Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

 

 

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008

 

OR

 

 

o

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

 

 

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission File Number 001-33274

 

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

20-5701514

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Organization)

 

 

 

24601 Center Ridge Road, Suite 200, Westlake, OH  44145-5639

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(440) 808-9100

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

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 x   No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer  o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer x

 

Smaller reporting company  o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes o   No x

 

N umber of Common Shares outstanding at August 8, 2008: 14,504,185 common shares.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC

 

FORM 10-Q

 

June 30, 2008

 

INDEX

 

 

Page

 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) as of June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) for the three months ended June 30, 2008, and the three months ended June 30, 2007 for TravelCenters of America LLC.

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) for the six months ended June 30, 2008, and the five months ended June 30, 2007, for TravelCenters of America, LLC, and the one month ended January 31, 2007 for TravelCenters of America, Inc. (predecessor)

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the six months ended June 30, 2008, and the five months ended June 30, 2007 for TravelCenters of America LLC, and the one month ended January 31, 2007, for TravelCenters of America, Inc. (predecessor)

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

5

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

14

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

27

 

 

 

 

Item 4T.

 

Controls and Procedures

28

 

 

 

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

29

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

29

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

30

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

30

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

 

Other Information

30

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warning Concerning Forward Looking Statements

33

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

35

 

As used herein the terms “we”, “us”, “our” and “TA” include TravelCenters of America LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

 



Table of Contents

 

Part I.  Financial Information

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

106,347

 

$

148,876

 

Restricted cash

 

 

4,801

 

Restricted investments

 

 

271,415

 

Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,120 as of June 30, 2008 and $2,327 as of December 31, 2007)

 

169,424

 

110,555

 

Inventories

 

155,411

 

148,005

 

Leasehold improvement receivable

 

13,139

 

25,000

 

Other current assets

 

55,132

 

37,362

 

Total current assets

 

499,453

 

746,014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

420,740

 

397,266

 

Intangible assets, net

 

37,718

 

39,962

 

Leasehold improvement receivable

 

10,428

 

63,320

 

Other noncurrent assets

 

16,675

 

16,759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

985,014

 

$

1,263,321

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current maturities of long term debt

 

$

 

$

262,866

 

Accounts payable

 

212,633

 

154,906

 

Other current liabilities

 

138,657

 

150,011

 

Total current liabilities

 

351,290

 

567,783

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

55,995

 

55,479

 

Capital lease obligations

 

104,779

 

105,859

 

Deferred rental allowance

 

91,376

 

94,760

 

Total liabilities

 

603,440

 

823,881

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares, no par value, 14,506,705 and 14,489,265 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively

 

540,027

 

539,476

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

1,068

 

1,272

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(159,521

)

(101,308

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

381,574

 

439,440

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

985,014

 

$

1,263,321

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

1



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

$

1,963,803

 

$

1,222,286

 

Non-fuel

 

310,392

 

261,545

 

Rent and royalties

 

3,630

 

2,941

 

Total revenues

 

2,277,825

 

1,486,772

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation):

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

1,903,502

 

1,181,476

 

Non-fuel

 

131,397

 

110,289

 

Total cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation)

 

2,034,899

 

1,291,765

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Site level operating

 

159,403

 

125,512

 

Selling, general & administrative

 

23,289

 

25,278

 

Real estate rent

 

58,411

 

46,969

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

11,134

 

8,029

 

Total operating expenses, net

 

252,237

 

205,788

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

 

(9,311

)

(10,781

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in income of joint venture

 

268

 

190

 

Interest income

 

2,109

 

3,822

 

Interest expense

 

(2,673

)

(3,530

)

Loss before income taxes

 

(9,607

)

(10,299

)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

150

 

(3,960

)

Net loss

 

(9,757

)

(6,339

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments, (net of taxes of $(36) and $(222), respectively)

 

199

 

445

 

Comprehensive loss

 

$

(9,558

)

$

(5,894

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

 

14,206

 

8,809

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted loss per share

 

$

(0.69

)

$

(0.72

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Company

 

 

Predecessor

 

 

 

Six Months

 

Five Months

 

 

One Month

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

 

Ended

 

 

 

June 30, 2008

 

June 30, 2007

 

 

January 31, 2007

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

$

3,583,085

 

$

1,818,429

 

 

$

285,053

 

Non-fuel

 

595,445

 

400,269

 

 

66,795

 

Rent and royalties

 

7,160

 

4,428

 

 

834

 

Total revenues

 

4,185,690

 

2,223,126

 

 

352,682

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

3,480,773

 

1,760,878

 

 

270,694

 

Non-fuel

 

249,539

 

166,523

 

 

27,478

 

Total cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation)

 

3,730,312

 

1,927,401

 

 

298,172

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Site level operating

 

317,965

 

197,886

 

 

36,093

 

Selling, general & administrative

 

56,042

 

37,024

 

 

8,892

 

Real estate rent

 

116,093

 

74,259

 

 

931

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

22,071

 

13,357

 

 

5,786

 

Merger related

 

 

 

 

44,972

 

Total operating expenses, net

 

512,171

 

322,526

 

 

96,674

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

 

(56,793

)

(26,801

)

 

(42,164

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt extinguishment expenses

 

 

 

 

(16,140

)

Equity in income of joint venture

 

356

 

190

 

 

 

Interest income

 

5,309

 

5,117

 

 

1,131

 

Interest expense

 

(6,738

)

(4,267

)

 

(5,345

)

Loss before income taxes

 

(57,866

)

(25,761

)

 

(62,518

)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

347

 

(9,804

)

 

(40,470

)

Net loss

 

(58,213

)

(15,957

)

 

(22,048

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments, (net of taxes of $70, $(273) and $(47), respectively)

 

(204

)

567

 

 

(47

)

Comprehensive loss

 

$

(58,417

)

$

(15,390

)

 

$

(22,095

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

 

14,202

 

8,809

 

 

6,937

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted loss per share

 

$

(4.10

)

$

(1.81

)

 

$

(3.18

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Company

 

 

Predecessor

 

 

 

Six Months

 

Five Months

 

 

One Month

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

 

Ended

 

 

 

June 30, 2008

 

June 30, 2007

 

 

January 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(58,213

)

$

(15,957

)

 

$

(22,048

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncash rent expense

 

4,099

 

7,457

 

 

34

 

Cash received for leasehold improvements sold to Hospitality Trust

 

67,729

 

8,664

 

 

 

Share based compensation expense

 

550

 

 

 

4,268

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

22,071

 

13,357

 

 

5,786

 

Equity in income of joint venture

 

(356

)

(190)

 

 

 

Amortization of debt premium

 

 

(1,077

)

 

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

119

 

 

 

267

 

Debt extinguishment expenses

 

 

 

 

16,140

 

Deferred income tax provision

 

 

(854

)

 

(33,827

)

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

726

 

262

 

 

50

 

Unrealized gain on restricted investments

 

 

(805

)

 

 

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(59,479

)

(18,476

)

 

9,112

 

Inventories

 

(7,422

)

(11,540

)

 

4,779

 

Other current assets

 

(17,768

)

(20,401

)

 

(10,452

)

Accounts payable and other current accrued liabilities

 

66,745

 

12,574

 

 

59,966

 

Other, net

 

(5,917

)

(4,986

)

 

5,950

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

12,884

 

(31,972

)

 

40,025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisitions of businesses

 

 

(25,577

)

 

 

Proceeds from asset sales

 

2,726

 

 

 

35

 

Proceeds from assets sold to Hospitality Trust

 

 

1,438

 

 

 

    Capital expenditures

 

(62,913

)

(39,328

)

 

(7,176

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(60,187

)

(63,467

)

 

(7,141

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in checks drawn in excess of bank balances

 

 

 

 

(8,170

)

Long term debt repayments

 

 

 

 

(54

)

Cash security for letters of credit refunded (deposited)

 

4,801

 

(36,360

)

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

4,801

 

(36,360

)

 

(8,224

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

(27

)

(7

 

(7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

 

(42,529

)

(131,806

)

 

24,653

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

 

148,876

 

245,010

 

 

55,297

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

 

$

106,347

 

$

113,204

 

 

$

79,950

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 

1.                                       Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Organization

 

TravelCenters of America LLC, which we refer to as the Company, we, us and our, operates and franchises travel centers under the “TravelCenters of America,” “TA” and “Petro” brands primarily along the U.S. interstate highway system. Our customers include trucking fleets and their drivers, independent truck drivers and motorists.  Our travel centers are typically 20 to 25 acre sites and provide our customers with diesel fuel and gasoline as well as nonfuel products and services such as truck repair and maintenance services, full service restaurants, quick service restaurants, travel and convenience stores and various other driver services. We also collect rents and franchise royalties from our franchisees.

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited. The unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, applicable for interim financial statements. Therefore, the disclosures do not include all the information necessary for complete financial statements in accordance with GAAP.  These unaudited interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.  In the opinion of our management, all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Our operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.

 

At June 30, 2008, our business included 236 travel centers in 41 states and in Canada, 167 of which were operated under the “Travel Centers of America” or “TA” brand names and 69 that were operated under the “Petro” brand name. We operated 189 of these travel centers, which we refer to as Company operated sites, and our franchisees operated 47 of these travel centers including 10 travel centers which our franchisees sublease from us and 37 travel centers which our franchisees own or lease from other lessors.

 

We were formed as a Delaware limited liability company on October 10, 2006. Our initial capitalization of one dollar was provided by Hospitality Properties Trust, or Hospitality Trust, on our formation date. Until January 31, 2007, we were a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Hospitality Trust that conducted no business activities.  On January 31, 2007, Hospitality Trust acquired Travel Centers of America, Inc., our predecessor, through a merger of a subsidiary of ours with and into TravelCenters of America, Inc., restructured the business of our predecessor and distributed our then outstanding shares to Hospitality Trust shareholders in a spin off transaction.  The principal effects of the restructuring were that (i) our predecessor became our 100% owned subsidiary, (ii) subsidiaries of Hospitality Trust that we do not own became owners of the real estate at substantially all of the travel centers and certain other assets previously owned by our predecessor, (iii) we entered a lease for that real estate and those other assets with Hospitality Trust, which we refer to as the TA Lease, and (iv) all of the outstanding indebtedness of our predecessor was repaid in full.  We refer to these January 31, 2007 events as the HPT Transaction (see Note 3). We retained the balance of the assets previously owned by our predecessor and continued their operations.  We sometimes refer to Hospitality Trust and the subsidiaries of Hospitality Trust from which we lease properties collectively as Hospitality Trust.

 

On May 30, 2007, we acquired Petro Stopping Centers, L.P., or Petro, from Petro Stopping Centers Holdings, L.P., or Petro Holdings, which transaction we refer to as the Petro Acquisition (see Note 3).  Also on May 30, 2007, Hospitality Trust acquired Petro Holdings, which owned the real estate of 40 Petro travel centers.  Simultaneously with Hospitality Trust’s acquisition of this real estate, we leased these 40 travel centers from Hospitality Trust. We refer to this lease as the Petro Lease.

 

2.                                       Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, or FAS 157. FAS 157 provides a common fair value hierarchy for companies to follow in determining fair value measurements in the preparation of financial statements and expands disclosure requirements relating to how such fair value measurements were developed. FAS 157 clarifies the principle that fair value should be based on the assumptions that the marketplace would use when pricing an asset or liability, rather than company specific data.  FAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  However, on February 12, 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position 157-2 which delayed the effective date of FAS 157 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair

 

5



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 

value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. For items within its scope, this Staff Position defers the effective date of FAS 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.  The Company adopted FAS 157 effective January 1, 2008 for its financial assets and liabilities and this adoption did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.  The Company does not believe that the adoption , effective January 1, 2009, of FAS 157 for its non-financial assets and liabilities will have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations”, or FAS 141(R).  FAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer shall recognize and measure in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and goodwill acquired in a business combination.  FAS 141(R) is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008.  We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting FAS 141(R) will have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

3.                                       HPT Transaction and Petro Acquisition

 

On January 31, 2007, the HPT Transaction was consummated and we entered the TA Lease.  On May 30, 2007, we consummated the Petro Acquisition and entered the Petro Lease.  Significant differences exist between our statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and that of our predecessor.

 

The following unaudited pro forma information presents our results of operations for the 2007 periods as if both the HPT Transaction and the Petro Acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2007:

 

 

 

Three Months
Ended June 30,
2007

 

Six Months
Ended June 30,
2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

1,856,708

 

$

3,450,135

 

Net loss

 

$

(21,961

)

$

(76,607

)

Loss per common share

 

$

(2.49

)

$

(8.90

)

 

These pro forma results of operations are presented for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations that actually would have resulted had the HPT Transaction and the Petro Acquisition occurred at the beginning of the period presented, or that may result in the future.  The pro forma results for the six months ended June 30, 2007 include $66,554 of merger related expenses, $16,662 of debt extinguishment expenses and $4,268 of share based compensation expense, each incurred by our predecessor or Petro as a result of the HPT Transaction or our Petro Acquisition, and $8,369 of expenses related to employee retention and separation payments.  The pro forma results for the three months ended June 30, 2007 include $21,582 of merger related expenses and $522 of debt extinguishment expenses incurred by Petro as a result of our Petro Acquisition, and $6,449 of expenses related to employee retention and separation payments.  We do not include motor fuel taxes in our fuel revenues and fuel cost of sales; however prior to the Petro Acquisition, Petro included motor fuel taxes in their fuel revenues and fuel cost of sales.  For purposes of the pro forma presentation provided above, these amounts, for periods prior to May 30, 2007, have not been removed from Petro’s reported revenues prior to the Petro Acquisition.  For the three months ended June 30, 2007, the total revenues presented above include $52,161 of motor fuel taxes that were also included in fuel cost of sales.  For the six months ended June 30, 2007, the total revenues presented above include $130,240 of motor fuel taxes that were also included in fuel cost of sales.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 

4.                                       Earnings Per Share

 

As of the date of the HPT Transaction and continuing through June 30, 2008 we did not have any share options or warrants outstanding.  Shares granted under our equity incentive plan are included in our basic and fully diluted weighted average share counts except to the extent of unvested shares, which would have had an anti-dilutive effect on loss per share for the periods ended June 30, 2008.  The assumed exercise of our predecessor’s stock options and warrants, all of which were cancelled in connection with the HPT Transaction, would have had an anti-dilutive effect on loss per share for the one month period ended January 31, 2007.

 

5.                                       Inventories

 

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-fuel merchandise

 

$

110,754

 

$

105,222

 

Petroleum products

 

 

44,657

 

 

42,783

 

Total inventories

 

$

155,411

 

$

148,005

 

 

6.                                       Restricted Investments and Current Maturities of Long Term Debt

 

The 9% Notes.  Simultaneously with the Petro Acquisition, we and Hospitality Trust made arrangements to call Petro’s 9% Senior Secured Notes due 2012, which we refer to as the 9% Notes, by depositing with the trustee for the 9% Notes U.S. Treasury obligations sufficient to effect a covenant defeasance, to pay all of the interest due on the 9% Notes until the redemption date and to pay the full amount of the 9% Notes, including the redemption premium, on the redemption date of February 15, 2008. On December 31, 2007, $250,000 in principal amount of the 9% Notes was outstanding.  The 9% Notes were our obligations and remained so until the redemption date, and are included on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2007, at their estimated fair value, which includes the redemption premium.  On February 15, 2008, we paid the 9% Notes, the redemption premium and accrued interest using funds from the restricted investments that had been held by the trustee for that purpose.

 

Revolving Credit Facility.  We have a $100,000 revolving credit agreement, or credit facility, under which a maximum of $100,000 may be drawn, repaid and redrawn until maturity in November 2012. The maximum amount is subject to limits based on qualified collateral. The credit facility may be used for general business purposes and provides for the issuance of letters of credit. Generally, no principal payments are due until maturity. Credit facility borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus a spread (currently 100 basis points, subject to adjustment based upon facility availability, utilization and other requirements), and are secured principally by our accounts receivable and inventory.  On July 8, 2008, we entered an amendment to the credit facility to add certain previously excluded receivables and inventory as qualified collateral, subject to completion of lender due diligence.

 

The credit facility requires maintenance of collateral, limits the incurrence of debt and liens, restricts the making of certain investments and the payment of dividends and other distributions, requires a minimum fixed charge ratio under certain circumstances and has other customary covenants, events of default and other provisions. The credit facility provides for acceleration of principal and interest payments upon an event of default. Events of default include, but are not limited to, failure to pay interest or other amounts due, a change in control of us, as defined in the credit facility, and our default of the lease agreements with Hospitality Trust or our management and shared services agreement with Reit Management & Research LLC, or Reit Management.

 

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TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 

At December 31, 2007 and June 30, 2008, there were no amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility, but at June 30, 2008, we had issued $69,442 of letters of credit under this facility, which we caused to be issued to secure certain purchases, insurance, fuel tax and other trade obligations.

 

7.                                       Shareholders’ Equity and Equity Incentive Plans

 

On January 31, 2007, as part of the HPT Transaction, Hospitality Trust distributed 8,808,575 of our common shares to its shareholders in a spin off transaction.  In July and August 2007 we issued an additional 5,335,090 of our common shares in a public offering.

 

Equity Incentive Plans.  An aggregate of 2,000,000 of our common shares are reserved for issuance under the terms of our 2007 Equity Compensation Plan, or the Plan.  During the six months ended June 30, 2008, 25,000 shares were awarded under the Plan.  These shares were valued at $56, based upon the closing price of our shares on the American Stock Exchange on the date of the grant.  As of June 30, 2008, 1,636,960 shares remained available for issuance under our Plan.  We recognized $349 and $550 of noncash share based compensation expense for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2008, respectively, and recognized no such expense during the five months ended June 30, 2007.

 

Our predecessor had a share option plan that we did not assume. All 939,375 share options that were outstanding under our predecessor’s share option plan as of December 31, 2006 were cancelled as part of the HPT Transaction on January 31, 2007. Our predecessor recognized share based compensation expense of $4,268 in January 2007 when its outstanding options vested and were cancelled as a result of the HPT Transaction.

 

8.                                       Related Party Transactions

 

One of our Managing Directors, Barry Portnoy, is a managing trustee of Hospitality Trust and the Chairman and majority owner of Reit Management.  Our other Managing Director and President and our Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer are also senior vice presidents of Reit Management.  In addition to providing services to us, Reit Management also provides services to Hospitality Trust.  For these reasons, we consider Hospitality Trust and Reit Management to be related parties.  For a more complete description of the relationships among us, Hospitality Trust and Reit Management, please review the contracts among these parties which are publicly available as exhibits to our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and are accessible at the SEC website, www.sec.gov, and also see our descriptions of these relationships in our Proxy Statement for our 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the description of the risks which may arise from these relationships in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, both of which documents are also accessible on the SEC website.

 

We were formerly a 100% subsidiary of Hospitality Trust and Hospitality Trust is our principal landlord.  During 2007 we completed both the HPT Transaction and the Petro Acquisition together with Hospitality Trust.  Under these leases we are required to pay the following rent amounts: (i) minimum amounts of rent to Hospitality Trust specified in the leases, (ii) additional rent to Hospitality Trust in connection with certain sales to Hospitality Trust of qualifying improvements at sites leased from Hospitality Trust, and (iii) the underlying ground lease payments at those sites subleased to us by Hospitality Trust, which ground lease payments we pay directly to the party from whom Hospitality Trust leases the site.  In certain cases Hospitality Trust has exercised purchase options or otherwise acquired the leased properties that had previously been subleased to us and we now pay the related ground lease rents to Hospitality Trust.  On May 12, 2008, we and Hospitality Trust amended the TA Lease.  Under the TA Lease, we can sell to Hospitality Trust certain capital improvements we make to properties owned by Hospitality Trust with no increase in our rent payable to Hospitality Trust.  These sales were limited to $125,000 but no more than $25,000 in any one year.  This lease amendment permits us to sell to Hospitality Trust qualified improvements which we have made or may make to the travel centers leased from Hospitality Trust under the TA Lease on an expedited basis.  In the event that we elect to sell these capital improvements before the time contractually permitted by the original lease terms, Hospitality Trust’s purchase commitment amount is discounted to reflect the accelerated receipt of funds by us according to a present value formula established in the amended lease.  During the six month period ended June 30, 2008, we sold leasehold improvements to Hospitality Trust for total cash proceeds of $67,729, all of which occurred during the three months ended June 30, 2008.  Taking into account the discount for the early receipt of certain of these proceeds, at June 30, 2008 the remaining amount of the leasehold improvements saleable to Hospitality Trust with no increase in our rent was $28,203.  The following table summarizes the various amounts related to our leases with Hospitality Trust that are reflected in our operating results:

 

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TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 

 

 

Three Months
Ended

 

Six Months
Ended

 

Five Months
Ended

 

 

 

June 30, 2008

 

June 30, 2007

 

June 30, 2008

 

June 30, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum TA Lease base rent cash payments

 

$

39,250

 

$

38,375

 

$

77,917

 

$

63,958

 

Minimum Petro Lease base rent cash payments

 

15,556

 

5,526

 

31,112

 

5,526

 

Rent for improvements sold to Hospitality Trust

 

31

 

10

 

61

 

10

 

Rent for ground leases acquired by Hospitality Trust

 

1,917

 

512

 

2,945

 

747

 

Total rent payments to Hospitality Trust

 

56,754

 

44,423

 

112,035

 

70,241

 

Required straight line rent adjustments

 

3,424

 

4,295

 

7,140

 

7,165

 

Less capital lease obligation amortization (TA Lease)

 

(540

)

(320

)

(1,080

)

(800

)

Less amount recognized as interest (TA Lease)

 

(2,342

)

(2,401

)

(4,684

)

(4,003

)

Less deferred rental allowance amortization (TA Lease)

 

(1,692

)

(1,692

)

(3,385

)

(2,820

)

Rent to Hospitality Trust recognized as rent expense

 

$

55,604

 

$

44,305

 

$

110,026

 

$

69,783

 

 

The other current liabilities balance in our consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, included $18,281 and $17,987, respectively, for rent due to Hospitality Trust.

