Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016

OR

o	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 001-35169

  

RLJ LODGING TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Maryland		27-4706509
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1000
Bethesda, Maryland		20814
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

 

(301) 280-7777

(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. ý Yes  o 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).  ý Yes  o 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 definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer” and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer		ý		Accelerated filer		o
Non-accelerated filer		o (do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company		o

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

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

As of October 26, 2016, 124,298,143 common shares of beneficial interest of the Registrant, $0.01 par value per share, were outstanding.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Financial Statements.
	Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
	Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015	1
	Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015	2
	Statements of Changes in Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015	4
	Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015	6
	Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements	7
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.	20
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.	33
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures.	34
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings.	34
Item 1A.	Risk Factors.	35
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.	35
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities.	35
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures.	35
Item 5.	Other Information.	35
Item 6.	Exhibits.	36
Signatures		37

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.         Financial Statements.

RLJ Lodging Trust

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

	September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015
	(unaudited)
Assets
Investment in hotel properties, net	$	3,599,818			$	3,674,999
Cash and cash equivalents	178,627				134,192
Restricted cash reserves	65,368				55,455
Hotel and other receivables, net of allowance of $182 and $117, respectively	37,874				25,755
Deferred income tax asset	45,761				49,978
Prepaid expense and other assets	37,584				32,563
Total assets	$	3,965,032			$	3,972,942
Liabilities and Equity
Mortgage loans, net	$	414,104			$	406,049
Term Loans and Revolver, net	1,168,893				1,169,437
Accounts payable and other liabilities	143,943				129,192
Deferred income tax liability	9,801				9,801
Advance deposits and deferred revenue	12,313				11,647
Accrued interest	3,206				4,883
Distributions payable	41,381				41,409
Total liabilities	1,793,641				1,772,418
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10)
Equity
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	—				—
Common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized; 124,299,663 and 124,635,675 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	1,243				1,246
Additional paid-in capital	2,185,821				2,195,732
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(32,746		)		(16,602		)
Retained earnings	3,940				2,439
Total shareholders’ equity	2,158,258				2,182,815
Noncontrolling interest:
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint venture	5,925				6,177
Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	7,208				11,532
Total noncontrolling interest	13,133				17,709
Total equity	2,171,391				2,200,524
Total liabilities and equity	$	3,965,032			$	3,972,942

 

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

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RLJ Lodging Trust

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

	For the three months ended September 30,								For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016				2015				2016				2015
Revenue
Operating revenue
Room revenue	$	260,659			$	253,163			$	777,211			$	747,962
Food and beverage revenue	26,001				27,027				82,602				85,607
Other operating department revenue	9,599				9,230				28,729				27,508
Total revenue	$	296,259			$	289,420			$	888,542			$	861,077
Expense
Operating expense
Room expense	$	59,671			$	56,310			$	173,783			$	165,603
Food and beverage expense	19,135				19,494				59,477				60,750
Management and franchise fee expense	29,607				28,985				90,869				88,704
Other operating expense	62,162				61,676				184,133				181,485
Total property operating expense	170,575				166,465				508,262				496,542
Depreciation and amortization	40,953				39,847				122,532				114,828
Property tax, insurance and other	20,575				19,458				60,032				57,782
General and administrative	7,215				8,249				23,522				29,041
Transaction and pursuit costs	98				2,017				257				3,005
Total operating expense	239,416				236,036				714,605				701,198
Operating income	56,843				53,384				173,937				159,879
Other income	112				557				86				1,103
Interest income	430				373				1,240				1,181
Interest expense	(14,552		)		(14,042		)		(44,233		)		(39,885		)
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	42,833				40,272				131,030				122,278
Income tax expense	(1,439		)		(151		)		(5,397		)		(615		)
Income from continuing operations	41,394				40,121				125,633				121,663
(Loss) gain on sale of hotel properties	(5		)		812				(155		)		23,782
Net income	41,389				40,933				125,478				145,445
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint venture	(32		)		(49		)		(7		)		(26		)
Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(183		)		(290		)		(553		)		(984		)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	41,174			$	40,594			$	124,918			$	144,435
Basic per common share data:
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders	$	0.33			$	0.32			$	1.00			$	1.10
Weighted-average number of common shares	123,621,323				127,663,480				123,635,010				129,855,686

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Diluted per common share data:
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders	$	0.33			$	0.31			$	1.00			$	1.10
Weighted-average number of common shares	123,836,452				128,143,154				123,859,753				130,410,613
Amounts attributable to the Company’s common shareholders:
Income from continuing operations	$	41,179			$	39,788			$	125,072			$	120,819
(Loss) gain on sale of hotel properties	(5		)		806				(154		)		23,616
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	41,174			$	40,594			$	124,918			$	144,435
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$	41,389			$	40,933			$	125,478			$	145,445
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate derivatives	9,470				(15,166		)		(16,144		)		(18,650		)
Comprehensive income	50,859				25,767				109,334				126,795
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint venture	(32		)		(49		)		(7		)		(26		)
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(183		)		(290		)		(553		)		(984		)
Comprehensive income attributable to the Company	$	50,644			$	25,428			$	108,774			$	125,785

 

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

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RLJ Lodging Trust

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(Amounts in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

 

	Shareholders’ Equity																			Noncontrolling Interest
	Common Stock
	Shares			Par Value				Additional Paid-in Capital				Retained Earnings				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss				Operating Partnership				Consolidated Joint Venture				Total Non-controlling Interest				Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2015	124,635,675			$	1,246			$	2,195,732			$	2,439			$	(16,602	)		$	11,532			$	6,177			$	17,709			$	2,200,524
Net income	—			—				—				124,918				—				553				7				560				125,478
Unrealized loss on interest rate derivatives	—			—				—				—				(16,144		)		—				—				—				(16,144		)
Distribution to joint venture partner	—			—				—				—				—				—				(259		)		(259		)		(259		)
Redemption of Operating Partnership units	335,250			3				4,322				—				—				(4,325		)		—				(4,325		)		—
Issuance of restricted stock	581,544			6				(6		)		—				—				—				—				—				—
Amortization of share-based compensation	—			—				3,935				—				—				—				—				—				3,935
Share grants to trustees	2,554			—				57				—				—				—				—				—				57
Shares acquired to satisfy minimum required federal and state tax withholding on vesting restricted stock	(218,443	)		(2		)		(4,958		)		—				—				—				—				—				(4,960		)
Shares acquired as part of a share repurchase program	(610,607	)		(6		)		(13,265		)		—				—				—				—				—				(13,271		)
Forfeiture of restricted stock	(426,310	)		(4		)		4				—				—				—				—				—				—
Distributions on common shares and units	—			—				—				(123,417		)		—				(552		)		—				(552		)		(123,969		)
Balance at September 30, 2016	124,299,663			$	1,243			$	2,185,821			$	3,940			$	(32,746	)		$	7,208			$	5,925			$	13,133			$	2,171,391

 

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

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RLJ Lodging Trust

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(Amounts in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

	Shareholders’ Equity																			Noncontrolling Interest
	Common Stock
	Shares			Par Value				Additional Paid-in Capital				Distributions in Excess of Net Earnings				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss				Operating Partnership				Consolidated Joint Venture				Total Non-controlling Interest				Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2014	131,964,706			$	1,319			$	2,419,731			$	(46,415	)		$	(13,644	)		$	11,198			$	6,295			$	17,493			$	2,378,484
Net income	—			—				—				144,435				—				984				26				1,010				145,445
Unrealized loss on interest rate derivatives	—			—				—				—				(18,650		)		—				—				—				(18,650		)
Distributions to joint venture partner	—			—				—				—				—				—				(195		)		(195		)		(195		)
Issuance of restricted stock	1,126,431			11				(11		)		—				—				—				—				—				—
Amortization of share-based compensation	—			—				10,488				—				—				—				—				—				10,488
Share grants to trustees	3,477			—				99				—				—				—				—				—				99
Shares acquired to satisfy minimum required federal and state tax withholding on vesting restricted stock	(363,512	)		(3		)		(11,026		)		—				—				—				—				—				(11,029		)
Shares acquired as part of a share repurchase program	(6,992,708	)		(70		)		(199,874		)		—				—				—				—				—				(199,944		)
Forfeiture of restricted stock	(12,376	)		—				—				—				—				—				—				—				—
Distributions on common shares and units	—			—				—				(128,237		)		—				(885		)		—				(885		)		(129,122		)
Balance at September 30, 2015	125,726,018			$	1,257			$	2,219,407			$	(30,217	)		$	(32,294	)		$	11,297			$	6,126			$	17,423			$	2,175,576

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

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RLJ Lodging Trust

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016				2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	125,478			$	145,445
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flow provided by operating activities:
Loss (gain) on sale of hotel properties	155				(23,782		)
Depreciation and amortization	122,532				114,828
Amortization of deferred financing costs	3,103				3,111
Amortization of deferred management fees	563				595
Accretion of interest income on investment in loan	(430		)		(275		)
Share grants to trustees	57				99
Amortization of share-based compensation	3,935				10,488
Deferred income taxes	4,217				(652		)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Hotel and other receivables, net	(12,119		)		(13,644		)
Prepaid expense and other assets	(3,932		)		1,773
Accounts payable and other liabilities	7,856				(9,065		)
Advance deposits and deferred revenue	666				2,204
Accrued interest	(1,677		)		1,806
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	250,404				232,931
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of hotel properties, net	—				(143,769		)
Proceeds from the sale of hotel properties, net	2,629				232,938
Improvements and additions to hotel properties	(58,881		)		(100,252		)
Additions to property and equipment	(211		)		(919		)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash reserves, net	(9,913		)		7,115
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(66,376		)		(4,887		)
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings under Revolver	51,000				—
Repayments under Revolver	(51,000		)		—
Borrowings on term loans	—				150,000
Proceeds from mortgage loans	11,000				7,000
Payments of mortgage loans principal	(2,760		)		(165,747		)
Repurchase of common shares under a share repurchase program	(13,271		)		(199,944		)
Repurchase of common shares to satisfy employee withholding requirements	(4,960		)		(11,029		)
Distributions on common shares	(123,345		)		(128,602		)
Distributions on Operating Partnership units	(654		)		(858		)
Payments of deferred financing costs	(5,344		)		(666		)
Distribution to joint venture partner	(259		)		(195		)
Net cash flow used in financing activities	(139,593		)		(350,041		)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	44,435				(121,997		)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	134,192				262,458
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	178,627			$	140,461

 

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

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RLJ Lodging Trust

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

1.              Organization

 

RLJ Lodging Trust (the "Company") was formed as a Maryland real estate investment trust ("REIT") on January 31, 2011. The Company is a self-advised and self-administered REIT that acquires primarily premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. The Company qualified and elected to be taxed as a REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with the portion of its taxable year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Substantially all of the Company’s assets and liabilities are held by, and all of its operations are conducted through RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership"). The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2016, there were 124,858,413 units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership ("OP units") outstanding and the Company owned, through a combination of direct and indirect interests, 99.6% of the outstanding OP units.

