Exhibit 3.5
ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND
PREFERENCES OF A SERIES OF PREFERRED STOCK
Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
Corporation
), having its
principal office in Dallas, Texas certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of
Maryland that:
FIRST
: Under a power contained in Section 2-208 of the Maryland General Corporation Law and
Article V of the Corporations Articles of Amendment and Restatement (as the same may be amended or
supplemented) (the
Charter
), the Board of Directors (the Board) on June 2, 2007, classified and
designated 8,000,000 shares of the unissued preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Corporation (
Preferred Stock
) as Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock, and the designated officers
set forth in such resolutions, on the authority of the Board, determined that such Preferred Stock
will have the following preferences, rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to
dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Charter.
(1)
Designation and Number
. A series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, designated the
8.45% Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock (the
Series D Preferred Stock
), is hereby
established. The par value of the Series D Preferred Stock is $.01 per share. The number of shares
of Series D Preferred Stock shall be 8,000,000.
(2)
Rank
. The Series D Preferred Stock will, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, rank (i) prior or senior to any class or
series of common stock of the Corporation and any other class or series of equity securities, if
the holders of Series D Preferred Stock are entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts
distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up in preference or priority to the holders
of shares of such class or series (
Junior Stock
); (ii) on a parity with each of the Series A
Preferred Stock, the Series B-1 Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock and any other class
or series of the equity securities of the Corporation issued in the future if, pursuant to the
specific terms of such class or series of equity securities, the holders of such class or series of
equity securities and the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock are entitled to the receipt of
dividends and of amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up in proportion to
their respective amounts of accrued and unpaid dividends per share or liquidation preferences,
without preference or priority one over the other (
Parity Stock
); (iii) junior to any class or
series of equity securities of the Corporation if, pursuant to the specific terms of such class or
series, the holders of such class or series are entitled to the receipt of dividends or amounts
distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up in preference or priority to the holders
of the Series D Preferred Stock (
Senior Stock
); and (iv) junior to all of the existing and future
indebtedness of the Corporation. The term equity securities does not include convertible debt
securities, which, unless otherwise provided, will rank senior to the Series D Preferred Stock.
(3)
Dividends
.
(a) Holders of Series D Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when and as
authorized by the Board and declared by the Corporation, out of funds legally available for
payment, cash dividends at the rate of 8.45% per annum on the $25.00 liquidation preference
(equivalent to an annual dividend of $2.1125 per share) provided, however, that during any
period of time that both (i) the Series D Preferred Stock is not listed on the New York
Stock Exchange (
NYSE
), the American Stock Exchange (
AMEX
), or the NASDAQ Global Market
(
NASDAQ
), or listed on an exchange that is a successor to the NYSE, AMEX or NASDAQ, and
(ii) the Corporation is not subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act
), and any Series D Preferred Stock is
outstanding, in lieu of the dividend described above, the dividend payable on the Series D
Preferred Stock shall automatically and without action of the Board of Directors be
increased to a rate of 9.45% of the twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per share liquidation
preference per year (equivalent to an annual dividend rate of $2.3625 per share) (a
Special
Distribution
). Such dividends will be cumulative from the date of original issuance or,
with respect to the Special Distribution, if applicable, from the date following the date on
which both (i) the Series D Preferred Stock is not listed on the NYSE, AMEX or NASDAQ, or is
not listed on an exchange that is a successor to the NYSE, AMEX or NASDAQ, and (ii) the
Corporation is not subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, whether or not
in any dividend period or periods (x) such dividends shall be declared, (y) there shall be
funds legally available for the payment of such dividends or (z) any agreement prohibits
payment of such dividends, and such dividends shall be payable quarterly the 15th day of
January, April, July and October of each year (or, if not a Business Day (as defined in
Article VI of the Charter), the next succeeding Business Day), commencing October 15, 2007.
