-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, NYYZbsAV9JJdzI2C3UrXpg9Q9WPp/GlnyvhGcT9+1VIN/nb7OroJCgwbdg0lqMvy mRXwhRUdNKfMHuLzaZBA+w== 0001193125-09-211144.txt : 20091021 0001193125-09-211144.hdr.sgml : 20091021 20091021163609 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-09-211144 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20090930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20091021 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20091021 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001053532 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 364219376 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-14045 FILM NUMBER: 091130434 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4800 MONTGOMERY LANE STREET 2: SUITE M25 CITY: BETHESDA STATE: MD ZIP: 20814 BUSINESS PHONE: 301 941 1500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4800 MONTGOMERY LANE STREET 2: SUITE M25 CITY: BETHESDA STATE: MD ZIP: 20814 10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10Q Form 10Q

 

 

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 September 30, 2009

OR

 

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

For the transition period from                      to                     .

Commission file number 1-14045

 

 

LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   36-4219376

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1200

Bethesda, Maryland

  20814
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(301) 941-1500

(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  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨  No  ¨

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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Check one:

 

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨    Smaller reporting company  ¨
     

(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  ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common and preferred shares as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

   Outstanding at October 21, 2009

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest ($0.01 par value)

   63,512,910

8 3/8% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ($0.01 par value)

   1,100,000

7 1/2% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ($0.01 par value)

   3,170,000

8% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ($0.01 par value)

   3,500,000

7 1/4% Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ($0.01 par value)

   6,348,888

 

 

 


PART I.

  Financial Information    1

Item 1.

  Financial Statements    1

Item 2.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    23

Item 3.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    40

Item 4.

  Controls and Procedures    40

PART II.

  Other Information    41

Item 1.

  Legal Proceedings    41

Item 1A.

  Risk Factors    41

Item 2.

  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    41

Item 3.

  Defaults Upon Senior Securities    41

Item 4.

  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    41

Item 5.

  Other Information    41

Item 6.

  Exhibits    42
  SIGNATURE    43


PART I. Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     September 30,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 
     (unaudited)        

Assets:

    

Investment in hotel properties, net

   $ 1,901,831      $ 1,967,255   

Property under development

     66,308        66,563   

Cash and cash equivalents

     11,787        18,056   

Restricted cash reserves (Note 5)

     11,542        9,853   

Rent receivable

     —          85   

Hotel receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $890 and $1,340, respectively)

     30,739        21,988   

Deferred financing costs, net

     1,905        2,672   

Deferred tax asset

     12,660        17,484   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     26,828        27,514   
                

Total assets

   $ 2,063,600      $ 2,131,470   
                

Liabilities and Equity:

    

Borrowings under credit facilities (Note 4)

   $ 2,520      $ 234,505   

Bonds payable (Note 4)

     42,500        42,500   

Mortgage loans (including unamortized premium of $361 and $412, respectively) (Note 4)

     615,541        685,686   

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     71,273        87,188   

Advance deposits

     11,637        12,134   

Accrued interest

     2,835        3,424   

Distributions payable

     7,324        9,121   
                

Total liabilities

     753,630        1,074,558   
                

Redeemable noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity (Note 3)

     2,748        2,769   

Commitments and contingencies

    

Equity:

    

Shareholders’ Equity:

    

Preferred shares, $0.01 par value (liquidation preference of $352,972 and $294,250, respectively), 40,000,000 shares authorized, and 14,118,888 and 11,770,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively (Note 6)

     141        118   

Common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 63,512,910 and 41,065,487 shares issued and outstanding, respectively (Note 6)

     635        411   

Additional paid-in capital, net of offering costs of $54,602 and $42,679, respectively

     1,468,236        1,146,581   

Distributions in excess of retained earnings

     (162,142     (153,438
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     1,306,870        993,672   
                

Noncontrolling Interests:

    

Noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity

     56        64   

Noncontrolling interest of common units in Operating Partnership (redemption value of $904 and $774, respectively) (Notes 1 and 6)

     296        668   

Noncontrolling interest of preferred units in Operating Partnership (redemption value of zero and $59,787, respectively) (Notes 1 and 6)

     —          59,739   
                

Total noncontrolling interests

     352        60,471   
                

Total equity

     1,307,222        1,054,143   
                

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 2,063,600      $ 2,131,470   
                

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

 

1


LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Revenues:

        

Hotel operating revenues:

        

Room

   $ 103,791      $ 127,245      $ 287,476      $ 334,946   

Food and beverage

     43,270        49,082        125,952        133,498   

Other operating department

     14,367        15,766        37,133        39,655   
                                

Total hotel operating revenues

     161,428        192,093        450,561        508,099   

Participating lease revenue

     —          1,393        —          11,957   

Other income

     1,279        2,120        14,480        6,160   
                                

Total revenues

     162,707        195,606        465,041        526,216   
                                

Expenses:

        

Hotel operating expenses:

        

Room

     24,922        27,790        69,770        76,638   

Food and beverage

     29,501        32,761        86,050        90,631   

Other direct

     6,512        7,071        17,044        18,399   

Other indirect

     40,921        48,653        121,543        134,739   
                                

Total hotel operating expenses

     101,856        116,275        294,407        320,407   

Depreciation and amortization

     27,290        27,372        82,331        78,932   

Real estate taxes, personal property taxes and insurance

     7,964        7,098        23,653        25,764   

Ground rent (Note 5)

     1,890        2,241        4,891        5,786   

General and administrative

     2,296        5,108        10,822        12,936   

Lease termination expense (Note 5)

     —          4,269        —          4,269   

Other expenses

     292        650        2,088        2,154   
                                

Total operating expenses

     141,588        163,013        418,192        450,248   
                                

Operating income

     21,119        32,593        46,849        75,968   

Interest income

     14        20        43        129   

Interest expense

     (9,172     (12,379     (28,919     (36,210
                                

Income before income tax expense

     11,961        20,234        17,973        39,887   

Income tax expense (Note 9)

     (1,831     (767     (5,135     (650
                                

Net income

     10,130        19,467        12,838        39,237   
                                

Noncontrolling interests:

        

Redeemable noncontrolling interest in loss of consolidated entity (Note 3)

     2        6        21        11   

Noncontrolling interest of common units in Operating Partnership
(Notes 1 and 6)

     (13     (53     (22     (106

Noncontrolling interest of preferred units in Operating Partnership
(Notes 1 and 6)

     —          (1,262     (367     (4,021
                                

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (11     (1,309     (368     (4,116
                                

Net income attributable to the Company

     10,119        18,158        12,470        35,121   

Distributions to preferred shareholders

     (6,688     (5,625     (19,699     (16,873
                                

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders

   $ 3,431      $ 12,533      $ (7,229   $ 18,248   
                                

 

2


LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations - Continued

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,
   For the nine months ended
September 30,
     2009    2008    2009     2008

Earnings per Common Share - Basic:

          

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders excluding amounts attributable to unvested restricted shares

   $ 0.05    $ 0.30    $ (0.14   $ 0.44
                            

Earnings per Common Share - Diluted:

          

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders excluding amounts attributable to unvested restricted shares

   $ 0.05    $ 0.30    $ (0.14   $ 0.44
                            

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     63,002,718      40,264,498      51,590,702        40,035,102

Diluted

     63,078,201      40,350,444      51,667,101        40,152,485

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

 

3


LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES

Consolidated Statements of Equity

(Dollars in thousands, except per share/unit data)

(unaudited)

 

    Preferred
Shares
  Common
Shares of
Beneficial
Interest
  Treasury
Shares
    Additional
Paid-In
Capital
  Distributions
in Excess of
Retained
Earnings
    Total
Shareholders'
Equity
    Noncontrolling
Interest in
Consolidated
Entity
    Noncontrolling
Interest of
Common
Units in
Operating
Partnership
    Noncontrolling
Interest of
Preferred Units in
Operating
Partnership
    Total
Noncontrolling
Interests
    Total
Equity
 

Balance, December 31, 2008

  $ 118   $ 411   $ —        $ 1,146,581   $ (153,438   $ 993,672      $ 64      $ 668      $ 59,739      $ 60,471      $ 1,054,143   

Issuance of shares, net of offering costs

    —       224     58        260,267     —          260,549        —          —          —          —          260,549   

Repurchase of common shares into treasury

    —       —       (365     —       —          (365     —          —          —          —          (365

Options exercised

    —       —       —          342     —          342        —          —          —          —          342   

Unit conversions

    23     —       —          58,849     —          58,872        —          (150     (58,675     (58,825     47   

Deferred compensation, net

    —       —       307        1,955     —          2,262        —          —          —          —          2,262   

Distributions on forfeited restricted shares

    —       —       —          —       207        207        —          —          —          —          207   

Reclassification of noncontrolling interest

    —       —       —          242     —          242        —          (242     —          (242     —     

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

    —       —       —          —       21        21        —          —          —          —          21   

Distributions on common shares/units ($0.03 per share/unit)

    —       —       —          —       (1,682     (1,682     —          (2     —          (2     (1,684

Distributions on preferred shares/units

    —       —       —          —       (19,699     (19,699     (8     —          (1,431     (1,439     (21,138

Net income

    —       —       —          —       12,449        12,449        —          22        367        389        12,838   
                                                                                 

Balance, September 30, 2009

  $ 141   $ 635   $ —        $ 1,468,236   $ (162,142   $ 1,306,870      $ 56      $ 296      $ —        $ 352      $ 1,307,222   
                                                                                 

Balance, December 31, 2007

  $ 118   $ 401   $ —        $ 1,128,708   $ (91,091   $ 1,038,136      $ —        $ 747      $ 87,652      $ 88,399      $ 1,126,535   

Issuance of shares, net of offering costs

    —       —       112        40     —          152        78        —          —          78        230   

Repurchase of common shares into treasury

    —       —       (955     —       —          (955     —          —          —          —          (955

Options exercised

    —       —       15        212     —          227              —          227   

Unit conversions

    —       6     71        13,043     —          13,120            (13,295     (13,295     (175

Deferred compensation, net

    —       3     752        2,870     —          3,625        —          —          —          —          3,625   

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

    —       —       —          —       11        11        —          —          —          —          11   

Distributions on common shares/units ($1.55 per share/unit)

    —       —       —          —       (62,491     (62,491     —          (160     —          (160     (62,651

Distributions on preferred shares/units

    —       —       —          —       (16,873     (16,873     —          —          (4,276     (4,276     (21,149

Net income

    —       —       —          —       35,110        35,110        —          106        4,021        4,127        39,237   
                                                                                 

Balance, September 30, 2008

  $ 118   $ 410   $ (5   $ 1,144,873   $ (135,334   $ 1,010,062      $ 78      $ 693      $ 74,102      $ 74,873      $ 1,084,935   
                                                                                 

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

 

4


LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 12,838      $ 39,237   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     82,331        78,932   

Amortization of deferred financing costs and mortgage premiums

     716        847   

Deferred compensation

     2,262        3,625   

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (450     270   

Distributions on forfeited restricted shares

     207        —     

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Restricted cash reserves, net

     (810     (2,750

Rent receivable

     85        2,434   

Hotel receivables

     (8,301     (15,956

Deferred tax asset

     4,824        (499

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     1,359        (30,185

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     (11,069     10,740   

Advance deposits

     (497     6,965   

Accrued interest

     (589     (276
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     82,906        93,384   
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Improvements and additions to hotel properties

     (21,999     (75,039

Acquisition of property

     —          (51,469

Purchase of office furniture and equipment

     (16     (36

Restricted cash reserves, net

     (879     3,312   
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (22,894     (123,232
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Borrowings under credit facilities

     240,389        358,957   

Repayments under credit facilities

     (472,374     (207,873

Repayments of mortgage loans

     (70,094     (17,808

Purchase of bonds

     —          (400

Payment of deferred financing costs

     —          (559

Contributions from redeemable noncontrolling interest

     —          2,810   

Purchase of treasury shares

     (365     (955

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     342        227   

Proceeds from issuance of common shares

     272,361        —     

Payment of common offering costs

     (11,924     —     

Redemption of preferred shares

     —          (120

Distributions-preferred shares/units

     (20,073     (21,203

Distributions-common shares/units

     (4,543     (62,217
                

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (66,281     50,859   
                

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     (6,269     21,011   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     18,056        26,050   
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 11,787      $ 47,061   
                

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

 

5


LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands, except per share/unit data)

(unaudited)

 

1. Organization

LaSalle Hotel Properties (the “Company”), a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”), primarily buys, owns, redevelops and leases upscale and luxury full-service hotels located in convention, resort and major urban business markets. The Company is a self-administered and self-managed REIT as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a REIT, the Company generally is not subject to federal corporate income tax on that portion of its net income that is currently distributed to shareholders. The income of LaSalle Hotel Lessee, Inc. (“LHL”), the Company’s taxable-REIT subsidiary, is subject to taxation at normal corporate rates.

As of September 30, 2009, the Company owned interests in 31 hotels with approximately 8,500 suites/rooms located in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Each hotel is leased under a participating lease that provides for rental payments equal to the greater of (i) a base rent or (ii) a participating rent based on hotel revenues. All 31 of the hotels are leased to LHL (see Note 8), including one hotel which transitioned from a lease with an unaffiliated lessee to a new lease with LHL as of January 1, 2009. The LHL leases expire between 2009 and 2013. Lease revenue from LHL and its wholly-owned subsidiaries is eliminated in consolidation. A third-party or non-affiliated hotel operator manages each hotel, which is also subject to a hotel management agreement. Additionally, the Company owns a 95.0% joint venture interest in a property under development (see Note 3).

Substantially all of the Company’s assets are held by, and all of its operations are conducted through, LaSalle Hotel Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”). The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. The Company owned 99.9% of the common units of the Operating Partnership at September 30, 2009. The remaining 0.1% was held by a limited partner who held 46,000 limited partnership common units at September 30, 2009. On February 1, 2009, a limited partner redeemed 2,348,888 Series C Preferred Units of limited interest in the Operating Partnership for 2,348,888 7.25% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (liquidation preference $25.00 per share), $0.01 par value per share. See Note 6 for additional disclosures on common and preferred operating partnership units.

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and in conformity with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) applicable to interim financial information. As such, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. These unaudited consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of equity, and consolidated statements of cash flows for the periods presented. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009 due to seasonal and other factors. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation, including changes resulting from the adoption of new accounting pronouncements regarding noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements (Note 2) and earnings per share (Note 10) on January 1, 2009.

