Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2019 June (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2019

Commission File Number 001-37389

APPLE HOSPITALITY REIT, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(804) 344-8121

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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

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 ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes ☐    No ☒

Number of registrant’s common shares outstanding as of August 1, 2019: 223,869,190

Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc.

Form 10-Q

Index

This Form 10-Q includes references to certain trademarks or service marks. The Courtyard by Marriott®, Fairfield by Marriott®, Marriott® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott®, SpringHill Suites by Marriott® and TownePlace Suites by Marriott® trademarks are the property of Marriott International, Inc. or one of its affiliates. The Embassy Suites by Hilton®, Hampton by Hilton®, Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Home2 Suites by Hilton® and Homewood Suites by Hilton® trademarks are the property of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. or one or more of its affiliates. The Hyatt®, Hyatt House® and Hyatt Place® trademarks are the property of Hyatt Hotels Corporation or one or more of its affiliates. For convenience, the applicable trademark or service mark symbol has been omitted but will be deemed to be included wherever the above referenced terms are used.

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share data) 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018

Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization          

Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc., together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”), is a Virginia corporation that has elected to be treated as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for federal income tax purposes. The Company is a self-advised REIT that invests in income-producing real estate, primarily in the lodging sector, in the United States (“U.S.”). The Company’s fiscal year end is December 31. The Company has no foreign operations or assets and its operating structure includes only one reportable segment. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Although the Company has interests in potential variable interest entities through its purchase commitments, it is not the primary beneficiary as the Company does not have any elements of power in the decision making process of these entities, and therefore does not consolidate the entities. As of June 30, 2019, the Company owned 234 hotels with an aggregate of 30,046 rooms located in 34 states. The Company’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “APLE.”

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the “2018 Form 10-K”). Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the twelve month period ending December 31, 2019.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Net Income Per Common Share

Basic net income per common share is computed based upon the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is calculated after giving effect to all potential common shares that were dilutive and outstanding for the period. Basic and diluted net income per common share were the same for each of the periods presented.

Accounting Standards Recently Adopted

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which replaces Leases (Topic 840), and along with subsequent amendments, provides the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e. lessees and lessors). Under the new standard, lessees are required to recognize most leases on their balance sheets as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. Leases are classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are accounted for similarly to the previous accounting guidance under Leases (Topic 840), for operating leases. Topic 842 requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), Targeted Improvements, which provides entities another optional transition method, which the Company elected, to apply the new standard using the modified retrospective approach at its effective date, versus restating the prior periods presented, and recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for the effect of initially applying Topic 842 in the period of adoption. Consequently, an entity’s reporting for periods presented prior to adoption of the new lease requirements in the consolidated financial statements would continue in accordance with Leases (Topic 840), including disclosures.

The Company adopted Topic 842 effective January 1, 2019, electing to recognize and measure its leases prospectively at the beginning of the period of adoption through a cumulative-effect adjustment to shareholders’ equity, without restating the presentation of periods prior to the effective date, which continue to be reported in accordance with the Company’s historical accounting policy. At adoption, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment totaling approximately $5.2 million to distributions greater than net income, a component of shareholders’ equity in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The Company elected to apply certain practical expedients allowed under the new standard including (i) to use hindsight in determining the term as well as assessing the impairment of its existing leases, (ii) to not assess whether existing land easements not previously accounted for as leases are or contain leases, and (iii) to not evaluate short-term leases with terms of 12 months or less. The Company elected not to apply the package of practical expedients under the new standard which would have allowed the Company to not reassess at the date of adoption: (i) whether any existing contracts meet the definition of a lease, (ii) the lease classification for any existing leases, and (iii) the accounting for initial direct costs of any existing leases.

