanding under the applicable loan agreements. JSAV is actively negotiating the terms for a waiver with its lender; however, no assurances can be given that a waiver will be obtained on acceptable terms or at all. As a result, JSAV’s outstanding debt balance of $20.0 million has been classified as a current liability within our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2020. As of June 30, 2020, Pure Wellness and RED 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 RED subsidiary will violate debt covenants pursuant to certain existing loan agreements which have no recourse to Ashford Inc. As a result, RED may be required to immediately repay a debt balance of $2.6 million which has therefore been classified as a current liability within our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2020. The JSAV and RED subsidiary loans are secured by the respective subsidiary’s tangible assets. None of our subsidiaries’ debt has 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 notes 2 and 6.
The Company has determined that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for at least 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 debt 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 revenue from Ashford Trust and Braemar, two of the Company's key customers, due to the uncertainty of future payment of such fees 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 revenue 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 which resulted in a negative $40.0 million working capital position as of June 30, 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 June 30, 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, the Company announced that in light of the uncertainty created by the effects of COVID-19, the annual cash retainer for each non-employee director serving on the Company’s Board would be temporarily reduced by 25% and would continue in effect until the Board determined in its discretion that the effects of COVID-19 had subsided. The Company also disclosed at that time that any amounts relinquished pursuant to the reduction in fees may be paid in the future, as determined by the Board in its discretion. On August 7, 2020, the Company announced that for fiscal year 2020, the directors will receive the full value of their annual cash retainer (without reduction). However, the full value of such cash retainer will be paid 25% in fully vested common shares and 75% in cash. The remaining quarterly installments of such retainer will be adjusted so that, for fiscal year 2020 in the aggregate, each director will have received 25% of the value of the full annual cash retainer in equity and the remaining 75% in cash. This arrangement does not apply to any additional cash retainers for committee service or service as lead director, which will continue to be paid in cash. The Board currently intends to continue this arrangement through our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at which time the Board currently intends to re-examine the program.
On March 16, 2020, the Company announced that the Board had declared and the Company would pay 50% of the dividend which was due with respect to its Series D Convertible Preferred Stock for the first quarter of 2020. The declared $3.9 million dividends were paid on April 15, 2020. On June 24, 2020, the Company declared the remaining 50% or approximately $4.0 million of dividends, including compounding dividends, due with respect to its Series D Convertible Preferred Stock for the first quarter of 2020 which were paid on July 14, 2020. The Company did not declare dividends with respect to its Series D Convertible Preferred Stock for the second quarter of 2020. As of June 30, 2020, the Company had aggregate undeclared preferred stock dividends of approximately $7.9 million which relates to the second quarter of 2020. All dividends, declared and undeclared, are recorded as an expense in the period incurred in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. Unpaid dividends, declared and undeclared, totaling $11.9 million at June 30, 2020, are recorded as a liability in our condensed consolidated balance sheets as “dividends payable”. See note 11.
On March 20, 2020, 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 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.
On July 1, 2020, Lismore and Ashford Trust amended and restated the Ashford Trust Agreement with an effective date of April 6, 2020. Pursuant to the amended and restated agreement, the term of the agreement was extended to 24 months following the commencement date. In connection with the services to be provided by Lismore under the amended and restated agreement, Lismore is entitled to receive a fee of up to $2.6 million in three equal installments of $857,000 per month beginning July 20, 2020, and ending on September 20, 2020. Lismore is also entitled to receive a fee that is calculated and payable as follows: (i) a fee equal to 25 basis points (0.25%) of the amount of a loan, payable upon the acceptance by the applicable lender of any forbearance or extension of such loan, or in the case where a third-party agent or contractor engaged by Ashford Trust has secured an extension of the maturity date equal to or greater than 12 months of any such loan, then the amount payable to Lismore shall be reduced to 10 basis points (0.10%); (ii) a fee equal to 75 basis points (0.75%) of the amount of any principal reduction of a loan upon the acceptance by any lender of any principal reduction of such loan; and (iii) a fee equal to 150 basis points (1.50%) of the implied conversion value (but in any case, no less than 50% of the face value of such loan or loans) of a loan upon the acceptance by any lender of any debt to equity conversion of such loan.
At the time of amendment, Lismore had been paid approximately $8.3 million, in the aggregate, pursuant to the original agreement. Under the amended and restated agreement, Ashford Trust is still entitled, in the event that Ashford Trust does not complete, for any reason, extensions or forbearances during the term of the agreement equal to or greater than approximately $4.1 billion, to offset, against any fees Ashford Trust or its affiliates owe pursuant to the advisory agreement, a portion of the fee previously paid by Ashford Trust to Lismore equal to the product of (x) approximately $4.1 billion minus the amount of extensions or forbearances completed during the term of the agreement multiplied by (y) 0.125%. As of June 30, 2020, the Company has recognized $689,000 as revenue and $7.6 million as deferred income of which $2.8 million is subject to claw back. The deferred income related to the various Lismore fees described above will be recognized over the 24 month term of the agreement on a straight line basis as the service is rendered, only to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue will not occur.
Constraints relating to variable consideration are resolved generally upon the closing of a transaction or financing event and the resulting change in the transaction price will be adjusted on a cumulative catch-up basis in the period a transaction or financing event closes. 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 and Braemar’s secured revolving credit facility (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 $1.1 billion, 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 $1.1 billion 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 June 30, 2020, the Company has recognized $646,000 as revenue and $2.3 million as deferred income of which $276,000 is subject to claw back. The deferred income related to the various Lismore fees described above will be recognized over the 12 month term of the agreement on a straight line basis as the service is rendered, only to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue will not occur. Constraints relating to variable consideration are resolved generally upon the closing of a transaction or financing event and the resulting change in the transaction price will be adjusted on a cumulative catch-up basis in the period a transaction or financing event closes. See note 14.
On May 15, 2020, the Company and its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Monty J. Bennett, entered into a letter agreement pursuant to which, effective as of May 15, 2020 and continuing through and including the Company’s last payroll period in 2020, Mr. Monty J. Bennett will accept payment of his base salary (as previously reduced by mutual agreement of the Company and Mr. Monty J. Bennett) in the form of common stock of the Company, issued pursuant to the Company’s 2014 Incentive Plan, as amended. Each issuance of the Company’s common stock will occur on, or as soon as reasonably practicable following, each regular payroll date. The number of shares issued with respect to each payroll date will be equal to the cash salary which would have been paid, less any taxes withheld and benefits deductions, divided by the volume weighted average price per share of the Company’s common stock over all trading days in the period commencing on the first trading date in the applicable payroll period and ending on the last trading date immediately prior to the last day of the payroll period. The Board and Mr. Bennett agreed to effectuate this change to preserve Company liquidity as the Company navigates the effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
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.