 

6


Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, the Operating Partnership, LHL and their subsidiaries in which they have a controlling interest, including joint ventures. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and the amounts of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Substantially all of the Company’s revenues and expenses are generated by the operations of the individual hotels. The Company records revenues and expenses that are estimated by the hotel operators to produce quarterly financial statements because the management contracts do not require the hotel operators to submit actual results within a time frame that permits the Company to use actual results when preparing its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for filing by the deadline prescribed by the SEC. Generally, the Company records actual revenue and expense amounts for the first two months of each quarter and revenue and expense estimates for the last month of each quarter. Each quarter, the Company reviews the estimated revenue and expense amounts provided by the hotel operators for reasonableness based upon historical results for prior periods and internal Company forecasts. The Company records any differences between recorded estimated amounts and actual amounts in the following quarter; historically, these differences have not been material. The Company believes the quarterly revenues and expenses, recorded on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations based on an aggregate estimate, are fairly stated.

Share-Based Compensation

From time to time, the Company awards nonvested shares under the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (“2009 Plan”) as compensation to officers, employees, and non-employee trustees. The shares vest over three to nine years. The Company recognizes compensation expense for nonvested shares on a straight-line basis over the vesting period based upon the fair market value of the shares on the date of issuance, adjusted for estimated forfeitures.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Codification

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued a pronouncement establishing the FASB Accounting Standards Codification as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP. The standard explicitly recognizes rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under federal securities laws as authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. This standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods ending after September 15, 2009. The Company has adopted this standard in accordance with GAAP.

Subsequent Events

In May 2009, the FASB issued a pronouncement which sets forth the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements, and disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. This pronouncement requires the disclosure of the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events and the basis for that date. This disclosure should alert all users of financials statements that an entity has not evaluated subsequent events after that date in the set of financial statements being presented. The Company is adhering to the requirements of this pronouncement which was effective for financial periods ending after June 15, 2009.

 

7


Noncontrolling Interests

In June 2009, the FASB issued a pronouncement which amends GAAP as follows: a) to require an enterprise to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity, identifying the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, b) to require ongoing reassessment of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, rather than only when specific events occur, c) to eliminate the quantitative approach previously required for determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, d) to amend certain guidance for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity, e) to add an additional reconsideration event when changes in facts and circumstances pertinent to a variable interest entity occur, f) to eliminate the exception for troubled debt restructuring regarding variable interest entity reconsideration, and g) to require advanced disclosures that will provide users of financial statements with more transparent information about an enterprise’s involvement in a variable interest entity. This pronouncement is effective for the first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009. Earlier adoption is prohibited. Management does not believe adoption of this pronouncement will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Noncontrolling Interests

The Company includes the accounts of all variable interest entities in which it holds a controlling financial interest in accordance with GAAP. A controlling financial interest is typically attributable to the entity with a majority voting interest. However, controlling financial interests may be achieved through arrangements that do not involve voting interests. The controlling financial interest is held by the entity that will absorb a majority of the entity’s expected losses, receives a majority of the entity’s expected residual returns, or both.

In December 2007, the FASB issued a pronouncement regarding noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company has adopted this pronouncement effective January 1, 2009. Per this pronouncement, noncontrolling interest is the portion of equity (net assets) in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to a parent. The ownership interests in the subsidiary that are held by owners other than the parent are noncontrolling interests. Under this pronouncement, such noncontrolling interests are reported on the consolidated balance sheets within equity, separately from the Company’s equity. On the consolidated statements of operations, revenues, expenses and net income or loss from less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries are reported at the consolidated amounts, including both the amounts attributable to the Company and noncontrolling interests. Consolidated statements of equity are included for both quarterly and annual financial statements, including beginning balances, activity for the period and ending balances for shareholders’ equity, noncontrolling interests and total equity.

However, per GAAP requirements, securities that are redeemable for cash or other assets at the option of the holder, not solely within the control of the issuer, must be classified outside of permanent equity. This would result in certain outside ownership interests being included as redeemable noncontrolling interest outside of permanent equity in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company makes this determination based on terms in applicable agreements, specifically in relation to redemption provisions. Additionally, with respect to noncontrolling interests for which the Company has a choice to settle the contract by delivery of its own shares, the Company considered existing GAAP guidance to evaluate whether the Company controls the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under share settlement of the contract.

The consolidated results of the Company include the following ownership interests held by owners other than the Company: the common units in the Operating Partnership held by a third party (46,000 at September 30, 2009), the preferred units in the Operating Partnership held by third parties (none at September 30, 2009), the outside preferred ownership interests in a tax-related ownership entity and the 5.0% interest of the outside partner in the Modern Magic Hotel LLC joint venture.

Regarding the common and preferred units in the Operating Partnership, the Company controls the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under share settlement at redemption. With respect to the preferred ownership interests in a tax-related ownership entity held by third parties, such interests are not redeemable by the holders. Accordingly, the Company has determined that these interests are noncontrolling interests to be included in permanent equity, separate from the Company’s shareholders’ equity, in the consolidated balance sheets and statements of equity. Net income or loss related to these noncontrolling interests is included in net income or loss in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

8


Regarding the 5.0% interest of the outside partner in the Modern Magic Hotel LLC joint venture, the operating agreement contains a liquidation option for the 5.0% investor which, in certain circumstances, could result in a net cash settlement outside the control of the Company. Accordingly, consistent with GAAP requirements, the Company will continue to record this noncontrolling interest outside of permanent equity in the consolidated balance sheets. Net income or loss related to this noncontrolling interest is excluded from net income or loss in the consolidated statements of operations. Based on the Company’s evaluation of the redemption value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest, the Company has reflected this interest at its carrying value as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 as the carrying cost exceeded the estimated redemption value.

 

3. Investment in Joint Ventures

On March 18, 2008, the Company, through Modern Magic Hotel LLC, a joint venture in which the Company holds a 95.0% controlling interest, acquired floors 2 through 13 and a portion of the first floor of the existing 52-story IBM Building located at 330 N. Wabash Avenue in downtown Chicago, IL for $46,000 plus acquisition costs. The joint venture has developed plans to convert the existing vacant floors to a luxury hotel. Redevelopment activity has been temporarily suspended, but is expected to resume when conditions warrant it. Since the Company holds a controlling interest, the accounts of the joint venture have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Initial acquisition and subsequent costs totaling $61,933 and $60,080 are included in property under development in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The 5.0% interest of the outside partner is included in redeemable noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

On April 17, 2008, the Company entered into a joint venture arrangement with LaSalle Investment Management (“LIM”), a leading global real estate investment manager, to seek domestic hotel investments in high barrier-to-entry urban and resort markets in the U.S. The two companies plan to invest up to $250,000 of equity in the joint venture. With anticipated leverage, this will result in investments of up to $700,000. The Company, through the Operating Partnership, owns a 15.0% equity interest in the joint venture and will have the opportunity to earn additional capital gains, based upon achieving specific return thresholds based on the joint venture’s equity investment. The Company will receive additional income for providing acquisition, asset management, project redevelopment oversight and financing services. The anticipated acquisition period is up to three years with the joint venture having a total life of up to seven years. The Company will continue to have the ability to acquire hotels on a wholly-owned basis throughout the life of the joint venture. During the joint venture’s three-year acquisition period, prospective acquisitions will be allocated between the Company and the joint venture on the following basis: (i) the Company will have first right of acquisition to any asset with an acquisition price below $75,000, (ii) the joint venture will have first right of acquisition to any asset with an acquisition price above $175,000, and (iii) any asset with an acquisition price between $75,000 and $175,000 will be offered on a rotational basis with the first acquisition allocated to the joint venture. The Company accounts for its investment in this joint venture under the equity method of accounting. As of September 30, 2009, there were no investments through the joint venture.

 

4. Long-Term Debt

On February 2, 2009, the Company repaid the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South and Westin City Center Dallas mortgage loans in the aggregate amount of $38,385 plus accrued interest with cash and additional borrowings on its senior unsecured credit facility. The loans were due to mature in July 2009.

On June 1, 2009, the Company repaid the Hilton Alexandria Old Town mortgage loan in the amount of $30,873 plus accrued interest with cash and additional borrowings on its senior unsecured credit facility. The loan was due to mature in September 2009.

 

9


Debt at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 consisted of the following:

 

               Balance Outstanding as of

Debt

   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
  September 30,
2009
   December 31,
2008

Credit facilities

         

Senior unsecured credit facility

   Floating  (a)    April 2011 (a)   $ —      $ 234,500

LHL unsecured credit facility

   Floating  (b)    April 2011 (b)     2,520      5
                 

Total borrowings under credit facilities

         2,520      234,505
                 

Massport Bonds

         

Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel (taxable)

   Floating  (c)    March 2018     5,400      5,400

Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel (tax exempt)

   Floating  (c)    March 2018     37,100      37,100
                 

Total bonds payable

         42,500      42,500
                 

Mortgage loans

         

Gild Hall

   Floating  (d)    November 2009 (d)     20,000      20,000

Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South and Westin City Center Dallas

   8.10%      July 2009 (e)     —        38,487

Hilton Alexandria Old Town

   4.98%      September 2009 (f)     —        31,227

Le Montrose Suite Hotel

   8.08%      July 2010 (g)     12,931      13,138

Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter

   5.35%      June 2012     59,600      59,600

Hotel Solamar

   5.49%      December 2013     60,900      60,900

Hotel Deca

   6.28%      August 2014     9,969      10,142

Westin Copley Place

   5.28%      August 2015     210,000      210,000

Westin Michigan Avenue

   5.75%      April 2016     140,000      140,000

Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

   5.99%      July 2016     101,780      101,780
                 

Mortgage loans at stated value

         615,180      685,274

Unamortized loan premium (h)

         361      412
                 

Total mortgage loans

         615,541      685,686
                 

Total debt

       $ 660,561    $ 962,691
                 

 

(a) Borrowings bear interest at floating rates equal to, at the Company’s option, either (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin, or (ii) an Adjusted Base Rate plus an applicable margin. As of December 31, 2008, the rates, including the applicable margin, for the Company’s outstanding LIBOR borrowings of $97,000 and $137,500 were 2.00% and 1.28%, respectively. The Company has the option to extend the credit facility’s maturity date to April 2012.

 

(b) Borrowings bear interest at floating rates equal to, at LHL’s option, either (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin, or (ii) an Adjusted Base Rate plus an applicable margin. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the rates, including the applicable margin, for LHL’s outstanding LIBOR borrowings were 1.04% and 2.00%, respectively. LHL has the option to extend the credit facility’s maturity date to April 2012.

 

(c) The Massport Bonds are secured by letters of credit issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland that expire in 2011. The Royal Bank of Scotland letters of credit are secured by the Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel. The bonds bear interest based on weekly floating rates. The interest rates as of September 30, 2009 were 0.40% and 0.33% for the $5,400 and $37,100 bonds, respectively. The interest rates as of December 31, 2008 were 4.50% and 1.00% for the $5,400 and $37,100 bonds, respectively. The Company also incurs an annual letter of credit fee of 1.10%.

 

(d) Mortgage debt bears interest at LIBOR plus 0.75%. The interest rates as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were 1.01% and 2.19%, respectively. The Company has the option to extend the maturity date for two consecutive one-year periods and a final 13-month period. The original maturity date was scheduled for November 2008. On October 3, 2008, the Company exercised its first option to extend the loan maturity to November 2009. The Company intends to repay the mortgage loan through borrowings on its credit facilities upon maturity.

 

(e) The Company repaid the mortgage loans on February 2, 2009 through borrowings on its senior unsecured credit facility.

 

(f) The Company repaid the mortgage loan on June 1, 2009 through borrowings on its senior unsecured credit facility.

 

(g) The Company intends to repay the mortgage loan through borrowings on its credit facilities upon maturity.

 

(h) Mortgage debt includes an unamortized loan premium on the mortgage loan on Hotel Deca of $361 as of September 30, 2009 and $412 as of December 31, 2008.

 

10


The Company incurred interest expense of $9,172 and $28,919 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $12,379 and $36,210 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. Included in interest expense is the amortization of deferred financing fees of $232 and $767 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $330 and $1,006 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. Interest was capitalized in the amounts of $24 and $673 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $702 and $2,774 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively.

As of September 30, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants, current on all loan payments and not otherwise in default under the credit facilities, bonds or mortgages.

Credit Facilities

The Company has a senior unsecured credit facility from a syndicate of banks that provides for a maximum borrowing of up to $450,000. The credit facility has a maturity date of April 13, 2011 with, at the Company’s option, a one-year extension option. The senior unsecured credit facility contains certain financial covenants relating to debt service coverage, net worth and total funded indebtedness. It also contains financial covenants that, assuming no defaults, allow the Company to make shareholder distributions. Borrowings under the credit facility bear interest at floating rates equal to, at the Company’s option, either (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin, or (ii) an “Adjusted Base Rate” plus an applicable margin. As of September 30, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants and was not otherwise in default under the credit facility. The weighted average interest rate for borrowings under the senior unsecured credit facility was 1.1% and 1.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and 3.3% and 3.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. The Company did not have any Adjusted Base Rate borrowings outstanding as of September 30, 2009. Additionally, the Company is required to pay a variable unused commitment fee determined from a ratings or leverage based pricing matrix, currently set at 0.125% of the unused portion of the senior unsecured credit facility. The Company incurred unused commitment fees of $139 and $285 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $85 and $273 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company had zero and $234,500, respectively, of outstanding borrowings under the senior unsecured credit facility.

LHL has a $25,000 unsecured revolving credit facility to be used for working capital and general lessee corporate purposes. The credit facility has a maturity date of April 13, 2011 with, at LHL’s option, a one-year extension option. Borrowings under the LHL credit facility bear interest at floating rates equal to, at LHL’s option, either (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin, or (ii) an “Adjusted Base Rate” plus an applicable margin. As of September 30, 2009, LHL was in compliance with all debt covenants and was not otherwise in default under the credit facility. The weighted average interest rate for borrowings under the LHL credit facility was 1.1% and 1.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively and 3.2% and 3.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. LHL did not have any Adjusted Base Rate borrowings outstanding as of September 30, 2009. Additionally, LHL is required to pay a variable unused commitment fee determined from a ratings or leverage based pricing matrix, currently set at 0.125% of the unused portion of the LHL credit facility. LHL incurred unused commitment fees of $5 and $13 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $5 and $14 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, LHL had $2,520 and $5, respectively, of outstanding borrowings under the LHL credit facility.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

In April 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting pronouncement which amended GAAP by requiring disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements and by requiring disclosures in summarized financial information at interim reporting periods. This pronouncement was effective for interim reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009. Disclosures about fair value of financial instruments are based on pertinent information available to management as of the valuation date. Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop estimated fair values. Accordingly, the estimates presented are not necessarily indicative of the amounts at which these instruments could be purchased, sold or settled. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

 

11


The Company estimates the fair value of its fixed rate debt and the credit spreads over variable market rates on its variable rate debt by discounting the future cash flows of each instrument at estimated market rates or credit spreads consistent with the maturity of the debt obligation with similar credit policies. Credit spreads take into consideration general market conditions and maturity. As of September 30, 2009, the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s debt were $660,200 and $583,532, respectively. As of December 31, 2008, the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s debt were $962,279 and $947,155, respectively. The carrying value of the Company’s other financial instruments approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.

