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
May 17, 2018
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)
Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Maryland
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
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1-34087 |
52-1889548 |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 220 |
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Bethesda, Maryland |
20814 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
(Zip Code) |
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(402) 371-2520 |
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( Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) |
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) |
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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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b) |
☐ 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). |
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. ☐ |
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e) At the annual shareholders meeting of Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) on May 17, 2018, the shareholders of the Company approved an amendment of the Compan y’s 2016 Stock Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock available under the plan by 300,000 shares. A copy of the amendment is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this report and incorporated by this reference.
Item 5.05. Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.
The Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Whistleblower Policy was amended on May 17, 2018 to add a hotline reporting procedure. A copy of the amended code is attached as Exhibit 14.1 and incorporated by this reference.
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
The Company held its annual meeting of shareholders on May 17, 2018. The holders of the common stock (i) elected nine directors for an annual term or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified; (ii) approved an amendment of the Company’s 2016 Stock Plan; and (iii) ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors of the Company for 2018.
For the annual meeting there were 11,837,362 shares of common stock as of March 9, 2018, the record date, eligible to vote at the meeting, of which holders of 11,438,994 shares of common stock were present at the meeting in person or by proxy. The tabulation for each matter voted upon at the meeting by the common stock was as follows:
Nine nominees were elected to serve as directors of the Company by the following vote:
An amendment to the Company 2016 Stock Plan was approved by the following vote:
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Votes For |
Votes Against |
Votes Abstain |
Broker Non-Vote |
8,767,817 |
1,282,142 |
115,754 |
1,273,281 |
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The shareholders ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors for 2018 by the following vote:
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Votes For |
Votes Against |
Votes Abstain |
Broker Non-Vote |
11,111,372 |
226,592 |
101,030 |
0 |
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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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Exhibit |
Description |
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10.1 |
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14.1 |
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Whistleblower Policy |
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.
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Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc. |
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Date: May 22, 2018 |
By: /s/ Arinn Cavey |
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Name: Arinn Cavey |
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Title: Chief Accounting Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
Amendment
to
Condor Hospitality Trust 2016 Stock Plan
The first sentence of Section 5.1 of the Condor Hospitality Trust 2016 Stock Plan is hereby amended and replaced in its entirety with the following:
“The number of shares of Stock subject to Awards under the Plan may not exceed 761,538 shares of Stock.”
Effective May 17, 2018
Exhibit 14.1
Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Whistleblower Policy
Policy – Ethical Conduct
Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) will operate in an ethical manner at all times without compromise. The Company’s directors, employees, and the third-party management companies operating its hotels (its “Agents”), are also expected to consistently promote and practice high ethical standards. Through the practice of high ethical standards, the Company seeks to maintain the confidence of its shareholders, customers and vendors, as well as the pride and confidence of its employees.
Opportunities to increase the Company’s profitability shall be pursued in a manner that is both morally and legally sound. The Company will practice full compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and standards governing its operations and will not seek to exploit, or otherwise use to its advantage, any known loopholes or grey areas in such laws, regulations and standards. The Company, its Agents, its directors and its employees will rely upon the counsel of attorneys and/or independent accountants when faced with the task of interpreting new or unfamiliar laws, regulations and other standards.
Expectation of Company’s Employees
The Company’s directors, employees, and its Agents, are individually responsible for ensuring the Company’s conduct of business in accordance with the high ethical standards it has established. Accordingly, the Company’s directors, employees, and its Agents, are expected to:
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Be familiar with the relevant laws, regulations and standards governing the operation of the business segments they are charged with operating; |
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Obey relevant laws, regulations and standards, to include those laws and regulations governing the Company’s labor practices, environmental stewardship, and operation as a publicly held corporation; |
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Fairly report the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition, as well as the operating results of its individual hotel properties, in accordance with accepted accounting principles in the U.S., as well as the Company’s established finance and accounting policies; |
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Refrain from directly or indirectly taking any action to fraudulently influence, coerce, manipulate or mislead the Company’s independent auditors for the purpose of rendering the financial statements of the Company misleading. |
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Maintain all other corporate books and records accurately and in reasonable detail; |
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Support the Company’s policy of providing full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in all documents required to be filed or furnished or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission and in all other public communications; |
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Preserve relevant documents whenever litigation or an investigation is pending, unless destruction has been approved by outside legal counsel; |
Exhibit 14.1
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Honor the civil rights of the Company’s employees, customers, vendors and competitors, and treat such individuals fairly, with dignity and respect; |
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Conduct all business dealings with a high level of integrity, honesty and fairness; |
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Create and maintain a work environment that is free of illegal discrimination and verbal, physical and sexual harassment of any kind; |
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Respect all copyright protections, franchise rights and other proprietary benefits expressly stated by the owner of such rights; |
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Refer all requests for donations, contributions and other forms of charitable or political support to the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, who will decide if such requests shall be honored, and if such contributions are permitted under applicable campaign finance laws and regulations; |
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Refrain from using non-public information about the Company for personal financial benefit or to “tip” others who might make an investment decision on the basis of the information; |