 

As of September 30, 2016, the Company owned 125 hotel properties with approximately 20,800 rooms, located in 21 states and the District of Columbia, and an interest in one mortgage loan secured by a hotel.  The Company, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, owned a 100% interest in all of its hotel properties, with the exception of the DoubleTree Metropolitan Hotel New York City, in which the Company, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, owned a 98.3% controlling interest in a joint venture, DBT Met Hotel Venture, LP, which was formed to engage in the hotel operations related to this hotel. An independent operator manages the operations of each hotel property.

 

2.              Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 contains a discussion of the significant accounting policies. Other than noted below, there have been no other significant changes to the Company's significant accounting policies since December 31, 2015.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

 

The unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and in conformity with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") applicable to financial information. The unaudited financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary, in the opinion of management, to fairly state the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and comprehensive income, statements of changes in equity and statements of cash flows.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 25, 2016.

 

The consolidated financial statements include all subsidiaries controlled by the Company. For the controlled subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned, the noncontrolling interests in these subsidiaries are presented separately in the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. The new guidance modifies the analysis an entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain legal entities. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2016 and the adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as there were no changes to the subsidiaries consolidated by the Company. Upon adopting the new guidance, the Operating Partnership and certain subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership became variable interest entities. The Company continues to consolidate the Operating Partnership and the Operating Partnership continues to consolidate the other subsidiary variable interest entities.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain prior year amounts in these financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation with no impact to net income, shareholders’ equity or cash flows.

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Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the Company’s 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 period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are the costs incurred to obtain long-term financing. The deferred financing costs are recorded at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, over the respective term of the financing agreement and are included as a component of interest expense. The Company expenses unamortized deferred financing costs when the associated financing agreement is refinanced or repaid before maturity unless certain criteria are met that would allow for the carryover of such costs to the refinanced agreement.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This guidance requires an entity to present the debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, rather than as an asset. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. This guidance allows the debt issuance costs on line-of-credit arrangements to be presented in the balance sheet as an asset and amortized ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The Company adopted both ASU 2015-03 and ASU 2015-15 during the quarter ended March 31, 2016. The adoption of this guidance changed the balance sheet classification of the Company's deferred financing costs but it did not otherwise affect the consolidated financial statements. Upon adoption of the new guidance, the Company retrospectively reclassified deferred financing costs of $8.1 million in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015. The carrying amount of debt as of December 31, 2015 is presented net of deferred financing costs of $7.3 million. The carrying amount of prepaid expense and other assets as of December 31, 2015 includes deferred financing costs of $0.8 million related to the Revolver (as defined below).

Share-Based Compensation

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which amends ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. The new guidance includes provisions that are intended to simplify various aspects related to how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and the interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period, with any adjustments reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company early adopted this guidance during the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016, and the adoption had no effect on its consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which supersedes or replaces nearly all GAAP revenue recognition guidance. The new guidance establishes a new control-based revenue recognition model that changes the basis for deciding when revenue is recognized over time or at a point in time and expands the disclosures about revenue. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and the interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new accounting guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The new guidance will require lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for most of their leases on the balance sheet, and an entity will need to classify its leases as either an operating or finance lease in order to determine the income statement presentation. Lessors will classify their leases as either operating, direct financing, or sales-type leases, and leveraged leases have been eliminated in the new guidance. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and the interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new accounting guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

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In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230). The new guidance is intended to reduce the diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2017, and the interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted, provided that all of the amendments are adopted in the same period, and the guidance requires application using a retrospective transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new accounting guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

3.              Investment in Hotel Properties

 

Investment in hotel properties consisted of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015
Land and improvements	$	736,600			$	736,709
Buildings and improvements	3,226,780				3,205,704
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	594,981				571,118
Intangible assets	2,507				2,507
	4,560,868				4,516,038
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(961,050		)		(841,039		)
Investment in hotel properties, net	$	3,599,818			$	3,674,999

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized depreciation and amortization expense related to its investment in hotel properties of approximately $40.9 million and $122.3 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recognized depreciation and amortization expense related to its investment in hotel properties of approximately $39.7 million and $114.5 million, respectively.

 

Impairment

 

The Company determined that there was no impairment of any assets for either the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 or 2015.

4.              Acquisition of Hotel Properties

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company did not acquire any hotel properties.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company acquired a 100% interest in the following hotel properties:

Property Name

Location

Acquisition Date

Management Company

Rooms

Purchase Price (in thousands)

Hyatt Place Washington DC Downtown K Street

Washington, DC

July 15, 2015

Aimbridge Hospitality

164

$

68,000

Homewood Suites Seattle Lynnwood

Lynnwood, WA

July 20, 2015

InnVentures

170

37,900

Residence Inn Palo Alto Los Altos (1)

Los Altos, CA

September 25, 2015

InnVentures

156

70,000

490

$

175,900

(1)	In connection with this acquisition, the Company assumed a $33.4 million mortgage loan with a fair value at assumption of $34.7 million.

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The allocation of the purchase price for the hotel properties acquired during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was as follows (in thousands):

	For the nine months ended September 30, 2015
Land and improvements	$	31,692
Buildings and improvements	131,960
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	13,517
Fair value adjustment on mortgage debt assumed	(1,269		)
Total purchase price	$	175,900

 

See Note 14 for the detail of the other assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in conjunction with the Company's acquisitions.

For the hotel properties acquired during the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the total revenues and net loss from the date of acquisition through September 30, 2015 are included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations as follows (in thousands):

	For the three months ended September 30, 2015				For the nine months ended September 30, 2015
Revenue	$	3,905			$	3,905
Net loss	$	(1,674	)		$	(1,674	)

The following unaudited condensed pro forma financial information presents the results of operations as if the 2015 acquisitions had taken place on January 1, 2014. The unaudited condensed pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of what the actual results of operations of the Company would have been assuming the 2015 acquisitions had taken place on January 1, 2014, nor does it purport to represent the results of operations for future periods.  The unaudited condensed pro forma financial information is as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data): 

	For the three months ended September 30, 2015				For the nine months ended September 30, 2015
Revenue	$	293,099			$	874,190
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	43,322			$	148,473
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - basic	$	0.34			$	1.14
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - diluted	$	0.34			$	1.13
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic	127,663,480				129,855,686
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted	128,143,154				130,410,613

 

5.            Sale of Hotel Properties

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company sold one hotel property for a sale price of approximately $2.9 million. In conjunction with this transaction, the Company recorded a $0.2 million loss on sale which is included in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

The following table discloses the hotel property that was sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2016:

Property Name		Location		Sale Date		Rooms
Holiday Inn Express Merrillville		Merrillville, IN		February 22, 2016		62
				Total		62

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company sold 22 hotel properties in three transactions for a total sale price of approximately $238.5 million. In conjunction with these transactions, the Company recorded a $23.8 million gain on sale, which is included in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

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The following table provides a list of the hotel properties that were sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2015:

Property Name		Location		Sale Date		Rooms
Courtyard Chicago Schaumburg		Schaumburg, IL		February 23, 2015		162
Courtyard Detroit Pontiac Bloomfield		Pontiac, MI		February 23, 2015		110
Courtyard Grand Junction		Grand Junction, CO		February 23, 2015		136
Courtyard Mesquite		Mesquite, TX		February 23, 2015		101
Courtyard San Antonio Airport Northstar		San Antonio, TX		February 23, 2015		78
Courtyard Tampa Brandon		Tampa, FL		February 23, 2015		90
Fairfield Inn & Suites Merrillville		Merrillville, IN		February 23, 2015		112
Fairfield Inn & Suites San Antonio Airport		San Antonio, TX		February 23, 2015		120
Fairfield Inn & Suites Tampa Brandon		Tampa, FL		February 23, 2015		107
Hampton Inn Merrillville		Merrillville, IN		February 23, 2015		64
Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Airport		Kentwood, MI		February 23, 2015		148
Homewood Suites Tampa Brandon		Tampa, FL		February 23, 2015		126
Marriott Auburn Hills Pontiac at Centerpoint		Pontiac, MI		February 23, 2015		290
Residence Inn Austin Round Rock		Round Rock, TX		February 23, 2015		96
Residence Inn Chicago Schaumburg		Schaumburg, IL		February 23, 2015		125
Residence Inn Detroit Pontiac Auburn Hills		Pontiac, MI		February 23, 2015		114
Residence Inn Grand Junction		Grand Junction, CO		February 23, 2015		104
Residence Inn Indianapolis Carmel		Carmel, IN		February 23, 2015		120
Springhill Suites Chicago Schaumburg		Schaumburg, IL		February 23, 2015		132
Springhill Suites Indianapolis Carmel		Carmel, IN		February 23, 2015		126
Fairfield Inn & Suites Valparaiso		Valparaiso, IN		May 22, 2015		63
Residence Inn South Bend		South Bend, IN		July 7, 2015		80
				Total		2,604

6.              Debt

 

Term Loans and Revolver

 

The Company has the following unsecured credit agreements in place:

•	$400.0 million revolving credit facility with a scheduled maturity date of April 22, 2020 with a one-year extension option if certain conditions are satisfied (the "Revolver");

•	$400.0 million term loan with a scheduled maturity date of March 20, 2019 (the "$400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2019"). This term loan was referred to as the 2012 Five-Year Term Loan in periodic filings prior to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016;

•	$225.0 million term loan with a scheduled maturity date of November 20, 2019 (the "$225 Million Term Loan Maturing 2019"). This term loan was referred to as the 2012 Seven-Year Term Loan in periodic filings prior to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016;

•	$400.0 million term loan with a scheduled maturity date of April 22, 2021 (the "$400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2021"). This term loan was referred to as the 2013 Five-Year Term Loan in periodic filings prior to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016; and

•	$150.0 million term loan with a scheduled maturity date of January 22, 2022 (the "$150 Million Term Loan Maturing 2022"). This term loan was referred to as the 2014 Seven-Year Term Loan in periodic filings prior to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016.