The first dividend will be payable for the period beginning July 18, 2007. Any dividend
payable on the Series D Preferred Stock for any partial dividend period will be computed on
the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. Dividends will be payable in arrears
to holders of record as they appear on the records of the Corporation at the close of
business on the last day of each of March, June, September and December, as the case may be,
immediately preceding the applicable dividend payment date. Holders of Series D Preferred
Stock will not be entitled to receive any dividends in excess of cumulative dividends on the
Series D Preferred Stock at the dividend rate specified in this paragraph. No interest will
be paid in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Series D Preferred Stock that
may be in arrears. The Special Distribution, if applicable, shall cease to accrue on the
date following the earlier of (i) the listing of the Series D Preferred Stock on the NYSE,
AMEX or NASDAQ, or listing on an exchange that is a successor to the NYSE, AMEX or NASDAQ,
or (ii) the Corporation becoming subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.
(b) When dividends are not paid in full upon the Series D Preferred Stock or any other
class or series of Parity Stock, or a sum sufficient for such payment is not set apart, all
dividends declared upon the Series D Preferred Stock and any other class or series of Parity
Stock shall be declared ratably in proportion to the respective amounts of dividends
accumulated, accrued and unpaid on the Series D Preferred Stock and accumulated, accrued and
unpaid on such Parity Stock. Except as set forth in the
2
preceding sentence, unless dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock equal to the full amount of accumulated, accrued
and unpaid dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid, or declared and a
sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for such payment for all past dividend
periods, no dividends (other than dividends paid in Junior Stock or options, warrants or
rights to subscribe for or purchase such Junior Stock) shall be declared or paid or set
aside for payment with respect to any class or series of Parity Stock. Unless full
cumulative dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock have been paid or declared and set
apart for payment for all past dividend periods, no dividends (other than dividends paid in
Junior Stock or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase such Junior Stock)
shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment with respect to any Junior Stock, nor
shall any Junior Stock or Parity Stock be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired (except
for purposes of an employee benefit plan) for any consideration, or any monies be paid to or
made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any Junior Stock or Parity Stock
(except by conversion or exchange for Junior Stock, or options, warrants or rights to
subscribe for or purchase Junior Stock), nor shall any other cash or property be paid or
distributed to or for the benefit of holders of Junior Stock or Parity Stock.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not be prohibited from (i) declaring or
paying or setting apart for payment any dividend or distribution on any Parity Stock or (ii)
redeeming, purchasing or otherwise acquiring any Junior Stock or Parity Stock, in each case,
if such declaration, payment, redemption, purchase or other acquisition is necessary to
maintain the Corporations qualification as a real estate investment trust for federal
income tax purposes (
REIT
).
(c) No dividends on Series D Preferred Stock shall be authorized by the Board or
declared or paid or set apart for payment at such time as the terms and provisions of any
agreement, including any agreement relating to the Corporations indebtedness, prohibits
such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provides that such
authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach
thereof or a default thereunder, or if such authorization, declaration, payment or setting
apart for payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.
(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as
capital gain
dividends
(as defined in Section 857 of the Internal Revenue Code) any portion of the
dividends (as determined for federal income tax purposes) paid or made available for the
year to holders of all classes of capital stock, then the portion of the capital gains
amount that shall be allocable to the holders of Series D Preferred Stock shall be the
amount that the total dividends (as determined for federal income tax purposes) paid or made
available to the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock for the year bears to the total
dividends (as determined for federal income tax purposes) paid or made available for the
year to holders of all classes of capital stock.
(e) In determining for purposes of Section 2-311 of the Maryland General Corporation
Law or otherwise under the Maryland General Corporation Law whether a distribution (other
than upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation), by dividend, redemption or otherwise, is permitted, amounts that would be
needed, if the Corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy
the liquidation preference of any series of preferred stock with preferential
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rights on dissolution senior to the Series D Preferred Stock (as discussed in Section 4 below) will
not be added to the Corporations total liabilities.
(4)
Liquidation Preference
.