 

On August 11, 2008 we entered a rent deferral agreement with Hospitality Trust.  See Note 11 for a description of this agreement.

 

We are party to a management and shared services agreement with Reit Management. Reit Management oversees and assists us with various aspects of our business, which may include, but are not limited to, compliance with various laws and rules applicable to our status as a publicly owned company, maintenance of our travel centers, site selection for properties on which new travel centers may be developed, identification of, and purchase negotiation for travel centers and travel center companies, accounting and financial reporting, capital markets and financing activities, investor relations and general oversight of all our daily business activities, including legal matters, human resources, insurance programs, management information systems and the like. For these services, we pay Reit Management a fee equal to 0.6% of our fuel gross margin and 0.6% of our total non-fuel revenues. The fee is payable monthly based upon the prior month’s margin or revenues, as applicable. In connection with the payments made to Reit Management under the management and shared services agreement, for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, we recognized expense of $2,196 and $1,775, respectively, and for the six and five months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 we recognized expense of $4,153 and $2,709, respectively.

 

We have a minority joint venture interest in Petro Travel Plaza LLC, which owns one travel center that we operate under a management agreement and a parcel of land upon which Petro Travel Plaza LLC is developing a new travel center that we expect to operate.  This investment is accounted for under the equity method.  Included in our results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2008 was management and accounting fee income of $95 and $190, respectively, earned from our management of this joint venture.  At June 30, 2008 we had a net payable to Petro Travel Plaza LLC of $2,246.

 

9.                                       Commitments and Contingencies

 

Guarantees

 

In the normal course of our business we periodically enter into agreements that contain guarantees or indemnification provisions. While the maximum amount to which we may be exposed under such agreements cannot be estimated, we do not believe that any potential guaranty or indemnification will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

We offer a warranty of our workmanship in our truck repair shops, but we believe the annual warranty expense and corresponding liability are not material to us.

 

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Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 

Environmental Matters

 

Our operations and properties are extensively regulated by environmental laws that (i) regulate our operations that may have adverse environmental effects, such as potentially hazardous discharges to air, soil and water, (ii) regulate our management of petroleum products and other potentially hazardous substances, and (iii) impose liability for the costs of cleaning up sites affected by, and for damages resulting from, disposal or other releases of hazardous substances. We use underground and above ground storage tanks to store petroleum products and waste at our travel centers; and we must comply with requirements of environmental laws regarding tank construction, integrity testing, leak detection and monitoring, overfill and spill control, contaminant release reporting, financial assurance and corrective action in the event of a release from a storage tank into the environment.  We regularly conduct investigatory and/or remedial actions with respect to releases of hazardous substances at a number of our sites. We regularly receive notices of alleged violations of environmental laws at travel centers.

 

Under certain environmental agreements entered into as part of our predecessor’s acquisitions of travel centers, prior owners of certain of our sites are required to indemnify us for certain environmental conditions. Certain of our remediation expenditures may be recovered from state government administered tank funds. In addition, we have insurance of up to $35,000 for environmental liabilities at certain of our travel centers that were known at the time the policies were issued, and up to $60,000 for unknown environmental liabilities, subject, in each case, to certain limitations and deductibles.

 

At June 30, 2008, we had an accrued liability for environmental matters of $10,841, as well as a receivable for expected recoveries of certain of these estimated future expenditures and cash in an escrow account to fund certain of these estimated future expenditures, resulting in an estimated net amount of $4,057 to be funded by us in the future.  While it is not possible to quantify with certainty our environmental exposure, in our opinion, based upon the information now known to us, our potential liability for clean up and remediation in excess of the accrual we have recorded will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

While the costs of our environmental compliance in the past have not had, and we do not believe such costs will have, a material adverse impact on us, it is impossible to predict the ultimate effect that changing circumstances and changing environmental laws may have on us in the future. We cannot be certain that additional contamination presently unknown to us does not exist at our sites, or that material liability will not be imposed on us in the future. If additional environmental matters arise or are discovered, or if additional environmental requirements are imposed by government agencies, increased environmental compliance or remediation expenditures may be required, and such costs could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Pending Litigation

 

In February 2006 a subsidiary of our predecessor and Pilot Travel Centers, LLC, a competitor of ours, were sued by Flying J, Inc., another one of our competitors, and its affiliates in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.  In essence the lawsuit claims that we, Pilot and others participated in an unlawful concerted antitrust action to refuse to accept a payment card issued by a Flying J affiliate.  Flying J and its affiliates sought damages in amounts to be determined at trial and other relief.  In April 2008 we settled this litigation for $5,000 and by agreeing to begin accepting the payment card issued by Flying J’s affiliate.  As a result of this settlement, we were dismissed from the litigation on May 5, 2008.  The expense related to this settlement was recognized in the first quarter of 2008 in our selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

In May 2007 we terminated a contract with Simons Petroleum, Inc., or Simons, a fuel marketer, that had been entered by our predecessor.  This contract permitted Simons to market fuel to trucking companies and distribute that fuel through our TA branded locations in exchange for paying low pumping fees to us.  The termination was made at our option as provided in the contract and required an 18 month wind down period during which Simons may continue to market and distribute fuel through our locations.  A dispute arose between us and Simons regarding the proper conduct of the parties during the wind down period.  After settlement negotiations were conducted, we and Simons participated in a mediation, which failed to produce a settlement.  In February 2008, we and Simons participated in a binding arbitration, under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association, or AAA.  During the arbitration, Simons claimed damages in excess of $10,000 and sought a ruling allowing Simons greater flexibility to continue to sell and deliver fuel through our locations, while we claimed damages in excess of $6,000 and sought to clarify the limits of Simons’s rights during the wind down period.

 

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TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 

On March 14, 2008, we received the AAA ruling, which ordered us to pay Simons $900 and to accept new customers, if any, presented to us by Simons until November 7, 2008.  We recognized the expense of $900 related to the AAA ruling in the fourth quarter of 2007 and paid this amount in April 2008.

 

On February 1, 2008, we commenced litigation against E 2  Investment Partners LLC and related entities and individuals in the Delaware Court of Chancery.  On December 31, 2007, these defendants forwarded a letter to us proposing directors and other matters for consideration at our 2008 annual meeting of shareholders.  We sought a court order declaring that the defendants did not comply with our limited liability company agreement and that therefore the defendants’ notice was invalid and their proposed nominees and other matters were not properly presented for consideration at our 2008 annual meeting.  On April 4, 2008, the Delaware Court of Chancery issued an order declaring that the defendants’ notice breached our limited liability company agreement and was therefore invalid and of no force or effect.  On May 8, 2008, we commenced further litigation against the same defendants in the Delaware Court of Chancery to collect our costs and expenses arising from the defendants’ breach of our LLC agreement.  On July 2, 2008, the defendants filed an answer to our complaint and generally denied liability.  This lawsuit is proceeding.  We do not know what amounts, if any, will ultimately be collected by us.

 

On February 1, 2008, Alan R. Kahn filed a purported derivative action in the Delaware Court of Chancery on behalf of TA against members of our board of directors, Hospitality Trust and Reit Management. This action alleges that our directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Petro Acquisition and seeks an award of unspecified damages and reformation of our Petro Lease. This action also appears to allege that Reit Management and Hospitality Trust aided and abetted our directors.  Under our limited liability company agreement and agreements with Reit Management and Hospitality Trust, we are liable to indemnify our directors, Hospitality Trust and Reit Management for liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by them in connection with this litigation.  On May 6, 2008, we moved to dismiss this complaint.  On June 20, 2008 the plaintiff filed an amended complaint making additional allegations regarding the members of our board of directors and withdrawing his request for reformation of the Petro Lease.  On July 2, 2008, we moved to dismiss the amended complaint.  We believe plaintiff’s allegations are without merit.

 

Beginning in mid December 2006, a series of class action lawsuits was filed against numerous companies in the petroleum industry, including our predecessor and subsidiaries, in United States District courts in over 20 states. Major petroleum companies and significant retailers in the industry have been named as defendants in one or more of these lawsuits.  The plaintiffs in the lawsuits generally allege that they are retail purchasers who purchased motor fuel at temperatures greater than 60 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of sale.   One theory alleges that the plaintiffs purchased smaller quantities of motor fuel than the amount for which we and other defendants charged them because the defendants measured the amount of motor fuel delivered by volume of gallons which, at higher temperatures, contain less energy.  These “temperature cases” seek, among other relief, an order requiring the defendants to install temperature correcting equipment on their retail motor fuel dispensing devices, damages, and attorneys’ fees.   A second theory alleges that fuel taxes are calculated in temperature adjusted 60 degree gallons and are collected by the federal and various state governments from suppliers and wholesalers, who are reimbursed in the amount of the tax by us and other retailers before the fuel is sold to consumers.  These “tax cases” allege that when the fuel is subsequently sold to consumers at temperatures above 60 degrees, the retailers sell a greater volume of fuel than the amount on which they paid tax, and therefore reap an excess profit because the customers pay more tax than the retailer paid. These “tax” cases seek, among other relief, recovery of excess taxes paid and punitive damages.  We believe that there are substantial factual and legal defenses to the theories alleged in these cases.  The cases have been consolidated into one court pursuant to multi-district litigation procedures; and, because discovery has only recently commenced, we cannot estimate our ultimate exposure to loss or liability, if any, related to these lawsuits.

 

In November 2006 Great American Insurance Company of New York and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, or Novartis, filed a complaint against our predecessor and an unrelated party Prime, Inc., or Prime, in connection with the alleged theft of a tractor trailer operated by Prime which contained Novartis pharmaceutical products.  The alleged theft occurred at our Bloomsbury, New Jersey travel center.  Novartis seeks damages up to or exceeding $30,000 together with interest and costs, attorneys’ fees and disbursements.  On January 5, 2007, our predecessor answered Novartis’ complaint and asserted a cross claim for contribution and indemnification against Prime.  We believe that there are substantial defenses to these claims and that any liability arising from this matter may be covered by one or more of our existing insurance policies or by Prime.

 

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Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 

On July 10, 2008, Riverside County, California filed litigation against us in the Superior Court of California, Riverside County, seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief for alleged past violations of various state laws and regulations relating to our predecessor’s management of underground storage tanks.  A second California county, Tehama County, commenced litigation against our predecessor in March 2005 in the Superior Court of California, Tehama County, seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief arising out of a fuel spill which occurred in December 2003.  We have been involved in negotiations with these two California counties and two other California counties, San Bernardino County and Shasta County, concerning alleged past violations of various state laws and regulations relating to the management of underground storage tanks in an effort to resolve pending and threatened claims.  Although we believe that the judgments or settlements which may result from these litigations and negotiations are unlikely to be material, California’s environmental laws provide for the possible assessment of large civil penalties for various violations, including some violations which do not result in environmental harm or continuing environmental risks.  In addition, only a portion of the claims being asserted by these California counties are likely to be covered under our environmental insurance policies with our insurers.  Accordingly, these litigations and negotiations may result in our obligation to pay material amounts.

 

We are involved from time to time in various other legal and administrative proceedings and threatened legal and administrative proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of our business. However, except for the litigation described above, we believe that we are not now involved in any litigation which, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse affect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

10.                                Income Taxes

 

The provisions (benefits) for income taxes included in our current and historical financial statements were as follows:

 

 

 

Company

 

 

Predecessor

 

 

 

Three Months

 

Three Months

 

Six Months

 

Five Months

 

 

One Month

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

 

Ended

 

 

 

June 30, 2008

 

June 30, 2007

 

June 30, 2008

 

June 30, 2007

 

 

January 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current tax provision (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

 

$

(4,870

)

$

 

$

(7,470

)

 

$

(6,750

)

State

 

150

 

(923

)

347

 

(1,480

)

 

107

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

150

 

(5,793

)

347

 

(8,950

)

 

(6,643

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax provision (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

(4,816

)

1,468

 

(20,025

)

(970

)

 

(31,380

)

State

 

(559

)

365

 

(2,373

)

116

 

 

(2,432

)

Foreign

 

(27

)

 

(79

)

 

 

(15

)

 

 

(5,402

)

1,833

 

(22,477

)

(854

)

 

(33,827

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total tax provision (benefit):

 

(5,252

)

(3,960

)

(22,130

)

(9,804

)

 

(40,470

)

Change in valuation allowance

 

5,402

 

 

22,477

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net tax provision (benefit)

 

$

150

 

$

(3,960

)

$

347

 

$

(9,804

)

 

$

(40,470

)

 

Because of our short history and operating losses we do not currently recognize the benefit of any of our deferred tax assets, including tax loss carry forwards, that may be used to offset future taxable income.  We will, however, continue to assess our ability to generate sufficient taxable income during future periods in which our deferred tax assets may be realized. If we later believe it is more likely than not we will recover some or all of our deferred tax assets, we will record an appropriate amount of these assets as an income tax benefit in our consolidated statement of operations at that time.  As of December 31, 2007, our federal net operating loss carryforward was approximately $37,200. Our net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2028.

 

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TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 

Our effective tax rates for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2008 were a provision of 1.0% and 0.6%, respectively, which differed from the statutory rate primarily due to recognition of a valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets and to state income taxes net of the federal tax effect.  Our effective tax rate for the three and five month periods ended June 30, 2007 and our predecessor’s effective tax rate for the one month ended January 31, 2007 were benefits of 38.4%, 38.1% and 64.7%, respectively.  Our tax rate for the three and five month periods ended June 30, 2007, differed from the statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes, net of the federal tax effect.  Our predecessor’s tax rate for the one month ended January 31, 2007 differed from the statutory rate primarily due to deductibility for tax purposes of expenses related to stock options that were not expensed for financial reporting purposes, partially offset by certain merger related expenses recognized in the financial statements which were not deductible for income tax purposes.

 

11.                                Subsequent Event

 

On August 11, 2008, we entered a rent deferral agreement with Hospitality Trust.  Significant terms of this agreement include:

 

(i)

We currently lease 185 travel centers from Hospitality Trust under two leases for combined rent of $18,781 per month. This rent amount periodically increases pursuant to formulas in the leases. We will have the option to defer our monthly rent payments to Hospitality Trust by up to $5,000 per month for periods beginning July 1, 2008 until December 31, 2010.

(ii)

We will not be obligated to pay cash interest on the deferred rent through December 31, 2009.

(iii)

We will issue 1,540,000 of our common shares to Hospitality Trust (approximately 9.6% of our shares outstanding after this new issuance). In the event we do not defer our monthly payments for the full permitted amounts through December 31, 2009, the pro-rata amount of our shares issued to Hospitality Trust may be repurchased by us for nominal consideration.

(iv)

In the event that any rents which have been deferred remain unpaid or additional rent amounts are deferred after December 31, 2009, interest on all such amounts will be payable to Hospitality Trust monthly at the rate of 12% per annum, beginning January 1, 2010.

(v)

No such rent deferrals are permitted for rent periods after December 31, 2010.  Any deferred rent (and interest thereon) not paid will be due to Hospitality Trust on July 1, 2011.  Any deferred amounts (and interest) may be prepaid at any time.

(vi)

This deferral agreement also includes a prohibition on share repurchases and dividends by us while any deferred rent remains unpaid and has change of control covenants so that amounts deferred will be payable to Hospitality Trust in the event we experience a change of control while deferred rent is unpaid.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

We were formed in October 2006 as a Delaware limited liability company. We were formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Hospitality Trust to succeed to the operating business of our predecessor, which Hospitality Trust acquired on January 31, 2007. Until January 31, 2007, we operated as a shell company subsidiary of Hospitality Trust. Because of the HPT Transaction and the Petro Acquisition described in Note 1 to our financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we believe our 2007 historical financial information may not be an appropriate basis for comparison with our current or future financial position, results of operations or cash flows. You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Our fuel costs are subject to potentially material changes as a result of the market prices of diesel fuel and gasoline, as well as the availability of these products. These factors are subject to the worldwide petroleum products supply chain, which historically has incurred shocks as a result of, among other things, severe weather, terrorism, political crises, wars and other military actions and variations in demand, which are often the result of changes in the macroeconomic environment. Over the past few years there has been a significant increase in the cost of diesel fuel and gasoline; first, as crude oil demand increased during the previous economic recovery in the United States and events such as Hurricane Katrina affected the supply system; then as economic growth in certain developing economies, such as China and India, increased demand for petroleum products; and, more recently, as the world value of the U.S. dollar has declined and as speculation in the price of these commodities has increased. We expect that, although most of these significant increases in our costs for these products can largely be passed on to our customers over time, these increased prices can result in negative effects on our sales and profitability and material increases in our working capital requirements. We expect that petroleum products markets will continue to be volatile during the next 12 months.

 

Sumnmary of Travel Center Site Counts

 

The changes in the number of our sites (company operated, franchisee leased and operated or franchisee owned and operated) are significant factors that influenced the changes in our results of operations. The following table summarizes the changes in the composition of our business from December 31, 2006 through June 30, 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Franchisee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owned

 

 

 

 

 

Company

 

Franchisee

 

and

 

 

 

 

 

Operated

 

Operated

 

Operated

 

Total

 

Number of travel centers at December 31, 2006

 

140

 

10

 

13

 

163

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January - June 2007 Activity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of franchise travel center

 

1

 

 

(1

)

 

Petro acquisition

 

45

 

 

24

 

69

 

New travel center

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

Number of travel centers at June 30, 2007

 

187

 

10

 

36

 

233

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July - December 2007 Activity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New travel centers

 

3

 

 

1

 

4

 

Closed travel center

 

(1

)

 

 

(1

)

Number of travel centers at December 31, 2007

 

189

 

10

 

37

 

236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January – June 2008 Activity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No activity

 

 

 

 

 

Number of travel centers at June 30, 2008

 

189

 

10

 

37

 

236

 

 

14



Table of Contents

 

Relevance of Fuel Revenues

 

Due to volatile pricing of fuel products and our pricing arrangements with fuel customers, we believe that fuel revenue is not a reliable metric for analyzing our results of operations or our predecessor’s results from period to period. As a result solely of changes in fuel prices, our fuel revenue may increase or decrease significantly versus our or our predecessor’s historical results of operations, in both absolute amounts and on a percentage basis, without a comparable change in fuel sales volumes or in gross margin per gallon. We consider fuel volumes and gross margin to be better measures of comparative performance than fuel revenues.