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The $400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2019, the $225 Million Term Loan Maturing 2019, the $400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2021, and the $150 Million Term Loan Maturing 2022 are collectively the "Term Loans". The Term Loans and Revolver are subject to customary financial covenants. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants.

 

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the details of the unsecured credit agreements were as follows (in thousands):

						Outstanding Borrowings at
		Interest Rate at September 30, 2016 (1)		Maturity Date		September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015
Revolver (2)		2.03%		April 2020		$	—			$	—
$400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2019		2.72%		March 2019		400,000				400,000
$225 Million Term Loan Maturing 2019		4.04%		November 2019		225,000				225,000
$400 Million Term Loan Maturing 2021		2.92%		April 2021		400,000				400,000
$150 Million Term Loan Maturing 2022		3.43%		January 2022		150,000				150,000
						1,175,000				1,175,000
Deferred financing costs, net (3)						(6,107		)		(5,563		)
Total						$	1,168,893			$	1,169,437

 

(1)	Interest rate at September 30, 2016 gives effect to interest rate hedges.

(2)	At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there was $400.0 million and $300.0 million of borrowing capacity on the Revolver, respectively.

(3)	Excludes $2.5 million and $0.8 million as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, related to deferred financing costs on the Revolver, which are included in prepaid expense and other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

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Mortgage Loans

 

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company was subject to the following mortgage loans (in thousands):

												Principal balance at
Lender		Number of Assets Encumbered		Interest Rate at September 30, 2016 (1)				Maturity Date				September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015
Wells Fargo		4		4.00%		(2)		October 2017		(3)		$	150,000			$	150,000
Wells Fargo (4)		4		4.04%				March 2018		(3)		147,000				149,250
PNC Bank (5)		5		2.63%		(2)		March 2021		(6)		85,000				74,000
Wells Fargo (7)		1		5.25%				June 2022				33,854				34,505
												415,854				407,755
Deferred financing costs, net												(1,750		)		(1,706		)
Total		14										$	414,104			$	406,049

(1)	Interest rate at September 30, 2016 gives effect to interest rate hedges.

(2)	Requires payments of interest only through maturity.

(3)	Maturity date may be extended for four one-year terms at the Company’s option, subject to certain lender requirements.

(4)	Two of the four hotels encumbered by the Wells Fargo loan are cross-collateralized.

(5)	The five hotels encumbered by the PNC Bank loan are cross-collateralized.

(6)	Maturity date may be extended for two one-year terms at the Company’s option, subject to certain lender requirements.

(7)	Includes $1.1 million and $1.2 million at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, related to a fair value adjustment of $1.3 million on mortgage debt assumed in conjunction with an acquisition, net of accumulated amortization of $0.2 million and $0.1 million at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

Certain mortgage agreements are subject to customary financial covenants. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

Interest Expense

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the components of interest expense were as follows (in thousands):

		For the three months ended September 30,								For the nine months ended September 30,
		2016				2015				2016				2015
Mortgage loans		$	4,009			$	3,687			$	11,992			$	12,523
Term Loans and Revolver		9,662				9,842				29,138				26,025
Amortization of deferred financing costs		881				1,055				3,103				3,111
Capitalized interest		—				(542		)		—				(1,774		)
Total interest expense		$	14,552			$	14,042			$	44,233			$	39,885

  

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7.              Derivatives and Hedging

 

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had entered into the following interest rate swaps (in thousands): 

		Notional value at												Fair value at
Hedge type		September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015				Interest rate		Maturity		September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015
Swap-cash flow		$	275,000			$	275,000			1.12%		November 2017		$	(1,467	)		$	(1,014	)
Swap-cash flow		175,000				175,000				1.56%		March 2018		(2,254		)		(2,190		)
Swap-cash flow		175,000				175,000				1.64%		March 2018		(2,447		)		(2,478		)
Swap-cash flow		16,170				16,418				1.83%		September 2018		(348		)		(312		)
Swap-cash flow		16,170				16,418				1.75%		September 2018		(324		)		(279		)
Swap-cash flow		39,690				40,298				1.83%		September 2018		(854		)		(765		)
Swap-cash flow		40,670				41,292				1.75%		September 2018		(814		)		(701		)
Swap-cash flow		17,640				17,910				1.83%		September 2018		(380		)		(340		)
Swap-cash flow		16,660				16,915				1.75%		September 2018		(334		)		(287		)
Swap-cash flow		125,000				125,000				2.02%		March 2019		(3,838		)		(3,186		)
Swap-cash flow		100,000				100,000				1.94%		March 2019		(2,884		)		(2,308		)
Swap-cash flow		125,000				125,000				1.27%		March 2019		(1,495		)		(115		)
Swap-cash flow (1)		100,000				100,000				1.96%		March 2019		(1,391		)		(321		)
Swap-cash flow (1)		50,000				50,000				1.85%		March 2019		(621		)		(87		)
Swap-cash flow (1)		50,000				50,000				1.81%		March 2019		(596		)		(62		)
Swap-cash flow (1)		25,000				25,000				1.74%		March 2019		(276		)		(9		)
Swap-cash flow (2)		33,000				33,000				1.80%		September 2020		(449		)		98
Swap-cash flow (2)		82,000				82,000				1.80%		September 2020		(1,115		)		245
Swap-cash flow (2)		35,000				35,000				1.80%		September 2020		(476		)		104
Swap-cash flow		143,000				143,000				1.81%		October 2020		(5,306		)		(2,196		)
Swap-cash flow (3)		100,000				—				1.15%		April 2021		(272		)		—
Swap-cash flow		50,000				50,000				1.61%		June 2021		(1,568		)		(97		)
Swap-cash flow		50,000				50,000				1.56%		June 2021		(1,433		)		59
Swap-cash flow		50,000				50,000				1.71%		June 2021		(1,804		)		(361		)
		$	1,890,000			$	1,792,251							$	(32,746	)		$	(16,602	)

     

(1)	Effective between the maturity of the existing swap in November 2017 and the maturity of the debt in March 2019.

(2)	Effective between the maturity of the existing swaps in September 2018 and September 2020.

(3)	Effective between the maturity of the existing swaps in March 2018 and the maturity of the debt in April 2021.

 At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the aggregate fair value of the interest rate swap liabilities of $32.7 million and $17.1 million, respectively, was included in accounts payable and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2015, the aggregate fair value of the interest rate swap assets of $0.5 million was included in prepaid expense and other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there was approximately $32.7 million and $16.6 million, respectively, in unrealized losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to interest rate hedges that are effective in offsetting the variable cash flows.  There was no ineffectiveness recorded on the designated hedges during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, approximately $4.0 million and $12.3 million, respectively, of amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss were reclassified into interest expense. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, approximately $5.0 million and $13.3 million, respectively, of amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss were reclassified into interest expense. Approximately $13.2 million of the net unrealized losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2016 is expected to be reclassified into interest expense within the next 12 months.

 

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8.              Fair Value

 

Fair Value Measurement

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in the principal or most advantageous market.  The fair value hierarchy has three levels of inputs, both observable and unobservable:

 

•	Level 1 — Inputs include quoted market prices in an active market for identical assets or liabilities.

 

•	Level 2 — Inputs are market data, other than Level 1, that are observable either directly or indirectly.  Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted market prices in an inactive market, and other observable information that can be corroborated by market data.

•	Level 3 — Inputs are unobservable and corroborated by little or no market data.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The Company used the following market assumptions and/or estimation methods:

 

•	Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash reserves, hotel and other receivables, accounts payable and other liabilities — The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments approximate fair value because of their short term maturities.

 

•	Mortgage loans and borrowings — The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments approximate fair value because the interest rates are at, or approximate, market interest rates.  The Company determined that its mortgage loans and borrowings are classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

 

The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2016 (in thousands):

	Fair Value at September 30, 2016
	Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
Interest rate swap liability	$	—			$	(32,746	)		$	—			$	(32,746	)
Total	$	—			$	(32,746	)		$	—			$	(32,746	)

 

The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

	Fair Value at December 31, 2015
	Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
Interest rate swap asset	$	—			$	506			$	—			$	506
Interest rate swap liability	$	—			$	(17,108	)		$	—			$	(17,108	)
Total	$	—			$	(16,602	)		$	—			$	(16,602	)

The fair values of the derivative financial instruments are determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. The Company determined that the significant inputs, such as interest yield curves and discount rates, used to value its derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and that the credit valuation adjustments associated with the Company’s counterparties and its own credit risk utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties. As of September 30, 2016, the Company assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and determined that the credit valuation adjustments were not significant to the overall valuation of its derivatives. As a result, the Company determined that its derivative valuations in their entirety are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

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9.              Income Taxes

 

The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, commencing with the taxable year ended December 31, 2011.  To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that it distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its shareholders, subject to certain adjustments and excluding any net capital gain.  The Company’s intention is to adhere to these requirements and maintain the qualification for taxation as a REIT.  As a REIT, the Company is not subject to federal corporate income tax on that portion of net income that is distributed to its shareholders.  However, the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRS") will generally be subject to federal, state, and local income taxes at the applicable rates.

 

The Company accounts for deferred income taxes using the asset and liability method.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the new rate is enacted.

