EXHIBIT 99.29
NEWS RELEASE
| Contact: | David Kimichik | Tripp Sullivan | ||
| Chief Financial Officer | Corporate Communications, Inc. | |||
| (972) 490-9600 | (615) 254-3376 |
ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST DECLARES
SECOND QUARTER DIVIDEND AND POSTPONES FOLLOW ON OFFERING
DALLAS — (June 16, 2004) — Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) today announced the Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per fully diluted share for the second quarter ending June 30, 2004. The dividend is payable on July 15, 2004, to shareholders of record as of June 30, 2004. Ashford also announced the postponement of its proposed public offering of 7,500,000 shares of common stock contemplated in the Registration Statement on Form S-11 previously filed on April 7, 2004.
Commenting on the announcement, Monty J. Bennett, President and CEO of Ashford Hospitality Trust, stated, “The success of our investment strategy and the strength of our portfolio have enabled us to increase our dividend by 67% over the first quarter. Consistent with our previously stated objectives, we expect to continue to grow the dividend during 2004.”
“Due to the current capital market environment, we have chosen to take advantage of the attractive debt markets to raise additional capital in the near term to fund our pipeline and growth. In light of our common stock price and keeping our shareholders’ best interests in mind, we will pursue an equity offering only when appropriate.”
* * * * *
Ashford Hospitality Trust is a self-administered real estate investment trust focused exclusively on investing in the hospitality industry across all segments and at all levels of the capital structure, including direct hotel investments, first mortgages, mezzanine loans and sale-leaseback transactions. Additional information can be found on the Company’s web site at www.ahtreit.com.
Certain statements and assumptions in this press release 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. 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 forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the impact of the transaction on our business and future financial condition, our business and investment strategy, our understanding of our competition and current market trends and opportunities and
-MORE-
| 14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1100, Dallas, TX 75254 | Phone: (972) 490-9600 |
AHT Declares Second Quarter Dividend
Page 2
June 16, 2004
projected capital expenditures. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside Ashford’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: general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of our common stock; changes in our business or investment strategy; availability, terms and deployment of capital; availability of qualified personnel; changes in our industry and the market 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 section entitled “Risk Factors” in Ashford’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. 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.
-END-