 

5. Commitments and Contingencies

Ground and Air Rights Leases

Five of the Company’s hotels, San Diego Paradise Point Resort and Spa, Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel, Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, The Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa and Hotel Solamar, and a portion of the parking lot at Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South are subject to ground leases under non-cancelable operating leases expiring from October 2014 to December 2102. The lease on the parking lot at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South expires in 2014, but the Company has an option to extend for 7 years to 2021. None of the remaining leases expire prior to 2020. The Westin Copley Place is subject to a long term air rights lease which expires on December 14, 2077 and requires no payments through maturity. In addition, one of the two golf courses, the Pines, at Seaview Resort is subject to a ground lease, which expires on December 31, 2012 and may be renewed for 15 successive periods of 10 years. The ground leases related to the Pines golf course and the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown require future ground rent of one dollar per year. Total ground lease expense was $1,890 and $4,891 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $2,241 and $5,786 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively.

Reserve Funds

Certain of the Company’s agreements with its hotel managers, franchisors and lenders have provisions for the Company to provide funds, generally 3.0% to 5.0% of hotel revenues, sufficient to cover the cost of (a) certain non-routine repairs and maintenance to the hotels; and (b) replacements and renewals to the hotels’ furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Certain agreements require that the Company reserve cash. As of September 30, 2009, $3,656 was available in restricted cash reserves for future capital expenditures.

Restricted Cash Reserves

At September 30, 2009, the Company held $11,542 in restricted cash reserves. Included in such amounts are (i) $3,656 of reserve funds relating to the hotels with leases or operating agreements requiring the Company to maintain restricted cash to fund future capital expenditures, (ii) $7,406 deposited in mortgage escrow accounts pursuant to mortgage obligations to pre-fund a portion of certain hotel expenses and debt payments, and (iii) $480 held by insurance companies on our behalf to be refunded or applied to future liabilities.

Litigation

The nature of the operations of the hotels exposes the hotels, Company and Operating Partnership to the risk of claims and litigation in the normal course of their business. The Company is not presently subject to any other material litigation nor, to the Company’s knowledge, is any litigation threatened against the Company, other than routine actions for negligence or other claims and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which are expected to be covered by liability insurance and all of which collectively are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the liquidity, results of operations or business or financial condition of the Company.

In connection with the 2002 termination of Meridien Hotels, Inc. (“Meridien”) affiliates at the New Orleans and Dallas Hotels, the Company was engaged in litigation with Meridien and related affiliates. On September 11, 2008, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement with Meridien that resolved and released each of the parties’ respective claims, in consideration of a one-time payment by the Company in the amount of $5,500. The Company had previously accrued $1,231 for contingent liability and as a result, the Company recognized an additional expense of $4,269 during the three months ended September 30, 2008, which is included in the lease termination expense on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

 

12


6. Equity

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

On January 1, 2009, the Company received 32,945 common shares of beneficial interest related to executives and employees surrendering shares to pay taxes at the time restricted shares vested. The Company re-issued 4,588 of these treasury shares related to earned 2008 compensation for the Board of Trustees.

On January 1, 2009, the Company issued an aggregate of 20,543 common shares of beneficial interest, including 15,955 deferred shares to the independent members of its Board of Trustees for their earned 2008 compensation pursuant to award arrangements existing on or before January 1, 2008.

On March 6, 2009, the Company received 86 common shares of beneficial interest related to employees surrendering shares to pay taxes at the time restricted shares vested.

On April 28, 2009, the Company granted 162,712 restricted common shares of beneficial interest to the Company’s executives and employees. The restricted shares granted vest over three years, starting January 1, 2010. These common shares of beneficial interest were issued under the 2009 Plan.

On April 29, 2009, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 12,362,500 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, including 1,612,500 common shares pursuant to an overallotment option exercise. After deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions and other offering costs, the Company raised net proceeds of approximately $119,344. The net proceeds were used to reduce amounts outstanding under the Company’s senior unsecured credit facility and under the LHL unsecured credit facility, and for general corporate purposes.

On June 15, 2009, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 10,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share. After deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions and other offering costs, the Company raised net proceeds of approximately $141,093. The net proceeds were used to reduce amounts outstanding under the Company’s senior unsecured credit facility and under the LHL unsecured credit facility, and for general corporate purposes.

During the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Company issued 64,000 common shares of beneficial interest, consisting of 40,000 shares related to options exercised and 24,000 shares related to conversion of common units, both of which occurred in August 2009.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company received 113,346 common shares of beneficial interest related to the forfeiture of restricted shares due to employee and executive resignations. The Company re-issued 36,093 treasury shares related to the issuance of restricted common shares of beneficial interest in April 2009 and the issuance of common shares of beneficial interest in the underwritten public offering in June 2009. In September 2009, the Company retired 105,696 forfeited restricted shares as they were issued under the 1998 Plan. At September 30, 2009, there were no common shares of beneficial interest in treasury.

 

13


Common Dividends

The Company paid the following dividends on common shares/units during the nine months ended September 30, 2009:

 

Dividend per
Share/Unit

  

For the Period

   Declared    Record Date    Payable
Date
$ 0.085    Month ended 31-Dec-2008     22-Oct-2008    31-Dec-2008    15-Jan-2009
$ 0.01    Quarter ended 31-Mar-2009    4-Feb-2009    31-Mar-2009    15-Apr-2009
$ 0.01    Quarter ended 30-June-2009    15-Jun-2009    30-Jun-2009    15-Jul-2009

Treasury Shares

Treasury shares are accounted for under the cost method. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company received 146,377 common shares of beneficial interest related to (i) executives and employees surrendering shares to pay taxes at the time restricted shares vested and (ii) forfeiture of restricted shares due to employee and executive resignations. The Company re-issued 4,588 treasury shares related to earned 2008 compensation for the Board of Trustees pursuant to award arrangements existing on or before January 1, 2008. The Company re-issued 36,093 treasury shares related to the issuance of restricted common shares of beneficial interest in April 2009 and the issuance of common shares of beneficial interest in the underwritten public offering in June 2009. In September 2009, the Company retired 105,696 forfeited restricted shares as they were issued under the 1998 Plan.

At September 30, 2009, there were no common shares of beneficial interest in treasury.

Preferred Shares

The Series B Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares (which were issued effective February 1, 2009 and exchanged for Series G Preferred Shares on April 16, 2009), Series D Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares, and Series G Preferred Shares (collectively, the “Preferred Shares”) rank senior to the common shares of beneficial interest and on parity with each other with respect to payment of distributions; the Company will not pay any distributions, or set aside any funds for the payment of distributions, on its common shares of beneficial interest unless it has also paid (or set aside for payment) the full cumulative distributions on the Preferred Shares for the current and all past dividend periods. The outstanding Preferred Shares do not have any maturity date, and are not subject to mandatory redemption. The difference between the carrying value and the redemption amount of the Preferred Shares are the offering costs. In addition, the Company is not required to set aside funds to redeem the Preferred Shares. The Company currently has the option to redeem the Series B Preferred Shares. The Company may not optionally redeem the Series D Preferred Shares, Series E Preferred Shares or Series G Preferred Shares, prior to August 24, 2010, February 8, 2011 and November 17, 2011, respectively, except in limited circumstances relating to the Company’s continuing qualification as a REIT or as discussed below. After those dates, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Preferred Shares, in whole or from time to time in part, by payment of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated, accrued and unpaid distributions to and including the date of redemption.

The following Preferred Shares were outstanding as of September 30, 2009:

 

Security Type

   Number of
Shares

8 3/8% Series B Preferred Shares

   1,100,000

7 1/2% Series D Preferred Shares

   3,170,000

8% Series E Preferred Shares

   3,500,000

7 1/4% Series G Preferred Shares

   6,348,888

 

14


In August 2005, the Company acquired the Westin Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts. As part of the consideration to acquire the hotel, the Operating Partnership issued 2,348,888 7.25% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units (liquidation preference $25.00 per unit) of the Operating Partnership. The Series C Preferred Units were redeemable for 7.25% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (liquidation preference $25.00 per share), $0.01 par value per share, of the Company on a one-for-one basis. As previously disclosed, on February 1, 2009, each of the Series C Preferred Units was redeemed and the Company issued 2,348,888 7.25% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (the “Series C Preferred Shares”). Prior to the exchange described below, the Series C Preferred Shares were held by SCG Hotel DLP, L.P. (“SCG”). On April 16, 2009, SCG exchanged its Series C Preferred Shares for an equal number of 7.25% Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (liquidation preference $25.00 per share), $0.01 par value per share (the “Series G Preferred Shares”), of the Company in a private transaction exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended. On April 17, 2009, the Company filed a registration statement with the SEC to register the resale of the Series G Preferred Shares. On May 13, 2009, in connection with the exchange, SCG paid the Company a fee of $1,000, which the Company recognized as income.

Noncontrolling Interest of Common Units in Operating Partnership

On August 14, 2009, 24,000 common units of limited partnership interest were redeemed for common shares of beneficial interest of the Company on a one-for-one basis.

As of September 30, 2009, the Operating Partnership had 46,000 common units outstanding, representing a 0.1% partnership interest held by a limited partner. As of September 30, 2009, approximately $904 of cash or the equivalent value in common shares, at our option, would be paid to the limited partners of the Operating Partnership if the partnership was terminated. The approximate value of $904 is equivalent to the units outstanding valued at the Company’s September 30, 2009 closing share price of $19.66, which we assume would be equal to the value provided to the limited partners upon liquidation of the Operating Partnership.

Noncontrolling Interest of Preferred Units in Operating Partnership

On February 1, 2009, each of the 2,348,888 7.25% Series C Preferred Units, issued as part of the consideration to acquire the Westin Copley Place, was redeemed and the Company issued 2,348,888 7.25% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (liquidation preference $25.00 per share), $0.01 par value per share, to SCG Hotel DLP, LP. The issuance of the Series C Preferred Shares was effected in reliance upon an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. As a result of the redemption of all the partnership interests issued in consideration for the hotel, the contingent obligation of the Company to reimburse the seller of the hotel up to $20,000 of taxes related to unrealized taxable gains created at the time of the Company’s acquisition of the hotel, as described in the Tax Reporting and Protection Agreement entered into by the Company, has become null and void. As of September 30, 2009, there were no Series C Preferred Units outstanding.

All 1,098,348 Series F Preferred Units were redeemed during 2008. The Series F Preferred Units paid a cumulative, quarterly dividend at a variable rate of LIBOR plus 150 basis points. As of September 30, 2009, there were no Series F Preferred Units outstanding.

There were no Preferred Units outstanding as of September 30, 2009.

 

15


Preferred Dividends

The Company paid the following dividends on preferred shares/units during the nine months ended September 30, 2009:

 

Share/Unit

  

Security Type

   Dividend per
Share/Unit
   For the
Quarter Ended
     Record Date    Payable Date

Share

   8 3/8% Series B    $ 0.52    31-Dec-2008       1-Jan-2009    15-Jan-2009

Unit

   7 1/4% Series C    $ 0.45    31-Dec-2008       1-Jan-2009    15-Jan-2009

Share

   7 1/2% Series D    $ 0.47    31-Dec-2008       1-Jan-2009    15-Jan-2009

Share

   8% Series E    $ 0.50    31-Dec-2008       1-Jan-2009    15-Jan-2009

Share

   7 1/4% Series G    $ 0.45    31-Dec-2008       1-Jan-2009    15-Jan-2009

Share

   8 3/8% Series B    $ 0.52    31-Mar-2009       1-Apr-2009    15-Apr-2009

Unit

   7 1/4% Series C    $ 0.15    31-Mar-2009 (a)     N/A    15-Apr-2009

Share

   7 1/4% Series C    $ 0.30    31-Mar-2009 (b)     1-Apr-2009    15-Apr-2009

Share

   7 1/2% Series D    $ 0.47    31-Mar-2009       1-Apr-2009    15-Apr-2009

Share

   8% Series E    $ 0.50    31-Mar-2009       1-Apr-2009    15-Apr-2009

Share

   7 1/4% Series G    $ 0.45    31-Mar-2009       1-Apr-2009    15-Apr-2009

Share

   8 3/8% Series B    $ 0.52    30-Jun-2009       1-Jul-2009    15-Jul-2009

Share

   7 1/2% Series D    $ 0.47    30-Jun-2009       1-Jul-2009    15-Jul-2009

Share

   8% Series E    $ 0.50    30-Jun-2009       1-Jul-2009    15-Jul-2009

Share

   7 1/4% Series G    $ 0.45    30-Jun-2009       1-Jul-2009    15-Jul-2009

 

(a) Represents dividends for the period from January 1, 2009 through January 31, 2009.

 

(b) Represents dividends for the period from February 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009.

 

7. Equity Incentive Plan

At the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 23, 2009, the common shareholders approved the 2009 Plan, under which the Company may issue equity-based awards to officers, employees, non-employee trustees and any other persons providing services to or for the Company and its subsidiaries. The 2009 Plan provides for a maximum of 1,800,000 common shares of beneficial interest to be issued in the form of share options, share appreciation rights, restricted share awards, performance shares, phantom shares and other equity-based awards. In addition, the maximum number of common shares subject to awards of any combination that may be granted under the 2009 Plan during any fiscal year to any one individual is limited to 500,000 shares. The 2009 Plan terminates on January 28, 2019.

The 2009 Plan authorized, among other things: (i) the grant of share options that qualify as incentive options under the Code, (ii) the grant of share options that do not so qualify, (iii) the grant of common shares in lieu of cash for trustees’ fees, (iv) grants of common shares in lieu of cash compensation, and (v) the making of loans to acquire common shares in lieu of compensation (to the extent permitted by law and applicable provisions of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002). The exercise price of share options is determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees, but may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common shares on the date of grant. Restricted share awards and options under the 2009 Plan vest over a period determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees, which is generally a three to four year period. The duration of each option is also determined by the Compensation Committee, subject to applicable laws and regulation. There were no unvested stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2009. At September 30, 2009, there were 1,637,568 common shares available for future grant under the 2009 Plan.