At adoption of the new standard, the Company recorded right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for its ground leases and certain other operating leases (including hotel equipment leases and office space leases) measured at the estimated present value of the remaining minimum lease payments under the leases. Four of the Company’s ground leases that were previously classified as operating leases under Topic 840 are classified as financing leases under Topic 842. For these finance leases, effective January 1, 2019, the Company recognizes amortization expense, included in depreciation and amortization expense, and interest expense, included in interest and other expense, net, instead of operating ground lease expense, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. While the total expense recognized over the life of a lease is unchanged, the timing of expense recognition for these finance leases results in higher expense recognition during the earlier years of the lease and lower expense during the later years of the lease. In addition to recording operating and financing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, the Company also reclassified at adoption of the new standard its intangible assets for below market leases and intangible liabilities for above market leases, as well as its accrued straight-line lease liabilities for its operating leases, to the beginning right-of-use assets. The Company derecognized its accrued straight-line lease liabilities related to its finance leases, which are included in the cumulative-effect adjustment noted above. The Company is also a lessor in certain retail lease agreements related to its real estate, however, there was no material change to the accounting for these leasing arrangements. See Note 9 for additional disclosures pertaining to the Company’s adoption of the new leasing standard.

2.  Investment in Real Estate

The Company’s investment in real estate consisted of the following (in thousands):

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), as amended and, as a result, recorded finance ground lease assets for four of its ground leases, which are included in investment in real estate, net. See Note 9 for more information regarding the Company’s finance ground lease assets.

As of June 30, 2019, the Company owned 234 hotels with an aggregate of 30,046 rooms located in 34 states.

The Company leases all of its hotels to its wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiary (or a subsidiary thereof) under master hotel lease agreements.

Hotel Acquisitions

The Company acquired two hotels during the six months ended June 30, 2019. The following table sets forth the location, brand, manager, date acquired, number of rooms and gross purchase price, excluding transaction costs, for each hotel. All dollar amounts are in thousands.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company acquired five hotels including four hotels in the first six months of 2018. The following table sets forth the location, brand, manager, date acquired, number of rooms and gross purchase price, excluding transaction costs, for each hotel. All dollar amounts are in thousands.

The Company used borrowings under its revolving credit facility to purchase each of these hotels.  The acquisitions of these hotel properties were accounted for as an acquisition of a group of assets, with costs incurred to effect the acquisition, which were not significant, capitalized as part of the cost of the assets acquired. For the two hotels acquired during the six months ended June 30, 2019, the amount of revenue and operating income included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations from the date of acquisition through June 30, 2019 was approximately $3.4 million and $0.7 million, respectively. For the four hotels acquired during the six months ended June 30, 2018, the amount of revenue and operating income included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations from the date of acquisition through June 30, 2018 was approximately $7.1 million and $2.1 million, respectively.

Hotel Purchase Contract Commitments

As of June 30, 2019, the Company had outstanding contracts for the potential purchase of five hotels for a total expected purchase price of approximately $159.2 million, which are under development and are planned to be completed and opened for business over the next 12 to 24 months from June 30, 2019, at which time closings on these hotels are expected to occur. Although the Company is working towards acquiring these hotels, there are many conditions to closing that have not yet been satisfied and there can be no assurance that closings on these hotels will occur under the outstanding purchase contracts. The following table summarizes the location, brand, date of purchase contract, expected number of rooms, refundable (if the seller does not meet its obligations under the contract) contract deposits paid, and gross purchase price for each of the contracts outstanding at June 30, 2019. All dollar amounts are in thousands.

The Company intends to use borrowings under its credit facilities available at closing to purchase the hotels under contract if a closing occurs.

3.  Hotel Dispositions

In February 2019, the Company terminated its purchase and sale agreement with an unrelated party for the sale of 16 of its hotels and entered into two purchase and sale agreements with the same unrelated party for the sale of a total of nine hotels for a total combined gross sales price of $95.0 million.  On March 28, 2019, the Company completed the sale of the hotels, resulting in a gain of approximately $1.7 million, which is included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2019. The nine hotels had a total carrying value of approximately $92.9 million at the time of the sale. The following table lists the nine hotels sold:

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company sold three hotels in two transactions with unrelated parties for a total combined gross sales price of approximately $15.8 million, resulting in a combined gain on sale of approximately $0.2 million, which is included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018. Of the three hotels sold, two of the hotels, the Columbus, Georgia 89-room SpringHill Suites and 86-room TownePlace Suites (the “two Columbus hotels”), were sold on July 13, 2018 for a combined gross sales price of $10.0 million, resulting in no gain or loss on the sale, and one hotel, the 72-room Springdale, Arkansas Residence Inn, was sold on November 29, 2018 for a gross sales price of approximately $5.8 million, resulting in a gain of approximately $0.2 million. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company recognized impairment losses of approximately $3.1 million related to these three hotels, which is included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018, and consisted of approximately $0.5 million to adjust the bases of the two Columbus hotels that sold in July 2018 to their estimated fair values, which were based on the contracted sales prices, net of estimated selling costs, and approximately $2.6 million to adjust the basis of the Springdale, Arkansas Residence Inn that sold in November 2018 to its estimated fair value, which was based on the offers received at that time, net of estimated selling costs.

