Al Shams Investments Responds to Braemar's Latest Attempt to Distract Shareholders from Monty Bennett's Outrageous Profiteering

Rhea-AI Summary

Argus Jul 23 session 6 alerts

-0.46% close to close 0.3x rel. volume Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – BHR

+2.7% Peak in 1 hr 28 min

$148.35M Market Cap

On Jul 23, the day this news came out, BHR closed 0.46% below the previous close. Argus tracked a peak move of +2.7% during that session. Our momentum scanner recorded 6 alerts in the available session data.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jul 23 session.

Market Context

Braemar’s platform record reports no recent insider activity, leaving this governance dispute to be ...

Analysis

Braemar’s platform record reports no recent insider activity, leaving this governance dispute to be assessed through the court-authorized deposition process and proxy materials. The principal risk is that the allegations remain unresolved.

Key Figures

Termination fee: $480 million Share price in 2013: approximately $20 per share Share price referenced: around $2 per share +4 more

Termination fee

$480 million

Purportedly owed after the sale of three hotel properties

Share price in 2013

approximately $20 per share

Braemar shares after the 2013 Ashford spin-off

Share price referenced

around $2 per share

Braemar shares at the time described in the article

Al Yamamah deal value

around £43 billion

Value generated for UK companies

Defense jobs supported

over 30,000 jobs

Jobs supported by the Al Yamamah deal

Prior occasions

at least three occasions

Prior use of the court procedure by Mr. Bennett

Common shares beneficially owned

6,513,000 shares

Shares held directly by Al Shams

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jul 16

5 events

1. Jul 16

   Court filing dispute

   24h Move

   -2.4%

   Braemar issued a statement responding to Al Shams’ court filing.

2. Jul 08

   Shareholder accusations

   24h Move

   -4.7%

   Braemar issued a statement addressing Al Shams’ accusations.

3. Jul 07

   Earnings scheduling

   24h Move

   -4.7%

   Braemar scheduled its second-quarter 2026 financial-results announcement.

4. Jun 29

   Mortgage extension

   24h Move

   +10.2%

   Braemar extended the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe mortgage loan maturity.

5. Jun 22

   Preferred dividends

   24h Move

   +1.0%

   Braemar declared monthly preferred-stock cash dividends.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

termination fee, subpoenas, schedule 14a, schedule 13d, +1 more

5 terms

termination fee financial

"triggering a $480 million "termination fee" purportedly owed"

A termination fee is a payment required if one party ends a contract before its agreed-upon end date. It acts like a penalty or compensation to the other party for canceling early, similar to a fee you might pay for breaking a lease or canceling a service contract. For investors, it matters because it can influence a company's decisions and financial obligations related to ending agreements prematurely.

subpoenas regulatory

"the court has authorized the subpoenas we requested"

A subpoena is a formal legal order requiring a person or company to provide documents, records, or a sworn testimony to a court or government investigator. For investors, subpoenas matter because they signal potential legal or regulatory problems that can lead to fines, expensive defenses, damaged reputation, or changes in leadership—effects that can reduce revenue and harm a company’s stock value, much like a traffic ticket that leads to a larger inspection of a vehicle.

schedule 14a regulatory

"file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A"

Schedule 14A is a document that companies file with regulators to share important information with shareholders before a big vote, like approving a merger or election of directors. It matters because it helps investors understand what’s happening so they can make informed decisions about the company’s future.

schedule 13d regulatory

"an amendment to Schedule 13D filed by the Participants"

A Schedule 13D is a legal document that investors file with regulators when they buy a large enough stake in a company to potentially influence its management or decisions. It provides details about the investor’s intention, ownership stake, and plans, helping other investors understand who is gaining control and what their motives might be.

universal proxy card regulatory

"accompanying WHITE Universal Proxy Card to be used to solicit proxies"

A universal proxy card is a single voting ballot sent to shareholders that lists every director nominee put forward by both the existing board and any challengers, allowing investors to pick any mix of candidates they prefer. Like a combined ballot at a community election, it makes voting easier, increases individual shareholder control, and can materially change the dynamics, cost and likely outcome of contested board elections.

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Looks Forward to Upcoming Depositions of Former Braemar Directors so that the Facts Can Be Established

PEMBROKE, Bermuda, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Al Shams Investments Limited ("Al Shams" or "we"), the largest shareholder of Braemar Hotels & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: BHR) ("Braemar" or the "Company"), today released a statement by its Ultimate Beneficial Owner, Wafic Rida Saïd, regarding Braemar's false and malicious attack on Al Shams and Mr. Saïd.

Mr. Saïd commented:

It is deeply disappointing that, rather than addressing the serious corporate governance issues that have been raised by numerous shareholders, Braemar and its domineering Chairman, Monty Bennett, have resorted to baseless personal attacks and innuendo. These sorts of irrelevant and ad hominem attacks are, in our view, the predictable refuge of scoundrels such as Mr. Bennett, and not the tactics of honest men.

Mr. Bennett and Braemar have again demonstrated they have no regard for shareholders and nothing but contempt for anyone who dares to question Mr. Bennett's enrichment at shareholders' expense. Al Shams, Braemar's largest shareholder, repeatedly and unambiguously warned the Company not to act without shareholder consent. Nevertheless, at Mr. Bennett's direction, the Company sold three hotel properties, triggering a $480 million "termination fee" purportedly owed to a company controlled by Mr. Bennett.

Shareholders are entitled to ask legitimate questions about these transactions and the excessive payment to Mr. Bennett. After all, since being spun off from Ashford Inc. in 2013, Braemar's shares have declined from approximately $20 per share to around $2 per share, even as Mr. Bennett has made hundreds of millions of dollars for himself.

As a significant shareholder, we sought answers directly from the Company. But Mr. Bennett is apparently quite uncomfortable answering those questions. And so, the Company has refused our requests. We therefore exercised our lawful rights through the courts—using a procedure Mr. Bennett himself has used on at least three prior occasions—and the court has authorized the subpoenas we requested.

We look forward to establishing the facts. Mr. Bennett appears to be quite concerned with what those facts will show. Why else would he permit Braemar to release such a scandalous and defamatory press release impugning the character and integrity of the Company's largest shareholder? Mr. Bennett apparently wishes to distract shareholders from the fact that the termination fee siphons money that should rightfully accrue to Braemar's owners.

To be unequivocal, Braemar's allegations are untrue. I have never met Mr. Epstein nor anyone I know to have associated with him. Portraying me as an "arms dealer" is a deliberate distortion of my career. I have never bought or sold so much as a penknife. With respect to Al Yamamah, in 1983, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher asked me to advise on negotiations with the Saudi government, which I proudly did, helping Britain secure its largest ever export agreement. The deal generated around £43 billion for UK companies and supported over 30,000 UK defense jobs. I have made no donations to any UK political party since becoming a non-resident.

Perhaps Mr. Bennett could face the judgment of shareholders instead of lodging scurrilous and unfounded allegations against Braemar's largest investor. Mr. Bennett, are you prepared to convene the annual meeting now so that shareholders can vote on your plan and the associated termination fees? 

Al Shams has no interest in joining Mr. Bennett in exchanging personal insults. Our sole objective is to protect the interests of all shareholders by ensuring transparency, accountability and good corporate governance. We remain confident the truth will emerge through the proper legal process. We have nothing to hide, and neither should anyone else involved in the governance of the Company.

We look forward to the upcoming depositions.

About Al Shams Investments Limited

Al Shams Investments Limited is a Bermuda-based private investment company focused on global investments across private equity, real estate, and alternative asset classes.

Certain Information Concerning the Participants

Al Shams, together with the other Participants (as defined below), intends to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the "Definitive Proxy Statement") and accompanying WHITE Universal Proxy Card to be used to solicit proxies from the shareholders of the Company in connection with the Annual Meeting.

SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE FILED OR WILL FILE WITH THE SEC BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING ABOUT THE MATTERS TO BE VOTED ON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR DIRECT OR INDIRECT INTERESTS, BY SECURITY HOLDINGS OR OTHERWISE.

At this time, the participants in the solicitation of proxies are anticipated to be Al Shams and Wafic Rida Said (collectively, the "Participants").

The Definitive Proxy Statement and accompanying WHITE Universal Proxy Card will be furnished to some or all of the Company's shareholders and will be, along with other relevant documents, available at no charge on the SEC's website at https://www.sec.gov/.

Information about the Participants and a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained on an amendment to Schedule 13D filed by the Participants with the SEC on June 29, 2026, and is available here. As of the date hereof, by virtue of the relationship among the Participants as members in a Schedule 13(d) group and solely for the purpose of such Schedule 13(d) group, each of the Participants is deemed to beneficially own the 6,513,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.01, held directly by Al Shams.

Investor and Media Contact

Karim Khatoun
Email: info@suncapadvisory.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/al-shams-investments-responds-to-braemars-latest-attempt-to-distract-shareholders-from-monty-bennetts-outrageous-profiteering-302833516.html

SOURCE Al Shams Investments Limited