 

16


Service Condition Nonvested Share Awards

From time to time, the Company awards nonvested shares to members of the Board of Trustees, executives, and employees. The nonvested shares generally vest over three to nine years based on continued employment. The Company measures compensation costs for the nonvested shares based upon the fair market value of its common shares at the date of grant. Compensation costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period and are included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

A summary of the Company’s nonvested shares as of September 30, 2009 is as follows:

 

     Number of
Shares
    Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value

Nonvested at January 1, 2009

   529,027      $ 33.09

Granted

   162,712        11.30

Vested

   (95,331     39.12

Forfeited

   (113,346     30.71
        

Nonvested at September 30, 2009

   483,062      $ 25.12
        

As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, there were $8,858 and $12,820, respectively, of total unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested share awards. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, these costs were expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 4.0 and 3.8 years, respectively. The total fair value of shares vested during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 was zero and $1,049, respectively, and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 was zero and $2,891, respectively. On September 13, 2009, 105,696 shares were forfeited with respect to an executive resignation. As a result, non-cash equity compensation related to those shares was reversed in September 2009. The compensation costs (net of actual and estimated forfeitures) that have been included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations were $(287) and $2,134 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $1,275 and $3,021 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively.

Long-Term Performance-Based Share Awards

On May 31, 2008 and June 25, 2008, the Company’s Board of Trustees granted 125,000 and 87,500 performance-based awards of nonvested shares to executives, respectively. On September 13, 2009, 25,000 shares were forfeited with respect to an executive resignation. The actual amounts of the awards with respect to 37,500 shares will be determined on July 1, 2011 and will depend on the Company’s total return over a three-year measuring period beginning with the per-share closing price for the Company’s common shares on June 30, 2008 and ending with the per-share closing price of the Company’s common shares on June 30, 2011. The actual amounts of the reward with respect to 75,000 shares will be determined on July 1, 2014 and depend on the Company’s total return over a three-year measuring period beginning with the per-share closing price for the Company’s common shares on June 30, 2011 and ending with the per-share closing price of the Company’s common shares on June 30, 2014. The actual amounts of the awards with respect to 75,000 shares will be determined on July 1, 2017 and will depend on the Company’s total return over a three-year measuring period beginning with the per-share closing price for the Company’s common shares on June 30, 2014 and ending with the per-share closing price of the Company’s common shares on June 30, 2017. Forty percent of the awards will be based on the Company’s “total return” compared to the total return of the companies in the NAREIT Equity Index. “Total return” is as calculated by NAREIT Equity Index and is the increase in the market price of a company’s common shares plus dividends declared thereon and assuming such dividends are reinvested. Forty percent of the awards will be based on the Company’s total return compared to the total return of companies in a designated peer group of the Company and included in the NAREIT Equity Index. The final 20% of the awards will be based on the amount of the Company’s total return compared to a Board-established total return goal. The actual amounts of the awards will range from 0% to 200% of the target amounts, depending on the performance analysis described immediately above, and none of the performance shares is outstanding until issued in accordance with award agreement based on performance.

 

17


After the actual amounts of the awards are earned on July 1, 2011, July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2017, the earned shares will be issued and outstanding and dividends will be deemed to have accrued on all of the earned shares, from June 30, 2008 until the determination dates, July 1, 2011, July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2017. Such accrued dividends will be paid to the executives on or about July 1, 2011, July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2017. Thereafter, the executives are entitled to receive dividends as declared and paid on the earned shares and to vote the shares. The fair values were determined by the Company utilizing valuation reports which used the Monte Carlo valuation method provided by a third-party consultant.

On April 28, 2009, the Company’s Board of Trustees granted 70,344 performance-based awards of nonvested shares to executives. The actual amounts of the awards will be determined on January 1, 2012 and will depend on the “total return” of the Company’s common shares over a three-year period beginning with the closing price of the Company’s common shares on December 31, 2008, and ending with the closing price of the Company’s common shares on December 31, 2011. Forty percent of the awards will be based on the Company’s “total return” compared to the total return of the companies in the NAREIT Equity Index. Forty percent of the awards will be based on the Company’s total return compared to the total return of companies in a designated peer group of the Company. The final 20% of the awards will be based on the amount of the Company’s total return compared to a Board-established total return goal. The actual amounts of the awards will range from 0% to 200% of the target amounts, depending on the performance analysis described immediately above and none of the performance shares are outstanding until issued in accordance with award agreements based on performance.

After the actual amounts of the awards are earned on January 1, 2012, the earned shares will be issued and outstanding with a portion subject to further vesting. Dividends will be deemed to have accrued on all of the earned shares, including those shares subject to further vesting, from December 31, 2008 until the determination date January 1, 2012. Such accrued dividends will be paid to the awardees on or about January 1, 2012. Thereafter, the executives are entitled to receive dividends as declared and paid on the earned shares and to vote the shares, including those shares subject to further vesting. The fair values were determined by the Company utilizing valuation reports which used the Monte Carlo valuation method provided by a third-party consultant.

Assumptions used in the valuations consisted of the following:

Capital Market Assumptions

 

   

Factors associated with the underlying performance of the Company’s share price and shareholder returns over the term of the performance awards including total share return volatility and risk-free interest.

 

   

Factors associated with the relative performance of the Company’s share price and shareholder returns when compared to those companies which compose the index including beta as a means to breakdown total volatility into market-related and company specific volatilities.

 

   

The valuation has been performed in a risk-neutral framework, so no assumption has been made with respect to an equity risk premium.

Employee Behavioral Assumptions

 

   

As termination of employment results in forfeiture of the award, demographic assumptions have not been used.

 

18


The assumptions used were as follows for each performance measure:

 

     Volatility     Interest
Rates
    Dividend
Yield
   Stock
Beta
   Fair
Value of
Components
of Award
   Weighting
of Total
Award
 

2009 Grants

               

Target amounts

   76.20   1.39   N/A    N/A    $ 15.44    20.00

NAREIT index

   76.20   1.39   N/A    1.238    $ 16.45    40.00

Peer companies

   76.20   1.39   N/A    0.907    $ 16.25    40.00

2008 Grants

               

Target amounts

   30.80   2.90   N/A    N/A    $ 24.81    20.00

NAREIT index

   30.80   2.90   N/A    1.152    $ 27.61    40.00

Peer companies

   30.80   2.90   N/A    1.022    $ 28.00    40.00

A summary of the Company’s long-term performance-based share awards as of September 30, 2009 is as follows:

 

     Number of
Shares
    Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value

Nonvested at January 1, 2009

   139,366      $ 34.46

Granted

   70,344        16.17

Vested

   —          —  

Forfeited

   (56,474     34.53
        

Nonvested at September 30, 2009 (1)

   153,236      $ 26.03
        

 

(1)

Amount excludes 150,000 shares that have been committed for future performance share grants. As of September 30, 2009, fair value has not been determined by a third party valuation expert. Fair value will be determined at the beginning of the performance measurement periods on July 1, 2011 and July 1, 2014.

As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, there were $2,630 and $3,570, respectively, of total unrecognized compensation costs related to long-term performance-based share awards. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, these costs were expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.2 and 2.8 years, respectively. No long-term performance-based share awards were vested as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. On September 13, 2009, 56,474 shares were forfeited with respect to an executive resignation. As a result, non-cash equity compensation related to those shares was reversed in September 2009. The compensation costs (net of forfeitures) related to long-term performance-based share awards that have been included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations were $(504) and $128 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $296 and $604 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively.

 

19


8. LHL

A significant portion of the Company’s revenue is derived from operating revenues generated by the hotels leased by LHL.

Other indirect hotel operating expenses consist of the following expenses incurred by the hotels leased by LHL:

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,
   For the nine months ended
September 30,
     2009    2008    2009    2008

General and administrative

   $ 11,904    $ 13,892    $ 36,279    $ 40,755

Sales and marketing

     9,486      11,502      29,406      32,713

Repairs and maintenance

     5,910      6,513      17,425      18,545

Utilities and insurance

     6,150      7,076      17,995      18,906

Management and incentive fees

     5,942      8,003      16,082      18,867

Franchise fees

     1,097      1,386      3,159      3,948

Other expenses

     432      281      1,197      1,005
                           

Total other indirect expenses

   $ 40,921    $ 48,653    $ 121,543    $ 134,739
                           

As of September 30, 2009, LHL leases all 31 hotels owned by the Company as follows:

 

1. Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South

 

2. Westin City Center Dallas

 

3. Seaview Resort

 

4. Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel

 

5. Hotel Viking

 

6. Topaz Hotel

 

7. Hotel Rouge

 

8. Hotel Madera

 

9. Hotel Helix

 

10. The Liaison Capitol Hill

 

11. Lansdowne Resort

 

12. Hotel George

 

13. Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

 

14. Hilton Alexandria Old Town

 

15. Chaminade Resort and Conference Center

 

16. Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
17. The Grafton on Sunset

 

18. Onyx Hotel

 

19. Westin Copley Place

 

20. Hotel Deca

 

21. The Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa

 

22. Donovan House

 

23. Le Parc Suite Hotel

 

24. Westin Michigan Avenue

 

25. Hotel Sax Chicago

 

26. Alexis Hotel

 

27. Hotel Solamar

 

28. Gild Hall

 

29. Hotel Amarano Burbank

 

30. San Diego Paradise Point Resort and Spa

 

31. Le Montrose Suite Hotel

 

On January 1, 2009, the Le Montrose Suite Hotel transitioned to a new lease with LHL.

For each of the calendar years 2004 through 2008, the Company notified Marriott International (“Marriott”) that it was terminating the management agreement at the Seaview Resort and Spa due to Marriott’s failure to meet certain hotel operating performance thresholds as defined in the management agreement. Pursuant to the management agreement, Marriott had the right to avoid termination by making cure payments within 60 days of notification. Through May 8, 2009, Marriott made cure payments totaling $12,315 for the calendar years 2004 through 2007 to avoid termination. Marriott could have recouped these amounts in the event certain future operating thresholds were attained. Through May 8, 2009, Marriott had recouped a total of $2,821 for the calendar years 2004 through 2008. The Company recorded a deferred liability of $9,494 as of December 31, 2008, which was included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Marriott failed to make the required cure payment for calendar year 2008, and therefore the Company recognized $9,494 as pre-tax income in other income in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations in May 2009. The management agreement with Marriott was terminated on May 8, 2009. The hotel now operates as an independent hotel, Seaview Resort; the hotel facilities are operated by Dolce Hotels and Resorts, and the golf facilities are operated by Troon Golf. The deferred liability is zero as of September 30, 2009.

 

20


The following is a reconciliation of the cure payments and deferred liability as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

          Cure Payment                Deferred
Liability
Balance

Year Ended
December 31,

  

Notification

Date

   Performance
Year
  

Date

   Amount    Recoup
Amount
    Pre-Tax
Income
   

2005  

   March 11, 2005    2004    April 28, 2005    $ 2,394    $ (1,540   $ —        $ 854

2006  

   March 9, 2006    2005    May 2, 2006      3,715      (280     —        $ 4,289

2007  

   February 22, 2007    2006    April 5, 2007      3,083      (1,001     —        $ 6,371

2008  

   February 26, 2008    2007    April 10, 2008      3,123      —          —        $ 9,494

2009*

   February 27, 2009    2008    N/A      —        —          —        $ 9,494
         May 9, 2009      —        —          (9,494   $ —  
                                  
         As of September 30, 2009    $ 12,315    $ (2,821   $ (9,494  
                                  

 

* Period through Marriott management agreement termination date, May 8, 2009.

 

9. Income Taxes

For the three months ended September 30, 2009, income tax expense of $1,831 was comprised of a current federal, state and local tax expense of $55 and a deferred federal, state and local tax expense of $1,776 on LHL’s income of $4,405 before income tax expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, income tax expense of $5,135 was comprised of a current federal, state and local tax expense of $311 and a deferred federal, state and local tax expense of $4,824 on LHL’s income of $11,982 before income tax expense.

The Company has estimated LHL’s income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 using a combined federal and state rate of 40.3%. As of September 30, 2009, the Company had a deferred tax asset of $12,660 primarily due to past years’ tax net operating losses. These loss carryforwards will expire in 2023 through 2028 if not utilized by then. Management believes that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax asset and has determined that no valuation allowance is required. Reversal of the deferred tax asset in the subsequent years cannot be reasonably estimated.

 

10. Earnings per Common Share

The limited partners’ outstanding common limited partnership units in the Operating Partnership (which may be converted to common shares of beneficial interest) have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation as there would be no effect on the amounts since the limited partners’ share of income would also be added back to net income. Any anti-dilutive shares, including unvested restricted shares when the assumed repurchase amount exceeds the amount outstanding, have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation. A new accounting pronouncement states that unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The Company’s adoption of the pronouncement on January 1, 2009 has resulted in the exclusion of distributed and undistributed earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares (participating securities), as applicable, from net income or loss attributable to common shareholders utilized in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations.

 

21


The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows:

 

    For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
    2009     2008     2009     2008  

Numerator:

       

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders

  $ 3,431      $ 12,533      $ (7,229   $ 18,248   

Dividends paid on unvested restricted shares

    (5     (278     (15     (533

Undistributed earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares

    (25     —          —          —     
                               

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders excluding amounts attributable to unvested restricted shares

  $ 3,401      $ 12,255      $ (7,244   $ 17,715   
                               

Denominator:

       

Weighted average number of common shares - basic

    63,002,718        40,264,498        51,590,702        40,035,102   

Effect of dilutive securities:

       

Unvested restricted shares

    —          —          —          —     

Stock options and compensation-related shares

    75,483        85,946        76,399        117,383   
                               

Weighted average number of common shares - diluted

    63,078,201        40,350,444        51,667,101        40,152,485   
                               

Basic Earnings per Common Share:

       

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders per weighted average common share excluding amounts attributable to unvested restricted shares

  $ 0.05      $ 0.30      $ (0.14   $ 0.44   
                               

Diluted Earnings per Common Share:

       

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders per weighted average common share excluding amounts attributable to unvested restricted shares

  $ 0.05      $ 0.30      $ (0.14   $ 0.44   
                               

 

11. Supplemental Information to Statements of Cash Flows

 

     For the nine months
ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008  

Interest paid, net of capitalized interest

   $ 28,741      $ 35,481   
                

Interest capitalized

     673        2,774   
                

Income taxes paid, net of refunds

     595        829   
                

Distributions payable on common shares

     636        7,199   
                

Distributions payable on preferred shares

     6,688        5,624   
                

Redemption of preferred units for common shares

     —          13,119   
                

Accrued capital expenditures

     216        4,321   
                

(Forfeiture) issuance of restricted shares to employees and executives, net

     (2,454     11,549   
                

Issuance of common shares for board of trustees compensation

     110        153   
                

Repurchase of common shares into treasury

     (365     (955
                

In conjunction with the property acquisition, the Company
assumed assets and liabilities as follows:

    

Real estate assets

   $ —        $ 52,910   

Liabilities

     —          (1,441
                

Acquisition of property

   $ —        $ 51,469   
                

 

22


12. Subsequent Events

The Company has disclosed the following subsequent events in accordance with a new accounting pronouncement (Note 2). Subsequent events have been evaluated through October 21, 2009, the date the financial statements were issued.