 

The Company had no accruals for tax uncertainties as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

10.       Commitments and Contingencies

 

Restricted Cash Reserves

 

The Company is obligated to maintain cash reserve funds for future capital expenditures at the hotels (including the periodic replacement or refurbishment of furniture, fixtures and equipment ("FF&E")) as determined pursuant to the management agreements, franchise agreements and/or mortgage loan documents. The management agreements, franchise agreements and/or mortgage loan documents require the Company to reserve cash ranging typically from 3.0% to 5.0% of the individual hotel’s revenues and maintain the reserves in restricted cash reserve escrows. Any unexpended amounts will remain the property of the Company upon termination of the management agreements, franchise agreements or mortgage loan documents. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, approximately $65.4 million and $55.5 million, respectively, was available in restricted cash reserves for future capital expenditures, real estate taxes and insurance.

 

Litigation

 

Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are currently involved in any regulatory or legal proceedings that management believes will have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

Management Agreements

As of September 30, 2016, 125 of the Company's hotel properties were operated pursuant to long-term management agreements with initial terms ranging from 3 to 25 years. This number includes five and ten hotels that receive the benefits of a franchise agreement pursuant to management agreements with Marriott and Hyatt, respectively. Each management company receives a base management fee generally between 3.0% and 3.5% of hotel revenues. Management agreements that include the benefits of a franchise agreement incur a base management fee generally equal to 7.0% of hotel revenues. The management companies are also eligible to receive an incentive management fee if hotel operating income, as defined in the management agreements, exceeds certain thresholds. The incentive management fee is generally calculated as a percentage of hotel operating income after the Company has received a priority return on its investment in the hotel. Management fees are included in management and franchise fee expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company incurred management fee expense, including amortization of deferred management fees, of approximately $10.6 million and $34.2 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company incurred management fee expense, including amortization of deferred management fees, of approximately $10.4 million and $33.8 million, respectively.

Franchise Agreements

 

As of September 30, 2016, 110 of the Company’s hotel properties were operated under franchise agreements with initial terms ranging from 10 to 30 years. This number excludes five and ten hotels that receive the benefits of a franchise agreement

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pursuant to management agreements with Marriott and Hyatt, respectively. Franchise agreements allow the properties to operate under the respective brands. Pursuant to the franchise agreements, the Company pays a royalty fee, generally between 4.0% and 6.0% of room revenue, plus additional fees for marketing, central reservation systems and other franchisor costs generally between 1.0% and 4.3% of room revenue. Certain hotels are also charged a royalty fee generally between 1.5% and 3.0% of food and beverage revenues.  Franchise fees are included in management and franchise fee expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company incurred franchise fee expense of approximately $19.0 million and $56.6 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company incurred franchise fee expense of approximately $18.6 million and $54.9 million, respectively.

11.       Equity

 

In 2015, the Company's board of trustees authorized a share repurchase program to acquire up to $400.0 million of the Company's common shares through December 31, 2016. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company repurchased and retired 610,607 of its common shares for approximately $13.3 million. As of September 30, 2016, the share repurchase program had a remaining capacity of $161.5 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company repurchased and retired 6,992,708 of its common shares for approximately $199.9 million.

The Company consolidates its Operating Partnership, a majority-owned limited partnership that has a noncontrolling interest. The outstanding units held by the limited partners are redeemable for cash, or at the option of the Company, for a like number of common shares of beneficial interest of the Company. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company issued 335,250 common shares of beneficial interest in exchange for redeemed units. After the redemption, 558,750 operating partnership units remain outstanding.

12.       Equity Incentive Plan

 

The Company may issue equity-based awards to officers, employees, non-employee trustees and other eligible persons under the RLJ Lodging Trust 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2015 Plan"). The 2015 Plan provides for a maximum of 7,500,000 common shares of beneficial interest to be issued in the form of share options, share appreciation rights, restricted share awards, unrestricted share awards, share units, dividend equivalent rights, long-term incentive units, other equity-based awards and cash bonus awards.

 

Share Awards

 

From time to time, the Company may award unvested restricted shares under the 2015 Plan as compensation to officers, employees and non-employee trustees. The issued shares vest over a period of time as determined by the board of trustees at the date of grant. The Company recognizes compensation expense for time-based unvested restricted 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 forfeitures.

Non-employee trustees may also elect to receive unrestricted shares under the 2015 Plan as compensation that would otherwise be paid in cash. The shares issued to non-employee trustees in lieu of cash compensation are unrestricted and include no vesting conditions. The Company recognizes compensation expense for the unrestricted shares issued in lieu of cash compensation on the date of issuance based upon the fair market value of the shares on that date.

 

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A summary of the unvested restricted shares as of September 30, 2016 is as follows:

	2016
	Number of Shares			Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1,	540,885			$	26.73
Granted (1)	584,098			20.73
Vested (1)	(213,385	)		23.67
Forfeited (2)	(292,843	)		23.71
Unvested at September 30,	618,755			$	23.55

 

(1)	Includes 2,554 unrestricted shares that were issued in lieu of cash compensation to non-employee trustees at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $22.26.

(2)	Includes the forfeiture of 285,926 unvested restricted shares upon the resignation of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2016.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized approximately $1.6 million and $5.0 million, respectively, of share-based compensation expense related to restricted share awards, which includes a benefit of $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 as a result of the forfeiture of unvested restricted shares upon the resignation of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2016. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recognized approximately $2.0 million and $7.6 million, respectively, of share-based compensation expense related to restricted share awards. As of September 30, 2016, there was $13.6 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested restricted share awards and these costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.5 years. The total fair value of the shares vested (calculated as the number of shares multiplied by the vesting date share price) during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately $4.5 million.

 

Performance Units

 

In July 2012, the Company awarded performance units to certain employees.  The performance units vested over a four-year period, including three years of performance-based vesting (the "2012 performance units measurement period") plus an additional one year of time-based vesting. In July 2015, following the end of the 2012 performance units measurement period, the Company issued 838,934 restricted shares upon conversion of the performance units. Half of the restricted shares vested immediately and the remaining half vested in July 2016. In May 2016, 133,467 unvested restricted shares related to the conversion of the performance units were forfeited upon the resignation of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer.

In May 2016, the Company awarded 280,000 performance units with a grant date fair value of $10.31 per unit to certain employees. The performance units vest over a four-year period, including three years of performance-based vesting (the “2016 performance units measurement period”) plus an additional one year of time-based vesting.  The performance units may convert into restricted shares at a range of 25% to 150% of the number of performance units granted contingent upon the Company achieving an absolute total shareholder return and a relative total shareholder return over the measurement period at specified percentiles of the peer group, as defined by the award.  If at the end of the 2016 performance units measurement period the target criterion is met, then 50% of the restricted shares will vest immediately.  The remaining 50% will vest one year later.  The award recipients will not be entitled to receive any dividends prior to the date of conversion.  For any restricted shares issued upon conversion, the award recipient will be entitled to receive payment of an amount equal to all dividends that would have been paid if such restricted shares had been issued at the beginning of the 2016 performance units measurement period.  The fair value of the performance units is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions: a risk-free interest rate of 1.05%, volatility of 23.82%, and an expected term equal to the requisite service period for the awards.  The Company estimated the compensation expense for the performance units on a straight line basis using a calculation that recognizes 50% of the grant date fair value over three years and 50% of the grant date fair value over four years.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized a share-based compensation expense of $0.3 million and a share-based compensation benefit of $1.1 million, respectively, related to the performance unit awards, which included a benefit of $2.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 as a result of the forfeiture of unvested restricted shares related to the conversion of the performance units upon the resignation of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2016. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recognized $0.7

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million and $2.9 million, respectively, of share-based compensation expense related to the performance unit awards. As of September 30, 2016, there was $2.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to the performance unit awards and these costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.2 years. The total fair value of the vested restricted shares related to the conversion of the performance units (calculated as the number of restricted shares issued multiplied by the vesting date share price) during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately $6.7 million.

 

As of September 30, 2016, there were 3,964,629 common shares available for future grant under the 2015 Plan. 

13.       Earnings per Common Share

 

Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period excluding the weighted-average number of unvested restricted shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, plus any shares that could potentially be outstanding during the period. The potential shares consist of the unvested restricted share grants and unvested performance units, calculated using the treasury stock method. Any anti-dilutive shares have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation.

 

Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating shares and are considered in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. If there were any undistributed earnings allocable to participating shares, they would be deducted from net income attributable to common shareholders used in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations.

 

The limited partners’ outstanding limited partnership units in the Operating Partnership (which may be redeemed for common shares of beneficial interest under certain circumstances) have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation as there was no effect on the amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, since the limited partners’ share of income would also be added back to net income attributable to common shareholders.