 

Results of Operations

 

Three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to June 30, 2007

 

The following table summarizes our results for the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007.  Due to the Petro Acquisition on May 30, 2007, the results for the 2007 period may not be an appropriate basis for comparison to our current year results.  The results shown for the 2007 period include the results from Petro beginning on May 30, 2007 and do not include pro forma adjustments.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

$

 

%

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

Change

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

$

1,963.8

 

$

1,222.3

 

$

741.5

 

60.7

%

Non-fuel

 

310.4

 

261.6

 

48.8

 

18.7

%

Rent and royalties

 

3.6

 

2.9

 

0.7

 

23.4

%

Total revenues

 

2,277.8

 

1,486.8

 

791.0

 

53.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

1,903.5

 

1,181.5

 

722.0

 

61.1

%

Non-fuel

 

131.4

 

110.3

 

21.1

 

19.1

%

Total cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation)

 

2,034.9

 

1,291.8

 

743.1

 

57.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Site level operating expenses

 

159.4

 

125.5

 

33.9

 

27.0

%

Selling, general & administrative expense

 

23.3

 

25.3

 

(2.0

)

-7.9

%

Real estate rent

 

58.4

 

47.0

 

11.4

 

24.4

%

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

11.1

 

8.0

 

3.1

 

38.7

%

Total operating expenses

 

252.2

 

205.8

 

46.4

 

22.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

 

(9.3

)

(10.8

)

1.5

 

-13.6

%

Equity income in joint venture

 

0.3

 

0.2

 

0.1

 

41.1

%

Interest income

 

2.1

 

3.8

 

(1.7

)

-44.8

%

Interest expense

 

(2.7

)

(3.5

)

0.8

 

-24.3

%

Loss before income taxes

 

(9.6

)

(10.3

)

0.7

 

6.7

%

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

0.2

 

(4.0

)

4.2

 

-103.8

%

Net loss

 

$

(9.8

)

$

(6.3

)

$

(3.5

)

53.9

%

 

15



Table of Contents

 

Same Site Comparisons . A travel center is included in the following same site comparisons if it was continuously operated by us, or the prior owner of the Petro sites from April 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 or, in the case of rent revenues and royalty revenues, by a franchisee of ours or the prior owner of Petro for that same period. Travel centers are not excluded from the same site comparisons as a result of expansions in their size or in the services offered.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

%

 

(gallons and dollars in millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

Change

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of company operated travel centers

 

184

 

184

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diesel sales volume (gallons) (1)

 

452.5

 

540.4

 

(87.9

)

-16.3

%

Gasoline sales volume (gallons) (1)

 

56.5

 

68.0

 

(11.5

)

-16.9

%

Fuel margin (1)

 

$

60.7

 

$

53.0

 

$

7.7

 

14.5

%

Total nonfuel revenues (1)

 

$

307.0

 

$

319.3

 

$

(12.3

)

-3.8

%

Operating expenses (1), (2)

 

$

154.8

 

$

156.2

 

$

(1.4

)

-0.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of franchisee operated travel centers

 

46

 

46

 

 

 

Rent and royalty revenues

 

$

3.6

 

$

3.8

 

$

(0.2

)

-5.3

%

 


(1)                    Includes fuel volume, fuel margin, revenues and expenses of company operated travel centers only.

(2)                    Excludes real estate rent expense, Petro integration expenses, legal settlement expense and previously deferred maintenance costs which were expensed under GAAP .

 

Revenues. Revenues for the three month period ended June 30, 2008, were $2,277.8 million, which represented an increase from the quarter ended June 30, 2007, of $791.0 million, or 53.2%, that is primarily attributable to the Petro Acquisition and increases in fuel sales prices.

 

Fuel revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, increased by $741.5 million, or 60.7%, as compared to the same period in 2007. This increase was principally the result of sites added in 2007, including the Petro sites, and increases in fuel sales prices.  The table below shows the changes in fuel revenues between periods that resulted from price and volume changes:

 

 

 

Gallons
Sold

 

Gallons
Sold

 

Fuel

 

(gallons and dollars in millions)

 

Diesel Fuel

 

Gasoline

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results for three months ended June 30, 2007

 

469.4

 

57.7

 

$

1,222.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase due to petroleum products price changes

 

 

 

704.0

 

Decrease due to TA same site volume changes

 

(54.5

)

(10.1

)

(146.5

)

Increase due to Petro sites added

 

71.2

 

7.0

 

212.7

 

Increase due to other net company operated sites added since January 1, 2007

 

5.3

 

2.6

 

17.9

 

Increase (decrease) due to wholesale fuel business sales volume variations

 

(20.0

)

(0.5

)

(46.6

)

Net increase (decrease) from prior year period

 

2.0

 

(1.0

)

741.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results for three months ended June 30, 2008

 

471.4

 

56.7

 

$

1,963.8

 

 

16



Table of Contents

 

On a same site basis for our company operated TA and Petro sites, diesel fuel sales volume decreased by 87.9 million gallons, or 16.3%, and gasoline sales volume decreased by 11.5 million gallons, or 16.9% during the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.  We believe the same site diesel fuel sales volume decrease resulted primarily from a decline in trucking activity that was largely attributable to the slowing of economic activity in the U.S., particularly the declines in the shipments of durable goods, including new home building supplies, as well as a decline in imports into the U.S. that are transported by truck, combined with the high cost of fuel negatively affecting the demands for fuel during the 2008 periods as compared to the 2007 periods. We believe the same site gasoline sales volume decrease resulted primarily from the high cost of fuel to consumers and the general condition of the U.S. economy.  Some of our diesel and gasoline fuel volume declines experienced in the 2008 period may also be the result of our strategic fuel pricing decision to not compete for lower margin fuel business.

 

Nonfuel revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $310.4 million, an increase of $48.8 million, or 18.7%, as compared to the same period in 2007. Of this increase, $46.5 million related to the company operated sites added in the Petro Acquisition on May 30, 2007 and $5.5 million from other sites added in 2007. The remainder of the change between years is related to the decline in sales at those sites we operated during both periods, partially offset by our pricing increases.  Nonfuel revenues were 13.6% of total revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, as compared to 17.6% for the same period in 2007.

 

On a same site basis for our company operated TA and Petro sites, nonfuel revenues decreased by $12.3 million, or 3.8% during the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.  We believe the same site nonfuel revenue decrease reflects decreased customer traffic in our travel centers as a result of the factors affecting our fuel sales volumes, which decline was somewhat offset by increases in our truck repair shop revenues and the attractiveness of our other nonfuel products and services to customers who may not purchase fuel.

 

Rent and royalty revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $3.6 million, an increase of $0.7 million, or 23.4%, as compared to the same period in 2007. This increase was primarily the result of a $0.8 million increase between quarters in royalty revenues as a result of the 24 Petro franchisee sites added on May 30, 2007.

 

Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation). Cost of goods sold for the three months ended June 30, 2008, was $2,034.9 million, an increase of $743.1 million, or 57.5%, as compared to the same period in 2007, which was primarily attributable to the cost of goods sold at the Petro locations acquired on May 30, 2007, and increased fuel costs.  Fuel cost of goods sold for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 of $1,903.5 million increased by $722.0 million, or 61.1%, of which $205.9 million related to the company operated sites added in the Petro Acquisition on May 30, 2007.  The increase in fuel cost of goods sold for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007 also resulted from commodity price increases partially offset by the fuel sales volumes decreases described above.

 

Nonfuel cost of goods sold for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $131.4 million, an increase of $21.1 million, or 19.1%, as compared to the same period in 2007, of which $21.2 million related to the company operated sites added in the Petro Acquisition on May 30, 2007.  Nonfuel cost of goods sold also decreased due to same site nonfuel sales decreases noted above, offset by increases in product unit costs and from sites added in 2007.

 

17



Table of Contents

 

Site level operating expenses. Site level operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2008, were $159.4 million, an increase of $33.9 million, or 27.0%, as compared to the same period in 2007. This increase primarily resulted from $25.3 million in site level operating expenses related to the company operated sites added in the Petro Acquisition on May 30, 2007 and $2.8 million from the other company operated locations added in 2007.

 

On a same site basis for our company operated TA and Petro sites, site level operating expenses decreased by $1.4 million, or 0.9% in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.  This decrease in site level operating expenses on a same site basis was primarily the result of decreases in labor and related benefits and payroll tax costs as a result of our March 2008 workforce reduction, other labor control initiatives and the lower sales volumes we realized during the quarter.  These savings were partially offset by increases in other operating expenses that are not as directly related to our volume of business, primarily utilities, real estate and other taxes not based on income, payment card transaction fees and our vehicle fuel expenses.  On a same site basis, site level operating expenses as a percentage of nonfuel revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 were 50.4%, compared to 48.9% for the same period in 2007.  The increase in operating expenses as a percentage of nonfuel revenues is because a certain portion of our expenses are fixed in nature so decreases in nonfuel revenues do not always result in a corresponding decrease in site level operating expenses.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses.   Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $23.3 million, a decrease of $2.0 million, or 7.9%, as compared to the same period in 2007.  This decrease primarily resulted from our cost saving strategies, including our March 2008 workforce reduction partially offset by an increase in legal fees and other costs related to the litigation matters discussed in Note 9 to our financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and an increase in share based compensation expense.

 

Real estate rent expense.   Rent expense for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $58.4 million, an increase of $11.4 million as compared to the same period in 2007.  This increase was primarily attributable to our entering the Petro Lease on May 30, 2007. Under our real estate leases, we paid rent of $59.4 million during the three months ended June 30, 2008 of which $2.3 million was recognized as interest expense and $0.5 million was recognized as a reduction of our capital lease obligation.  In addition, we accrued $3.5 million of noncash rent expense to recognize rent expense on a straight line basis over the terms of those leases that include rent escalation provisions and amortized $1.7 million of our deferred rental allowance as a reduction of rent expense.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense.  Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $11.1 million, an increase of $3.1 million, or 38.7%, as compared to the same period in 2007.  This increase was primarily attributable to assets acquired in the Petro Acquisition.

 

Income (loss) from operations.  Net loss from operations for the three months ended June 30, 2008, was $9.3 million, an increase of $1.5 million, or 13.6%, as compared to the same period in 2007. This increase was the result of the changes in revenues and expenses described above and primarily resulted from the condition of the U.S. economy and the trucking industry, as well as our high cost of fuel.

 

18



Table of Contents

 

Interest income and expense.  Interest income and expense consisted of the following:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

$

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accretion of leasehold improvement receivable

 

$

1.8

 

$

1.5

 

$

0.3

 

Interest income on restricted investments

 

 

0.8

 

(0.8

)

Other interest income

 

0.3

 

1.5

 

(1.2

)

Total interest income

 

$

2.1

 

$

3.8

 

$

(1.7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on the defeased 9% Notes

 

$

 

$

0.8

 

$

(0.8

)

Rent expense classified as interest

 

2.4

 

2.4

 

 

Other interest expense

 

0.3

 

0.3

 

 

Total interest expense

 

$

2.7

 

$

3.5

 

$

(0.8

)

 

There was no interest income on restricted investments or interest expense on the 9% Notes for the three months ended June 30, 2008 as the restricted investments were used to repay the defeased 9% Notes in full on February 15, 2008.  The decrease in other interest income was primarily attributable to reduced interest income on our lower cash balances in the second quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007, and declining interest rates.

 

Income tax provision (benefit) .  Our effective tax rates for the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were a provision of 1.0% and a benefit of 38.5%, respectively. The rate for the 2008 period differs from the statutory rate due to a $5.4 million increase in the valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets, and to state income taxes net of the federal tax effect.  For the 2007 period, the effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes net of the Federal tax effect.

 

19



Table of Contents

 

Six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to June 30, 2007

 

We were spun off from Hospitality Trust on January 31, 2007, and had no operations prior to that time.  For the purpose of discussing the historical results of operations, the following table combines our results for the five months ended June 30, 2007, which include the results of Petro only from May 30, 2007, and the results of our predecessor, without pro forma adjustments, for the one month ended January 31, 2007, and compares these combined results of operations to our results for the six months ended June 30, 2008.  The data has been presented to facilitate our discussion below of the trends and changes affecting our operating results.  It has been prepared for comparative purposes only and does not purport to be indicative of the results of operations that actually would have resulted had the HPT Transaction occurred on January 1, 2007, and is not indicative of our future results of operations.

 

 

 

Company

 

 

Predecessor

 

Combined

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six

 

Five

 

 

One

 

Six

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Months

 

Months

 

 

Month

 

Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

 

 

January 31,

 

June 30,

 

$

 

%

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

2007

 

2007

 

Change

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

$

3,583.1

 

$

1,818.4

 

 

$

285.1

 

$

2,103.5

 

$

1,479.6

 

70.3

%

Non-fuel

 

595.4

 

400.3

 

 

66.8

 

467.1

 

128.3

 

27.5

%

Rent and royalties

 

7.2

 

4.4

 

 

0.8

 

5.2

 

2.0

 

36.1

%

Total revenues

 

4,185.7

 

2,223.1

 

 

352.7

 

2.575.8

 

1,609.9

 

62.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

3,480.8

 

1,760.9

 

 

270.7

 

2,031.6

 

1,449.2

 

71.3

%

Non-fuel

 

249.5

 

166.5

 

 

27.5

 

194.0

 

55.5

 

28.6

%

Total cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation)

 

3,730.3

 

1,927.4

 

 

298.2

 

2,225.6

 

1,504.7

 

67.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Site level operating expenses

 

318.0

 

197.9

 

 

36.1

 

234.0

 

84.0

 

35.9

%

Selling, general & administrative expense

 

56.0

 

37.0

 

 

8.9

 

45.9

 

10.1

 

22.1

%

Real estate rent

 

116.1

 

74.3

 

 

0.9

 

75.2

 

40.9

 

54.4

%

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

22.1

 

13.3

 

 

5.8

 

19.1

 

3.0

 

15.3

%

Merger related expenses

 

 

 

 

45.0

 

45.0

 

(45.0

)

0.0

%

Total operating expenses

 

512.2

 

322.5

 

 

96.7

 

419.2

 

93.0

 

22.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

 

(56.8

)

(26.8

)

 

(42.2

)

(69.0

)

12.2

 

17.6

%

Debt extinguishment expense

 

 

 

 

(16.1

)

(16.1

)

16.1

 

0.0

%

Equity income in joint venture

 

0.4

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.2

 

0.2

 

100.0

%

Interest income

 

5.3

 

5.1

 

 

1.1

 

6.2

 

(0.9

)

15.0

%

Interest expense

 

(6.7

)

(4.3

)

 

(5.3

)

(9.6

)

2.9

 

30.0

%

Loss before income taxes

 

(57.8

)

(25.8

)

 

(62.5

)

(88.3

)

30.5

 

34.5

%

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

0.4

 

(9.8

)

 

(40.5

)

(50.3

)

50.7

 

-100.7

%

Net loss

 

$

(58.2

)

$

(16.0

)

 

$

(22.0

)

$

 (38.0

)

$

(20.2

)

53.2

%

 

20



Table of Contents

 

Same Site Comparisons . A travel center is included in the following same site comparisons if it was continuously operated by us, our predecessor or the prior owner of the Petro sites from January 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 or, in the case of rent revenues and royalty revenues, by a franchisee of ours, our predecessor, or the prior owner of Petro for that same period. Travel centers are not excluded from the same site comparisons as a result of expansions in their size or in the services offered.

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

(gallons and dollars in millions)

 

Company
2008

 

Combined
2007

 

Change

 

%
Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of company operated travel centers

 

182

 

182

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diesel sales volume (gallons) (1)

 

921.3

 

1,078.0

 

(156.7

)

-14.5

%

Gasoline sales volume (gallons) (1)

 

110.0

 

125.6

 

(15.6

)

-12.4

%

Fuel margin (1)

 

$

102.6

 

$

99.8

 

$

2.8

 

2.8

%

Total nonfuel revenues (1)

 

$

585.3

 

$

603.3

 

$

(18.0

)

-3.0

%

Operating expenses (1), (2)

 

$

308.4

 

$

307.1

 

$

1.3

 

0.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of franchisee operated travel centers

 

46

 

46

 

 

 

Rent and royalty revenues

 

$

7.1

 

$

7.3

 

$

(0.2

)

-2.7

%

 


(1)                    Includes fuel volume, fuel margin, revenues and expenses of company operated travel centers only.

(2)                    Excludes real estate rent expense, Petro integration expenses, legal settlement expense and previously deferred maintenance costs which were expensed under GAAP.

 

Revenues. Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008, were $4,185.7 million, which represented an increase from the six months ended June 30, 2007, of $1,609.9 million, or 62.5%, that is primarily attributable to the Petro Acquisition and increases in fuel sales prices.

 

Fuel revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2008, increased by $1,479.6 million, or 70.3%, as compared to the same period in 2007. This increase was principally the result of sites added in 2007, including the Petro sites, and increases in fuel sales prices.  The table below shows the changes in fuel revenues between periods that resulted from price and volume changes:

 

21



Table of Contents

 

 

 

Gallons
Sold

 

Gallons
Sold

 

Fuel

 

(gallons and dollars in millions)

 

Diesel Fuel

 

Gasoline

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results for six months ended June 30, 2007

 

878.6

 

103.0

 

$

2,103.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase due to petroleum products price change

 

 

 

1,122.2

 

Decrease due to TA same site volume change

 

(95.7

)

(12.9

)

(228.8

)

Increase due to Petro sites added

 

204.0

 

17.5

 

602.0

 

Increase due to other net company operated sites added since January 1, 2007

 

12.2

 

5.5

 

37.5

 

Increase (decrease) due to wholesale fuel business sales volume variations

 

(25.3

)

0.1

 

(53.3

)

Net increase from prior year period

 

95.2

 

10.2

 

1,479.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results for six months ended June 30, 2008

 

973.8

 

113.2

 

$

3,583.1

 

 

On a same site basis for our company operated TA and Petro sites, diesel fuel sales volume decreased by 156.7 million gallons, or 14.5%, and gasoline sales volume decreased by 15.6 million gallons, or 12.4% during the six months ended June 30, 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007.  We believe the same site diesel fuel sales volume decrease resulted primarily from a decline in trucking activity that was largely attributable to the slowing of economic activity in the U.S., particularly the declines in the shipments of durable goods, including new home building supplies, as well as a decline in imports into the U.S. that are transported by truck, combined with the high cost of fuel negatively affecting the demands for fuel during the 2008 periods as compared to the 2007 periods. We believe the same site gasoline sales volume decrease resulted primarily from the high cost of fuel to consumers and the general condition of the U.S. economy.  Some of our fuel volume declines experienced in the 2008 period may also be the result of our strategic fuel pricing decision not to compete for lower margin fuel business, especially during the three months ended June 30, 2008.

 

Nonfuel revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $595.4 million, an increase of $128.3 million, or 27.5%, as compared to the same period in 2007. Of this increase, $122.0 million related to the company operated sites added in the Petro Acquisition on May 30, 2007 and $11.3 million from other sites added in 2007. The remainder of the change between years is related to the decline in sales at those sites we operated during both periods, partially offset by our pricing increases.  Nonfuel revenues were 14.2% of total revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008, as compared to 18.1% for the same period in 2007.

 

On a same site basis for our company operated TA and Petro sites, nonfuel revenues decreased by $18.0 million, or 3.0%.  We believe the same site nonfuel revenue decrease reflects decreased customer traffic in our travel centers as a result of the factors affecting our fuel sales volumes, which decline was somewhat offset by increases in our truck repair shop revenues and the attractiveness of our other nonfuel products and services to customers who may not purchase fuel.

 

Rent and royalty revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $7.2 million, an increase of $2.0 million, or 36.1%, as compared to the same period in 2007. This increase was primarily the result of a $2.1 million increase between the comparable periods in royalty revenues as a result of the 24 Petro franchisee sites added on May 30, 2007.

 

Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation). Cost of goods sold for the six months ended June 30, 2008, was $3,730.3 million, an increase of $1,504.7 million, or 67.6%, as compared to the same period in 2007, which was primarily attributable to the cost of goods sold at the Petro locations acquired on May 30, 2007 and increased fuel costs.  Fuel cost of goods sold for the six months

 

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ended June 30, 2008 of $3,480.8 million increased by $1,449.2 million, or 71.3%, of which $582.7 million resulted from fuel sales at the Petro locations acquired on May 30, 2007. The increase in fuel cost of goods sold for the six months ended June 30, 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007 also resulted from commodity price increases partially offset by the fuel sales volumes decreases described above.

 

Nonfuel cost of goods sold for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $249.5 million, an increase of $55.5 million, or 28.6%, as compared to the same period in 2007, of which $55.8 million resulted from nonfuel sales at the Petro locations acquired on May 30, 2007, partially offset by the same site nonfuel sales decreases noted above.

 

Site level operating expenses. Site level operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2008, were $318.0 million, an increase of $84.0 million, or 35.9%, as compared to the same period in 2007. This increase primarily resulted from $66.0 million in site level operating expenses at the Petro locations acquired on May 30, 2007, and $6.2 million from the other company operated locations added in 2007.

