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): August 7, 2020

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 000-55617 (Commission File Number) 46-1722812 (IRS Employer Identification No.)

10 Terrace Road, Ladera Ranch, California 92694

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(877) 327-3485

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Title of Each Class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
None	None	None

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 August 7, 2020, SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the launch of a solar panel project in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein solely for purposes of this Item 7.01 disclosure.

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the information in this Item 7.01 disclosure, including Exhibit 99.1 and information set forth therein, is deemed to have been furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Such information shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)Exhibits.

99.1 Press Release dated August 7, 2020

Signature(s)

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.

		SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, Inc.
Date:  August 7, 2020	By:	/s/ James R. Barry
		James R. Barry
		Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:Lauren Burgos

Spotlight Marketing Communications

949.427.1399

lauren@spotlightmarcom.com

SmartStop Self Storage REIT Launches Solar Panel Project in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

Solar Panel Installation Represents First of Many in Broader Company Initiative to Reduce Carbon Footprint and Become More Energy Efficient

LADERA RANCH, Calif.– August 7, 2020 – SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (“SmartStop” or the “Company” ), a self-managed and fully-integrated self storage company with approximately $1.6 billion of self storage assets under management, today announced the completion of the first solar panel project as part of a broader Company-wide initiative to reduce SmartStop’s carbon footprint and become more energy efficient. The project at Mt. Pleasant was designed and installed in cooperation with Warner Energy, LLC.

The panels, which were installed at SmartStop’s Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina location, are expected to collectively contribute energy output of 61.38 kilowatt photovoltaics (kW PV), resulting in an annualized savings of 81,500 kilowatt hours (kWh). At full capacity, the electricity savings generated from this system is equivalent to replacing or removing:

• Greenhouse gas emissions from ~12.4 passenger vehicles driven for one year;

• Emissions from a single passenger vehicle driven 142,987 miles;

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from approx. 9.8 homes’ annualized electricity use;

• CO2 sequestered from ~75.3 acres of U.S. forests in one year.

The Company plans to deploy similar installations at various locations throughout the U.S. and Canada over the course of the next few years, including 10 projects installed by the end of 2020 which are projected to generate over 1.3 million kWh each year.

“This solar panel installation at our Mt. Pleasant location is the first of many projects we have planned in the coming months and over the next few years,” said Michael McClure, Chief Executive Officer of SmartStop. “As property owners, we have an obligation that extends to our customers, our business partners and our surrounding communities to act as a responsible, ethical corporate steward. Beyond meeting our essential responsibilities to the environment, we’re also focused on maintaining energy-efficient operations that meet the demands of a modern self storage operation. Over time, we expect our broader green-focused initiatives and other value-added capital investments will generate material energy and cost savings, and this launch represents a great first step in the right direction.”

About SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (SmartStop)

SmartStop is a self-managed REIT with a fully integrated operations team of approximately 380 self storage professionals focused on growing the SmartStop® Self Storage brand. SmartStop, through its indirect subsidiary SmartStop REIT Advisors, LLC, also sponsors other self storage programs, including Strategic Storage Trust IV, Inc., a public non-traded REIT, and other private programs. SmartStop is the tenth-largest self storage company in the U.S., with approximately $1.6 billion of real estate assets under management, including an owned and managed portfolio of 144 properties in 19 states and Toronto, Canada and comprising approximately 96,000 units and 10.9 million rentable square feet. Additional information regarding SmartStop is available at www.smartstopselfstorage.com.