The Company paid the following common and preferred dividends subsequent to September 30, 2009:

 

                  Security Type                  

   Share/
Unit
   Dividend
per
Share/Unit
   For the
Quarter
Ended
   Declared    Record Date    Payable
Date

Common

   Share/Unit    $ 0.01    30-Sep-2009    15-Sep-2009    30-Sep-2009    15-Oct-2009

83/8% Series B Preferred

   Share    $ 0.52    30-Sep-2009    N/A    1-Oct-2009    15-Oct-2009

71/2% Series D Preferred

   Share    $ 0.47    30-Sep-2009    N/A    1-Oct-2009    15-Oct-2009

8% Series E Preferred

   Share    $ 0.50    30-Sep-2009    N/A    1-Oct-2009    15-Oct-2009

71/4% Series G Preferred

   Share    $ 0.45    30-Sep-2009    N/A    1-Oct-2009    15-Oct-2009

 

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

The following should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing in Item 1 of this report.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by the Company, contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe the Company’s future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this report include, among others, statements about the Company’s business strategy, including its acquisition and development strategies, industry trends, estimated revenues and expenses, ability to realize deferred tax assets and expected liquidity needs and sources (including capital expenditures and the ability to obtain financing or raise capital). You should not rely on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and which could materially affect actual results, performances or achievements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to:

 

   

the availability and terms of financing and capital and the general volatility of securities markets;

 

   

the Company’s dependence on third-party managers of its hotels, including its inability to implement strategic business decisions directly;

 

   

risks associated with the hotel industry, including competition, increases in wages, energy costs and other operating costs, potential unionization, actual or threatened terrorist attacks, any type of flu or disease-related pandemic, downturns in general and local economic conditions;

 

   

risks associated with the real estate industry, including environmental contamination and costs of complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar laws;

 

   

interest rate increases;

 

   

the possible failure of the Company to qualify as a REIT and the risk of changes in laws affecting REITs;

 

   

the possibility of uninsured losses;

 

   

risks associated with redevelopment and repositioning projects, including delays and cost overruns; and

 

   

the risk factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as updated elsewhere in this report.

 

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Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Company’s expectations will be realized. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, the Company disclaims any obligations or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Overview

The Company measures hotel performance by evaluating financial metrics such as room revenue per available room (“RevPAR”), funds from operations (“FFO”), earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and Hotel EBITDA. The Company evaluates the hotels in its portfolio and potential acquisitions using these metrics to determine each portfolio hotel’s contribution or acquisition hotel’s potential contribution toward reaching the Company’s goals of providing a reliable stream of income to its shareholders through increases in distributable cash flow and increasing long-term total returns to shareholders through appreciation in the value of its common shares. The Company invests in capital improvements throughout the portfolio to continue to increase the competitiveness of its hotels and improve their financial performance. The Company actively seeks to acquire new hotel properties that meet its investment criteria. Currently, due to the dislocation between buyers and sellers, the tight lending conditions, deteriorating operating fundamentals and lack of economic and industry clarity, it is difficult for the Company to identify hotels to acquire that fit its stringent investment criteria at prices that are generally acceptable to sellers.

During the third quarter of 2009, our hotels continued to operate in a challenging environment. However, the U.S. lodging industry experienced a decrease in the rate of decline in demand during the third quarter of 2009 compared to the prior two quarters. The improvement in the rate of decline was due somewhat to the U.S. lodging industry’s ability to induce demand by offering discounted pricing through promotion, packages and third-party channels. As a result, industry-wide demand fell 5.0% compared to approximately 8.0% in the first and second quarters. The Company’s third quarter RevPAR results reflected significant demand declines at our convention and resort properties, with modest increases at our urban hotels. Average daily rate (“ADR”) fell significantly across all segments in the third quarter.

For the third quarter of 2009, the Company had net income applicable to common shareholders of $3.4 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. FFO was $30.7 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, and EBITDA was $48.4 million. RevPAR for the hotel portfolio was $132.82, which was a decline of 19.7% compared to the third quarter of 2008. Average daily rate fell 17.6% and occupancy was down 2.5%, compared to the same period of the prior year. Hotel portfolio revenues declined 16.8% and hotel portfolio expenses were reduced by 11.9% compared to the third quarter of 2008, resulting in a hotel portfolio EBITDA decrease of 26.1%. Hotel portfolio EBITDA margin was 30.8%, a decline of only 388 basis points as a result of the decrease in revenues being partially mitigated by continued cost reductions implemented by our team and operators.

Please refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a detailed discussion of the Company’s use of FFO, EBITDA, and Hotel EBITDA and a reconciliation of FFO, EBITDA, and Hotel EBITDA to net income, a GAAP measurement.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Substantially all of the Company’s revenues and expenses are generated by the operations of the individual hotels. The Company records revenues and expenses that are estimated by the hotel operators to produce quarterly financial statements because the management contracts do not require the hotel operators to submit actual results within a time frame that permits the Company to use actual results when preparing its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for filing by the deadline prescribed by the SEC. Generally, the Company records actual revenue and expense amounts for the first two months of each quarter and revenue and expense estimates for the last month of each quarter. Each quarter, the Company reviews the estimated revenue and expense amounts provided by the hotel operators for reasonableness based upon historical results for prior periods and internal Company forecasts. The Company records any differences between recorded estimated amounts and actual amounts in the following quarter; historically, these differences have not been material. The Company believes the quarterly revenues and expenses, recorded on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations based on an aggregate estimate, are fairly stated.

The Company’s management has discussed the policy of using estimated hotel operating revenues and expenses with the audit committee of its Board of Trustees. The audit committee has reviewed the Company’s disclosure relating to the estimates in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations section.

 

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Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2009 to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2008

Industry travel declined in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. The industry continued to experience supply growth of approximately 3.0% while demand fell. Industry-wide average rate fell for business and leisure customers, as leisure demand was induced by discounting and promotions marketed at the hotels and through the third-party internet channels. Occupancy at our properties fell 2.5% from the same prior year period, while ADR declined 17.6%. As a result, RevPAR fell 19.7% in the quarter compared to the third quarter of 2008. Hotel portfolio EBITDA margin was 30.8%, a decline of 388 basis points as a result of the lower revenues being partially mitigated by continued cost reductions implemented by our team and operators.

Hotel Operating Revenues

Hotel operating revenues from the hotels leased to LHL (31 hotels as of September 30, 2009), including room revenue, food and beverage revenue and other operating department revenues (which includes golf, telephone, parking, and other ancillary revenues) decreased $30.7 million from $192.1 million in 2008 to $161.4 million in 2009. This decrease is primarily due to the effects of the economic downturn which resulted in a 19.7% decrease in RevPAR, attributable to a 2.5% decrease in occupancy and a 17.6% decrease in ADR across the portfolio.

The following are significant decreases in total room, food and beverage and other revenue primarily as a result of the detrimental effects of the recession:

 

   

$4.3 million decrease from Westin Michigan Avenue;

 

   

$4.1 million decrease from San Diego Paradise Point Resort and Spa;

 

   

$3.8 million decrease from Seaview Resort;

 

   

$2.4 million decrease from Indianapolis Marriott Downtown;

 

   

$2.0 million decrease from Hotel Sax Chicago; and

 

   

$2.0 million decrease from Lansdowne Resort.

Hotel operating revenues declined $17.0 million across twenty-two additional hotels in the portfolio due to the effects of the recession.

The above decreases are partially offset by a $2.2 million increase in room, food and beverage and other revenue from Le Montrose Suite Hotel due to the transition to a new lease with LHL as of January 1, 2009, which increase is not comparable year-over-year.

The above decreases are further offset by an aggregate increase of $2.7 million in room, food and beverage and other revenue at the Liaison Capitol Hill and Donovan House as a result of improved hotel and restaurant facilities.

Participating Lease Revenue

Participating lease revenue from hotels leased to third party lessees (no such hotels as of September 30, 2009) decreased $1.4 million from $1.4 million in 2008 to zero in 2009. The decrease is due to the transition of Le Montrose Suite Hotel to a new lease with LHL as of January 1, 2009.

Other Income

Other income decreased $0.8 million from $2.1 million in 2008 to $1.3 million in 2009. This decrease is primarily due to a lease termination fee from a retail tenant at Hotel Sax Chicago recognized in the 2008 period.

Hotel Operating Expenses

Hotel operating expenses decreased $14.4 million from $116.3 million in 2008 to $101.9 million in 2009. This overall decrease is primarily a result of decreases portfolio-wide from reductions in management and hourly staffing levels and other cost-saving initiatives in anticipation of the significant decrease in occupancy across the portfolio.

 

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The following are significant decreases in total room, food and beverage, other operating department and indirect expense primarily as a result of reduced occupancies at the hotels and cost-saving initiatives that have been implemented:

 

   

$2.1 million decrease from Seaview Resort;

 

   

$2.0 million decrease from Westin Michigan Avenue; and

 

   

$1.8 million decrease from San Diego Paradise Point Resort and Spa.

Hotel operating expenses declined $11.4 million across twenty-five additional hotels in the portfolio as a result of reduced occupancies and cost-savings initiatives.

The above decreases are partially offset by a $1.1 million increase in room, food and beverage, other operating department and indirect expense from Le Montrose Suite Hotel due to the transition to a new lease with LHL as of January 1, 2009, which increase is not comparable year-over-year.

In addition, room, food and beverage, other operating department and indirect expense at The Liaison Capitol Hill and Donovan House increased $1.8 million as a result of improved hotel facilities following an extensive hotel and restaurant renovation. The hotel improvements increased occupancy and in turn increased service costs.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $0.1 million from $27.4 million in 2008 to $27.3 million in 2009. The decrease is primarily due to a portion of furniture, fixtures and equipment across the hotel portfolio becoming fully depreciated.

Real Estate Taxes, Personal Property Taxes and Insurance

Real estate taxes, personal property taxes, and insurance expenses increased $0.9 million from $7.1 million in 2008 to $8.0 million in 2009. The increase is primarily due to an increase of $1.5 million in real estate taxes from Hotel Sax Chicago and Westin Michigan Avenue due to tax savings from decreases in assessment and rate recognized in the 2008 period, partially offset by a net decrease in real estate and personal property taxes of $0.6 million as a result of decreases in assessments and rates at certain of the hotel properties in the 2009 period. Insurance expense remained flat for the two periods.

Ground Rent

Ground rent decreased $0.3 million from $2.2 million in 2008 to $1.9 million in 2009. Certain hotels are subject to ground rent under operating leases which call for either fixed or variable payments based on the hotel’s performance. This decrease is due to performance at the applicable hotels being slightly better in the 2008 period than in the 2009 period.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expense decreased $2.8 million from $5.1 million in 2008 to $2.3 million in 2009 primarily as a result of the reversal of non-cash equity compensation related to restricted stock forfeitures in the 2009 period.

Lease Termination Expense

Lease termination expense decreased $4.3 million from $4.3 million in 2008 to zero in 2009. The 2008 expense related to the settlement of litigation. There was no such settlement in 2009.

Other Expenses

Other expenses decreased $0.4 million from $0.7 million in 2008 to $0.3 million in 2009 primarily due to a decrease in common area maintenance costs incurred at the 330 N. Wabash Avenue property and energy and security cost savings from retail tenants at Hotel Sax Chicago.

Interest Income

Interest income had no change from 2008 to 2009, with an immaterial amount earned in both periods. Low cash balances were maintained in both periods.

 

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Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased by $3.2 million from $12.4 million in 2008 to $9.2 million in 2009 due to a decrease in the Company’s weighted average debt, partly offset by an increase in the weighted average interest and a decrease in capitalized interest. The Company’s weighted average debt outstanding decreased from $970.5 million in 2008 to $680.2 million in 2009, which includes paydowns on outstanding debt with proceeds from:

 

   

an April 2009 common share offering;

 

   

a June 2009 common share offering; and

 

   

operating cash flow.

The above paydowns are offset by borrowings under the Company’s credit facility to finance other capital improvements during 2008 and 2009.

The Company’s weighted average interest rate, including the impact of capitalized interest, increased from 4.8% in 2008 to 5.1% in 2009. The Company’s weighted average interest rate, excluding the impact of capitalized interest, was 5.1% for 2008 and 2009. Capitalized interest decreased $0.7 million, from $0.7 million in 2008 to an immaterial amount in 2009, primarily due to the temporary suspension of the redevelopment of the 330 N. Wabash Avenue property as a luxury hotel.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense increased $1.0 million from $0.8 million in 2008 to $1.8 million in 2009. For the three months ended September 30, 2009, current federal, state and local income tax expense totaled $0.1 million. LHL’s net income before income tax expense increased $2.0 million from $2.4 million in 2008 to $4.4 million in 2009 primarily due to the reversal of allocated costs related to the resignation of an executive in the 2009 period and the property converted to a new lease with LHL in 2009, partly offset by lower hotel income across the portfolio due to the effects of the recession. Accordingly, for the three months ended September 30, 2009, LHL recorded a deferred federal, state and local income tax expense of $1.7 million (using an estimated tax rate of 40.3%).

As of September 30, 2009, the Company had a deferred tax asset of $12.7 million primarily due to past years’ tax net operating losses. These loss carryforwards will expire in 2023 through 2028 if not utilized by then. Management believes that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax asset and has determined that no valuation allowance is required.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

Redeemable noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity represents the outside equity interest in the 330 N. Wabash Avenue property which is included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company since the Company holds a controlling interest.

Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling interest of common units in the Operating Partnership represents the allocation of income or loss of the Operating Partnership to the common units held by a third party. Income or loss is allocated to common units noncontrolling interest based on the weighted average percentage ownership throughout the period. At September 30, 2009, a limited partner held 0.1% of the common units of the Operating Partnership.

Noncontrolling interest of preferred units in the Operating Partnership represents the allocation of income of the Operating Partnership to the preferred units held by third parties. The decrease in noncontrolling interest of preferred units in the Operating Partnership from $1.3 million in 2008 to zero in 2009 is a result of the redemption of 1,098,348 Series F Preferred Units during the third and fourth quarter of 2008 and the redemption of the 2,348,888 Series C Preferred Units on February 1, 2009.