 

On a same site basis for our company operated TA and Petro sites, site level operating expenses increased by $1.3 million, or 0.4% in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.  The increase in site level operating expenses on a same site basis was primarily the result of increases over the prior year period in expenses that are not as directly related to our volume of business such as utilities, real estate taxes and other taxes not based on income, payment card transaction fees and our vehicle fuel expenses.  These increases were partially offset by decreases in labor and related benefits and payroll tax expense as a result of our March 2008 workforce reduction, other labor control initiatives and the lower sales volumes, especially during the three months ended June 30, 2008.  On a same site basis, site level operating expenses as a percentage of nonfuel revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were 52.7%, compared to 50.9% for the same period in 2007.  The increase in operating expenses as a percentage of nonfuel revenues is partially due to the above increases and because some of our expenses are fixed in nature so decreases in nonfuel revenues do not result in a corresponding decrease in site level operating expenses.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses.   Selling, general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $56.0 million, an increase of $10.1 million, or 22.0%, as compared to the same period in 2007.  This increase primarily resulted from a combination of increases in legal fees and other costs related to the litigation matters discussed in Note 9 to our financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the recognition of expense related to the Flying J litigation settlement, partially offset by decreases in share based compensation expense and decreases resulting from our cost saving strategies, including our March 2008 workforce reduction.

 

Real estate rent expense.   Rent expense for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $116.1 million, an increase of $40.9 million as compared to the same period in 2007.  This increase was primarily attributable to our lease agreements that became effective on January 31, 2007 and May 30, 2007. Under our real estate leases, we paid rent of $117.8 million during the six months ended June 30, 2008 of which $4.7 million was recognized as interest expense and $1.1 million was recognized as a reduction of our capital lease obligation.  In addition we accrued $7.5 million of noncash rent expense to recognize rent expense on a straight line basis over the terms of those leases that include rent escalation provisions and amortized $3.4 million of our deferred rental allowance as a reduction of rent expense.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense.  Depreciation and amortization expense for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $22.1 million, an increase of $3.0 million, or 15.3%, as compared to the same period in 2007.  This increase was primarily attributable to assets acquired in the Petro Acquisition and a $1.6 million charge recorded in the first three months of 2008 in connection with cancelling contracts and letters of intent for various development projects and acquisitions we decided not to pursue.

 

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Merger related expenses.   During January 2007, our predecessor recognized a charge of $45.0 million related to expenses incurred in marketing itself for sale and completing the HPT Transaction.  These costs primarily consisted of investment banking fees, other transaction advisory fees and management bonus payments.

 

Income (loss) from operations. Net loss from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2008, was $56.8 million, a decrease of $11.8 million, or 17.1%, as compared to the same period in 2007. This decrease was the result of the changes in revenues and expenses described above.

 

Interest income and expense.  Interest income and expense consisted of the following:

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

$

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accretion of leasehold improvement receivable

 

$

3.0

 

$

2.5

 

$

0.5

 

Interest income on restricted investments

 

1.1

 

0.8

 

0.3

 

Other interest income

 

1.2

 

2.9

 

(1.7

)

Total interest income

 

$

5.3

 

$

6.2

 

$

(0.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on our predecessor’s debt

 

$

 

$

4.4

 

$

(4.4

)

Interest on the defeased 9% Notes

 

1.2

 

0.8

 

0.4

 

Rent expense classified as interest

 

4.7

 

4.0

 

0.7

 

Other interest expense

 

0.8

 

0.4

 

0.4

 

Total interest expense

 

$

6.7

 

$

9.6

 

$

(2.9

)

 

The restricted investments were used to repay the defeased 9% Notes in full on February 15, 2008.  The decrease in other interest income was primarily attributable to reduced interest income on our lower cash balance in the first six months of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007, and declining interest rates.  Our predecessor’s debt was retired on January 31, 2007 as part of the HPT transaction.

 

Income tax provision (benefit) .  Our effective tax rates for the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were a provision of 0.60% and a benefit of 56.9%, respectively. The rate for the 2008 period differs from the statutory rate due to a $22.5 million increase in the valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets, and to state income taxes net of the federal tax effect.  For the 2007 period, the effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate primarily due to items affecting our predecessor in the one month ended January 31, 2007, including the deductibility for tax purposes of expenses related to stock options of our predecessor that were not expensed for financial reporting purposes, partially offset by certain merger related expenses recognized in the financial statements by our predecessor which were not deductible for income tax purposes.

 

Seasonality

 

Our revenues during a year are often lowest in the first quarter when movement of freight by professional truck drivers and motorist travel are historically at their lowest levels in each calendar year. Our revenues in the fourth quarter of a year are often somewhat lower than those of the second and third quarters because, while the beginning of the fourth quarter is often positively impacted by increased movement of freight in preparation for various national holidays, that positive impact is often more than offset by a reduction in freight movement caused by vacation time associated with those holidays taken by professional truck drivers toward the end of the year.  While our revenues are modestly seasonal, the quarterly variations in our operating income may reflect greater seasonal differences because our rent and other costs do not vary seasonally.

 

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Inflation and Deflation

 

Inflation, or a general increase in prices, will likely have more negative than positive impact on our business.  Rising prices may allow us to increase revenues, but also likely will increase our operating costs.  Also, rising prices for fuel and other products we sell increase our working capital requirements and appear to cause some of our customers to reduce their purchases of our goods and services.  Because significant components of our expenses are fixed, we may not be able to fully capitalize on declines in general price levels, or deflation.

 

Workforce Reduction

 

In March 2008, we announced we had reduced the workforce at our headquarters and other locations.  We recognized a severance charge of approximately $1.6 million during the 2008 first quarter as a result of this reduction in workforce.  Reductions were also made to our hourly workforce.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our principal liquidity requirements are to meet our operating expenses, including rent, and to fund our capital expenditures and other working capital requirements. Our principal sources of liquidity to meet these requirements are our operating cash flow, our cash balance, our credit facility, and our ability to sell qualified capital improvement to Hospitality Trust under the terms of our leases with Hospitality Trust.  Under the TA Lease, we can sell to Hospitality Trust certain capital improvements we make to properties owned by Hospitality Trust with no increase in our rent payable to Hospitality Trust.  These sales were limited to $125 million with no more than $25 million in any year.  On May 12, 2008, we and Hospitality Trust amended the TA Lease to permit us to sell these capital improvements to Hospitality Trust earlier than previously permitted.  In the event that we elect to sell these capital improvements before the time contractually permitted by the original lease terms, Hospitality Trust’s purchase commitment is discounted to reflect the accelerated receipt of funds by us according to a present value formula established in the amended lease.  During the first six months of 2008, we sold $67.7 million of capital improvements to Hospitality Trust for no increase in our rent.  As of June 30, 2008, $96.8 million of the $125 million maximum amount had been used.  We also own a portfolio of operating real estate and developable land which may be a source of additional liquidity over time to the extent it can be financed or sold; however, we do not believe these assets can be readily converted to cash.

 

The primary risks we face with respect to our operating cash flow are decreased demand for our products and services which may be caused by the volatility and high prices for petroleum products or the economic slowing or recession in the U.S. and in the U.S. trucking industry, as well as the increased working capital required by increases in fuel costs. A reduction of our revenue without an offsetting reduction in our operating expenses may cause us to use our cash at a rate that we cannot sustain for extended periods. Also, a significant increase in the prices we must pay to obtain fuel or decrease in the time we have to pay our trade creditors may increase our cash working capital requirements materially.  The current economic conditions in the trucking industry, in conjunction with the high cost of fuel, may lead to increased cash investment in accounts receivable should customers slow their payments to us and may also lead to an increase in our rate of bad debt write offs.  To partially address these risks we have entered a rent deferral agreement with Hospitality Trust as described in Note 11 to our financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Assets and Liabilities

 

Our total current assets at June 30, 2008, were $499.5 million, compared to our total current assets of $746.0 million at December 31, 2007.  At June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, we had cash and cash equivalents of $106.3 million and $148.9 million, respectively.  Our current liabilities were $351.3 million at June 30, 2008, compared to our current liabilities of $567.8 million at December 31, 2007.

 

Included in current assets as of December 31, 2007 was $271.4 million of restricted investments held in trust to repay certain notes we assumed as part of the Petro Acquisition, including the related call premium and accrued interest, that were defeased as part of the Petro Acquisition.  Included in current liabilities as of December 31, 2007 were $262.9 million and $8.4 million for the defeased Petro debt and related accrued interest, respectively.  The restricted investments were used to repay these notes and related call premium plus accrued interest in February 2008.

 

Increases in accounts receivable, inventories, accounts payable and accrued expenses were primarily the result of higher fuel prices during the past six months as well as a higher level of business activity at the end of the second quarter than at the end of the fourth quarter.

 

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During the six months ended June 30, 2008, we incurred a net loss of $58.2 million, had cash inflows from operating activities of $12.9 million, cash outflows from investing activities of $60.2 million and cash inflows from financing activities of $4.8 million resulting in a $42.5 million decrease in our cash balance between December 31, 2007 and June 30, 2008.  At June 30, 2008, we had cash and cash equivalents of $106.3 million, $69.4 million of our $100 million line of credit used to back letters of credit and a leasehold improvement receivable totaling $23.6 million that represents the estimated discounted amount of funds we expect to receive from Hospitality Trust in connection with our sales of leasehold improvements to Hospitality Trust under our lease with Hospitality Trust for TA branded travel centers.

 

There can be no assurance that industry conditions will not decline further or that any one or more of the risks identified under the section “Risk Factors” or “Warning Regarding Forward Looking Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K or elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or some other unidentified risk will not manifest itself in a manner which is material and adverse to our results of operations, cash flow or financial position.

 

Revolving Credit Facility

 

At June 30, 2008, there were no amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility, but we had issued $69.4 million of letters of credit under this facility.  We generally issue letters of credit to secure certain our obligations related to insurance programs, fuel licenses, construction projects and trade payables.  On July 8, 2008, we entered an amendment to the credit facility.  The sole purpose of this amendment was to add as borrowers under the credit facility the legal entities acquired in the Petro acquisition, enabling the inclusion of the Petro receivables and inventory as qualified collateral, subject to completion of lender diligence.

 

Investment Activities

 

Market conditions and other factors have caused us to cancel contracts and letters of intent for the acquisition of several operating and greenfield development sites and to stop development activities at the eight greenfield development sites we own.  In connection with our abandoning these various projects, we recognized a charge of $1.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2008.

 

Our current capital plan for 2008 is unchanged from the first quarter and anticipates expenditures of approximately $100 million.  For the six months ended June 30, 2008, we invested $62.9 million in capital projects.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As part of the Petro Acquisition, we acquired a minority interest in a joint venture that owns one travel center that we operate. This travel center is encumbered by mortgage debt of approximately $10.0 million as of June 30, 2008. We account for the investment in this joint venture under the equity method of accounting and, therefore, we have not recorded a liability for this mortgage debt. Petro was not and we are not directly liable for this debt, but the carrying value of our investment in this joint venture could be adversely affected if the joint venture defaulted on this debt and the joint venture’s property was used to satisfy this debt.  We expect we may invest approximately $7.0 million in this joint venture during 2008 or 2009 in connection with plans to develop a new travel center on land owned by the joint venture in Southern California in 2008 and 2009. This development also may be financed by the issuance of additional debt by the joint venture.

 

Some of our customers at Petro branded locations are billed for fuel purchases by a third party that settles those transactions with us. In certain circumstances involving nonpayment by a customer, the payments we receive are subject to our repayment to this third party. At June 30, 2008, the total amount for which we were exposed to this repayment risk was $7.7 million.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

One of our Managing Directors, Barry Portnoy, is a managing trustee of Hospitality Trust and the Chairman and majority owner of Reit Management.  Our other Managing Director and President and our Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer are also senior vice presidents of Reit Management.  In addition to providing services to us, Reit Management also provides services to Hospitality Trust.  For these reasons, we consider Hospitality Trust and Reit Management to be related parties to us.  For a more complete description of the relationships among us, Hospitality Trust and Reit Management, please review the contracts among these parties which are publicly available as exhibits to our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and are accessible at the SEC website, www.sec.gov, and also see our descriptions of these relationships in our Proxy Statement for our 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the description of the risks which may arise from these relationships in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, both of which documents are also accessible on the SEC website.

 

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We were formerly a 100% subsidiary of Hospitality Trust and Hospitality Trust is our principal landlord.  During 2007 we completed both the HPT Transaction and the Petro Acquisition together with Hospitality Trust.  Under these leases we are required to pay the following rent amounts: (i) minimum amounts of rent to Hospitality Trust specified in the leases, (ii) additional rent to Hospitality Trust in connection with certain sales to Hospitality Trust of qualifying improvements at sites leased from Hospitality Trust, and (iii) the underlying ground lease payments at those sites subleased to us by Hospitality Trust, which ground lease payments we pay directly to the party from whom Hospitality Trust leases the site.  In certain cases Hospitality Trust has exercised purchase options or otherwise acquired the leased properties that had previously been subleased to us and we now pay the related ground lease rents to Hospitality Trust.  On May 12, 2008, we and Hospitality Trust amended the TA Lease to permit us to sell to Hospitality Trust, without an increase of our rent, certain capital improvements to properties leased from Hospitality Trust earlier than previously permitted.  In the event that we elect to sell these capital improvements before the time contractually required by the original lease terms, Hospitality Trust’s purchase commitment amount is discounted to reflect the accelerated receipt of funds by us according to a present value formula established in the amended lease.  During the six month period ended June 30, 2008, we sold leasehold improvements to Hospitality Trust for total cash proceeds of $67.7 million, all of which occurred during the three months ended June 30, 2008.  Taking into account the discount for the early receipt of certain of these proceeds, at June 30, 2008 the remaining amount of the leasehold improvements which we may sell to Hospitality Trust with no increase in our rent was $28.2 million.  For the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 we paid rent to Hospitality Trust of $56.8 million and $44.4 million, respectively.  For the six months and five months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, we paid rent to Hospitality Trust of $112.0 million and $70.2 million, respectively.

 

On August 11, 2008, we and Hospitality Trust entered a rent deferral agreement.  See Item 5 of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a description of this agreement.

 

The other current liabilities balance in our consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, included $18.3 million and $18.0 million, respectively, for rent due to Hospitality Trust.

 

We are party to a management and shared services agreement with Reit Management. Reit Management oversees and assists us with various aspects of our business, which may include, but are not limited to, compliance with various laws and rules applicable to our status as a publicly owned company, maintenance of our travel centers, site selection for properties on which new travel centers may be developed, identification of, and purchase negotiation for travel centers and travel center companies, accounting and financial reporting, capital markets and financing activities, investor relations and general oversight of all our daily business activities, including legal matters, human resources, insurance programs, management information systems and the like. For these services, we pay Reit Management a fee equal to 0.6% of our fuel gross margin and 0.6% of our total non-fuel revenues. The fee is payable monthly based upon the prior month’s margin or revenues, as applicable. In connection with the payments made to Reit Management under the management and shared services agreement, for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, we recognized expense of $2.2 million and $1.8 million, respectively, and for the six and five months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 we recognized expense of $4.2 million and $2.7 million, respectively.

 

We have a minority joint venture interest in Petro Travel Plaza LLC, which owns one travel center that we operate under a management agreement and a parcel of land upon which Petro Travel Plaza LLC is developing a new travel center that we expect to operate.  This investment is accounted for under the equity method.  Included in our results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2008 was management and accounting fee income of $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, earned from our management of this joint venture.  At June 30, 2008 we had a net payable to Petro Travel Plaza LLC of $2.2 million.

 

Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

For quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk affecting us, see Item 7A. – “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2008.  Our exposure to market risks has not changed materially from that set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.  During the six months ended June 30, 2008, market prices for fuel continued to climb from the levels existing in 2007 and continued to be volatile.

 

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Item 4T.   Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, our management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15.  Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2008, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II.  Other Information

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

There have been no material changes during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the legal proceedings previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 except for the items below:

 

In February 2006 a subsidiary of our predecessor, Pilot Travel Centers, LLC, a competitor of ours, and others were sued by Flying J, Inc., or Flying J, another one of our competitors, and its affiliates in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.  In April 2008 we settled this litigation for $5 million and by agreeing to accept the payment card issued by one of Flying J’s affiliates.  As a result of this settlement, we were dismissed from the litigation on May 5, 2008.

 

On February 1, 2008, we commenced litigation against E 2  Investment Partners LLC and related entities and individuals in the Delaware Court of Chancery.  On December 31, 2007, these defendants forwarded a letter to us proposing directors and other matters for consideration at our 2008 annual meeting of shareholders.  We sought a court order declaring that the defendants did not comply with our limited liability company agreement and that therefore the defendants’ notice was invalid and their proposed nominees and other matters were not properly presented for consideration at our 2008 annual meeting.  On April 4, 2008, the Delaware Court of Chancery issued an order declaring that the defendants’ notice breached our limited liability company agreement and was therefore invalid and of no force or effect.  On May 8, 2008, we commenced a second litigation against the same defendants in the Delaware court of Chancery to collect our costs and expenses arising from these defendants' breach of our LLC agreement.  On July 2, 2008, the defendants filed an answer to our complaint and generally denied liability.  This lawsuit is proceeding.  We do not know what amounts, if any, will ultimately be collected by us.

 

On February 1, 2008, Alan R. Kahn filed a purported derivative action in the Delaware Court of Chancery on behalf of TA against members of our board of directors, Hospitality Trust and Reit Management. This action alleges that our directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Petro Acquisition and seeks an award of unspecified damages and reformation of our Petro Lease. This action also appears to allege that Reit Management and Hospitality Trust aided and abetted our directors.  Under our limited liability company agreement and agreements with Reit Management and Hospitality Trust, we are liable to indemnify our directors, Hospitality Trust and Reit Management for liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by them in connection with this litigation.  On May 6, 2008, we moved to dismiss this complaint.  On June 20, 2008 the plaintiff filed an amended complaint making additional allegations regarding the members of our board of directors and withdrawing his request for reformation of the Petro Lease.  On July 2, 2008, we moved to dismiss the amended complaint.  We believe plaintiff’s allegations are without merit.

 

On July 10, 2008, Riverside County in the State of California filed litigation against us in the Superior Court of California, Riverside County, seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief for alleged past violations of various state laws and regulations relating to our predecessor’s management of underground storage tanks.  A second California county, Tehama County, commenced litigation against our predecessor in March 2005 in the Superior Court of California, Tehama County, seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief arising out of a fuel spill which occurred in December 2003.  We have been involved in negotiations with these two California counties and two other California counties, San Bernardino County and Shasta County, alleging past violations of various state laws and regulations relating to the management of underground storage tanks in an effort to resolve their pending and threatened claims.  Although we believe that the judgments or settlements which may result from these litigations and negotiations are unlikely to be material, California’s environmental laws provide for the possible assessment of large civil penalties for various violations, including some violations which do not result in environmental harm or continuing environmental risks.  In addition, only a portion of the claims being asserted by these California counties are likely to be covered under our environmental insurance policies.  Accordingly, these litigations and negotiations may result in our obligation to pay material amounts.

 

Item 1A.   Risk Factors

 

There have been no material changes during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and use of Proceeds

 

On June 13, 2008, we granted 5,000 common shares, valued at $2.25 per share, the closing price of our common shares on the American Stock Exchange on that day, to each of our directors as part of their annual compensation (a total of 25,000 shares). We made these grants pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

At our annual meeting of shareholders held on June 13, 2008, Arthur G. Koumantzelis was a candidate for re-election as an Independent Director and Barry M. Portnoy was a candidate for re-election as a Managing Director.  Mr. Koumantzelis received the affirmative vote of 6,037,927 shares and 4,749,506 votes were withheld.  Mr. Portnoy received the affirmative vote of 6,001,360 shares and 4,786,073 votes were withheld.  Because they had not received affirmative votes from majorities of the shares eligible to vote regarding their elections, immediately following the Meeting each of Messrs. Portnoy and Koumantzelis resigned as directors of the Company.

 

On June 13, 2008, after the resignation of Messrs. Koumantzelis and Portnoy, referenced above, the remaining members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) unanimously voted to elect Messrs. Koumantzelis and Portnoy to fill the two vacancies on the Board, with Mr. Koumantzelis as the Group I Independent Director and Mr. Portnoy as the Group I Managing Director.  The Board also appointed Mr. Koumantzelis to serve on the Company’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee and designated him as the Audit Committee’s “financial expert”, as determined pursuant to the rules of the SEC and the American Stock Exchange.  Mr. Koumantzelis was also appointed as the chair of the Audit Committee.

 

Ms. Barbara D. Gilmore and Messrs. Thomas M. O’Brien and Patrick F. Donelan continue to serve as directors with terms of office expiring in 2009, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and until their respective successors are duly elected or until their respective earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

Item 5.  Other Information

 

On August 11, 2008, we entered into a rent deferral agreement with Hospitality Trust and certain of its affiliates.  Significant terms of this agreement are set forth below.  This description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the rent deferral agreement filed as Exhibit 10.6 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

(i)

 

We currently lease 185 travel centers from Hospitality Trust under two leases for combined rent of $18.8 million per month.  This rent amount periodically increases pursuant to formulas in the leases.  We will have the option to defer our monthly rent payments to Hospitality Trust by up to $5 million per month for periods beginning July 1, 2008 until December 31, 2010.  Our right to defer up to $5 million per month is not cumulative, except that we may defer up to $10 million in August 2008 as we have paid our monthly rent for July 2008 in full.

(ii)

 

We will not be obligated to pay cash interest on the deferred rent through December 31, 2009.

(iii)

 

We will issue 1,540,000 of our common shares to Hospitality Trust (approximately 9.6% of our shares outstanding after this new issuance).  In the event we do not defer our monthly payments for the full permitted amounts through December 31, 2009, the pro-rata amount of our shares issued to Hospitality Trust may be purchased by us for nominal consideration.  Shares issued to Hospitality Trust and no longer subject to repurchase under our rent deferral agreement may be registered by us under the Securities Act of 1933 at the option of Hospitality Trust, in accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement between us and Hospitality Trust entered into concurrently with our rent deferral agreement and more fully described below.

(iv)

 

In the event that any rents which have been deferred remain unpaid or additional rent amounts are deferred after December 31, 2009, interest on all such amounts will be payable to Hospitality Trust monthly at the rate of 12% per annum, beginning January 1, 2010. 

(v)

 

No such rent deferrals are permitted for rent periods after December 31, 2010.  Any deferred rent (and interest thereon) not paid will be due to Hospitality Trust on July 1, 2011.  Any deferred rent amounts (and interest) may be prepaid at any time without premium or penalty.

 

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(vi)           This deferral agreement also includes a prohibition on share repurchases and dividends by us while any deferred rent remains unpaid and has change of control covenants so that amounts deferred will be payable to Hospitality Trust in the event we experience a change of control while deferred rent is unpaid.  More specifically, in the event of an event of default under our existing lease agreements with Hospitality Trust, the election of any director to our Board of Directors who was not nominated or appointed by the then members of our Board of Directors, the adoption by our shareholders of any proposal (other than a precatory proposal) not recommended for adoption by the then members of the Board of Directors, or our failure to timely make interest payments under our rent deferral agreement with Hospitality Trust, any deferred rent (and interest) which is unpaid will be immediately due to Hospitality Trust.  Any default by us under our rent deferral agreement will also constitute an event of default under our existing lease agreements with Hospitality Trust. 

 

On August 11, 2008, as a fee pursuant to the rent deferral agreement described above, we agreed to issue to Hospitality Trust 1,540,000 of our common shares.  This issuance does not involve any public offering and is therefore exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  In connection with this issuance, we entered into a registration rights agreement with Hospitality Trust.  Under the registration rights agreement, Hospitality Trust will have three demand rights to require us to conduct a registered public offering (underwritten or otherwise) with respect to our common shares issued to Hospitality Trust, commencing on the date upon which one-third of such common shares are no longer subject to repurchase under our rent deferral agreement and continuing through the date which is twelve months following the latest of the expiration of the terms of the TA Lease and the Petro Lease.  In addition, Hospitality Trust will have “piggy-back” rights to require us to include our common shares issued to Hospitality Trust and no longer subject to repurchase under our rent deferral agreement as part of any registered public offering which we may conduct from time to time.  The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the registration rights agreement filed as Exhibit 10.7 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

We became a publicly owned company as a result of a spin off from Hospitality Trust on January 31, 2007.  For a further description of our relationships with Hospitality Trust and Reit Management, please refer to the information set forth under the heading “Related Party Transactions” under Item 2 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

Composite Copy of Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of TravelCenters of America LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on June 15, 2007, File No. 333-143814)

Exhibit 4.1

 

Form of share certificate (filed herewith)

Exhibit 10.1

 

First Amendment to Lease Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2008, by and among HPT TA Properties Trust,               HPT TA Properties LLC and TA Leasing LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 14, 2008)

Exhibit 10.2

 

Retirement Agreement among TravelCenters of America LLC, TravelCenters of America Holding Company LLC, TA Operating LLC and Joseph A. Szima, dated May 15, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 21, 2008)

Exhibit 10.3

 

Letter agreement, dated June 13, 2008, among TravelCenters of America LLC and John R. Hoadley (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 19, 2008)

Exhibit 10.4

 

Accelerated Vesting Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2008, by and among TravelCenters of America LLC and John R. Hoadley (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 19, 2008)

Exhibit 10.5

 

Amendment No. 1 to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2008, by and among TravelCenters of America LLC, TA Leasing LLC, TA Operating LLC, Petro Stopping Centers, L.P., as borrowers, each of the guarantors under the agreement, the parties to the agreement from time to time as lenders, and Wachovia Capital Finance Corporation (Central), in its capacity as agent for the lenders (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 11, 2008)

Exhibit 10.6

 

Deferral Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2008 among Hospitality Properties Trust, HPT TA Properties Trust, HPT TA Properties LLC, HPT PSC Properties Trust, HPT PSC Properties LLC, TravelCenters of America LLC, TA Leasing LLC and Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.. (filed herewith)

Exhibit 10.7

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated August 11, 2008 between TravelCenters of America LLC and Hospitality Properties Trust (field herewith)

Exhibit 31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer (filed herewith)

Exhibit 31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer (filed herewith)

Exhibit 32.1

 

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (furnished herewith)

 

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WARNING CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q CONTAINS STATEMENTS WHICH CONSTITUTE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND OTHER FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS. ALSO, WHENEVER WE USE WORDS SUCH AS ‘‘BELIEVE’’, ‘‘EXPECT’’, ‘‘ANTICIPATE’’, ‘‘INTEND’’, ‘‘PLAN’’, ‘‘ESTIMATE’’ OR SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS, WE ARE MAKING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED UPON OUR PRESENT INTENT, BELIEFS OR EXPECTATIONS, BUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO OCCUR AND MAY NOT OCCUR. ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CONTAINED IN OR IMPLIED BY OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF VARIOUS FACTORS. AMONG OTHERS, THE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS WHICH APPEAR IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q THAT MAY NOT OCCUR INCLUDE:

 

·                   OUR DESCRIPTION OF THE RENT DEFERRAL AGREEMENT WITH HOSPITALITY TRUST MAY IMPLY THAT THE RENT DEFERRAL AMOUNTS TOGETHER WITH OUR OTHER CASH PROVIDED BY OUR OPERATING ACTIVITIES WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW US TO GENERATE POSITIVE CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS AND TO MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS DURING THE RENT DEFERRAL PERIOD.  IN FACT, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GENERATE POSITIVE CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS OR MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS;

 

·                   CERTAIN STATEMENTS MAY IMPLY THAT OUR STAFF REDUCTIONS, EXPENSE CONTROLS AND OTHER INITIATIVES MAY CAUSE IMPROVED FINANCIAL RESULTS. IN FACT, FUTURE MARKET CONDITIONS IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY OR OTHERWISE MAY BE WORSE THAN WE NOW EXPECT, OUR INITIATIVES MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED OR SUSTAINED AND OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS MAY NOT IMPROVE OR WE MAY EXPERIENCE MATERIAL AND CONTINUING LOSSES;

 

·                   THE LITIGATION BROUGHT BY FLYING J AND ITS AFFILIATES IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE AGAINST DEFENDANTS OTHER THAN US.  DURING THE CONTINUATION OF THIS LITIGATION, WE MAY BE REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO DISCOVERY REQUESTS OR BECOME OTHERWISE INVOLVED IN THE CONTINUING LITIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THE AGREEMENT REACHED WITH FLYING J MAY NOT END OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS LITIGATION AND WE MAY CONTINUE TO INCUR EXPENSES AND MANAGEMENT EFFORTS. THE AMOUNT OF OUR CONTINUING INVOLVEMENT IN THIS CONTINUING LITIGATION WILL DEPEND, IN LARGE PART, UPON ACTIONS TAKEN BY OTHER PARTIES CONTINUING IN THIS LITIGATION, WHICH ACTIONS ARE NOT WITHIN OUR CONTROL;

 

·                   OUR REVIEW OF OUR EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS HAS RESULTED IN THE PLANNED ELIMINATION OR DEFERRAL OF MANY OF THOSE PLANS. IN FACT, SOME OF THESE PLANS MAY NOT BE ELIMINATED OR DEFERRED BECAUSE WE ARE UNABLE TO CANCEL THIRD PARTY CONTRACTS OR OTHERWISE;

 

·                   THE CAPITAL REQUIRED FOR OUR MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT PLANS MAY EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS AND MAY NOT INCREASE OUR SALES OR MARGINS;

 

·                   OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY MAY BE GREATER THAN WE CURRENTLY ANTICIPATE; AND

 

·                   WE MAY BE UNABLE TO SETTLE OR PREVAIL IN THE PENDING LITIGATION MATTERS AND ANY SETTLEMENT OR ADVERSE RULING MAY HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS.

 

THESE UNEXPECTED RESULTS OF OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS MAY BE CAUSED BY VARIOUS FACTORS, SOME OF WHICH ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL:

 

·       FURTHER FUEL PRICE INCREASES OR OTHER FACTORS MAY CAUSE US TO NEED MORE WORKING CAPITAL TO MAINTAIN OUR INVENTORIES AND CARRY OUR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE THAN WE NOW EXPECT;

 

·       CONTINUATION OF THE CURRENTLY HIGH FUEL PRICES OR INCREASES IN FUEL PRICES MAY REDUCE THE DEMAND FOR THE GOODS AND SERVICES WHICH WE SELL BECAUSE SUCH FUEL PRICES MAY ENCOURAGE FUEL CONSERVATION, DIRECT FREIGHT BUSINESS AWAY FROM TRUCKING OR OTHERWISE ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BUSINESS OF OUR CUSTOMERS;

 

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·       OUR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE OUR OPERATING MARGINS BY INCREASING REVENUE MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE AND MAY CAUSE US TO LOSE BUSINESS AND REDUCE OUR OPERATING EARNINGS OR INCREASE OUR LOSSES;

 

·       THE SUCCESS OF OUR COST CONTROL INITIATIVES DEPENDS IN LARGE PART UPON OUR MANAGEMENT’S ABILITY TO MANAGE HOURLY EMPLOYMENT TO MATCH OUR CHANGING LEVELS OF BUSINESS, BUT WE MAY BE UNABLE TO REDUCE STAFFING BELOW CERTAIN LEVELS AT OUR TRAVEL CENTERS WHICH GENERALLY OPERATE 24 HOURS PER DAY, 365 DAYS PER YEAR;

 

·       OUR SUPPLIERS MAY BE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE THEIR LIMITS FOR OUR PURCHASES ON CREDIT. IF WE ARE UNABLE TO PURCHASE GOODS ON REASONABLE CREDIT TERMS, WE MAY SUFFER INCREASED LOSSES;

 

·       IF THE U.S. ECONOMY CONTINUES TO SLOW, THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY MAY DECLINE FURTHER AND OUR PRINCIPAL CUSTOMERS MAY PURCHASE LESS OF OUR GOODS AND SERVICES; AND,

 

·                   DISCOVERY AND COURT DECISIONS DURING LITIGATION OFTEN RESULT IN UNANTICIPATED RESULTS.  LITIGATION IS USUALLY EXPENSIVE AND DISTRACTING TO MANAGEMENT.  WE CAN PROVIDE NO ASSURANCE AS TO THE OUTCOME OF ANY OF THE LITIGATION MATTERS IN WHICH WE ARE INVOLVED.

 

GENERALLY, WE HAVE NOT PRODUCED PROFITABLE OPERATIONS IN ANY QUARTERLY REPORTING PERIOD SINCE WE BECAME A PUBLICALLY OWNED COMPANY ON JANUARY 31, 2007. ALTHOUGH OUR PLANS ARE INTENDED TO CREATE PROFITABLE OPERATIONS, THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THESE PLANS WILL SUCCEED.

 

RESULTS WHICH DIFFER FROM THOSE STATED OR IMPLIED BY OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ALSO MAY BE CAUSED BY VARIOUS CHANGES IN OUR BUSINESS OR MARKET CONDITIONS AS DESCRIBED MORE FULLY UNDER “ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS” IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007.

 

YOU SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE UPON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS.

 

EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW, WE UNDERTAKE NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/

Andrew J. Rebholz

 

 

August 11, 2008

 

 

Name:

Andrew J. Rebholz

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

Composite Copy of Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of TravelCenters of America LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on June 15, 2007, File No. 333-143814)

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

Form of share certificate (filed herewith)

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

First Amendment to Lease Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2008, by and among HPT TA Properties Trust, HPT TA Properties LLC and TA Leasing LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 14, 2008)

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Retirement Agreement among TravelCenters of America LLC, TravelCenters of America Holding Company LLC, TA Operating LLC and Joseph A. Szima, dated May 15, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 21, 2008)

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

Letter agreement, dated June 13, 2008, among TravelCenters of America LLC and John R. Hoadley (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 19, 2008)

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

Accelerated Vesting Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2008, by and among TravelCenters of America LLC and John R. Hoadley (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 19, 2008)

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

Amendment No. 1 to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2008, by and among TravelCenters of America LLC, TA Leasing LLC, TA Operating LLC, Petro Stopping Centers, L.P., as borrowers, each of the guarantors under the agreement, the parties to the agreement from time to time as lenders, and Wachovia Capital Finance Corporation (Central), in its capacity as agent for the lenders (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 11, 2008)

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

Deferral Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2008 among Hospitality Properties Trust, HPT TA Properties Trust, HPT TA Properties LLC, HPT PSC Properties Trust, HPT PSC Properties LLC, TravelCenters of America LLC, TA Leasing LLC and Petro Stopping Centers, L.P (filed herewith)

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

Registration rights agreement dated August 11, 2008 between TravelCenters of America LLC and Hospitality Properties Trust (filed herewith)

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer (filed herewith)

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer (filed herewith)

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (furnished herewith)

 

36


 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

 

 

NUMBER

 

 

SHARES

THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE

IN SOUTH SAINT PAUL, MN.

 

 

SEE REVERSE FOR IMPORTANT

NOTICE ON TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

AND OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY FORMED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

 

CUSIP 894174 10 1

THIS CERTIFIES THAT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

is the owner of

 

 

 

 

 

FULLY PAID AND NONASSESSABLE COMMON SHARES OF

 

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC

 

(the “Company”) transferable on the books of the Company by the holder hereof in person or by its duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the common limited liability company interests represented hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisiod of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company and any Bylaws adopted by the Company and any amendments thereto. The holder of this Certificate and every transferee or assignee hereof by accepting or holding the same agrees to be bound by all of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement and any Bylaws of the Company, as amended from time to time. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers.

 

Dated:

 

 

PRESIDENT

 

SECRETARY

 

AMERICAN FINANCIAL PRINTING INCORPORATED – MINNEAPOLIS

 

 

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

 

BY

 

TRANSFER AGENT

AND REGISTRAR

 

 

 

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

 

 



 

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

 

PURSUANT AND SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF THE COMPANY, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME (THE “LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT”), THE COMPANY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CREATE ONE OR MORE ADDITIONAL CLASSES OR SERIES OF SHARES AND ISSUE ADDITIONAL SHARES OF ANY EXISTING CLASS OR SERIES OF SHARES. THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH A STATEMENT OF (i) THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMPANY TO CREATE ADDITIONAL CLASSES OR SERIES OF SHARES AND ISSUE ADDITIONAL SHARES OF ANY EXISTING CLASS OR SERIES OF SHARES, (ii) THE TERMS OF ANY EXISTING CLASS OR SERIES OF SHARES, AND (iii) SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AS IS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, WITHOUT CHARGE TO ANY SHAREHOLDER UPON REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.

 

THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER WHICH ARE OR MAY HEREAFTER BE CONTAINED IN THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OR IN ANY BYLAWS ADOPTED BY THE COMPANY, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME (THE “BYLAWS”), INCLUDING PROVISIONS OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT WHICH PROHIBIT THE OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN 9.8% OF ANY CLASS OR SERIES OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES BY ANY PERSON OR GROUP. THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE RESTRICTIONS UPON OWNERSHIP OR TRANSFER OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES IS NOT COMPLETE. A MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THESE RESTRICTIONS AND OF VARIOUS RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF SHAREHOLDERS APPEARS IN THE COMPANY’S LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OR BYLAWS (IF ANY), AS APPLICABLE, AND IN CERTAIN OTHER AGREEMENTS WHICH MAY FROM TIME TO TIME BE ENTERED INTO BY THE COMPANY AFFECTING THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF SHAREHOLDERS. COPIES OF THE COMPANY’S LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT, BYLAWS (IF ANY) AND AGREEMENTS AFFECTING THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF SHAREHOLDERS AS IN EFFECT FROM TIME TO TIME WILL BE SENT WITHOUT CHARGE TO ANY SHAREHOLDER UPON REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM

as tenants in common

 

UTMA

 

 

Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Cust)

 

 

 

(Minor)

TEN ENT

as tenants by entireties

 

 

 

under Uniform Transfers to Minors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JT TEN

as joint tenants with right of survivorship

 

 

 

Act  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and not as tenants in common

 

 

 

 

 

(State)

 

 

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in above list.

 

For value received

 

hereby sell, assign, and transfer unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER

 

 

 

 

IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

 

 

Attorney to transfer the said

shares on the books of the within-named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

 

 

 

SIGNATURE GUARANTEED

 

 

ALL GUARANTEES MUST BE MADE BY A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SUCH AS A BANK OR BROKER) WHICH IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE SECURITIES TRANSFER AGENTS MEDALLION PROGRAM (“STAMP”), THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. MEDALLION SIGNATURE PROGRAM (“MSP”), OR THE STOCK EXCHANGES MEDALLION PROGRAM (“SEMP”) AND MUST NOT BE DATED. GUARANTEES BY A NOTARY PUBLIC ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

 

 

 

 


 

EXHIBIT 10.6

 

DEFERRAL AGREEMENT

 

This Deferral Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made August 11, 2008, among Hospitality Properties Trust (the “Trust”), HPT TA Properties Trust (“HPT TA Trust”), HPT TA Properties LLC (“HPT TA LLC”), HPT PSC Properties Trust (“HPT PSC Trust”), HPT PSC Properties LLC (“HPT PSC LLC” and together with the Trust, HPT TA Trust, HPT TA LLC, HPT PSC Trust, “HPT”), TravelCenters of America LLC (“TravelCenters”), TA Leasing LLC (“TA Leasing”) and Petro Stopping Centers, L.P. (“Petro” and together with TravelCenters and TA Leasing, “TA”).

 

RECITAL

 

The parties are parties to a lease dated January 31, 2007, as amended, and a lease dated May 30, 2007, as amended, and certain related and/or incidental documents and agreements (collectively, the “Lease Documents”).

 

As a result of material and unforeseen changes in the market conditions in which TA operates since the Lease Documents were entered into, the parties wish to defer certain rental obligations thereunder.

 

Now, therefore, the parties agree:

 

1.             Deferral . TA shall have the right to defer up to $5,000,000 of Minimum Rent (this and other capitalized terms used with the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Lease Documents) due each month under the Lease Documents beginning with the Minimum Rent payable for July 2008 and continuing through the Minimum Rent payable for December, 2010, which is payable January 1, 2011 (all such rent so deferred, the “Deferred Rent”). The right to defer Minimum Rent shall not be cumulative if less than $5,000,000 is deferred in any calendar month, provided that TA, having paid Minimum Rent for July 2008, may defer up to $10,000,000 of Minimum Rent payable for August 2008. Any Minimum Rent deferred shall be in multiples of $1,000,000.

 

2.             Interest . No interest shall be payable on the Deferred Rent prior to December 31, 2009. Beginning January 1, 2010, interest shall accrue at the rate of 1% per month on the Deferred Rent and shall be paid by TA to HPT, monthly, in arrears, at the time and in the manner provided in the Lease Documents for the payment of Minimum Rent, beginning with the payment of Minimum Rent due on the first Business Day of February 2010.

 

3.             Payment and Prepayment . The Deferred Rent, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, shall be due on the first Business Day of July 2011. The Deferred Rent may be prepaid at any time without premium or penalty, in whole or part, provided any partial prepayment shall be made in multiples of $1,000,000, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

 

4.             TravelCenters Shares . In consideration for the right to defer Minimum Rent under the Lease Documents as provided in this Agreement, contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement TravelCenters will issue 1,540,000 common shares, no par value (together with any shares of TravelCenters issued in respect of such common shares as a result of

 

 

1



 

any stock split, stock dividend, share exchange, merger, consolidation or similar recapitalization, the “Common Shares”), representing common limited liability company interests in TravelCenters subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 4, to HPT and will provide registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933 for the Common Shares pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement attached as Exhibit A. On January 1, 2010, if TA has exercised its right to defer Minimum Rent in an aggregate amount less than that permitted pursuant to Section 1 prior to that date, a number of the Common Shares shall thereupon be subject to repurchase by TravelCenters for consideration of $0.01/share by notice given to HPT on or before March 1, 2010, such number being equal to 1,540,000 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is $90,000,000 minus the aggregate Minimum Rent deferred through and including January 1, 2010, whether or not then repaid, and the denominator of which is $90,000,000. Upon repurchase by TravelCenters, neither HPT nor any assignee or transferee of HPT shall have any further rights or interests in such repurchased Common Shares

 

5.             Redemption, Dividends and Cooperation . TravelCenters and its Subsidiaries shall not offer to redeem or redeem any of TravelCenters’s common shares prior to repayment in full of the Deferred Rent and any accrued and unpaid interest, and thereafter, will not offer to redeem or redeem any of TravelCenters’s common shares if such redemption would result in the Common Shares representing more than 9.8% of the issued and outstanding shares of TravelCenters not subject to any rights of repurchase or forfeiture; provided that at any time TravelCenters may redeem common shares issued to officers and employees pursuant to an equity compensation plan where redemption is for nominal consideration, if such redemption would not result in the Common Shares representing more than 9.8% of the issued and outstanding shares of TravelCenters not subject to any rights of repurchase or forfeiture. TravelCenters shall not declare or make any distributions on its common shares prior to repayment in full of the Deferred Rent and any accrued and unpaid interest. TA will reasonably cooperate with any HPT request involving HPT’s compliance with Code section 856(d)(2)(B) (including the applicable attribution rules of Code section 856(d)(5)).

 

6.             Termination of Deferral . Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the right of TA to defer Minimum Rent as provided in this Agreement shall immediately terminate upon (a) the occurrence of an Event of Default under any of the Lease Documents, (b) the election of any director to the Board of Directors of TA who was not nominated or appointed by the then members of the Board of Directors of TA, (c) the adoption by the shareholders of TA, at an annual or special meeting, of any proposal, other than a precatory proposal, not recommended for adoption by the then members of the Board of Directors of TA and (d) any failure to timely make payments of interest under Section 2 above. Immediately upon the termination of the right to defer Minimum Rent, all Deferred Rent, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall be immediately due and payable. Any default by TA under this Agreement shall constitute an Event of Default under the Lease Documents.

 

7.             Representations and Warranties of TA . TA represents and warrants to HPT that:

 

(a)           Organization . Each entity comprising TA is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction or organization and has full limited liability company or limited partnership power and authority to conduct its

 

 

2



 

business as it is now being conducted and to own, operate or lease its properties and assets.

 

(b)           Authorization . Each entity comprising TA has all requisite limited liability company or limited partnership power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each entity comprising TA and the consummation by each of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company or limited partnership action by each entity comprising TA. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each entity comprising TA and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each entity comprising TA, enforceable against each such entity in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (iii) any implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

(c)           No Violation . The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each entity comprising TA does not, and the consummation by each such entity of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, (i) conflict with, or result in any violation of or default under, any provision of any such entity’s limited liability company agreement or limited partnership agreement; (ii) conflict with or result in any violation of or default under, any law or judgment applicable to any such entity, or to which any of their respective properties are subject; or (iii) conflict with, or, with or without notice or the lapse of time, result in a breach, termination (or right of termination) or violation of or default under the terms of any agreement, contract, indenture or other instrument to which any such entity is a party or subject, or to which any of their respective properties are subject.

 

(d)           Approvals . The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each entity comprising TA and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not require the consent, approval, order, or authorization of any person under any agreement, contract, indenture or other instrument or Applicable Laws to which any entity comprising TA is a party or subject or to which any of their respective properties are subject, and no declaration, filing or registration with any governmental entity is required by any such entity in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for filings required under securities laws.

 

(e)           Common Shares . The Common Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive rights and issued in compliance with all Applicable Laws. As of the date of this Agreement, after issuance of the Common Shares, the Common Shares represent 9.8% of the issued and outstanding shares of TravelCenters, other than those subject to any rights of repurchase or forfeiture (provided

 

 

3



 

 

for purposes of this Section 7(e), the Common Shares shall not be considered to be subject to any rights of repurchase or forfeiture).

 

8.             Representations and Warranties of HPT . HPT represents and warrants to TA that:

 

(a)           Organization . Each entity comprising HPT is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction or organization and has full trust or limited liability company power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted and to own, operate or lease its properties and assets.

 

(b)           Authorization . Each entity comprising HPT has all requisite trust or limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each entity comprising HPT and the consummation by each of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary trust or limited liability company action by each entity comprising HPT. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each entity comprising HPT and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each entity comprising HPT, enforceable against each such entity in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (iii) any implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

(c)           No Violation . The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each entity comprising HPT does not, and the consummation by each such entity of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, (i) conflict with, or result in any violation of or default under, any provision of any such entity’s declaration of trust or limited liability company agreement; (ii) conflict with or result in any violation of or default under, any law or judgment applicable to any such entity or to which any of their respective properties are subject; or (iii) conflict with, or, with or without notice or the lapse of time, result in a breach, termination (or right of termination) or violation of or default under the terms of any agreement, contract, indenture or other instrument to which any such entity is a party or subject or to which any of their respective properties are subject.

 

(d)           Approvals . The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each entity comprising HPT and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not require the consent, approval, order, or authorization of any person under any agreement, contract, indenture or other instrument or Applicable Laws to which any entity comprising HPT is a party or subject or any of their representative properties are subject, and no declaration, filing or registration with any governmental entity is required by any such entity in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for filings required under securities laws.

 

 

4



 

9.             Mergers . Pursuant to Section 21.9 of the leases included in the Lease Documents, the proposed merger of Petro with and into TA Operating LLC and the subsequent merger of TA Leasing LLC with and into TA Operating LLC are each approved by HPT and it is agreed that neither will constitute a prohibited Change of Control under the Lease Documents.

 

10.           Issuance of Common Shares . It is agreed that the issuance of the Common Shares will not constitute a prohibited Change of Control under the Lease Documents.

 

11.           TravelCenter’s Guaranty . TravelCenters affirms that its guaranty of the leases included in the Lease Documents remains in full force and effect and unmodified.

 

12.           Miscellaneous .

 

(a)           No Waiver . No failure by HPT or TA, to insist upon the strict performance of any term hereof or to exercise any right, power or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or of any such term. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no waiver of any breach shall affect or alter this Agreement, which shall continue in full force and effect with respect to any other then existing or subsequent breach.

 

(b)           Severability . Any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or provision of this Agreement held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or ineffective shall not impair, invalidate or nullify the remainder of this Agreement, but rather the effect thereof shall be confined to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or provision so held to be invalid, illegal or ineffective, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or ineffective provisions had never been contained therein.

 

(c)           Notices .

 

(i)            Any and all notices, demands, consents, approvals, offers, elections and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be deemed adequately given if in writing and the same shall be delivered either in hand, by telecopier with written acknowledgment of receipt, or by mail or Federal Express or similar expedited commercial carrier, addressed to the recipient of the notice, postpaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested (if by mail), or with all freight charges prepaid (if by Federal Express or similar carrier).

 

(ii)           All notices required or permitted to be sent hereunder shall be deemed to have been given for all purposes of this Agreement upon the date of acknowledged receipt, in the case of a notice by telecopier, and, in all other cases, upon the date of receipt or refusal, except that whenever under this Agreement a notice is either received on a day which is not a Business Day or is required to be delivered on or before a specific day which is not a Business Day, the day of receipt or required delivery shall automatically be extended to the next Business Day.

 

(iii)          All such notices shall be addressed,

 

 

5



 

if to HPT:

 

c/o Hospitality Properties Trust

400 Centre Street

Newton, Massachusetts 02458

Attn: John G. Murray, President

Facsimile: (617) 969-5730

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Sullivan & Worcester LLP

One Post Office Square

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

Attn: Richard Teller

Facsimile: (617) 338-2880

 

if to TA:

 

c/o TravelCenters of America LLC

24601 Center Ridge Road

Westlake, Ohio 44145

Attn: Thomas M. O’Brien, President

Facsimile: (440) 808-3301

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
One Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
Attn.: Louis Goodman
Facsimile: (617) 573-4822

 

(iv)          By notice given as herein provided, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns shall have the right from time to time and at any time during the term of this Agreement to change their respective addresses effective upon receipt by the other parties of such notice and each shall have the right to specify as its address any other address within the United States of America.

 

(d)           Construction . Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated except by an instrument in writing signed by the party to be charged. All the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

 

6



 

(e)           Counterparts; Headings . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but which, when taken together, shall constitute but one instrument and shall become effective as of the date hereof when copies hereof, which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the parties hereto shall have been signed. Headings in this Agreement are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or affect the meaning of the provisions hereof.

 

(f)            Applicable Law, Etc. Except as to matters regarding the internal affairs of HPT, HPT TA Trust and HPT PSC Trust and issues of or limitations on any personal liability of the shareholders and trustees or directors of HPT, HPT TA Trust and HPT PSC Trust for obligations of HPT, HPT TA Trust and HPT PSC Trust, as to which the laws of the State of Maryland shall govern, this Agreement shall be interpreted, construed, applied and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts between residents of Delaware which are to be performed entirely within Delaware, regardless of (i) where this Agreement is executed or delivered; or (ii) where any payment or other performance required by this Agreement is made or required to be made; or (iii) where any breach of any provision of this Agreement occurs, or any cause of action otherwise accrues; or (iv) where any action or other proceeding is instituted or pending; or (v) the nationality, citizenship, domicile, principal place of business, or jurisdiction of organization or domestication of any party; or (vi) whether the laws of the forum jurisdiction otherwise would apply the laws of a jurisdiction other than Delaware; or (vii) any combination of the foregoing.

 

(g)           Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written

 

(h)           Attorneys’ Fees . If any lawsuit or arbitration or other legal proceeding arises in connection with the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, the prevailing party therein shall be entitled to receive from the other party the prevailing party’s costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection therewith, in preparation therefor and on appeal therefrom, which amounts shall be included in any judgment therein.

 

 

7



 

(i)            Non-liability of Trustees .

 

(i)            THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST OF HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST, DATED AUGUST 21, 1995, A COPY OF WHICH, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO, IS DULY FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION OF MARYLAND, PROVIDES THAT THE NAME “HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST” REFERS TO THE TRUSTEES UNDER THE DECLARATION OF TRUST AS SO AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED, COLLECTIVELY AS TRUSTEES, BUT NOT INDIVIDUALLY OR PERSONALLY, AND THAT NO TRUSTEE, OFFICER, SHAREHOLDER, EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST SHALL BE HELD TO ANY PERSONAL LIABILITY, JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY, FOR ANY OBLIGATION OF, OR CLAIM AGAINST, HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST. ALL PERSONS DEALING WITH HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST, IN ANY WAY, SHALL LOOK ONLY TO THE ASSETS OF HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY SUM OR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION.

 

(ii)           THE DECLARATION OF TRUST OF HPT TA PROPERTIES TRUST, DATED NOVEMBER 29, 2006, A COPY OF WHICH IS DULY FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION OF MARYLAND, PROVIDES THAT THE NAME “HPT TA PROPERTIES TRUST” REFERS TO THE TRUSTEES UNDER THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, COLLECTIVELY AS TRUSTEES, BUT NOT INDIVIDUALLY OR PERSONALLY, AND THAT NO TRUSTEE, OFFICER, SHAREHOLDER, EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF HPT TA PROPERTIES TRUST SHALL BE HELD TO ANY PERSONAL LIABILITY, JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY, FOR ANY OBLIGATION OF, OR CLAIM AGAINST, HPT TA PROPERTIES TRUST. ALL PERSONS DEALING WITH HPT TA PROPERTIES TRUST, IN ANY WAY, SHALL LOOK ONLY TO THE ASSETS OF HPT TA PROPERTIES TRUST FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY SUM OR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION.

 

(iii)          THE DECLARATION OF TRUST OF HPT PSC PROPERTIES TRUST, DATED MAY 23, 2007, A COPY OF WHICH IS DULY FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION OF MARYLAND, PROVIDES THAT THE NAME “HPT PSC PROPERTIES TRUST” REFERS TO THE TRUSTEES UNDER THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, COLLECTIVELY AS TRUSTEES, BUT NOT INDIVIDUALLY OR PERSONALLY, AND THAT NO TRUSTEE, OFFICER, SHAREHOLDER, EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF HPT PSC PROPERTIES TRUST SHALL BE HELD TO ANY PERSONAL LIABILITY, JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY, FOR ANY OBLIGATION OF, OR CLAIM AGAINST, HPT PSC PROPERTIES TRUST. ALL PERSONS DEALING WITH HPT PSC PROPERTIES TRUST, IN ANY WAY, SHALL LOOK ONLY TO THE

 

 

8



 

ASSETS OF HPT PSC PROPERTIES TRUST FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY SUM OR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION.

 

Signatures appear on the next page

 

 

9



 

Executed under seal as of the date first above written.

 

 

HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s/ John G. Murray

 

 

Name: John G. Murray

 

 

Title: President

 

 

HPT TA PROPERTIES TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John G. Murray

 

 

Name: John G. Murray

 

 

Title: President

 

 

HPT TA PROPERTIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John G. Murray

 

 

Name: John G. Murray

 

 

Title: President

 

 

HPT PSC PROPERTIES TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John G. Murray

 

 

Name: John G. Murray

 

 

Title: President

 

 

HPT PSC PROPERTIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John G. Murray

 

 

Name: John G. Murray

 

 

Title: President

 

 

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Thomas M. O’Brien

 

 

Name: Thomas M. O’Brien

 

 

Title: President

 

 

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TA LEASING LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Thomas M. O’Brien

 

 

Name: Thomas M. O’Brien

 

 

Title: President

 

 

PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Thomas M. O’Brien

 

 

Name: Thomas M. O’Brien

 

 

Title: President

 

 

11



 

EXHIBIT A

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) made August 11, 2008, between TravelCenters of America LLC  (the “Company”) and Hospitality Properties Trust (the “Shareholder”).

 

RECITAL

 

Pursuant to the terms of that certain Deferral Agreement, dated August 11, 2008 (the “Deferral Agreement”), among the Company, the Shareholder and certain of their affiliates, the Company has issued and the Shareholder has acquired and holds as of the date hereof 1,540,000 common shares, no par value, representing limited liability company interests of the Company subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4 of the Deferral Agreement (the “Shares”).

 

The Company has agreed to enter into this Agreement to provide the Shareholder with certain rights relating to the registration of the Shares.

 

Now, therefore, the parties agree as follows:

 

13.           DEFINITIONS.  Except as otherwise noted, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Agreement, which meanings shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms so defined and the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole.  The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:

 

Agreement means this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in the City of Boston are required, permitted or authorized, by applicable law or executive order, to be closed for regular banking business.

 

Commission means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or such successor federal agency or agencies as may be established in lieu thereof.

 

Company is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Company Indemnified Party ” is defined in Section 4.2.

 

Demand Registration is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

Demand Registration Period ” means the period from and after (i) the date upon which one-third (1/3) of the Shares issued to the Shareholder pursuant to the Deferral Agreement are no longer subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4 of the Deferral Agreement, through and including (ii) the date which is 12 calendar months following the latest of the expiration of the terms of the leases dated January 31, 2007 and May 30, 2007 between subsidiaries of the Company and subsidiaries of the Shareholder, as amended.

 

Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

 

A-1



 

Maximum Number of Shares is defined in Section 2.1.3.

 

Notices is defined in Section 6.2.

 

Piggy-Back Registration is defined in Section 2.2.1.

 

Prospectus means a prospectus relating to a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, including all materials incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

r egister ,” registered and “ registration refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document under the Securities Act and such registration statement becoming effective.

 

Registration Statement means any registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act for a public offering and sale of Shares (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity), as amended or supplemented, including all materials incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.

 

Restricted Shares mean all of the Shares held of record by the Shareholder or held of record by its permitted transferees from time to time in accordance with Section 6.1 (together with any shares issued in respect thereof as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, share exchange, merger, consolidation or similar recapitalization), in each case that are no longer subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4 of the Deferral Agreement; provided , that such Shares shall cease to be Restricted Shares hereunder, as of any date, when:  (a) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such Restricted Shares shall have become effective under the Securities Act (as defined below) and such Restricted Shares shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement as of such date; (b) such Restricted Shares shall have been otherwise transferred pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any similar provisions thereunder, but not Rule 144A), and new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of them shall not require registration under the Securities Act, in each case, as of such date; (c) such Restricted Shares are saleable immediately in their entirety without condition or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or (d) such Restricted Shares shall have ceased to be outstanding as of such date.

 

Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Shareholder is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Shareholder Indemnified Party ” is defined in Section 4.1.

 

Shares is defined in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Underwriter means a securities dealer who purchases any Restricted Shares as principal in an underwritten offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

14.           REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

 

(a)          Demand Registration.

 

A-2



 

(i)            General Request for Registration .  At any time during the Demand Registration Period, the Shareholder may make a written demand for registration under the Securities Act of all or part of the Restricted Shares (a “Demand Registration ).  Any such written demand for a Demand Registration shall specify the number of Restricted Shares proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof and, unless otherwise agreed by the Shareholder, shall be for the Shareholder’s exclusive benefit.

 

(ii)           Underwritten Offering .  If the Shareholder so elects and so advises the Company as part of its written demand for a Demand Registration, the offering of such Restricted Shares pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering.  In such case, the Shareholder shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Shareholder (which Underwriter or Underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company), complete and execute any questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, securities escrow agreements and other documents reasonably required or which are otherwise customary under the terms of such underwriting agreement, and furnish to the Company such information as the Company may reasonably request in writing for inclusion in the Registration Statement.

 

(iii)          Reduction of Offering .  If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the Shareholder that the dollar amount or number of Restricted Shares which the Shareholder desires to sell taken together with all other shares or other securities which the Shareholder has agreed may be included in such offering, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares or other securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Shares ), then the Company shall include in such registration:  (i) first, the Restricted Shares which the Shareholder has requested be included in the Demand Registration; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Shares or other securities for the account of other security holders of the Company that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

(iv)          Withdrawal .  In the case of a Demand Registration, if the Shareholder disapproves of the terms of any underwriting or is not entitled to include all of its Restricted Shares in any offering, the Shareholder may elect to withdraw such offering by giving written notice to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters of its request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration.  In such event, the Company need not seek effectiveness of such Registration Statement.  If the Shareholder’s withdrawal is based on (i) a material adverse change in circumstances with respect to the Company and not known to the Shareholder at the time the Shareholder makes its written demand for such Demand Registration, (ii) the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or (iii) a reduction pursuant to Section 2.1.3 of 10% or more of the number of Restricted Shares which the Shareholder has requested be included in the Demand Registration, the Company shall pay all

 

A-3



 

expenses incurred by the Shareholder in connection with such Demand Registration as provided in Section 3.2, and such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration for purposes of Section 3.1.1(b) or (e).

 

(b)         Piggy-Back Registration.

 

(i)            Piggy-Back Rights .  If, at any time on or after the date of this Agreement, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of common shares of the Company, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, common shares of the Company, by the Company for its own account or for any other shareholder of the Company for such shareholder’s account, other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt securities convertible into equity securities of the Company, (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan or (v) filed on Form S-4, then the Company shall (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to the Shareholder as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) Business Days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, of the offering and (y) offer to the Shareholder in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Restricted Shares as the Shareholder may request in writing within five (5) Business Days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration ).  The Company shall cause such Restricted Shares to be included in such registration and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Restricted Shares requested to be included in the Piggy-Back Registration to be included on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Restricted Shares in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof.  If the Piggy-Back Registration involves an Underwriter or Underwriters, the Shareholder shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration by the Company and complete and execute any questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, securities escrow agreements and other documents reasonably required or which are otherwise customary under the terms of such underwriting agreement, and furnish to the Company such information as the Company may reasonably request in writing for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such information that is otherwise customary.