Excluding gain on sale of real estate, the Company’s consolidated statements of operations include operating income of approximately $1.1 million and $0.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, relating to the results of operations of the twelve hotels sold as noted above for the period of ownership. The sale of these properties does not represent a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results, and therefore the operating results for the period of ownership of these properties are included in income from continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. The net proceeds from the sales were used to pay down borrowings on the Company’s revolving credit facility.

4.  Debt

Summary

As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company’s debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

The aggregate amounts of principal payable under the Company’s total debt obligations as of June 30, 2019 (including the revolving credit facility, term loans and mortgage debt), for the five years subsequent to June 30, 2019 and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):

The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate risks on a portion of its variable-rate debt. Throughout the terms of these interest rate swaps, the Company pays a fixed rate of interest and receives a floating rate of interest equal to the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate for a one-month term (“one-month LIBOR”).  The swaps are designed to effectively fix the interest payments on variable-rate debt instruments. See Note 5 for more information on the interest rate swap agreements. The Company’s total fixed-rate and variable-rate debt, after giving effect to its interest rate swaps in effect at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, is set forth below. All dollar amounts are in thousands.

Credit Facilities

$850 Million Credit Facility

On July 27, 2018, the Company entered into an amendment and restatement of its then outstanding unsecured $965 million credit facility, which was repaid at closing, reducing the borrowing capacity to $850 million, reducing the annual interest rate and extending the maturity dates (the “$850 million credit facility”). The $850 million credit facility is comprised of (i) a $425 million revolving credit facility with an initial maturity date of July 27, 2022 and (ii) a $425 million term loan facility consisting of two term loans: a $200 million term loan with a maturity date of July 27, 2023, and a $225 million term loan with a maturity date of January 31, 2024, both funded at closing (the “$425 million term loan facility”).  At closing, the Company repaid the $425 million outstanding under the term loans of the $965 million credit facility with the proceeds from the $425 million term loan facility under the $850 million credit facility and borrowed approximately $196 million under the $425 million revolving credit facility to repay the outstanding balance of the extinguished revolving credit facility and to pay closing costs. Subject to certain conditions including covenant compliance and additional fees, the $425 million revolving credit facility maturity date may be extended up to one year. The Company may make voluntary prepayments in whole or in part, at any time.  Interest payments on the $850 million credit facility are due monthly and the interest rate, subject to certain exceptions, is equal to an annual rate of the one-month LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 1.35% to 2.25%, depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio, as calculated under the terms of the credit agreement.  The Company is also required to pay quarterly an unused facility fee at an annual rate of 0.20% or 0.25% on the unused portion of the $425 million revolving credit facility, based on the amount of borrowings outstanding during the quarter.

$225 Million Term Loan Facility

On August 2, 2018, the Company entered into an amendment and restatement of its then outstanding $150 million term loan facility, which was repaid at closing, increasing the borrowing capacity to $225 million, reducing the annual interest rate and extending the maturity dates (the “$225 million term loan facility”). The $225 million term loan facility is comprised of (i) a $50 million term loan with a maturity date of August 2, 2023, which was funded at closing, and (ii) a $175 million term loan with a maturity date of August 2, 2025, of which $100 million was funded at closing and the remaining $75 million was funded on January 29, 2019. At closing, the Company repaid the $150 million outstanding under the $150 million term loan facility with the proceeds from the $225 million term loan facility. The credit agreement contains requirements and covenants similar to the Company’s $850 million credit facility. The Company may make voluntary prepayments in whole or in part, at any time, subject to certain conditions. Interest payments on the $225 million term loan facility are due monthly and the interest rate, subject to certain exceptions, is equal to an annual rate of the one-month LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 1.35% to 2.50%, depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio, as calculated under the terms of the credit agreement.  