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders

Distributions to preferred shareholders increased $1.1 million, from $5.6 million in 2008 to $6.7 million in 2009. This increase was due to the redemption of the Series C Preferred Units and issuance of Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest on February 1, 2009, which were subsequently exchanged for Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest on April 16, 2009.

 

27


Comparison of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008

Industry-wide leisure and business travel declined significantly compared to the same prior year period. Industry-wide average rate fell during the first quarter of 2009 and dropped more substantially during each of the second and third quarters, respectively. The Company’s hotels experienced an occupancy decline of 5.5%, while ADR fell 14.0% during the first nine months of 2009, which resulted in a RevPAR decrease of 18.8% compared to the prior year. Hotel portfolio EBITDA margin was 28.2%, a decline of only 346 basis points as a result of the decrease in revenues being partially mitigated by continued cost reductions implemented by our team and operators.

Hotel Operating Revenues

Hotel operating revenues from the hotels leased to LHL (31 hotels as of September 30, 2009), including room revenue, food and beverage revenue and other operating department revenues (which includes golf, telephone, parking, and other ancillary revenues) decreased $57.5 million from $508.1 million in 2008 to $450.6 million in 2009. This decrease is primarily due to the effects of the economic downturn which resulted in an 18.8% decrease in RevPAR, attributable to a 5.5% decrease in occupancy and a 14.0% decrease in ADR across the portfolio.

The following are significant decreases in total room, food and beverage and other revenue primarily as a result of the detrimental effects of the recession:

 

   

$13.4 million decrease from Westin Michigan Avenue;

 

   

$7.0 million decrease from Westin Copley Place;

 

   

$6.9 million decrease from Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South;

 

   

$6.6 million decrease from Seaview Resort;

 

   

$6.3 million decrease from Lansdowne Resort;

 

   

$5.2 million decrease from Indianapolis Marriott Downtown;

 

   

$4.6 million decrease from Hotel Sax Chicago;

 

   

$3.4 million decrease from Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter;

 

   

$3.4 million decrease from Hotel Viking;

 

   

$3.1 million decrease from Harborside Hyatt Conference Center and Hotel; and

 

   

$3.0 million decrease from Hotel Solomar.

Hotel operating revenues declined $21.2 million across sixteen additional hotels in the portfolio, due to the effects of the recession.

The above decreases are partially offset by increases from amounts that are not comparable year-over-year as follows:

 

   

$9.0 million increase in room, food and beverage and other revenue from San Diego Paradise Point Resort and Spa due to the transition to a new lease with LHL as of June 1, 2008;

 

   

$6.2 million increase in room, food and beverage and other revenue from Le Montrose Suite Hotel due to the transition to a new lease with LHL as of January 1, 2009; and

 

   

$4.7 million increase in room, food and beverage and other revenue from Donovan House re-opening on March 28, 2008 after completion of a comprehensive renovation and repositioning project.

In addition, room, food and beverage and other revenue at The Liaison Capitol Hill increased $6.7 million due to improved hotel facilities as a result of an extensive hotel and restaurant renovation.

Participating Lease Revenue

Participating lease revenue from hotels leased to third party lessees (no such hotels as of September 30, 2009) decreased $12.0 million from $12.0 million in 2008 to zero in 2009. The decrease is due to the transitions of San Diego Paradise Point Resort and Spa and Le Montrose Suite Hotel to new leases with LHL as of June 1, 2008 and January 1, 2009, respectively.

 

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Other Income

Other income increased $8.3 million from $6.2 million in 2008 to $14.5 million in 2009. This increase is primarily due to the following:

 

   

$9.5 million recognized in the 2009 period from cure payments from Marriott International at Seaview Resort; and

 

   

$1.0 million recognized in the 2009 period from the fee received related to the exchange of Series C Preferred Shares for Series G Preferred Shares.

These increases are partially offset by the following decreases:

 

   

$0.9 million recognized in the 2008 period from a lease termination fee from a retail tenant at Hotel Sax Chicago;

 

   

$0.7 million recognized in the 2008 period from a settlement of outstanding liabilities with respect to the acquisition of Westin Michigan Avenue property in March 2006; and

 

   

$0.4 million recognized in the 2008 period from a settlement of outstanding liabilities due to the transition of San Diego Paradise Point Resort and Spa to a new lease with LHL as of June 1, 2008.

The remaining decrease of $0.2 million is primarily due to decreases in income from retail leases across the portfolio.

Hotel Operating Expenses

Hotel operating expenses decreased $26.0 million from $320.4 million in 2008 to $294.4 million in 2009. This overall decrease is primarily a result of decreases portfolio-wide resulting from reductions in management and hourly staffing levels and other cost-saving initiatives in anticipation of the significant decrease in occupancy across the portfolio.

The following are significant decreases in total room, food and beverage, other operating department and indirect expense primarily as a result of reduced occupancies at the hotels and cost-saving initiatives that have been implemented:

 

   

$5.1 million decrease from Westin Michigan Avenue;

 

   

$3.9 million decrease from Westin Copley Place;

 

   

$3.8 million decrease from Seaview Resort;

 

   

$3.6 million decrease from Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South;

 

   

$3.1 million decrease from Indianapolis Marriott Downtown;

 

   

$3.1 million decrease from Lansdowne Resort;

 

   

$2.7 million decrease from Hotel Sax Chicago; and

 

   

$2.1 million decrease from The Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa.

Hotel operating expenses declined $13.0 million across nineteen additional hotels in the portfolio as a result of reduced occupancies and cost-saving initiatives. The above decreases are partially offset by increases from amounts that are not comparable year-over-year as follows:

 

   

$6.9 million increase in room, food and beverage, other operating department and indirect expense from San Diego Paradise Point Resort and Spa due to the transition to a new lease with LHL as of June 1, 2008;

 

   

$3.1 million increase in room, food and beverage, other operating department and indirect expense from Le Montrose Suite Hotel due to the transition to a new lease with LHL as of January 1, 2009; and

 

   

$1.2 million increase in room, food and beverage, other operating department and indirect expense from Donovan House re-opening on March 28, 2008 after completion of a comprehensive renovation and repositioning project.

 

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In addition, room, food and beverage, other operating department and indirect expense at The Liaison Capitol Hill increased $3.2 million as a result of improved hotel facilities following an extensive hotel and restaurant renovation. The hotel improvements increased occupancy and in turn increased service costs.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $3.4 million from $78.9 million in 2008 to $82.3 million in 2009. This increase includes an amount that is not comparable year-over-year of $1.5 million from Donovan House which re-opened on March 28, 2008 after completion of a comprehensive renovation and repositioning project. The remaining increase of $1.9 million is primarily due to depreciation on building and land improvements and purchases of furniture, fixtures and equipment made across the hotel portfolio during 2009 and 2008.

Real Estate Taxes, Personal Property Taxes and Insurance

Real estate taxes, personal property taxes, and insurance expenses decreased $2.1 million from $25.8 million in 2008 to $23.7 million in 2009. The 2009 period includes an amount that is not comparable year-over-year of $0.4 million from Donovan House which re-opened on March 28, 2008 after completion of a comprehensive renovation and repositioning project. The 2009 period also includes decreases of $2.2 million in real estate and personal property taxes from Indianapolis Marriott Downtown and $1.6 million in real estate taxes from Hotel Sax Chicago due to decreases in assessed property values for 2009 and prior years. The remaining increase of $1.3 million is a result of an increase in real estate and personal property taxes of $1.4 million primarily from increases in assessments and rates at certain of the hotel properties, partially offset by a decrease in insurance premiums of $0.1 million across the portfolio.

Ground Rent

Ground rent decreased $0.9 million from $5.8 million in 2008 to $4.9 million in 2009. Certain hotels are subject to ground rent under operating leases which call for either fixed or variable payments based on the hotel’s performance. The decrease is due to performance at the applicable hotels being slightly better in 2008 than 2009.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expense decreased $2.1 million from $12.9 million in 2008 to $10.8 million in 2009 primarily as a result of the reversal of non-cash equity compensation related to restricted stock forfeitures in the 2009 period.

Lease Termination Expense

Lease termination expense decreased $4.3 million from $4.3 million in 2008 to zero in 2009. The 2008 expense related to the settlement of litigation. There was no such settlement in 2009.

Other Expenses

Other expenses decreased $0.1 million from $2.2 million in 2008 to $2.1 million in 2009 primarily due to a decrease in retail lease expenses.

Interest Income

Interest income decreased $0.1 million from $0.1 million in 2008 to an immaterial amount earned in 2009 primarily due to decreases in cash balances and interest rates in the 2009 period.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased by $7.3 million from $36.2 million in 2008 to $28.9 million in 2009 due to a decrease in the weighted average interest rate and a decrease in the Company’s weighted average debt, partly offset by a decrease in capitalized interest. The Company’s weighted average debt outstanding decreased from $948.6 million in 2008 to $837.5 million in 2009, which includes paydowns on outstanding debt with proceeds from:

 

   

an April 2009 common share offering;

 

   

a June 2009 common share offering; and

 

   

operating cash flow.

 

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The above paydowns are offset by:

 

   

additional borrowings to purchase a controlling interest in the joint venture that acquired the 330 N. Wabash Avenue in March 2008 and to fund related development costs (which development has since been suspended); and

 

   

additional borrowings under the Company’s credit facility to finance other capital improvements during 2008 and 2009.

The Company’s weighted average interest rate, including the impact of capitalized interest, decreased from 4.8% in 2008 to 4.4% in 2009. The Company’s weighted average interest rate excluding the impact of capitalized interest decreased from 5.2% in 2008 to 4.5% in 2009. The decrease in the Company’s weighted average interest rate is due in part to the February 2009 repayment of the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South and Westin City Center Dallas mortgage loans and the June 2009 repayment of the Hilton Alexandria Old Town mortgage loan through additional borrowings on the Company’s senior unsecured credit facility, which bears a lower interest rate than the mortgage loans. Capitalized interest decreased $2.1 million, from $2.8 million in 2008 to $0.7 million in 2009, primarily due to the completion of the Donovan House renovation in March 2008 and the temporary suspension of the redevelopment of the 330 N. Wabash Avenue Property as a luxury hotel.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense increased $4.4 million from $0.7 million in 2008 to $5.1 million in 2009. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, current federal, state and local income tax expense totaled $0.3 million. LHL’s net income/loss before income tax expense increased $13.4 million from net loss of $1.4 million in 2008 to net income of $12.0 million in 2009 primarily due to the $9.5 million cure payment revenue recognized at Seaview Resort in the 2009 period, the reversal of allocated costs related to the resignation of an executive in the 2009 period and the two properties converted to new leases with LHL in 2008 and 2009, partly offset by lower hotel income across the portfolio due to the effects of the recession. Accordingly, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, LHL recorded a deferred federal, state and local income tax expense of $4.8 million (using an estimated tax rate of 40.3%).

As of September 30, 2009, the Company had a deferred tax asset of $12.7 million primarily due to past years’ tax net operating losses. These loss carryforwards will expire in 2023 through 2028 if not utilized by then. Management believes that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax asset and has determined that no valuation allowance is required.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

Redeemable noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity represents the outside equity interest in the 330 N. Wabash Avenue property which is included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company since the Company holds a controlling interest.

Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling interest of common units in the Operating Partnership represents the allocation of income or loss of the Operating Partnership to the common units held by a third party. Income or loss is allocated to common units noncontrolling interest based on the weighted average percentage ownership throughout the period. At September 30, 2009, the limited partner held 0.1% of the common units of the Operating Partnership.

Noncontrolling interest of preferred units in the Operating Partnership represents the allocation of income of the Operating Partnership to the preferred units held by third parties. The decrease in noncontrolling interest of preferred units in the Operating Partnership from $4.0 million in 2008 to $0.4 million in 2009 is a result of the redemption of 1,098,348 Series F Preferred Units during the third and fourth quarter of 2008 and the redemption of the 2,348,888 Series C Preferred Units on February 1, 2009.

 

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Distributions to Preferred Shareholders

Distributions to preferred shareholders increased $2.8 million, from $16.9 million in 2008 to $19.7 million in 2009. This increase was due to the redemption of the Series C Preferred Units and issuance of Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest on February 1, 2009, which were subsequently exchanged for Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest on April 16, 2009.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

FFO, EBITDA and Hotel EBITDA

The Company considers the non-GAAP measures of FFO, EBITDA and Hotel EBITDA to be key supplemental measures of the Company’s performance and should be considered along with, but not as alternatives to, net income or loss as a measure of the Company’s operating performance. Historical cost accounting for real estate assets implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values instead have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, most real estate industry investors consider FFO, EBITDA and Hotel EBITDA to be helpful in evaluating a real estate company’s operations.

The White Paper on FFO approved by NAREIT in April 2002 defines FFO as net income or loss (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains or losses from sales of properties and items classified by GAAP as extraordinary, plus real estate-related depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred finance costs) and after comparable adjustments for the Company’s portion of these items related to unconsolidated entities and joint ventures. The Company computes FFO consistent with standards established by NAREIT, which may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs that do not define the term in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or that interpret the current NAREIT definition differently than the Company.

With respect to FFO, the Company believes that excluding the effect of extraordinary items, real estate-related depreciation and amortization, and the portion of these items related to unconsolidated entities, all of which are based on historical cost accounting and which may be of limited significance in evaluating current performance, can facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and between REITs, even though FFO does not represent an amount that accrues directly to common shareholders. However, FFO may not be helpful when comparing the Company to non-REITs.

With respect to EBITDA, the Company believes that excluding the effect of non-operating expenses and non-cash charges, and the portion of these items related to unconsolidated entities, all of which are also based on historical cost accounting and may be of limited significance in evaluating current performance, can help eliminate the accounting effects of depreciation and amortization, and financing decisions and facilitate comparisons of core operating profitability between periods and between REITs, even though EBITDA also does not represent an amount that accrues directly to common shareholders.

With respect to Hotel EBITDA, the Company believes that excluding the effect of corporate-level expenses, non-cash items, and the portion of these items related to unconsolidated entities, provides a more complete understanding of the operating results over which individual hotels and operators have direct control. We believe property-level results provide investors with supplemental information on the ongoing operational performance of our hotels and effectiveness of the third-party management companies operating our business on a property-level basis.

FFO, EBITDA and Hotel EBITDA do not represent cash generated from operating activities as determined by GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income, cash flows from operations or any other operating performance measure prescribed by GAAP. FFO, EBITDA and Hotel EBITDA are not measures of the Company’s liquidity, nor are FFO, EBITDA and Hotel EBITDA indicative of funds available to fund the Company’s cash needs, including its ability to make cash distributions. These measurements do not reflect cash expenditures for long-term assets and other items that have been and will be incurred. FFO, EBITDA and Hotel EBITDA may include funds that may not be available for management’s discretionary use due to functional requirements to conserve funds for capital expenditures, property acquisitions, and other commitments and uncertainties. To compensate for this, management considers the impact of these excluded items to the extent they are material to operating decisions or the evaluation of the Company’s operating performance.

