8-K

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): November 7, 2024

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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:

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

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

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company    ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

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

ITEM 7.01    REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

On November 7, 2024, Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that it has successfully refinanced its mortgage loan secured by the 703-room Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel located in Arlington, Virginia, which had a final maturity date in November 2026.

The new, non-recourse loan totals $121.5 million and has a three-year initial term with two one-year extension options, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. The loan is interest only and provides for a floating interest rate of SOFR + 4.86%. The refinancing resulted in approximately $31 million of excess proceeds that will be used to pay down the Company’s strategic financing.

The Company had previously announced a reduction in the exit fee on its strategic financing from 15.0% to 12.5% of the original loan balance through December 15, 2024, provided that the outstanding loan balance had been reduced to $50 million or less by November 15, 2024. The $31 million pay down along with an additional paydown the Company intends to make next week, will result in a loan balance below $50 million, triggering the reduced exit fee.

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The information in this Form 8-K and Exhibits attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

ITEM 9.01    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d)    Exhibits

Exhibit Number        Description

99.1    Press Release of the Company, dated November7,2024

104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

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 hereunto duly authorized.

Document

EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST ANNOUNCES REFINANCING OF MORTGAGE LOAN SECURED BY THE MARRIOTT CRYSTAL GATEWAY

DALLAS – November 7, 2024 – Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) (“Ashford Trust” or the “Company”) announced today that it has successfully refinanced its mortgage loan secured by the 703-room Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel located in Arlington, Virginia, which had a final maturity date in November 2026.

The new, non-recourse loan totals $121.5 million and has a three-year initial term with two one-year extension options, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. The loan is interest only and provides for a floating interest rate of SOFR + 4.86%. The refinancing resulted in approximately $31 million of excess proceeds that will be used to pay down the Company’s strategic financing.

The Company had previously announced a reduction in the exit fee on its strategic financing from 15.0% to 12.5% of the original loan balance through December 15, 2024, provided that the outstanding loan balance had been reduced to $50 million or less by November 15, 2024. The $31 million pay down along with an additional paydown the Company intends to make next week, will result in a loan balance below $50 million, triggering the reduced exit fee.

“We are pleased to complete this refinancing of the Marriott Crystal Gateway and generate significant proceeds to go toward paying down our strategic financing,” commented Stephen Zsigray, Ashford Trust’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to make meaningful progress in our plan to pay off this financing by the end of this year.”

Ashford Hospitality Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing predominantly in upper upscale, full-service hotels.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and assumptions in this press release contain or are based upon “forward-looking” information and are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “approximately,” “believe,” “could,” “project,” “predict,” or other similar words or expressions. Additionally, statements regarding the following subjects are forward-looking by their nature: our business and investment strategy; anticipated or expected purchases, sales or dispositions of assets; our projected operating results; completion of any pending transactions; our plan to pay off strategic financing; our ability to restructure existing property-level indebtedness; our ability to secure additional financing to enable us to operate our business; our understanding of our competition; projected capital expenditures; the impact of technology on our operations and business; the risk that the notice and noncompliance with NYSE continued listing standards may impact the Company’s results of operations, business operations and reputation and the trading prices and volatility of the Company's common stock; and the Company's ability to regain compliance with the NYSE continued listing standards. Such forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance taking into account all information currently known to us. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations can change as a result of many potential events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and other objectives may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider this risk when you make an investment decision concerning our securities. These and other risk factors are more fully discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We will not publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, changes in expectations or otherwise except to the extent required by law.

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