(a) Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, before any payment or distribution shall be made to or set apart for the
holders of any Junior Stock, the holders of Series D Preferred Stock shall be entitled to
receive a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all
accumulated, accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared) to the date of
final distribution to such holders, but such holders shall not be entitled to any further
payment. If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, its assets,
or proceeds thereof, distributable among the holders of Series D Preferred Stock shall be
insufficient to pay in full the above described preferential amount and liquidating payments
on any other shares of any class or series of Parity Stock, then such assets, or the
proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among the holders of Series D Preferred Stock and any
such other Parity Stock ratably in the same proportion as the respective amounts that would
be payable on such Series D Preferred Stock and any such other Parity Stock if all amounts
payable thereon were paid in full.
(b) Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment
shall have been made in full to the holders of Series D Preferred Stock and any Parity
Stock, any other series or class or classes of Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive any
and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the Series D
Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.
(c) Written notice of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, stating the payment date or dates when, and the place or places where, the
amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable, shall be given by first class
mail, postage pre-paid, not less than 30 or more than 60 days prior to the payment date
stated therein, to each record holder of the Series D Preferred Stock at the respective
addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the stock transfer records of the
Corporation.
(d) None of a consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into another entity, a
merger of another entity with or into the Corporation, a statutory stock exchange by the
Corporation or a sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Corporations
property or business shall be considered a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation.
(e) The liquidation preference of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock
will not be added to the liabilities of the Corporation for the purpose of determining
whether under the Maryland General Corporation Law a distribution may be made to
stockholders of the Corporation whose preferential rights upon dissolution of the
Corporation are junior to those of holders of Series D Preferred Stock.
4
(5)
Redemption by Holders
. Shares of Series D Preferred Stock are not redeemable at any time
at the option of the holders thereof.
(6)
Redemption by the Corporation
.
(a)
Redemption Right
(i) The Series D Preferred Stock shall not be subject to any sinking fund or
mandatory redemption. Except with respect to the special optional redemption set
forth in Section 6(a)(iii) and to preserve the status of the Corporation as a REIT
for federal income tax purposes, shares of Series D Preferred Stock are not
redeemable by the Corporation prior to July 18, 2012.
(ii) On and after July 18, 2012, the Corporation, at its option, upon giving
notice not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days in advance of the date fixed for
redemption, may redeem Series D Preferred Stock, in whole or from time to time in
part, at a cash redemption price of $25.00 per share plus all accrued and unpaid
dividends to the date fixed for redemption.
(iii) During any 90-day period commencing on the date both (i) the Series D
Preferred Stock ceases to be listed on the NYSE, AMEX or NASDAQ, or listed on an
exchange that is a successor to the NYSE, AMEX or NASDAQ and (ii) the Corporation
ceases to be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the
Corporation, at its option, upon giving notice not less than 30 days nor more than
60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption may redeem the Series D Preferred
Stock, in whole but not in part, at a cash redemption price of $25.00 per share plus
all accrued unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption.
(iv) The Series D Preferred Stock shall be subject to the provisions of Article
VI of the Charter pursuant to which Series D Preferred Stock owned by a stockholder
in excess of the Ownership Limit shall automatically be transferred to a Trust for
the exclusive benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as provided in Article VI of the
Charter.
(v) Any date fixed for redemption pursuant to this Section 6 is referred to
herein as a
Redemption Date
.
(b)
Limitations on Redemption
.