$85 Million Term Loan

On July 25, 2017, the Company entered into an unsecured $85 million term loan with a syndicate of commercial banks, with a maturity date of July 25, 2024 (the “$85 million term loan” and, together with the $850 million credit facility and the $225 million term loan facility, the “credit facilities”). Although no material terms were changed, the credit agreement was amended and restated in August 2018 as a result of the refinancings noted above. The amended and restated credit agreement contains requirements and covenants similar to the Company’s $850 million credit facility. The Company may make voluntary prepayments in whole or in part, at any time, subject to certain conditions. Interest payments on the $85 million term loan are due monthly and the interest rate is equal to an annual rate of the one-month LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 1.80% to 2.60%, depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio, as calculated under the terms of the credit agreement. In July 2019, the Company entered into an amendment of the $85 million term loan to reduce the interest rate margin to 1.30% to 2.10% for the remainder of the term.

As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the details of the Company’s credit facilities were as set forth below.  All dollar amounts are in thousands.

The credit agreements governing the credit facilities contain mandatory prepayment requirements, customary affirmative covenants, negative covenants and events of default.  The credit agreements require that the Company comply with various covenants, which include, among others, a minimum tangible net worth, maximum debt limits, minimum interest and fixed charge coverage ratios and restrictions on certain investments.  The Company was in compliance with the applicable covenants at June 30, 2019.

Mortgage Debt

As of June 30, 2019, the Company had approximately $461.6 million in outstanding mortgage debt secured by 29 properties, with maturity dates ranging from June 2020 to January 2038, stated interest rates ranging from 3.55% to 6.25% and effective interest rates ranging from 3.55% to 4.97%. The loans generally provide for monthly payments of principal and interest on an amortized basis and defeasance or prepayment penalties if prepaid. The following table sets forth the hotel properties securing each loan, the interest rate, loan assumption or origination date, maturity date, the principal amount assumed or originated, and the outstanding balance prior to any fair value adjustments or debt issuance costs as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 for each of the Company’s mortgage debt obligations. All dollar amounts are in thousands.

5.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Except as described below, the carrying value of the Company’s financial instruments approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.

Debt

The Company estimates the fair value of its debt by discounting the future cash flows of each instrument at estimated market rates consistent with the maturity of a debt obligation with similar credit terms and credit characteristics, which are Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy. Market rates take into consideration general market conditions and maturity. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, both the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s debt were approximately $1.4 billion. Both the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s debt (as discussed above) is net of unamortized debt issuance costs related to term loans and mortgage debt for each specific year.

Derivative Instruments

Currently, the Company uses interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate risks on variable-rate debt.  Throughout the terms of these interest rate swaps, the Company pays a fixed rate of interest and receives a floating rate of interest equal to the one-month LIBOR.  The swaps are designed to effectively fix the interest payments on variable-rate debt instruments. These swap instruments are recorded at fair value and, if in an asset position, are included in other assets, net, and, if in a liability position, are included in accounts payable and other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.  The fair values of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements are determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash payments and the discounted expected variable cash receipts, which is considered a Level 2 measurement under the fair value hierarchy.  The variable cash receipts are based on an expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves.  The following table sets forth information for each of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements outstanding as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. All dollar amounts are in thousands.

The Company assesses, both at inception and on an ongoing basis, the effectiveness of its qualifying cash flow hedges. The change in the fair value of the Company’s designated cash flow hedges is recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of shareholders’ equity in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) will be reclassified to interest and other expense, net as interest payments are made or received on the Company’s variable-rate derivatives. The Company estimates that approximately $1.0 million of net unrealized gains included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at June 30, 2019 will be reclassified as a decrease to interest and other expense, net within the next 12 months.

The following table presents the effect of derivative instruments in cash flow hedging relationships in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

6.  Related Parties

The Company has, and is expected to continue to engage in, transactions with related parties. These transactions cannot be construed to be at arm’s length and the results of the Company’s operations may be different if these transactions were conducted with non-related parties. There have been no changes to the contracts and relationships discussed in the 2018 Form 10-K. Below is a summary of the significant related party relationships in effect during the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018.

