SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

FOR ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS

PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005.

 

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the transition period from                            to                          .

 

 

Commission File No. 1-7062

 

InnSuites Hospitality Trust

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Ohio

 

34-6647590

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotels Centre, 1615 E. Northern Avenue,
Suite 102, Phoenix, Arizona

 

85020

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(ZIP Code)

 

 

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including area code: (602) 944-1500

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Exchange on Which Registered

Shares of Beneficial Interest,
without par value

 

American Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant:  (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ý No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ý

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).  Yes o   No ý

 

Aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of July 31, 2004:  $2,248,349

 

Number of shares of voting stock outstanding as of April 22, 2005:  8,906,429.

 

 



 

PART I

 

Item 1.              BUSINESS

 

INTRODUCTION TO OUR BUSINESS

 

InnSuites Hospitality Trust (the “Trust”) is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona and is an unincorporated Ohio real estate investment trust. The Trust, with its affiliates RRF Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and InnSuites Hotels, Inc., an Arizona corporation (“InnSuites Hotels”), owns and operates six hotels, provides management services for ten hotels, and provides trademark license services for 11 hotels.  On January 31, 2005, the Trust owned a 64.75% sole general partner interest in the Partnership, which owned five InnSuites® hotels located in Arizona, New Mexico and southern California.  The Trust also owned one InnSuites® hotel located in Yuma, Arizona (all six InnSuites® hotels are hereinafter referred to as the “Hotels”).  InnSuites Hotels, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trust, provides management services for the Hotels, three hotels owned by affiliates of James F. Wirth, the Trust’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and one unrelated hotel property.  InnSuites Hotels also provides trademark and licensing services to the Hotels, three hotels owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth and two unrelated hotel properties.  The Trust has 488 employees.

 

The Hotels have an aggregate of 947 hotel suites and operate as moderate and full-service hotels, which apply a value studio and two-room suite operating philosophy formulated in 1980 by Mr. Wirth.  The Trust owns and operates hotels as studio and two-room suite hotels that offer services such as free hot breakfast buffets and complementary afternoon social hours plus amenities, such as microwave ovens, refrigerators, free high speed internet access and coffee makers in each studio or two-room suite.

 

The Trust believes that the greatest opportunities for revenue growth and profitability will arise from the skillful management and repositioning of the Trust’s Hotels and acquired or managed hotel properties.  The Trust’s primary business objectives are to maximize returns to its shareholders through increases in asset value and cash flow available for distribution and to increase long-term total returns to shareholders.  The Trust seeks to achieve these objectives through participation in increased revenues from the Hotels as a result of intensive management and marketing and selective acquisitions and expansion of the InnSuites® hotels in the southwestern region of the United States.  At this time, the Trust does not plan to acquire any additional hotels.

 

The Trust has a single class of Shares of Beneficial Interest, without par value, that are traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol “IHT”.  The Partnership has two outstanding classes of limited partnership interests, Class A and Class B, which are identical in all respects.  Each Class A limited partnership unit is convertible, at the option of the Class A holder, into one newly-issued Share of Beneficial Interest of the Trust and each Class B limited partnership unit is convertible, upon approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, into one newly-issued Share of Beneficial Interest of the Trust.  The Partnership Agreement of the Partnership subjects both general and limited partner units to certain restrictions on transfer.

 

Until February 1, 2004, the Trust elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), as that term is defined and used in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the regulations thereunder (all as amended, the “Code”).  Effective February 1, 2004, the Trust relinquished its REIT tax status and will be taxed as a C corporation under the Code.

 

ACQUISITION OF INNSUITES HOTELS BY THE TRUST

 

Effective February 1, 2001, the Trust acquired all of the issued and outstanding common and preferred equity stock of InnSuites Hotels for $11,531 in cash and the assumption of approximately $1.6 million of net liabilities.  Prior to the acquisition, InnSuites Hotels was owned 23% by Marc E. Berg, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Trustee of the Trust, 9.8% by InnSuites Innternational Hotels, Inc., a wholly owned affiliate of Mr. Wirth and his spouse, and 67.2% by unrelated parties.

 

The acquisition of InnSuites Hotels by the Trust resulted in the following benefits: (1) a more direct relationship between the Hotels and the Trust, (2) the inclusion of InnSuites Hotels’ revenues in excess of required rent payments in the Trust’s consolidated financial reports, (3) the elimination of potential conflicts of interest and (4) the reduction of certain administrative costs relative to the operation of the Hotels.

 

2



 

MANAGEMENT AND LICENSING CONTRACTS

 

As a REIT, through January 31, 2004, the Trust was prohibited from operating its properties other than through an independent management company or a taxable REIT subsidiary.  Following the acquisition of InnSuites Hotels by the Trust effective February 1, 2001, InnSuites Hotels operated and managed the Hotels with the assistance of Suite Hospitality Management, Inc. (the “Management Company”), an entity in which Mr. Wirth, until July 1, 2003, held a 9.8% ownership interest, pursuant to management agreements that provided for an annual management fee of 2.5% of gross revenues.  On December 31, 2003, the Trust agreed to extend the current management agreements through January 31, 2008 in exchange for the Management Company forgiving $183,248 of accrued but unpaid fees.  The Trust incurred management fee expenses related to these contracts of $177,742, $440,530 and $369,896 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.  Due to the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46R (“FIN 46R”), which resulted in the consolidation of the Management Company with the Trust, these expenses have been eliminated in the consolidation for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005.

 

Prior to June 8, 2004, InnSuites Hotels paid InnSuites Licensing Corp. (the “Licensing Corp.”), an entity owned by Mr. Wirth and his spouse until February 2, 2004, an annual licensing fee of 2.0% of gross room revenues (1.0% for those hotel properties which also carried a third-party franchise, such as Best Western® or Holiday Inn®) for trademark and licensing services relating to the use of the InnSuites® name and marks.  On December 31, 2003, the Trust agreed to extend the trademark and licensing services agreements for the next two fiscal years through January 31, 2007 in exchange for the Licensing Corp. forgiving $347,473 of accrued but unpaid fees.  The Management Company purchased the Licensing Corp. from Mr. and Mrs. Wirth on February 2, 2004.  The Trust incurred licensing fees of $94,703, $301,007 and $445,942 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.  Due to the adoption of FIN 46R, which resulted in the consolidation of the Licensing Corp. with the Trust, these expenses have been eliminated in the consolidation for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005.

 

In connection with the Trust’s relinquishment of its REIT status, the Trust no longer required the services of a separate management company. The Trust determined it was in its best interest to buy out the management contracts and licensing agreements and directly manage the Hotels through the Trust’s wholly owned subsidiary, InnSuites Hotels. The Trust believes the management process of the Hotels will be simplified and that it will benefit from increased revenues by offering additional management and licensing services.  As a result of this buy out, the Management Company (which was the Trust’s variable interest entity under FIN 46R) was no longer consolidated in the second quarter of fiscal year 2005.

 

Effective June 8, 2004, InnSuites Hotels acquired the management agreements under which the Management Company provided management services to the Hotels. In consideration of the acquisition, the stockholder of the Management Company received $20,000 and 90,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Trust, reflecting a transaction value of approximately $159,500 in the aggregate. Following the acquisition, InnSuites Hotels now self-manages the Hotels.  InnSuites Hotels also manages one unrelated hotel in San Diego, California and three hotels owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth.

 

Under the management agreements, InnSuites Hotels provides the personnel at the hotels, the expenses of which are reimbursed at cost, and manages the hotels’ daily operations.  All such expenses and reimbursements between InnSuites Hotels and the Partnership have been eliminated in consolidation.  InnSuites Hotels received 2% of room revenue from the Hotels owned by the Partnership and the Trust in exchange for management services during fiscal year 2005.  Effective February 1, 2005, InnSuites Hotels receives 2.5% of total revenues from these Hotels.  These agreements expire on January 31, 2008.  InnSuites Hotels received 1% (or more depending on results) of room revenue from the three hotels owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth in exchange for management services during fiscal year 2005.  These agreements require these three hotels to pay 2% of room revenue, unless these hotels fail to reach 80% of their budgeted profit, at which point the fees are reduced to 1% of room revenue.  These agreements expire on February 1, 2007 and may be cancelled by either party with 90-days written notice, or 30-days written notice in the event the property changes ownership.  InnSuites Hotels received 5% of total revenue for managing  the unrelated hotel in San Diego, California during fiscal year 2005.  This agreement expires on March 31, 2007, and may be cancelled by either party with 90-days written notice or 30-days written notice in the event the property changes ownership. 

 

Effective June 8, 2004, InnSuites Hotels acquired the license agreements under which Licensing Corp. provided licensing services to the Hotels, and the related registered and unregistered InnSuites trademarks and tradenames.  In consideration of the acquisitions, the Management Company (as the sole stockholder of Licensing Corp.) received $60,000 and 10,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Trust and InnSuites Hotels satisfied Licensing Corp.’s line of credit in the amount of $459,000, reflecting a transaction value of approximately $534,500 in the aggregate.  The Shares of Beneficial Interest issued by the Trust for both the management contracts and the licensing agreements were valued at $155,000, which amount was recorded as an expense.  Following the acquisition,

 

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the Trust provides licensing services to the Hotels and two unrelated hotels in San Diego and Buena Park, California and three hotels owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth. 

 

InnSuites hotels received 1.0% (2.0% for the hotel which does not carry a third-party franchise) of room revenue from the Hotels owned by the Partnership and the Trust in exchange for use of the “InnSuites” trademark during fiscal year 2005.  The revenue and expenses related to these contracts have been eliminated in consolidation.  Effective February 1, 2005, InnSuites Hotels receives 1.25% (2.5% for the hotel which does not carry a third-party franchise) of total revenues from these Hotels.  These agreements expire on January 31, 2008.  InnSuites Hotels received 1% (or more depending on results) of room revenue from the three hotels owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth in exchange for use of the “InnSuites” trademark during fiscal year 2005.  These agreements require that these hotels pay 2% of room revenue, unless these hotels fail to reach 80% of their budgeted profit, at which point the fees are reduced to 1% of room revenue.  These agreements have no expiration date and may be cancelled by either party with 12-months written notice, or 90-days written notice in the event the property changes ownership.  InnSuites Hotels received 2% of total revenue from the unrelated hotel in San Diego, California in exchange for licensing services during fiscal year 2005.  This agreement may be cancelled by either party with 90-days written notice.   InnSuites Hotels received 0.5% of room revenue from the unrelated hotel in Buena Park, California in exchange for licensing services during fiscal year 2005.  This agreement has no expiration date and may be cancelled by either party with 30-days written notice. 

 

FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS

 

InnSuites Hotels has entered into franchise arrangements with certain third parties with respect to five of the Hotels, with four Best Western hotels and one Holiday Inn hotel as of January 31, 2005.  In exchange for use of the Best Western name, trademark and reservation system, the participating Hotels pay fees to Best Western International based on reservations received through the use of the Best Western reservation system and the number of available suites at the participating Hotels.  The agreements with Best Western have no specific expiration terms and are cancelable at the option of either party.  Best Western requires that the participating Hotels meet certain requirements for room quality, and such Hotels are subject to removal from its reservation system if these requirements are not met.  In exchange for use of the Holiday Inn name, trademark and reservation system, the participating Hotels pay fees based on gross room revenue.  Subsequent to January 31, 2005, the Trust ended its franchise agreement with Holiday Inn and entered into a franchise agreement with Best Western International for the Trust’s Ontario, California property.  The Hotels with third-party franchise agreements received significant reservations through the Best Western and Holiday Inn reservation systems.  The Trust incurred $553,833, $628,521 and $656,375 in total fees related to these agreements for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

SALE OF HOTEL PROPERTIES

 

On March 21, 2003, the Trust sold its Scottsdale, Arizona property to Eldorado Resort, L.L.C. (“Eldorado”), an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, for its appraised and carrying value of $3.1 million.  During fiscal year 2003, the Trust recorded a loss on impairment of $590,000 on the property.  The property’s decrease in value was due to changes in the economic condition, and decreased prospects for future development, in its immediate area.  Eldorado paid for the hotel by assuming $1.1 million of the Trust’s notes payable to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C. (“Rare Earth Financial”), an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, assuming $500,000 of the Partnership’s notes payable to Capital Resource Lenders-I, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, and paying the Trust’s term loan of $1,500,000 to the lender in full.

 

On August 21, 2003, the Trust sold its Flagstaff, Arizona property to Flagstaff Grand Canyon Resort, LLC (“Flagstaff Resort”), an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, for a cash payment equal to its appraised value of $2,775,000.  The Trust used the proceeds to fully satisfy its $1.5 million bank line of credit and to reduce its notes payable to Rare Earth Financial by $1,275,000.  As of August 21, 2003, the Trust’s bank line of credit and bank term loan were fully satisfied.  The purchase price exceeded the carrying value of the property by $377,330, which was recorded as a capital contribution to the Partnership, and which resulted in a net increase in shareholder equity in the amount of $192,080, net of minority interest.

 

On October 16, 2003, the Trust sold its Buena Park, California property to CVTI, LLC, an unrelated third party (“CVTI”), for $6.5 million.  The purchase price was satisfied with $6.3 million in cash and a $200,000 promissory note issued by CVTI to the Trust.  The Trust subsequently assigned the $200,000 promissory note to Rare Earth Financial to satisfy $200,000 of a certain note payable held by Rare Earth Financial.  The Trust used the cash proceeds to fully satisfy the bank mortgage note on the property in the amount of $3,082,574, to reduce certain notes payable to Mr. Wirth and his affiliates and Steven S. Robson, a Trustee of the Trust, in the aggregate amount of $1.5 million and to reduce trade accounts payable.  In connection with this sale, the Trust recorded a loss of $29,000.  During the second quarter of fiscal year 2004, the Trust recorded a loss on impairment of $328,976 related to the Buena Park property.  The loss was recorded to reduce the

 

4



 

asset’s carrying value to the sales price.  The decrease in value was due to a slowdown in leisure travel to the southern California area caused by global terror concerns and an overall sluggish economic environment.

 

On March 25, 2004, the Trust sold its Tempe, Arizona hotel to Tempe/Phoenix Airport Resort LLC (“Tempe Resort”), an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, for its appraised value of $6.8 million, which was also its carrying value.  The purchase price was satisfied by Tempe Resort assuming the Trust’s mortgage note payable on the property of $1.7 million and assuming notes payable to Mr. Wirth and his affiliates of $5.1 million.

 

On April 1, 2004, the Trust sold its San Diego, California hotel to an unrelated third party for $9.7 million, which the Trust received in cash.  The Trust used $4.8 million of the proceeds to satisfy its mortgage note payable on the property, $1.4 million to satisfy notes and interest payable to related parties, and retained the remaining proceeds to reduce trade payables and to fund future operations and capital improvements.

 

HOTEL PROPERTY HELD FOR SALE

 

On January 4, 2005, the Board of Trustees approved the sale of the Phoenix, Arizona hotel to Phoenix Northern Resort LLC, an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, for its appraised value of $5.1 million.  The property’s carrying value is $3.1 million. On January 15, 2005, Rare Earth Financial, another affiliate of Mr. Wirth, converted its $700,000 loan receivable into a non-interest bearing deposit for the purchase of the hotel.  The Trust expects to complete the sale during the second quarter of fiscal year 2006.  Any gain or loss recognized on the transaction will be recorded as a contribution or distribution because the purchaser is a related party.  The Trust does not expect to incur a loss on the sale of the property.

 

COMPETITION IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY

 

The hotel industry is highly competitive and competition has intensified over the past three years due to the sluggish economy and a general slow down in the travel and hospitality industries primarily due to the negative impact of the threat of terrorism and the war with Iraq.  Each of the Hotels experiences competition primarily from other mid-market hotels located in its immediate vicinity, but also competes with hotel properties located in other geographic markets.  While none of the Hotels’ competitors dominate any of the Trust’s geographic markets, some of those competitors have greater marketing and financial resources than the Trust.

 

A number of additional hotel property developments have been announced or have recently been completed by competitors in a number of the Hotels’ markets, and additional hotel property developments may be built in the future.  Such hotel developments have had, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on the revenue of the Hotels in their respective markets.

 

The Trust has chosen to focus its hotel investments in the southwest region of the United States.  The Trust has a concentration of assets in the metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona markets.  In the Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona and the Albuquerque, New Mexico markets, the supply of hotel rooms has been increasing faster than the rate of demand.  Supply rates also generally increased faster than demand rates in the Yuma, Arizona market.  The southern California market continues to support balanced supply and demand rates.

 

The Trust may also compete for investment opportunities with other entities that have greater financial resources.  These entities also may generally accept more risk than the Trust can prudently manage.  Competition may generally reduce the number of suitable future investment opportunities available to the Trust and increase the bargaining power of owners seeking to sell their properties.

 

SEASONALITY OF THE HOTEL BUSINESS

 

The Hotels’ operations historically have been seasonal.  The four southern Arizona hotels experience their highest occupancy in the first fiscal quarter and, to a lesser extent, the fourth fiscal quarter.  The second fiscal quarter tends to be the lowest occupancy period at those four southern Arizona hotels.  This seasonality pattern can be expected to cause fluctuations in the Trust’s quarterly revenues.  The two hotels located in California and New Mexico historically experience their most profitable periods during the second and third fiscal quarters (the summer season), providing some balance to the general seasonality of the hotel business.  To the extent that cash flows from operations is insufficient during any quarter, due to temporary or seasonal fluctuations in lease revenue, the Trust may utilize other cash on hand or borrowings to make distributions to its shareholders.  No assurance can be given that the Trust will make distributions in the future.

 

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FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

See “Item 6 - Selected Financial Data” herein for information regarding the Trust’s revenues, net income and losses, dividends, total assets, notes and advances payable to banks and others and notes and advances payable to related parties.

 

OTHER AVAILABLE INFORMATION

 

We also make available, free of charge, on our Internet website at www.innsuitestrust.com, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to reports filed or furnished pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).  The public may read and copy any materials that we file with the Commission at the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and may obtain information on the Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.  The Commission maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission (http://www.sec.gov).

 

Item 2.              PROPERTIES

 

The Trust maintains its administrative offices at the InnSuites Hotels Centre in Phoenix, Arizona.  On January 31, 2005, the Partnership owned five Hotels and the Trust owned one Hotel.  All of the Hotels are operated as InnSuites® Hotels, while four are also marketed as Best Western® Hotels and one is also marketed as a Holiday Inn® Hotel and Suites.  All of the Hotels operate in the following locations:

 

PROPERTY

 

NUMBER
OF
SUITES

 

YEAR OF
CONSTRUCTION/
ADDITION

 

MOST RECENT
RENOVATION (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotel and Suites Airport Albuquerque Best Western

 

101

 

1975/1985

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotel and Suites Phoenix Best Western

 

104

 

1980

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotel and Suites Tucson, Catalina Foothills Best Western

 

159

 

1981/1983

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotels and Suites Yuma

 

166

 

1982/1984

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Inn Airport Hotel and Suites/Ontario (an InnSuites Hotel)(2)

 

150

 

1990

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotels and Suites Tucson St. Mary’s

 

267

 

1960/1971

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total suites

 

947

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1) The Trust defines a renovation as the remodeling of more than 10% of a property’s available suites.

 

(2) Subsequent to January 31, 2005, the Trust ended its franchise agreement with Holiday Inn and entered into a franchise agreement with Best Western International for this property.

 

See “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – General” herein for a discussion of occupancy rates at the Hotels.

 

See Note 5 to the Trust’s Consolidated Financial Statements – “Mortgage Notes Payable” herein for a discussion of mortgages encumbering the Hotels.

 

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Item 3.              LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Trust is not a party to, nor are any of its properties subject to, any material litigation or environmental regulatory proceedings.

 

Item 4.              SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

The Trust held its 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on December 10, 2004.  The nominees listed below were elected as Trustees of the Trust to hold office for a term expiring at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.  Tabulated below is the number of Shares of Beneficial Interest cast for and withheld with respect to the election of the Trustee nominees:

 

Name

 

For

 

Withhold

 

James F. Wirth

 

2,117,824

 

13,280

 

Peter A. Thoma

 

2,117,859

 

13,245

 

 

In addition to the election of Trustees, the security holders voted on the following matters at the Annual Meeting:

 

                  The issuance of 6,577,732 Shares of Beneficial Interest in exchange for the cancellation of indebtedness owed by the Trust to the Partnership. 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

1,419,501

 

22,955

 

7,647

 

 

                  The issuance of 4,969,712 Shares of Beneficial Interest in consideration of the Trust’s acquisition of all general partner interests of Yuma Hospitality Properties, Ltd. which were held by the Partnership.

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

1,417,001

 

24,809

 

7,524

 

 

                  The issuance of 457,645 Shares of Beneficial Interest in exchange for the cancellation of indebtedness owed by the Trust to certain affiliates of Mr. Wirth.

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

1,411,238

 

31,341

 

7,524

 

 

                  The issuance of 1,000,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest upon the conversion of 1,000,000 Class B limited partnership units in the Partnership into Shares of Beneficial Interest by Mr. Wirth and certain of his affiliates.

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

1,410,991

 

31,312

 

7,800

 

 

PART II

 

Item 5.              MARKET FOR THE TRUST’S SHARES AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS

 

The Trust’s Shares of Beneficial Interest are traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol “IHT.”  On April 22, 2005, the Trust had 8,906,429 shares outstanding and 525 holders of record.

 

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The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices of the Trust’s Shares of Beneficial Interest, as quoted by the American Stock Exchange, as well as dividends declared thereon:

 

Fiscal Year 2005

 

High

 

Low

 

Dividends

 

First Quarter

 

2.25

 

1.60

 

 

Second Quarter

 

2.25

 

1.48

 

 

Third Quarter

 

1.63

 

1.49

 

 

Fourth Quarter

 

1.95

 

1.12

 

.01

 

 

Fiscal Year 2004

 

High

 

Low

 

Dividends

 

First Quarter

 

1.80

 

1.30

 

 

Second Quarter

 

1.40

 

1.20

 

 

Third Quarter

 

1.70

 

1.15

 

 

Fourth Quarter

 

2.25

 

1.05

 

.02

 

 

The Trust intends to maintain a conservative dividend policy to facilitate the reduction of debt and internal growth.  In fiscal years 2005 and 2004, the Trust paid dividends of $0.01 and $0.02 per share, respectively, in the fourth quarter of each year.

 

On January 2, 2001, the Board of Trustees approved a share repurchase program under Rule 10b–18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the purchase of up to 250,000 limited partnership units in the Partnership and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions. Additionally, on September 10, 2002, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of up to 350,000 additional limited partnership units in the Partnership and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions. Acquired Shares of Beneficial Interest will be held in treasury and will be available for future acquisitions and financings and/or for awards granted under the InnSuites Hospitality Trust 1997 Stock Incentive and Option Plan.  During the three months ended January 31, 2005, the Trust acquired 32,300 Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market transactions at an average price of $1.56 per share.  The Trust intends to continue repurchasing Shares of Beneficial Interest in compliance with applicable legal and American Stock Exchange requirements.  The Trust remains authorized to repurchase an additional 47,765 limited partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest pursuant to the share repurchase program, which has no expiration date.

 

 

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

 

Total Number
of Shares
Purchased

 

Average Price
Paid per
Share

 

Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans

 

Maximum Number of
Shares that May Be Yet
Purchased Under the
Plans

 

November 1 – November 30, 2004

 

200

 

$

1.50

 

200

 

79,865

 

December 1 – December 31, 2004

 

22,900

 

$

1.61

 

22,900

 

56,965

 

January 1 – January 31, 2005

 

9,200

 

$

1.45

 

9,200

 

47,765

 

 

See Part III, Item 12 for a description of our equity compensation plans.

 

Item 6.              SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following selected financial data of the Trust as of and for the five fiscal years ended January 31, 2005, has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Trust.  The consolidated financial statements of the Trust as of and for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005 were audited by Epstein, Weber & Conover, P.L.C., independent public accountants.  The consolidated financial statements of the Trust as of and for the two fiscal years ended January 31, 2004  and 2003 were audited by McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, independent public accountants.  The consolidated financial statements of the Trust as of and for the two fiscal years ended January 31, 2002  and 2001 were audited by KPMG, LLP, independent public accountants.

 

 

 

Year Ended January 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

22,875,187

 

$

24,211,328

 

$

26,940,473

 

$

27,656,009

 

$

9,727,206

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

240,442

 

$

(2,594,317

)

$

(3,445,948

)

$

(3,539,402

)

$

(2,594,754

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) per share – basic and diluted

 

$

0.10

 

$

(1.27

)

$

(1.67

)

$

(1.66

)

$

(1.12

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends paid and declared per share

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.02

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.03

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

36,455,521

 

$

47,961,594

 

$

61,494,579

 

$

64,264,516

 

$

63,905,561

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes and advances payable to banks and others

 

$

24,755,858

 

$

31,974,992

 

$

38,922,408

 

$

38,598,106

 

$

37,053,593

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes and advances payable to related parties

 

$

93,512

 

$

6,852,241

 

$

9,901,153

 

$

8,666,360

 

$

7,471,707

 

 

See “Item 1 – Business” herein for a discussion of the change in the nature of the business of the Trust over the course of the years presented above.  As a result, the information presented above is not comparative from year to year.

 

8



 

Item 7.                        MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

OVERVIEW

 

The Trust is engaged in the ownership and operation of hotel properties. At January 31, 2005, the InnSuites system included six moderate and full-service hotels with 947 hotel suites. Certain of our Hotels are branded through franchise agreements, which include four Best Western hotels and one Holiday Inn hotel. Subsequent to January 31, 2005, the Trust ended its franchise agreement with Holiday Inn and entered into a franchise agreement with Best Western International for the Trust’s Ontario, California property.  All six Hotels are trademarked as InnSuites Hotels. We are also involved in various operations incidental to the operation of hotels, such as the operation of restaurants and meeting/banquet room rentals.

 

Our operations consist of one reportable segment, hotel ownership, which derives its revenue from the operation of the Hotels.  In addition, we receive management fees and trademark license fees.

 

Our results are significantly affected by occupancy and room rates at the Hotels, our ability to manage costs, and changes in the number of available suites caused by acquisition and disposition activities.  Results are also impacted by overall economic conditions and conditions in the travel industry. Unfavorable changes in these factors could negatively impact hotel room demand and pricing which would reduce our profit margins on rented suites.  Additionally, our ability to manage costs could be adversely impacted by significant increases in operating expenses, resulting in lower operating margins.

 

We anticipate that the improved economic conditions, combined with the disposition of previously underperforming properties, will create opportunities for the Trust in fiscal year 2006.  Better overall economic conditions are expected to result in increased business and leisure travel and support higher room rates, and therefore higher operating margins.  Challenges in fiscal year 2006 are expected to include continued competition for group business in the markets in which we operate and the Trust’s ability to increase room rates while maintaining market share. We will continue to focus on managing our costs, achieving increased daily rates in the markets where we operate and building occupancy.  We believe that our focus on customer service, adding more two-room suites and leveraging technology will enable us to remain competitive.

 

Effective February 1, 2004, the Trust relinquished its REIT status. As of that date, any distributions to its shareholders are not deductible for purposes of computing the Trust’s taxable income and the Trust will be subject to income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on its taxable income at regular corporate rates, without offset for distributions of such income to its shareholders. 

 

GENERAL

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Trust’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

 

The accounting policies that we believe are most critical and involve the most subjective judgments include our estimates and assumptions of future revenue and expenditures used to project property cash flows.  Future cash flows are used in the valuation calculation of our hotel properties to determine the recoverability (or impairment) of the carrying amounts in the event management is required to test the asset for recoverability of its carrying value under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144.  If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds the estimated future cash flows over its estimated remaining life, the Trust recognizes an impairment expense to reduce the asset’s carrying value to its fair value.  Fair value is determined by either the most current third-party property appraisal, if available, or the present value of future cash flows over the remaining life of the asset.  Our evaluation of future cash flows is based on our historical experience and other factors, including certain economic conditions and committed future bookings.  See “- Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” below.

 

At January 31, 2005, the Trust owned a 64.8% interest in five of the Hotels through its sole general partner’s interest in the Partnership and owned a 99.9% interest in one Hotel.  The Trust purchased 532,077, 57,509 and 257,101 Partnership units during the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Prior to May 1, 2004, the Partnership leased its hotel properties to InnSuites Hotels.  The corresponding rent expense for InnSuites Hotels and rent revenue for the Partnership, as well as the resulting rent receivable and payable, eliminate in consolidation.  On May 1, 2004, the percentage lease agreements between the Partnership and InnSuites Hotels were terminated.  During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2004, the Partnership agreed to waive InnSuites Hotels accrued but

 

9



 

unpaid rent in exchange for InnSuites Hotels extending its lease agreements one year.  The total amount waived was $3,134,130.  This transaction had a net effect of increasing the Trust’s stockholders equity by $1,518,834.

 

The expenses of the Trust consist primarily of property taxes, insurance, corporate overhead, interest on mortgage debt, professional fees, depreciation of the Hotels, management and trademark fees to affiliates and hotel operating expenses.  Under the terms of its Partnership Agreement, the Partnership is required to reimburse the Trust for all such expenses.  Accordingly, management believes that a review of the historical performance of the operations of the Hotels, particularly with respect to occupancy, average daily rate (“ADR”), calculated as total room revenue divided by number of rooms sold, and revenue per available room (“REVPAR”), calculated as total room revenue divided by number of rooms available, is appropriate for understanding revenue from the Hotels.  ADR increased by $4.56 to $70.83 in fiscal year 2005 from $66.27 in fiscal year 2004.  Occupancy increased 5.76% to 68.55% in fiscal year 2005 from 62.79% in fiscal year 2004 primarily as a result of the disposition of lower-occupancy properties.  These dispositions also resulted in an increase in REVPAR of $6.94 to $48.55 in fiscal year 2005 from $41.61 in fiscal year 2004.

 

The following table shows certain historical financial and other information for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

For the Year Ended January 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Occupancy

 

68.55

%

62.79

%

60.46

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Daily Rate (ADR)

 

$

70.83

 

$

66.27

 

$

66.59

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue Per Available Room (REVPAR)

 

$

48.55

 

$

41.61

 

$

40.26

 

 

No assurance can be given that the trends reflected in this data will continue or that occupancy, ADR and REVPAR will not decrease as a result of changes in national or local economic or hospitality industry conditions.

 

The Trust enters into transactions with certain related parties from time to time.  For information relating to such related party transactions see the following:

 

                                          For a discussion of management and licensing agreements with certain related parties, see “Item 1 – Business – Acquisition of Management and Licensing Contracts.”

 

                                          For a discussion of acquisitions involving certain related parties, see “Item 1 – Business – Acquisition of InnSuites Hotels by the Trust.”

 

                                          For a discussion of the sales of the Trust’s Scottsdale, Flagstaff and Tempe, Arizona hotels to a related party during fiscal years 2004 and 2005, see “Item 1 – Business – Sale of Hotel Properties” and Note 19 to the Trust’s Consolidated Financial Statements – “Hotel Properties Held for Sale and Sale of Hotel Properties.”

 

                                          For a discussion of guarantees of the Trust’s mortgage notes payable by certain related parties, see Note 5 to the Trust’s Consolidated Financial Statements – “Mortgage Notes Payable.”

 

                                          For a discussion of notes and advances payable by the Trust to certain related parties, see Note 7 to the Trust’s Consolidated Financial Statements – “Notes and Advances Payable to Related Parties.”

 

                                          For a discussion of the Trust’s employment agreement with Mr. Wirth, see Note 12 to the Trust’s Consolidated Financial Statements – “Advisory Agreement/Employment Agreements.”

 

10



 

Results of Operations of the Trust for the year ended January 31, 2005 compared to the year ended January 31, 2004.

 

Overview

 

A summary of operating results for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2005 and 2004 is:

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Change

 

% Change

 

Revenue

 

$

22,875,187

 

$

24,211,328

 

$

(1,336,141

)

(5.5

)%

Operating Loss

 

$

(221,647

)

$

(272,479

)

$

50,832

 

18.7

%

Net Income (Loss)

 

$

240,442

 

$

(2,594,317

)

$

2,834,759

 

>100.0

%

Income (Loss) Per Share – Basic and Diluted

 

$

0.10

 

$

(1.27

)

$

1.37

 

>100.0

%

 

The Trust’s overall results in 2005 were positively affected by the disposition of certain of its underperforming properties, the impact of which was partially offset by expenses related to its acquisition of the management and licensing contracts from the Management Company, which will eliminate those expenses in future years.

 

For the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, the Trust had total revenue of $22.9 million compared to $24.2 million for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004, a decrease of approximately $1.3 million.  This decrease in total revenue is primarily due to the sale of the Tempe, Arizona and San Diego, California properties in the first quarter of fiscal year 2005.  Total expenses of $25.3 million for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005 reflect a decrease of approximately $2.5 million compared to total expenses of $27.9 million for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004.  The decrease is primarily due to the sales of the Tempe, Arizona and San Diego, California properties in the first quarter of fiscal year 2005 and an impairment charge of $458,000 related to the Buena Park, California and Tempe, Arizona properties in fiscal year 2004.