(i) If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock are
to be redeemed at the option of the Corporation pursuant to Section 6(a)(ii) above,
the number of shares to be redeemed shall be determined by the Board and the shares
to be redeemed will be selected by the Board pro rata from the holders of record of
such shares in proportion to the number of such shares held by such holders or by
lot or by any other equitable manner as prescribed by the Board. If such redemption
is to be by lot and, as a result of such redemption, any holder of shares of Series
D Preferred Stock would Beneficially
5
Own or Constructively Own, in excess of the Ownership Limit because such holders shares of Series D Preferred Stock were not
redeemed, or were only redeemed in part, then, except as otherwise provided in the
Charter, the Corporation will redeem the requisite number of shares of Series D
Preferred Stock from such holder such that he will not hold in excess of the
Ownership Limit subsequent to such redemption.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, unless full
cumulative dividends on all shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall have been or
contemporaneously are authorized, declared and paid or authorized, declared and a
sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past dividend
periods and the then current dividend period, no shares of Series D Preferred Stock
shall be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock are
simultaneously redeemed; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the
purchase or acquisition of shares of Series D Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase
or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of
Series D Preferred Stock. In addition, unless full cumulative dividends on all
outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are
authorized, declared and paid or authorized, declared and a sum sufficient for the
payment thereof set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then
current dividend period, the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire
directly or indirectly for any consideration, nor shall any monies be paid to or
made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of, any shares of Series D
Preferred Stock or any other class or series of Junior Stock or Parity Stock (except
by conversion into or exchange for shares of any class or series of Junior Stock).
(iii) The foregoing provisions of subsections 6(b)(i) and (ii) shall not
prevent any other action by the Corporation pursuant to the Charter or otherwise in
order to ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a REIT for federal income
tax purposes.
(c)
Procedures for Redemption
.
(i) Notice of redemption of the Series D Preferred Stock shall be mailed to
each holder of record of the shares to be redeemed by first class mail, postage
prepaid at such holders address as the same appears on the stock records of the
Corporation. Any notice which was mailed as described above shall be conclusively
presumed to have been duly given on the date mailed whether or not the holder
receives the notice. In addition to any information required by law or by the
applicable rules of the exchange upon which the Series D Preferred Stock may be
listed or admitted to trading, each notice shall state: (i) the redemption date;
(ii) the redemption price; (iii) the number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock to
be redeemed; and (iv) the place or places where certificates for such shares of
Series D Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for cash. Any such redemption may be
made conditional on such factors as may be determined by the Board and as set forth
in the notice of redemption.
6
(ii) On or after the Redemption Date, each holder of shares of Series D
Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall present and surrender the certificates
representing his shares of Series D Preferred Stock to the Corporation at the place
designated in the notice of redemption and thereupon the cash redemption price of
such shares shall be paid to or on the order of the person whose name appears on
such certificate representing shares of Series D Preferred Stock as the owner
thereof and each surrendered certificate shall be canceled. If fewer than all the shares represented by any such certificate representing shares of Series D Preferred
Stock are to be redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the
unredeemed shares.
(iii) If notice of redemption has been mailed in accordance with Section
6(c)(i) above and if the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by
the Corporation in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Series D Preferred
Stock so called for redemption, then from and after the Redemption Date (unless the
Corporation defaults in payment of the redemption price), all dividends on the shares of Series D Preferred Stock called for redemption in such notice shall cease
to accumulate and all rights of the holders thereof, except the right to receive the
redemption price thereof (including all accumulated and unpaid dividends up to the
Redemption Date), shall cease and terminate and such shares shall not thereafter be
transferred (except with the consent of the Corporation) on the Corporations books,
and such shares shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever. At
its election, the Corporation, prior to a Redemption Date, may irrevocably deposit
the redemption price (including accumulated and unpaid dividends) of the Series D
Preferred Stock so called for redemption in trust for the holders thereof with a
bank or trust company, in which case the redemption notice to holders of the shares
of Series D Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall (i) state the date of such deposit,
(ii) specify the office of such bank or trust company as the place of payment of the
redemption price and (iii) require such holders to surrender the certificates
representing such shares at such place on or about the date fixed in such redemption
notice (which may not be later than the Redemption Date) against payment of the
redemption price (including all accumulated and unpaid dividends to the Redemption
Date). Any interest or other earnings earned on the redemption price (including
accumulated and unpaid dividends) deposited with a bank or trust company shall be
paid to the Corporation. Any monies so deposited which remain unclaimed by the
holders of Series D Preferred Stock at the end of two years after the Redemption
Date shall be returned by such bank or trust company to the Corporation.
