Medalist Diversified REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) is filing this Current Report on Form 8-K to avail itself of the relief that has been granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the order issued by the SEC on March 25, 2020 under Section 36 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”; such order, “Release No. 34-88465”). Release No. 34-88465 permits a registrant to file certain reports with the SEC up to 45 days after the original due date for the reports if the registrant’s ability to file such reports has been affected by the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”). The Company will rely on Release No. 34-88465 to delay the filing of the information required by Part III of its Annual Report on Form 10-K due to circumstances related to COVID-19.

The impact of COVID-19 on the Company, its manager, Medalist Fund Manager, Inc. (the “Manager”), and its board of directors, including the time and effort of the Manager required to manage the Company’s properties and ensure liquidity during tumultuous circumstances, has slowed the Company’s routine processes and caused a delay in its ability to file the information required by Part III of its Annual Report on Form 10-K which the Company has historically included in its annual proxy statement to its stockholders. 

The Company plans to include the information required by Part III of its Annual Report on Form 10-K in its annual proxy statement which will be mailed to its stockholders and filed with the SEC by no later than June 15, 2020, which is the date that is 45 days after the original due date for the information.

The Company is supplementing the risk factors disclosed in its previous filings to include the following risk factor.

Disruptions in the financial markets and uncertain economic conditions resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19 could adversely affect market rental rates, commercial real estate values, hotel revenues and our ability to secure debt financing, service future debt obligations, or pay distributions to stockholders.

The outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”), both in the U.S. and globally, has created significant disruptions to financial markets, has resulted in business shutdowns and has led to an expectation of recessionary conditions in the economy in the short term. We expect the significance of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the extent of its effects on our financial and operational results, to be dictated by, among other things, its nature, duration and scope, the success of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and the impact of actions taken in response to the pandemic including travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter in place orders, the promotion of social distancing and limitations on business activity, including business closures. At this point, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may impact the global economy and our business is uncertain, but pandemics or other significant public health events could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Volatility in global markets and changing political environments can cause fluctuations in the performance of the U.S. commercial real estate markets. Economic slowdowns of large economies outside the United States are likely to negatively impact growth of the U.S. economy. Political uncertainties both home and abroad may discourage business investment in real estate and other capital spending. Possible future declines in rental rates and expectations of future rental concessions, including free rent to renew tenants early, to retain tenants who are up for renewal or to attract new tenants, or requests from tenants for rent abatements during periods when they are severely impacted by COVID-19, may result in decreases in our cash flows from our retail and flex properties. The current and potential future travel bans and stay at home orders have and are expected to materially affect our hotel revenues. Management continuously reviews our investment and debt financing strategies to optimize our portfolio and the cost of our debt exposure.

The debt market remains sensitive to the macro-economic environment, such as Federal Reserve policy, market sentiment or regulatory factors affecting the banking and commercial mortgage backed securities ("CMBS") industries and the COVID-19 pandemic. We may experience more stringent lending criteria, which may affect our ability to finance certain property acquisitions or refinance any debt at maturity. Additionally, for properties for which we are able to obtain financing, the interest rates and other terms on such loans may be unacceptable. We expect to manage the current mortgage lending environment by considering alternative lending sources, including but not limited to securitized debt, fixed rate loans, short-term variable rate loans, assumed mortgage loans in connection with property acquisitions, interest rate lock or swap agreements, or any combination of the foregoing.

Disruptions in the financial markets and uncertain economic conditions could adversely affect the values of our investments. Furthermore, declining economic conditions could negatively impact commercial real estate fundamentals and result in lower occupancy, lower rental rates and declining values in our real estate portfolio, which could have a negative effect on the values of our properties and revenues from our properties. Additionally, the significant disruption and volatility in the global capital markets increases the cost of capital and may adversely impact our access to the capital markets.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Form 8-K”) includes forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "should," "seeks," "future," "continue," or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. The forward looking statements in this Form 8-K constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.