Glade M. Knight, Executive Chairman of the Company, owns Apple Realty Group, Inc. (“ARG”), which receives support services from the Company and reimburses the Company for the cost of these services as discussed below. Mr. Knight is also currently a partner and Chief Executive Officer of Energy 11 GP, LLC and Energy Resources 12 GP, LLC, which are the respective general partners of Energy 11, L.P. and Energy Resources 12, L.P., each of which receive support services from ARG.

The Company provides support services, including the use of the Company’s employees and corporate office, to ARG and is reimbursed by ARG for the cost of these services. The amounts reimbursed to the Company are based on the actual costs of the services and a good faith estimate of the proportionate amount of time incurred by the Company’s employees on behalf of ARG. Total reimbursed costs allocated by the Company to ARG for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 totaled approximately $0.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively, and are recorded as a reduction to general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. 

As part of the cost sharing arrangement, certain day-to-day transactions may result in amounts due to or from the Company and ARG. To efficiently manage cash disbursements, the Company or ARG may make payments for the other company. Under this cash management process, each company may advance or defer up to $1 million at any time. Each quarter, any outstanding amounts are settled between the companies. This process allows each company to minimize its cash on hand and reduces the cost for each company. The amounts outstanding at any point in time are not significant to either of the companies. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, total amounts due from ARG for reimbursements under the cost sharing structure totaled approximately $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively, and are included in other assets, net in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Apple Air Holding, LLC, owns a Learjet used primarily for acquisition, asset management, renovation and public relations purposes. The aircraft is also leased to affiliates of the Company based on third party rates, which leasing activity was not significant during the reporting periods. The Company also utilizes aircraft, owned through two entities, one of which is owned by the Company’s Executive Chairman, and the other, by its President and Chief Executive Officer, for acquisition, asset management, renovation and public relations purposes, and reimburses these entities at third party rates. Total costs incurred for the use of these aircraft during the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were approximately $0.05 million for each respective period, and are included in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

7.  Shareholders’ Equity

Distributions 

The Company’s current annual distribution rate, payable monthly, is $1.20 per common share. For the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company paid distributions of $0.30 per common share for a total of $67.2 million and $69.1 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company paid distributions of $0.60 per common share for a total of $134.3 and $138.2 million, respectively. Additionally, in June 2019, the Company declared a monthly distribution of $0.10 per common share, totaling $22.4 million, which was recorded as a payable as of June 30, 2019 and paid in July 2019. As of December 31, 2018, a monthly distribution of $0.10 per common share, totaling $22.4 million, was recorded as a payable and paid in January 2019. These accrued distributions were included in accounts payable and other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Share Repurchases

In May 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an extension of its existing share repurchase program (the “Share Repurchase Program”), authorizing share repurchases up to an aggregate of $360 million. The Share Repurchase Program may be suspended or terminated at any time by the Company and will end in July 2020 if not terminated earlier. The Company has a written trading plan as part of the Share Repurchase Program that provides for share repurchases in open market transactions that is intended to comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. During the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, the Company purchased, under its Share Repurchase Program, approximately 0.3 million of its common shares in each respective period, at a weighted-average market purchase price of approximately $14.93 and $16.89 per common share for an aggregate purchase price, including commissions, of approximately $4.1 million and $4.3 million, respectively. No shares were repurchased during the second quarter of 2019 and 2018. Repurchases under the Share Repurchase Program have been funded, and the Company intends to fund future repurchases, with availability under its credit facilities.