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Maintain in confidence confidential information regarding the Company and its business; |
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Seek approval from the Chairman of the Audit Committee before acquiring a 5% or greater ownership interest (direct or indirect) in any of the Company’s vendors, customers, competitors or franchise organizations; |
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Seek approval from the Chairman of the Audit Committee before hiring organizations or persons to serve as vendors, directors and employees, to the extent such organizations or persons are members, or are affiliated with members, of the hiring manager’s or another director’s or employee’s immediate family; |
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Avoid conflicts of interest and reject opportunities to engage in outside businesses that will compete with, or benefit from the Company’s operations, or to otherwise become employed by the Company’s competitors while remaining on the Company’s payroll; |
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Avoid the giving or receiving of gifts to/from vendors and customers except where such gifts are of little or no intrinsic value (under $200 retail value), where such gifts are of a perishable nature (e.g., fruit baskets, flowers, bread items), or where such gifts are of a commemorative nature (e.g., plaques and photographs); |
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Immediately disclose all gifts of cash, travel, or other items with a retail value in excess of $200 to the Company’s President and CEO, who will decide whether the gift can be accepted, turned over to the Company, or returned; |
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Refrain from offering, giving or providing gifts or payments to others, including government employees, in violation of any laws or regulations; |
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Restrict the use of the Company’s assets and properties (including its cash, office supplies, equipment and premises) to the conduct of the Company’s authorized business activities only; |
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Protect the Company’s proprietary information and business resources from loss, theft or improper use; |
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Refrain from the use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace; |
Exhibit 14.1
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Seek guidance from a superior in any situation in which this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, or Company policy, is unclear; and |
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Promptly report all observed or suspected violations of law or this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to a supervisor, the Company’s President and CEO, or a member of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. |
Reporting Unethical Behavior
Condor Hospitality Trust, Inc. encourages its employees, shareholders, customers, vendors and other concerned parties to report any suspected or observed violations of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Company has designated the following individuals as being its primary contacts for the reporting of violations or other concerns:
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Mr. J. William Blackham, President and Chief Executive Officer, can be reached by telephone at (402) 316-1018, by mail at 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 220, Bethesda, MD 20814 or by e-mail bblackham@trustcondor.com or |
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Mr. John Sabin, Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, can be reached by mail at 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 220, Bethesda, MD 20814 or by telephone at 301.787.5034 or by e-mail johnsabinbusiness@yahoo.com. |
Any complaints or concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters should be reported directly to Mr. Sabin.
If an employee of the Company prefers, any complaints or concerns regarding any suspected or observed violations of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or related matters may also be submitted on a confidential, anonymous basis through our ethics hotline as described below.
Information gathered through such reporting will be thoroughly investigated, and will be held in confidence. Violations of this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may result in disciplinary action, including termination of employment and/or criminal penalties.
Ethics Hotline
The ethics hotline is intended to cover serious concerns that could have a large impact on the Company, such as actions that:
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May lead to incorrect financial reporting; |
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Are unlawful; |
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Are not in line with company policy, including the Code of Business Conduct; or |
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Otherwise amount to serious improper conduct. |
Regular business matters that do not require anonymity should be directed to the employee’s supervisor and are not addressed by this policy.
Harassment or Victimization
Harassment or victimization of individuals submitting hotline reports will not be tolerated.
Exhibit 14.1
Confidentiality
Every effort will be made to protect the reporter’s identity by our hotline vendor. Please note that the information provided in a hotline report may be the basis of an internal and/or external investigation by our company into the issue being reported. It is possible that as a result of the information provided in a report, the reporter’s identity may become known to us during the course of our investigation.
Anonymous Allegations
The policy allows employees to remain anonymous at their option. Concerns expressed anonymously will be investigated, but consideration will be given to:
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The seriousness of the issue raised; |
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The credibility of the concern; and |
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The likelihood of confirming the allegation from attributable sources. |
Malicious Allegations
Malicious allegations may result in disciplinary action.
Procedure
The whistleblowing procedure is intended to be used for serious and sensitive issues. Serious concerns relating to financial reporting, unethical or illegal conduct, should be reported in either of the following ways:
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Website: www.lighthouse-services.com/trustcondor |
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English speaking USA: (833) 850-0088 |
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Spanish speaking North America: (800) 216-1288 |
Reports are submitted by Lighthouse (our outside third party vendor) to the Company, and may or may not be investigated at the sole discretion of our Company.
The earlier a concern is expressed, the easier it is for us to take action.
Although you are not expected to prove the truth of an allegation, the employee submitting a report needs to demonstrate in their hotline report that there are sufficient grounds for concern.
How the Report Will Be Handled
The action taken will depend on the nature of the concern. The Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors receives a copy of each report and follow-up reports on actions taken by the Company.
Initial inquiries will be made to determine whether an investigation is appropriate, and the form that it should take. Some concerns may be resolved by agreed upon action without the need for an investigation.
Whether reported directly to the Company personnel or through the hotline, the individual submitting a report will be given the opportunity to receive follow-up on their concern.
The amount of contact between the individual submitting a report and the body investigating the concern will depend on the nature of the issue, the clarity of information provided, and whether
Exhibit 14.1
the employee remains accessible for follow-up. Further information may be sought from the reporter.
At the discretion of the Company and subject to legal and other constraints, the reporter may be entitled to receive information about the outcome of an investigation.
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Any amendment or waiver of this Code for executive officers or directors may be made only by the Board of Directors or a Board committee and will be promptly disclosed to shareholders as required by law, by the SEC or by the securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed for trading.
DATE: May 17, 2018