8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): January 28, 2019

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	001-31775	86-1062192
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS employer identification number)
14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1100
Dallas, Texas		75254
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emerging growth company    ¨

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

ITEM 7.01     REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

On January 28, 2019, Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. ("Ashford Trust" or the “Company”) announced certain tax reporting information related to its 2018 common and preferred dividends.

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

ITEM 9.01     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d)    Exhibits

Exhibit NumberDescription

99.1 Press Release of the Company, dated January 28, 2019

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 hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: January 28, 2019

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.
By:	/s/ ROBERT G. HAIMAN
	Robert G. Haiman
	Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:	Deric Eubanks	Jordan Jennings	Joseph Calabrese
	Chief Financial Officer	Investor Relations	Financial Relations Board
	(972) 490-9600	(972) 778-9487	(212) 827-3772

ASHFORD TRUST ANNOUNCES TAX REPORTING INFORMATION FOR 2018 COMMON AND PREFERRED SHARE DISTRIBUTIONS

DALLAS, January 28, 2019 -- Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) today announced the tax reporting (Federal Form 1099-DIV) information for the 2018 distributions on its common shares and its Series D, F, G, H and I preferred shares. 

The income tax treatment for 2018 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Common Stock CUSIP #044103109 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "AHT" is as follows:

Distribution Type
	Distributions Per Share	Ordinary Taxable Dividend	Capital Gain Distribution	Unrecaptured 1250 Gain	Return of Capital
Total Cash Per Share	$0.4800	$0.0000	$0.0000	$0.0000	$0.4800
Total Distributions	$0.4800	$0.0000	$0.0000	$0.0000	$0.4800
Percent	100%	0.0000%	0.0000%	0.0000%	100.00%

The income tax treatment for the 2018 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Series D Preferred Stock CUSIP #044103406 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "AHTPrD" is as follows:

Distribution Type
	Distributions Per Share	Ordinary Taxable Dividend	Capital Gain Distribution	Unrecaptured 1250 Gain	Return of Capital
Total Cash Per Share	$2.11240	$0.0000	$0.0000	$0.0000	$2.11240
Percent	100%	0.0000%	0.0000%	0.0000%	100.00%

The income tax treatment for the 2018 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Series F Preferred Stock CUSIP #044103604 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "AHTPrF" is as follows:

Distribution Type
	Distributions Per Share	Ordinary Taxable Dividend	Capital Gain Distribution	Unrecaptured 1250 Gain	Return of Capital
Total Cash Per Share	$1.84360	$0.0000	$0.0000	$0.0000	$1.84360
Percent	100%	0.0000%	0.0000%	0.0000%	100.00%

The income tax treatment for the 2018 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Series G Preferred Stock CUSIP #044103703 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "AHTPrG" is as follows:

Distribution Type
	Distributions Per Share	Ordinary Taxable Dividend	Capital Gain Distribution	Unrecaptured 1250 Gain	Return of Capital
Total Cash Per Share	$1.84360	$0.0000	$0.0000	$0.0000	$1.84360
Percent	100%	0.0000%	0.0000%	0.0000%	100.00%

The income tax treatment for the 2018 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Series H Preferred Stock CUSIP # 044103802 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "AHTPrH" is as follows:

Distribution Type
	Distributions Per Share	Ordinary Taxable Dividend	Capital Gain Distribution	Unrecaptured 1250 Gain	Return of Capital
Total Cash Per Share	$1.8750	$0.0000	$0.0000	$0.0000	$1.8750
Percent	100%	0.0000%	0.0000%	0.0000%	100.00%

The income tax treatment for the 2018 distributions for Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Series I Preferred Stock CUSIP # 044103885 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "AHTPrI" is as follows:

Distribution Type
	Distributions Per Share	Ordinary Taxable Dividend	Capital Gain Distribution	Unrecaptured 1250 Gain	Return of Capital
Total Cash Per Share	$1.63542	$0.0000	$0.0000	$0.0000	$1.63542
Percent	100%	0.0000%	0.0000%	0.0000%	100.00%

The common and preferred distributions that the Company paid on January 16, 2018 to shareholders of record as of December 29, 2017 are reportable in 2018. The common and preferred distributions that the company paid on January 15, 2019 to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2018 will be reportable in 2019.

In accordance with IRS Code Section 6045B, the Company will post Form 8937, Report of Organizational Actions Affecting Basis of Securities, which may be found in the Corporate Actions section of the company's website. This form provides detailed information on the return of capital portion of the preferred and common share distributions. The Company encourages shareholders to consult with their own tax advisors with respect to the federal, state and local, and foreign income tax effects of these dividends.

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

Ashford has created an Ashford App for the hospitality REIT investor community. The Ashford App is available for free download at Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store by searching "Ashford."

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