8.  Compensation Plans

The Company annually establishes an incentive plan for its executive management.  Under the incentive plan for 2019 (the “2019 Incentive Plan”), participants are eligible to receive a bonus based on the achievement of certain 2019 performance measures, consisting of operational performance metrics (including targeted Modified Funds from Operations per share, Comparable Hotels revenue per available room growth and Adjusted Hotel EBITDA Margin growth) and shareholder return metrics (including shareholder return relative to a peer group and total shareholder return, over one-year, two-year and three-year periods).  The operational performance metrics are equally weighted and account for 50% of the total target incentive compensation. The shareholder return metrics are weighted 75% for relative shareholder return metrics and 25% for total shareholder return metrics, and account for 50% of the total target incentive compensation.  At June 30, 2019, the range of potential aggregate payouts under the 2019 Incentive Plan was $0 - $18 million.  Based on performance through June 30, 2019, the Company has accrued approximately $4.7 million as a liability for potential executive bonus payments under the 2019 Incentive Plan, which is included in accounts payable and other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2019. Compensation expense recognized by the Company under the 2019 Incentive Plan is included in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and totaled approximately $2.5 million and $4.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. Approximately 25% of awards under the 2019 Incentive Plan, if any, will be paid in cash, and 75% will be issued in stock under the Company’s 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, approximately two-thirds of which will vest at the end of 2019 and one-third of which will vest in December 2020. Under the incentive plan for 2018 (the “2018 Incentive Plan”), the Company recorded approximately $1.8 million and $3.7 million in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively. 

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company incurred a one-time separation payment of $0.5 million in connection with the retirement of the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer which, pursuant to the separation and general release agreement executed in March 2019, was paid in April 2019 and was included in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

Share-Based Compensation Awards

The following table sets forth information pertaining to the share-based compensation issued under the 2018 Incentive Plan and the incentive plan for 2017 (the “2017 Incentive Plan”).

9.  Leases           

The Company is the lessee on certain ground leases, hotel equipment leases and office space leases. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had 13 hotels subject to ground leases and three parking lot ground leases with remaining terms ranging from approximately four to 86 years. Certain of its ground leases have options to extend beyond the initial lease term by periods ranging from five to 120 years.

The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), as discussed further in Note 1 in the section titled “Accounting Standards Recently Adopted”, effective January 1, 2019, which requires leases with durations greater than twelve months to be recognized on the balance sheet as right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities. Prior year financial statements were not restated under the new standard and, therefore, those amounts are not presented below.

Under the new standard, the Company’s leases are classified as operating or finance leases. For leases with terms greater than 12 months, the Company recognizes a ROU asset and lease liability at the estimated present value of the minimum lease payments over the lease term. ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Many of the Company’s leases include rental escalation clauses (including fixed schedule rent increases) and renewal options that are factored into the determination of lease payments when appropriate and the present value of the remaining lease payments is adjusted accordingly. The Company utilizes interest rates implicit in the lease if determinable or, if not, it estimates its incremental borrowing rate from information available at lease commencement, to determine the present value of the lease payments. At transition to the new standard, the Company used information available at that time to determine the incremental borrowing rates on its existing leases at January 1, 2019 based on estimates of rates the Company would pay for senior collateralized loans with terms similar to each lease.

Twelve of the Company’s hotel and parking lot ground leases as well as all of its hotel equipment leases and office space leases are classified as operating leases, for which the Company recorded ROU assets and lease liabilities at adoption of the new standard. The ROU assets are included in other assets, net and the lease liabilities are included in accounts payable and other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. In addition, at adoption of the new standard, the Company reclassified its intangible assets for below market ground leases and intangible liabilities for above market ground leases related to these leases from other assets, net and accounts payable and other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, respectively, as well as accrued straight-line lease liabilities related to these leases from accounts payable and other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet to the beginning ROU assets. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective lease and the value of each lease intangible is amortized over the term of the respective lease. Costs related to operating ground leases are included in operating ground lease expense, while costs related to hotel equipment leases are included in hotel operating expense and property taxes, insurance and other expense, and costs related to office space leases are included in general and administrative expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Four of the Company’s hotel ground leases are classified as finance leases, for which the Company recorded ROU assets and lease liabilities at adoption of the new standard. The ROU assets are recorded as finance ground lease assets within investment in real estate, net and the lease liabilities are recorded as finance lease liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. In addition, at adoption of the new standard, the Company reclassified its intangible assets for below market ground leases and intangible liabilities for above market ground leases related to these leases from other assets, net and accounts payable and other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, respectively, to the beginning ROU assets. At adoption of the new standard, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment totaling approximately $5.2 million, which included the derecognition of accrued straight-line lease liabilities related to the finance leases, to distributions greater than net income, a component of shareholders’ equity in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The ROU asset and value of each lease intangible is amortized over the term of the respective lease. Costs related to finance ground leases are included in depreciation and amortization expense and interest and other expense, net in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.