(d)
Status of Redeemed Shares
. Any shares of Series D Preferred Stock that shall at
any time have been redeemed shall, after such redemption, have the status of authorized but
unissued Preferred Stock, without designation as to class or series until such shares are
once more designated as part of a particular class or series by the Board.
7
(7)
Voting Rights
.
(a) Holders of the Series D Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights, except as
provided by law and as described below.
(b) If and whenever dividends on any shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall be in
arrears for six or more quarterly periods, whether or not such quarterly periods are
consecutive (a
Preferred Dividend Default
), the holders of such shares of Series D
Preferred Stock (voting together as a single class with all other classes or series of
capital stock ranking on a parity with the Series D Preferred Stock as to the payment of
dividends and the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation upon which like voting rights have been
conferred and are exercisable (
Parity Preferred Stock
)) shall be entitled to vote for the
election of a total of two additional directors of the Corporation (the
Preferred Stock
Directors
) who shall each be elected for one-year terms. Such election shall be held at a
special meeting called by an officer of the Corporation at the request of the holders of
record of at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock or the holders
of shares of any other class or series of Parity Preferred Stock so in arrears, unless such
request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special
meeting of stockholders, in which case the vote for such two directors will be held at the
earlier of the next annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and at each subsequent
annual meeting until all dividends accumulated on such shares of Series D Preferred Stock
for the past dividend periods and the dividend for the then current dividend period shall
have been fully paid or declared or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof
set aside for payment in full. In such cases, the entire Board automatically shall be
increased by two directors. On any matter on which the holders of Series D Preferred Stock
are entitled to vote (as expressly provided herein or as may be required by law), including
any action by written consent, each share of Series D Preferred Stock shall have one vote
per share, except that when shares of any other series of Preferred Stock shall have the
right to vote with the Series D Preferred Stock as a single class on any matter, then the
Series D Preferred Stock and such other class or series shall have with respect to such
matters one vote per $25.00 of stated liquidation preference. With respect to each matter on
which the holders of Series D Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, the holder of each share
of Series D Preferred Stock may designate a number of proxies equal to the number of votes
to which the share is entitled, with each such proxy having the right to vote a whole number
of votes on behalf of such holder.
The procedures in this Section 7(b) for the calling of meetings and the election of
directors will, to the extent permitted by law, supercede anything inconsistent contained in
the Charter or Bylaws of the Corporation and, without limitation to the foregoing, the
Bylaws of the Corporation will not be applicable to the election of directors by holders of
Series D Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 7. Notwithstanding the Bylaws of the
Corporation, the number of directors constituting the entire Board will be automatically
increased to include the directors to be elected pursuant to this Section 7(b).
(c) If and when all accumulated dividends and the dividend for the current dividend
period on the Series D Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full or set aside
8
for payment in full, the holders of shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall be divested of the voting
rights set forth in Section 7(b) herein (subject to revesting in the event of each and every
Preferred Dividend Default) and, if all accumulated dividends and the dividend for the
current dividend period have been paid in full or set aside for payment in full on all other
classes or series of Parity Preferred Stock, the term of office of each Preferred Stock
Director so elected shall terminate and the number of directors constituting the board of
directors shall be reduced accordingly. So long as a Preferred Dividend Default shall
continue, any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Stock Director may be filled by written
consent of the Preferred Stock Director remaining in office, or if there is no such
remaining director, by vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series D
Preferred Stock and any other such series of Parity Preferred Stock voting as a single
class. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time with or without cause by the
vote of, and shall not be removed otherwise than by the vote of, the holders of record of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock and any other series of
Parity Preferred Stock voting as a single class. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be
entitled to one vote per director on any matter presented to the Board.