 

32


The following is a reconciliation between net income/loss attributable to common shareholders and FFO for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 (dollars in thousands, except share data):

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders

   $ 3,431      $ 12,533      $ (7,229   $ 18,248   

Depreciation

     27,107        27,042        81,797        78,205   

Amortization of deferred lease costs

     109        287        309        591   

Noncontrolling interests:

        

Redeemable noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity

     (2     (6     (21     (11

Noncontrolling interest of common units in Operating Partnership

     13        53        22        106   
                                

FFO

   $ 30,658      $ 39,909      $ 74,878      $ 97,139   
                                

Weighted average number of common shares and units outstanding:

        

Basic

     63,060,196        40,368,028        51,656,483        40,138,632   

Diluted

     63,135,679        40,453,974        51,732,882        40,256,015   

The following is a reconciliation between net income/loss attributable to common shareholders, EBITDA and Hotel EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 (dollars in thousands):

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders

   $ 3,431      $ 12,533      $ (7,229   $ 18,248   

Interest expense

     9,172        12,379        28,919        36,210   

Income tax expense

     1,831        767        5,135        650   

Depreciation and amortization

     27,290        27,372        82,331        78,932   

Noncontrolling interests:

        

Redeemable noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity

     (2     (6     (21     (11

Noncontrolling interest of common units in Operating Partnership

     13        53        22        106   

Noncontrolling interest of preferred units in Operating Partnership

     —          1,262        367        4,021   

Distributions to preferred shareholders

     6,688        5,625        19,699        16,873   
                                

EBITDA

   $ 48,423      $ 59,985      $ 129,223      $ 155,029   

Corporate expense

     2,832        10,090        13,026        20,349   

Interest and other income

     (1,293     (2,140     (14,523     (6,289

Participating lease adjustments, net

     —          52        —          482   

Hotel level adjustments, net

     (445     (960     (2,368     (1,714
                                

Hotel EBITDA

   $ 49,517      $ 67,027      $ 125,358      $ 167,857   
                                

Hotel EBITDA includes the operating data for all properties leased to LHL and to third parties for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. Hotel EBITDA includes adjustments made for periods when hotels were closed for renovations for presentation of comparable information.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Tax Indemnification Agreement

Pursuant to the acquisition of the Westin Copley Place, the Company entered into a Tax Reporting and Protection Agreement (the “Tax Agreement”) with Transwest Copley Square LLC (formerly SCG Copley Square LLC). Under the Tax Agreement, the Company was required, among other things, to indemnify Transwest Copley Square LLC (and its affiliates) for certain income tax liabilities that such entities would have incurred if the Westin Copley Place was transferred by the Company in a taxable transaction or if the Company failed to maintain a certain level of indebtedness with respect to the Westin Copley Place or its operations. The obligations of the Company under the Tax Protection Agreement (i) did not apply in the case of a foreclosure of the Westin Copley Place, if certain specified requirements were met, (ii) were limited to $20.0 million (although a limitation of $10.0 million is applicable to certain specified transactions), and (iii) terminated on the earlier of the tenth anniversary of the Company’s acquisition of the Westin Copley Place or January 1, 2016.

 

33


On February 1, 2009, each of the 2,348,888 7.25% Series C Preferred Units, issued as part of the consideration to acquire the hotel, was redeemed and the Company issued 2,348,888 7.25% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of beneficial interest to the unitholder. The issuance of the Series C Preferred Shares was effected in reliance upon an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. As a result of the redemption of all the partnership interests issued in consideration for the hotel, the contingent obligation of the Company to reimburse the seller of the hotel up to $20.0 million of taxes related to unrealized taxable gains created at the time of the Company’s acquisition of the hotel, as described in the Tax Reporting and Protection Agreement entered into by the Company, has become null and void. All of the Series C Preferred Shares were exchanged for Series G Preferred Shares on a one-for-one basis on April 16, 2009. No Series C Preferred Shares remain outstanding.

Joint Venture

On April 17, 2008, the Company entered into a joint venture arrangement with LaSalle Investment Management (“LIM”), a leading global real estate investment manager, to seek domestic hotel investments in high barrier-to-entry urban and resort markets in the U.S. The two companies plan to invest up to $250.0 million of equity in the joint venture. With anticipated leverage, this will result in investments of up to $700.0 million. The Company, through the Operating Partnership, owns a 15.0% equity interest in the joint venture and will have the opportunity to earn additional capital gains, based upon achieving specific return thresholds based on the joint venture’s equity investment. The Company will receive additional income for providing acquisition, asset management, project redevelopment oversight and financing services. The anticipated acquisition period is up to three years with the joint venture having a total life of up to seven years. The Company will continue to have the ability to acquire hotels on a wholly-owned basis throughout the life of the joint venture. During the joint venture’s three-year acquisition period, prospective acquisitions will be allocated between the Company and the joint venture on the following basis: (i) the Company will have first right of acquisition to any asset with an acquisition price below $75.0 million, (ii) the joint venture will have first right of acquisition to any asset with an acquisition price above $175.0 million, and (iii) any asset with an acquisition price between $75.0 million and $175.0 million will be offered on a rotational basis with the first acquisition allocated to the joint venture. The Company accounts for its investment in this joint venture under the equity method of accounting. As of September 30, 2009, there were no acquisitions through the joint venture.

Reserve Funds

Certain of the Company’s agreements with its hotel managers, franchisors and lenders have provisions for the Company to provide funds, generally 3.0% to 5.0% of hotel revenues, sufficient to cover the cost of (a) certain non-routine repairs and maintenance to the hotels; and (b) replacements and renewals to the hotels’ furniture, fixtures and equipment. Certain agreements require that the Company reserve cash. As of September 30, 2009, $3.7 million was available in restricted cash reserves for future capital expenditures.

The Company has no other off-balance sheet arrangements.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s principal source of cash to meet its cash requirements, including distributions to shareholders, is the operating cash flow from hotels leased by LHL. Additional sources of cash are the Company’s senior unsecured credit facility, LHL’s credit facility, secured financing on one or all of the Company’s twenty-two unencumbered properties, the sale of one or more properties and equity issuances available under the shelf registration statement.

LHL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership. Payments to the Operating Partnership are required pursuant to the terms of the lease agreements between LHL and the Operating Partnership relating to the properties owned by the Operating Partnership and leased by LHL. The lessees’ ability to make rent payments to the Operating Partnership, and the Company’s liquidity, including its ability to make distributions to shareholders, are dependent on the lessees’ ability to generate sufficient cash flow from the operation of the hotels.

 

34


Debt at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

               Balance Outstanding as of

Debt

   Interest
Rate
    Maturity
Date
  September 30,
2009
   December 31,
2008

Credit facilities

         

Senior unsecured credit facility

   Floating  (a)    April 2011 (a)   $ —      $ 234,500

LHL unsecured credit facility

   Floating  (b)    April 2011 (b)     2,520      5
                 

Total borrowings under credit facilities

         2,520      234,505
                 

Massport Bonds

         

Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel (taxable)

   Floating  (c)    March 2018     5,400      5,400

Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel (tax exempt)

   Floating  (c)    March 2018     37,100      37,100
                 

Total bonds payable

         42,500      42,500
                 

Mortgage loans

         

Gild Hall

   Floating  (d)    November 2009 (d)     20,000      20,000

Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South and Westin City Center Dallas

   8.10%      July 2009 (e)     —        38,487

Hilton Alexandria Old Town

   4.98%      September 2009 (f)     —        31,227

Le Montrose Suite Hotel

   8.08%      July 2010 (g)     12,931      13,138

Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter

   5.35%      June 2012     59,600      59,600

Hotel Solamar

   5.49%      December 2013     60,900      60,900

Hotel Deca

   6.28%      August 2014     9,969      10,142

Westin Copley Place

   5.28%      August 2015     210,000      210,000

Westin Michigan Avenue

   5.75%      April 2016     140,000      140,000

Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

   5.99%      July 2016     101,780      101,780
                 

Mortgage loans at stated value

         615,180      685,274

Unamortized loan premium (h)

         361      412
                 

Total mortgage loans

         615,541      685,686
                 

Total debt

       $ 660,561    $ 962,691
                 

 

(a) Borrowings bear interest at floating rates equal to, at the Company’s option, either (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin, or (ii) an Adjusted Base Rate plus an applicable margin. As of December 31, 2008, the rates, including the applicable margin, for the Company’s outstanding LIBOR borrowings of $97,000 and $137,500 were 2.00% and 1.28%, respectively. The Company has the option to extend the credit facility’s maturity date to April 2012.

 

(b) Borrowings bear interest at floating rates equal to, at LHL’s option, either (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin, or (ii) an Adjusted Base Rate plus an applicable margin. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the rates, including the applicable margin, for LHL’s outstanding LIBOR borrowings were 1.04% and 2.00%, respectively. LHL has the option to extend the credit facility’s maturity date to April 2012.

 

(c) The Massport Bonds are secured by letters of credit issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland that expire in 2011. The Royal Bank of Scotland letters of credit are secured by the Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel. The bonds bear interest based on weekly floating rates. The interest rates as of September 30, 2009 were 0.40% and 0.33% for the $5,400 and $37,100 bonds, respectively. The interest rates as of December 31, 2008 were 4.50% and 1.00% for the $5,400 and $37,100 bonds, respectively. The Company also incurs an annual letter of credit fee of 1.10%.

 

(d) Mortgage debt bears interest at LIBOR plus 0.75%. The interest rates as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were 1.01% and 2.19%, respectively. The Company has the option to extend the maturity date for two consecutive one-year periods and a final 13-month period. The original maturity date was scheduled for November 2008. On October 3, 2008, the Company exercised its first option to extend the loan maturity to November 2009. The Company intends to repay the mortgage loan through borrowings on its credit facilities upon maturity.

 

(e) The Company repaid the mortgage loans on February 2, 2009 through borrowings on its senior unsecured credit facility.

 

(f) The Company repaid the mortgage loan on June 1, 2009 through borrowings on its senior unsecured credit facility.

 

(g) The Company intends to repay the mortgage loan through borrowings on its credit facilities upon maturity.

 

(h) Mortgage debt includes an unamortized loan premium on the mortgage loan on Hotel Deca of $361 as of September 30, 2009 and $412 as of December 31, 2008.

 

35


The Company incurred interest expense of $9.2 million and $28.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $12.4 million and $36.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. Included in interest expense is the amortization of deferred financing fees of $0.2 million and $0.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $0.3 million and $1.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. Interest was capitalized at an immaterial amount and $0.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $0.7 million and $2.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively.

As of September 30, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants, current on all loan payments and not otherwise in default under the credit facilities, bonds or mortgages.

Credit Facilities

The Company has a senior unsecured credit facility from a syndicate of banks that provides for a maximum borrowing of up to $450.0 million. The credit facility has a maturity date of April 13, 2011 with, at the Company’s option, a one-year extension option. The senior unsecured credit facility contains certain financial covenants relating to debt service coverage, net worth and total funded indebtedness. It also contains financial covenants that, assuming no defaults, allow the Company to make shareholder distributions. Borrowings under the credit facility bear interest at floating rates equal to, at the Company’s option, either (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin, or (ii) an “Adjusted Base Rate” plus an applicable margin. As of September 30, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants and was not otherwise in default under the credit facility. The weighted average interest rate for borrowings under the senior unsecured credit facility was 1.1% and 1.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and 3.3% and 3.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. The Company did not have any Adjusted Base Rate borrowings outstanding as of September 30, 2009. Additionally, the Company is required to pay a variable unused commitment fee determined from a ratings or leverage based pricing matrix, currently set at 0.125% of the unused portion of the senior unsecured credit facility. The Company incurred unused commitment fees of $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company had zero and $234.5 million, respectively, of outstanding borrowings under the senior unsecured credit facility.

LHL has a $25.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility to be used for working capital and general lessee corporate purposes. The credit facility has a maturity date of April 13, 2011 with, at LHL’s option, a one-year extension option. Borrowings under the LHL credit facility bear interest at floating rates equal to, at LHL’s option, either (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin, or (ii) an “Adjusted Base Rate” plus an applicable margin. As of September 30, 2009, LHL was in compliance with all debt covenants and was not otherwise in default under the credit facility. The weighted average interest rate for borrowings under the LHL credit facility was 1.1% and 1.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and 3.2% and 3.7% for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2008, respectively. LHL did not have any Adjusted Base Rate borrowings outstanding as of September 30, 2009. Additionally, LHL is required to pay a variable unused commitment fee determined from a ratings or leverage based pricing matrix, currently set at 0.125% of the unused portion of the LHL credit facility. LHL incurred unused commitment fees of an immaterial amount for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, LHL had $2.5 million and an immaterial amount, respectively, of outstanding borrowings under the LHL credit facility.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

In April 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting pronouncement which amended GAAP by requiring disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements and by requiring disclosures in summarized financial information at interim reporting periods. This pronouncements was effective for interim reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009. Disclosures about fair value of financial instruments are based on pertinent information available to management as of the valuation date. Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop estimated fair values. Accordingly, the estimates presented are not necessarily indicative of the amounts at which these instruments could be purchased, sold or settled. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

 

36


The Company estimates the fair value of its fixed rate debt and the credit spreads over variable market rates on its variable rate debt by discounting the future cash flows of each instrument at estimated market rates or credit spreads consistent with the maturity of the debt obligation with similar credit policies. Credit spreads take into consideration general market conditions and maturity. As of September 30, 2009, the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s debt were $660.2 million and $583.5 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2008, the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s debt were $962.3 million and $947.2 million, respectively. The carrying value of the Company’s other financial instruments approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.

Equity Issuances

On April 29, 2009, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 12,362,500 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, including 1,612,500 common shares pursuant to an overallotment option exercise. After deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions and other offering costs, the Company raised net proceeds of approximately $119.3 million. The net proceeds were used to reduce amounts outstanding under the Company’s senior unsecured credit facility and under the LHL unsecured credit facility, and for general corporate purposes.

On June 15, 2009, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 10,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share. After deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions and other offering costs, the Company raised net proceeds of approximately $141.1 million. The net proceeds were used to reduce amounts outstanding under the Company’s senior unsecured credit facility and under the LHL unsecured credit facility, and for general corporate purposes.