Lease Position as of June 30, 2019

The following table sets forth the lease-related assets and liabilities included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2019. All dollar amounts are in thousands.

Lease Costs for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2019

The following table sets forth the lease costs related to the Company’s operating and finance ground leases included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 (in thousands):

Undiscounted Cash Flows

The following table reconciles the undiscounted cash flows for each of the next five years and total of the remaining years to the operating lease liabilities and finance lease liabilities included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2019 (in thousands):

Other Information

The following table sets forth supplemental cash flow information related to the Company’s operating and finance leases for the six months ended June 30, 2019 (in thousands):

10.  Subsequent Events           

In July 2019, the Company paid approximately $22.4 million, or $0.10 per outstanding common share, in distributions to its common shareholders.

In July 2019, the Company declared a regular monthly cash distribution of $0.10 per common share for the month of August 2019. The distribution is payable on August 15, 2019.

In July 2019, the Company entered into two unrelated purchase contracts for the purchase of two hotels. The first purchase contract is for a hotel that will be constructed in Madison, Wisconsin, for an anticipated gross purchase price of approximately $49.6 million. This hotel is planned to be a Hilton Garden Inn which is expected to contain 176 guest rooms.  The second purchase contract is for an existing hotel located in Richmond, Virginia, for an anticipated gross purchase price of approximately $7.3 million. This is an independent boutique hotel containing 55 guest rooms. Although the Company is working towards acquiring these hotels, there are many conditions to closing that have not yet been satisfied, and there can be no assurance that closings on these hotels will occur under the outstanding purchase contracts.

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report contains 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. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by use of statements that include phrases such as “may,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “goal,” “plan,” “should,” “will,” “predict,” “potential,” “outlook,” “strategy,” and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to effectively acquire and dispose of properties; the ability of the Company to implement its operating strategy; changes in general political, economic and competitive conditions and specific market conditions; adverse changes in the real estate and real estate capital markets; financing risks; litigation risks; regulatory proceedings or inquiries; and changes in laws or regulations or interpretations of current laws and regulations that impact the Company’s business, assets or classification as a REIT. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore there can be no assurance that such statements included in this Quarterly Report will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the results or conditions described in such statements or the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. In addition, the Company’s qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including but not limited to those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the 2018 Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statement that the Company makes speaks only as of the date of this Quarterly Report. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or cautionary factors, as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as the information contained in the 2018 Form 10-K.

Overview

The Company is a Virginia corporation that has elected to be treated as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. The Company is self-advised and invests in income-producing real estate, primarily in the lodging sector, in the U.S.  As of June 30, 2019, the Company owned 234 hotels with an aggregate of 30,046 rooms located in urban, high-end suburban and developing markets throughout 34 states. All of the Company’s hotels operate under Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt brands. The hotels are operated and managed under separate management agreements with 23 hotel management companies, none of which are affiliated with the Company. The Company’s common shares are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “APLE.”

New Lease Accounting Standard

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), electing to recognize and measure its leases prospectively at the beginning of the period of adoption through a cumulative-effect adjustment to shareholders’ equity, without restating the presentation of periods prior to the effective date (the “new lease accounting standard”). Under the new lease accounting standard, beginning in 2019, four of the Company’s ground leases that were previously accounted for as operating leases are accounted for as finance leases. For these finance leases, effective January 1, 2019, the Company recognizes amortization expense, included in depreciation and amortization expense, and interest expense, included in interest and other expense, net, instead of operating ground lease expense, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Results prior to January 1, 2019 have not been restated. As a result, the comparability of operating ground lease expense, depreciation and amortization expense, and interest and other expense, net are affected by the implementation of the new lease accounting standard. See Note 1 titled “Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and Note 9 titled “Leases” in the Company’s Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for additional information on the adoption of the new lease accounting standard.