 

Loss on impairment of hotel property was approximately $458,000 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004.  This loss resulted from write-downs for impairments of the Buena Park, California and Tempe, Arizona hotel properties.  During fiscal year 2004, the Trust entered into purchase agreements related to both properties at amounts below their carrying values.  The Buena Park, California property was written down by $329,000 to its fair value of $6.5 million, which was its subsequent sales price.  The Tempe, Arizona property was written down by $129,000 to its fair value of $6.8 million, which was its subsequent sales price.  See Note 19 to the Trust’s Consolidated Financial Statements - “Hotels Held for Sale and Sale of Hotel Properties.” No such loss was recorded for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005.

 

General and administrative expenses include overhead charges for management, accounting, shareholder and legal services for the Trust.  In comparing general and administrative expenses for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004, these expenses decreased $258,000, or 5.5%, to $4.4 million in fiscal year 2005, from $4.7 million in fiscal year 2004.  This decrease was primarily due to elimination of management and franchise fees paid by the Trust due to the consolidation of the Management Company and Licensing Corp. and subsequent purchase of those contracts, offset by the increased expenses to effect those transactions.

 

Total operating expenses for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005 were $23.1 million, a decrease of approximately $1.4 million, or 5.7%, from $24.5 million in the twelve months ended January 31, 2004.  The decrease was primarily due to the sales of the Tempe, Arizona and San Diego, California properties during the first quarter of fiscal year 2005 and impairment charges of $458,000 recognized during fiscal year 2004.

 

Total interest expense for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005 was $2.3 million, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 33.0%, from $3.4 million in the twelve months ended January 31, 2004.  Interest on mortgage notes payable for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005 was $2.1 million, a decrease of $675,000, or 24.4%, from $2.8 million in the twelve months ended January 31, 2004. The decrease is primarily due to the satisfaction of the mortgage notes payable secured by the Tempe, Arizona and San Diego, California properties in connection with the disposition of those properties.  Interest on notes payable to banks for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005 was $24,000, a decrease of $30,000, or 56.2%, from $54,000 in the prior fiscal year, due to the Trust satisfying in full its term loan in March 2003 and its line of credit in full in August 2003.  Interest on notes payable to related parties decreased 77.0%, or $419,000, to $125,000 from $544,000 during the years ended January 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The decrease is primarily due to payments totaling $6.2 million on notes due to affiliates of Mr. Wirth in connection with the sales of the Tempe, Arizona and San Diego, California properties during the first quarter of fiscal year 2005.

 

Real estate and personal property taxes, insurance and ground rent decreased $340,000, or 20.4%, to $1.3 million from $1.7 million in comparing the twelve months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  Real estate and personal

 

11



 

property taxes and property insurance decreased due to the sales of the Tempe, Arizona and San Diego, California properties during the first quarter of fiscal year 2005 and the sale of the Buena Park, California  property during the third quarter of fiscal year 2004.

 

Hotel property depreciation for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005 compared to 2004 decreased approximately $222,000, or 7.5%, to $2.8 million from $3.0 million, respectively.  The decrease was primarily due to the sale of certain hotel properties.

 

The Trust had income before minority interest, income taxes and cumulative effect of adoption of accounting principle of $2.6 million for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, compared to a loss before minority interest of $3.6 million in the prior year.  After deducting the income allocated to the minority interest of $1.4 million, taxes of $160,000 and the cumulative effect of adoption of accounting principle of $854,402, the Trust had net income attributable to Shares of Beneficial Interest of approximately $240,000.  This represented an increase of approximately $2.7 million attributable to Shares of Beneficial Interest comparing the twelve months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004.  Basic and diluted net income per share was $0.10 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, compared to a loss of $1.27 for 2004.

 

Results of Operations of the Trust for the year ended January 31, 2004 compared to the year ended January 31, 2003.

 

Overview

 

A summary of operating results for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2004 and 2003 is:

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

Change

 

% Change

 

Revenue

 

$

24,211,328

 

$

26,940,473

 

$

(2,729,145

)

(10.1

)%

Operating Loss

 

$

(272,479

)

$

(1,080,639

)

$

808,160

 

74.8

%

Net Loss

 

$

(2,594,317

)

$

(3,445,948

)

$

851,631

 

24.7

%

Loss Per Share – Basic and Diluted

 

$

(1.27

)

$

(1.67

)

$

0.40

 

24.0

%

 

The Trust’s overall results in both 2004 and 2003 were adversely affected by the sluggish economic environment and reduced travel due to the war in Iraq and other terror concerns.  Decreased demand in both the leisure travel, particularly in southern California, and business travel markets resulted in declining revenues during fiscal year 2004.

 

For the twelve months ended January 31, 2004, the Trust had total revenue of $24.2 million compared to $26.9 million for the twelve months ended January 31, 2003, a decrease of approximately $2.7 million.  This decrease in total revenue is primarily due to fewer occupied rooms and the absence of revenue from the Scottsdale, Arizona property due to its sale in the first quarter of fiscal year 2004, and from the Flagstaff, Arizona and Buena Park, California properties, which were sold in the third quarter of fiscal year 2004.  Total expenses of $27.9 million for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004 reflect a decrease of approximately $4.0 million compared to total expenses of $31.9 million for the twelve months ended January 31, 2003.  The decrease is primarily due to the impairment charge of $590,000 related to the Scottsdale property in fiscal year 2003, reduced hotel expenses as a result of reduced occupied rooms and the absence of expenses from the Scottsdale, Flagstaff and Buena Park properties due to their sale in fiscal year 2004.

 

Loss on impairment of hotel property was approximately $458,000 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004.  This loss resulted from the write-downs for impairments of the Buena Park, California and Tempe, Arizona hotel properties.  During fiscal year 2004, the Trust entered into purchase agreements related to both properties at amounts below their carrying values.  The Buena Park, California property was written down by $329,000 to its fair value of $6.5 million, which was its subsequent sales price.  The Tempe, Arizona property was written down by $129,000 to its fair value of $6.8 million, which was its subsequent sales price.  See Note 19 to the Trust’s Consolidated Financial Statements – “Hotels Held for Sale and Sale of Hotel Properties.”  Loss on impairment of hotel property was approximately $590,000 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2003.  This loss resulted from the write-down for an impairment of the Scottsdale, Arizona hotel property.  The operating performance of the Scottsdale property during that period indicated that it significantly decreased in value, which required management to test the property for recoverability of book value under SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of.”  Based on an appraisal of the property’s fair value, the hotel property’s carrying value was determined not to be recoverable.  The hotel property, including land, buildings and improvements and furniture, fixtures and equipment, was written down by $590,000 to its fair value and new basis of $3.1 million.  The amount of impairment allocated to Shares of Beneficial Interest was $294,000 and the amount allocated to minority interest was $296,000.  The hotel property’s decrease in value was due to changes in the economic conditions, and decreased prospects for future development, in its immediate area.  During fiscal year 2004, the impaired property was sold to Scottsdale Eldorado Resort, LLC, an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, for $3.1 million.

 

12



 

General and administrative expenses include overhead charges for management, accounting, shareholder and legal services for the Trust.  In comparing general and administrative expenses for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004 and 2003, these expenses decreased $1.1 million, or 19.0%, to $4.7 million in fiscal year 2004, from $5.8 million in fiscal year 2003.  This decrease was primarily due to $91,000 of expense related to the refinancing of the Tucson St. Mary’s and San Diego properties in fiscal year 2003, a decrease of $242,000 in trademark and management fees in fiscal year 2004 due to amendments to the related contracts, and the absence of such expenses from the Scottsdale, Buena Park and Flagstaff properties due to their sale during the first quarter of fiscal year 2004.

 

Total operating expenses for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004 were $24.5 million, a decrease of approximately $3.5 million, or 12.6%, from $28.0 million in the twelve months ended January 31, 2003.  The decrease was primarily due to the impairment charge of $590,000 related to the Scottsdale property in fiscal year 2003, reduced hotel expenses as a result of reduced revenue and the absence of expenses from the Scottsdale, Buena Park and Flagstaff properties due to their sale in the first quarter of fiscal year 2004.

 

Total interest expense for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004 was $3.4 million, a decrease of $424,000, or 11.2%, from $3.8 million in the twelve months ended January 31, 2003.  Interest on mortgage notes payable for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004 was $2.8 million, a decrease of $165,000, or 5.6%, from $2.9 million in the twelve months ended January 31, 2003. Interest on notes payable to banks for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004 was $54,000, a decrease of $111,000, or 67.4%, from $165,000 in the prior fiscal year, due to the Trust satisfying in full its term loan in March 2003 and its line of credit in full in August 2003.  Interest on notes payable to related parties decreased 21.4%, or $148,000, to $544,000 from $692,000 due to a decrease of $2.9 million in net borrowings from Mr. Wirth and his affiliates.

 

Real estate and personal property taxes, insurance and ground rent decreased $219,000, or 11.6%, to $1.7 million from $1.9 million in comparing the twelve months ended January 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.  Real estate and personal property taxes and property insurance decreased due to the sale of the Scottsdale property in the first quarter of fiscal year 2004 and decreased property tax assessments at certain hotels.

 

Hotel property depreciation for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004 compared to 2003 decreased approximately $418,000, or 12.3%, to $3.0 million from $3.4 million, respectively.  The decrease was primarily due to the sale of certain hotel properties and the cessation of depreciation on hotel properties classified as held for sale.

 

The Trust had a loss before minority interest of $3.6 million for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004, compared to a loss before minority interest of $4.9 million in the prior year.  After deducting the loss allocated to the minority interest of $1.0 million, the Trust had a net loss attributable to Shares of Beneficial Interest of approximately $2.6 million.  This represented a decrease in total net loss of approximately $852,000 attributable to Shares of Beneficial Interest comparing the twelve months ended January 31, 2004 and 2003.  Basic and diluted net loss per share was $1.27 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2004, compared to $1.67 for 2003.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Overview

 

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $660,000, $88,000, and $1.1 million for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The increase in 2005 as compared to 2004 was primarily due to better operating results.  The decrease in 2004 as compared to 2003 was primarily due to the Trust’s efforts to reduce its liabilities, especially trade payables.

 

Net cash provided by or used in investing activities totaled $8.0 million, $10.2 million, and $(1.6) million for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.  The decrease in 2005 as compared to 2004 was primarily due to fewer dispositions in fiscal year 2005.  The increase in 2004 as compared to 2003 was primarily due to the sale of certain Hotels during fiscal year 2004.

 

Net cash provided by or used in financing activities totaled $(8.6) million, $(10.4) million, and $513,000 for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.  The increase in 2005 as compared to 2004 was primarily due to reduced net payments on notes payable to Mr. Wirth and his affiliates during fiscal year 2005.  The decrease in 2004 as compared to 2003 was primarily due to the sale of certain Hotels in fiscal year 2004, the proceeds of which the Trust used to reduce its debt balances to related parties and satisfy its mortgage notes on these properties.

 

13



 

The Trust received $9.4 million in proceeds for the sales of hotel properties in fiscal year 2005.  The Trust used $4.8 million of these proceeds to satisfy a mortgage note payable, $1.4 million to satisfy related party notes and interest payable, and retained the remaining proceeds to reduce trade payables and to fund future operations and capital improvements.

 

The Trust received $12.2 million in proceeds for the sales of hotel properties in fiscal year 2004.  The Trust used $3.0 million of these proceeds to satisfy a mortgage note payable, $4.4 million to satisfy related party notes payable, $3.0 million to satisfy bank notes payable and the remaining proceeds to fund operations.

 

The Trust’s principal source of cash to meet its cash requirements, including distributions to its shareholders, is its share of the Partnership’s cash flow and, as of January 31, 2005, its direct ownership of the Yuma, Arizona property.  The Partnership’s principal source of revenue after May 1, 2004 is hotel operations for the five properties it owns.  The Trust’s liquidity, including its ability to make distributions to its shareholders, will depend upon the ability of itself and the Partnership to generate sufficient cash flow from hotel operations.

 

Historically, as a REIT, the Trust was required to distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its taxable income, excluding net capital gains.  The termination of the Trust’s status as a REIT, effective February 1, 2004, eliminated this requirement.  However, by relinquishing its status as a REIT, the Trust will become subject to the payment of income taxes. 

 

As of January 31, 2004, the Trust has no commitments for capital expenditures beyond a 4% reserve for refurbishment and replacements that is set aside annually, as described below.

 

The Trust is obligated under loan agreements relating to five of its hotels to deposit 4% of the individual hotel’s room revenue into an escrow account to be used for capital expenditures.   These accounts are restricted by the mortgage lenders.  As of January 31, 2005, $250,642 was held in these accounts and is reported on the Trust’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as “Restricted Cash.”  The accounts are required to be used for capital improvements to the Hotels and refurbishment and replacement of furniture, fixtures and equipment.  During the twelve months ended January 31, 2005 and 2004, the Hotels spent approximately $1.3 million and $1.8 million, respectively, for capital expenditures.  The Trust considers the majority of these improvements to be revenue producing.  Therefore, these amounts have been capitalized and are being depreciated over their estimated useful lives.  The Trust plans to spend approximately $691,000 for capital expenditures in fiscal year 2006.  The Hotels also spent approximately $1.4 million and $1.8 million during fiscal years 2005 and 2004, respectively, on repairs and maintenance and these amounts have been charged to expense as incurred.

 

The Trust has minimum debt payments of $1.7 million and $1.2 million due during fiscal years 2006 and 2007, respectively.  The Trust plans to renew its bank line of credit when it matures during fiscal year 2006.  The Trust believes it can satisfy its remaining obligations during fiscal years 2006 and 2007 using revenue generated by the Hotels’ operations. 

 

Management believes that cash on hand, future cash receipts from operations, proceeds from hotel sales and borrowings from affiliates in fiscal year 2006 will be sufficient to meet the Trust’s obligations as they become due for the next twelve months.

 

The Trust may seek to negotiate additional credit facilities or issue debt instruments.  Any debt incurred or issued by the Trust may be secured or unsecured, long-term, medium-term or short-term, bear interest at a fixed or variable rate and be subject to such other terms as the Trust considers prudent.

 

The Trust will acquire or develop additional hotels only as suitable opportunities arise, and the Trust will not undertake acquisition or redevelopment of properties unless adequate sources of financing are available.  Funds for future acquisitions or development of hotels are expected to be derived, in whole or in part, from borrowings or from the proceeds of additional issuances of Shares of Beneficial Interest or other securities.  However, there can be no assurance that the Trust will successfully acquire or develop additional hotels or that proceeds from borrowings or issuances of Shares of Beneficial Interest will be available or in amounts and on terms sufficient to allow such transactions.

 

CONTINUED LISTING WITH THE AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE

 

On June 13, 2003, the Trust received notice from the American Stock Exchange (“Amex”) indicating that the Trust failed to meet certain of Amex’s continued listing standards as set forth under Section 1003(a) of the Amex Company Guide.  The Trust became non-compliant with Amex’s continued listing standards due to losses incurred by the Trust in its most recent fiscal years.  These losses were exacerbated by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the war in Iraq during the spring of 2003, as well as the general slowdown in the economy and travel.

 

14



 

In response to this notice, the Trust was given the opportunity to submit a plan to Amex to regain compliance with the continued listing standards.  On August 26, 2003, Amex notified the Trust that it had accepted the Trust’s plan and granted the Trust the opportunity to regain compliance with Amex’s continued listing standards. 

 

On December 10, 2004, the shareholders of the Trust approved several proposals relating to the Trust’s plan to return to compliance with Amex’s continued listing standards.  On January 4, 2005, the Board of Trustees approved the implementation of the proposals.  The proposals were consummated on January 31, 2005, and resulted in:

 

                  The Trust issuing 6,577,732 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust to the Partnership to satisfy advances and interest payable to the Partnership totaling approximately $8.6 million.  The Partnership concurrently distributed the Shares of Beneficial Interest to its unit holders.  Of the 6,577,732 Shares of Beneficial Interest distributed by the Partnership, 3,761,071 were returned to the Trust and became treasury shares.  The remaining 2,816,661 Shares of Beneficial Interest remained outstanding.

 

                  The Trust issuing 4,969,712 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust, with a fair value of approximately $6.5 million, to the Partnership to acquire its ownership interest in Yuma Hospitality Properties, Ltd., which owns and operates the Yuma, Arizona hotel property.   The Partnership concurrently distributed the Shares of Beneficial Interest to its unit holders.  Of the 4,969,712 Shares of Beneficial Interest distributed by the Partnership, 2,841,624 were returned to the Trust and became treasury shares.  The remaining 2,128,088 Shares of Beneficial Interest remained outstanding.  The fair value was determined using the carrying values of assets and liabilities, except for fixed assets, which were valued using appraised value.  The portion of the excess of fair value over book value that relates to the minority interest in the Partnership totals $1.2 million, and has been recorded as an increase in the basis of those fixed assets.

 

                  The Trust issuing 457,645 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust to satisfy $594,938 of notes and interest payable to affiliates of Mr. Wirth.  All of those Shares of Beneficial Interest remained outstanding.

 

                  The Trust issuing 1,000,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust to Mr. Wirth and his affiliates upon conversion of 1,000,000 Class B limited partnership units in the Partnership, which increased the Trust’s ownership interest in the Partnership by 7.6%.  All of those Shares of Beneficial Interest remained outstanding.

 

In total, the Trust issued 13,005,089 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust, of which 6,602,695 returned to the Trust as treasury shares and 6,402,394 remained outstanding.  Mr. Wirth and his affiliates, through these transactions, received 5,182,186 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust.

 

As of January 31, 2005, the Trust has total shareholders’ equity of $6.3 million, which exceeds the minimum amount of $6.0 million required to regain compliance with Amex’s continued listing standards.

 

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

 

On January 2, 2001, the Board of Trustees of the Trust approved a share repurchase program under Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the purchase of up to 250,000 limited partnership units in the Partnership and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions.  Additionally, on September 10, 2002, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of up to 350,000 additional limited partnership units in the Partnership and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions.  Acquired Shares of Beneficial Interest are held in treasury and are available for future acquisitions and financings and/or for awards granted under the Trust’s 1997 Stock Incentive and Option Plan.  During fiscal year 2005, the Trust acquired 130,717 Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market and privately negotiated transactions at an average price of $1.73 per share, and 532,077 limited partnership units in privately negotiated transactions at an average price of $2.17 per unit.  The Trust intends to continue repurchasing Shares of Beneficial Interest in compliance with applicable legal and Amex requirements.  The Trust is authorized to repurchase an additional 40,133 limited partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest pursuant to the share repurchase program.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET FINANCINGS AND LIABILITIES

 

Other than lease commitments, legal contingencies incurred in the normal course of business and employment contracts for key employees, the Trust does not have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements or liabilities.  The Trust does not have any majority-owned subsidiaries that are not included in the consolidated financial statements.  See “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Accounting Matters” below for a discussion of new accounting interpretations with respect to variable interest entities and the impact of such interpretations on

 

15



 

the Trust.  See also Note 2 to the Trust’s Consolidated Financial Statements – “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Application of New Accounting Standards.”

 

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

 

The following summarizes our contractual obligations at January 31, 2005, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods:

 

 

 

PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD

 

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

 

TOTAL

 

LESS
THAN
1 YEAR

 

1-3
YEARS

 

3-5
YEARS

 

THEREAFTER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage notes payable, notes payable to banks, other notes payable and notes and advances payable to related parties

 

$

24,849,370

 

$

1,673,537

 

$

2,564,700

 

$

6,643,302

 

$

13,967,831

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

7,128,793

 

196,186

 

392,372

 

392,372

 

6,147,863

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

31,978,163

 

$

1,869,723

 

$

2,957,072

 

$

7,035,674

 

$

20,115,694

 

 

InnSuites Hotels has entered into franchise arrangements with certain third parties for five of the hotel properties, with four Best Western hotels and one Holiday Inn hotel.  Subsequent to January 31, 2005, the Trust ended its franchise agreement with Holiday Inn and entered into a franchise agreement with Best Western International for the Trust’s Ontario, California property.  These agreements provide for fees to be paid by InnSuites Hotels based on revenue and reservations received, and contain no minimum payment provisions.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

The Trust believes that the policies it follows for the valuation of its hotel properties, which constitute the majority of Trust assets, are its most critical policies.  The Trust applies SFAS No. 144 to determine when it is necessary to test an asset for recoverability.  On an events and circumstances basis, the Trust reviews the carrying value of its hotel properties both held for use and held for sale.  The Trust will record an impairment loss and reduce the carrying value of a property when anticipated undiscounted future cash flows and/or a current appraisal of the property do not support its carrying value.  In cases where the Trust does not expect to recover the carrying cost of hotel properties held for use, it will reduce the carrying value to the fair value of the hotel, as determined by a current appraisal.  In cases where the Trust does not expect to recover the carrying cost of hotel properties held for sale, it will reduce the carrying value to the sales price less costs to sell.  The Trust did not recognize impairment expense in fiscal year 2005.  For the twelve months ended January 31, 2004 and 2003, the Trust recorded impairment losses of $458,000 and $590,000, respectively.  As of January 31, 2005, the Trust management does not believe that the carrying values of any of its hotel properties are impaired.

 

ACCOUNTING MATTERS

 

In December 2004, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) was issued.  This Statement is a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, and supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.  This Statement establishes standards for accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity securities for goods and services.  The Trust is required to adopt this Statement as of August 31, 2005.  The Trust believes that the adoption of this Statement will not affect future financial results, as all options granted by the Trust are fully vested.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets, an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29,” (“SFAS No. 153”), which is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. SFAS No. 153 replaces APB Opinion No. 29’s exceptions to recording these transfers at fair value.  SFAS No. 153 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or results of operations. 

 

In February 2004, the Trust adopted FIN 46R, which amended FIN 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements.”  FIN 46R requires an existing unconsolidated variable interest entity to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary if the entity does not effectively

 

16



 

disperse risk among all parties involved or if other parties do not have significant capital to finance activities without subordinated financial support from the primary beneficiary.  The primary beneficiary is the party that absorbs a majority of the entity’s expected losses, receives a majority of its expected residual returns, or both, as a result of holding variable interests, which are the ownership, contractual or other pecuniary interests in an entity.

 

As of February 1, 2004, the Trust recorded a charge for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle resulting from its recognition of the $854,000 net stockholder’s deficit of the Management Company, which was the Trust’s variable interest entity under FIN 46R.  The $854,000 charge represented the net effect of the Trust reporting $160,000 in net assets (consisting primarily of receivables) and $1,014,000 in net liabilities (consisting primarily of debt) upon consolidating the financial results of the Management Company.

 

All revenue and expense items for the Management Company and Licensing Corp. relating to services provided to the Hotels were eliminated when their financial results were consolidated with the Trust’s results.  Revenues and expenses relating to services provided by the Management Company and Licensing Corp. to hotels not owned by the Trust, however, were not eliminated.  Payroll reimbursements shown in the current period represent amounts received from hotels not owned by the Trust.

 

The effect of consolidating the financial results of the Management Company and Licensing Corp. was accounted for as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle.  As a result of consolidating the financial results of the Management Company with its results, as of February 1, 2004, the Trust’s financial results include a $854,402 charge for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle on the Statements of Operations resulting in a reduction in its Stockholders’ Equity which represents the aggregate stockholders’ deficit reported by the Management Company as of February 1, 2004.

 

After June 8, 2004, consolidation of the financial results of the Management Company and Licensing Corp. is no longer required by FIN 46R since InnSuites Hotels acquired the management contracts and licensing agreements from the Management Company on that date.  See Note 20 to the Trust’s Consolidated Financial Statements – “Purchase of Management and Licensing Contracts.”

 

INFLATION

 

The Trust’s revenue is based on the underlying Hotel revenue.  Therefore, the Trust relies entirely on the performance of the Hotels and InnSuites Hotels’ ability to increase revenue to keep pace with inflation.  Operators of hotels in general, and InnSuites Hotels in particular, can change room rates quickly, but competitive pressures may limit InnSuites Hotels’ ability to raise rates faster than inflation.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements in this Form 10-K, including statements containing the phrases “believes,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “predicted,” “will be,” “should be,” “looking ahead” or similar words, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The Trust intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created by such Acts.  These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Trust, its Trustees or its officers in respect of (i) the declaration or payment of dividends; (ii) the leasing, management or operation of the Hotels; (iii) the adequacy of reserves for renovation and refurbishment; (iv) the Trust’s financing plans; (v) the Trust’s position regarding investments, acquisitions, developments, financings, conflicts of interest and other matters; (vi) the Trust’s continued listing on Amex; and (vii) trends affecting the Trust’s or any Hotel’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

These forward-looking statements reflect the Trust’s current views in respect of future events and financial performance, but are subject to many uncertainties and factors relating to the operations and business environment of the Hotels which may cause the actual results of the Trust to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Examples of such uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

 

                  fluctuations in hotel occupancy rates;

                  changes in room rental rates which may be charged by InnSuites Hotels in response to market rental rate changes or otherwise;

                  interest rate fluctuations;

                  changes in federal income tax laws and regulations;

 

17



 

                  competition;

                  any changes in the Trust’s financial condition or operating results due to acquisitions or dispositions of hotel properties;

                  real estate and hospitality market conditions;

                  hospitality industry factors;

                  terrorist attacks or other acts of war;

                  outbreaks of communicable diseases;

                  natural disasters;

                  local or national economic and business conditions, including, without limitation, conditions which may affect public securities markets generally, the hospitality industry or the markets in which the Trust operates or will operate; and

                  uncertainties the Trust might encounter in changing from a REIT to a tax-paying entity.

 

The Trust does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Pursuant to Section 21E(b)(2)(E) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the qualifications set forth hereinabove are inapplicable to any forward-looking statements in this Form 10-K relating to the operations of the Partnership.

 

Item 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The Trust is exposed to interest rate risk primarily as a result of its mortgage notes payable, notes payable to banks, other notes payable and notes and advances payable to related parties.  The proceeds from these loans were used to maintain liquidity, fund capital expenditures and expand the Trust’s real estate investment portfolio and operations.  The Trust’s interest rate risk management objective is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flow and to lower its overall borrowing costs.  To achieve its objectives, the Trust borrows using fixed rate debt, when possible.  The Trust could enter into derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps, caps and treasury locks in order to mitigate its interest rate risk on a related financial instrument.  To date, the Trust has not entered into any such derivative transactions.

 

The Trust’s interest rate risk is monitored using a variety of techniques.  The table below presents the principal amounts, weighted average interest rates, fair value and other terms required, by year of expected maturity, in order to evaluate the expected cash flow and sensitivity to interest rate changes.

 

 

 

Fiscal

 

Debt Type

 

2006

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

2010

 

Thereafter

 

Total

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed rate debt (1)

 

$

1,079,440

 

1,132,126

 

1,224,769

 

1,283,189

 

1,376,512

 

13,967,829

 

20,063,865

 

21,711,504

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average interest rate

 

8.34

%

8.34

%

8.33

%

8.33

%

8.32

%

8.30

%

8.32

%

7.00

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variable rate debt (1)

 

$

594,098

 

100,490

 

107,316

 

113,842

 

3,869,759

 

 

4,785,505

 

4,815,091

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate available on January 31, 2005

 

6.50

%

6.50

%

6.50

%

6.50

%

6.50

%

6.50

%

6.50

%

6.50

%

 


(1)           The fair value of fixed rate debt and variable rate debt were determined based on current rates offered for fixed rate debt and variable rate LIBOR debt with similar risks and maturities.

 

The table incorporates only those exposures that exist as of January 31, 2005 and does not consider those exposures or positions, which would arise after that date.  Moreover, because firm commitments are not represented in the table above, the information presented therein has limited predictive value.  As a result, the Trust’s interest rate fluctuations will depend on the exposures that arise during any particular period and future interest rates.

 

18



 

Item 8.              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST

LIST OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES

 

The following consolidated financial statements of InnSuites Hospitality Trust are included in Item 8:

 

 

Independent Auditors’ Report – January 31, 2005;

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Auditors’ Report – January 31, 2004 and 2003;

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets – January 31, 2005 and 2004;

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations – Years Ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003;

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity – Years Ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003;

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow – Years Ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003; and

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements – January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003.

 

 

The following financial statement schedules of InnSuites Hospitality Trust are included in Item 8:

 

 

Schedule III – Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation.

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule IV - Mortgage Loans on Real Estate.

 

 

All other schedules are omitted, as the information is not required or is otherwise furnished.

 

19



 

REPO RT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of

 

 

InnSuites Hospitality Trust

 

 

Phoenix, Arizona:

 

 

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of InnSuites Hospitality Trust and subsidiaries as of January 31, 2005 and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity/deficit and cash flows for the year then ended.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion of these financial statements based on our audit. 

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of InnSuites Hospitality Trust and subsidiaries as of January 31, 2005 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

 

/s/EPSTEIN, WEBER & CONOVER, PLC

 

 

   Scottsdale, Arizona

  May 5, 2005

 

20



 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of

InnSuites Hospitality Trust

Phoenix, Arizona:

 

Our audit was conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and was made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.  The consolidated supplemental schedule III is presented for purposes of complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and is not a part of the basic consolidated financial statements.  This schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the basic consolidated financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.

 

 

/s/EPSTEIN, WEBER & CONOVER, PLC

 

 

   Scottsdale, Arizona

  May 5, 2005

 

21



 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees

InnSuites Hospitality Trust and Subsidiaries

Phoenix, Arizona

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of InnSuites Hospitality Trust (the “Trust”) and Subsidiaries as of January 31, 2004 and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ (deficit) equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended January 31, 2004.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of InnSuites Hospitality Trust and Subsidiaries as of January 31, 2004 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended January 31, 2004 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

 

/s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP

 

 

Phoenix, Arizona

March 12, 2004

 

22



 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees

InnSuites Hospitality Trust and Subsidiaries

Phoenix, Arizona

 

Our audits on the 2004 and 2003 financial statements were conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.  The related consolidated supplemental schedules III and IV are presented for purposes of complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and are not a part of the basic consolidated financial statements.  The schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the basic consolidated financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.