(d) The affirmative vote or consent of at least 66-2/3% of the votes entitled to be
cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock and the holders
of all other classes or series of preferred stock entitled to vote on such matters, voting
as a single class, in addition to any other vote required by the Charter or Maryland law,
will be required to: (i) authorize the creation of, the increase in the authorized amount
of, or the issuance of any shares of any class of Senior Stock or any security convertible
into shares of any class of Senior Stock or (ii) amend, alter or repeal any provision of, or
add any provision to, the Charter, including the articles supplementary establishing the
Series D Preferred Stock, whether by merger, consolidation or other business combination (in
any such case, an
Event
) or otherwise if such action would materially adversely affect the
powers, rights or preferences of the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock. Neither (i)
an amendment of the Charter to authorize, create, or increase the authorized amount of
Junior Stock or any shares of any class of Parity Stock, including additional Series D
Preferred Stock, nor (ii) an Event, so long as the Series D Preferred Stock remains
outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged, taking into account that upon the
occurrence of such Event the Corporation may not be the surviving entity, shall be deemed to
materially adversely affect the voting powers, rights or preferences of the holders of
Series D Preferred Stock. No such vote of the holders of Series D Preferred Stock as
described above shall be required if provision is made to redeem all Series D Preferred
Stock at or prior to the time such amendment, alteration or repeal is to take effect, or
when the issuance of any such shares or convertible securities is to be made, as the case
may be.
(e) The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when
the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all
outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for
redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to
effect such redemption.
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(8)
Conversion
. Shares of Series D Preferred Stock are not convertible into or exchangeable
for any other securities or property of the Corporation.
(9)
Information Rights
. During any period when the Corporation is required to pay a Special
Distribution, the Corporation will (i) transmit by mail or other permissible means under the
Exchange Act to all holders of Series D Preferred Stock as their names and addresses appear in our
record books and without cost to such holders, copies of the annual reports and quarterly reports
that the Corporation would have been required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(
SEC
), pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Corporation was subject
to such sections (other than any exhibits that would have been required), and (ii) within 15 days
following written request, supply copies of such reports to any prospective holder of the Series D
Preferred Stock. The Corporation will mail (or otherwise provide) the reports to the holders of
Series D Preferred Stock within 15 days after the respective dates by which the Corporation would
have been required to file such reports with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act.
(10)
Restrictions on Transfer, Acquisition and Redemption of Shares
. The Series D Preferred
Stock is governed by and issued subject to all of the limitations, terms and conditions of the
Corporations Charter, including but not limited to the terms and conditions (including exceptions
and exemptions) of Article VI of the Charter;
provided
,
however
, that the terms and
conditions (including exceptions and exemptions) of Article VI of the Charter shall also be applied
to the Series D Preferred Stock separately and without regard to any other series or class. The
foregoing sentence shall not be construed to limit the applicability of any other term or provision
of the Charter to the Series D Preferred Stock. In addition to the legend contemplated by Article
VI, Section 2.9 of the Charter, each certificate for Series D Preferred Stock shall bear
substantially the following legend:
The Corporation will furnish to any stockholder on request and without charge a full
statement of the designations and any preferences, conversion and other rights, voting
powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions
of redemption of the stock of each class which the Corporation is authorized to issue, to
the extent they have been set, and of the authority of the Board of Directors to set the
relative rights and preferences of a subsequent series of a preferred or special class of
stock. Such request may be made to the Secretary of the Corporation or to its transfer
agent.
SECOND
: The Series D Preferred Stock has been classified and designated by the Board under
the authority contained in the Charter.
THIRD
: These Articles Supplementary have been approved by the Board in the manner and by the
vote required by law.
FOURTH
: These Articles Supplementary shall be effective at the time the State Department of
Assessments and Taxation of Maryland accepts these Articles Supplementary for record.
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FIFTH
: The undersigned Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation acknowledges these Articles
Supplementary to be the act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be
verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Operating Officer acknowledges that to the best of his
knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and
that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles Supplementary to be
executed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Operating Officer and attested to by its
Secretary of this 17
th
day of July, 2007.
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ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Douglas Kessler
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Douglas Kessler
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Chief Operating Officer
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ATTEST:
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By:
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/s/ David A. Brooks
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David A. Brooks
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Secretary
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