 

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data):

	For the three months ended September 30,								For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016				2015				2016				2015
Numerator:
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	41,174			$	40,594			$	124,918			$	144,435
Less: Dividends paid on unvested restricted shares	(204		)		(346		)		(891		)		(863		)
Less: Undistributed earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares	(1		)		—				(8		)		(136		)
Net income attributable to common shareholders excluding amounts attributable to unvested restricted shares	$	40,969			$	40,248			$	124,019			$	143,436
Denominator:
Weighted-average number of common shares - basic	123,621,323				127,663,480				123,635,010				129,855,686
Unvested restricted shares	194,210				479,674				224,743				554,927
Unvested performance units	20,919				—				—				—
Weighted-average number of common shares - diluted	123,836,452				128,143,154				123,859,753				130,410,613
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - basic	$	0.33			$	0.32			$	1.00			$	1.10
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders - diluted	$	0.33			$	0.31			$	1.00			$	1.10

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14.       Supplemental Information to Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands)

 

	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016				2015
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	$	42,807			$	34,968
Income taxes paid	$	1,560			$	1,391
Supplemental investing and financing transactions
In conjunction with the acquisitions, the Company recorded the following:
Purchase of real estate	$	—			$	175,900
Restricted cash reserves	—				1,548
Accounts receivable	—				179
Other assets	—				120
Mortgage debt assumed	—				(33,389		)
Advance deposits	—				(46		)
Accounts payable and other liabilities	—				(543		)
Acquisition of hotel properties, net	$	—			$	143,769
In conjunction with the sale of hotel properties, the Company recorded the following:
Sale of hotel properties	$	2,850			$	238,450
Transaction costs	(122		)		(8,781		)
Operating prorations	(99		)		3,269
Proceeds from the sale of hotel properties, net	$	2,629			$	232,938
Supplemental non-cash transactions
Accrued capital expenditures	$	2,500			$	3,147
Redemption of Operating Partnership units	$	4,325			$	—

 

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

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report, as well as the information contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2016 (the "Annual Report"), which is accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

 

The following information contains certain statements, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the use of the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "may," "will," "will continue," "intend," "should," or similar expressions.  Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, beliefs and expectations, such forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events or guarantees of future performance and our actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.  Some factors that might cause such a difference include the following: the current global economic uncertainty, increased direct competition, changes in government regulations or accounting rules, changes in local, national and global real estate conditions, declines in the lodging industry, seasonality of the lodging industry, risks related to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, hostilities, including future terrorist attacks or fear of hostilities that affect travel, our ability to obtain lines of credit or permanent

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financing on satisfactory terms, changes in interest rates, access to capital through offerings of our common and preferred shares of beneficial interest, or debt, our ability to identify suitable acquisitions, our ability to close on identified acquisitions and integrate those businesses and inaccuracies of our accounting estimates.  Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.

 

Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and urge investors to carefully review the disclosures we make concerning risks and uncertainties in the sections entitled "Risk Factors," "Forward-Looking Statements," and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report, as well as risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and identified in other documents filed by us with the SEC.

 

Overview

 

We are a self-advised and self-administered Maryland real estate investment trust ("REIT") that acquires primarily premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. We are one of the largest U.S. publicly-traded lodging REITs in terms of both number of hotels and number of rooms. Our hotels are concentrated in markets that we believe exhibit multiple demand generators and high barriers to entry. We believe premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels with these characteristics generate high levels of Revenue per Available Room ("RevPAR"), strong operating margins and attractive returns.

 

Our strategy is to acquire primarily premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. Focused-service and compact full-service hotels typically generate most of their revenue from room rentals, have limited food and beverage outlets and meeting space, and require fewer employees than traditional full-service hotels. We believe these types of hotels have the potential to generate attractive returns relative to other types of hotels due to their ability to achieve RevPAR levels at or close to those achieved by traditional full-service hotels while achieving higher profit margins due to their more efficient operating model and less volatile cash flows.

As we look at economic factors that could impact our business, we find that the consumer is generally in good health despite soft business spending and corporate profits. Job creation remains positive, wages are increasing at a moderate pace, inflation remains low and oil prices appear to have stabilized. However, slowing global economic growth and the strong dollar are expected to remain as macro headwinds. We remain hopeful that positive employment trends and an improving consumer balance sheet will continue to drive economic expansion in the U.S.

We are cautiously optimistic that the U.S. economy will continue to grow at a moderate rate and support positive RevPAR growth. Lodging demand remains at record levels and while select markets are seeing new rooms supply, in aggregate, supply growth currently remains below long-term historical averages. Accordingly, we remain cautiously optimistic that we will continue to see modest RevPAR growth in the upcoming quarters.

The increased macro uncertainty has affected the acquisition landscape. Since the beginning of the year, we have seen fewer acquisition opportunities that meet our investment profile. We will continue to be prudent and disciplined capital allocators and weigh all possible investment decisions against the highest and best returns for our shareholders long term. We believe that our cash on hand and expected access to capital (including availability under our Revolver) along with our senior management team's experience, extensive industry relationships and asset management expertise, will enable us to pursue investment opportunities that generate additional internal and external growth.

As of September 30, 2016, we owned 125 hotels with approximately 20,800 rooms, located in 21 states and the District of Columbia, and an interest in a mortgage loan secured by a hotel.  We own, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, 100% of the interests in all properties, with the exception of one property in which we own a 98.3% controlling interest in a joint venture.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2011. Substantially all of our assets are held by, and all of our operations are conducted through, our operating partnership RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership"). We are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2016, we owned, through a combination of direct and indirect interests, 99.6% of the units of limited partnership in the Operating Partnership ("OP units").

 

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Recent Significant Activities

 

Our recent significant activities reflect our commitment to creating long-term shareholder value through enhancing our portfolio’s quality, recycling capital and maintaining a prudent capital structure. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the following significant activities took place:

•	In February 2016, we sold one hotel for a sale price of $2.9 million;

•	We refinanced over $1.0 billion of debt as follows:

◦	In March 2016, we refinanced our $74.0 million secured loan from PNC Bank maturing in 2017. We took advantage of the improved performance of the underlying assets and upsized this loan to $85.0 million. We also extended the maturity of this loan by six years and improved the overall pricing;

◦	In March 2016, we refinanced three Wells Fargo secured loans for a total of $148.5 million. We extended the final maturities on these loans from 2020 to 2022 and improved the overall pricing;

◦	In April 2016, we modified our $400.0 million term loan initially due in 2018 and our Revolver by improving the financial covenants, extending the final maturities to 2021, and improving the overall pricing. We also lowered the unused commitment fee and we increased the borrowing capacity on the Revolver by $100.0 million to $400.0 million;

•	We repurchased 0.6 million common shares for approximately $13.3 million at an average per share price of $21.73. Since we announced our share buyback program in 2015, we have repurchased approximately 8.7 million shares for nearly $238.5 million. As of September 30, 2016, we had $161.5 million of remaining capacity under the share buyback program; and

•	We declared a cash dividend of $0.33 per share in each of the first, second, and third quarters of 2016.

Our Customers

 

Substantially all of our hotels consist of premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. As a result of this property profile, the majority of our customers are transient in nature. Transient business typically represents individual business or leisure travelers. The majority of our hotels are located in business districts within major metropolitan areas. Accordingly, business travelers represent the majority of the transient demand at our hotels. As a result, macroeconomic factors impacting business travel have a greater effect on our business than factors impacting leisure travel.

 

Group business is typically defined as a minimum of 10 guestrooms booked together as part of the same piece of business. Group business may or may not use the meeting space at any given hotel. Given the limited meeting space at the majority of our hotels, group business that utilizes meeting space represents a small component of our customer base.

 

A number of our hotels are affiliated with brands marketed toward extended-stay customers. Extended-stay customers are generally defined as those staying five nights or longer. Reasons for extended stays may include, but are not limited to, training and/or special project business, relocation, litigation and insurance claims.

Our Revenues and Expenses

 

Our revenue is primarily derived from hotel operations, including the sale of rooms, food and beverage revenue and other operating department revenue, which consists of parking fees, gift shop sales and other guest service fees.

 

Our operating costs and expenses consist of the costs to provide hotel services, including room expense, food and beverage expense, management and franchise fees and other operating expenses. Room expense includes housekeeping and front office wages and payroll taxes, reservation systems, room supplies, laundry services and other costs. Food and beverage expense primarily includes the cost of food, the cost of beverages and associated labor costs. Other operating expenses include labor and other costs associated with the other operating department revenue, as well as labor and other costs associated with administrative departments, sales and marketing, repairs and maintenance and utility costs. Our hotels that are subject to franchise agreements are charged a royalty fee, plus additional fees for marketing, central reservation systems and other franchisor costs, in order for the properties to operate under the respective brands. Franchise fees are based on a percentage of room revenue and for certain hotels additional franchise fees are charged for food and beverage revenue. Our hotels are managed by independent, third-party management companies under long-term agreements under which the management companies typically earn base and incentive management fees based on the levels of revenues and profitability of each

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individual hotel. We generally receive a cash distribution from the hotel management companies on a monthly basis, which reflects hotel-level sales less hotel-level operating expenses.

Key Indicators of Financial Performance

 

We use a variety of operating, financial and other information to evaluate the operating performance of our business. These key indicators include financial information that is prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") as well as other financial measures that are non-GAAP measures. In addition, we use other information that may not be financial in nature, including industry standard statistical information and comparative data. We use this information to measure the operating performance of our individual hotels, groups of hotels and/or business as a whole. We also use these metrics to evaluate the hotels in our portfolio and potential acquisition opportunities to determine each hotel's contribution to cash flow and its potential to provide attractive long-term total returns. These key indicators include:

•	Occupancy

•	Average Daily Rate ("ADR")

•	RevPAR

Occupancy, ADR and RevPAR are commonly used measures within the lodging industry to evaluate operating performance. RevPAR is an important statistic for monitoring operating performance at the individual hotel level and across our entire business. We evaluate individual hotel RevPAR performance on an absolute basis with comparisons to budget and prior periods, as well as on a regional and company-wide basis. ADR and RevPAR include only room revenue.

We also use non-GAAP measures such as FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the operating performance of our business. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. It is possible that the actual amounts may differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions. We evaluate our estimates, assumptions and judgments on an ongoing basis, based on information that is available to us, our business and industry experience, and various other matters that we believe are reasonable and appropriate for consideration under the circumstances. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 contains a discussion of our critical accounting policies. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies since December 31, 2015.

Results of Operations

 

At September 30, 2016 and 2015, we owned 125 and 127 hotel properties, respectively.  Based on when a hotel property is acquired, sold or closed for renovation, the operating results for certain hotel properties are not comparable for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.  The non-comparable hotel properties include three acquisitions that were completed between January 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016, 24 dispositions that were completed between January 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016, and two hotel properties that were closed for renovations during all or a portion of the period between January 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.

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Comparison of the three months ended September 30, 2016 to the three months ended September 30, 2015

	For the three months ended September 30,
	2016				2015				$ Change				% Change
	(amounts in thousands)
Revenue
Operating revenue
Room revenue	$	260,659			$	253,163			$	7,496			3.0	%
Food and beverage revenue	26,001				27,027				(1,026		)		(3.8	)%
Other operating department revenue	9,599				9,230				369				4.0	%
Total revenue	$	296,259			$	289,420			$	6,839			2.4	%
Expense
Operating expense
Room expense	$	59,671			$	56,310			$	3,361			6.0	%
Food and beverage expense	19,135				19,494				(359		)		(1.8	)%
Management and franchise fee expense	29,607				28,985				622				2.1	%
Other operating expense	62,162				61,676				486				0.8	%
Total property operating expense	170,575				166,465				4,110				2.5	%
Depreciation and amortization	40,953				39,847				1,106				2.8	%
Property tax, insurance and other	20,575				19,458				1,117				5.7	%
General and administrative	7,215				8,249				(1,034		)		(12.5	)%
Transaction and pursuit costs	98				2,017				(1,919		)		(95.1	)%
Total operating expense	239,416				236,036				3,380				1.4	%
Operating income	56,843				53,384				3,460				6.5	%
Other income	112				557				(445		)		(79.9	)%
Interest income	430				373				57				15.3	%
Interest expense	(14,552		)		(14,042		)		(510		)		3.6	%
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	42,833				40,272				2,562				6.4	%
Income tax expense	(1,439		)		(151		)		(1,288		)		—
Income from continuing operations	41,394				40,121				1,274				3.2	%
(Loss) gain on sale of hotel properties	(5		)		812				(817		)		(100.6	)%
Net income	41,389				40,933				457				1.1	%
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint venture	(32		)		(49		)		17				(34.7	)%
Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(183		)		(290		)		107				(36.9	)%
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	41,174			$	40,594			$	581			1.4	%

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Revenue

 

Total revenue increased $6.8 million, or 2.4%, to $296.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from $289.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The increase was the result of a $7.5 million increase in room revenue and a $0.4 million increase in other operating department revenue, partially offset by a $1.0 million decrease in food and beverage revenue.

Room Revenue

Our portfolio consists primarily of focused-service and compact full-service hotels that generate the majority of their revenues through room sales.  Room revenue increased $7.5 million, or 3.0%, to $260.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from $253.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015.  The increase was the result of a $6.1 million increase in room revenue attributable to non-comparable properties and a $1.4 million increase in room revenue attributable to comparable properties. The increase in room revenue from comparable properties was attributable to a 0.6% increase in RevPAR, led by RevPAR increases in our Washington, D.C. and South Florida markets of 9.9% and 7.9%, respectively, which were partially offset by RevPAR decreases in our Houston and Austin markets of 16.5% and 6.2%, respectively.

The following are the quarter-to-date key hotel operating statistics for the comparable properties owned at September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively:

	For the three months ended September 30,
	2016				2015				% Change
Number of comparable properties (at end of period)	120				120				—
Occupancy	81.6		%		81.4		%		0.2	%
ADR	$	164.81			$	164.21			0.4	%
RevPAR	$	134.51			$	133.74			0.6	%

 

Food and Beverage Revenue

 

Food and beverage revenue decreased $1.0 million, or 3.8%, to $26.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from $27.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The decrease was a result of a $0.8 million decrease in food and beverage revenue attributable to comparable properties and a $0.2 million decrease attributable to noncomparable properties.

 

Other Operating Department Revenue

 

Other operating department revenue, which includes revenue derived from ancillary sources such as parking fees, gift shop sales and other guest service fees, increased $0.4 million, or 4.0%, to $9.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from $9.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to a $0.3 million increase in other operating department revenue attributable to non-comparable properties.

 

Property Operating Expense

 

Property operating expense increased $4.1 million, or 2.5%, to $170.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from $166.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The increase includes a $3.3 million increase in property operating expense attributable to comparable properties and a $0.8 million increase in property operating expense attributable to non-comparable properties. The increase in property operating expense attributable to comparable properties was related to higher room expense, other operating department costs, and management and franchise fees.  Room expense, food and beverage expense and other operating department costs fluctuate based on various factors, including changes in occupancy, labor costs, utilities and insurance costs.  Management fees and franchise fees, which are computed as a percentage of gross revenue and room revenue, respectively, increased as a result of higher revenues.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1.1 million, or 2.8%, to $41.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from $39.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The increase includes a $0.9 million

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increase in depreciation and amortization expense attributable to non-comparable properties and additional depreciation expense of $0.2 million as a result of capital expenditures to improve comparable properties.

Property Tax, Insurance and Other

 

Property tax, insurance and other expense increased $1.1 million, or 5.7%, to $20.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from $19.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015.  The increase includes a $0.7 million increase in property tax, insurance and other expense attributable to comparable properties and a $0.4 million increase in property tax, insurance and other expense attributable to non-comparable properties.

 

General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expense decreased $1.0 million, or 12.5%, to $7.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from $8.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015.  The decrease in general and administrative expense is primarily attributable to a decrease in compensation expense of $1.2 million.

 

Interest Expense

 

The components of our interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were as follows (in thousands):

	For the three months ended September 30,
	2016				2015				$ Change				% Change
Mortgage loans	$	4,009			$	3,687			$	322			8.7	%
Term Loans and Revolver	9,662				9,842				(180		)		(1.8	)%
Amortization of deferred financing costs	881				1,055				(174		)		(16.5	)%
Capitalized interest	—				(542		)		542				(100.0	)%
Total interest expense	$	14,552			$	14,042			$	510			3.6	%

Interest expense increased $0.5 million, or 3.6%, to $14.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from $14.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015.  The increase in interest expense from the mortgage loans was due to an increase in the balances outstanding as a result of additional borrowing, partially offset by principal payments. The decrease in interest expense from the Term Loans and Revolver was insignificant. The decrease in the amortization of deferred financing costs was due to the impact of extended loan maturities as a result of the debt refinancing transactions during 2016, partially offset by additional amortization from newly capitalized costs. The decrease in capitalized interest was due to two major redevelopment projects that were in process during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and both projects were completed in the third quarter of 2015. There were no major redevelopment projects underway during the three months ended September 30, 2016.

Income Taxes

 

As part of our structure, we own taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRS") that are subject to federal and state income taxes.  The effective tax rates were 3.4% and 0.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Our tax expense increased $1.3 million to $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015.  The increase was due to deferred tax expense arising from the utilization of net operating losses (“NOL”) carryforwards during the three months ended September 30, 2016. For the three months ended September 30, 2015, the utilization of NOLs was offset by a release of the corresponding valuation allowance, resulting in no net deferred tax expense. During the fourth quarter of 2015, we fully released the remaining valuation allowance against the NOLs. As a result of the full valuation allowance release, the utilization of the NOLs without an offsetting release of the valuation allowance during the three months ended September 30, 2016 resulted in deferred tax expense of $1.2 million during the period.

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Comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 2016 to the nine months ended September 30, 2015

	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016				2015				$ Change				% Change
	(amounts in thousands)
Revenue
Operating revenue
Room revenue	$	777,211			$	747,962			$	29,249			3.9	%
Food and beverage revenue	82,602				85,607				(3,005		)		(3.5	)%
Other operating department revenue	28,729				27,508				1,221				4.4	%
Total revenue	$	888,542			$	861,077			$	27,465			3.2	%
Expense
Operating expense
Room expense	$	173,783			$	165,603			$	8,180			4.9	%
Food and beverage expense	59,477				60,750				(1,273		)		(2.1	)%
Management and franchise fee expense	90,869				88,704				2,165				2.4	%
Other operating expense	184,133				181,485				2,648				1.5	%
Total property operating expense	508,262				496,542				11,720				2.4	%
Depreciation and amortization	122,532				114,828				7,704				6.7	%
Property tax, insurance and other	60,032				57,782				2,250				3.9	%
General and administrative	23,522				29,041				(5,519		)		(19.0	)%
Transaction and pursuit costs	257				3,005				(2,748		)		(91.4	)%
Total operating expense	714,605				701,198				13,407				1.9	%
Operating income	173,937				159,879				14,058				8.8	%
Other income	86				1,103				(1,017		)		(92.2	)%
Interest income	1,240				1,181				59				5.0	%
Interest expense	(44,233		)		(39,885		)		(4,348		)		10.9	%
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	131,030				122,278				8,753				7.2	%
Income tax expense	(5,397		)		(615		)		(4,782		)		—
Income from continuing operations	125,633				121,663				3,971				3.3	%
(Loss) gain on sale of hotel properties	(155		)		23,782				(23,937		)		(100.7	)%
Net income	125,478				145,445				(19,967		)		(13.7	)%
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint venture	(7		)		(26		)		19				(73.1	)%
Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(553		)		(984		)		431				(43.8	)%
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	124,918			$	144,435			$	(19,517	)		(13.5	)%

 

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Revenue

 

Total revenue increased $27.5 million, or 3.2%, to $888.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from $861.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The increase was a result of a $29.2 million increase in room revenue and a $1.2 million increase in other operating department revenue, partially offset by a $3.0 million decrease in food and beverage revenue.

Room Revenue

 

Room revenue increased $29.2 million, or 3.9%, to $777.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from $748.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  This increase was the result of a $16.3 million increase in room revenue attributable to non-comparable properties and a $12.9 million increase in room revenue attributable to comparable properties. The increase in room revenue from comparable properties was attributable to a 1.4% increase in RevPAR, led by RevPAR increases in our Northern California and Southern California markets of 11.8% and 7.5%, respectively, which were partially offset by RevPAR decreases in our Houston and Chicago markets of 11.2% and 5.5%, respectively.

The following are the year-to-date key hotel operating statistics for the comparable properties owned at September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively:

	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016				2015				% Change
Number of comparable properties (at end of period)	120				120				—
Occupancy	80.2		%		80.1		%		0.1	%
ADR	$	168.20			$	166.01			1.3	%
RevPAR	$	134.89			$	133.03			1.4	%

 

Food and Beverage Revenue

 

Food and beverage revenue decreased $3.0 million, or 3.5%, to $82.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from $85.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The decrease was a result of a $1.9 million decrease in food and beverage revenue attributable to comparable properties and a $1.1 million decrease in food and beverage revenue attributable to non-comparable properties.

 

Other Operating Department Revenue

 

Other operating department revenue, which includes revenue derived from ancillary sources such as parking fees, gift shop sales and other guest service fees, increased $1.2 million, or 4.4%, to $28.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from $27.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  The increase was due to a $1.0 million increase in other operating department revenue attributable to non-comparable properties and a $0.3 million increase in other operating department revenue attributable to comparable properties.

Property Operating Expense

 

Property operating expense increased $11.7 million, or 2.4%, to $508.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from $496.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The increase includes a $10.3 million increase in property operating expense attributable to comparable properties and a $1.5 million increase in property operating expense attributable to non-comparable properties. The increase in property operating expense attributable to comparable properties was related to higher room expense, food and beverage expense, other operating department costs, and management and franchise fees.  Room expense, food and beverage expense and other operating department costs fluctuate based on various factors, including changes in occupancy, labor costs, utilities and insurance costs.  Management fees and franchise fees, which are computed as a percentage of gross revenue and room revenue, respectively, increased as a result of higher revenues.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $7.7 million, or 6.7%, to $122.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from $114.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The increase includes a $5.6 million

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increase in depreciation and amortization expense attributable to non-comparable properties and additional depreciation expense of $2.1 million as a result of capital expenditures to improve comparable properties.

Property Tax, Insurance and Other

 

Property tax, insurance and other expense increased $2.3 million, or 3.9%, to $60.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from $57.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  The increase includes a $1.2 million increase in property tax, insurance and other expense attributable to comparable properties and a $1.1 million increase in property tax, insurance and other expense attributable to non-comparable properties.

General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expense decreased $5.5 million, or 19.0%, to $23.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from $29.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  The decrease in general and administrative expense is primarily attributable to a decrease in compensation expense of $6.6 million, partially offset by a net increase in other general and administrative costs, including legal fees and other professional fees and costs. The decrease in compensation expense included the forfeiture of restricted shares and performance units upon the resignation of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2016.

 

Interest Expense

 

The components of our interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were as follows (in thousands):

	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016				2015				$ Change				% Change
Mortgage loans	$	11,992			$	12,523			$	(531	)		(4.2	)%
Term Loans and Revolver	29,138				26,025				3,113				12.0	%
Amortization of deferred financing costs	3,103				3,111				(8		)		(0.3	)%
Capitalized interest	—				(1,774		)		1,774				(100.0	)%
Total interest expense	$	44,233			$	39,885			$	4,348			10.9	%

Interest expense increased $4.3 million, or 10.9%, to $44.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from $39.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  The decrease in interest expense from the mortgage loans was due to a decrease in the balances outstanding as a result of principal payments, partially offset by additional borrowings. The increase in interest expense from the Term Loans and Revolver was due to the entry into new interest rate swaps and additional borrowings. The decrease in amortization of deferred financing costs was insignificant due to the impact of extended loan maturities as a result of debt refinancing transactions during 2016 being offset by the accelerated amortization from the debt refinancing transactions and additional amortization from newly capitalized costs. The decrease in capitalized interest was due to two major redevelopment projects that were in process during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and both projects were completed in the third quarter of 2015. There were no major redevelopment projects underway during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

 

Income Taxes

 

The effective tax rates were 4.1% and 0.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our tax expense increased $4.8 million to $5.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The increase was due to deferred tax expense arising from the utilization of NOL carryforwards during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the utilization of NOLs was offset by a release of the corresponding valuation allowance, resulting in no net deferred tax expense. During the fourth quarter of 2015, we fully released the remaining valuation allowance against the NOLs. As a result of the full valuation allowance release, the utilization of the NOLs without an offsetting release of the valuation allowance during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 resulted in deferred tax expense of $4.2 million during the period. 

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

We consider the following non-GAAP financial measures useful to investors as key supplemental measures of our performance: (1) FFO, (2) Adjusted FFO, (3) EBITDA, and (4) Adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered along with, but not as alternatives to, net income or loss as a measure of our operating performance. FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, as calculated by us, may not be comparable to FFO, Adjusted FFO, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as reported by other companies that do not define such terms exactly as we define such terms.

Funds From Operations

 

We calculate funds from operations ("FFO") in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") which defines FFO as net income or loss (calculated in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains or losses from sales of real estate, impairment, the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, plus depreciation and amortization, and adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. 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 to be helpful in evaluating a real estate company’s operations. We believe that the presentation of FFO provides useful information to investors regarding our operating performance and 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. Our calculation of FFO may not be comparable to measures calculated by other companies who do not use the NAREIT definition of FFO or do not calculate FFO per diluted share in accordance with NAREIT guidance. Additionally, FFO may not be helpful when comparing us to non-REITs. We present FFO attributable to common shareholders, which includes our OP units, because our OP units may be redeemed for common shares. We believe it is meaningful for the investor to understand FFO attributable to all common shares and OP units.

 

We further adjust FFO for certain additional items that are not in NAREIT’s definition of FFO, such as hotel transaction and pursuit costs, non-cash income tax expense or benefit, the amortization of share-based compensation, and certain other expenses that we consider outside the normal course of operations. We believe that Adjusted FFO provides useful supplemental information to investors regarding our ongoing operating performance that, when considered with net income and FFO, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of our operating performance.

 

The following is a reconciliation of our GAAP net income to FFO attributable to common shareholders and unitholders and Adjusted FFO attributable to common shareholders and unitholders for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):

	For the three months ended September 30,								For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016				2015				2016				2015
Net income	$	41,389			$	40,933			$	125,478			$	145,445
Depreciation and amortization	40,953				39,847				122,532				114,828
Loss (gain) on sale of hotel properties	5				(812		)		155				(23,782		)
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint venture	(32		)		(49		)		(7		)		(26		)
Adjustments related to consolidated joint venture (1)	(39		)		(43		)		(116		)		(128		)
FFO	82,276				79,876				248,042				236,337
Transaction and pursuit costs	98				2,017				257				3,005
Amortization of share-based compensation	1,921				2,697				3,935				10,488
Non-cash income tax expense	1,189				—				4,217				—
Loan related costs (2)	—				—				1,247				97
Other (income) expense (3)	(82		)		—				604				—
Adjusted FFO	$	85,402			$	84,590			$	258,302			$	249,927

 

(1)	Includes depreciation and amortization expense allocated to the noncontrolling interest in the joint venture.

(2)	Represents debt modification costs, debt extinguishment costs, and the accelerated amortization of deferred financing costs.

(3)	Represents property-level severance costs and other income and expenses outside of the normal course of operations.

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Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization

 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") is defined as net income or loss excluding: (1) interest expense; (2) provision for income taxes, including income taxes applicable to sales of assets; and (3) depreciation and amortization. We consider EBITDA useful to an investor in evaluating and facilitating comparisons of our operating performance between periods and between REITs by removing the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest expense) and asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) from our operating results.  In addition, EBITDA is used as one measure in determining the value of hotel acquisitions and disposals. We present EBITDA attributable to common shareholders, which includes our OP units, because our OP units may be redeemed for common shares.  We believe it is meaningful for the investor to understand EBITDA attributable to all common shares and OP units.

 

We further adjust EBITDA for certain additional items such as gains or losses on dispositions, hotel transaction and pursuit costs, impairment losses, the amortization of share-based compensation, and certain other expenses that we consider outside the normal course of operations. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful supplemental information to investors regarding our ongoing operating performance that, when considered with net income and EBITDA, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of our operating performance.

 

The following is a reconciliation of our GAAP net income to EBITDA attributable to common shareholders and unitholders and Adjusted EBITDA attributable to common shareholders and unitholders for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):

	For the three months ended September 30,								For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016				2015				2016				2015
Net income	$	41,389			$	40,933			$	125,478			$	145,445
Depreciation and amortization	40,953				39,847				122,532				114,828
Interest expense, net (1)	14,546				14,035				44,214				39,859
Income tax expense	1,439				151				5,397				615
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint venture	(32		)		(49		)		(7		)		(26		)
Adjustments related to consolidated joint venture (2)	(39		)		(43		)		(116		)		(128		)
EBITDA	98,256				94,874				297,498				300,593
Transaction and pursuit costs	98				2,017				257				3,005
Loss (gain) on sale of hotel properties	5				(812		)		155				(23,782		)
Amortization of share-based compensation	1,921				2,697				3,935				10,488
Loan related costs (3)	—				—				924				—
Other (income) expense (4)	(82		)		—				604				—
Adjusted EBITDA	$	100,198			$	98,776			$	303,373			$	290,304

(1)	Excludes amounts attributable to investment in loans of $0.4 million and $1.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and $0.4 million and $1.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

(2)	Includes depreciation and amortization expense allocated to the noncontrolling interest in the joint venture.

(3)	Represents debt modification costs and debt extinguishment costs.

(4)	Represents property-level severance costs and other income and expenses outside of the normal course of operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our short-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of funds necessary to pay for operating expenses and other expenditures directly associated with our hotel properties, including:

 

•	recurring maintenance and capital expenditures necessary to maintain our hotel properties in accordance with brand standards;

 

•	interest expense and scheduled principal payments on outstanding indebtedness; and

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•	distributions necessary to qualify for taxation as a REIT.

 

We expect to meet our short-term liquidity requirements generally through net cash provided by operations, existing cash balances and, if necessary, short-term borrowings under our Revolver, of which $400.0 million was available at September 30, 2016, or proceeds from public offerings of common shares.

 

Our long-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of funds necessary to pay for the costs of acquiring additional properties and redevelopments, renovations, expansions and other capital expenditures that need to be made periodically with respect to our hotel properties and scheduled debt payments, at maturity or otherwise. We expect to meet our long-term liquidity requirements through various sources of capital, including our Revolver and future equity (including OP units) or debt offerings, existing working capital, net cash provided by operations, long-term hotel mortgage loans and other secured and unsecured borrowings.

 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

As of September 30, 2016, we had $178.6 million of cash and cash equivalents as compared to $134.2 million at December 31, 2015.

 

Cash flows from Operating Activities

 

Net cash flow provided by operating activities totaled $250.4 million and $232.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our cash flows provided by operating activities generally consist of the net cash generated by our hotel operations, partially offset by the cash paid for corporate expenses and other working capital changes. Refer to the "Results of Operations" for further discussion of our operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

 

Cash flows from Investing Activities

 

Net cash flow used in investing activities totaled $66.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 primarily due to $58.9 million in routine capital improvements and additions to the hotel properties and the net funding of the restricted cash reserves of $9.9 million. The net cash flow used in investing activities was partially offset by $2.6 million of net proceeds from the sale of one hotel property.

 

Net cash flow used in investing activities totaled $4.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily due to $143.8 million used for the purchase of three hotel properties, $77.3 million in routine capital improvements and additions to the hotel properties, and $22.9 million related to two major redevelopment projects. The net cash flow used in investing activities was partially offset by $232.9 million of net proceeds from the sale of 22 hotel properties and a net decrease in the restricted cash reserves of $7.1 million.

 

Cash flows from Financing Activities

 

Net cash flow used in financing activities totaled $139.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 primarily due to $124.0 million in distributions to shareholders and unitholders, $18.2 million paid to repurchase common shares, $5.3 million in deferred financing cost payments and $2.8 million in mortgage loans principal payments. The net cash flow used in financing activities was partially offset by $11.0 million in additional mortgage loan debt.

Net cash flow used in financing activities totaled $350.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily due to $165.7 million in payments of mortgage loans principal, $129.5 million in distributions to shareholders and unitholders, $199.9 million paid to repurchase common shares under a share repurchase program, and $11.0 million paid to repurchase common shares to satisfy employee statutory minimum federal and state tax obligations of certain employees in connection with the vesting of restricted common shares issued to such employees under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. The net cash flow used in financing activities was partially offset by $150.0 million in borrowings on the Term Loans and $7.0 million in additional mortgage loan debt.

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Capital Expenditures and Reserve Funds

 

We maintain each of our hotel properties in good repair and condition and in conformity with applicable laws and regulations, franchise agreements and management agreements. The cost of all such routine improvements and alterations are paid out of furniture, fixtures and equipment ("FF&E") reserves, which are funded by a portion of each property’s gross revenues. Routine capital expenditures are administered by the property management companies. However, we have approval rights over the capital expenditures as part of the annual budget process for each of our hotel properties.

 

From time to time, certain of our hotels may undergo renovations as a result of our decision to upgrade portions of the hotels, such as guestrooms, public space, meeting space, and/or restaurants, in order to better compete with other hotels and alternative lodging options in our markets. In addition, upon acquisition of a hotel we often are required to complete a property improvement plan in order to bring the hotel up to the respective franchisor’s standards. If permitted by the terms of the management agreement, funding for a renovation will first come from the FF&E reserves. To the extent that the FF&E reserves are not available or sufficient to cover the cost of the renovation, we will fund all or the remaining portion of the renovation with cash and cash equivalents on hand, our Revolver, and/or other sources of available liquidity.

 

With respect to some of our hotels that are operated under franchise agreements with major national hotel brands and for some of our hotels subject to first mortgage liens, we are obligated to maintain FF&E reserve accounts for future capital expenditures at these hotels. The amount funded into each of these reserve accounts is generally determined pursuant to the management agreements, franchise agreements and/or mortgage loan documents for each of the respective hotels, and typically ranges between 3.0% and 5.0% of the respective hotel’s total gross revenue. As of September 30, 2016, approximately $65.1 million was held in FF&E reserve accounts for future capital expenditures.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of September 30, 2016, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Market risk includes the risks that arise from changes in interest rates, equity prices and other market changes that affect market sensitive instruments. Our primary market risk exposure is to changes in interest rates on our variable rate debt. As of September 30, 2016, we had approximately $1.6 billion of total variable rate debt outstanding (or 97.9% of total indebtedness) with a weighted-average interest rate of 3.27% per annum. After taking into consideration the effect of interest rate swaps, $142.0 million (or 8.9% of total indebtedness) was subject to variable rates. If market interest rates on our variable rate debt outstanding as of September 30, 2016 were to increase by 1.00%, or 100 basis points, interest expense would decrease future earnings and cash flows by approximately $1.4 million annually, taking into account our existing contractual hedging arrangements.

 

Our interest rate risk objectives are to limit the impact of interest rate fluctuations on earnings and cash flows and to lower our overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, we manage our exposure to fluctuations in market interest rates through the use of fixed rate debt instruments to the extent that reasonably favorable rates are obtainable. We have entered into derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps to mitigate our interest rate risk or to effectively lock the interest rate on a portion of our variable rate debt. We do not enter into derivative or interest rate transactions for speculative purposes.

 

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The following table provides information about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For debt obligations outstanding as of September 30, 2016, the following table presents principal repayments and related weighted-average interest rates by contractual maturity dates (in thousands):

	2016				2017				2018				2019				2020				Thereafter				Total
Fixed rate debt (1)(2)	$	95			$	594			$	626			$	660			$	691			$	30,123			$	32,789
Weighted-average interest rate	5.25		%		5.25		%		5.25		%		5.25		%		5.25		%		5.25		%		5.25		%
Variable rate debt (2)	$	750			$	153,000			$	143,250			$	625,000			$	—			$	635,000			$	1,557,000
Weighted-average interest rate (3)	4.04		%		4.00		%		4.04		%		3.19		%		—		%		3.00		%		3.27		%
Total	$	845			$	153,594			$	143,876			$	625,660			$	691			$	665,123			$	1,589,789

(1)	Excludes $1.1 million related to a fair value adjustment of $1.3 million on mortgage debt assumed in conjunction with an acquisition, net of accumulated amortization of $0.2 million.

(2)	Excludes $6.1 million and $1.7 million of net deferred financing costs on the Term Loans and mortgage loans, respectively.

(3)	The weighted-average interest rate gives effect to interest rate swaps, as applicable.

 

Our ultimate realized gain or loss with respect to interest rate fluctuations will depend on the exposures that arise during future periods, prevailing interest rates, and our hedging strategies at that time.

 

Changes in market interest rates on our fixed rate debt impact the fair value of our debt, but such changes have no impact on our consolidated financial statements. As of September 30, 2016, the estimated fair value of our fixed rate debt was $34.3 million, which is based on having the same debt service requirements that could have been borrowed at the date presented, at prevailing current market interest rates. If interest rates were to rise by 1.00%, or 100 basis points, and our fixed rate debt balance remains constant, we expect the fair value of our debt to decrease by approximately $1.7 million.

Item 4.            Controls and Procedures.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the Company’s management, under the supervision and participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2016.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Exchange Act) during the period ended September 30, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.                     Legal Proceedings.

 

The nature of the operations of our hotels exposes our hotels, the Company and the Operating Partnership to the risk of claims and litigation in the normal course of their business. Other than routine litigation arising out of the ordinary course of business, the Company is not presently subject to any material litigation nor, to the Company's knowledge, is any material litigation threatened against the Company.

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Item 1A.            Risk Factors.

 

For a discussion of our potential risks and uncertainties, see the information under the heading "Risk Factors" in the  Annual Report which is accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in the Annual Report.

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

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

The Company did not sell any securities during the quarter ended September 30, 2016 that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company repurchased and retired 610,607 of its common shares for approximately $13.3 million in connection with its share repurchase program.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, certain of our employees surrendered common shares owned by them to satisfy their statutory minimum federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of restricted common shares of beneficial interest issued under the 2015 Plan.

 

The following table summarizes all of the share repurchases during the nine months ended September 30, 2016:

Period		Total number of shares purchased			Average price paid per share				Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs			Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (1)
January 1, 2016 through January 31, 2016		396			$	18.18			—			9,557,899
February 1, 2016 through February 29, 2016		22,340			$	19.52			—			8,336,384
March 1, 2016 through March 31, 2016		520,160			$	22.11			510,498			7,147,056
April 1, 2016 through April 30, 2016		389			$	21.58			—			7,761,018
May 1, 2016 through May 31, 2016		74,494			$	19.53			52,715			7,931,901
June 1, 2016 through June 30, 2016		47,394			$	20.72			47,394			7,531,127
July 1, 2016 through July 31, 2016		139,904			$	23.45			—			6,804,662
August 1, 2016 through August 31, 2016		23,973			$	23.47			—			6,921,280
September 1, 2016 through September 30, 2016		—			$	—			—			7,681,534
Total		829,050							610,607

 

(1)	The maximum number of shares that may yet be repurchased under the stock repurchase plan is calculated by dividing the total dollar amount available to repurchase shares by the closing price of our common shares on the last business day of the respective month.

 

Item 3.                     Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

Item 4.                     Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not Applicable.

Item 5.                     Other Information.

 

None.

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Item 6.                     Exhibits.

 

The exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are listed in the Exhibit Index on page 38 of this report, which is incorporated by reference herein. 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	RLJ LODGING TRUST
Dated: November 3, 2016	/s/ ROSS H. BIERKAN
	Ross H. Bierkan
	President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Trustee
Dated: November 3, 2016	/s/ LESLIE D. HALE
	Leslie D. Hale
	Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
	(Principal Financial Officer)
Dated: November 3, 2016	/s/ CHRISTOPHER A. GORMSEN
	Christopher A. Gormsen
	Chief Accounting Officer
	(Principal Accounting Officer)

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Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit
3.1		Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust of RLJ Lodging Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File. No. 333-172011) filed on May 5, 2011)
3.2		Articles of Amendment to Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust of RLJ Lodging Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 7, 2015)
3.3		Articles Supplementary to Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 26, 2015)
3.4		Articles of Amendment to Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust of RLJ Lodging Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2016)
3.5		Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of RLJ Lodging Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2016)
10.1		Employment Agreement, dated as of August 22, 2016 by and among RLJ Lodging Trust, RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P. and Ross H. Bierkan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 26, 2016)
10.2		Employment Agreement, dated as of August 22, 2016 by and among RLJ Lodging Trust, RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P. and Leslie D. Hale (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 26, 2016)
31.1*		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1*		Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS		XBRL Instance Document		Submitted electronically with this report
101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document		Submitted electronically with this report
101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document		Submitted electronically with this report
101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document		Submitted electronically with this report
101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document		Submitted electronically with this report
101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document		Submitted electronically with this report

 *Filed herewith

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