Sources and Uses of Cash

As of September 30, 2009, the Company had $11.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and $11.5 million of restricted cash reserves, $3.7 million of which was available for future capital expenditures. Additionally, the Company had $448.1 million available under the senior unsecured credit facility and $22.5 million available under the LHL credit facility.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $82.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily due to the operations of hotels leased by LHL, which were partially offset by payments for real estate taxes, personal property taxes, insurance and ground rent.

Net cash used in investing activities was $22.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily due to outflows for improvements and additions at the hotels and development property and the net funding of restricted cash reserves.

Net cash used in financing activities was $66.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily due to repayments under credit facilities, mortgage loan repayments, payment of distributions to the common shareholders and unitholders and payment of distributions to preferred shareholders and unitholders, partially offset by borrowings under credit facilities and net proceeds from the common share offerings.

The Company has considered its short-term (one year or less) liquidity needs and the adequacy of its estimated cash flow from operations and other expected liquidity sources to meet these needs. The Company believes that its principal short-term liquidity needs are to fund normal recurring expenses, debt service requirements, distributions on the preferred shares and the minimum distribution required to maintain the Company’s REIT qualification under the Code. The Company anticipates that these needs will be met with cash flows provided by operating activities, borrowings under the senior unsecured credit facility or LHL’s credit facility, secured financing on one or all of the Company’s twenty-two unencumbered properties, the sale of one or more properties and equity issuances available under the shelf registration statement. The Company also considers capital improvements and property acquisitions as short-term needs that will be funded either with cash flows provided by operating activities, utilizing availability under the senior unsecured credit facility or LHL’s credit facility, secured financing on one or all of the Company’s twenty-two unencumbered properties, the sale of one or more properties or the issuance of additional equity securities.

 

37


The Company expects to meet long-term (greater than one year) liquidity requirements such as property acquisitions, scheduled debt maturities, major renovations, expansions and other nonrecurring capital improvements utilizing availability under the senior unsecured credit facility or LHL’s credit facility, secured financing on one or all of the Company’s twenty-two unencumbered properties, the sale of one or more properties, estimated cash flows from operations and the issuance of additional equity securities. The Company expects to acquire or develop additional hotel properties only as suitable opportunities arise, and the Company will not undertake acquisition or development of properties unless stringent acquisition and development criteria have been achieved. During the second quarter of 2009, the Company suspended development activities at the 330 N. Wabash Avenue property as a result of the current economic downturn. The Company plans to recommence such activities once conditions warrant it.

Reserve Funds

The Company is obligated to maintain reserve funds for capital expenditures at the hotels (including the periodic replacement or refurbishment of furniture, fixtures and equipment) as determined pursuant to the operating agreements. Please refer to “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” for a discussion of the Reserve Funds.

Contractual Obligations

The following is a summary of the Company’s obligations and commitments as of September 30, 2009 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Total
Amounts
Committed
   Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period

Obligations and Commitments

      Less than
1 year
   1 to 3 years    4 to 5 years    Over 5 years

Mortgage loans (1)

   $ 802,554    $ 66,917    $ 129,157    $ 131,487    $ 474,993

Borrowings under credit facilities (2)

     2,561      27      2,534      —        —  

Ground rent (3)

     201,976      5,057      10,135      10,166      176,618

Massport Bonds (1)

     43,712      144      288      288      42,992

Purchase commitments (4)

              

Purchase orders and letters of commitment

     12,559      12,559      —        —        —  
                                  

Total obligations and commitments

   $ 1,063,362    $ 84,704    $ 142,114    $ 141,941    $ 694,603
                                  

 

(1)

Amounts include principal and interest. Interest expense on fixed rate debt is computed based on the fixed interest rate of the debt. Interest expense on the variable rate debt is calculated based on the rate as of September 30, 2009.

 

(2)

Amounts include principal and interest. Interest expense is calculated based on the variable rate as of September 30, 2009. It is assumed that the outstanding debt as of September 30, 2009 will be repaid upon maturity with interest-only payments until then.

 

(3)

Amounts calculated based on the annual minimum future ground lease payments that extend through the term of the lease. Rents may be subject to adjustments based on future interest rates and hotel performance.

 

(4)

As of September 30, 2009, purchase orders and letters of commitment totaling approximately $12.6 million had been issued for renovations at the properties. The Company has committed to these projects and anticipates making similar arrangements in the future with the existing properties or any future properties that it may acquire.

The Hotels

For each of the calendar years 2004 through 2008, the Company notified Marriott International (“Marriott”) that it was terminating the management agreement at the Seaview Resort and Spa due to Marriott’s failure to meet certain hotel operating performance thresholds as defined in the management agreement. Pursuant to the management agreement, Marriott had the right to avoid termination by making cure payments within 60 days of notification. Through May 8, 2009, Marriott made cure payments totaling $12.3 million for the calendar years 2004 through 2007 to avoid termination. Marriott could have recouped these amounts in the event certain future operating thresholds were attained. Through May 8, 2009, Marriott had recouped a total of $2.8 million for the calendar years 2004 through 2008. The Company recorded a deferred liability of $9.5 million as of December 31, 2008, which was included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheet. Marriott failed to make the required cure payment for calendar year 2008, and therefore the Company recognized $9.5 million as pre-tax income in other income in the consolidated statement of operations in May 2009. The management agreement with Marriott was terminated on May 8, 2009. The hotel now operates as an independent hotel, Seaview Resort; the hotel facilities are operated by Dolce Hotels and Resorts, and the golf facilities are operated by Troon Golf. The deferred liability is zero as of September 30, 2009.

 

38


The following is a reconciliation of the cure payments and deferred liability as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

           Cure Payment                Deferred
Liability
Balance

Year Ended
December 31,

   Notification
Date
   Performance
Year
   Date    Amount    Recoup
Amount
    Pre-Tax
Income
   

2005

   March 11, 2005    2004    April 28, 2005    $ 2,394    $ (1,540   $ —        $ 854

2006

   March 9, 2006    2005    May 2, 2006      3,715      (280     —        $ 4,289

2007

   February 22, 2007    2006    April 5, 2007      3,083      (1,001     —        $ 6,371

2008

   February 26, 2008    2007    April 10, 2008      3,123      —          —        $ 9,494

2009*

   February 27, 2009    2008    N/A      —        —          —        $ 9,494
         May 9, 2009      —        —          (9,494   $ —  
                                  
         As of September 30, 2009    $ 12,315    $ (2,821   $ (9,494  
                                  

 

* Period through Marriott management agreement termination date, May 8, 2009.

The following table sets forth historical comparative information with respect to occupancy, ADR and RevPAR for the total hotel portfolio for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     Variance     2009     2008     Variance  

Total Portfolio

            

Occupancy

     79.4     81.4   -2.5     71.7     75.8   -5.5

ADR

   $ 167.36      $ 203.19      -17.6   $ 173.00      $ 201.20      -14.0

RevPAR

   $ 132.82      $ 165.32      -19.7   $ 123.98      $ 152.60      -18.8

Joint Ventures

On March 18, 2008, the Company, through Modern Magic Hotel LLC, a joint venture in which the Company holds a 95.0% controlling interest, acquired floors 2 through 13 and a portion of the first floor of the existing 52-story IBM Building located at 330 N. Wabash Avenue in downtown Chicago, IL for $46.0 million plus acquisition costs. The joint venture has developed plans to convert the existing vacant floors to a luxury hotel. Redevelopment activity has been temporarily suspended, but is expected to resume when conditions warrant it. Since the Company holds a controlling interest, the accounts of the joint venture have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Initial acquisition and subsequent costs totaling $61.9 million and $60.1 million are included in property under development in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The 5.0% interest of the outside partner is included in redeemable noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity in the consolidated balance sheets.

On April 17, 2008, the Company entered into a joint venture arrangement with LaSalle Investment Management (“LIM”), a leading global real estate investment manager, to seek domestic hotel investments in high barrier-to-entry urban and resort markets in the U.S. The two companies plan to invest up to $250.0 million of equity in the joint venture. With anticipated leverage, this will result in investments of up to $700.0 million. The Company, through the Operating Partnership, owns a 15.0% equity interest in the joint venture and will have the opportunity to earn additional capital gains, based upon achieving specific return thresholds based on the joint venture’s equity investment. The Company will receive additional income for providing acquisition, asset management, project redevelopment oversight and financing services. The anticipated acquisition period is up to three years with the joint venture having a total life of up to seven years. The Company will continue to have the ability to acquire hotels on a wholly-owned basis throughout the life of the joint venture. During the joint venture’s three-year acquisition period, prospective acquisitions will be allocated between the Company and the joint venture on the following basis: (i) the Company will have first right of acquisition to any asset with an acquisition price below $75.0 million, (ii) the joint venture will have first right of acquisition to any asset with an acquisition price above $175.0 million, and (iii) any asset with an acquisition price between $75.0 million and $175.0 million will be offered on a rotational basis with the first acquisition allocated to the joint venture. The Company accounts for its investment in this joint venture under the equity method of accounting. As of September 30, 2009, there were no acquisitions through the joint venture.

 

39


Inflation

The Company’s revenues come primarily from its pro rata share of the Operating Partnership’s cash flow from LHL hotel operating revenues, thus the Company’s revenues will vary based on changes in the underlying hotels’ revenues. Therefore, the Company relies entirely on the performance of the hotels and the lessees’ ability to increase revenues to keep pace with inflation. The hotel operators can change room rates quickly, but competitive pressures may limit the lessees’ and hotel operators’ abilities to raise rates faster than inflation or even at the same rate.

The Company’s expenses (primarily real estate taxes, property and casualty insurance, administrative expenses and LHL hotel operating expenses) are subject to inflation. These expenses are expected to grow with the general rate of inflation, except for energy costs, liability insurance, property tax rates, employee benefits, and some wages, which are expected to increase at rates higher than inflation, and except for instances in which the properties are subject to periodic real estate tax reassessments.

Seasonality

The Company’s hotels’ operations historically have been seasonal. Taken together, the hotels maintain higher occupancy rates during the second and third quarters. These seasonality patterns can be expected to cause fluctuations in hotel operating revenue from LHL.

Legal Proceedings

The nature of the operations of the hotels exposes the hotels, Company, and Operating Partnership to the risk of claims and litigation in the normal course of their business. The Company is not presently subject to any material litigation nor, to the Company’s knowledge, is any litigation threatened against the Company, other than routine actions for negligence or other claims and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which are expected to be covered by liability insurance and all of which collectively are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the liquidity, results of operations or business or financial condition of the Company.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates. The Company seeks to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower the overall borrowing costs by closely monitoring the Company’s variable rate debt and converting such debt to fixed rates when the Company deems such conversion advantageous. As of September 30, 2009, approximately $65.0 million of the Company’s aggregate indebtedness (9.9% of total indebtedness) was subject to variable interest rates.

If market rates of interest on the Company’s variable rate long-term debt fluctuate by 0.25%, interest expense would increase or decrease, depending on rate movement, future earnings and cash flows, by approximately $0.2 million annually. This assumes that the amount outstanding under the Company’s variable rate debt remains at $65.0 million, the balance as of September 30, 2009.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Based on the most recent evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer believe the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) were effective as of September 30, 2009. There were no changes to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the third quarter ended September 30, 2009 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

40


PART II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The nature of the operations of the hotels exposes the hotels, Company and Operating Partnership to the risk of claims and litigation in the normal course of their business. The Company is not presently subject to any material litigation nor, to the Company’s knowledge, is any litigation threatened against the Company, other than routine actions for negligence or other claims and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which are expected to be covered by liability insurance and all of which collectively are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the liquidity, results of operations or business or financial condition of the Company.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

 

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

On November 17, 2006, in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Gild Hall and as part of the consideration for the hotel acquisition, the Operating Partnership issued 70,000 common units of limited partnership interest. On August 14, 2009, 24,000 common units were redeemed for 24,000 common shares of beneficial interest in the Company. The issuance of the common units and the subsequent issuance of common shares upon the redemption of the common units were each effected in reliance upon an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) under the Securities Act of 1933. The Company relied on the exemption based on representations given by the holder of the common units.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

 

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

None.

 

Item 5. Other Information

On September 14, 2009, Michael D. Barnello was named Chief Executive Officer and Lead Trustee Stuart L. Scott was named acting Chairman of the Board effective immediately. These actions were taken after Mr. Jon E. Bortz informed the Board of his decision to retire from the Company effective as of September 13, 2009, accelerating the previously announced succession plan. Additionally, Mr. Bortz resigned his position as Trustee and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Bortz’s decision to step down early was made to allow him to pursue other career opportunities.

On September 30, 2009, Alfred L. Young was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company effective November 3, 2009.

 

41


Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description of Exhibit

10.1

   Offer Letter to Alfred L. Young(1)

31.1

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

31.2

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

32.1

   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002

32.2

   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002

 

(1)

Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K report filed with the SEC on October 6, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

42


SIGNATURE

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.

 

    LASALLE HOTEL PROPERTIES
Dated: October 21, 2009     BY:   /s/ JULIO E. MORALES
    Julio E. Morales
    Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

43


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description of Exhibit

10.1

   Offer Letter to Alfred L. Young(1)

31.1

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

31.2

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

32.1

   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002

32.2

   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002

 

(1)

Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K report filed with the SEC on October 6, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

44

EX-31.1 2 dex311.htm EXHIBIT 31.1 Exhibit 31.1

Exhibit 31.1

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

I, Michael D. Barnello, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of LaSalle Hotel Properties;

 

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.

Dated: October 21, 2009

 

/s/ MICHAEL D. BARNELLO
Michael D. Barnello
President and Chief Executive Officer
EX-31.2 3 dex312.htm EXHIBIT 31.2 Exhibit 31.2

Exhibit 31.2

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

I, Hans S. Weger, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of LaSalle Hotel Properties;

 

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.

Dated: October 21, 2009

 

/s/ HANS S. WEGER

Hans S. Weger

Executive Vice President, Treasurer

and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1 4 dex321.htm EXHIBIT 32.1 Exhibit 32.1

Exhibit 32.1

Certification Pursuant To

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

as Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of LaSalle Hotel Properties (“LHO”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2009 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Michael D. Barnello, President and Chief Executive Officer of LHO, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

  (1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

  (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of LHO.

Dated: October 21, 2009

 

/s/ MICHAEL D. BARNELLO
Michael D. Barnello
President and Chief Executive Officer
EX-32.2 5 dex322.htm EXHIBIT 32.2 Exhibit 32.2

Exhibit 32.2

Certification Pursuant To

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

as Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of LaSalle Hotel Properties (“LHO”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2009 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Hans S. Weger, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of LHO, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

  (1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

  (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of LHO.

Dated: October 21, 2009

 

/s/ HANS S. WEGER
Hans S. Weger

Executive Vice President, Treasurer

and Chief Financial Officer

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