 

 

/s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP

 

 

Phoenix, Arizona

March 12, 2004

 

23



 

INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

January 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Hotel Properties, Net

 

$

31,190,139

 

$

34,085,320

 

Hotel Properties Held for Sale

 

3,121,235

 

11,733,371

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

1,343

 

 

Restricted Cash

 

250,642

 

136,790

 

Accounts Receivable, including $144,928 and $105,667 from related parties, net of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts of $278,000 and $107,000, respectively

 

969,751

 

906,124

 

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets

 

922,411

 

1,099,989

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

36,455,521

 

$

47,961,594

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage Notes Payable

 

$

24,007,445

 

$

31,805,715

 

Notes Payable to Banks

 

500,000

 

 

Notes and Advances Payable to Related Parties

 

93,512

 

6,852,241

 

Other Notes Payable

 

248,413

 

169,277

 

Outstanding Checks in Excess of Cash Balance

 

 

240,520

 

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses, including $153,811 and $640,612 accrued interest and payables to related parties, respectively

 

2,762,693

 

3,105,351

 

Purchase Deposit from Related Party

 

700,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

28,312,063

 

42,173,104

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINORITY INTEREST IN THE PARTNERSHIP

 

1,878,824

 

7,362,089

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

 

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest, without par value; unlimited authorization; 8,719,649 and 2,048,701 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively

 

16,568,246

 

258,365

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury Stock; 7,391,825 and 844,636 shares, held at January 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively

 

(10,303,612

)

(1,831,964

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

6,264,634

 

(1,573,599

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

$

36,455,521

 

$

47,961,594

 

 

24



 

INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

REVENUE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Room

 

$

17,729,550

 

$

22,026,498

 

$

24,434,186

 

Food and Beverage

 

1,238,808

 

1,363,216

 

1,514,896

 

Telecommunications

 

99,894

 

154,231

 

186,936

 

Other

 

736,873

 

667,383

 

804,455

 

Management and Trademark Fees, including $115,105, $0 and $0 from related parties for 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively

 

278,888

 

 

 

Payroll Reimbursements, including $2,191,474, $0 and $0 from related parties for 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively

 

2,791,174

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL REVENUE

 

22,875,187

 

24,211,328

 

26,940,473

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Room

 

5,010,738

 

6,019,634

 

6,737,985

 

Food and Beverage

 

1,226,074

 

1,323,480

 

1,563,778

 

Telecommunications

 

226,559

 

311,408

 

310,682

 

General and Administrative (includes $0, $741,537 and $584,734 of management and licensing fees to related parties for 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively)

 

4,445,613

 

4,703,160

 

5,809,698

 

Sales and Marketing

 

1,642,232

 

2,109,528

 

2,215,749

 

Repairs and Maintenance

 

1,387,407

 

1,797,719

 

1,893,859

 

Hospitality

 

827,166

 

1,066,854

 

1,237,379

 

Utilities

 

1,232,940

 

1,686,040

 

1,929,179

 

Hotel Property Depreciation

 

2,755,499

 

2,977,583

 

3,395,844

 

Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes, Insurance and Ground Rent

 

1,329,463

 

1,669,510

 

1,888,821

 

Other

 

221,969

 

360,490

 

448,451

 

Payroll Costs Related to Management Contracts

 

2,791,174

 

 

 

Loss on Impairment of Hotel Property

 

 

458,401

 

589,687

 

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES (includes $0, $7,389,988 and $8,756,842 in contract labor expense to related party for 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively)

 

23,096,834

 

24,483,807

 

28,021,112

 

OPERATING LOSS

 

(221,647

)

(272,479

)

(1,080,639

)

Interest Income

 

7,517

 

981

 

1,453

 

Gain on Disposition of Hotels

 

5,113,540

 

 

 

TOTAL OTHER INCOME

 

5,121,057

 

981

 

1,453

 

Interest on Mortgage Notes Payable

 

2,089,708

 

2,764,876

 

2,930,253

 

Interest on Notes Payable to Banks

 

23,659

 

53,984

 

165,362

 

Interest on Notes Payable and Advances Payable to Related Parties

 

125,336

 

544,069

 

691,978

 

Interest on Other Notes Payable

 

20,878

 

10,290

 

9,549

 

TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE

 

2,259,581

 

3,373,219

 

3,797,142

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST, INCOME TAXES AND CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE

 

2,639,829

 

(3,644,717

)

(4,876,328

)

LESS MINORITY INTEREST

 

1,384,985

 

(1,050,400

)

(1,430,380

)

Income Tax Provision

 

(160,000

)

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE

 

1,094,844

 

(2,594,317

)

(3,445,948

)

CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE

 

(854,402

)

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

$

240,442

 

$

(2,594,317

)

$

(3,445,948

)

INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE– Basic and Diluted

 

$

0.45

 

$

(1.27

)

$

(1.67

)

NET LOSS FROM CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE – Basic and Diluted

 

(0.35

)

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE – Basic and Diluted

 

$

0.10

 

$

(1.27

)

$

(1.67

)

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING – Basic and Diluted

 

2,424,837

 

2,035,200

 

2,068,508

 

CASH DIVIDENDS PER SHARE

 

$

.01

 

$

.02

 

$

.01

 

 

See accompanying notes to
consolidated financial statements

 

25



 

INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS ’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2005, 2004 AND 2003

 

BALANCE, JANUARY 31, 2002

 

$

1,526,816

 

Net Loss Attributable to Shares of Beneficial Interest

 

(3,445,948

)

Dividends

 

(20,010

)

Purchase of Treasury Stock

 

(382,135

)

Issuance of Shares of Beneficial Interest for Compensation

 

80,858

 

Related Party Fees Forgiven

 

534,599

 

Related Party Debt Forgiven

 

529,046

 

Reallocation of Minority Interest

 

(73,408

)

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, JANUARY 31, 2003

 

(1,250,182

)

Net Loss Attributable to Shares of Beneficial Interest

 

(2,594,317

)

Dividends

 

(40,986

)

Purchase of Treasury Stock

 

(29,095

)

Issuance of Shares of Beneficial Interest

 

99,680

 

Related Party Fees Forgiven

 

530,721

 

Accrued Rent Forgiven by the Partnership

 

1,518,834

 

Proceeds from Sale of Hotel Property to Related Party in Excess of Carrying Value

 

192,910

 

Distribution to Minority Interest Holders

 

(128,049

)

Reallocation of Minority Interest

 

126,885

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, JANUARY 31, 2004

 

(1,573,599

)

Net Income Attributable to Shares of Beneficial Interest

 

240,442

 

Dividends

 

(23,220

)

Purchase of Treasury Stock

 

(225,917

)

Shares of Beneficial Interest issued for Services Received

 

49,280

 

Shares of Beneficial Interest issued to Satisfy Notes Payable to Related Parties

 

690,820

 

Shares of Beneficial Interest issued to Purchase Management and Licensing Contracts

 

155,000

 

Shares of Beneficial Interest issued to Satisfy Advances Payable to the Partnership

 

3,661,659

 

Shares of Beneficial Interest issued to Purchase Yuma Hospitality Minority Interest

 

2,766,515

 

Purchase of Yuma Hospitality Minority Interest Above Carrying Value

 

1,177,425

 

Purchase of Partnership Units Above Carrying Value

 

98,684

 

Reallocation of Minority Interest

 

(752,455

)

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, JANUARY 31, 2005

 

$

6,264,634

 

 

See accompanying notes to
consolidated financial statements

 

26



 

INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

 

 

 

YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Shares of Beneficial Interest

 

$

240,442

 

$

(2,594,317

)

$

(3,445,948

)

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Shares of Beneficial Interest to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative Effect of Adoption of Accounting Principle

 

854,402

 

 

 

Net Income from Variable Interest Entities

 

352,882

 

 

 

Issuance of Shares for Management and Licensing Contracts

 

155,000

 

 

 

Impairment of Hotel Property

 

 

458,401

 

589,687

 

Provision for Uncollectible Receivables

 

377,465

 

198,448

 

375,209

 

Minority Interest

 

1,032,103

 

(1,050,400

)

(1,430,380

)

Hotel Property Depreciation

 

2,755,499

 

2,977,583

 

3,395,844

 

(Gain) Loss on Disposal Sale of Hotel Property

 

(4,999,797

)

124,310

 

66,401

 

Amortization of Deferred Loan Fees

 

38,312

 

49,036

 

54,209

 

Capital Contribution from Waived Management and Licensing Fee Expense

 

 

530,721

 

534,599

 

Changes in Assets and Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease (Increase) in Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets

 

141,781

 

126,318

 

(61,844

)

(Increase) in Accounts Receivable

 

(439,814

)

(507,907

)

(5,999

)

Increase in Purchase Deposit from Related Party

 

700,000

 

 

 

(Decrease) Increase in Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

 

(547,850

)

(224,509

)

1,058,596

 

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

660,425

 

87,684

 

1,130,374

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sale of Hotel Properties

 

9,377,138

 

12,150,503

 

 

Improvements and Additions to Hotel Properties

 

(1,308,008

)

(1,863,893

)

(1,684,244

)

Change in Restricted Cash

 

(113,852

)

(91,003

)

129,193

 

NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

7,955,278

 

10,195,607

 

(1,555,051

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal Payments on Mortgage Notes Payable

 

(6,087,771

)

(4,306,890

)

(1,226,308

)

Refinancing of Mortgage Notes Payable

 

 

 

2,136,844

 

Payments on Notes Payable to Banks

 

(720,000

)

(3,087,250

)

(677,750

)

Borrowings on Notes Payable to Banks

 

500,000

 

440,000

 

 

Repurchase of Partnership Units

 

(453,223

)

(337

)

(2,788

)

Repurchase of Treasury Stock

 

(113,517

)

(29,095

)

(73,066

)

Payment of Dividends

 

(23,220

)

(40,986

)

(20,010

)

Distributions to Minority Interest Holders

 

(85,683

)

 

 

Payments on Notes and Advances Payable to Related Parties

 

(1,740,299

)

(4,773,927

)

(227,068

)

Borrowings on Notes and Advances Payable to Related Parties

 

198,000

 

1,507,750

 

668,826

 

Payments on Other Notes Payable

 

(88,647

)

(81,075

)

(65,484

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

(8,614,360

)

(10,371,810

)

513,196

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

1,343

 

(88,519

)

88,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR

 

 

88,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR

 

$

1,343

 

$

 

$

88,519

 

 

See accompanying notes to
consolidated financial statements

 

27



 

INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2005, 2004 AND 2003

 

1.  NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

InnSuites Hospitality Trust (the “Trust”) owns, as of January 31, 2005, directly and through a partnership interest, six hotels with an aggregate of 947 suites in Arizona, southern California and New Mexico (the “Hotels”).  The Hotels operate as InnSuites Hotels.

 

Prior to February 1, 2004, the Trust operated as a self-managed and self-administered “umbrella partnership real estate investment trust (“REIT”),” with operations through an operating partnership, RRF Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”).  Effective February 1, 2004, the Trust terminated its election to be taxed as a REIT.  The Trust is the sole general partner of the Partnership and owned 64.75% and 51.54% of the Partnership as of January 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The Trust’s weighted average ownership for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003 was 57.00%, 51.12% and 49.80%, respectively.  The Partnership owns five of the hotel properties and incurs the related expenses.  The Trust owns and operates the Yuma, Arizona hotel property directly, which it acquired from the Partnership on January 31, 2005.  See Note 21 -“Execution of the Plan to Regain Compliance with the American Stock Exchange Continued Listing Standards.”  Prior to May 1, 2004, the Hotels were leased to InnSuites Hotels, Inc. (“InnSuites Hotels”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trust.  Subsequent to May 1, 2004, the Trust and the Partnership operate the Hotels owned by each of them.  Prior to June 8, 2004, InnSuites Hotels held the franchise agreement for each Hotel and contracted with Suite Hospitality Management, Inc. (the “Management Company”) for certain property management services and employment services.  Until July 2, 2003, the Management Company was owned 9.8% by the James F. Wirth (“Mr. Wirth”), Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust.  On June 8, 2004, the Trust purchased the “InnSuites” trademarks and tradenames and related licensing agreements and acquired the management agreements with the Management Company.  See Note 20 – “Purchase of Management and Licensing Contracts.”

 

After June 8, 2004, InnSuites Hotels provides hotel management services to the Hotels, as well as three hotels featuring 440 suites owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth and one unrelated hotel property featuring 129 suites.  Under the management agreements, InnSuites Hotels provides the personnel at the hotels, the expenses of which are reimbursed at cost, and manages the hotels’ daily operations.  All such expenses and reimbursements between InnSuites Hotels and the Partnership have been eliminated in consolidation.  InnSuites Hotels received 2% of room revenue from the Hotels owned by the Partnership and the Trust in exchange for management services during fiscal year 2005.  Effective February 1, 2005, InnSuites Hotels receives 2.5% of total revenues from these Hotels.  These agreements expire on January 31, 2008.  InnSuites Hotels received 1% (or more depending on results) of room revenue from the Hotels owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth in exchange for management services during fiscal year 2005.  These agreements require that these hotels pay 2% of room revenue, unless these hotels fail to reach 80% of their budgeted profit, at which point the fees are reduced to 1% of room revenue.  These agreements expire on February 1, 2007 and may be cancelled by either party with 90-days notice or 30-days notice in the event the property changes ownership.  InnSuites Hotels received 5% of total revenue from the unrelated hotel in San Diego, California in exchange for management services during fiscal year 2005.  This agreement expires on March 31, 2007, and may be cancelled by either party with 90-days notice or 30-days notice in the event the property changes ownership.

 

After June 8, 2004, InnSuites Hotels owns the “InnSuites” trademark and holds trademark agreements with the Hotels, as well as three hotels featuring 440 suites owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth and two unrelated hotel properties featuring 305 suites.  InnSuites Hotels received 1.0% (2.0% for the hotel which does not carry a third-party franchise) of room revenue from the Hotels owned by the Partnership and the Trust in exchange for use of the “InnSuites” trademark during fiscal year 2005.  The revenue and expenses related to these contracts have been eliminated in consolidation.  Effective February 1, 2005, the InnSuites Hotels receives 1.25% (2.5% for the hotel which does not carry a third-party franchise) of total revenues from these Hotels.  These agreements expire on January 31, 2008.  InnSuites Hotels received 1% (or more depending on results) of room revenue from the Hotels owned by affiliates of Mr. Wirth in exchange for use of the “InnSuites” trademark during fiscal year 2005.  These agreements require that these hotels pay 2% of room revenue, unless these hotels fail to reach 80% of their budgeted profit, at which point the fees are reduced to 1% of room revenue.  These agreements have no expiration date and may be cancelled by either party with 12-months notice or 90-days notice in the event the property changes ownership.  InnSuites Hotels received 2% of total revenue from the unrelated hotel in San Diego, California in exchange for trademark licensing services during fiscal year 2005.  This agreement expires on March 31, 2005, and may be cancelled by either party with 90-days notice .  InnSuites Hotels received 0.5% of room revenue from the unrelated hotel in Buena Park, California in exchange for trademark licensing services during fiscal year 2005.  This agreement has no expiration date and may be cancelled by either party with 30-days notice.

 

28



 

As a REIT, through January 31, 2004, the Trust was prohibited from operating its properties other than through an independent management company or a taxable REIT subsidiary.  Prior to February 1, 2001, InnSuites Hotels operated and managed all of the Hotels, with the assistance of InnSuites Innternational Hotels, Inc. (“InnSuites Innternational”), an entity owned by Mr. Wirth.  Pursuant to management contracts, InnSuites Hotels paid InnSuites Innternational an annual management fee of 2.5% of gross revenues for property management services.  Following the acquisition of InnSuites Hotels by the Trust effective February 1, 2001, InnSuites Hotels operated and managed the Hotels with the assistance of the Management Company, an entity in which Mr. Wirth previously had a 9.8% ownership interest, pursuant to substantially the same terms as the InnSuites Innternational management agreements.  There were no termination fees charged in connection with the cancellation of the old management agreements.  In exchange for its assumption of the management agreements, the Management Company agreed to pay $911,320 to InnSuites Innternational in order for InnSuites Innternational to satisfy its liabilities.  On June 8, 2004, the management agreements of the Management Company were purchased by the Trust and the Trust began managing the Hotels, certain hotels owned by Mr. Wirth and an unrelated hotel.  See Note 20 – “Purchase of Management and Licensing Contracts.”

 

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

The Partnership Agreement of the Partnership provides for the issuance of two classes of limited partnership units, Class A and Class B.  Class A and Class B limited partnership units are identical in all respects, except that each Class A limited partnership unit shall be convertible into one newly-issued Share of Beneficial Interest of the Trust, at any time at the option of the particular limited partner.  The Class B limited partnership units may only become convertible with the approval of the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion.  As of January 31, 2005, 1,189,386 Class A limited partnership units were issued and outstanding representing 9.0% of the total partnership units.  Additionally, as of January 31, 2005, 3,467,938 Class B limited partnership units were outstanding to Mr. Wirth and his affiliates, in lieu of the issuance of Class A limited partnership units representing 26.2% of the total partnership units.  If all of the Class A and B limited partnership units were converted, the limited partners in the Partnership would receive 4,657,324 Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Trust.  As of January 31, 2005, the Trust owns 8,554,193 general partner units in the Partnership, representing 64.8% of the total partnership units.

 

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

As sole general partner of the Partnership, the Trust exercises unilateral control over the Partnership, and the Trust owns all of the issued and outstanding classes of shares of InnSuites Hotels. Therefore, the financial statements of the Partnership and InnSuites Hotels are consolidated with the Trust, and all significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

 

2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

USE OF ESTIMATES

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

The Trust’s operations are affected by numerous factors, including the economy, competition in the hotel industry and the effect of the economy on the travel and hospitality industries.  The Trust cannot predict if any of the above items will have a significant impact in the future, nor can it predict what impact, if any, the occurrence of these or other events might have on the Trust’s operations and cash flows.  Significant estimates and assumptions made by management are used for, but not limited to, the estimated useful lives of long-lived assets and estimates of future cash flows used to test a long-lived asset for recoverability, the fair values of the long-lived assets and the realization of net operating losses.

 

HOTEL PROPERTIES

 

Hotel properties are stated at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated lives ranging from 5 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 15 years for furniture and equipment.

 

The Trust adopted SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” in accounting for its hotel properties effective the beginning of fiscal year 2003 and previously applied SFAS No. 121 in

 

29



 

accounting for its hotel properties in fiscal year 2002.  Properties held for sale at the beginning of fiscal year 2003 continued to be accounted for under SFAS No. 121.  The adoption of SFAS No. 144 had no significant effect on the financial statements.

 

Management applies SFAS No. 144 to determine when it is required to test an asset for recoverability of its carrying value.  If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows over its estimated remaining life, the Trust recognizes an impairment expense to reduce the asset’s carrying value to its fair value.  The estimated future cash flows are based upon, among other things, assumptions about expected future operating performance, and may differ from actual cash flows.  Long-lived assets evaluated for impairment are analyzed on a property-specific basis independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets.  If the sum of the projected undiscounted cash flows (excluding interest) is less than the carrying value of the assets, the assets will be written down to the estimated fair value in the period in which the determination is made.  The Trust determines the estimated useful lives of its assets based on the expected future economic benefit of the asset and its ability to hold such assets.  Fair value is determined by the most current third-party property appraisal, if available.  Evaluation of future cash flows is based on historical experience and other factors, including certain economic conditions and committed future bookings.  Management has determined that no additional impairment of long-lived assets currently exists beyond the amounts recognized.

 

During fiscal year 2005, events and circumstances indicated that one of the Trust’s properties held in use should be evaluated for impairment.  However, the Trust obtained an updated third-party appraisal of the property, which indicated that the value of the property exceeded its carrying value.  However, it is possible that future changes in the economic climate or real estate markets may adversely impact the fair values of the hotel properties, resulting in the need for the Trust to recognize an impairment expense to adjust the carrying value of those properties to their fair values.

 

Gains and losses on sales of properties are recognized at the time of sale or deferred to the extent required by GAAP.

 

The Trust will classify a hotel property as “held for sale” in the period (generally not to exceed one year) in which (1) it has made the decision to actively seek a buyer of the property and/or (2) a binding agreement to purchase the property has been signed under which the buyer has committed a significant amount of refundable cash and no significant financing contingencies exist which could cause the transaction not to be completed in a timely manner.  If these criteria are met, the Trust will record an impairment loss if the fair value less the costs to sell is lower than the carrying amount of the hotel and will cease recording depreciation.

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

The Trust considers all highly liquid short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

 

REVENUE RECOGNITION

 

Room, food and beverage, telecommunications, management and licensing fees, and other revenue are recognized as earned as services are provided and items are sold.  Payroll reimbursements are recorded as personnel are provided and are not netted with the corresponding payroll expense.

 

RECEIVABLES

 

Accounts receivable are carried at original amounts less an estimate made for doubtful receivables based on a review of outstanding amounts on a quarterly basis.  Management records an allowance for doubtful accounts for 50% of the balances over 90 days and 100% of the balances over 120 days.  Accounts receivables are written off when deemed uncollectible.  Recoveries, if any, of receivables previously written off are recorded when received.  The Trust does not charge interest on accounts receivable balances.

 

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The Trust applies the provisions of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and provides pro forma net income (loss) disclosures for employee stock option grants as if the fair-value-based method defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, had been applied.  In accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, compensation expense is recorded over the vesting period only if the current estimated market price on the underlying stock on the date an option is granted exceeds the exercise price.

 

30



 

No compensation cost has been recognized for options granted to employees for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003.  The following pro forma information presents pro forma net loss information as if compensation expense had been recognized for stock options as determined under the fair-value-based method prescribed by SFAS No. 123 using the Black-Scholes options pricing model:

 

 

 

Years ended January 31

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Net income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

240,442

 

$

(2,594,317

)

$

(3,445,948

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma stock compensation expense

 

$

 

$

(175

)

$

(14,024

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma

 

$

240,442

 

$

(2,594,492

)

$

(3,459,972

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share – basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

0.10

 

$

(1.27

)

$

(1.67

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma

 

$

0.10

 

$

(1.27

)

$

(1.67

)

 

No stock options were issued during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003.

 

INCOME TAXES

 

Prior to February 1, 2004, the Trust elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”).  To qualify as a REIT, the Trust was required to meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that it currently distribute at least 90% of its adjusted taxable income to its shareholders.  As a REIT, the Trust was not subject to federal corporate income tax on that portion of its net income that was distributed to shareholders.

 

Prior to February 1, 2004, the Trust accounted for deferred taxes utilizing a liability method whereby deferred tax assets were recognized for deductible temporary differences and deferred tax liabilities were recognized for taxable temporary differences.  Temporary differences were the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases.  Deferred tax assets were reduced by a valuation allowance when it was determined to be more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets would not be realized.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities were adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

 

Effective February 1, 2004, the Trust relinquished its REIT status. As of that date, any distributions to its shareholders are not deductible for purposes of computing the Trust’s taxable income and the Trust will be subject to income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on its taxable income at regular corporate rates, without offset for distributions of such income to its shareholders.

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

The Trust expects to pay dividends.  The Trust’s ability to pay dividends is largely dependent upon its receipt of distributions from the Partnership.

 

MINORITY INTEREST

 

The Trust accounts for minority interest in accordance with EITF Issue No. 94-2 “Treatment of Minority Interests in Certain Real Estate Investments” and EITF Issue No. 95-7 “Implementation Issues Related to the Treatment of Minority Interest in Certain Real Estate Investment Trusts.”

 

31



 

Minority interest in the Partnership represents the limited partners’ proportionate share of the capital and earnings of the Partnership.  Income or loss is allocated to the minority interest based on its weighted average ownership percentage in the Partnership throughout the period, and capital is allocated based on its ownership percentage at year-end.  Any difference is recorded as a reallocation of minority interest as a component of shareholders’ equity.

 

INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

 

Basic and diluted income (loss) per Share of Beneficial Interest have been computed based on the weighted-average number of Shares of Beneficial Interest and potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the periods.

 

For the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, there were Class A and Class B limited partnership units outstanding, which are convertible into Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Trust.  Assuming conversion at the beginning of each period, the aggregate weighted-average of these Shares of Beneficial Interest would have been 5,680,962, 6,457,165 and 6,673,808 in addition to the basic shares outstanding for fiscal year 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.  These Shares of Beneficial Interest issuable upon conversion of the Class A and Class B limited partnership units are anti-dilutive due to the fact that the conversion of these units would result in increased earnings per share.  Therefore, they have not been included in the number of issued and outstanding Shares of Beneficial Interest used in the calculation of diluted earnings per share.

 

For the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, 232,600, 246,000 and 253,200 stock options, respectively, are not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as their inclusion would have an antidilutive effect because of the fact that the option exercise prices are greater than the average market price of the Trust’s Shares of Beneficial Interest.

 

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

For disclosure purposes, fair value is determined by using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies.  Due to their short maturities, cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which reasonably approximates fair value.

 

The fair value of mortgage notes payable, notes payable to banks and notes and advances payable to related parties is estimated by using the current rates which would be available for similar loans having the same remaining maturities.  The carrying value of accounts payable and accrued expenses and other notes payable approximates fair value, due to their short-term nature.  See Note 14 – “Fair Value of Financial Instruments.”

 

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In December 2004, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) was issued.  This Statement is a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, and supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.  This Statement establishes standards for accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity securities for goods and services.  The Trust is required to adopt this Statement as of August 31, 2005.  The Trust believes that the adoption of this Statement will not affect future financial results, as all options granted by the Trust are fully vested.

 

SEGMENT REPORTING

 

The Trust views its operations as one operating business segment, a hospitality company that owns six hotel properties with an aggregate of 947 suites in Arizona, southern California and New Mexico.

 

ADVERTISING COSTS

 

Amounts incurred for advertising costs with third parties are expensed as incurred.  Advertising expense totaled approximately $1,642,000, $2,110,000 and $2,216,000 for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively.

 

3.  HOTEL PROPERTIES

 

As of January 31 of the respective years, hotel properties, and hotel properties held for sale, consisted of the following:

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Land

 

$

2,824,520

 

$

3,182,368

 

Building and improvements

 

32,958,443

 

34,274,136

 

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

 

6,913,030

 

6,748,816

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total hotel properties

 

42,695,993

 

44,205,320

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

11,505,854

 

10,120,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hotel properties, net

 

$

31,190,139

 

$

34,085,320

 

Hotel properties, held for sale

 

$

3,121,235

 

$

11,733,371

 

 

32



 

4.  ACQUISITIONS

 

In December 2000, InnSuites Hotels and the Trust established independent review groups to consider altering the current structure of the management and operations of the Hotels pursuant to the provisions of the REIT Modernization Act.  Effective February 1, 2001, the Trust acquired all of the issued and outstanding common and preferred equity stock of InnSuites Hotels for $11,531 in cash consideration and the assumption of approximately $1.6 million of net liabilities.  Prior to the acquisition, InnSuites Hotels was owned 23% by Marc E. Berg, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Trustee of the Trust, 9.8% by InnSuites Innternational Hotels, Inc., a wholly-owned affiliate of Mr. Wirth and his spouse, and 67.2% by unrelated parties.

 

Following the acquisition, the management contracts relating to the Hotels between InnSuites Hotels and InnSuites Innternational Hotels, Inc. were terminated effective January 31, 2001 and new management contracts were entered into on substantially similar terms with the Management Company, 9.8% of which was owned by Mr. Wirth prior to July 1, 2003, when Mr. Wirth sold his interest to the majority stockholder.  There were no termination fees charged in connection with the cancellation of the old management contracts.  In exchange for its assumption of the management agreements, the Management Company agreed to pay $911,320 to InnSuites Innternational in order for InnSuites Innternational to satisfy its liabilities.  The acquisition of InnSuites Hotels by the Trust resulted in the following benefits: (1) a more direct relationship between the Hotels and the Trust, (2) the inclusion of InnSuites Hotels’ revenues in excess of required rent payments in the Trust’s consolidated financial reports, (3) the elimination of potential conflicts of interest and (4) the reduction of certain administrative costs relative to the operation of the Hotels.

 

5.  MORTGAGE NOTES PAYABLE

 

At January 31, 2005, the Trust had mortgage notes payable outstanding with respect to each of the Hotels.  The mortgage notes payable have various repayment terms and have scheduled maturity dates ranging from July 29, 2009 to May 1, 2016.  Weighted average interest rates on the mortgage notes payable for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were 8.03%, 7.72% and 8.33%, respectively.

 

The following table summarized the Trust’s mortgage notes payable as of January 31:

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Mortgage note payable, due in variable monthly installments, including interest at prime rate plus 1.0% per year, through July 29, 2009, secured by the Tucson St. Mary’s property with a carrying value of $9.6 million at January 31, 2005.

 

$

4,285,505

 

$

4,374,542

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage note payable, due in monthly installments of $48,738, including interest at 8% per year, through May 1, 2016, secured by the Tucson Oracle property with a carrying value of $5.3 million at January 31, 2005.

 

4,349,266

 

4,576,229

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage note payable, due in monthly installments of $71,141, including interest at 8.28% per year, through May 11, 2011, secured by the Ontario property with a carrying value of $7.3 million at January 31, 2005.

 

8,586,467

 

8,711,653

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage note payable, due in monthly installments of $15,858, including interest at 8.875% per year, through September 1, 2015, secured by the Albuquerque property with a carrying value of $1.9 million at January 31, 2005.

 

1,309,249

 

1,379,904

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage note payable, due in monthly installments of $42,886, including interest at 8.25% per year, through April 1, 2014, secured by the Northern Phoenix property with a carrying value of $3.1 million at January 31, 2005.

 

3,290,859

 

3,523,469

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage note payable, due in monthly installments of $41,168, including interest at 9.25% per year, through August 1, 2011, secured by the Yuma property with a carrying value of $6.7 million at January 31, 2005.

 

2,186,099

 

2,685,306

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage note payable, paid in full in fiscal year 2005 in connection with the sale of the San Diego property.

 

 

4,813,525

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage note payable, paid in full in fiscal year 2005 in connection with the sale of the Tempe property.

 

 

1,741,087

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

$

24,007,445

 

$

31,805,715

 

 

33



 

Mr. Wirth and certain of his affiliates have guaranteed $3,738,479 and $5,845,475 of the mortgage notes payable as of January 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The net book value of the properties securing these mortgage notes payable at January 31, 2005 and 2004 was $19,441,000 and $45,747,000, respectively.  See Note 9 – “Minimum Debt Payments” for scheduled minimum payments.

 

6.  NOTES PAYABLE TO BANKS

 

On July 21, 2004, the Trust obtained a bank line of credit secured by a security agreement, business loan agreement and commercial guaranty of the Partnership all dated July 21, 2004.  The line of credit is secured by the assets of the Trust alone, which is comprised mainly of its investment in the subsidiaries.  Under the terms of the line of credit, the Trust can draw up to $500,000, bearing interest at prime plus 1.0% (6.25% as of January 31, 2005) per annum, and is required to make monthly interest-only payments.  The line of credit matures on July 20, 2005.  As of January 31, 2004, the Trust had drawn the entire $500,000 available under the line of credit.

 

7.  NOTES AND ADVANCES PAYABLE TO RELATED PARTIES

 

Notes and advances payable to related parties consist of funds provided by Mr. Wirth, certain of his affiliates and other related parties to permit the Trust to repurchase additional general partnership units in the Partnership and to fund working capital and capital improvement needs.  The aggregate amounts outstanding to related parties were approximately $94,000 and $6.9 million as of January 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The notes and advances payable to related parties are as follows as of January 31 of the respective years:

 

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Note payable to The Anderson Charitable Remainder Unitrust, an affiliate of Mason Anderson, Trustee of the Trust, bearing interest at 7% per annum, and secured by Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust. Due in monthly principal and interest payments of $2,408 through September 2005.

 

$

18,771

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Wayne Anderson, son of Mason Anderson, Trustee of the Trust, bearing interest at 7% per annum, and secured by Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust. Due in monthly principal and interest payments of $574 through June 2009.

 

26,114

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Karen Anderson, daughter of Mason Anderson, Trustee of the Trust, bearing interest at 7% per annum, and secured by Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust. Due in monthly principal and interest payments of $574 through June 2009.

 

26,115

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Kathy Anderson, daughter of Mason Anderson, Trustee of the Trust, bearing interest at 7% per annum, and secured by Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust. Due in monthly principal and interest payments of $495 through June 2009.

 

22,512

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Steve Robson, Trustee of the Trust, paid in full during fiscal year 2005 with Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust.

 

 

239,667

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsecured notes payable to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, paid in full during fiscal year 2005.

 

 

514,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsecured note payable to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, paid in full during fiscal year 2005 in connection with the sale of the Tempe property.

 

 

2,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, bearing interest at 7% per annum, paid in full during fiscal year 2005 in connection with the sale of the Tempe property.

 

 

2,072,893

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, paid in full during fiscal year 2005 in connection with the sale of the Tempe property

 

 

1,379,646

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Hulsey Hotels Corporation, an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, paid in full during fiscal year 2005.

 

 

356,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Mr. Wirth, bearing interest at 7% per annum, paid in full during fiscal year 2005

 

 

187,230

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsecured note payable to Mr. Wirth, paid in full during fiscal year 2005.

 

 

101,755

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

$

93,512

 

$

6,852,241

 

 

34



 

During the second and third quarters of fiscal year 2004, the Trust issued five promissory notes in the amount of $208,000, $75,000, $200,000, $110,000 and $60,000 to Rare Earth Development Company, an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, all of which were paid in full in the third quarter of fiscal year 2004 utilizing a portion of the cash proceeds from the sale of the Buena Park property.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2004, the Trust issued a promissory note in the amount of $225,000 to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, which was paid in full in the third quarter of fiscal year 2004 utilizing a portion of the cash proceeds from the sale of the Buena Park property.

 

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Trust repurchased 433,036 Class B limited partnership units in the Partnership from affiliates of Mr. Wirth, issuing promissory notes in the aggregate amount of $974,331.  During the first quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Trust repaid $449,500 of these notes.  During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Trust repaid the remaining balance of these notes with Shares of Beneficial Interest with an aggregate value of $467,552.  Additionally, Mr. Wirth converted 100,000 Class B limited partnership units in the Partnership into 100,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest.

 

As of February 2, 2004, J. R. Chase, the sole stockholder of the Management Company, agreed to transfer 32,363 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust to the Management Company in order to facilitate the Management Company’s acquisition of Licensing Corp. from Mr. Wirth.  In consideration of the transfer of those Shares, the Management Company agreed to pay Mr. Chase $72,817.  The Management Company fully satisfied this obligation during June 2004.  See Note 20, “Purchase of Management and Licensing Contracts.”

 

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Trust issued promissory notes totaling $83,000 to affiliates of Mason Anderson, who subsequently became a Trustee of the Trust, in exchange for 47,084 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Trust issued 55,423 Shares of Beneficial Interest to satisfy unpaid principal and interest totaling $95,882 to Mr. Robson, a Trustee of the Trust.

 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Partnership reclassified $700,000 of advances payable to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, to a deposit for the purchase of the Phoenix, Arizona hotel property by another affiliate of Mr. Wirth.

 

The Trust paid interest on related party notes to Mr. Wirth and his affiliates in the amounts of $443,959, $205,101 and $28,373 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.  The Trust incurred interest expense on related party notes to Mr. Wirth and his affiliates in the amounts of $122,314, $515,214 and $623,522 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

8.  OTHER NOTES PAYABLE

 

As of January 31, 2005, the Trust had $248,413 in secured promissory notes outstanding to unrelated third parties arising from the repurchase of 188,261 Class A limited partnership units in the Partnership and the repurchase of 18,233 Shares of Beneficial Interest in privately negotiated transactions.  The promissory notes bear interest at 7% per year and are due in varying monthly payments through March 2011.  The repurchased Class A limited partnership units and Shares of Beneficial Interest secure the notes.  As of January 31, 2004, the Trust had outstanding $169,277 in secured promissory notes to unrelated third parties arising from the repurchase of certain limited partnership units and Shares of Beneficial Interest.

 

35



 

9.  MINIMUM DEBT PAYMENTS

 

Scheduled minimum payments of debt as of January 31, 2005 are as follows in the respective fiscal years indicated:

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED

 

AMOUNT

 

2006

 

$

1,673,537

 

2007

 

1,232,615

 

2008

 

1,332,085

 

2009

 

1,397,031

 

2010

 

5,246,271

 

Thereafter

 

13,967,831

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

24,849,370

 

 

10.  DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

Holders of the Trust’s Shares of Beneficial Interest are entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by the Board of Trustees of the Trust out of funds legally available therefor.  The holders of Shares of Beneficial Interest, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-down of the Trust, are entitled to share ratably in any assets remaining after payment in full of all liabilities of the Trust.  The Shares of Beneficial Interest possess ordinary voting rights, each share entitling the holder thereof to one vote.  Holders of Shares of Beneficial Interest do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of Trustees and do not have preemptive rights.

 

On January 2, 2001, the Board of Trustees approved a share repurchase program under Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the purchase of up to 250,000 limited partnership units in the Partnership and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions. Additionally, on September 10, 2002, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of up to 350,000 additional limited partnership units in the Partnership and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market or privately negotiated transactions.  Acquired Shares of Beneficial Interest are held in treasury and are available for future acquisitions and financings and/or for awards granted under the Trust’s 1997 Stock Incentive and Option Plan.  During fiscal year 2005, the Trust acquired 130,717 Shares of Beneficial Interest in open market and privately negotiated transactions at an average price of $1.73 per share and 532,077 limited partnership units in privately negotiated transactions at an average price of $2.17 per unit.  The Trust intends to continue repurchasing Shares of Beneficial Interest in compliance with applicable legal and American Stock Exchange requirements.  The Trust is authorized to repurchase an additional 40,133 limited partnership units and/or Shares of Beneficial Interest pursuant to the share repurchase program.

 

For the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, the Trust repurchased 130,717, 22,500 and 191,343 Shares of Beneficial Interest at an average price of $1.73, $1.29 and $2.00 per share, respectively.  Repurchased Shares of Beneficial Interest are accounted for as treasury stock in the Trust’s Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity.

 

11.  FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

 

The Trust has an income tax net operating loss carryforward of approximately $15.2 million at January 31, 2005.  The quarterly allocation of cash dividends paid per Share of Beneficial Interest and the characterization of dividends as either ordinary income or return of capital for an individual shareholder’s income tax purposes were as follows:

 

 

 

CALENDAR 2004

 

CALENDAR 2003

 

CALENDAR 2002

 

Month
Paid

 

Ordinary
Income

 

Return of
Capital

 

Total
Paid

 

Ordinary
Income

 

Return of
Capital

 

Total
Paid

 

Ordinary
Income

 

Return of
Capital

 

Total
Paid

 

January

 

 

$

.02

 

$

.02

 

 

$

.01

 

$

.01

 

 

$

.01

 

$

.01

 

May

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

$

.02

 

$

.02

 

 

$

.01

 

$

.01

 

 

$

.01

 

$

.01

 

 

The tax status of distributions to shareholders in calendar 2005 will be dependent on the level of the Trust’s earnings in that year.  If certain changes in the Trust’s ownership should occur, there could be an annual limitation on the amount of carryforwards that can be utilized, which could potentially impair the ability to utilize the full amount of the carryforwards.

 

36



 

The total dividends per Share of Beneficial Interest applicable to operating results for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, amounted to $0.01 per share, $0.02 per share and $0.01 per share, respectively.

 

The Trust has federal and state net operating loss carryforwards which are estimated to expire as follows:

 

 

 

Amount

 

Year

 

Federal

 

State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

$

 

$

87,537

 

2009

 

 

312,400

 

2012

 

4,272,964

 

 

2018

 

3,883,556

 

 

2019

 

1,163,799

 

 

2020

 

1,979,025

 

 

2021

 

250,847

 

 

2022

 

1,580,590

 

 

2023

 

1,671,294

 

 

2024

 

456,393

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

15,258,468

 

$

399,937

 

 

The Trust has deferred tax assets related to the net operating loss of approximately $5,185,000 and $7,425,000 as of January 31, 2005 and January 31, 2004, respectively, which were offset by valuation allowances of $5,015,000 and $7,425,000, respectively.

 

Total and net deferred income tax assets at January 31, 2005 consist of:

 

Net operating loss carryforwards

 

$

6,722,000

 

Book/Tax differences in operating assets

 

94,000

 

Total deferred income tax assets

 

6,816,000

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income tax liability associated with book/tax differences in hotel properties

 

(3,425,000

)

Net deferred income tax asset

 

3,391,000

 

Valuation allowance

 

(3,221,000

)

Net deferred income tax asset

 

$

170,000

 

 

Income taxes for the year ended January 31, 2005 are:

 

Current income tax provision

 

$

330,000

 

Deferred income tax benefit

 

(170,000

)

Net income tax provision

 

$

160,000

 

 

The valuation allowance decreased by approximately $2,410,000 in the year ended January 31, 2005, primarily due to the utilization of approximately $6,060,000 of net operating loss carryforwards.

 

InnSuites Hotels has net operating loss carryforwards of $2.1, $1.4 and $1.8 million, which expire in 2021, 2022, and 2024, respectively.  For the years ended January 31, 2005 and 2004, InnSuites Hotels did not record any income tax expense or liability provision since InnSuites Hotels incurred a net loss during each fiscal year.  Deferred tax assets related to the net operating loss of approximately $1.8 million and $640,000, as of January 31, 2005 and January 31, 2004, respectively, were offset by 100% valuation allowances.

 

In addition to the net operating losses carryforward, there are other deferred tax assets which are fully allowed for at January 31, 2004 and January 31, 2003.  Effective February 1, 2004, the Trust relinquished its REIT status. As of that date, any distributions to its shareholders are not deductible for purposes of computing the Trust’s taxable income and the Trust will be subject to income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on its taxable income at regular corporate rates, without offset for distributions of such income to its shareholders.

 

12.  ADVISORY AGREEMENT/EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

 

Mr. Wirth has an employment agreement with the Trust that expires in December 2007.  The employment agreement provides that Mr. Wirth received no compensation from the Trust as long as a previously enforceable advisory agreement was in effect.  However, pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement, since the Advisor (as defined in the advisory agreement) no longer provides services to the Partnership or the Trust, Mr. Wirth is to be compensated at an amount up to the same annual basis as the Advisor would have been compensated under the terms of the advisory agreement had it remained in effect.  Mr. Wirth is currently being compensated, however, at a lesser rate of $130,000 a year.

 

13.  OTHER RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Partnership is responsible for all expenses incurred by the Trust in accordance with the Partnership Agreement.

 

The Initial Hotels were acquired by the Partnership from entities in which Mr. Wirth and his affiliates had substantial ownership interests.  Mr. Wirth and his affiliates received 4,017,361 Class B limited partnership units and 647,231 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust in exchange for their interests in the Initial Hotels.  As of January 31, 2005 and 2004, Mr. Wirth and his affiliates held 3,467,938 and 5,000,974 Class B limited partnership units, respectively, which represented 26.3% and 37.9% of the total outstanding partnership units.  As of January 31, 2005 and 2004, Mr. Wirth and his affiliates held 5,817,869 and 455,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust, respectively, which represented 66.8% and 22.2% of the total issued and outstanding Shares of Beneficial Interest.

 

37



 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2004, the Partnership forgave $3,134,130 of rent accrued but unpaid by InnSuites Hotels, which had a net effect of increasing the Trust’s Shareholders’ Equity by $1,518,834.

 

At January 31, 2005 and 2004, the Trust owned a 64.75% interest and 51.54% interest, respectively, in the Hotels through its sole general partner’s interest in the Partnership.

 

14.  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

The carrying amounts and fair values of the Trust’s significant financial instruments at January 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

CARRYING
AMOUNT

 

FAIR
VALUE

 

CARRYING
AMOUNT

 

FAIR
VALUE

 

Mortgage notes payable

 

$

24,007,445

 

$

25,675,971

 

$

31,805,715

 

$

33,747,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable to banks

 

500,000

 

500,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes and advances payable to related parties

 

93,512

 

94,713

 

6,852,241

 

6,644,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other notes payable

 

248,413

 

252,911

 

169,277

 

170,000

 

 

15.  SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

2,514,975

 

$

3,030,616

 

$

3,069,003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Promissory notes issued by the Trust to acquire Class A limited partnership units

 

179,500

 

87,800

 

79,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Promissory notes issued by the Trust to acquire Shares of Beneficial Interest

 

112,400

 

 

433,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Promissory notes issued by the Trust to acquire Class B limited partnership units

 

971,831

 

 

438,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares issued to Trustees and Officers in exchange for services

 

49,280

 

43,680

 

80,858

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares issued to affiliates to satisfy notes payable

 

690,821

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage notes payable refinanced

 

 

 

7,263,156

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued interest forgiven by related party

 

 

 

670,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued interest reclassified to principal due on notes payable to related parties

 

 

417,264

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Promissory notes assigned to satisfy notes payable to related parties

 

 

200,000

 

 

 

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Trust reduced the principal balance of its note payable to Hulsey Hotels Corporation, an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, by $119,427 to offset receivables in the same amount that were owed to the Trust by other entities affiliated with Mr. Wirth.

 

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2005, J. R. Chase, the sole stockholder of the Management Company, agreed to transfer 32,363 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust to the Management Company in order to facilitate the Management Company’s acquisition of Licensing Corp. from Mr. Wirth. In consideration of the transfer of those Shares, the Management Company agreed to pay Mr. Chase $72,817. The Management Company fully satisfied this obligation during June 2004.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2005, Rare Earth Financial, an affiliate of Mr.Wirth, assumed from the Management Company a note payable with a principal balance of $23,303.

 

The Trust issued 113,048, 40,000 and 16,610 Shares of Beneficial Interest during the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, in exchange for Class A limited partnership units.  The issued Shares of Beneficial Interest were valued at $205,747, $56,000 and $23,254, respectively.

 

16.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Two of the Hotels are subject to non-cancelable ground leases expiring in 2050 and 2033.  Total expense associated with the non-cancelable ground leases for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 was $190,378, $188,290 and $186,850, respectively, plus a variable component based on gross revenues of each property that totaled approximately $80,000, $74,000 and $82,000, respectively.

 

38



 

Future minimum lease payments under these non-cancelable ground leases are as follows:

 

Fiscal Year Ending

 

 

 

2005

 

$

196,186

 

2006

 

196,186

 

2007

 

196,186

 

2008

 

196,186

 

2009

 

196,186

 

Thereafter

 

6,147,863

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

7,128,793

 

 

The Trust is obligated under loan agreements relating to five of its hotels to deposit 4% of the individual hotel’s room revenue into an escrow account to be used for capital expenditures.  The escrow funds applicable to the five hotel properties for which a mortgage lender escrow exists are reported on the Trust’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as “Restricted Cash.”

 

InnSuites Hotels has entered into franchise arrangements with certain third parties for five of the hotel properties, with four Best Western hotels and one Holiday Inn hotel.  These agreements provide for fees to be paid by the Hotels based on revenue and reservations received, and contain no minimum payment provisions.

 

The nature of the operations of the Hotels exposes them to risks of claims and litigation in the normal course of their business.  Although the outcome of these matters cannot be determined, management does not expect that the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Trust.

 

The Trust is involved from time to time in various other claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.  In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Trust’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

17.  STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

During fiscal year 1999, the shareholders of the Trust adopted the 1997 Stock Incentive and Option Plan (the “Plan”).  Pursuant to the Plan, the Compensation Committee may grant options to the Trustees, officers, other key employees, consultants, advisors and similar employees of the Trust and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates.  The number of options that may be granted in a year is limited to 10% of the total Shares of Beneficial Interest and limited partnership units in the Partnership (Class A and Class B) outstanding as of the first day of such year.

 

Generally, granted options expire 10 years from the date of grant, are exercisable during the optionee’s lifetime only by the recipient and are non-transferable.  Unexercised options held by employees of the Trust generally terminate on the date the individual ceases to be an employee of the Trust.

 

There were no options granted in fiscal year 2005, 2004 or 2003.  All outstanding options vested in July 2003.  The Plan currently has 506,800 options available to grant.

 

The Plan also permits the Trust to award stock appreciation rights, none of which, as of January 31, 2005, have been issued.

 

39



 

The following table summarizes the stock option activity during fiscal years 2005, 2004 and 2003, and provides information about the stock options outstanding at January 31, 2005:

 

 

 

Number of Options

 

Weighted–
Average
Exercise Price

 

Stock Option Activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding, January 31, 2002

 

272,300

 

$

2.50

 

Granted

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(19,100

)

2.50

 

Exercised

 

 

 

Outstanding, January 31, 2003

 

253,200

 

$

2.50

 

Granted

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(7,200

)

2.50

 

Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding, January 31, 2004

 

246,000

 

$

2.50

 

Granted

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(13,400

)

2.50

 

Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding, January 31, 2005

 

232,600

 

$

2.50

 

 

Stock Option Information

 

January 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercisable

 

232,600

 

Weighted Average Exercise Price

 

$

2.50

 

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life

 

3.65

 

 

For stock options granted to non-employees of the Trust, compensation was recognized over the respective vesting period based upon the fair value of the options as calculated using the Black-Scholes pricing model.  During the year ended January 31, 2000, the Trust granted 28,200 stock options to non-employees.  The Trust did not grant any stock options to non-employees during fiscal years 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, or 2001.  There was no equity-related compensation expense recorded during the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003.

 

18.  QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The following is a summary of the results of operations, by quarter, for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2005 and 2004.  Management believes that all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of such interim results have been included.  The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of those for the entire fiscal year.

 

FISCAL 2005

 

APRIL 30

 

JULY 31

 

OCTOBER 31

 

JANUARY 31

 

FISCAL 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

7,358,640

 

$

4,922,554

 

$

5,062,591

 

$

5,531,402

 

$

22,875,187

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue less interest expense on mortgage loans and operating expenses

 

$

421,304

 

(1,230,942

)

(780,262

)

(721,455

)

$

(2,311,355

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

2,028,243

 

(934,548

)

(340,502

)

(475,916

)

$

240,442

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) per share – basic

 

$

.94

 

(.40

)

(.14

)

(0.17

)

$

0.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) per share – diluted

 

$

.56

 

(.40

)

(.14

)

(0.17

)

$

0.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared per share

 

$

 

 

 

.01

 

$

.01

 

 

FISCAL 2004

 

APRIL 30

 

JULY 31

 

OCTOBER 31

 

JANUARY 31

 

FISCAL 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

7,626,138

 

$

5,763,954

 

$

5,412,679

 

$

5,408,557

 

$

24,211,328

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue less interest expense on mortgage loans and operating expenses

 

$

120,434

 

(1,466,219

)

(837,767

)

(853,803

)

$

(3,037,355

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

147,099

 

(1,004,921

)

(950,622

)

(782,470

)

$

(2,594,317

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) per share – basic

 

$

.07

 

(.50

)

(.46

)

(.38

)

$

(1.27

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) per share – diluted

 

$

(.01

)

(.50

)

(.46

)

(.38

)

$

(1.27

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared per share

 

$

 

 

 

.02

 

$

.02

 

 

40



 

19.  HOTEL PROPERTIES HELD FOR SALE AND SALE OF HOTEL PROPERTIES

 

On March 25, 2004, the Trust sold its Tempe, Arizona hotel to Tempe/Phoenix Airport Resort LLC (“Tempe Resort”), an affiliate of Wirth, for its appraised value of $6.8 million, which was also its carrying value.  The purchase price was satisfied by Tempe Resort assuming the Trust’s mortgage note payable on the property of $1.7 million and assuming notes payable to Mr. Wirth and affiliates of $5.1 million.

 

On April 1, 2004, the Trust sold its San Diego, California hotel to an unrelated third party for $9.7 million, which the Trust received in cash.  The Trust used $4.8 million of the proceeds to satisfy its mortgage note payable on the property, $1.4 million to satisfy notes and interest payable to related parties, and retained the remaining proceeds to reduce trade payables and to fund future operations and capital improvements. The net gain realized on both sales was $5,113,540, of which approximately $2,217,000 was applicable to the minority interest.

 

On January 4, 2005, the Board of Trustees approved the sale of the Phoenix, Arizona hotel to Phoenix Northern Resort LLC, an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, for its appraised value of $5.1 million.  The property’s carrying value is $3.1 million. On January 15, 2005, Rare Earth Financial, another affiliate of Mr. Wirth, converted its $700,000 loan receivable into a non-interest bearing deposit for the purchase of the hotel.  The Trust expects to complete the sale during the second quarter of fiscal year 2006.  Any gain or loss recognized on the transaction will be recorded as a contribution or distribution because the purchaser is a related party.  The Trust does not expect to incur a loss on the sale of the property.

 

20.  PURCHASE OF MANAGEMENT AND LICENSING CONTRACTS

 

In February 2004, the Trust adopted FIN 46R, which amended FIN 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements.”  FIN 46R requires an existing unconsolidated variable interest entity to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary if the entity does not effectively disperse risk among all parties involved or if other parties do not have significant capital to finance activities without subordinated financial support from the primary beneficiary.  The primary beneficiary is the party that absorbs a majority of the entity’s expected losses, receives a majority of its expected residual returns, or both, as a result of holding variable interests, which are the ownership, contractual or other pecuniary interests in an entity.

 

As of February 1, 2004, the Trust recorded a charge for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle resulting from its recognition of the $854,000 net stockholder’s deficit of the Management Company, which was the Trust’s variable interest entity under FIN 46R.  The $854,000 charge represented the net effect of the Trust reporting $160,000 in net assets (consisting primarily of receivables) and $1,014,000 in net liabilities (consisting primarily of debt) upon consolidating the financial results of the Management Company.

 

The effect of consolidating the financial results of the Management Company and Licensing Corp. was accounted for as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle.  As a result of consolidating the financial results of the Management Company with its results, as of February 1, 2004, the Trust’s financial results include a $854,402 charge for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle on the Statements of Operations resulting in a reduction in its Stockholders’ Equity which represents the aggregate stockholders’ deficit reported by the Management Company as of February 1, 2004.

 

In connection with the Trust’s relinquishment of its REIT status, the Trust no longer required the services of a separate management company. The Trust determined it was in its best interest to buy out the management contracts and licensing agreements and directly manage the Hotels through the Trust’s wholly owned subsidiary, InnSuites Hotels. The Trust believes the management process of the Hotels will be simplified and that it will benefit from increased revenues by offering additional management and licensing services.  As a result of this buy out, the Management Company (which was the Trust’s variable interest entity under FIN 46R) was no longer consolidated in the second quarter. As of June 8, 2004, all of the Trust’s obligations were satisfied, and the Management Company is in the process of being liquidated.

 

Effective June 8, 2004, InnSuites Hotels acquired the management agreements under which the Management Company provided management services to the Hotels. In consideration of the acquisition, the stockholder of the Management Company received $20,000 and 90,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Trust, reflecting a transaction value of approximately $159,500 in the aggregate. Following the acquisition, InnSuites Hotels will self-manage the Hotels. The Trust also manages one unrelated hotel in San Diego, California and three hotels owned by Mr. Wirth.

 

Effective June 8, 2004, InnSuites Hotels acquired the license agreements under which Licensing Corp. provided licensing services to the Hotels, and the related registered and unregistered InnSuites trademarks and tradenames.  In consideration of the acquisitions, the Management Company (as the sole stockholder of Licensing Corp.) received $60,000 and 10,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Trust and InnSuites Hotels satisfied Licensing Corp.’s line of credit in the amount of $459,000, reflecting a transaction value of approximately $534,500 in the aggregate.  Following the acquisition, InnSuites Hotels will self-manage the Hotels. The Trust also provides licensing services to two unrelated hotels in San Diego and Buena Park, California and three hotels owned by Mr. Wirth.  The Trust paid $459,000 in cash to satisfy the Management Company’s line of credit.  The additional $80,000 was paid to the Management Company to satisfy the Trust’s obligation for the net liabilities of approximately the same amount.  The Shares of Beneficial Interest issued by the Trust for both the management contracts and licensing agreements were valued at $155,000, which amount was recorded as an expense.

 

21.  EXECUTION OF THE PLAN TO REGAIN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE   CONTINUED LISTING STANDARDS

 

On December 10, 2004, the shareholders of the Trust approved several proposals relating to the Trust’s plan to return to compliance with the American Stock Exchange (“AMEX”) continued listing standards.  On January 4, 2005, the Board of Trustees approved the implementation of the proposals.  The proposals were consummated on January 31, 2005, and resulted in:

 

41



 

A) The Trust issuing 6,577,732 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust to the Partnership to satisfy advances and interest payable to the Partnership totaling approximately $8.6 million.  The Partnership concurrently distributed the shares to its unit holders.  Of the 6,577,732 Shares of Beneficial Interest distributed by the Partnership, 3,761,071 were returned to the Trust and became treasury stock.  The remaining 2,816,661 Shares of Beneficial Interest remain outstanding.

 

B) The Trust issuing 4,969,712 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust, with a fair value of approximately $6.5 million, to the Partnership to acquire its ownership interest in Yuma Hospitality Properties, Ltd., which owns and operates the Yuma, Arizona hotel property.   The Partnership concurrently distributed the shares to its unit holders.  Of the 4,969,712 Shares of Beneficial Interest distributed by the Partnership, 2,841,624 were returned to the Trust and became treasury stock.  The remaining 2,128,088 Shares of Beneficial Interest remain outstanding.  The fair value was determined using the carrying values of assets and liabilities, except for fixed assets, which were valued using appraised value.  The portion of the excess of fair value over book value that relates to the minority interest partnership totals $1.2 million, and has been recorded as an increase in the basis of those fixed assets.

 

C) The Trust issuing 457,645 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust to satisfy $594,938 of notes and interest payable to affiliates of Mr. Wirth.  The entire balance of shares issued remains outstanding.

 

D) The Trust issuing 1,000,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust to Mr. Wirth and his affiliates in exchange for 1,000,000 Class B limited partnership units in the Partnership, which increased the Trust’s ownership interest in the Partnership 7.6%.  The entire balance of shares issued remains outstanding.

 

In total, the Trust issued 13,005,089 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust, of which 6,602,695 returned to the Trust as treasury stock and 6,402,394 remain outstanding.  The transactions were valued at the closing price of a Trust Share of Beneficial Interest on January 24, 2005, which was $1.30.  The Trust did not record a gain or loss, and did not increase the basis of consolidated assets as a result of the transactions, except for the acquisition of the minority interest ownership in Yuma Hospitality Properties. Mr. Wirth and his affiliates, through these transactions, received 5,182,186 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust.

 

As of January 31, 2005, the Trust has total shareholders’ equity of $6.3 million, which exceeds the minimum amount of $6.0 million required to regain compliance with AMEX continued listing standards.

 

42



 

SCHEDULE III

 

INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARY
REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
AS OF JANUARY 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initial
Cost
to Tenant

 

Cost
Capitalized
Subsequent to Acquisition

 

Gross Amounts at
Which Carried at
Close of Period

 

 

 

Encumbrances

 

Land

 

Building and
Improvements

 

Land

 

Building and
Improvements

 

Land

 

Building and
Improvements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotel and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phoenix Best Western

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phoenix, Arizona

 

$

3,290,859

 

$

418,219

 

$

2,922,884

 

$

 

$

71,430

 

$

418,219

 

$

2,994,314

 

InnSuites Hotel and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucson, Catalina Foothills Best Western

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucson, Arizona

 

4,349,266

 

 

4,220,820

 

 

2,126,397

 

 

6,347,217

 

InnSuites Hotels and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yuma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yuma, Arizona

 

2,186,099

 

251,649

 

4,983,292

 

53,366

 

2,335,094

 

305,015

 

7,318,386

 

Holiday Inn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airport Ontario Hotel and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ontario, California

 

8,586,467

 

1,633,064

 

5,450,872

 

 

1,599,785

 

1,633,064

 

7,050,657

 

InnSuites Hotels and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucson St. Mary’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucson, Arizona

 

4,285,505

 

900,000

 

9,166,549

 

(20,564

)

803,009

 

879,436

 

9,969,558

 

InnSuites Hotels and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albuquerque Airport Best Western

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albuquerque, New Mexico

 

1,309,249

 

 

1,903,970

 

 

292,993

 

 

2,196,963

 

InnSuites Hospitality Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phoenix, Arizona

 

 

7,005

 

75,662

 

 

 

7,005

 

75,662

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

24,007,445

 

$

3,209,937

 

$

28,724,049

 

$

32,802

 

$

7,228,708

 

$

3,242,739

 

$

35,952,757

 

 

43



 

 

 

Gross Land
and Building

 

Accumulated
Depreciation

 

Net
Book Value
Land and
Buildings
and Improvements

 

Date of
Construction

 

Date of
Acquisition

 

Depreciation
in Income
Statement is
Computed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotel and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phoenix Best Western

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phoenix, Arizona

 

$

3,412,533

 

$

638,074

 

$

2,774,459

 

1980

 

1998

 

5-40 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotel and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucson, Catalina Foothills Best Western

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucson, Arizona

 

6,347,217

 

1,226,620

 

5,120,597

 

1981

 

1998

 

5-40 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotels and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yuma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yuma, Arizona

 

7,623,401

 

1,281,642

 

6,341,759

 

1982

 

1998

 

5-40 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Inn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airport Ontario Hotel and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ontario, California

 

8,683,721

 

1,742,115

 

6,941,606

 

1990

 

1998

 

5-40 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotels and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucson St. Mary’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucson, Arizona

 

10,848,994

 

1,801,351

 

9,047,643

 

1960

 

1998

 

5-40 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hotels and Suites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albuquerque Airport Best Western

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albuquerque, New Mexico

 

2,196,963

 

486,386

 

1,710,577

 

1975

 

2000

 

5-40 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

InnSuites Hospitality Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phoenix, Arizona

 

82,667

 

 

82,667

 

2004

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

39,195,496

 

$

7,176,188

 

$

32,019,308

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(See accompanying independent auditors report.)

 

44



 

(A)          Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes at January 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Land

 

$

2,275,007

 

3,542,733

 

Buildings and improvements

 

21,750,426

 

25,999,097

 

 

 

$

24,025,433

 

29,541,830

 

 

Reconciliation of Real Estate:

 

Balance at January 31, 2003

 

$

61,750,782

 

Impairment of Hotel Property

 

(2,827,457

)

Sale of Hotel Properties

 

(10,986,348

)

Improvement to Hotel Properties

 

888,032

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at January 31, 2004

 

$

48,825,009

 

Sale of Hotel Properties

 

(11,368,505

)

Write-up of Assets

 

1,192,230

 

Improvement to Hotel Properties

 

546,762

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at January 31, 2005

 

$

39,195,496

 

 

45



 

SCHEDULE IV

 

MORTGAGES LOANS ON REAL ESTATE

 

Description

 

Interest Rate

 

Maturity Date

 

Periodic Payment Term

 

Face Amount of Mortgages

 

1/31/05 Carrying Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage Note Secured by Albuquerque, NM property

 

8.875

%

9/1/2015

 

180 monthly installments

 

$

1,575,000

 

$

1,309,248

 

Mortgage Note Secured by Phoenix, AZ property

 

8.250

%

4/1/2014

 

180 monthly installments

 

$

4,850,000

 

$

3,290,859

 

Mortgage Note Secured by Ontario, CA property

 

8.280

%

5/11/2011

 

120 monthly installments, with balloon payment of $7,498,458 due at maturity

 

$

9,000,000

 

$

8,586,468

 

Mortgage Note Secured by Yuma, AZ property

 

9.250

%

8/1/2011

 

180 monthly installments

 

$

4,000,000

 

$

2,186,099

 

Mortgage Note Secured by Tucson St. Mary’s, AZ property

 

Prime rate plus 1% (6.5% as of 1/31/05)

 

7/29/2009

 

83 monthly installments, with balloon payment of $3,819,007 due at maturity

 

$

4,500,000

 

$

4,285,505

 

Mortgage Note Secured by Tucson Oracle, AZ property

 

8.000

%

5/1/2016

 

180 monthly installments

 

$

5,100,000

 

$

4,349,266

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

29,025,000

 

$

24,007,445

 

 

Mortgage Note Reconciliation

 

Balance at January 31, 2003

 

$

36,112,605

 

 

 

 

 

Deductions during period:

 

 

 

 

Principal payments

 

(4,306,890

)

 

 

 

 

Balance at January 31, 2004

 

31,805,715

 

 

 

 

 

Deductions during period:

 

 

 

 

Assumed by buyer of Tempe, AZ hotel

 

(1,710,499

)

 

Principal payments

 

(6,087,771

)

 

 

 

 

Balance at January 31, 2005

 

$

24,007,445

 

 

46



 

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE .

 

On January 20, 2005, the Trust received written notice, dated January 17, 2005, from McGladrey & Pullen, LLP (“McGladrey”) that McGladrey had resigned as the Trust’s principal independent accountant to audit the Trust’s financial statements.  Anthony Waters, the Trust’s Chief Financial Officer, spoke with representatives of McGladrey on January 17, 2005 regarding the Trust’s relationship with McGladrey, however, Mr. Waters did not believe that McGladrey had resigned on that date.

 

The reports of McGladrey on the Trust’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2004 and 2003 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.  In connection with the audits of the Trust’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2004 and 2003, and in the subsequent interim periods through January 20, 2005, there were no disagreements with McGladrey on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope and procedure which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of McGladrey, would have caused McGladrey to make reference to the matter in its report. 

 

In connection with the audits of the Trust’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2004 and 2003, and in the subsequent interim periods through January 20, 2005, there were no “reportable events” as that term is described in Item 304(a)(l)(v) of Regulation S-K, except that, on January 7, 2005, McGladrey provided a letter to the Audit Committee and management of the Trust noting two reportable conditions under standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that McGladrey believed to be material weaknesses.  McGladrey has advised the Trust that it believes that these two reportable conditions constitute “reportable events.”

 

The first reportable condition involves the lack of sufficient segregation of duties and responsibilities with respect to the recording and approval of financial information that occurred due to the departure of the Trust’s Controller.  Effective January 31, 2005, the Trust rehired its former Controller who will oversee the recording of financial information while the Trust’s Chief Financial Officer will continue in his prior role of approving financial information.  The second reportable condition involves the need for “numerous adjusting journal entries” and “significant financial statement presentation changes,” which resulted in McGladrey concluding that the Trust’s “monthly internal financial statements may not be reliable.”  The Trust has hired additional accounting staff and is considering additional measures that will better ensure the reliability of the Trust’s internal financial statements.

 

On December 10, 2004, the Audit Committee discussed the conditions described above with McGladrey, but did not receive the letter identifying those conditions as reportable conditions and material weaknesses until January 7, 2005.  Management of the Trust subsequently discussed the letter received on January 7, 2005 with McGladrey.  The Trust has authorized McGladrey to respond fully to the inquiries of any successor accountant concerning the subject matter of the reportable conditions described above.

 

On April 4, 2005, the Trust engaged Epstein, Weber & Conover, P.L.C. (“EWC”) to act as the Trust’s principal independent accountant to audit the Trust’s financial statements.  The decision to engage the new accountants was recommended and approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

 

During the fiscal years ended January 31, 2005 and 2004, and during all subsequent interim periods through April 4, 2005, the Trust did not consult with EWC regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Trust’s financial statements or any of the matters described in the preceding paragraphs of this Item 9.

 

47



 

Item 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Trust conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on this evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded, except as described below, that the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.  Except as described below, there was no change in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting during the Trust’s most recently completed fiscal year that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

The Trust did not timely file this Annual Report on Form 10–K due to the resignation of McGladrey as the Trust's principal independent accountants on January 20, 2005 and the subsequent engagement of EWC on April 4, 2005, less than a month prior to the due date of this Form 10-K, and the need to resolve certain accounting issues and prepare and file its amended Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004, which filing was made on May 4, 2005.  The Trust believes that these events are non-recurring and believes that it has sufficient staff and resources to timely file its reports with the Commission in the future.

 

On January 7, 2005, McGladrey, the Trust’s former independent accountants, provided a letter to the Audit Committee and management of the Trust noting two reportable conditions under standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that McGladrey believed to be material weaknesses.

 

The first reportable condition involved the lack of sufficient segregation of duties and responsibilities with respect to the recording and approval of financial information that occurred due to the departure of the Trust’s Controller.  Effective January 31, 2005, the Trust rehired its former Controller who will oversee the recording of financial information while the Trust’s Chief Financial Officer will continue in his prior role of approving financial information.  The second reportable condition involved the need for “numerous adjusting journal entries” and “significant financial statement presentation changes,” which resulted in McGladrey concluding that the Trust’s “monthly internal financial statements may not be reliable.”  The Trust has hired additional accounting staff and is considering additional measures that will better ensure the reliability of the Trust’s internal financial statements.

 

On May 4, 2005, the Trust filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004 in order to properly apply SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets" and reclassify as continuing operations the results for the Hotels previously reported in discontinued operations for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 due to significant continuing involvement by the Trust in the operations of those Hotels and since the Trust continues to receive cash flows from those Hotels.  In connection with that restatement, the Trust re-evaluated its disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting with respect to the proper application of financial accounting standards.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.  TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Nominees, Trustees and Executive Officers

 

The information concerning the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust set forth in the following table is based in part on information received from the respective Trustees and executive officers and in part on the Trust’s records.  The following table sets forth the name, age, term of office and principal business experience for each Trustee, nominee for Trustee and executive officer of the Trust, as applicable.

 

48



 

Name

 

Principal Occupations
During Past Five Years,
Age as of April 22, 2005
And Directorships Held

 

Trustee
Since

Nominees For Terms
Expiring in 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mason E. Anderson(1),(2),(3),(4)

 

Self-employed as a private investor, including as an investor in real estate in the southwestern United States. Age 75.

 

January 4, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Steven S. Robson(2),(3),(4)

 

President of Robson Communities, Inc. and Scott Homes and Scott Multifamily, Inc., residential real estate developers, since 1979. Age: 49.

 

June 16, 1998

 

 

 

 

 

Trustee Whose Term
Expires in 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marc E. Berg(1)

 

Executive Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Trust since February 10, 1999. Vice President – Acquisitions of the Trust from December 16, 1998 to February 10, 1999. Consultant to InnSuites Hotels since 1989. Self-employed as a Registered Investment Advisor since 1985. Age: 52.

 

January 30, 1998

 

 

 

 

 

Trustees Whose Terms
Expire in 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James F. Wirth(1)

 

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust since January 30, 1998. President and owner of Suite Hotels LLC and affiliated entities, owners and operators of hotels, since 1980. President of Rare Earth Development Company, a real estate investment company owned by Mr. Wirth, since 1973. Age: 59.

 

January 30, 1998

 

 

 

 

 

Peter A. Thoma(2),(3),(4)

 

Owner and operator of A&T Verleih, Hamburg, Germany, a hospitality service and rental company, since 1997. Owner and operator of Thoma Zeltsysteme, Hamburg, Germany, an import and sales company, since 1997. Age: 38.

 

April 13, 1999

 


 

(1)  Member of the Executive Committee.

(2)  Member of the Audit Committee.

(3)  Member of the Compensation Committee.

(4)  Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee.

 

Other Executive Officers

 

Anthony B. Waters

 

Chief Financial Officer of the Trust since February 29, 2000. Controller of the Trust from June 17, 1999 to February 29, 2000. Accountant and auditor with Michael Maastricht, CPA from June 16, 1998 to June 15, 1999, performing audits for InnSuites Hotels, Inc. Self-employed, concentrating in computerized accounting and information systems, from 1990 to June 1998. Age: 58.

 

The Board of Trustees of the Trust has determined that Mr. Robson, a member of the Trust’s Audit Committee, qualifies as a “financial expert” under applicable Commission rules, and that Messrs. Thoma, Robson and Anderson are “independent,” as such term is defined by Commission rules and Amex listing standards.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Based on Trust records and information, and upon representations from the reporting persons, the Trust believes that all Commission filing requirements applicable to Trustees, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of a registered class of equity securities of the Trust under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005, were complied with .

 

Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers

 

The Trust has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and principal accounting officer and persons performing similar functions.  The Trust has posted its Code of Ethics on its website at www.innsuitestrust.com.  The Trust intends to satisfy all Commission and Amex disclosure requirements regarding any amendment to, or waiver of, the Code of Ethics relating to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and principal accounting officer, and persons performing similar functions, by posting such information on its website and making any necessary filings with the Commission.  In addition, the Trust has adopted a Code of Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of its employees, officers and Trustees.  It is also available on the Trust’s website at www.innsuitestrust.com.

 

49



 

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

During fiscal year 2005, the Trust issued 9,600 Shares to each Trustee, other than Messrs. Wirth and Berg, as compensation for services rendered as a Trustee of the Trust during fiscal year 2004.  During fiscal year 2006, the Trust issued 9,600 Shares to Trustees Robson and Thoma, 3,200 Shares to Trustee Anderson and 5,600 Shares to former Trustee McConnell, as compensation for services rendered during fiscal year 2005; no Shares were issued to Messrs. Wirth and Berg.  During fiscal year 2007, the Trust intends to issue 9,600 Shares to each Trustee, other than Messrs. Wirth and Berg, as compensation for services rendered during fiscal year 2006.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The table below shows individual compensation information for the Trust’s Chief Executive Officer and any other executive officer whose total annual salary and bonus for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005 exceeded $100,000.

 

Name and Principal Position

 

Fiscal Year

 

Annual Salary

 

Restricted
Stock Awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James F. Wirth

 

2005

 

$

130,000

 

 

 

 

President and Chief

 

2004

 

$

95,231

(2)

 

 

 

Executive Officer (1)

 

2003

 

$

95,936

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anthony B. Waters

 

2005

 

$

126,400

 

 

$

3,200

(4)

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

2004

 

$

126,000

 

 

$

6,240

(5)

 

 

 

2003

 

$

129,392

 

 

 

 

 


(1)

 

The terms of Mr. Wirth’s Employment Agreement are summarized below. See “Item 13 - Certain Relationships and Related Transactions - Employment Agreement with Mr. Wirth.”

(2)

 

Although Mr. Wirth’s annual salary for fiscal year 2004 was set at $130,000, Mr. Wirth agreed to a salary reduction that resulted in an annual salary of $95,231 for fiscal year 2004.

(3)

 

Although Mr. Wirth’s annual salary for fiscal year 2003 was set at $126,000, Mr. Wirth agreed to a salary reduction that resulted in an annual salary of $95,936 for fiscal year 2003.

(4)

 

Represents the fair market value on the date of grant of 2,000 Shares issued to Mr. Waters as a bonus on March 26, 2004.

(5)

 

Represents the fair market value on the date of grant of 4,800 Shares issued to Mr. Waters as a bonus on June 30, 2003.

 

 

Aggregated Option Exercises In Fiscal Year 2005 and Fiscal Year-End Option Values

 

Name

 

Shares
Acquired On
Exercise (#)

 

Value
Realized ($)

 

Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options
At Fiscal Year-End (#)
Exercisable/
Unexercisable

 

Value of Unexercised
In-The-Money
Options At Fiscal
Year-End ($)
Exercisable/
Unexercisable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James F. Wirth

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

50,000/0

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anthony B. Waters

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

20,000/0

 

N/A

 


*As of April 22, 2005, none of the options held by such individuals were in-the-money.

 

50



 

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table provides information about the Trust’s equity compensation plans (other than qualified employee benefits plans and plans available to shareholders on a pro rata basis) as of January 31, 2005:

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan Category

 

Number of Securities to
be Issued Upon Exercise
of Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights

 

Weighted – Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights

 

Number of Securities
Remaining
Available for Future
Issuance Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column (a))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

232,600

 

$

2.50

 

506,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

The following table sets forth information as of April 22, 2005 in respect of any persons known to the Trust to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Shares (of which there were none, other than Mr. Wirth) and the number of Shares owned beneficially by each Trustee, nominee and executive officer, and the Trustees, nominees and executive officers as a group.

 

Five Percent Beneficial Owners and
Beneficial Ownership of Trustees, Nominees and Executive Officers

 

Name

 

Shares
Beneficially Owned

 

Percentage of Outstanding Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trustees, Nominees and Executive Officers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James F. Wirth (1)

 

5,867,869

 

65.52

%

Marc E. Berg (2)

 

86,225

 

 

Mason E. Anderson (3)

 

221,806

 

2.49

%

Steven S. Robson (4)

 

213,523

 

2.39

%

Peter A. Thoma (5)

 

58,700

 

 

Anthony B. Waters (6)

 

31,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trustees, Nominees and Executive Officers as a group (six
persons)

 

6,479,523

 

71.63

%

 


( 1 )           Consists of 50,000 Shares that may be acquired within 60 days of June 21, 2005 pursuant to the exercise of stock options and 5,817,869 Shares.  These Shares are owned jointly by Mr. Wirth and his spouse.  Mr. Wirth and his spouse also own all 3,467,938 issued and outstanding Class B limited partnership units in the Partnership, the conversion of which is restricted and permitted only at the discretion of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.  Mr. Wirth’s address is 1615 E. Northern Avenue, Suite 102, Phoenix, Arizona 85020.

 

( 2 )           Consists of 30,000 Shares that may be acquired within 60 days of June 21, 2005 pursuant to the exercise of stock options and 56,225 Shares.

 

( 3 )           Consists of 170,000 Shares held by the Anderson Trust dated August 27, 1980 and 48,606 Shares held by the Anderson Charitable Remainder UniTrust.  Mr. Anderson and his spouse are co-trustees and income beneficiaries of both Trusts.  Mr. Anderson also holds 3,200 Shares directly.  Mr. Anderson’s address is 3024 West Sahuaro Drive, Phoenix, Arizona 85029.

 

51



 

( 4 )           Consists of 20,000 Shares that may be acquired within 60 days of June 21, 2005 pursuant to the exercise of stock options and 193,523 Shares.

 

( 5 )           Consists of 20,000 Shares that may be acquired within 60 days of June 21, 2005 pursuant to the exercise of stock options and 38,700 Shares.

 

( 6 )           Consists of 20,000 Shares that may be acquired within 60 days of June 21, 2005 pursuant to the exercise of stock options and 11,400 Shares.

 

*              Less than one percent (1.0%).

 

ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

Employment Agreement with Mr. Wirth

 

James F. Wirth, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, has an Employment Agreement with the Trust expiring in December 2007.  Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement with Mid-America ReaFund Advisors, Inc. (“MARA”), a company owned by Mr. Wirth and his spouse, which termination occurred effective January 1, 1999, Mr. Wirth is to receive, each year through 2007, up to the amount MARA would have received for advisory and management services under the Advisory Agreement, but in no event will his compensation exceed $160,000 per year.  Based upon a review of the performance of the Trust and upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, during fiscal year 2005, Mr. Wirth was paid an annual salary equal to $130,000, which is less than he is entitled to receive under the terms of his Employment Agreement.  Mr. Wirth’s annual salary for fiscal year 2006 has been set at $130,000.  The Compensation Committee does not rely on any particular set of financial or non-financial factors, measures or criteria when determining the compensation offered to Mr. Wirth.

 

Purchase of Class B Limited Partnership Units from Mr. Wirth

 

On February 2, 2004, the Trust purchased 433,036 Class B limited partnership units in the Partnership from Mr. Wirth and his affiliates for the closing price of the Trust’s Shares of Beneficial Interest on that day, which was $2.25 per Share.  The Trust made a down-payment totaling $2,500 and issued five promissory notes totaling $971,831, which will be paid in monthly installments of principal and interest over 84 months.  The Trust repurchased these Class B limited partnership units to increase its sole general partner interest in the Partnership, and thereby receive a larger allocation of the Partnership’s equity.

 

Acquisition of InnSuites Licensing Corp. by Suite Hospitality Management, Inc.

 

Effective February 2, 2004, the Management Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Licensing Corp., an entity then owned by Mr. Wirth and his spouse.  In exchange for the stock of the Licensing Corp., Mr. Wirth and his spouse received 55,563 Shares of Beneficial Interest that were held by the Management Company.  The Licensing Corp. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Management Company.  Agreements for the provision of trademark and license services by Licensing Corp. to InnSuites Hotels continued after this transfer, as described below in “Item 13 - Certain Relationships and Related Transactions - Management of Hotel Properties and Licensing Agreements.”

 

Effective on June 8, 2004, the Trust acquired the management agreements of the Management Company and the license agreements and related registered and unregistered InnSuites trademarks and tradenames of the Licensing Corp.  See “Item 1 – Business – Management and Licensing Contracts.”

 

Management of Hotel Properties and Licensing Agreements

 

Mr. Wirth has derived benefits from the license agreements with the Licensing Corp., an entity formerly owned by Mr. Wirth and his spouse during fiscal year 2005.  See “Item 13 - Certain Relationships and Related Transactions - Acquisition of InnSuites Licensing Corp. by Suite Hospitality Management, Inc.” above.

 

See “Item 1 – Business – Management and Licensing Contracts,” for a discussion of the former and current terms of the management and licensing agreements and a discussion of Mr. Wirth’s interest in those agreements.

 

52



 

Sale of Tempe, Arizona Property

 

On March 25, 2004, the Trust sold its Tempe, Arizona property to Tempe/Phoenix Airport Resort LLC, an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, for its appraised value of $6.8 million, which was also its carrying value.  Tempe/Phoenix Airport Resort LLC satisfied the purchase price by assuming $5.1 million of the Trust’s notes payable to Mr. Wirth and his affiliates and assuming the $1.7 million mortgage note secured by the property.

 

Related Party Loans and Advances to the Trust

 

Notes and advances payable to related parties consist of funds provided by Mr. Wirth, certain of his affiliates and other related parties to permit the Trust to repurchase additional general partnership units in the Partnership and to fund working capital and capital improvement needs. The aggregate amounts outstanding to related parties were approximately $94,000 and $6.9 million as of January 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

The notes and advances payable to related parties are as follows as of January 31 of the respective years:

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Note payable to the Anderson Charitable Remainder Unitrust, an affiliate of Mason Anderson, Trustee of the Trust, bearing interest at 7% per annum, and secured by Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust. Due in monthly principal and interest payments of $2,408 through September 2005.

 

$

18,771

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Wayne Anderson, son of Mason Anderson, Trustee of the Trust, bearing interest at 7% per annum, and secured by Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust. Due in monthly principal and interest payments of $574 through June 2009.

 

26,114

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Karen Anderson, daughter of Mason Anderson, Trustee of the Trust, bearing interest at 7% per annum, and secured by Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust. Due in monthly principal and interest payments of $574 through June 2009.

 

26,115

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to The Kathy Anderson, daughter of Mason Anderson, Trustee of the Trust, bearing interest at 7% per annum, and secured by Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust. Due in monthly principal and interest payments of $495 through June 2009.

 

22,512

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Steve Robson, Trustee of the Trust, paid in full during fiscal year 2005 with Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust.

 

 

239,667

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsecured notes payable to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, paid in full during fiscal year 2005.

 

 

514,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsecured note payable to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, paid in full during fiscal year 2005 in connection with the sale of the Tempe property.

 

 

2,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, bearing interest at 7% per annum, paid in full during fiscal year 2005 in connection with the sale of the Tempe property.

 

 

2,072,893

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, paid in full during fiscal year 2005 in connection with the sale of the Tempe property

 

 

1,379,646

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Hulsey Hotels Corporation, an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, paid in full during fiscal year 2005.

 

 

356,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Mr. Wirth, bearing interest at 7% per annum, paid in full during fiscal year 2005

 

 

187,230

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsecured note payable to Mr. Wirth, paid in full during fiscal year 2005.

 

 

101,755

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

$

93,512

 

$

6,852,241

 

 

53



 

During the second and third quarters of fiscal year 2004, the Trust issued five promissory notes in the amount of $208,000, $75,000, $200,000, $110,000 and $60,000 to Rare Earth Development Company, an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, all of which were paid in full in the third quarter of fiscal year 2004 utilizing a portion of the cash proceeds from the sale of the Buena Park property.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2004, the Trust issued a promissory note in the amount of $225,000 to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, which was paid in full in the third quarter of fiscal year 2004 utilizing a portion of the cash proceeds from the sale of the Buena Park property.

 

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Trust repurchased 433,036 Class B limited partnership units in the Partnership from affiliates of Mr. Wirth, issuing promissory notes in the aggregate amount of $974,331.  During the first quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Trust repaid $449,500 of these notes.  During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Trust repaid the remaining balance of these notes with Shares of Beneficial Interest with an aggregate value of $467,552.  Additionally, Mr. Wirth converted 100,000 Class B limited partnership units in the Partnership into 100,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest.

 

As of February 2, 2004, J. R. Chase, the sole stockholder of the Management Company, agreed to transfer 32,363 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust to the Management Company in order to facilitate the Management Company’s acquisition of Licensing Corp. from Mr. Wirth.  In consideration of the transfer of those Shares, the Management Company agreed to pay Mr. Chase $72,817.  The Management Company fully satisfied this obligation during June 2004.  See Note 20, “Purchase of Management and Licensing Contracts.”

 

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Trust issued promissory notes totaling $83,000 to affiliates of Mason Anderson, who subsequently became a Trustee of the Trust, in exchange for 47,084 Shares of Beneficial Interest in the Trust.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Trust issued 55,423 Shares of Beneficial Interest to satisfy unpaid principal and interest totaling $95,882 to Mr. Robson, a Trustee of the Trust.

 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Partnership reclassified $700,000 of advances payable to Rare Earth Financial, L.L.C., an affiliate of Mr. Wirth, to a deposit for the purchase of the Phoenix, Arizona hotel property by another affiliate of Mr. Wirth.

 

The Trust paid interest on related party notes to Mr. Wirth and his affiliates in the amounts of $439,294, $205,101 and $28,373 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.  The Trust incurred interest expense on related party notes to Mr. Wirth and his affiliates in the amounts of $117,500, $515,214 and $623,522 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Continued Listing with the American Stock Exchange

 

See “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Continued Listing with the American Stock Exchange,” for a discussion of the interests of Mr. Wirth and his affiliates in the transactions that implemented the Trust’s plan to regain compliance with Amex’s continued listing standards.  All of these transactions were approved by the shareholders and the independent Trustees of the Trust.

 

All related party transactions are subject to appropriate review and oversight by the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees.

 

ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

Audit Fees

 

The aggregate fees for professional services rendered by EWC for the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005 were $61,000.  The aggregate fees for professional services rendered by McGladrey for the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2005 and January 31, 2004 were $78,130 and $134,463, respectively.  The aggregate fees for professional services rendered by McGladrey for reviewing the interim financial statements included in the Trust’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2005 and January 31, 2004 were $60,220 and $27,000, respectively.

 

54



 

Audit-Related Fees

 

The aggregate fees for EWC audit-related services, such as consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the Commission, were $0 for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005.  The aggregate fees for McGladrey audit-related services, such as comfort letters, consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the Commission, were $0 and $7,081 for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2005 and January 31, 2004, respectively.  The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit-related fees billed for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005.

 

Tax Fees

 

The aggregate fees for EWC tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005 were $25,000.  The aggregate fees for McGladrey tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2005 and January 31, 2004 were $2,935 and $78,640, respectively.  The Audit Committee pre-approved all tax fees billed for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005.

 

All Other Fees

 

The aggregate fees for all other services rendered by EWC during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005 were $0.  The aggregate fees for all other services rendered by McGladrey during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2005 and January 31, 2004 were $0 and $750, respectively.  These fees represent amounts paid for the issuance of consents.  The Audit Committee pre-approved all other fees billed for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005.

 

The Audit Committee of the Trust has considered whether the provision of these services, other than the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements, is compatible with EWC and McGladrey maintaining their respective independence from the Trust.

 

The Audit Committee pre-approves all fees for services performed by EWC, including audit and non-audit services.  Unless a type of service EWC provided received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.  Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.  The term of any pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit Committee specifically provides for a different period.

 

Since May 6, 2003, the effective date of Commission rules requiring Audit Committee pre-approval of audit and non-audit services performed by the Trust’s independent auditors, all of the services provided by EWC and McGladrey were approved in accordance with the policies and procedures described above.

 

55



 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)(1) and (2)        Financial Statements and Schedules

 

 

Financial Statements/Schedules of InnSuites Hospitality Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.

Reports of Independent Certified Public Accountants

 

 

2.

Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 31, 2005 and 2004

 

 

3.

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

 

4.

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

 

5.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

 

6.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended January 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

 

 

7.

Schedule III – Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation

 

 

8.

Schedule IV – Mortgage Loans on Real Estate

 

 

(a)(3)

 

Exhibit List

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit

3.1

 

Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of InnSuites Hospitality Trust dated June 16, 1998, as further amended on July 12, 1999.

 

 

 

10.1

 

First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of RRF Limited Partnership dated January 31, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-2, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 8, 1998).

 

 

 

10.2*

 

Employment Agreement dated as of January 31, 1998, between InnSuites Hospitality Trust and James F. Wirth.

 

 

 

10.3*

 

Indemnity Agreement dated February 3, 2004 between InnSuites Hospitality Trust and each of James F. Wirth, Marc E. Berg, Steven S. Robson, Peter A. Thoma, and Anthony B. Waters (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2004).

 

 

 

10.4*

 

Indemnification Agreement dated January 4, 2005 between InnSuites Hospitality Trust and Mason E. Anderson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 7, 2005).

 

 

 

10.5

 

Debt Exchange Agreement effective January 31, 2005 between InnSuites Hospitality Trust and RRF Limited Partnership (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 2005).

 

 

 

10.6

 

Yuma Acquisition Agreement effective January 31, 2005 between InnSuites Hospitality Trust and RRF Limited Partnership (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 2005).

 

 

 

10.7

 

Note Exchange Agreement effective January 31, 2005 between InnSuites Hospitality Trust and Hulsey Hotels Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 2005).

 

 

 

10.8

 

Note Exchange Agreement effective January 31, 2005 between InnSuites Hospitality Trust and the note holders named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 2005).

 

 

 

10.9

 

Class B Units Conversion Agreement effective January 31, 2005 between InnSuites Hospitality Trust and the Class B Unit holders named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 4, 2005).

 

 

 

10.10

 

Promissory Note dated July 26, 2002 by InnSuites Hospitality Trust in favor of The Anderson Charitable Remainder Unitrust.

 

56



 

14

 

Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2004).

 

 

 

21

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Epstein, Weber & Conover, P.L.C., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

 

 

23.2

 

Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 


*              Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

57



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trust has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST

 

 

 

 

Dated:  May 16, 2005

By:

/s/  James F. Wirth

 

 

James F. Wirth, Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:  May 16, 2005

By:

/s/  Anthony B. Waters

 

 

Anthony B. Waters, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Trust and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Dated:  May 16, 2005

By:

/s/  James F. Wirth

 

 

James F. Wirth, Chairman
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:  May 16, 2005

By:

/s/  Anthony B. Waters

 

 

Anthony B. Waters, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:  May 16, 2005

By:

/s/  Marc E. Berg

 

 

Marc E. Berg, Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:  May 16, 2005

By:

/s/  Steven S. Robson

 

 

Steven S. Robson, Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:  May 16, 2005

By:

/s/  Peter A. Thoma

 

 

Peter A. Thoma, Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:  May 16, 2005

By:

/s/  Mason E. Anderson

 

 

Mason E. Anderson, Trustee

 

58


Exhibit 3.1

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST

 

 

Adopted June 16, 1998

 

 

Amended July 12, 1999

 



 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST

 

This Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust made as of this day of June, 1998 by James F. Wirth, Marc E. Berg, Steve Robson, Gregory D. Bruhn, Lee J. Flory and Edward G. Hill (such persons, so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms of this Declaration of Trust, and all other persons who at the time in question have been duly elected or appointed as trustees in accordance with the provisions of this Declaration of Trust and are then in office, are hereinafter together called the “Trustees”),

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, this instrument amends and restates that certain First Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust made June 11, 1971 by James H. Berick, Chester F. Collier, Glenn Golenberg, Sidney S. Hein, Alvin M. Kendis, Frank L. Kennard, Alan M. Krause, Alfred Lerner, Maurice Saltzman, A. A. Sommer Sr. and Irving I. Shore (the “Original Trustees”), which Declaration of Trust is hereby amended and restated in its entirety pursuant to Section 13.1 thereof to read as hereinafter provided; and

 

WHEREAS, the Original Trustees formed an unincorporated association in the form of a business trust, formerly known as Realty ReFund Trust, which trust has qualified as a “real estate investment trust” under the REIT Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all property of every type and description which they are acquiring or may hereafter acquire as such Trustees, together with the proceeds, rents and income thereof and therefrom, in trust, to manage and dispose of the same for the benefit of the holders of record from time to time of the certificates for Shares issued and to be issued hereunder and in the manner and subject to the provisions hereof, to wit:

 

ARTICLE I

 

THE TRUST

 

1.1                                  Name .  The name of the trust shall be “InnSuites Hospitality Trust”  (hereinafter called the “Trust”) and so far as may be practicable the Trustees shall conduct the Trust’s activities, execute all documents and sue or be sued under that name, which name (and the word “Trust” wherever used in this Declaration of Trust, except where the context otherwise requires) shall refer to the Trustees in their capacity as Trustees, and not individually or personally, and shall not refer to the officers, agents, employees or Shareholders of the Trust or of such Trustees. Should the Trustees determine that the use of such name is not practicable, legal or convenient, they may use such other designation or they may adopt such other name for the Trust as they deem proper and the Trust may hold property and conduct its activities under such designation or name.

 



 

1.2                                  Location .  The Trust may maintain an office in Cleveland, Ohio, or such other location within or without the state of Ohio, as the Trustees may from time to time determine.

 

1.3                                  Nature of Trust .  The Trust shall be an unincorporated association in the form of a business trust.  The Trust is not intended to be, shall not be deemed to be and shall not be treated as, a general partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, corporation or joint stock company (but nothing herein shall preclude the Trust from being taxable as an association under the REIT Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code).  The Shareholders shall be beneficiaries and their relationship to the Trustees shall be solely in that capacity in accordance with the rights conferred upon them hereunder.  The Trust is intended to have the status of a “real estate investment trust” as that term is defined in the REIT Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and this Declaration of Trust and all actions of the Trustees hereunder shall be construed in accordance with such intent.

 

1.4                                  Definitions .  As used in the Declaration of Trust, the following terms and the singular or plural thereof, when appropriate, shall have the following meanings unless the context hereof otherwise requires:

 

“Adviser” shall mean any Person appointed, employed or contracted with by the Trustees under the provisions of Section 3.1 hereof.

 

“Affiliate” shall mean in respect of any Person (the “First Person”), any other Person (a) who directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the First Person, or (b) who is a director, officer, employee, partner or trustee of the First Person, or of which the First Person is a director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, or (c) who directly or indirectly beneficially owns, controls or holds with power to vote one percent (1%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of the First Person, or of which the First Person directly or indirectly beneficially owns, controls or holds with power to vote one percent (1%) or more of the outstanding voting securities.

 

“Appraisal” shall mean a determination of the fair market value, as of the date of the Appraisal, of Real Property in its existing state or in a state to be created, by any bank, insurance company or other Person which makes appraisals in connection with its lending, investment, syndication, brokerage or servicing activities (whether or not an Affiliate of the Adviser), or by a disinterested Person having no economic interest in the Real Property provided any such Person is, in the sole judgment of the Trustees, properly qualified to make such a determination.

 

“Certificates of Deposit” shall mean evidences of deposits in, or obligations of, banking institutions and savings institutions which are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or of the Federal Home Loan Bank System.

 

“Commercial Paper” shall mean indebtedness of the Trust evidenced by unsecured promissory notes maturing not more than 270 days after the date of issue.

 

“Declaration of Trust” shall mean this Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust as amended, restated or modified from time to time. References in this Declaration of Trust to “Declaration,” “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” shall be deemed to refer to the Declaration

 

2



 

of Trust and shall not be limited to the particular text, article or section in which such words appear.

 

“Equity Investments in Real Property” shall mean investments in the ownership of, or participations in the ownership of, Real Property including the development thereof and any interest therein other than Mortgage Loans, or of any type of interest in any corporate or other entity principally involved in owning, developing, improving, financing, operating or managing Real Property.

 

“Government Securities” shall mean Securities which are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States Government, any State or Territory of the United States of America, or any agency or political subdivision thereof, including, without limitation, all Government Securities from time to time constituting qualified real estate investment trust assets under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

“Mortgage Loans” shall mean loans evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness or obligations, which are negotiable or non-negotiable and which are secured or collateralized by Mortgages.

 

“Mortgages” shall mean mortgages, deeds of trust or other security interests in Real Property or on rights or interests, including leasehold interests, in Real Property.

 

“Net Assets” shall mean the Total Assets of the Trust after deducting therefrom any liabilities of the Trust except that depreciable assets shall be included therein at the fair market value of such assets in the judgment of the Trustees.

 

“Non-Recourse Indebtedness” shall mean indebtedness of the Trust incurred in connection with the acquisition of any asset wherein the liability of the Trust is limited to the asset acquired and income and proceeds attributable thereto or derived therefrom and which does not represent a general obligation of the Trust.

 

“Person” shall mean and include individuals, corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, general partnerships, joint stock companies or associations, joint ventures, associations, companies, trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business trusts, or other entities whether or not legal entities and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.

 

“Real Property” shall mean land, rights in land, interests (including, without limitation, air rights and leasehold interests as lessee or lessor), and buildings, structures, improvements, furniture and fixtures located on or used in connection with land and rights in land, or interests therein, but not including Mortgages, Mortgage Loans or interests therein.

 

“REIT Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code” shall mean the statutory provisions presently contained in Part II, Subchapter M of Chapter 1, Sections 856 through 858 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now enacted or hereafter amended, or successor statutes and regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder; provided, however, that any such statute, regulation or ruling enacted or promulgated after the date hereof which is by its terms applicable to real estate investment trusts in existence on the date hereof only upon the election of, or failure

 

3



 

to elect otherwise by, such trust, shall be applicable to this Trust only if this Trust shall so elect or fail to elect otherwise in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

“Securities” shall mean any stock, shares, voting trust certificates, bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or interim certificates for, guarantees of or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.

 

“Securities of the Trust” shall mean any Securities issued by the Trust.

 

“Shareholders” shall mean as of any particular time all holders of record of outstanding Shares at such time.

 

“Shares” shall mean the shares of beneficial interest of the Trust as described in Section 6.1.

 

“Short-Term” in relation to loans shall mean loans other than Long-Term or Intermediate-Term loans.

 

“Total Assets of the Trust” shall mean the aggregate appraised value of all of the assets included in the Trust Property, without deduction for mortgage loans or other security interests to which such assets are subject or subordinate and before provision for depreciation, depletion and amortization but after provision for bad debt loss and similar reserves.

 

“Trust Property” shall mean as of any particular time any and all property, real, personal or otherwise, tangible or intangible, which is transferred, conveyed or paid to the Trust or Trustees and all rents, income, profits and gains therefrom and which at such time is owned or held by, or for the account of, the Trust or the Trustees.

 

ARTICLE II

 

POWERS OF TRUSTEES

 

2.1                                  General .  The Trustees shall have, without other or further authorization, full, exclusive and absolute power, control and authority over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole and absolute owners of the Trust Property and business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Declaration of Trust.   The Trustees may do and perform such acts and things as in their sole judgment and discretion are necessary and proper for conducting the business and affairs of the Trust or promoting the interests of the Trust and the Shareholders.  The enumeration of any specific power or authority herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power or authority or any specific power or authority.  The Trustees shall have the power to enter into commitments to make any investment, purchase or acquisition, or to exercise any power authorized by this Declaration of Trust. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.

 

4



 

2.2                                  Investments .  The Trustees shall have power, for such consideration as they may deem proper, to invest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, for cash or other property or through the issuance of Securities of the Trust, and hold or retain for investment full or participating interests of any type in real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, property of any kind wherever located; including, without limitation, the following:  (a) Securities which are secured by Mortgages; (b) rents, lease payments or other income from, or the profits from, or the equity or ownership of, Real Property; (c) investments secured by the pledge or transfer of Mortgage Loans; and (d) Securities of every nature, whether or not secured by Mortgages.

 

In the exercise of their powers, the Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible termination of the Trust, nor shall the Trustees be limited by any law now or hereafter in effect limiting the investments which may be held or retained by trustees or other fiduciaries, but they shall have full authority and power to make any and all investments within the limitations of this Declaration of Trust, that they, in their absolute discretion, shall determine, and without liability for loss, even though such investments shall be of a character or an amount not considered proper for the investment of trust funds or which do not or may not produce income.

 

2.3                                  Appraisals .  If the Trustees should at any time purchase Real Property (other than where such purchase results from a foreclosure or satisfaction of indebtedness to the Trust or is made in connection with the acquisition of a Mortgage Loan), the consideration paid for such Real Property shall be based upon the fair market value of the property as determined by an Appraisal, as determined in the discretion of the Trustees; provided, however, that in the event that such purchase is made from an Affiliate of the Trust or the Adviser, such Appraisal shall be made by a Person who is not an Affiliate of the Trust or the Adviser.

 

2.4                                  Legal Title .  Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be vested in the Trustees as joint tenants and held by and transferred to the Trustees, except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees with suitable reference to their trustee status, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any other Person as nominee, on such terms, in such manner, and with such powers as the Trustees may determine, so long as in their judgment the interest of the Trust is adequately protected.

 

The right, title and interest of the Trustees in and to the Trust Property shall vest automatically in all persons who may hereafter become Trustees upon their due election and qualification without any further act.  Upon the resignation, removal or death of a Trustee he (and in the event of his death, his estate) shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in or to any of the Trust Property as a Trustee, and such right, title and interest of such Trustee in and to the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees without any further act.  Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.

 

2.5                                  Disposition, Renting, etc. of Assets .  The Trustees shall have power to sell, grant security interests in, otherwise encumber, lease, exchange or otherwise dispose of or grant options in respect of any and all Trust Property free and clear of any and all trusts, at public or private sale, for cash or on terms, without advertisement, and subject to such restrictions,

 

5



 

stipulations, agreements and reservations as they shall deem proper, including the power to take back mortgages to secure the whole or any part of the purchase price of any of the Trust Property sold or transferred by them, and to execute and deliver any deed or other instrument in connection with the foregoing.  The Trustees shall also have the power to:

 

(a)                                   rent, lease or hire from others or to others, for terms which may extend beyond the termination of this Declaration of Trust, any property or rights to property, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, and to own, manage, use and hold such property and such rights;

 

(b)                                  subdivide or improve Real Property and tear down, alter, repair or make improvements thereon and grant easements in relation thereto;

 

(c)                                   give consents and make contracts relating to Trust Property or its use;

 

(d)                                  release or dedicate any Trust Property; and

 

(e)                                   develop, operate, pool, unitize, grant production payments out of or lease or otherwise dispose of oil, gas and other mineral properties and rights.

 

2.6                                  Financings; Issuance of Securities; Facsimiles .  The Trustees shall have power to lend money, whether secured or unsecured, to borrow or in any other manner raise such sum or sums of money or other property as they shall determine, in any amount and in any manner and on any terms, and to evidence the same by Securities which may mature at any time or times even beyond the possible date of termination of the Trust, to reacquire any such Securities, to enter into other contracts on behalf of the Trust and to execute and deliver any Mortgage, pledge or other instrument to secure any such Securities or other obligations or contracts.  Any such Securities, instruments or other obligations of the Trust may, at the discretion of the Trustees, without vote of the Shareholders, be convertible or exercisable into Shares at such time and on such terms as the Trustees may prescribe.

 

The Trustees shall have power to issue any type of Securities of the Trust, without vote of or other action by the Shareholders, to such Persons for such cash, property, services, expenses or other consideration (including Securities issued or created by, or interests in, any Person) at such time or times and in such amounts and in such manner and on such terms as the Trustees may deem advisable and to list any of the foregoing Securities of the Trust or any depositary receipts representing such Securities on any securities exchange and to purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, cancel, reissue, sell and transfer any such Securities of the Trust or any depositary receipts representing such Securities.  The Trustees may authorize the use of facsimile signatures and/or a facsimile seal of the Trust on Securities of the Trust or any depositary receipts representing such Securities, provided that where facsimile signatures are so used, one of the authorized signatures be manual or the Securities or any such depositary receipts be manually countersigned or authenticated (except in respect of any type of Security in respect of which then current commercial practice does not require manual countersignature or manual authentication) by a transfer agent or registrar or by an authenticating agent or trustee or similar Person.  In case any Person who shall have signed (or whose facsimile signature shall appear on) Securities of the Trust or any such depositary receipts shall have ceased to occupy the office or perform the

 

6



 

function in respect of which such signature was authorized before such Securities or any such depositary receipts shall have been actually issued, such S ecurities or any such depositary receipts may nevertheless be issued with the same effect as though such Person had not ceased to occupy such office or perform such function.

 

2.7                                  Taxes .  The Trustees shall have power to pay all taxes or assessments, of whatever kind or nature, imposed upon or against the Trust or the Trustees in connection with the Trust Property or upon or against the Trust Property or income or any part thereof, to settle and compromise disputed tax liabilities, and for the foregoing purposes to make such returns and do all such other acts and things as may be deemed by the Trustees necessary or desirable.

 

2.8                                  Rights as Holder of Mortgages and Securities .  The Trustees shall have power to exercise all the rights, powers and privileges appertaining to the ownership of all or any Mortgages or Securities forming part of the Trust Property to the same extent that any individual might, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to vote or give any consent, request or notice or waive any notice either in person or by proxy or power of attorney for meetings or action generally or for any particular meetings or action, and may include the exercise of discretionary powers.

 

2.9                                  Delegation; Investment Committees .  The Trustees shall have power, consistent with their continuing exclusive authority over the management of the Trust, the conduct of its affairs, and the management and disposition of Trust Property, to delegate from time to time to such one or more of their number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things and the execution of such deeds or other instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or as their attorney or attorneys or otherwise as the Trustees may from time to time deem expedient, except that (i) powers of the Trustees relating to the approval of Real Property and Mortgage investments for the Trust may be delegated only to committees (hereinafter called “Investment Committees”) consisting of two or more Trustees, a majority of whom (subject to Section 3.3 hereof) shall not be Affiliates of the Adviser, and (ii) powers of the Trustees relating to the approval of transactions pursuant to Section 2.17 hereof may not be delegated to any person, attorney or committee.

 

2.10                            Collection .  The Trustees shall have power to collect, sue for, receive and receipt for all sums of money or other property due to the Trust, to consent to extensions of the time for payment, or to the renewal, of any Securities or obligations; to engage or intervene in, prosecute, defend, compound, compromise, abandon or adjust by arbitration or otherwise any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims, demands or things relating to the Trust Property; to foreclose a Mortgage or other Security securing any notes, debentures, bonds, obligations or contracts, by virtue of which any sums of money are owed to the Trust; to exercise any power of sale held by them, and to convey good title thereunder free of any and all trusts, and, in connection with any such foreclosure or sale, to purchase or otherwise acquire title to any property; to be parties to reorganizations and to transfer to and deposit with any corporation, committee, voting trustee or other Person any Securities or obligations of any corporation, trust, association or other organization, the Securities of which form a part of the Trust Property, for the purpose of any reorganization of any such corporation, trust, association or other organization, or otherwise to participate in any arrangement for enforcing or protecting the interests of the Trustees as the owners or holders of such Securities or obligations and to pay any assessment levied in

 

7



 

connection with such reorganization or arrangement; to extend the time with or without security for the payment or delivery of any debts or property and to execute and enter into releases, agreements and other instruments; and to pay or satisfy any debts or claims upon any evidence that the Trustees shall deem sufficient.

 

2.11                            Expenses .  The Trustees shall have power to incur and pay any charges or expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees are necessary or incidental to or proper for carrying out any of the purposes of this Declaration of Trust, including specifically without limitation the expenses itemized in subsections (a) through (h) of Section 3.2 and to reimburse others for the payment therefor, and to pay appropriate compensation or fees from the funds of the Trust to themselves as Trustees and to Persons with whom the Trust has contracted or transacted business.  The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers and Trustees.  The Trustees may be paid reasonable compensation for their general services as Trustees and officers hereunder, and the Trustees may pay themselves or any one or more of themselves such compensation for special services, including legal services, as they in good faith may deem reasonable, and reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred by themselves or any one or more of themselves on behalf of the Trust.

 

2.12                            Guaranties .  The Trustees shall have power to endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust Property or any part thereof to secure any of or all such obligations.

 

2.13                            Deposits .  The Trustees shall have power to deposit any moneys or Securities included in the Trust Property with any one or more banks, trust companies or other banking institutions, including the Adviser, any Affiliate of the Adviser, or any Affiliate of any Trustee, whether or not such deposits will draw interest. Such deposits are to be subject to withdrawal in such manner as the Trustees may determine, and the Trustees shall have no responsibility for any loss which may occur by reason of the failure of the bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other banking institution with whom the moneys or Securities have been deposited.

 

2.14                            Allocation .  The Trustees shall have power to determine whether moneys or other assets received by the Trust shall be charged or credited to income or capital or allocated between income and capital, including the power to amortize or fail to amortize any part or all of any premium or discount, to treat any part or all the profit resulting from the maturity or sale of any asset, whether purchased at a premium or at a discount, as income or capital or apportion the same between income and capital, to apportion the sale price of any asset between income and capital, and to determine in what manner any expenses or disbursements are to be borne as between income and capital, whether or not in the absence of the power and authority conferred by this Section 2.14 such assets would be regarded as income or as capital or such expense or disbursement would be charged to income or to capital; to treat any dividend or other distribution on any investment as income or capital or apportion the same between income and capital; to provide or fail to provide reserves for depreciation, amortization or obsolescence in respect of any Trust Property in such amounts and by such methods and for such purposes as they shall determine, and to allocate to the shares of beneficial interest account less than all of the

 

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consideration received for Shares (but not less than the par value thereof, if any) and to allocate the balance thereof to paid-in capital, all as the Trustees may reasonably deem proper.

 

2.15                            Valuation .  The Trustees shall have power to determine conclusively the value of any of the Trust Property and of any services, Securities, assets or other consideration hereafter to be acquired or disposed of by the Trust, and to revalue the Trust Property.

 

2.16                            Fiscal Year .  The Trustees shall have power to determine the fiscal year of the Trust and the method or form in which its accounts shall be kept and from time to time to change the fiscal year or method or form of accounts.

 

2.17                            Concerning the Trust and Certain Affiliates .

 

(a)                                   The Trust shall not, directly or indirectly, lend any of its property to, purchase or otherwise acquire any property from, or sell or otherwise transfer any property to (i) the Adviser, (ii) any Trustee (in his individual capacity), officer, director or employee of the Trust or the Adviser, (iii) any Person holding beneficially, directly or indirectly, 1% or more of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of the Adviser, and (iv) any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with any of the foregoing Persons unless such transaction (1) has been approved, after disclosure of such relationship, by a majority of the Trustees who are not Affiliates of any such Person (other than the Trust) who is a party to the transaction; (2) is, in the opinion of such unaffiliated Trustees, on terms fair and reasonable to the Trust and its Shareholders; and (3) is, in the opinion of such unaffiliated Trustees, on terms at least favorable to the Trust and its Shareholders as the terms for comparable transactions of which the Trustees have knowledge with an entity not an Affiliate of the Trust.  All commissions or remuneration received by any such person in connection with any such transaction shall be deducted from the fee paid to the Adviser.  The price of any Mortgage Loan purchased in such a transaction may not exceed the fair market value thereof determined on the basis of prevailing interest rates for similar loans.  The price of any other property purchased in such transaction may not exceed the fair market value thereof as determined by an independent appraisal.  The simultaneous acquisition by the Trust and any such Affiliate of participations in a loan or other investment shall not be deemed to constitute the purchase or sale of property by one or the other.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.17 to the contrary, there shall be no restriction on transactions between the Trust and any Person named in Subsection (a) of this Section 2.17 with regard to (i) the initial investments of the Trust which are or may be described in a Registration Statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933 in respect of the first public offering of Securities of the Trust or (ii) purchases or sales of Securities of the Trust on the same terms then being offered to all holders of any class of Securities of the Trust or to the public.

 

(c)                                   Any Trustee or officer, employee or agent of the Trust may acquire, own, hold and dispose of Securities of the Trust, for his individual account, and may exercise all rights of a holder of such Securities to the same extent and in the same manner as if he were not such a Trustee or officer, employee or agent.

 

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(d)                                  The Trust shall not, in dealing with any Trustee, investment adviser, officer or employee of the Trust, enter into any transaction contrary to the obligations imposed upon such persons under the Declaration of Trust by courts in Ohio having equity power.

 

(e)                                   The Trust may make Construction Loans or other short-term investments where an Affiliate has a commitment to provide the long-term financing, and may make investments in Real Property on which an Affiliate has an existing mortgage or other encumbrance.  The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.17 shall in no way affect contracts for the furnishing of services to or by the Trust, nor shall such provisions affect any other transactions, contracts, acts or dealings (not prohibited by such foregoing provisions) between the Trust and any Affiliate of the Trust or in which any Affiliate has an interest disclosed to the Trust; and no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any liability as a result of entering into any purchase or loan, contract for services, or other transaction, contract, act or dealing not prohibited by such foregoing provisions.  However, any Person who (i) is an officer, director or employee of the Adviser, (ii) holds beneficially, directly or indirectly, 1% or more of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of the Adviser, (iii) is an officer, director, employee, partner or trustee of a corporation, partnership or trust which either holds beneficially, directly or indirectly, 1% or more of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of the Adviser or controls, is controlled by, or under common control with, the Adviser, or (iv) controls, is controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser, shall offer the Trust a right of first refusal to the full extent of any investment opportunity available to such person which is consistent with the investment policies of the Trust.

 

(f)                                     The Trustees shall use their best efforts to obtain through the Adviser or other Persons a continuing and suitable investment program, consistent with the investment policies and objectives of the Trust, and the Trustees shall be responsible for reviewing and approving or rejecting investment opportunities for the Trust.  Any Trustee or officer, employee, or agent of the Trust may, in his personal capacity, or in a capacity of trustee, officer, director, stockholder, partner, member, adviser or employee of any Person, have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Trust, which interests and activities may be similar to those of the Trust and include the acquisition, syndication, holding, management, operation or disposition, for his own account or for the account of such Person, of interests in Mortgages, interests in Real Property, or interests in Persons engaged in the real estate business subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this Section 2.17, and each Trustee, officer, employee and agent of the Trust shall be free of any obligation to present to the Trust any investment opportunity which comes to him in any capacity other than solely as Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, even if such opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Trustee, Adviser, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall compete with the Trust in (i) any transaction in which the Trust is engaged or (ii) any proposed transaction which has been presented to the Trustees in writing for their consideration to be acted upon by the Trust, and which has not been rejected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees not interested in such proposed transaction.  Subject to the provisions of Article III hereof, any Trustee or officer, employee or agent of the Trust may be

 

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interested as trustee, officer, director, stockholder, partner, member, adviser or employee of, or otherwise have a direct or indirect interest in, any Person who may be engaged to render advice or services to the Trust, and may receive compensation from such Person as well as compensation as Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust or otherwise hereunder.  None of the activities referred to in this paragraph shall be deemed to conflict with his duties and powers as Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust.  To the extent that any other provision of this Declaration of Trust conflicts or is otherwise contrary to the provisions of this Section 2.17, the provisions of this Section shall be deemed controlling.

 

2.18                            FHA Qualification .  If the Trust shall be an “FHA Approved Mortgagee”, the Trustees shall have power to sell or otherwise dispose of any FHA loan or an interest therein with the Trust owns in accordance with the provisions of the National Housing Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.  The Trustees shall have power to execute on behalf of the Trust, in connection with any project in which FHA has insured the indebtedness, in whole or in part, any and all Mortgages and other agreements, documents and forms which may be required by FHA in connection with the approval by FHA of the transfer of physical assets from any entity to the Trustees or the insurance by FHA of any indebtedness on any project as to which the Trustees are or shall become owners pursuant to this Declaration of Trust, and the provisions of any such agreement shall be binding upon the Trust notwithstanding any conflict with or limitation of this Declaration of Trust.

 

2.19                            Power to Contract .  Subject to the provisions of Sections 2.9 and 3.1 hereof in respect of delegation of authority by the Trustees, the Trustees shall have power to appoint, employ or contract with any Person (including one or more of themselves and any Person of which one or more of them may be an Affiliate, subject to the applicable requirements of Section 2.17 hereof) as the Trustees may deem necessary or desirable for the transaction of the business of the Trust including any Person who, under the supervision of the Trustees, may, among other things: serve as the Trust’s investment adviser and consultant in connection with policy decisions made by the Trustees; furnish reports to the Trustees and provide research, economic and statistical data in connection with the Trust’s investments; act as consultant, accountant, mortgage loan originator or servicer, correspondent, lender, technical adviser, attorney, broker, property manager, underwriter, corporate fiduciary, escrow agent, depositary, custodian or agent for collection, insurer or insurance agent, transfer agent or registrar or warrant agent, or paying agent for Securities of the Trust, or in any other capacity deemed by the Trustees necessary or desirable; investigate, select, and, on behalf of the Trust, conduct relations with Persons acting in such capacities and pay appropriate fees to, and enter into appropriate contracts with, or employ, or retain services performed or to be performed by, any of them in connection with the investments acquired, sold, or otherwise disposed of, or committed, negotiated, or contemplated to be acquired, sold or otherwise disposed of; substitute any other Person for any such Person; act as attorney-in-fact or agent in the purchase or sale or other disposition of investments and in the handling, prosecuting or settling of any claims of the Trust, including the foreclosure or other enforcement of any mortgage or other lien or other security securing investments and assist in the performance of such ministerial functions necessary in the management of the Trust as may be agreed upon with the Trustees or officers of the Trust.

 

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2.20                            Organization of Business Entities .  The Trustees shall have power to cause to be organized or assist in organizing any Person under the laws of any jurisdiction to acquire the Trust Property or any part of parts thereof or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or indirectly have any interest, and to cause the Trust to merge with such Person or any existing Person or to sell, rent, lease, hire, convey, negotiate, assign, exchange or transfer the Trust Property or any part or parts thereof to or with any such Person or any existing Person in exchange for the Securities thereof or otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for the Securities of, and enter into any contracts with, any such Person in which the Trust holds or is about to acquire Securities or any other interest.

 

2.21                            Associations .  The Trustees shall have power to cause the Trust to enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships, limited liability companies and any other combinations or associations.

 

2.22                            Insurance .  The Trustees shall have power to purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, including the Adviser, or independent contractors of the Trust individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser, or independent contractor including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability.

 

2.23                            Pension and Other Plans .  The Trustees shall have power to pay pensions for faithful service, as deemed appropriate by the Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, Share bonus, Share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, dividend reinvestment plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust subject to Section 4.3(k) hereof.

 

2.24                            Reorganizations .  The Trustees shall have power to participate in reorganization, liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings in respect of any Person and in connection therewith to delegate discretionary powers to any reorganization, protective or similar committees.

 

2.25                            Seal.   The Trustees shall have power to adopt and use a seal for the Trust, but the seal shall not be necessary to be placed on, and its absence shall not impair the validity of, any document, instrument or other paper executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Trust.

 

2.26                            Charitable Contributions .  The Trustees shall have power to make donations, irrespective of benefit to the Trust, for the public welfare or for community fund, hospital, charitable, religious, educational, scientific, civic or similar purpose, and in time of war or other national emergency in aid thereof.

 

2.27                            Indemnification .  In addition to the mandatory indemnification provided for in Section 5.3 hereof, the Trustees shall have power to the extent permitted by law to indemnify or

 

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enter into agreements in respect of indemnification with any Person with whom the Trust has dealings, including, without limitation, any investment adviser, including the Adviser, or independent contractor, to such extent as the Trustees shall determine.

 

2.28                            Remedies .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Declaration of Trust, when the Trustees deem that there is a significant risk that an obligor to the Trust may default or is in default under the terms of any obligation to the Trust, the Trustees shall have power to pursue any remedies permitted by law which, in their sole judgment, are in the interests of the Trust, and the Trustees shall have the power to enter into any investment, commitment or obligation of the Trust resulting from the pursuit of such remedies or necessary or desirable to dispose of property acquired in the pursuit of such remedies.

 

2.29                            Further Powers .  The Trustees shall have power to do all such other matters and things and execute all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to carry out, promote or advance the interests of the Trust although such matters or things are not herein specifically mentioned.  Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees.  The Trustees will not be required to obtain any court order to deal with the Trust Property.

 

ARTICLE III

 

ADVISER

 

3.1                                  Appointment .  The Trustees are responsible for the general investment policy of the Trust and for the general supervision of the business of the Trust conducted by officers, agents, employees, investment advisers or independent contractors of the Trust.  However, the Trustees are not required personally to conduct all of the business of the Trust and consistent with their ultimate responsibility as stated herein, the Trustees may appoint, employ or contract with an Adviser, and may grant or delegate such authority to the Adviser (pursuant to the terms of Section 2.19 hereof) or to any other Person the services of whom are obtained by the Adviser, as the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, deem to be necessary or desirable, without regard to whether such authority is normally granted or delegated by trustees.

 

3.2                                  Provisions of Agreement .  The Trustees shall not enter into any agreement with the Adviser pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.1 hereof unless (i) such agreement has an initial term of not more than one year (except that any such agreement entered into prior to the first public offering of Securities of the Trust may have an initial term of not more than two years), (ii) its renewal or extension provisions, if any, shall provide for renewals or extension of not more than one year in length, (iii) such agreement can be terminated upon no more than 60 days’ written notice from the Trust, upon either a vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not Affiliates of the Adviser, or by a vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the Shares then outstanding and entitled to vote, at a meeting duly called for such purpose and (iv) such agreement shall limit the fees realized by the Adviser by requiring that the Adviser must refund to the Trust at least annually the amount, if any, by which the aggregate expenses of the Trust for such year (excluding (a) the cost of borrowed money; (b) taxes on income and real property and all other taxes applicable to the Trust; (c) legal, auditing, underwriting, transfer agent’s, warrant

 

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agent’s, registrar’s and indenture trustee’s and other fees and listing, registration, printing and other expenses and taxes incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and stock exchange listing of the Trust’s securities; (d) fees and expenses paid to independent contractors employed by or on behalf of the Trust; (e) costs of insurance; (f) expenses of organizing or terminating the Trust; (g) all expenses connected with distributions and communications to holders of securities of the Trust and the other bookkeeping and clerical work necessary in maintaining relations with holders of securities, including the cost of printing and mailing checks, certificates for securities, proxy solicitation materials and reports to such holders; and (h) expenses directly connected with the acquisition, disposition and ownership of mortgage loans or other property, including, to the extent not paid by borrowers from the Trust, the costs of appraisal, legal services, brokerage and sales commissions, as well as the costs of foreclosure, maintenance, repair and improvement of property), exceed the lesser of:

 

(a)                                   l 1/2% of the Net Assets of the Trust, including undisbursed portions of closed loans and other closed investments of the Trust for such Year or

 

(b)                                  25% of the Trust’s net income for such year, excluding provision for realized capital gains and losses from the disposition of assets of the Trust and before deducting regular and incentive advisory fees and depreciation, depletion and amortization.

 

3.3                                  Independence of Trustees .  After the first public offering of Securities of the Trust not more than 49% of the total number of Trustees or of the total number of members of any Investment Committee may be Affiliates of the Adviser; provided, however, that if at any time the percentage of all Trustees or of members of such Investment Committee who are Affiliates of the Adviser becomes more than 49% of the total number of Trustees or members of such Investment Committee then in office, because of the death, resignation, removal or change in affiliation of a Trustee or member of such Investment Committee who is not such an Affiliate, such requirement shall not be applicable for a period of 60 days, during which time a majority of all the Trustees then in office shall appoint a sufficient number of other individuals as Trustees or as members of such Investment Committee so that there is again not more than 49% of the total number of all Trustees or members of such Investment Committee then in office who are Affiliates of the Adviser.  The Trustees shall at all times endeavor to comply with such requirement, but failure so to comply shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of any action of the Trustees or of the Investment Committee as the case may be.

 

3.4                                  Other Activities .  The Adviser shall be required by the Trustees to use its best efforts to present a continuing and suitable investment program to the Trust which is consistent with the investment policies and objectives of the Trust.  The Adviser may administer the Trust as its sole and exclusive function or it may engage in other activities including the rendering of advice to other investors and the management of other investments, including but not limited to other real estate investment trusts.  The contract of the Adviser shall, however, prohibit the Adviser and any Affiliate of the Adviser from entering into an investment advisory contract with any other real estate investment trust the investment policy of which is substantially similar to that of the Trust, and shall prohibit the Adviser from entering into such a contract with any Person the investment policy of which is substantially similar to that of the Trust.  The Trustees may request the Adviser to engage in certain other activities which complement the Trust’s

 

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investments, and the Adviser may provide services requested by the borrowers or prospective borrowers of the Trust, and the Adviser may receive compensation or commissions therefor from the Trust or other Persons.  The Adviser shall be required to act on a basis which is fair and reasonable to the Trust and the Shareholders in selecting from among the particular investment opportunities that come to the Adviser those investment opportunities which it presents to the Trust.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

INVESTMENTS

 

4.1                                  Statement of Investment Policy .  The general purpose of the Trust is to seek real estate investment trust income as defined in the REIT Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.  The Trustees intend to make investments in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of the REIT Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code in respect of the composition of the Trust’s investments and the derivation of its income; provided, however, that no Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of the Trust or the Adviser shall be liable to any Person for any act or omission resulting in the loss of tax benefits under the Internal Revenue Code, except for that arising from his or its own bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or its duties or actions not in good faith in the reasonable belief that such action was in the best interest of the Trust.

 

ARTICLE V

 

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

 

5.1                                  Liability to Third Persons .  No Shareholder shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any other Person in connection with Trust Property or the affairs of the Trust; and, except in the case of breach of duty to the Trust or to Shareholders and subject to the provisions of Section 5.2 hereof, no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any other Person in connection with Trust Property or the affairs of the Trust and all such other Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust.  If any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee or agent, as such, of the Trust is made a party to any suit or proceedings to enforce any such liability, he shall not on account thereof be held to any personal liability.

 

5.2                                  Liability to Trust or to Shareholders .  No Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be liable in damages to the Trust or to any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust for any action or failure to act (including without limitation the failure to compel in any way any former or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust) except for his own bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his duties or for his failure to act in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust.  No Trustee of the Trust shall be liable in damages to the Trust or to any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust for any action he takes or fails to take as a Trustee (including without limitation the failure to compel in any way any former or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust), unless it is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a

 

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court of competent jurisdiction that his action or failure to act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to the Trust or undertaken with reckless disregard for the best interests of the Trust.  In determining what he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Trust for purposes of this Article V, a Trustee shall consider the interests of Shareholders and, in his discretion, may consider any of the factors which a director of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio may consider under Ohio law in the performance of his duties as a director of such corporation.

 

5.3                                  Indemnification .  The Trust shall indemnify and hold each Shareholder harmless from and against all claims and liabilities, whether they proceed to judgment or are settled or otherwise brought to a conclusion, to which such Shareholder may become subject by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder, and shall reimburse such Shareholder for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by him in connection with any such claim or liability.  The rights accruing to a Shareholder under this Section 5.3 shall not exclude any other right to which such Shareholder may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained restrict the right of the Trust to indemnify or reimburse a Shareholder in any appropriate situation even though not specifically provided herein; provided, however, that the Trust shall have no liability to reimburse Shareholders for taxes assessed against them by reason of their ownership of Shares, nor for any losses suffered by reason of changes in the market value of Securities of the Trust.

 

The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees, officers, employees and agents (including those who serve at its request as directors, officers, partners, trustees or the like of another Person in which it has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise), against all liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees, reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding by the Trust or any other Person, whether civil or criminal, in which he may be involved or with which he may be threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of his being or having been such a Trustee, officer, employee or agent, except in respect of any matter as to which he shall have been adjudicated to have acted in bad faith or with willful misconduct or reckless disregard of his duties or gross negligence or not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust; provided, however, that as to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment by such Trustee, officer, employee or agent, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification either for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless the Trust shall have received a written opinion from counsel approved by the Trustees to the effect that if the foregoing matters had been adjudicated, they would likely have been adjudicated in favor of such Trustee, officer, employee or agent or unless a meeting of the Trustees at which a quorum consisting of Trustees who are not parties to or threatened with such action, suit or other proceeding shall make such a determination.  The rights accruing to any Trustee, officer, employee or agent under these provisions shall not exclude any other right to which he may be lawfully entitled; provided, however, that no Trustee, officer, employee or agent may satisfy any right of indemnity or reimbursement granted herein or to which he may be otherwise entitled except out of the Trust Property, and no Shareholder shall be personally liable to any Person in respect of any claim for indemnity or reimbursement or otherwise.  The Trustees may make advance payments in connection with indemnification under this Section 5.3, provided that the indemnified Trustee, officer, employee or agent shall have given a written undertaking to

 

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reimburse the Trust in the event it is subsequently determined that he is not entitled to such indemnification.

 

Any action taken by or conduct on the part of the Adviser, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust in conformity with or in good faith reliance upon the provisions of Section 2.17 or Section 3.4 shall not, for the purposes of this Trust (including, without limitation, Sections 5.1 and 5.2 hereof and this Section 5.3) constitute bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his duties, or failure to act in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust.

 

5.4                                  Surety Bonds.  No Trustee shall, as such, be obligated to give any bond or surety or other security for the performance of any of his duties.

 

5.5                                  Apparent Authority .  Any act of the Trustees of officers of the Trust purporting to be done in their capacity as such, shall, as to any Person dealing with such Trustees or officers, be conclusively deemed to be within the purposes of the Trust and within the powers of such Trustees and officers.  No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by such officer, employee or agent or make inquiry concerning or be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned or delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or of such officer, employee or agent.

 

5.6                                  Recitals .  Any written instrument creating an obligation of the Trust shall be conclusively taken to have been executed or done by a Trustee or Trustees or an officer, employee or agent of the Trust only in their or his capacity as Trustees or Trustee under this Declaration of Trust or in the capacity of officer, employee or agent of the Trust.  Any written instrument creating an obligation of the Trust shall refer to this Declaration of Trust and contain a recital to the effect that the obligations thereunder are not personally binding upon, nor shall resort be had to the private property of, any of the Trustees, Shareholders, officers, employees or agents of the Trust, but the Trust Property or a specific portion thereof only shall be bound, and may contain any further recital which they or he may deem appropriate, but the omission of such recital shall not operate to impose personal liability on any of the Trustees, Shareholders, officers, employees or agents of the Trust.  The Trustees shall, at all times, maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property, its Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amounts as the Trustees shall deem adequate to cover all foreseeable tort liability to the extent available at reasonable rates.

 

5.7                                  Reliance on Experts, etc .  Each Trustee and each officer of the Trust shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully and completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel or upon reports made to the Trust by any of its officers or employees or by the Adviser, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected with reasonable care by the Trustees or officers of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

SHARES

 

6.1                                  Description of Shares .  The interests of the Shareholders hereunder shall be divided into Shares of one or more classes.  The number of shares authorized hereunder is unlimited.  Ownership of Shares shall be evidenced by certificates.  Except as otherwise provided in a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 6.2, all Shares shall have equal non-cumulative voting, distribution, liquidation and other rights, shall be without par value, and shall be fully paid and nonassessable, and shall have no preference, conversion, exchange, preemptive or redemption rights.  Upon the issuance of Shares pursuant to Section 6.2, all Shares previously issued pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall be reclassified and designated Common Shares or Class A Common Shares as specified by Section 6.2.

 

6.2                                  Additional Shares .  (a) The Trustees hereby are authorized expressly at any time, and from time to time, to issue one or more additional classes or series of Shares without par value, with such voting powers (subject to the limitations hereinafter set forth), or without voting powers, as shall be specified in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance thereof.  Upon the first issuance of Shares in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 6.2(a), the Trustees shall reclassify and designate as Class A Common Shares all Shares other than Preferred Shares which were outstanding immediately prior to such issuance. Except as to voting powers as herein described, all additional classes or series of Shares authorized by the Trustees under this Section 6.2(a) shall be Common Shares and shall be identical in all respects to the Class A Common Shares.  The Trustees shall specify in a resolution or resolutions the classes or series of such additional Common Shares and the number and designation thereof.  The resolution or resolutions shall state the extent, if any, to which the holders of the Common Shares of such class or series shall be entitled to vote in respect of the election of Trustees or otherwise, including, without limitation, the extent, if any to which such holders shall be entitled, voting as a series or as part of a kind or class, to elect one or more Trustees upon the happening of a specific event or otherwise, provided that the voting rights of such Common shares shall be no greater than those required or recommended by (i) any stock exchange upon which any Securities of the Trust shall be listed or (ii) any national securities association by which any Securities of the Trust shall be authorized for a quotation or transaction reporting.  Further, in no event shall additional Common Shares issued by the Trustees pursuant to this Section 6.2(a) carry greater voting rights than the Class A Common Shares.

 

(b)                                  The Trustees hereby are authorized expressly at any time, and from time to time, to issue Preferred Shares, either without par value or with such par value or par values as the Trustees shall specify in a resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance thereof, in one or more classes or series, with such voting powers (subject to the limitations hereinafter set forth), or without voting powers, and with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance thereof, and as are not otherwise stated and expressed in this Declaration of Trust, including (without limiting the generality thereof) the following as to each such class or series:

 

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(i)                                      the number of Shares to constitute such class or series and the designation thereof,
 
(ii)                                   the par value or absence of par value of Shares issued in such class or series,
 
(iii)                                the dividends payable in respect of such class or series, the rates or basis for determining such dividends, any conditions and dates upon which such dividends shall be payable, the preference, if any, of such dividends over, or the relation of such dividends to, the dividends payable on any other kind, class or series of Shares of the Trust (including Common Shares of any class or series), whether such dividends shall be non-cumulative or cumulative, and, if cumulative, the date or dates from which such dividends shall be cumulative,
 
(iv)                               whether the Shares of such class or series shall have the right to participate with the Shares of any other class or series in the profits of the Trust, and, if so, the terms of such participation,
 
(v)                                  whether the Shares of such class or series shall be callable or redeemable, in addition to the Trust’s right to acquire Shares from time to time as set forth in Sections 8.3 and 8.5, at the option of the Trust or the holder or both, or upon the happening of a specified event, and, if callable or redeemable, the conditions giving rise to the right of such call or redemption, whether such call or redemption shall be for cash, property or rights, including Securities of the Trust, and the times, prices, rates and adjustments and other terms of such redemption,
 
(vi)                               whether the Trust shall be required to purchase or redeem the Shares of such class or series on a certain date or dates or upon the happening of a specified event, and, if so, the terms of such purchase or redemption,
 
(vii)                            the terms and amounts of any sinking, retirement or purchase fund provided for the purchase or redemption of Shares of such class or series,
 
(viii)                         whether Shares of such class or series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for Shares of another kind, class or series, at the option of the Trust or of the holder, or both, or upon the happening of a specified event, and, if provision be made for such conversion or exchange, the terms, prices, rates, adjustments and any other condition thereof,
 
(ix)                                 the extent, if any, to which the holders of the Shares of such class or series shall be entitled to vote in respect of the election of Trustees or otherwise, including, without limitation, the extent, if any, to which such holders shall be entitled, voting as a series or as part of a kind or class, to elect one or more Trustees upon the happening of a specific event or otherwise, provided that the voting rights of such Shares shall be no greater than those required or recommended by (1) any stock exchange upon which any Securities of the Trust shall be listed or (2) any national securities association by which any Securities of the Trust shall be authorized for quotation or transaction reporting,

 

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(x)                                    the restrictions, if any, on the issue or reissue of Shares of such class or series or of any other class or series,
 
(xi)                                 the extent, if any, to which the holders of the Shares of such class or series shall be entitled to preemptive rights, and
 
(xii)                              the preferences, and the amounts thereof, of the holders of the Shares of such class or series upon the voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Trust or any distribution of its assets.  If the first issuance of Preferred Shares under this Section 6.2(b) shall occur prior to the first issuance of additional Common Shares under Section 6.2(a), the Trustees shall reclassify and designate as Common Shares the Shares which were outstanding immediately prior to the first issuance of Preferred Shares.
 

(c)                                   Before the Trust shall issue any additional Shares of any class or series, a certificate setting forth the resolution or resolutions of the Trustees fixing the voting powers and number of Shares of such class or series and the designations thereof, and, as to Preferred Shares, the preferences and rights of such class or series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, shall be signed and acknowledged by the Chairman, a Vice Chairman, the President, if any, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Trust and filed in accordance with the requirements of Ohio law for filing amendments to this Declaration of Trust, whereupon the same shall be deemed to be an amendment hereof.

 

Unless otherwise provided in any such resolution or resolutions, the number of Shares of the class or series authorized by such resolution or resolutions may be increased or decreased, but not below the number of Shares of such class or series then outstanding, by a certificate, setting forth a resolution or resolutions of the Trustees authorizing such increase or decrease, signed and acknowledged by the Chairman, a Vice Chairman, the President, if any, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Trust and filed in accordance with the requirements of Ohio law for filing amendments to this Declaration of Trust.  Unless otherwise provided in such resolution or resolutions, any amendment to such resolution or resolutions may be effected by a certificate, setting forth a resolution of the Trustees authorizing such amendment and certifying that such amendment has been approved by such votes, if any, as may be required pursuant to Section 13.1, signed and acknowledged by the Chairman, a Vice Chairman, the President, if any, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Trust and filed in accordance with the requirements of Ohio law for filing amendments to this Declaration of Trust.  Any such amendment may, without limitation, cancel or otherwise affect the right of the holder of the Shares of such class or series to receive dividends which have accrued but have not been declared. Holders of Common Shares shall not be entitled to vote on such amendments to any such resolutions.

 

6.3                                  Certificates .  Every Shareholder shall be entitled to receive a certificate, in such form as the Trustees shall from time to time approve, specifying the number of Shares held by such Shareholder.  Certificates which were validly issued prior to any Amendment to the Declaration of Trust that authorizes the issuance of additional Shares shall remain valid. Upon the first issuance of Common Shares in accordance with the procedure set forth in Section 6.2(a), all certificates representing Shares other than Preferred Shares then outstanding automatically shall represent the newly designated Class A Common Shares and upon transfer or exchange of

 

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any such certificates, new certificates which shall bear the designation “Class A Common Shares” shall be issued to the Shareholders.  If the first issuance of Preferred Shares under Section 6.2(b) shall occur prior to the first issuance of Common Shares under Section 6.2(a), all certificates representing Shares then outstanding automatically shall represent the newly designated “Common Shares” and upon transfer or exchange of any such certificates, new certificates which shall bear the designation “Common Shares” shall be issued to the Shareholders. Subject to Sections 6.5 and 8.5 hereof, such certificates shall be treated as negotiable and title thereto and to the Shares represented thereby shall be transferred by delivery thereof to the same extent in all respects as a stock certificate, and the shares represented thereby, of an Ohio business corporation.  Unless otherwise determined by the Trustees, such certificates shall be signed by the Chairman or a Vice Chairman, or the President, if any, and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and shall be counter-signed by a transfer agent, and registered by a registrar, if any, and such signatures may be facsimile signatures in accordance with Section 2.6 hereof.  There shall be filed with each transfer agent a copy of the form of certificate so approved by the Trustees, certified by the Chairman or the Secretary, and such form shall continue to be used unless and until the Trustees approve some other form.

 

In furtherance of the provisions of Section 8.5 hereof, each certificate evidencing Shares shall contain a legend imprinted thereon to the following effect, or such other legend as the Trustees may from time to time adopt.

 

“Provisions Relating to Redemption and Prohibition of Transfer of Shares.”

 

“If necessary to effect compliance by the Trust with certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, the shares represented by this certificate are subject to redemption by the Trustees of the Trust and the transfer thereof may be prohibited upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Declaration of Trust.  The Trust will furnish a copy of such terms and conditions to the registered holder of this certificate upon request and without charge.”

 

6.4                                  Fractional Shares .  In connection with any issuance of Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares or may provide for the issuance of scrip including, without limitation, the time within which any such scrip must be surrendered for exchange into full Shares and the rights, if any, of holders of scrip upon the expiration of the time so fixed, the rights, if any, to receive proportional distributions, and the rights, if any to redeem scrip for cash, or the Trustees may in their discretion, or if they see fit at the option of each holder, provide in lieu of scrip for the adjournment of the fractions in cash.  The provisions of Section 6.3 hereof relative to certificates for Shares shall apply so far as applicable to such scrip, except that such scrip may in the discretion of the Trustees be signed by a transfer agent alone.

 

6.5                                  Issuance of Units .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, the Trustees may issue from time to time units consisting of different Securities of the Trust.  Any Security issued in any such unit shall have the same characteristics and shall entitle the registered holder thereof to the same rights as any identical Securities issued by the Trustees, except that the Trustees may provide (and may cause a notation to be placed on the certificate representing such unit or Securities or the Trust issued in any such unit) that for a specified

 

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period not to exceed one year after issuance, Securities of the Trust issued in any such unit may be transferred on the books of the Trust only in such unit.

 

6.6                                  Issuance of Warrants .  The Trustees, in their discretion, may from time to time issue warrants to purchase Shares (hereinafter referred to as “Warrants”) which shall entitle the holders thereof to subscribe to Shares at such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may prescribe including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the times within which any such Warrants may be exercised and the consideration to be paid for such Shares; provided, however, that warrants may not be issued in connection with a private financing with an exercise price per share less than 100% of fair market value of the Shares at the date of issuance; for this purpose the determination of fair market value of the Shares shall be made in the same manner as provided for the redemption price of Securities in Section 8.5.  Warrants may be issued to such parties and for such consideration as the Trustees may from time to time determine (including the issuance of detachable or nondetachable warrants as an inducement to persons acquiring or underwriting notes, debentures, bonds, instruments, Shares or other Securities of the Trust).  The provisions of this Article VI relative to certificates for Shares shall apply so far as appropriate to such Warrants.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

RECORD AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

 

7.1                                  Share Register .  A register shall be kept by or on behalf of the Trustees, under the direction of the Trustees, which shall contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders and the number of Shares held by them respectively and the numbers of the certificates representing such Shares and a record of all transfers thereof.  Only Shareholders whose certificates are recorded on such register shall be entitled to vote or to receive distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders.  No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive any distribution, nor to have notice to him as herein provided, until he has given his address to a transfer agent or such other officer or agent of the Trust as shall keep the register for entry thereon.

 

7.2                                  Transfer Agent .  The Trustees shall have power to employ, within or without the State of Ohio, a transfer agent or transfer agents and, if they so determine, a registrar or registrars.  The transfer agent or transfer agents may keep the register and record therein the original issues and transfers of Shares and countersign certificates for Shares issued to the persons entitled thereto.  Any such transfer agents and registrars shall perform the duties usually performed by transfer agents and registrars of certificates of stock in a corporation, except as modified by the Trustees.  Any such transfer agents or registrars may be Affiliates of a Trustee or of an officer, director or shareholder of the Adviser.  The provisions of Article VII relative to transfer agents shall apply so far as appropriate to warrant agents.

 

7.3                                  Blank Certificates .  In accordance with the usual customs of corporations having a transfer agent, signed certificates for Shares in blank may be deposited with any transfer agent of the Trust, to be used by such transfer agent in accordance with authority conferred upon it as occasion may require, and in so doing the signers of such certificates shall not be responsible for any loss resulting therefrom.

 

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7.4                                  Owner of Record .  Any person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequences of the death, bankruptcy or insolvency of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of law, shall be recorded as the holder of such Shares and receive a new certificate for the same upon production of the proper evidence thereof and delivery of the existing certificate to the Trustees or a transfer agent of the Trust.  But until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereof and neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy, insolvency or other event.

 

7.5                                  Transfers of Shares .  Shares shall be transferable on the records of the Trust (other than by operation of law) only by the record holder thereof or by his agent thereunto duly authorized in writing upon delivery to the Trust or a transfer agent of the Trust of the certificate or certificates therefor, with all transfer tax stamps affixed or duly provided for, properly endorsed or accompanied by duly executed instrument or instruments of transfer, together with such evidence of the genuineness of each such endorsement, execution and authorization and of other matters as may reasonably be required by the Trust or the transfer agent.  Upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the register of the Trust and a new certificate for the Shares so transferred shall be issued to the transferee, and, in case of a transfer of only a part of the Shares represented by any certificate, a new certificate for the residue thereof shall be issued to the transferor.  But until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereof and neither the Trustees nor the Trust nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the proposed transfer.  This Section 7.5 and Section 7.4 hereof are subject in all respects to the provisions of Sections 6.5 and 8.5 hereof.

 

7.6                                  Limitation of Fiduciary Responsibility .  The Trustees shall not, nor shall the Shareholders or any officer, transfer agent or other agent of the Trust, be bound to see to the execution of any trust, express, implied or constructive, or of any charge, pledge or equity to which any of the Shares or any interest therein are subject, or to ascertain or inquire whether any sale or transfer of any such Shares or interest therein are subject, ascertain or inquire whether any sale or transfer of any such Shares or interest therein by any such Shareholder or his personal representatives is authorized by such trust, charge, pledge or equity, or to recognize any Person as having any interest therein except the Persons recorded as such Shareholders.  The receipt of the Person in whose name any Share is recorded, or, if such Share is recorded in the names of more than one Person, the receipt of any one of such Persons or of the duly authorized agent of any such Person shall be a sufficient discharge for all money, Securities and other property payable, issuable or deliverable in respect of such Share and from all liability to see to the proper application thereof.

 

7.7                                  Notices .  Any and all notices to which Shareholders hereunder may be entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to Shareholder of record at their last known post office address as recorded on the Share register provided for in Section 7.1 hereof.

 

7.8                                  Replacement of Certificates .  In case of the loss, mutilation or destruction of any certificate for Shares hereunder, the Trustees may issue or cause to be issued a new certificate on such terms as they may deem fit.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF SHARES; RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER

 

8.1                                  General .  The ownership of the Trust Property of every description and the right to conduct any business hereinbefore described are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall have no interest therein other than the beneficial interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust nor can they be called upon to share or assume any losses of the Trust or suffer an assessment of any kind by virtue of their ownership of Shares.  The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth in this Declaration of Trust, in any resolution adopted pursuant to Section 6.2 and in the certificates for such Shares.  Except as otherwise provided in a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 6.2, the Shares shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or exchange rights of any kind.

 

8.2                                  Death of Shareholders .  The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not terminate this Declaration of Trust nor give such Shareholder’s legal representatives a right to an accounting or a partition of the Trust assets or to take any action in the courts or otherwise against other Shareholders or the Trustees or the Trust Property, but shall simply entitle the legal representatives of the deceased Shareholder to demand and receive, pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.4 hereof, a new certificate for Shares in place of the certificate held by the deceased Shareholder, and upon the acceptance thereof such legal representative shall succeed to all the rights of the deceased Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust.

 

8.3                                  Repurchase of Securities of the Trust .  The Trustees may, on behalf of the Trust, purchase or otherwise acquire outstanding Securities of the Trust from time to time for such consideration and on such terms as they may deem proper.  Shares so purchased or acquired by the Trustees for the account of the Trust shall not, so long as they belong to the Trust, receive distributions (other than, at the option of the Trustees, distributions in Shares) or be entitled to any voting rights.  Such Shares may in the discretion of the Trustees be cancelled and the number of Shares issued thereby reduced, or such Shares may in the discretion of the Trustees be held in the treasury and may be disposed of by the Trustees at such time or times, to such party or parties and for such considerations as the Trustees may determine.

 

8.4                                  Trustees as Shareholders .  Any Trustee in his individual capacity may purchase and otherwise acquire or sell and otherwise dispose of Shares of other Securities issued by the Trust, and may exercise all the rights of a Shareholder to the same extent as though he were not a Trustee.

 

8.5                                  Restrictions on Transfer of Preferred Shares and Common Shares .

 

(a)                                   Definitions. For purposes of this Section 8.5, the following terms shall have the following meanings set forth below:

 

(i)                                      “Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Equity Shares by a Person who would be treated as an owner of such Equity Shares either directly or indirectly through the application of Section 544 of the Internal Revenue Code,

 

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as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code.  The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns,” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have correlative meanings.

 

(ii)                                   “Beneficiary” shall mean, with respect to any trust, one or more organizations described in each of Section 170(b)(1)(A) (other than clause (vii) or (viii) thereof) and Section 70(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code that are named by the Corporation as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such trust, in accordance with Section (1) of Division C.II. hereof.
 
(iii)                                “Board of Trustees” shall mean the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
 
(iv)                               “RRF, L.P. Agreement” shall mean the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of RRF Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, of which the Trust is the general partner.
 
(v)                                  “Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Equity Shares by a Person who would be treated as an owner of such Equity Shares either directly or indirectly through the application of Section 318 of the Internal Revenue Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code.  The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns,” and “Constructively Owned” shall have correlative meanings.
 
(vi)                               “Equity Shares” shall mean and include all Preferred Shares and Common Shares of the Trust as well as any Equity Shares that are held as Shares-in-Trust in accordance with this Section 8.5.
 
(vii)                            “Exchange Rights” shall mean the rights granted under the RRF, L.P. Agreement to the limited partners to exchange, under certain circumstances, their limited partnership interests for common shares (or, at the option of the trust, for cash).
 
(viii)                         “Existing Holder” shall mean (i) the Wirth Family and (ii) any Person who, on the date hereof, beneficially owns Common Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit.
 
(ix)                                 “Existing Holder Limit” shall mean, for any Existing Holder who is an Existing Holder by virtue of clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the percentage of the outstanding Common Shares Beneficially Owned by such Existing Holder on the date hereof. From and after the date hereof, the secretary of the Trust shall maintain and, upon request, make available to each Existing Holder, a schedule which sets forth the then current Existing Holder Limits for each Existing Holder.
 
(x)                                    “Market Price” on any date shall mean the average of the Closing Price for the five consecutive Trading Days ending on such date.  The “Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,

 

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regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the applicable Equity Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which those Equity Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if those Equity Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotations system that may then be in use or, if the shares of Equity Shares are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in those Equity Shares selected by the Board of Trustees.

 

(xi)                                 “Non-Transfer Event” shall mean an event other than a purported Transfer that would cause any Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit, including, but not limited to, the issuance, granting of any option or entering into of any agreement for the sale, transfer or other disposition of Equity Shares or the sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Shares.
 
(xii)                              “Ownership Limit” shall mean 4.9% of the number of outstanding shares of any class of Equity Shares.
 
(xiii)                           “Permitted Transferee” shall mean any Person designated as a Permitted Transferee in accordance with this Section 8.5.
 
(xiv)                          “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust, a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a “group” as that term is used for purposes of Section 12(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
(xv)                             “Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, any Person who, but for this Section 8.5, would own record title to Equity Shares.
 
(xvi)                          “Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day after the date of this Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust on which the Board of Trustees determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Trust to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT.

 

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(xvii)                       “Shares-in-Trust” shall mean any Equity Shares designated as Shares-in-Trust pursuant to this Section 8.5.
 
(xviii)                    “Trading Day” shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the applicable Equity Shares are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if those Equity Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
 
(xix)                            “Transfer” (as a noun) shall mean any sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition of Equity Shares, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether of record, constructively or beneficially and whether by operation of law or otherwise. “Transfer” (as a verb) shall have the correlative meaning.
 
(xx)                               “Trustee” shall mean any Person or entity unaffiliated with both the Trust and any Prohibited Owner, such Trustee to be designated by the Corporation to act as trustee of any Trust, or any successor trustee thereof.
 
(xxi)                            “Wirth Family” shall mean James F. Wirth, his spouse, lineal descendants of James F. Wirth, any trust of which any of the foregoing are grantors or beneficiaries and any Person owned and controlled by any of the foregoing.
 
(xxii)                         “Wirth Family Limit” shall, initially, mean 34.9% of the number of outstanding shares of any class of Equity Shares.
 

(b)                                  Restriction on Transfers and Non-Transfer Event.

 

(i)                                      Except as set forth in Section 8.5(g) below, from the date hereof to the Restriction Termination Date, (A) no Person (other than an Existing Holder) shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own outstanding Equity Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit, but any Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning outstanding Equity Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit shall be void AB INITIO as to the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event affecting that number of Equity Shares which would be otherwise Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by such Person in excess of the Ownership Limit and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such excess Equity Shares, (B) no Existing Holder (that is not a member of the Wirth Family) shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own outstanding Equity Shares in excess of the Existing Holder Limit, but any Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning outstanding Equity Shares in excess of the Existing Holder Limit shall be void AB INITIO as to the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event affecting that number of Equity Shares which would be otherwise Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by such Person

 

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in excess of the Existing Holder Limit and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such excess Equity Shares, and (C) no Existing Holder that is a member of the Wirth Family shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own outstanding Equity Shares in excess of the Wirth Family Limit, but any Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning outstanding Equity Shares in excess of the Wirth Family Limit shall be void AB INITIO as to the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event affecting that number of Equity Shares which would be otherwise Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by such Person in excess of the Wirth Family Limit and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such excess Equity Shares.
 
(ii)                                   Except as set forth in Section 8.5(g) below, from the date hereof to the Restriction Termination Date, any Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that, if effective, would result in any class of Equity Shares being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 Persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution) shall be void AB INITIO as to the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event affecting that number of shares which would be otherwise beneficially owned (determined without reference to any rules of attribution) by the transferee, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Equity Shares.
 
(iii)                                From the date hereof to the Restriction Termination Date, any Transfer of or Non-Transfer Event affecting Equity Shares that, if effective, would result in the Trust being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be void AB INITIO as to the Transfer of or Non-Transfer Event affecting that number of Equity Shares which would cause the Trust to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Equity Shares.
 
(iv)                               From the date hereof to the Restriction Termination Date, any Transfer of or Non-Transfer Event affecting Equity Shares that, if effective, would cause the Trust to Constructively Own 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant of the real property of the Trust or of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Trust (a “Subsidiary”), within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, shall be void AB INITIO as to the Transfer of or Non-Transfer Event affecting that number of Equity Shares which would cause the Trust to Constructively Own 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant of the Trust’s or of a Subsidiary’s real property, within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such excess Equity Shares.
 

(c)                                   (i) If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Section 8.5, at any time after the date hereof and prior to the Restriction Termination Date there is a purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event such that any Person (other than an Existing Holder) would either Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit, then, (i) except as set forth in Section 8.5(g) below, the purported

 

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transferee shall acquire no right or interest (or, in the case of a Non-Transfer Event, the Person holding record title to the Equity Shares Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by such Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner, shall cease to own any right or interest) in such number of Equity Shares which would cause such Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit, (ii) such number of Equity Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be designated Shares-in-Trust and, in accordance with this Section 8.5, transferred automatically by operation of the terms of this Section 8.5(c)(i) to a trust to be held in accordance with Section 8.6, and (iii) the Prohibited Owner shall submit such number of Equity Shares to the Trust for registration in the name of the Trustee. Such transfer to a trust and the designation of shares as Shares-in-Trust shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, as the case may be.

 

(ii)                                   If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Section 8.5, at any time after the Date hereof and prior to the Restriction Termination Date, there is a purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that, if effective, would (i) result in any class of the Equity Shares being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 Persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), (ii) result in the Trust being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (iii) cause the Trust to Constructively Own 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant of the Trust’s or of a subsidiary’s real property, within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, then (x) the purported transferee shall not acquire any right or interest (or, in the case of a Non-Transfer Event, the Person holding record title to the Equity Shares with respect to which such Non-Transfer Event occurred, shall cease to own any right or interest) in such number of Equity Shares, the ownership of which by such purported transferee or record holder would (A) result in any class of Equity Shares being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 Persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), (B) result in the Trust being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (C) cause the Trust to Constructively Own 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant of the Trust’s or of a subsidiary’s real property, within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, (y) such number of Equity Shares (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be designated Shares-in-Trust and, in accordance with this Section 8.5, transferred automatically by operation of the terms of this Section 8.5 to a Trust to be held in accordance with Section 8.6, and (z) the Prohibited Owner shall submit such number of Equity Shares to the Trust for registration in the name of the Trustee.  Such transfer to a trust and the designation of shares as Shares-in-Trust shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, as the case may be.
 

(d)                                  If the Trust, or its designee, shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer or Non-Transfer Event has taken place in violation of this Section 8.5 or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or

 

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Constructive Ownership of any Equity Shares in violation of this Section 8.5, the Trust shall take such action as it considers advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event or acquisition, including, but not limited to, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Trust or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event or acquisition.

 

(e)                                   Any Person who acquires or attempts to acquire Equity Shares in violation of this Section 8.5, or any Person who owned Equity Shares that were transferred to a trust pursuant to this Section 8.5, shall immediately give written notice to the Trust of such event and shall provide to the Trust such other information as the Trust may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such event on the Trust’s status as a REIT.

 

(f)                                     From the date hereof to the Restriction Termination Date:

 

(i)                                      Every Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of more than 4.9%, or such lower percentage as is specified pursuant to regulations issued under the Internal Revenue Code, of the outstanding shares of any class of shares of the Trust shall, within 30 days after January 1 of each year, provide to the Trust a written statement or affidavit stating the name and address of such Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner, the number of Equity Shares Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned, and a description of how such shares are held.
 
(ii)                                   Each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Equity Shares and each Person (including the shareholder of record) who is holding Equity Shares for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Trust a written statement or affidavit stating such information as the Trust may request in order to determine the Trust’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Ownership Limit as applicable.
 

(g)                                  The Ownership Limit shall not apply to the acquisition of Equity Shares by an underwriter that participates in a public offering of such shares for a period of 90 days following the purchase by such underwriter of such shares.  In addition, the Board of Trustees, upon receipt of a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion of counsel, in either case to the effect that the Trust’s status as a REIT would not be jeopardized thereby, may allow a Person to own a certain amount in excess of the Ownership Limit if (i) the Board of Trustees obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no Person’s Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Equity Shares could result in the Trust (a) losing its REIT status for federal income tax purposes, or (b) being “related” to any tenant or lessee under the REIT rules of the Internal Revenue Code, and (ii) such Person agrees in writing that any violation or attempted violation that could cause such a result will cause a transfer to a trust of Equity Shares pursuant to this Section 8.5.

 

(h)                                  Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, nothing in this Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange.

 

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8.6                                  Shares-in-Trust .

 

(a)                                   Any Equity Shares transferred to a trust and designated Shares-in-Trust pursuant to Section 8.5 shall be held for the exclusive benefit of the Beneficiary.  The Trust shall name a Beneficiary for each Trust within five days after the Trust first has actual notice of the existence thereof.  Any transfer to a Trust, and designation of Equity Shares as Shares-in-Trust, shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that results in the transfer to the Trust. Shares-in-Trust shall continue to constitute issued and outstanding Equity Shares of the Trust and shall be entitled to the same rights and privileges as are all other issued and outstanding Equity Shares of the same class and series.  When transferred to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with this Section 8.6, such Shares-in-Trust shall cease to be designated as Shares-in-Trust.

 

(b)                                  The Trust, as record holder of Shares-in-Trust, shall be entitled to receive all dividends and distributions declared by the Board of Trustees on such Shares-in-Trust and shall hold such dividends and distributions in trust for the benefit of the Beneficiary.  The Prohibited Owner with respect to Shares-in-Trust shall repay to the Trust the amount of any dividends or distributions received by it that (i) are attributable to those Shares-in-Trust and (ii) the record date of which was on or after the date that such shares became Shares-in-Trust.  The Trust shall take all measures that it determines reasonably necessary to recover the amount of any such dividend or distribution paid to a Prohibited Owner, including, if necessary, withholding any portion of future dividends or distributions payable on Equity Shares Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by the Person who, but for the provisions of this Section 8.6, would Constructively Own or Beneficially Own the Shares-in-Trust; and, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Trust’s receipt or withholding thereof, shall pay over to the Trust for the benefit of the Beneficiary the dividends so received or withheld, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or any distribution of the assets of, the Trust, each holder of Shares-in-Trust shall be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of Equity Shares of the same class or series, that portion of the assets of the Trust which is available for distribution to the holders of such class and series of Equity Shares.  The Trust shall distribute to the Prohibited Owner the amounts received upon such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, or distribution; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Prohibited Owner shall not be entitled to receive amounts pursuant to this Section 8.6 in excess of, in the case of a purported Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner gave value for Equity Shares and which Transfer resulted in the transfer of the shares to the Trust, the price per share, if any, such Prohibited Owner paid for the Equity Shares and, in the case of a Non-Transfer Event or Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner did not give value for such shares (e.g., if the shares were received through a gift or devise) and which Non-Transfer Event or Transfer, as the case may be, resulted in the transfer of shares to the Trust, the price per share equal to the Market Price on the date of such Non-Transfer Event or Transfer.  Any remaining amount in such trust shall be distributed to the Beneficiary.

 

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(d)                                  The Trustee shall be entitled to vote all Shares-in-Trust.  Any vote by a Prohibited Owner as a holder of Equity Shares prior to the discovery by the Trust that the Equity Shares are Shares-in-Trust shall, so far as is practicable under applicable law, be rescinded and shall be void AB INITIO with respect to such Shares-in-Trust and the Prohibited Owner shall be deemed to have given, as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that results in the transfer to the Trust of Equity Shares pursuant to this Section 8.6, an irrevocable proxy to the Trustee to vote the Shares-in-Trust in the manner in which the Trustee, in its sole and absolute discretion, considers advisable.

 

(e)                                   Designation of Permitted Transferee.  The Trustee shall have the exclusive and absolute right to designate a Permitted Transferee of any Shares-in-Trust.  In an orderly fashion so as not to materially adversely affect the Market Price of the Shares-in-Trust, the Trustee shall designate a Person as Permitted Transferee, so long as (i) the Permitted Transferee so designated purchases for valuable consideration (whether in a public or private sale) the Shares-in-Trust and (ii) the Permitted Transferee so designated can acquire such Shares-in-Trust without such acquisition resulting in a transfer to a trust and the redesignation of such Equity Shares as Shares-in-Trust.  Upon the designation by the Trustee of a Permitted Transferee, the Trustee shall (i) cause to be transferred to the Permitted Transferee that number of Shares-in-Trust acquired by the Permitted Transferee, (ii) cause to be recorded on the books of the Trust that the Permitted Transferee is the holder of record of such number of Equity Shares, (iii) cause the Shares-in-Trust to be canceled, and (iv) distribute to the Beneficiary any and all amounts held by the Trustee with respect to the Shares-in-Trust after making any payment to the Prohibited Owner required under Sections 8.6(c) and 8.6(f).

 

(f)                                     Compensation to Record Holder of Equity Shares That Become Shares-in-Trust.  Any Prohibited Owner shall be entitled (following designation of Equity Shares proposed or purported to be held by that Prohibited Owner as Shares-in-Trust and subsequent designation of a Permitted Transferee or the Trustee’s acceptance of an offer to purchase such shares) to receive from the Trustee following the sale or other disposition of such Shares-in-Trust the lesser of (i) in the case of (a) a purported Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner gave value for Equity Shares and which Transfer resulted in the transfer of the shares to the Trust, the price per share, if any, such Prohibited Owner paid for the Equity Shares, or (b) a Non-Transfer Event or Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner did not give value for such shares (e.g., if the shares were received through a gift or devise) and which Non-Transfer Event or Transfer, as the case may be, resulted in the transfer of shares to the Trust, the price per share equal to the Market Price on the date of such Non-Transfer Event or Transfer, and (ii) the price per share received by the Trustee from the sale or other disposition of such Shares-in Trust.  Any amounts received by the Trustee in respect of such Shares-in-Trust and in excess of such amounts to be paid to the Prohibited Owner shall be distributed to the Beneficiary.  Each Beneficiary and Prohibited Owner waive any and all claims that they may have against the Trustee and the Trust arising out of the disposition of Shares-in-Trust, except for claims arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or any failure to make payments in accordance with this Section 8.6, by such Trustee or the Trust.

 

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(g)                                  Purchase Right in Shares-in-Trust.  Shares-in-Trust shall be considered to have been offered for sale to the Trust, or its designee, on the date of the event that created such Shares-in-Trust status at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the event that created such Shares-in- Trust status (or, in the case of a devise, gift or Non-Transfer Event, the Market Price at the time of such devise, gift or Non-Transfer Event) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Trust, or its designee, accepts such offer.  The Trust shall have the right to accept such offer for a period of ninety days after the later of (i) the date of the event which created such Shares-in-Trust status and (ii) the date the Trust determines in good faith that an event occurred that created such Shares-in-Trust status, if the Trust does not receive a notice of such event.

 

8.7                                  Remedies Not Limited .

 

Nothing contained in this Section 8.7 shall limit the authority of the Trust to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Trust and the interests of its shareholders by preservation of the Trust’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Ownership Limit.

 

8.8                                  Ambiguity .

 

In the case of any ambiguity in the application of any provision of Sections 8.5 to 8.7, including any definition contained herein, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to determine the application of that provision.

 

8.9                                  Legend .

 

Each certificate for Equity Shares shall bear the following legend:

 

                                                The Common Shares or Preferred Shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on transfer for the purpose of the Trust’s maintenance of its status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).  No Person may (i) Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of 4.9% of the number of outstanding Common Shares, (ii) Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of any class or series of Preferred Shares in excess of 9% of the number of outstanding shares of that class or series of Preferred Shares, (iii) beneficially own Equity Shares that would result in the Equity Shares being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 Persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), (iv) Beneficially Own Equity Shares that would result in the Trust being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code, or (v) Constructively Own Equity Shares that would cause the Trust to Constructively Own 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant of the Trust’s or of a Subsidiary’s real property, within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code.  Each holder of Equity Shares is required to furnish the Trust such information as the Trust may request pursuant to Section 6 of the Trust’s Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust.  Any Person who attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess of the above limitations must immediately notify the Trust in

 

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writing. If those restrictions are violated, the Equity Shares represented hereby in excess of those limitations will be transferred automatically by operation of the Trust’s Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust to a Trust and will be designated Shares-in-Trust.  All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the Trust’s Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, as they may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer, will be sent without charge to each shareholder who so requests.

 

8.10                            Severability .

 

Each provision of Sections 8.5 to 8.9 shall be several, and an adverse determination as to any such provision shall in no way affect the validity of any other provision.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

9.1                                  Meetings of Shareholders .

 

(a)                                   Annual meetings of the Shareholders shall be held at such place within or without the State of Ohio on such day and at such time as the Trustee shall designate.  The business transacted at such meeting shall include the election of Trustees and may include the transaction of such other business as Shareholders may be entitled to vote upon as hereinafter provided in this Article IX, or as the Trustees may determine.  The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of outstanding Shares representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereat shall constitute a quorum at any annual or special meeting.

 

(b)                                  Special meetings of the Shareholders may be called at any time by a majority of the Trustees and shall be called by any Trustee upon written request of Shareholders holding outstanding Shares representing in the aggregate not less than 20% of the voting power of all outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereat, such request specifying the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be called.  Any such meeting shall be held at such place within or without the State of Ohio on such day and at such time as the Trustees shall designate.

 

9.2                                  Notice of Meetings .  Notice of all meetings of the Shareholders, stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the Trustees by mail to each Shareholder entitled to vote thereat at his registered address, mailed at least 10 days and not more than 60 days before the meeting. Only the business stated in the notice of the meeting shall be considered at such meeting.  Any adjourned meeting may be held adjourned without further notice.

 

9.3                                  Voting Rights of Shareholders .  Except as otherwise provided in a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 6.2, the Shareholders shall be entitled to vote only upon the following matters:  (a) election of Trustees as provided in Sections 10.2 or Section 10.4 hereof; (b) termination of the agreement with the Adviser as provided in Section 3.2 hereof; (c) amendment of this Declaration of Trust or termination of this Trust as provided in

 

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Section 12.1 hereof. Except in respect of the foregoing matters specified in this Section 9.3, no action taken by the Shareholders at any meeting shall in any way bind the Trustees. Prior to the first issuance of additional Shares in accordance with the procedure set forth in Section 6.2, each Share shall be entitled to one vote.  Upon the reclassification of Shares pursuant to Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.2(b), each Share issued pursuant to Section 6.1 (and thereafter reclassified and designated as a Class A Common Share or Common Share, as the case may be), shall be entitled to one vote, and each additional Share issued pursuant to Section 6.2 will be entitled to such voting rights as shall have been specified by the resolutions authorizing the class or series of such additional Share pursuant to Section 6.2.

 

9.4                                  Record Date for Meetings .  For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, or who are entitled to participate in any dividend or distribution, or for the purpose of any other action, the Trustees may from time to time close the transfer books for such period, not exceeding 30 days, as the Trustees may determine; or without closing the transfer books the Trustee may fix a date not more than 60 days prior to the date of any meeting of Shareholders or dividend payment or other action as a record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or to receive such dividend or to be treated as Shareholders of record for purposes of such other action, and any Shareholder who was a Shareholder at the time so fixed shall be entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or to receive such dividend, even though he has since that date disposed of his Shares, and no Shareholder becoming such after that date shall be so entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or to receive such dividend or to be treated as Shareholders of record for purposes of such other action.

 

9.5                                  Proxies, etc .  At any meeting of Shareholders, any holder of Shares entitled to vote thereat may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Secretary, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Secretary may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees, proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or one or more of the officers of the Trust.  Neither fractional Shares nor scrip fractional Shares shall be entitled to any vote.  When any Share entitled to vote is held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Share, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Share.  A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger.  If the holder of any such Share is a minor or a person of unsound mind, and subject to guardianship or to the legal control of any other person as regards the charge or management of such Share, he may vote by his guardian or such other person appointed or having such control, and such vote may be given in person or by proxy.

 

9.6                                  Reports .  The Trustees shall cause to be prepared at least annually a report on operations containing a balance sheet and statement of income and undistributed income of the Trust prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and an opinion of an independent certified public accountant or independent public accountant on the financial

 

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statements based on an examination of the books and records of the Trust, and made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.  Copies of such reports shall be mailed to all Shareholders of record within 120 days of the period covered by the report.  The Trustees shall, in addition, furnish to the Shareholders, promptly after the end of each of the first three quarterly periods of every fiscal year, an interim report containing an unaudited balance sheet of the Trust as at the end of such quarterly period and a statement of income and surplus for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such quarterly period.

 

9.7                                  Inspection of Records .  The records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Shareholders to the same extent as is permitted shareholders of an Ohio business corporation.

 

9.8                                  Shareholder Action by Written Consent .  Any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a majority of Shareholders holding outstanding Shares representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding Shares entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust) consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders.  Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.

 

ARTICLE X

 

TRUSTEES

 

10.1                            Number and Qualification .  The number of Trustees shall be fixed from time to time by written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office; provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than five.  Any vacancy created by an increase in Trustees may be filled by the appointment of an individual having the qualifications described in this Section 10.1 made by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office.  Any such appointment shall not become effective, however, until the individual named in the written instrument of appointment shall have accepted in writing such appointment and agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Declaration of Trust.  No reduction in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term.  Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided in Section 10.4 hereof, the Trustees or Trustee continuing in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration of Trust.  A Trustee shall be an individual at least 21 years of age who is not under legal disability.  The Trustees, in their capacity as Trustees, shall not be required to devote their entire time to the business and affairs of the Trust.

 

10.2                            Terms and Election .  Each Trustee named herein, or elected or appointed as provided in Section 10.1 or 10.4 hereof prior to the first annual meeting of Shareholders, shall (except in the event of resignations or removals or vacancies pursuant to Section 10.3 or 10.4 hereof) hold office until his successor has been elected at such meeting and has qualified to serve as Trustee.  The Trustees shall be divided into three classes, to be denominated the “Class A Trustees”, the “Class B Trustees” and the “Class C Trustees”, with the number of Trustees of each such class being as equal as possible, and with each Trustee to be nominated and elected for

 

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a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of shareholders following the annual meeting at which such Trustee was elected; provided, however, that upon the ratification of this Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust by the Shareholders of the Trust, the Trustees shall by resolution designate the Trustees to serve initially as Class A Trustees, Class B Trustees and Class C Trustees.  The initial Class A Trustees shall serve for a term expiring at the Annual Meeting to be held in 1999, the initial Class B Trustees shall serve for a term expiring at the Annual Meeting to be held in 2000, and the initial Class C Trustees shall serve for a term expiring at the Annual Meeting to be held in 2001.  Trustees may succeed themselves in office.  Except as otherwise provided in a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 6.2, election of Trustees at an annual meeting shall be by the affirmative vote of the holders of outstanding Shares representing at least a majority of the voting power of all outstanding Shares entitled to vote present in person or by proxy at such meeting.  The election of any Trustee (other than an individual who was serving as a Trustee immediately prior to such election) pursuant to this Section 10.2 shall not become effective unless and until such person shall have in writing accepted his election and agreed to be bound by the terms of this Declaration of Trust.  Such Trustee may but need not own Shares.

 

10.3                            Resignation and Removal .  Any Trustee may resign his trust (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by him and delivered or mailed to the Chairman, the President, if any, or the Secretary (referred to in Section 10.6 hereof) and such resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the notice.  Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the number required by Section 10.1 hereof) with cause, by the action of two-thirds of the remaining Trustees.  Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, or his otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee, he shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property held in the name of the resigning or removed Trustee.  Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, his legal representative shall execute and deliver on his behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding sentence.

 

10.4                            Vacancies .  The term of office of a Trustee shall terminate and a vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, resignation, bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to exercise the duties of the office, or removal of a Trustee.  No such vacancy shall operate to annul this Declaration of Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust, and title to any Trust Property held in the name of any Trustee alone, jointly with one or more of the other Trustees or otherwise, shall, in the event of the death, resignation, removal, bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to exercise the duties of the office of such Trustee, vest in the continuing or surviving Trustees without necessity of any further act or conveyance.  In the case of an existing vacancy (other than by reason of increase in the number of Trustees), a majority of the Trustees continuing in office acting by written instrument or instruments may fill such vacancy, and any Trustee so elected by the Trustees shall hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders.  Upon the effectiveness of any such appointment as provided in this Section 10.4, the Trust Property shall vest in such new Trustee jointly with the continuing or surviving Trustees without the necessity of any further act or conveyance; provided, however, that no such election or appointment as provided in this Section 10.4 shall become effective unless or until the new Trustee shall have accepted in

 

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writing his appointment and agreed to be bound by the terms of this Declaration of Trust.  Until any vacancies are filled, the remaining Trustee or Trustees (even though less than five) may exercise the powers of the Trustees hereunder.

 

10.5                            Meetings .  Meetings of the Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of the Chairman, the President, if any, the Secretary, or any two Trustees.  Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice at a time and place fixed by the By-Laws or by resolution of the Trustees.  Notice of any other meeting shall be mailed or otherwise given not less than 24 hours before the meeting but may be waived in writing by any Trustee either before or after such meeting.  The attendance of a Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Trustee attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.  The Trustees may act with or without a meeting.  A quorum for all meetings of the Trustees shall be a majority of the Trustees then in office.  Subject to Section 2.17 hereof and unless specifically provided otherwise in this Declaration of Trust, any action of the Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees.  Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other instrument or writing executed by one or more of the Trustees or by any authorized Person shall be valid and binding upon the Trustees and upon the Trust when authorized or ratified by action of the Trustees as provided in this Declaration of Trust.

 

Any Investment Committee may act with or without a meeting.  A quorum for all meetings of any such Committee shall be a majority of members thereof in office.  Unless specifically provided otherwise in this Declaration of Trust, any action of any Investment Committee may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present) or without a meeting by written consents of a majority of the members.

 

In respect of actions of the Trustees and any Investment Committee, Trustees who are affiliated within the meaning of Section 2.17 hereof or otherwise interested in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum purposes under this Section 10.5 and shall be entitled to vote.

 

All or any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees or any committee thereof by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and participation in a meeting pursuant to such communications shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.  The minutes of any meeting of Trustees held by telephone shall be prepared in the same manner as a meeting of Trustees held in person.

 

10.6                            Officers .  The Trustees shall annually elect a Chairman who shall be the principal officer of the Trust.  The Trustees may elect or appoint, from among their number or otherwise, or may authorize the Chairman to appoint, one or more Vice-Chairmen, a President, one or more Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, Secretary, Comptroller, one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers and such other officers or agents, who shall have such powers, duties and responsibilities as the Trustees may deem to be advisable.  Two or more offices may be held by the same person.

 

38



 

10.7                            By-Laws .  The Trustees may adopt, and from time to time amend or repeal, By-Laws for the conduct of the business of the Trust, and in such By-Laws may define the duties of their officers, agents, employees and representatives.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

 

11.1                            General .  Subject to the provisions of Section 6.2, (i) the Trustees may from time to time declare and pay to the Shareholders, in proportion to their respective ownership of Shares, out of the earnings, profits or surplus (including paid-in capital), capital or assets in the hands of the Trustees, such dividends or other distributions as they see fit; and (ii) the declaration and payment of such dividends or other distributions and the determination of earnings, profits, surplus (including paid-in capital) and capital available for dividends and other purposes shall lie wholly in the discretion of the Trustees and no Shareholder shall be entitled to receive or be paid any dividends or to receive any distribution except as determined by the Trustees in the exercise of said discretion of the Trustees and no Shareholder shall be entitled to receive or be paid any dividends or to receive any distribution except as determined by the Trustees in the exercise of said discretion.  The Trustees shall endeavor from time to time to declare and pay such dividends and distributions as shall be necessary for the Trust to qualify as a real estate investment trust under the REIT Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.  The Trustees may, in addition, from time to time in their discretion, declare and pay as dividends or other distributions such additional amounts, whether or not out of earnings, profits and surplus available therefor, sufficient to enable the Trust to avoid or reduce its liability for Federal income taxes, inasmuch as the computations of net income and gains for Federal income tax purposes may vary from the computations thereof on the books of the Trust.  Subject to the provisions of Section 6.2, any or all such dividends or other distributions may be made, in whole or in part, in cash, property, or other assets of the Trust, or in senior or subordinated, secured or unsecured, evidences of indebtedness of the Trust, as the Trustees may in their sole discretion from time to time determine.  The Trustees may also distribute to the Shareholders, in proportion to their respective ownership of Shares, additional Shares in such manner and on such terms as they may deem proper.

 

11.2                            Retained Earnings .  The Trustees, except as provided in Section 11.1 hereof, may also distribute to the Shareholders, in proportion to their respective ownership of Shares, additional Shares in such manner and on such terms as they may deem proper.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

RECORDING OF DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

12.1                            Amendment or Termination .  The provisions of this Declaration of Trust may be amended or altered (except as to the limitations of personal liability of the Shareholders and Trustees and the prohibition of assessments upon Shareholders), or the Trust may be terminated at any meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of outstanding Shares representing not less than two-thirds of the voting power of the Shares then outstanding and entitled to vote, or by an instrument or instruments in writing, without a

 

39



 

meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees and the holders of outstanding Shares representing not less than two-thirds of the voting power of such Shares then outstanding and entitled to vote; provided, however, that, the Trustees may, from time to time by a two-thirds vote of the Trustees, amend or alter the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, without the vote or assent of the Shareholders, to the extent deemed by the Trustees in good faith to be necessary to meet the requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust under the REIT Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or any interpretation thereof by a court or other governmental agency of competent jurisdiction.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no amendment may be made pursuant to this Section 12.1 which would change any rights in respect of any outstanding Shares of the Trust by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation of the Trust or by diminishing or eliminating any voting rights pertaining thereto, except with the vote or written consent of the holders of outstanding Shares representing two-thirds of the voting power of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon, and (ii) except as otherwise expressly provided in this Declaration, no amendment or action may be made pursuant to this Section 12.1 which would change the powers, preferences or rights expressly applicable to any class or series of Shares so as to affect them adversely, except with the vote or written consent of holders of outstanding Shares representing two-thirds of the voting power of the outstanding Shares of such class or series.  Upon the termination of the Trust pursuant to this Section 12.1:

 

(a)                                   The Trust shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs.

 

(i)                                      The Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration of Trust shall continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business; provided that any sale, conveyance, assignment, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Trust Property shall require approval of the principal terms of the transactions and the nature and amount of the consideration by affirmative vote of the holders of outstanding Shares representing not less than a majority of the voting power of all outstanding Shares entitled to vote.
 

(b)                                  After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements, as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust Property, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Shareholders ratably in accordance with the respective rights, restrictions and preferences of their Shares.

 

Upon termination of the Trust and distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and lodge among the records of the Trust an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such termination, and the Trustees shall thereupon be discharged

 

40



 

from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the right, title and interest of all Shareholders shall cease and be cancelled and discharged.

 

12.2                            Power to Effect Reorganization .  The Trustees, after receiving an affirmative vote of the holders of outstanding Shares representing not less than a majority of the voting power of Shares then outstanding and entitled to vote at any meeting of Shareholders, the notice for which included a statement of such proposed action, may select or direct the organization of a corporation, association, trust or other organization with which the Trust may merge, or which shall take over the Trust Property and carry on the affairs of the Trust.  The Trustees may effect such merger or may sell, convey and transfer the Trust Property to any such corporation, association, trust or organization in exchange for shares or securities thereof, or beneficial interests therein with the assumption by such transferee of the liabilities of the Trust; and thereupon the Trustees shall terminate the Trust and deliver such shares, securities or beneficial interest ratably among the Shareholders of this Trust in redemption of their Shares in accordance with respective rights, restrictions and preferences of their Shares.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

13.1                            Governing Law .  This Declaration of Trust is executed by the Trustees and delivered in the State of Ohio and with reference to the laws thereof, and the rights of all parties and the validity, construction and effect of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the laws of said State.

 

13.2                            Counterparts .  This Declaration of Trust may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts, together, shall constitute but one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart.

 

13.3                            Reliance by Third Partie s.  Any certificates executed by an individual who, according to the records of the Trust, or of any recording office in which this Declaration of Trust may be recorded, appears to be a Trustee hereunder, certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the due authorization of the execution of any instrument or writing, (c) the form of any vote passed at a meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (d) the fact that the number of Trustees or Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written instrument satisfies the requirements of this Declaration of Trust, (e) the form of any By-law adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees, or (f) the existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust shall be conclusive evidence as to the matters so certified in favor of any person dealing with the Trustees or any of them and the successors of such person.

 

13.4                            Provisions in Conflict With Law or Regulations .  (a) The provisions of this Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any one or more of such provisions (the “Conflicting Provisions”) are in conflict with the REIT Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable federal or state laws and regulations, the Conflicting Provisions shall be deemed never to have constituted a part

 

41



 

of this Declaration of Trust; provided, however, that such determination by the Trustees shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted (including but not limited to the election of Trustees) prior to such determination.

 

(b)                                  If any provisions of this Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect or render invalid or unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.

 

13.5                            Section Headings .  The section headings and Table of Contents have been inserted for convenience and are not a part of this Declaration of Trust.

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

DURATION OF TRUST

 

14.1                            Duration .  Subject to possible termination in accordance with the provisions of Article XIII hereof, the Trust created hereby shall continue perpetually, except that if under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the Trust hereafter acquires any property, such perpetual duration is not permitted, the Trust shall terminate on the expiration of 20 years after the death of the last survivor of the initial Trustees named herein and the following named persons (provided, however, that as to Trust Property located in any jurisdiction in which such duration is not permitted, the Trust created hereby shall terminate on the latest date permitted by the law of such jurisdiction, using the initial Trustees and the following named persons as measuring lives if so permitted):

 

Michael G. Berick

Randolph D. Lerner

14518 Shaker Boulevard

18020 South Woodland

Shaker Heights, Ohio

Shaker Heights, Ohio

Born: January 1, 1960

Born: February 21, 1962

 

 

Daniel G. Berick

Marc B. Insul

14518 Shaker Boulevard

21810 Halburton

Shaker Heights, Ohio

Beachwood, Ohio

Born: June 25, 1962

Born: July 4, 1968

 

 

Robert G. Berick

Linda S. Pearlman

14518 Shaker Boulevard

22659 Fairmont Boulevard

Shaker Heights, Ohio

Shaker Heights, Ohio

Born: September 19, 1966

Born: August 9, 1966

 

 

Joshua J. G. Berick

Caren E. Pearlman

14518 Shaker Boulevard

22659 Fairmont Boulevard

Shaker Heights, Ohio

Shaker Heights, Ohio

Born: November 20, 1969

Born: April 18, 1969

 

42



 

Nancy F. Lerner

Maria T. Gillombardo

18020 South Woodland

3906 Tyndall Road

Shaker Heights, Ohio

University Heights, Ohio

Born: May 11, 1960

Born: April 27, 1969

 

 

Gina M. Gillombardo

Benjamin D. Zelman

3906 Tyndall Road

2710 Fairmont Boulevard

University Heights, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio

Born: October 19, 1970

Born: March 9, 1964

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed these presents on the day and year first above written.

 

Signed and acknowledged
in the presence of:

 

 

/s/ J. R. Chase

 

/s/ James F. Wirth

 

 

 

James F. Wirth

 

/s/ Barbara E. Rudolph

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Marc E. Berg

 

/s/ Kevin W. Fell

 

Marc E. Berg

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Vonnie Cayeaux

 

/s/ Steve Robson

 

 

 

Steve Robson

 

Signature illegible

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Gregory D. Bruhn

 

Signature illegible

 

Gregory D. Bruhn

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ James B. Aronoff

 

/s/ Lee J. Flory

 

 

 

Lee J. Flory

 

/s/ Jeremy L. Trahan

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Edward G. Hill

 

Signature illegible

 

Edward G. Hill

 

 

 

 

/s/ Gloria J. Sinclair

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Linda A. Kilcoi

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Edward A. Kast

 

 

 

43


Exhibit 10.2

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT made and entered into as of the 31 st day of January, 1998, by and between REALTY ReFUND TRUST, an unincorporated association in the form of a business trust organized under the laws of the State of Ohio having its principal business address at 1750 Huntington Building, 925 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 (the “Trust”), and JAMES F. WIRTH, c/o InnSuites Hotels LLC, 1615 East Northern Avenue, Suite 105, Phoenix, Arizona 85020-3998 (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS :

 

The Trust has been engaged since 1971 in the business of refinancing existing income-producing commercial, industrial and multi-unit residential real property by supplementing or replacing existing financing and is currently redirecting its business to developing and owning lodging properties.  The Trust is party to an Advisory Agreement, dated as of June 15, 1971, as the same has been extended and amended (the “Advisory Agreement”), with Mid-America ReaFund Advisors, Inc. (The “Adviser”), assignee of ReaFund Advisors, Inc.  Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to furnish advice and recommendations in respect of all aspects of the business and affairs of the Trust and to furnish day-to-day administration for the Trust.

 

The Employee is Chairman, President and Director of the Adviser.  He has, effective on the date hereof, also been elected Chairman and President of the Trust.  The Trustees determined that it was desirable to provide for continuity and to assure the Trust that the services presently being furnished to it by the Adviser would be furnished by the Employee without any cost or expense to the Trust in excess of that called for under the terms of the Advisory Agreement in the event of any termination of the Advisory Agreement.

 

AGREEMENTS :

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and their mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                        Employment

 

The Trust hereby employs Employee as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Trust, and Employee hereby accepts such employment upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

2.                                        Term

 

Subject to the provisions for earlier termination as hereinafter provided, this Agreement shall commence upon the execution hereof and shall continue through and including the 31st day of December, 2007.

 

1



 

3.                                        Duties

 

(A)                               Employee shall devote such business time, attention and energies to the business of the Trust as he shall deem necessary to perform for the Trust all of the duties and services required of him hereunder and shall serve both diligently and to the best of his ability.  Employee further shall perform such other duties as he shall deem to be normally incident to the positions of Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Trust.  In addition to his duties as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Employee shall perform or provide for the performance of all of the duties and services set forth in Section 1 of the Advisory Agreement; provided, however, that so long as the Advisory Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, the Advisor shall perform the Advisory duties thereunder.

 

(B)                                 If the Trustees of the Trust request the Employee to engage in other activities which complement the Trust’s investments, Employee may receive compensation or commissions therefor from the Trust or such other persons.

 

4.                                        Compensation

 

During the term of this Agreement, so long as the Adviser is performing its services and duties under the terms of the Advisory Agreement and being paid compensation in respect thereof, the Trust shall not pay to the Employee any monetary consideration. In the event that at any time during the term hereof the Adviser shall cease to serve the Trust as its Adviser under the terms of the Advisory Agreement and to receive compensation therefor (regardless of the reason for such cessation), then and thereafter during the remaining term of this Agreement the Employee shall receive as compensation in full for all of his services hereunder an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Regular Compensation and the Incentive Compensation that would have been paid to the Adviser in respect of such period pursuant to Sections 9, 10 and
11(a) of the Advisory Agreement; and bear all expenses and pay all costs and charges of the kind or nature that would have been paid or borne by the Adviser prior to the termination of the Advisory Agreement.

 

In the event of cessation of the Advisory Agreement, the Employee’s compensation shall be subject to adjustment by the Trust in accordance with, and upon completion of, the annual audit of the Trust’s financial statements, and subject to the same limitations on the compensation of Adviser as contained in Section 15 of the Advisory Agreement.

 

Employee shall, in addition to the foregoing, participate in any employee benefit programs established by the Trust, including, but not limited to, health and accident insurance, group life insurance, stock option plans, pension plans and profit sharing plans.

 

2



 

5.                                        Termination

 

At the option of the Trust, this Agreement may be terminated immediately upon written notice of termination from the Trust to Employee if any of the following events shall occur:

 

(i)                                      If Employee materially shall violate any provision of this Agreement and, after written notice of such violation, shall not cure such default within thirty (30) days (provided, however, that if Employee shall not be reasonably able to cure such default within such thirty (30) day period, if Employee shall not have commenced promptly to cure such default and diligently pursued the same to completion); or

 

(ii)                                   If Employee shall die; or

 

(iii)                                If Employee shall become disabled for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months.  As used herein, “disabled” shall mean such physical or mental impairment of Employee as shall result in his being unable to perform his full duties hereunder; or

 

(iv)                               If Employee shall so consent.

 

6.                                        Covenant Against Competition

 

(A)                               During the period commencing with the date hereof and continuing until the latter of the expiration of the term of this Agreement or until December 31, 2008 if this Agreement shall be terminated for the reasons specified in Section 5(A)(i) hereof, Employee agrees that, except as an employee of the Adviser while the Adviser is serving as adviser to the Trust pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement, Employee shall not, without the prior approval of the Trustees, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)                                      Act as the investment advisor for any other person or entity (“person”) or enter into an investment advisory contract therewith or contract to perform other services with any other real estate investment trust or other person the investment policy of which is substantially similar to that of the Trust at that time.  However, Employee may act as an investment advisor and perform other services for persons other than the Trust in situations in which such persons are participating in investments with the Trust or which have investment policies substantially dissimilar to that of the Trust.

 

(ii)                                   Either as an individual for Employee’s own account or as an investor, or other participant in, or as an employee, agent or representative of, any other business enterprise:

 

3



 

(a)                                   solicit, divert, entice, take away or interfere with, or attempt to solicit, divert, entice or take away or interfere with, any of the Trust’s business, patronage, borrowers or investment opportunities except as permitted pursuant to Subparagraph (i) hereof; or

 

(b)                                  engage or participate in or finance, aid or be connected with, any commercial enterprise which competes with any of the business activities which the Trust is conducting at such time.

 

The foregoing, however, shall not be deemed to prohibit the investment without a role in management by Employee in the equity or debt securities of any company otherwise within the ambit of this covenant and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.

 

(B)                                 If it shall be judicially determined that Employee has violated any of the covenants or agreements to be performed and/or observed by Employee pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6, then the period applicable to such of said covenants or agreements as shall have been so determined to have been violated by Employee shall automatically be extended by that period of time which shall be co-extensive with the period during which said violations have occurred.

 

(C)                                 Subject only to the rules and procedures set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, Employee can continue to engage in all facets of the real estate business and business affairs generally.  Furthermore, subject to the foregoing, Employee, or any entity in which he is an officer, director, shareholder, employee, partner (general or limited) or otherwise interested, may borrow from the Trust or purchase properties on which the Trust is a lender.

 

Employee acknowledges that the covenants contained in this Section 6 are of the essence of this Agreement; said covenants shall be construed as independent of any other provisions of this Agreement; and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Employee against the Trust, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Trust of these covenants.

 

Recognizing the irreparable nature of the injury that could result from Employee’s violation of any of the covenants and agreements to be performed and/or observed by Employee pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6, and that damages would be inadequate compensation, it is agreed that any violation by Employee of the provisions of this Section 6 shall be the proper subject for immediate injunctive and other equitable relief to the Trust.  Employee further agrees to communicate the contents of this Section 6 to any prospective employer or associate of Employee which has an investment policy which is substantially similar to that of the Trust.

 

4



 

7.                                        Governing Law

 

The laws of the State of Arizona shall govern the validity, performance and enforcement of this Agreement.  If any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall, to any extent, be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement or the application of such term or provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid or unenforceable shall not be affected thereby, and each term and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.  If the invalidity or unenforceablitiy of any covenant or restriction herein is due to the unreasonableness of the time or the fact that no geographical area is specified for the coverage of any said covenant or restriction, the said covenant or restriction shall nevertheless be effective for such period of time and for such geographical area as may be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

8.                                        Assignment

 

This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Trust without the written consent of Employee.

 

9.                                        The Entire Agreement

 

The foregoing is the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof, and no waiver, amendment or modification hereof shall be valid unless in writing and signed by both parties.

 

10.                                  Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

11.                                  Notices

 

All notices hereunder shall be in writing and delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the parties at the addresses listed below or to such other address as the Trust or Employee may hereafter designate in writing to the other.  A copy of any such notice shall also be telecopied at the time of its mailing to the number listed below for the relevant party.

 

5



 

12.                                  The Trust

 

The name Realty ReFund Trust is the designation of the Trustees under a Declaration of Trust dated April 28, 1971, as amended, and all persons dealing with Realty ReFund Trust must look solely to the Trust property for the enforcement of any claims against Realty ReFund Trust as neither the Trustees, officers, agents nor security holders assume any personal liabilities for covenants or obligations entered into on behalf of Realty ReFund Trust and their respective properties shall not be subject to any claims of any other person in respect of such liability.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written, the Trust pursuant to the authorization of its Trustees.

 

 

REALTY ReFUND TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s/ Gregory D. Bruhn

 

 

Gregory D. Bruhn

 

Executive Vice President

 

1750 Huntington Building

 

925 Euclid Avenue

 

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

 

Phone: (216) 622-0046

 

Fax: (216) 622-1477

 

 

 

THE TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ James F. Wirth

 

 

James F. Wirth

 

1615 E. Northern Avenue

 

Suite 105

 

Phoenix, Arizona 85020

 

Phone: (602) 944-1500

 

Fax: (602) 678-0281

 

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

6


Exhibit 10.10

 

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

$78,000

 

July 26, 2002

 

FOR VALUED RECEIVED, and legally bound hereby, INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST (“Maker”), an Ohio real estate investment trust, having an office at 1615 East Northern Avenue, Suite 102, Phoenix, Arizona 85020 hereby promises to pay to The Anderson Charitable Remainder Unitrust (“Note Holder”) or order and address as specified below the principal sum of SEVENTY EIGHT  THOUSAND 00/100 DOLLARS ($78,000), with interest on the unpaid principal balance thereon from time to time outstanding, at the rate of seven percent (7.00%) per annum, computed on a three hundred sixty (360)-day year, to be due and payable in installments of principal and interest as follows:

 

(A)                               $78,000 amortized over 36 months at 7% interest ($2,408.41/month). This Note is non-recourse secured by 40,500 InnSuites Hospitality Trust shares. Monthly installments of principal and interest to begin 30 days after the delivery of the shares.

 

(B)                                 Payments to be made payable to:

The Anderson Charitable Remainder Unitrust

3024 W/ Sahuaro Dr.

Phoenix, AZ 85029

 

The 40,500 InnSuites Hospitality Trust shares will remain as security for the unpaid balance on the Note.

 

At the option of the Note Holder, late charges upon written notice are assessed as follows:

10 days late, $50 penalty

35 days late, $150 penalty

Over 35 days late, Note Holder could declare the note in default and call the entire amount due.

Should default be declared, units proportionate to unpaid balance will be returned to Note Holder.

 

Principal and interest payable in lawful money of the United States.

 

If legal proceedings are entered into to recover on this Note, the undersigned agree(s) to pay such sum as the Court may fix as attorney’s fees.

 

The Makers and endorsers hereof severally waive diligence, demand, presentment for payment and protest, and consent to the extension or time of payment of this Note without notice.

 

 

 

INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST,
an Ohio real estate investment trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marc E. Berg

 

 

 

Name:

Marc E. Berg

 

 

Title:

Secretary Treasurer

 

1


Exhibit 21

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

 

1.             RRF Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

2.             Yuma Hospitality Properties, Ltd., an Arizona limited partnership.

 

3.             Northern Phoenix Investment Limited Partnership, an Arizona limited partnership.

 

4.             Tucscon Hospitality Properties, Ltd, an Arizona limited partnership.

 

5.             Ontario Hospitality Properties Limited Partnership, an Arizona limited partnership.

 

6.             Tucson St. Mary’s Suite Hospitality LLC, an Arizona limited liability company.

 

7.             Albuquerque Suite Hospitality LLC, an Arizona limited liability company.

 

8.             InnSuites Hotels, Inc., an Arizona corporation.

 


Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Independent

Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (No. 333-46030) on Form S-8 of InnSuites Hospitality Trust and subsidiaries of our report dated May 5, 2005, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as of January 31, 2005 and for the year then ended.

 

 

 

/s/ EPSTEIN, WEBER & CONOVER, P.L.C.

 

Scottsdale, Arizona

May 5, 2005

 


 

Exhibit 23.2

 

 

 

Independent Auditor’s Consent

 

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-46030 of InnSuites Hospitality Trust on Form S-8 of our report, dated March 12, 2004, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of InnSuites Hospitality Trust for the years ended January 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

/s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP

 

Phoenix, Arizona

May 13, 2005

 


 

EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, James F. Wirth, certify that:

 

1.                                        I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of InnSuites Hospitality Trust;

 

2.                                        Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                                        Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                                        The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

a)                                       Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision,  to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)                                      Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

c)                                       Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                                        The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a)                                       All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)                                      Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date: May 16, 2005

By:

/s/ James F. Wirth

 

 

 

Name: James F. Wirth

 

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 


EXHIBIT 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Anthony B. Waters, certify that:

 

1.                                        I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of InnSuites Hospitality Trust;

 

2.                                        Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                                        Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                                        The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

a)                                       Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)                                      Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

c)                                       Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                                        The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a)                                       All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)                                      Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date: May 16, 2005

By:

/s/ Anthony B. Waters

 

 

 

Name:

Anthony B. Waters

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 


EXHIBIT 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, James F. Wirth, Chief Executive Officer of InnSuites Hospitality Trust (the “Company”), do hereby certify in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

1. The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended January 31, 2005 (the “Annual Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

 

2. The information contained in the Annual Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

Date:   May 16, 2005

By:

/s/    James F. Wirth

 

 

 

Name: James F. Wirth

 

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 


EXHIBIT 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Anthony B. Waters, Chief Financial Officer of InnSuites Hospitality Trust (the “Company”), do hereby certify in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

1. The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended January 31, 2005 (the “Annual Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

 

2. The information contained in the Annual Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

Date: May 16, 2005

By:

/s/    Anthony B. Waters

 

 

 

Name: Anthony B. Waters

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer