UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  June 9, 2015

 

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY PRIME, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland

 

001-35972

 

46-2488594

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1100

 

 

Dallas, Texas

 

75254

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (972) 490-9600

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o                                     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o                                     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o                                     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o                                     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01                                            Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

Preemptive Rights Agreement

 

On June 9, 2015, in connection with the previously announced offering by Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. (the “ Company”) of its 5.50% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), the Company entered into an agreement (the “Preemptive Rights Agreement”) with certain investors in the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Investors”) granting such Investors certain preemptive rights in the Series A Preferred Stock.  Pursuant to the Preemptive Rights Agreement, the Company, subject to certain exceptions, (i) granted to the Investors the right to purchase up to an aggregate of 20% of any future issuance of Series A Preferred Stock by the Company, provided that such future issuance has an aggregate offering amount of at least $50 million and (ii) committed to use commercially reasonable efforts to apply to list the Series A Preferred Stock on a “national securities exchange” registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, within 60 days of June 11, 2015 in conjunction with an underwritten offering pursuant to an effective registration statement covering the offer and sale of the Series A Preferred Stock to the public, for the account of the Company. These preemptive rights terminate upon the date of the final prospectus pertaining to such offering.

 

The foregoing summary description of the material terms of the Preemptive Rights Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Preemptive Rights Agreement, which is included as exhibit 4.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01                                            Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)                                The following exhibits are filed as a part of this Report.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

4.3

 

Preemptive Rights Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2015, by and among the Company and the Investors

 

2



 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY PRIME, INC.

 

 

Date: June 15, 2015

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

 

Name:

David A. Brooks

 

 

Title:

Chief Operating Officer and

 

 

 

General Counsel

 

3



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

4.3

 

Preemptive Rights Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2015, by and among the Company and the Investors

 

4


Exhibit 4.3

 

 

June 9, 2015

 

Forward Real Estate Long/Short Fund

101 California Street, 16 th  Floor

San Francisco, California 94111

 

Forward Select Income Fund

101 California Street, 16 th  Floor

San Francisco, California 94111

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Purchase Agreement, dated June 9, 2015 (the “ Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement ”), by and between Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”) and MLV & Co. LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Initial Purchaser ”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Initial Purchaser of 2,600,000 shares of the Company’s 5.50% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Series A Preferred Stock ”) in a private placement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).  The Series A Preferred Stock will be resold by the Initial Purchaser to Forward Real Estate Long/Short Fund, a Delaware statutory fund, and Forward Select Income Fund, a Delaware statutory fund (the “ Investors ”) in accordance with the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

In consideration of the Investors agreeing to purchase the shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Initial Purchaser, the Company, Ashford Hospitality Prime Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership and the Company’s operating partnership, and Ashford Hospitality Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the Company’s advisor, hereby have formed the following mutual agreements and covenants:

 

1.                                       The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to apply to list the Series A Preferred Stock on a “national securities exchange” registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), within 60 days of June 11, 2015 in conjunction with an underwritten offering pursuant to an effective registration statement covering the offer and sale of the Series A Preferred Stock to the public, for the account of the Company (the “Initial Public Offering”).

 

2.                                       Each of the Investors will have the right to purchase its pro rata share of a Qualified Offering (as defined below) after June 11, 2015.  Each of the Investors’ pro rata share

 



 

of a Qualified Offering is equal to the product of (x) 20% and (y) the ratio of (i) the number of shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock which is owned of record by the Investor, or owned beneficially by the Investor through a custodian or nominee holding on behalf of the Investor, immediately prior to the issuance of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock to (ii) the total number of shares of the Company’s outstanding Series A Preferred Stock immediately prior to such issuance following a Qualified Offering.  “Qualified Offering” means any offering of the Series A Preferred Stock, for the account of the Company, including, without limitation, the Initial Public Offering (as defined below), for an aggregate offering amount of not less than $50,000,000 (prior to deducting any underwriting discounts and commissions), subject to the conditions set forth herein.

 

3.                                       If the Company proposes to issue any Series A Preferred Stock in a Qualified Offering, it shall give the Investors written notice (a “ Rights Notice ”) together with a description of the material terms of the Qualified Offering. Each of the Investors will have three (3) days from the delivery of such Rights Notice to agree to purchase its pro rata share of the Qualified Offering for the price and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Rights Notice by giving written notice to the Company and stating therein the quantity of the Series A Preferred Stock to be purchased. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to offer or sell such Series A Preferred Stock to any Investor who would cause the Company to be in violation of applicable laws or any restriction or qualification in the Company’s charter or bylaws.

 

4.                                       The pre-emptive rights established by this letter agreement shall terminate upon the date of the final prospectus pertaining to the Initial Public Offering.  The rights established by this letter agreement may be amended, or any provision waived (which amendment or waiver shall be binding and effective on all holders), with the written consent of the holders of a majority in voting power of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by the Investors.

 

5.                                       The rights established by this letter agreement shall have no application to any of the following:

 

(a)                                  any share of Series A Preferred Stock issued for consideration in connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition or similar business combination;

 

(b)                                  any shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued for consideration in connection with a joint venture, strategic alliance or similar corporate partnering arrangement;

 

(c)                                   any share of Series A Preferred Stock issued for consideration in connection with any acquisition of assets by the Company;

 

(d)                                  any shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued as part of a compensatory or employment arrangement; and

 

(e)                                   any other issuance of Series A Preferred Stock for non-cash consideration.

 

6.                                       For the avoidance of doubt, this letter agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 



 

 

Very Truly Yours,

 

 

 

 

 

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY PRIME, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

Name: David A. Brooks

 

Title: Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel

 

 

 

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY PRIME LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

 

 

By: Ashford Prime OP General Partner LLC, as the sole general partner

 

 

 

By: Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc., as the sole managing member

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

Name: David A. Brooks

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY ADVISORS LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

Name: David A. Brooks

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

Accepted and Agreed:

 

 

 

FORWARD SELECT INCOME FUND

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara Tolle

 

Name: Barbara Tolle

 

Title: Treasurer

 

 

 

FORWARD REAL ESTATE LONG/SHORT FUND

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Barbara Tolle

 

Name: Barbara Tolle

 

Title: Treasurer