UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 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): May 16, 2019
ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Maryland
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
001-31775 | | 86-1062192 |
(Commission File Number) | | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1100 | | |
Dallas, Texas | | 75254 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | | (Zip Code) |
(972) 490-9600
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2 (b))
o 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).
o 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. o
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 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
(a) On May 16, 2019, Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). As of March 18, 2019, the record date for the Annual Meeting, there were 102,263,586 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. At the Annual Meeting, 87,242,530 shares, or approximately 85.31% of the eligible voting shares, were represented either in person or by proxy.
(b) At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders voted on the following items:
1. Proposal 1 - To elect seven nominees to the Company’s Board of Directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified. The following nominees were elected to the Company’s Board of Directors, with the voting results for each nominee as shown:
| | | | | | Broker | |
Name | | For | | Withheld | | Non-votes | |
Monty J. Bennett | | 58,961,007 | | 7,785,714 | | 20,495,809 | |
Benjamin J. Ansell, M.D. | | 66,382,800 | | 363,921 | | 20,495,809 | |
Amish Gupta | | 66,281,963 | | 464,758 | | 20,495,809 | |
Kamal Jafarnia | | 65,786,730 | | 959,991 | | 20,495,809 | |
Frederick J. Kleisner | | 66,347,139 | | 399,582 | | 20,495,809 | |
Sheri L. Pantermuehl | | 66,292,447 | | 454,274 | | 20,495,809 | |
Alan L. Tallis | | 66,143,225 | | 603,496 | | 20,495,809 | |
2. Proposal 2 - To obtain advisory approval of the Company’s executive compensation. This proposal was approved by the votes indicated below:
| | | | | | Broker | |
For | | Against | | Abstain | | Non-votes | |
63,615,937 | | 2,687,720 | | 443,064 | | 20,495,809 | |
3. Proposal 3 - To ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP, a national public accounting firm, as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. This proposal was approved by the votes indicated below:
| | | | | | Broker | |
For | | Against | | Abstain | | Non-votes | |
86,782,305 | | 206,432 | | 253,793 | | — | |
SIGNATURES
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.
Date: May 20, 2019
| ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC. |
| |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Deric S. Eubanks |
| | Deric S. Eubanks |
| | Chief Financial Officer |