2019 Hotel Portfolio Activities

The Company continually monitors market conditions and attempts to maximize shareholder value by investing in properties that it believes provide superior value over the long term. Consistent with this strategy and the Company’s focus on investing in rooms-focused hotels, the Company acquired two hotels for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $52.4 million during the first six months of 2019: a 160-room Hampton Inn & Suites in St. Paul, Minnesota and a 128-room Home2 Suites in Orlando, Florida. Also, as of July 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding contracts for the potential purchase of seven hotels for a total expected purchase price of approximately $216.1 million, six of which are under development and are planned to be completed and opened for business over the next 12 to 24 months from June 30, 2019, at which time closings on these hotels are expected to occur, and one existing hotel that is expected to close before the end of 2019. There are many conditions to closing that have not yet been satisfied and there can be no assurance that closings on these hotels will occur under the outstanding purchase contracts. The Company utilized its revolving credit facility to fund the completed acquisitions and plans to utilize its credit facilities available at closing for any additional acquisitions.

For its existing portfolio, the Company monitors each property’s profitability, market conditions and capital requirements and attempts to maximize shareholder value by disposing of properties when it believes that superior value can be provided from the sale of the property.  As a result, in March 2019, the Company sold nine hotels for a total combined gross sales price of $95.0 million. The net proceeds from the sales were used to pay down borrowings on the Company’s revolving credit facility.

See Note 2 titled “Investment in Real Estate” and Note 3 titled “Hotel Dispositions” in the Company’s Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for additional information concerning these transactions.

Hotel Operations          

Although hotel performance can be influenced by many factors including local competition, local and general economic conditions in the U.S. and the performance of individual managers assigned to each hotel, performance of the Company’s hotels as compared to other hotels within their respective local markets, in general, has met the Company’s expectations for the period owned. Over the past several years, improvements in the general U.S. economy have been offset by increased lodging supply in many markets, offsetting increases in demand in the lodging sector. With essentially flat growth in revenue per available room (“RevPAR”), the Company’s hotels produced stable operating results during the first six months of 2019 on a comparable basis (as defined below).  There is no way to predict future economic conditions, and there continue to be additional factors that could negatively affect the lodging industry and the Company, including but not limited to, increased hotel supply in certain markets, labor uncertainty both for the economy as a whole and the lodging industry in particular, global volatility, government fiscal policies and economic concerns in the U.S. The Company, on a comparable basis, is forecasting slightly negative to slightly positive RevPAR growth for the full year of 2019 as compared to 2018, which reflects modestly lower expectations for demand growth, consistent with lower expected Gross Domestic Product growth in the U.S., relatively consistent anticipated hotel supply growth and slightly favorable comparisons caused by natural disasters.

As of June 30, 2019, the Company owned 234 hotels with a total of 30,046 rooms as compared to 243 hotels with a total of 30,929 rooms as of June 30, 2018. Results of operations are included only for the period of ownership for hotels acquired or disposed of during the current reporting period and prior year. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company acquired one existing hotel on March 4, 2019 and one newly constructed hotel on March 19, 2019, and sold nine hotels on March 28, 2019. During 2018, the Company acquired one newly constructed hotel on May 2, 2018 and four existing hotels (two on February 5, 2018, one on June 28, 2018 and one on December 7, 2018), and sold three hotels (two on July 13, 2018 and one on November 29, 2018).  As a result, the comparability of results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 as discussed below is impacted by these transactions.

In evaluating financial condition and operating performance, the most important indicators on which the Company focuses are revenue measurements, such as average occupancy, average daily rate (“ADR”) and RevPAR, and expenses, such as hotel operating expenses, general and administrative expenses and other expenses described below.

The following is a summary of the results from operations of the Company’s hotels for their respective periods of ownership by the Company:

Comparable Hotels Operating Results

The following table reflects certain operating statistics for the Company’s 234 hotels owned as of June 30, 2019 (“Comparable Hotels”). The Company defines metrics from Comparable Hotels as results generated by the 234 hotels owned as of the end of the reporting period. For the hotels acquired during the current reporting period and prior year, the Company has included, as applicable, results of those hotels for periods prior to the Company’s ownership using information provided by the properties’ prior owners at the time of acquisition and not adjusted by the Company. This information has not been audited, either for the periods owned or prior to ownership by the Company. For dispositions, results have been excluded for the Company’s period of ownership.