 

(ii)           Reduction of Offering .  If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the holders of Restricted Shares that the dollar amount or number of Shares or other securities which the Company desire to sell, taken together with Shares or other securities, if any, as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to written contractual arrangements with persons other than the Shareholder, the Restricted Shares as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.2, and the Shares or other securities, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then the Company shall include in any such registration:

 

A-4



 

(a)           If the registration is undertaken for the Company’s account: (i) first, the shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the shares or other securities, if any, including the Restricted Shares, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of security holders ( pro rata in accordance with the number of Shares or other securities which each such person has actually requested to be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares or other securities with respect to which such persons have the right to request such inclusion) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and

 

(b)           If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons, other than the Shareholder, pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, (i) first, the Shares or other securities for the account of the demanding persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the shares or other securities, if any, including the Restricted Shares, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights which other security holders desire to sell ( pro rata in accordance with the number of Shares or other securities which each such person has actually requested to be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares or other securities with respect to which such persons have the right to request such inclusion) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

(iii)          Withdrawal .  The Shareholder may elect to withdraw its request for inclusion of Restricted Shares in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.  The Company may also elect to withdraw a registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.  If the Shareholder’s withdrawal is based on (i) a material adverse change in circumstances with respect to the Company and not known to the Shareholder at the time the Shareholder elects to participate in such Piggy-Back Registration, (ii) the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or (iii) a reduction pursuant to Section 2.2.2 of 10% or more of the number of Restricted Shares which the Shareholder has requested be included in the Piggy-Back Registration, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the Shareholder in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.2.

 

15.           REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

 

(a)           Filings; Information .  Whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Restricted Shares in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as practicable, and in connection

 

A-5



 

with any such request.

 

(i)            Filing Registration Statement .  The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible and in any event within thirty (30) days after receipt of a request for a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies or which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of all Restricted Shares to be registered thereunder in accordance with Section 2.1.2 and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become and remain effective for the period required by Section 3.1.3; provided , however , that:

 

(a)           the Company shall have the right to defer any Demand Registration for periods of up to thirty (30) days, and any Piggy-Back Registration for such period(s) as may be applicable to deferment of any demand registration to which such Peggy-Back Registration relates, in each case if the Company shall furnish to the holders a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its Shareholder for such Registration Statement to be effected at such time (including without limitation because the Company is then engaged in a material transaction or has an undisclosed material corporate development, in either case, which would be required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement); provided , further , however , that the Company shall not have the right to exercise the right set forth in this clause (a) for more than one hundred and twenty (120) days in any 365-day period in respect of a Demand Registration (including in such 120 days, any deferral under subsection (d) of this Section 3.1.1 if the Registration Statement was not timely filed thereunder);

 

(b)           the Company shall not be obligated to effect any registration of Restricted Shares upon receipt of a written demand for a Demand Registration if the Company has already completed three (3) Demand Registrations;

 

(c)           the Company shall not be obligated to effect any registration of Restricted Shares upon receipt of a written demand for a Demand Registration in the event that the number of Restricted Shares proposed to be included in the Demand Registration represents less than one-third (1/3) of the Shares issued to the Shareholder pursuant to the Deferral Agreement or if less, all the Shares then held by the Shareholder;

 

(d)           the Company shall not then be obligated to effect any registration of Restricted Shares upon receipt of a written demand for a Demand Registration if the Company shall furnish to the Shareholder a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating that within ninety (90) days of receipt of the written demand for a Demand Registration, the Company shall file a Registration Statement and offer to the Shareholder the opportunity to register Restricted Shares thereunder in accordance with Section 2.2; and

 

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(e)           the Company shall not be obligated to effect any registration of Restricted Shares upon receipt of a written demand for a Demand Registration if the Company has, within the six (6) month period preceding the date of the written demand for a Demand Registration already effected one Demand Registration for the Shareholder pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

(ii)           Copies .  If the Shareholder has included Restricted Shares in a registration, the Company shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Shareholder and its counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Shareholder or counsel for any the Shareholder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Restricted Shares included in such registration.

 

(iii)          Amendments and Supplements .  The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until all Restricted Shares, and all other securities covered by such Registration Statement, have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement (which period shall not exceed the sum of one hundred eighty (180) days, plus any period during which any such disposition is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any governmental agency or court ) or such securities have been withdrawn.

 

(iv)          Notification .  If the Shareholder has included Restricted Shares in a registration, after the filing of the Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly, and in no event more than two (2) Business Days after such filing, notify the Shareholder of such filing, and shall further notify the Shareholder promptly and confirm such notification in writing in all events within two (2) Business Days of the occurrence of any of the following:  (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement becomes effective; (iii) the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order (and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any Prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such Prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and promptly make available to the Shareholder any such supplement or amendment; except that before filing with the Commission a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, the Company shall furnish to the Shareholder and to its counsel, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed sufficiently in advance of filing to provide the Shareholder and its counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review such documents

 

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and comment thereon, and the Company shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, to which the Shareholder or its counsel shall reasonably object.

 

(v)           State Securities Laws Compliance .  If the Shareholder has included Restricted Shares in a registration the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Restricted Shares covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Shareholder (in light of the intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Restricted Shares covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other federal or state authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Shareholder to consummate the disposition of such Restricted Shares in such jurisdictions; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3.1.5 or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.

 

(vi)          Agreements for Disposition .  The Company shall enter into customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and use commercially reasonable efforts to take such other actions as are required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of Restricted Shares.  The representations, warranties and covenants of the Company in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the Shareholder.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Shareholder may not require the Company to accept terms, conditions or provisions in any such agreement which the Company determines are not reasonably acceptable to the Company, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary herein.  The Shareholder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties in the underwriting agreement except as reasonably requested by the Company and, if applicable, with respect to the Shareholder’s organization, good standing, authority, title to Restricted Shares, lack of conflict of such sale with such holder’s material agreements and organizational documents, and with respect to written information relating to the Shareholder that the Shareholder has furnished in writing expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement.  The Shareholder, however, shall agree to such covenants and indemnification and contribution obligations for selling stockholders as are reasonable and customarily contained in agreements of that type.

 

(vii)         Cooperation .  The Company and all officers and members of the management of the Company, shall reasonably cooperate in any offering of Restricted Shares under this Agreement, which cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation of the Registration Statement with respect to such offering and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants and potential investors.  The Shareholder shall reasonably cooperate in the preparation of the registration statement and other documents relating to any offering in which it includes securities pursuant to this Section 3.  The Shareholder shall also furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Restricted Shares held by it, and the intended method(s) of disposition of such securities as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of the Restricted Shares.

 

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(viii)        Records .  Upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, subject to the Company receiving any customary confidentiality undertakings or agreements, the Company shall make available for inspection by the Shareholder, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by the Shareholder or any Underwriter, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and shall cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by the Shareholder in connection with such Registration Statement.

 

(ix)           Opinions and Comfort Letters .  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to the Shareholder signed counterparts, addressed to the Shareholder, of (i) any opinion of counsel to the Company delivered to any Underwriter and (ii) any comfort letter from the Company’ independent public accountants delivered to any Underwriter; provided , however , that counsel to the Underwriter shall have exclusive authority to negotiate the terms thereof.  In the event no legal opinion is delivered to any Underwriter, the Company shall furnish to the Shareholder, at any time that the Shareholder elects to use a Prospectus, an opinion of counsel to the Company to the effect that the Registration Statement containing such Prospectus has been declared effective, that no stop order is in effect, and such other matters as the Shareholder may reasonably request as would customarily have been addressed in an opinion of counsel to the Company delivered to an Underwriter.

 

(x)            Earnings Statement .  The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the Securities Act, and make generally available to its shareholders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, provided that the Company will be deemed to have complied with this Section 3.1.10 if the earnings statement satisfies the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act.

 

(xi)           Listing .  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Restricted Shares included in any registration to be listed on such exchanges or otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar shares of the Company are then listed or designated or, if no such similar securities are then listed or designated, in a manner satisfactory to the Shareholder.

 

(b)           Registration Expenses .  The Company shall bear all customary costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Demand Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.1, and any Piggy-Back Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2, and all reasonable expenses incurred in performing or complying with its other obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Restricted Shares, subject to the limit set forth in paragraph (ix) below); (iii) printing expenses; (iv) the Company’s internal expenses (including, without limitation, all fees, salaries and expenses of its officers, employees and management); (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Restricted Shares, as required by Section 3.1.11; (vi) fees imposed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; (vii) fees and disbursements of

 

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counsel for the Company and fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses or costs associated with the delivery of any opinions or comfort letters requested pursuant to Section 3.1.9); (viii) the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration; and (ix) the fees and expenses of one counsel selected by the Shareholder in a Demand Registration or if it participates in a Piggy-Back Registration.  The Company shall have no obligation to pay any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Restricted Shares being sold by the Shareholder, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne solely by the Shareholder.  Additionally, in an underwritten offering, the Shareholder and the Company shall bear the expenses of the Underwriter or Underwriters pro rata in proportion to the respective amount of shares each is selling in such offering.

 

(c)           Information .  The Shareholder shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the registration of any Restricted Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 and in connection with the Company’s obligation to comply with federal and applicable state securities laws.

 

(d)           Shareholder Obligations .  The Shareholder may not participate in any underwritten offering pursuant to Section 2 unless such holder (i) agrees to only sell Restricted Shares on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting agreement, and (ii) completes, executes and delivers any and all questionnaires, lock-up agreements, powers of attorney, custody agreements, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably or customarily required by or under the terms of any underwriting agreement or as reasonably requested by the Company.

 

16.           INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

 

(a)           Indemnification by the Company .  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Shareholder and its officers, employees, affiliates, directors, partners, members, attorneys and agents, and each person, if any, who controls the Shareholder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, a “Shareholder Indemnified Party”) from and against any expenses, losses, judgments, claims, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or allegedly untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of Restricted Shares was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or summary Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or alleged omission) to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon (a) any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or summary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Shareholder expressly for use therein, or (b) the use of any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or summary Prospectus during a period when the Shareholder has been notified that a stop order has been issued in respect thereof or

 

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any proceeding for that purpose has been initiated, or the use of any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or summary Prospectus has been suspended by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.  The foregoing indemnity shall not inure to the benefit of any Shareholder Indemnified Party from whom the person asserting losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Restricted Shares, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Shareholder Indemnified Party to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Restricted Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, unless such failure is the result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 3.1.3.

 

(b)           Indemnification by the Shareholder .  The Shareholder will, with respect to any Registration Statement where Restricted Shares were registered under the Securities Act, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the Company’s directors and officers, and each other person, if any, who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, a “Company Indemnified Party”), against any expenses, losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as such expenses, losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Restricted Shares was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or summary Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Shareholder expressly for use therein.  The Shareholder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by the Shareholder.

 

(c)           Notification of Indemnification .  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 4 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any action by a governmental authority), such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 4, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided , however , that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the reasonable fees and expenses of one such counsel to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding.  The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 4, but the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party shall not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 4.

 

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17.           UNDERWRITING AND DISTRIBUTION.

 

(a)           Rule 144 .  The Company covenants that it shall file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as the Shareholder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Shareholder to sell Restricted Shares without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any similar provision thereto, but not Rule 144A.

 

18.           MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a)           Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part and shall be binding on its successors.  This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Shareholder hereunder may be assigned, transferred or delegated by the Shareholder, in whole or in part, in conjunction with and to the extent of any permitted transfer of Restricted Shares to an affiliate of the Shareholder in accordance with applicable law, which affiliate agrees in writing to be subject to and bound by all duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement, whereupon any such assignee, transferee or delegable would have all rights, duties and obligations hereunder in addition to the Shareholder to the extent that the Shareholder continues to own Restricted Shares.  This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Shareholder hereunder may be assigned, transferred or delegated by the Shareholder, in whole or in part, in conjunction with and to the extent of any permitted transfer of 1/3 or more of the Shares issued to the Shareholder under the Deferral Agreement or if less, all the Restricted Shares then held by the Shareholder to a person or entity that is not an affiliate of the Shareholder in accordance with applicable law and which person or entity agrees in writing to be subject to and bound by all duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement, whereupon any such assignee, transferee or delegable would have all rights, duties and obligations hereunder; provided , however , that the rights, duties and obligations hereunder may not be assigned, transferred or delegated to a person that is not an affiliate of the Shareholder may not be further assigned, transferred or delegated by such person.  This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Section 4 and this Section 6.1.

 

(b)           Notices . All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, “Notices ) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, or facsimile, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice provided in accordance with this Section 6.2.  Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by facsimile; provided , that if such service or transmission is not on a Business Day or is after normal business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the next Business Day.  Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given on the next Business Day following timely delivery of such notice to a reputable air courier service with an order for next-day delivery.

 

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To the Company:

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

24601 Center Ridge Road

Westlake, Ohio  44145

Attn:  Thomas M. O’Brien, President

Facsimile:  (440) 808-3301

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
One Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
Attn.:  Louis Goodman
Facsimile:  (617) 573-4822

 

To the Shareholder:

 

Hospitality Properties Trust

400 Centre Street

Newton, Massachusetts  02458

Attn:  John G. Murray, President

Facsimile:  (617) 969-5730

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Sullivan & Worcester LLP

One Post Office Square

Boston, Massachusetts  02109

Attn:  Richard Teller

Facsimile: (617) 338-2880

 

(c)           Severability .  This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof.  Furthermore, if any term or provision hereof shall be deemed to be invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall mutually agree upon an amendment to this Agreement to include a term or provision as similar in purpose to such invalid or unenforceable term or provision as may be reasonably possible and which term or provision is valid and enforceable.

 

(d)           Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(e)           Entire Agreement .  This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and

 

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supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written.

 

(f)            Modifications and Amendments .  No amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon any party unless executed in writing by such party.

 

(g)           Titles and Headings .  Titles and headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement.

 

(h)           Waivers and Extensions .  Any party entitled to benefits under this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such party has the right to waive;  provided , that such waiver will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement.  Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred.  Any waiver may be conditional.  No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained.  No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.

 

(i)            Remedies Cumulative .  If the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement, the Shareholder may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity or action at law, whether for specific performance of any term contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the breach of any such term or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or equitable right, or to take any one or more of such actions, without being required to post a bond.  None of the rights, powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement shall be mutually exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or remedy, whether conferred by this Agreement or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

 

(j)            Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts formed and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.  The Company and the Shareholder irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware, in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement, agree that all claims in respect of the action may be heard and determined in any such court and agree not to bring any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court.  In any action, the Company and the Shareholder irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to assert by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise any claims that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of the above court, that such action is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such action is improper.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Company and the Shareholder agree that service of process at each parties respective addresses as provided for in

 

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Section 6.2 shall be deemed effective service of process on such party.

 

(k)           Non-liability of Trustees .  THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST OF HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST, DATED AUGUST 21, 1995, A COPY OF WHICH, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO, IS DULY FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION OF MARYLAND, PROVIDES THAT THE NAME “HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST” REFERS TO THE TRUSTEES UNDER THE DECLARATION OF TRUST AS SO AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED, COLLECTIVELY AS TRUSTEES, BUT NOT INDIVIDUALLY OR PERSONALLY, AND THAT NO TRUSTEE, OFFICER, SHAREHOLDER, EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST SHALL BE HELD TO ANY PERSONAL LIABILITY, JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY, FOR ANY OBLIGATION OF, OR CLAIM AGAINST, HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST.  ALL PERSONS DEALING WITH HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST, IN ANY WAY, SHALL LOOK ONLY TO THE ASSETS OF HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY SUM OR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION.

 

(l)            Legends .  The Shareholder understands and agrees that the certificate representing the Shares issued to the Shareholder pursuant to the Deferral Agreement (and any certificate or certificates issued in replacement thereof) shall bear the following legends:

 

(a)           “These securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933.  They may not be sold, offered for sale, pledged or hypothecated in the absence of a registration statement in effect with respect to the securities under the Securities Act or an opinion of counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to TravelCenters of America LLC) that such registration is not required or unless sold pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act.”;

 

(b)           any legend generally appearing of certificates for the Company’s shares;

 

(c)           and any legend required by applicable state securities laws; and

 

(c)           “These securities are subject to and shall be transferable only upon the terms and conditions of the Deferral Agreement, dated August 11, 2008, among TravelCenters of America LLC, Hospitality Properties Trust and certain of their affiliates,  A copy of which is on file with the Secretary of TravelCenters of America LLC.”

 

Signatures appear on the next  page

 

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Executed under seal  as of the date first above written.

 

 

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name: Thomas M. O’Brien

 

Title: President

 

 

 

HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name: John G. Murray

 

 

Title: President

 

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EXHIBIT 10.7

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) made August 11, 2008, between TravelCenters of America LLC  (the “Company”) and Hospitality Properties Trust (the “Shareholder”).

 

RECITAL

 

Pursuant to the terms of that certain Deferral Agreement, dated August 11, 2008 (the “Deferral Agreement”), among the Company, the Shareholder and certain of their affiliates, the Company has issued and the Shareholder has acquired and holds as of the date hereof 1,540,000 common shares, no par value, representing limited liability company interests of the Company subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4 of the Deferral Agreement (the “Shares”).

 

The Company has agreed to enter into this Agreement to provide the Shareholder with certain rights relating to the registration of the Shares.

 

Now, therefore, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.             DEFINITIONS.  Except as otherwise noted, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Agreement, which meanings shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms so defined and the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole.  The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:

 

Agreement means this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in the City of Boston are required, permitted or authorized, by applicable law or executive order, to be closed for regular banking business.

 

Commission means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or such successor federal agency or agencies as may be established in lieu thereof.

 

Company is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Company Indemnified Party ” is defined in Section 4.2.

 

Demand Registration is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

Demand Registration Period ” means the period from and after (i) the date upon which one-third (1/3) of the Shares issued to the Shareholder pursuant to the Deferral Agreement are no longer subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4 of the Deferral Agreement, through and including (ii) the date which is 12 calendar months following the latest of the expiration of the terms of the leases dated January 31, 2007 and May 30, 2007 between subsidiaries of the Company and subsidiaries of the Shareholder, as amended.

 

 

1



 

Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Maximum Number of Shares is defined in Section 2.1.3.

 

Notices is defined in Section 6.2.

 

Piggy-Back Registration is defined in Section 2.2.1.

 

Prospectus means a prospectus relating to a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, including all materials incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

r egister ,” registered and “ registration refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document under the Securities Act and such registration statement becoming effective.

 

Registration Statement means any registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act for a public offering and sale of Shares (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity), as amended or supplemented, including all materials incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.

 

Restricted Shares mean all of the Shares held of record by the Shareholder or held of record by its permitted transferees from time to time in accordance with Section 6.1 (together with any shares issued in respect thereof as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, share exchange, merger, consolidation or similar recapitalization), in each case that are no longer subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4 of the Deferral Agreement; provided , that such Shares shall cease to be Restricted Shares hereunder, as of any date, when:  (a) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such Restricted Shares shall have become effective under the Securities Act (as defined below) and such Restricted Shares shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement as of such date; (b) such Restricted Shares shall have been otherwise transferred pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any similar provisions thereunder, but not Rule 144A), and new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of them shall not require registration under the Securities Act, in each case, as of such date; (c) such Restricted Shares are saleable immediately in their entirety without condition or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or (d) such Restricted Shares shall have ceased to be outstanding as of such date.

 

Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Shareholder is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Shareholder Indemnified Party ” is defined in Section 4.1.

 

Shares is defined in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

 

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Underwriter means a securities dealer who purchases any Restricted Shares as principal in an underwritten offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

2.             REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

 

2.1         Demand Registration.

 

2.1.1        General Request for Registration .  At any time during the Demand Registration Period, the Shareholder may make a written demand for registration under the Securities Act of all or part of the Restricted Shares (a “Demand Registration ).  Any such written demand for a Demand Registration shall specify the number of Restricted Shares proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof and, unless otherwise agreed by the Shareholder, shall be for the Shareholder’s exclusive benefit.

 

2.1.2        Underwritten Offering .  If the Shareholder so elects and so advises the Company as part of its written demand for a Demand Registration, the offering of such Restricted Shares pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering.  In such case, the Shareholder shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Shareholder (which Underwriter or Underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company), complete and execute any questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, securities escrow agreements and other documents reasonably required or which are otherwise customary under the terms of such underwriting agreement, and furnish to the Company such information as the Company may reasonably request in writing for inclusion in the Registration Statement.

 

2.1.3        Reduction of Offering .  If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the Shareholder that the dollar amount or number of Restricted Shares which the Shareholder desires to sell taken together with all other shares or other securities which the Shareholder has agreed may be included in such offering, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares or other securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Shares ), then the Company shall include in such registration:  (i) first, the Restricted Shares which the Shareholder has requested be included in the Demand Registration; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Shares or other securities for the account of other security holders of the Company that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

2.1.4        Withdrawal .  In the case of a Demand Registration, if the Shareholder disapproves of the terms of any underwriting or is not entitled to include all of its Restricted Shares in any offering, the Shareholder may elect to withdraw such offering by giving written notice to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters of its request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to

 

 

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such Demand Registration.  In such event, the Company need not seek effectiveness of such Registration Statement.  If the Shareholder’s withdrawal is based on (i) a material adverse change in circumstances with respect to the Company and not known to the Shareholder at the time the Shareholder makes its written demand for such Demand Registration, (ii) the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or (iii) a reduction pursuant to Section 2.1.3 of 10% or more of the number of Restricted Shares which the Shareholder has requested be included in the Demand Registration, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the Shareholder in connection with such Demand Registration as provided in Section 3.2, and such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration for purposes of Section 3.1.1(b) or (e).

 

2.2         Piggy-Back Registration.

 

2.2.1        Piggy-Back Rights .  If, at any time on or after the date of this Agreement, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of common shares of the Company, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, common shares of the Company, by the Company for its own account or for any other shareholder of the Company for such shareholder’s account, other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt securities convertible into equity securities of the Company, (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan or (v) filed on Form S-4, then the Company shall (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to the Shareholder as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) Business Days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, of the offering and (y) offer to the Shareholder in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Restricted Shares as the Shareholder may request in writing within five (5) Business Days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration ).  The Company shall cause such Restricted Shares to be included in such registration and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Restricted Shares requested to be included in the Piggy-Back Registration to be included on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Restricted Shares in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof.  If the Piggy-Back Registration involves an Underwriter or Underwriters, the Shareholder shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration by the Company and complete and execute any questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, securities escrow agreements and other documents reasonably required or which are otherwise customary under the terms of such underwriting agreement, and furnish to the Company such information as the Company may reasonably request in writing for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such information that is otherwise customary.

 

2.2.2        Reduction of Offering .  If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the holders of Restricted Shares that the dollar amount or number of Shares or other securities which the Company desire to sell, taken together with Shares or

 

 

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other securities, if any, as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to written contractual arrangements with persons other than the Shareholder, the Restricted Shares as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.2, and the Shares or other securities, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then the Company shall include in any such registration:

 

(a)           If the registration is undertaken for the Company’s account: (i) first, the shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the shares or other securities, if any, including the Restricted Shares, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of security holders ( pro rata in accordance with the number of Shares or other securities which each such person has actually requested to be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares or other securities with respect to which such persons have the right to request such inclusion) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and

 

(b)           If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons, other than the Shareholder, pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, (i) first, the Shares or other securities for the account of the demanding persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the shares or other securities, if any, including the Restricted Shares, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights which other security holders desire to sell ( pro rata in accordance with the number of Shares or other securities which each such person has actually requested to be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares or other securities with respect to which such persons have the right to request such inclusion) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

2.2.3        Withdrawal .  The Shareholder may elect to withdraw its request for inclusion of Restricted Shares in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.  The Company may also elect to withdraw a registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.  If the Shareholder’s withdrawal is based on (i) a material adverse change in circumstances with respect to the Company and not known to the Shareholder at the time the Shareholder elects to participate in such Piggy-Back Registration, (ii) the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or (iii) a reduction pursuant to Section 2.2.2 of 10% or more of the number of Restricted Shares which the Shareholder has requested be included in the Piggy-Back Registration, the Company shall pay all expenses

 

 

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incurred by the Shareholder in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.2.

 

3.             REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

 

3.1         Filings; Information .  Whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Restricted Shares in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as practicable, and in connection with any such request.

 

3.1.1        Filing Registration Statement .  The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible and in any event within thirty (30) days after receipt of a request for a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies or which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of all Restricted Shares to be registered thereunder in accordance with Section 2.1.2 and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become and remain effective for the period required by Section 3.1.3; provided , however , that:

 

(a)           the Company shall have the right to defer any Demand Registration for periods of up to thirty (30) days, and any Piggy-Back Registration for such period(s) as may be applicable to deferment of any demand registration to which such Peggy-Back Registration relates, in each case if the Company shall furnish to the holders a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its Shareholder for such Registration Statement to be effected at such time (including without limitation because the Company is then engaged in a material transaction or has an undisclosed material corporate development, in either case, which would be required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement); provided , further , however , that the Company shall not have the right to exercise the right set forth in this clause (a) for more than one hundred and twenty (120) days in any 365-day period in respect of a Demand Registration (including in such 120 days, any deferral under subsection (d) of this Section 3.1.1 if the Registration Statement was not timely filed thereunder);

 

(b)           the Company shall not be obligated to effect any registration of Restricted Shares upon receipt of a written demand for a Demand Registration if the Company has already completed three (3) Demand Registrations;

 

(c)           the Company shall not be obligated to effect any registration of Restricted Shares upon receipt of a written demand for a Demand Registration in the event that the number of Restricted Shares proposed to be included in the Demand Registration represents less than one-third (1/3) of the Shares issued to the Shareholder pursuant to the Deferral Agreement or if less, all the Shares then held by the Shareholder;

 

 

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(d)           the Company shall not then be obligated to effect any registration of Restricted Shares upon receipt of a written demand for a Demand Registration if the Company shall furnish to the Shareholder a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating that within ninety (90) days of receipt of the written demand for a Demand Registration, the Company shall file a Registration Statement and offer to the Shareholder the opportunity to register Restricted Shares thereunder in accordance with Section 2.2; and

 

(e)           the Company shall not be obligated to effect any registration of Restricted Shares upon receipt of a written demand for a Demand Registration if the Company has, within the six (6) month period preceding the date of the written demand for a Demand Registration already effected one Demand Registration for the Shareholder pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

3.1.2        Copies .  If the Shareholder has included Restricted Shares in a registration, the Company shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Shareholder and its counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Shareholder or counsel for any the Shareholder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Restricted Shares included in such registration.

 

3.1.3        Amendments and Supplements .  The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until all Restricted Shares, and all other securities covered by such Registration Statement, have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement (which period shall not exceed the sum of one hundred eighty (180) days, plus any period during which any such disposition is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any governmental agency or court ) or such securities have been withdrawn.

 

3.1.4        Notification .  If the Shareholder has included Restricted Shares in a registration, after the filing of the Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly, and in no event more than two (2) Business Days after such filing, notify the Shareholder of such filing, and shall further notify the Shareholder promptly and confirm such notification in writing in all events within two (2) Business Days of the occurrence of any of the following:  (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement becomes effective; (iii) the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order (and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any Prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such Prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of

 

 

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the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and promptly make available to the Shareholder any such supplement or amendment; except that before filing with the Commission a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, the Company shall furnish to the Shareholder and to its counsel, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed sufficiently in advance of filing to provide the Shareholder and its counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review such documents and comment thereon, and the Company shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, to which the Shareholder or its counsel shall reasonably object.

 

3.1.5        State Securities Laws Compliance .  If the Shareholder has included Restricted Shares in a registration the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Restricted Shares covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Shareholder (in light of the intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Restricted Shares covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other federal or state authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Shareholder to consummate the disposition of such Restricted Shares in such jurisdictions; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3.1.5 or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.

 

3.1.6        Agreements for Disposition .  The Company shall enter into customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and use commercially reasonable efforts to take such other actions as are required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of Restricted Shares.  The representations, warranties and covenants of the Company in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the Shareholder.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Shareholder may not require the Company to accept terms, conditions or provisions in any such agreement which the Company determines are not reasonably acceptable to the Company, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary herein.  The Shareholder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties in the underwriting agreement except as reasonably requested by the Company and, if applicable, with respect to the Shareholder’s organization, good standing, authority, title to Restricted Shares, lack of conflict of such sale with such holder’s material agreements and organizational documents, and with respect to written information relating to the Shareholder that the Shareholder has furnished in writing expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement.  The Shareholder, however, shall agree to such covenants and indemnification and contribution obligations for selling stockholders as are reasonable and customarily contained in agreements of that type.

 

3.1.7        Cooperation .  The Company and all officers and members of the management of the Company, shall reasonably cooperate in any offering of Restricted Shares under this Agreement, which cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation of the

 

 

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Registration Statement with respect to such offering and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants and potential investors.  The Shareholder shall reasonably cooperate in the preparation of the registration statement and other documents relating to any offering in which it includes securities pursuant to this Section 3.  The Shareholder shall also furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Restricted Shares held by it, and the intended method(s) of disposition of such securities as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of the Restricted Shares.

 

3.1.8        Records .  Upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, subject to the Company receiving any customary confidentiality undertakings or agreements, the Company shall make available for inspection by the Shareholder, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by the Shareholder or any Underwriter, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and shall cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by the Shareholder in connection with such Registration Statement.

 

3.1.9        Opinions and Comfort Letters .  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to the Shareholder signed counterparts, addressed to the Shareholder, of (i) any opinion of counsel to the Company delivered to any Underwriter and (ii) any comfort letter from the Company’ independent public accountants delivered to any Underwriter; provided , however , that counsel to the Underwriter shall have exclusive authority to negotiate the terms thereof.  In the event no legal opinion is delivered to any Underwriter, the Company shall furnish to the Shareholder, at any time that the Shareholder elects to use a Prospectus, an opinion of counsel to the Company to the effect that the Registration Statement containing such Prospectus has been declared effective, that no stop order is in effect, and such other matters as the Shareholder may reasonably request as would customarily have been addressed in an opinion of counsel to the Company delivered to an Underwriter.

 

3.1.10      Earnings Statement .  The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the Securities Act, and make generally available to its shareholders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, provided that the Company will be deemed to have complied with this Section 3.1.10 if the earnings statement satisfies the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act.

 

3.1.11      Listing .  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Restricted Shares included in any registration to be listed on such exchanges or otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar shares of the Company are then listed or designated or, if no such similar securities are then listed or designated, in a manner satisfactory to the Shareholder.

 

3.2           Registration Expenses .  The Company shall bear all customary costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Demand Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.1, and any Piggy-Back Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2, and all reasonable expenses incurred in performing or complying with its other obligations under this Agreement, whether or

 

 

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not the Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Restricted Shares, subject to the limit set forth in paragraph (ix) below); (iii) printing expenses; (iv) the Company’s internal expenses (including, without limitation, all fees, salaries and expenses of its officers, employees and management); (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Restricted Shares, as required by Section 3.1.11; (vi) fees imposed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; (vii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses or costs associated with the delivery of any opinions or comfort letters requested pursuant to Section 3.1.9); (viii) the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration; and (ix) the fees and expenses of one counsel selected by the Shareholder in a Demand Registration or if it participates in a Piggy-Back Registration.  The Company shall have no obligation to pay any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Restricted Shares being sold by the Shareholder, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne solely by the Shareholder.  Additionally, in an underwritten offering, the Shareholder and the Company shall bear the expenses of the Underwriter or Underwriters pro rata in proportion to the respective amount of shares each is selling in such offering.

 

3.3           Information .  The Shareholder shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the registration of any Restricted Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 and in connection with the Company’s obligation to comply with federal and applicable state securities laws.

 

3.4           Shareholder Obligations .  The Shareholder may not participate in any underwritten offering pursuant to Section 2 unless such holder (i) agrees to only sell Restricted Shares on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting agreement, and (ii) completes, executes and delivers any and all questionnaires, lock-up agreements, powers of attorney, custody agreements, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably or customarily required by or under the terms of any underwriting agreement or as reasonably requested by the Company.

 

4.             INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

 

4.1           Indemnification by the Company .  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Shareholder and its officers, employees, affiliates, directors, partners, members, attorneys and agents, and each person, if any, who controls the Shareholder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, a “Shareholder Indemnified Party”) from and against any expenses, losses, judgments, claims, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or allegedly untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of Restricted Shares was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or summary Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or alleged omission) to state a material

 

 

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fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon (a) any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or summary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Shareholder expressly for use therein, or (b) the use of any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or summary Prospectus during a period when the Shareholder has been notified that a stop order has been issued in respect thereof or any proceeding for that purpose has been initiated, or the use of any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or summary Prospectus has been suspended by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.  The foregoing indemnity shall not inure to the benefit of any Shareholder Indemnified Party from whom the person asserting losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Restricted Shares, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Shareholder Indemnified Party to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Restricted Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, unless such failure is the result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 3.1.3.

 

4.2           Indemnification by the Shareholder .  The Shareholder will, with respect to any Registration Statement where Restricted Shares were registered under the Securities Act, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the Company’s directors and officers, and each other person, if any, who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, a “Company Indemnified Party”), against any expenses, losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as such expenses, losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Restricted Shares was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or summary Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Shareholder expressly for use therein.  The Shareholder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by the Shareholder.

 

4.3           Notification of Indemnification .  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 4 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any action by a governmental authority), such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 4, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided , however , that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the reasonable fees and expenses of one such counsel to be paid by

 

 

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the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding.  The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 4, but the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party shall not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 4.

 

5.             UNDERWRITING AND DISTRIBUTION.

 

5.1           Rule 144 .  The Company covenants that it shall file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as the Shareholder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Shareholder to sell Restricted Shares without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any similar provision thereto, but not Rule 144A.

 

6.             MISCELLANEOUS.

 

6.1           Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part and shall be binding on its successors.  This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Shareholder hereunder may be assigned, transferred or delegated by the Shareholder, in whole or in part, in conjunction with and to the extent of any permitted transfer of Restricted Shares to an affiliate of the Shareholder in accordance with applicable law, which affiliate agrees in writing to be subject to and bound by all duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement, whereupon any such assignee, transferee or delegable would have all rights, duties and obligations hereunder in addition to the Shareholder to the extent that the Shareholder continues to own Restricted Shares.  This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Shareholder hereunder may be assigned, transferred or delegated by the Shareholder, in whole or in part, in conjunction with and to the extent of any permitted transfer of 1/3 or more of the Shares issued to the Shareholder under the Deferral Agreement or if less, all the Restricted Shares then held by the Shareholder to a person or entity that is not an affiliate of the Shareholder in accordance with applicable law and which person or entity agrees in writing to be subject to and bound by all duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement, whereupon any such assignee, transferee or delegable would have all rights, duties and obligations hereunder; provided , however , that the rights, duties and obligations hereunder may not be assigned, transferred or delegated to a person that is not an affiliate of the Shareholder may not be further assigned, transferred or delegated by such person.  This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Section 4 and this Section 6.1.

 

6.2           Notices . All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, “Notices ) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery,

 

 

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or facsimile, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice provided in accordance with this Section 6.2.  Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by facsimile; provided , that if such service or transmission is not on a Business Day or is after normal business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the next Business Day.  Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given on the next Business Day following timely delivery of such notice to a reputable air courier service with an order for next-day delivery.

 

To the Company:

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

24601 Center Ridge Road

Westlake, Ohio  44145

Attn:  Thomas M. O’Brien, President

Facsimile:  (440) 808-3301

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
One Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
Attn.:  Louis Goodman
Facsimile:  (617) 573-4822

 

To the Shareholder:

 

Hospitality Properties Trust

400 Centre Street

Newton, Massachusetts  02458

Attn:  John G. Murray, President

Facsimile:  (617) 969-5730

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Sullivan & Worcester LLP

One Post Office Square

Boston, Massachusetts  02109

Attn:  Richard Teller

Facsimile: (617) 338-2880

 

6.3           Severability .  This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof.  Furthermore, if any term or provision hereof shall be deemed to be invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall mutually agree upon an amendment to this Agreement to include a term or provision as similar

 

 

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in purpose to such invalid or unenforceable term or provision as may be reasonably possible and which term or provision is valid and enforceable.

 

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

 

6.5           Entire Agreement .  This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written.

 

6.6           Modifications and Amendments .  No amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon any party unless executed in writing by such party.

 

6.7           Titles and Headings .  Titles and headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement.

 

6.8           Waivers and Extensions .  Any party entitled to benefits under this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such party has the right to waive;  provided , that such waiver will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement.  Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred.  Any waiver may be conditional.  No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained.  No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.

 

6.9           Remedies Cumulative .  If the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement, the Shareholder may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity or action at law, whether for specific performance of any term contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the breach of any such term or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or equitable right, or to take any one or more of such actions, without being required to post a bond.  None of the rights, powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement shall be mutually exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or remedy, whether conferred by this Agreement or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

 

6.10         Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts formed and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit

 

 

14



 

the application of the laws of another jurisdiction .  The Company and the Shareholder irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware, in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement, agree that all claims in respect of the action may be heard and determined in any such court and agree not to bring any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court.  In any action, the Company and the Shareholder irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to assert by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise any claims that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of the above court, that such action is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such action is improper.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Company and the Shareholder agree that service of process at each parties respective addresses as provided for in Section 6.2 shall be deemed effective service of process on such party.

 

6.11         Non-liability of Trustees .  THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST OF HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST, DATED AUGUST 21, 1995, A COPY OF WHICH, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO, IS DULY FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION OF MARYLAND, PROVIDES THAT THE NAME “HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST” REFERS TO THE TRUSTEES UNDER THE DECLARATION OF TRUST AS SO AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED, COLLECTIVELY AS TRUSTEES, BUT NOT INDIVIDUALLY OR PERSONALLY, AND THAT NO TRUSTEE, OFFICER, SHAREHOLDER, EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST SHALL BE HELD TO ANY PERSONAL LIABILITY, JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY, FOR ANY OBLIGATION OF, OR CLAIM AGAINST, HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST.  ALL PERSONS DEALING WITH HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST, IN ANY WAY, SHALL LOOK ONLY TO THE ASSETS OF HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY SUM OR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION.

 

6.12         Legends .  The Shareholder understands and agrees that the certificate representing the Shares issued to the Shareholder pursuant to the Deferral Agreement (and any certificate or certificates issued in replacement thereof) shall bear the following legends:

 

(a)           “These securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933.  They may not be sold, offered for sale, pledged or hypothecated in the absence of a registration statement in effect with respect to the securities under the Securities Act or an opinion of counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to TravelCenters of America LLC) that such registration is not required or unless sold pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act.”;

 

(b)           any legend generally appearing of certificates for the Company’s shares;

 

(c)           and any legend required by applicable state securities laws; and

 

(c)           “These securities are subject to and shall be transferable only upon the terms and conditions of the Deferral Agreement, dated August 11, 2008, among TravelCenters of America LLC, Hospitality Properties Trust and certain of their

 

 

15



 

affiliates,  A copy of which is on file with the Secretary of TravelCenters of America LLC.”

 

Signatures appear on the next  page

 

 

16



 

Executed under seal  as of the date first above written.

 

 

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas M. O’Brien

 

Name: Thomas M. O’Brien

 

Title: President

 

 

HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John G. Murray

 

 

Name: John G. Murray

 

 

Title: President

 

 

17


Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a)

 

I, Thomas M. O’Brien, certify that:

 

1.                                        I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of TravelCenters of America LLC;

 

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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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)                                      Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c)                                       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

 

d)                                      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 the 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: August 11, 2008

/s/ THOMAS M. O’BRIEN

 

 

 

Thomas M. O’Brien

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 


Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a)

 

I, Andrew J. Rebholz, certify that:

 

1.                                        I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of TravelCenters of America LLC;

 

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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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)                                      Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c)                                       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

 

d)                                      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 the 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: August 11, 2008

/s/ ANDREW J. REBHOLZ

 

 

 

Andrew J. Rebholz

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial

 

Officer and Treasurer

 


Exhibit 32.1

 

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350

(Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002)

 

In connection with the filing by TravelCenters of America LLC (the “Company”) of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2008 (the “Report”), each of the undersigned hereby certifies, to the best of his knowledge:

 

1.                The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

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

 

 

Date:  August 11, 2008

/s/ Thomas M. O’Brien

 

Thomas M. O’Brien

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Andrew J. Rebholz

 

Andrew J. Rebholz

 

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer