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Ashford Hospitality Trust (NYSE: AHT) reworks long-term advisory fees and change-of-control terms

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Ashford Hospitality Trust entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement with its external advisor, Ashford Inc. and Ashford Hospitality Advisors. The agreement redefines the termination fee as 30 years of Foregone Adjusted EBITDA discounted at 2% and changes when a company change of control can trigger that fee, including a condition that Annualized Portfolio Cash Flow be under $65 million. The company’s Working Capital Reserve is now fixed at $20 million, and the minimum Tangible Net Worth covenant is reduced to $600 million plus 75% of net equity proceeds after June 30, 2023. The cap on the incentive fee for peer outperformance rises to 100%, and certain fee components can decline as Total Market Capitalization increases. The initial term is extended to December 31, 2055 with two possible 20‑year extensions, and the company’s ability to terminate the agreement for fraud is removed.

Positive

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Negative

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Insights

Longer advisory term, larger potential termination economics, and adjusted fee structure reshape AHT’s governance and risk profile.

The amended advisory agreement between Ashford Hospitality Trust and its advisor significantly lengthens the relationship, with an initial term through December 31, 2055 and two additional 20‑year extensions. Redefining the termination fee as 30 years of Foregone Adjusted EBITDA, discounted at 2%, creates potentially large economics around any termination or qualifying change of control.

Fee mechanics also change. The incentive fee cap for peer outperformance increases from 25% to 100%, while the Total Market Capitalization component of the Net Asset Fee Adjustment can step down as TMC reaches $4 billion, $5 billion, and $6 billion. The minimum Tangible Net Worth covenant falls to $600 million plus 75% of equity proceeds after June 30, 2023, and the Working Capital Reserve is fixed at $20 million.

Change‑of‑control provisions are refined, including a requirement that Annualized Portfolio Cash Flow be below $65 million when triggering a Company Change of Control after certain asset dispositions. The agreement also removes the company’s ability to terminate for fraud and adds indemnification for specified tax liabilities tied to asset dispositions after January 1, 2024. Subsequent disclosures may clarify how these revised terms interact with future asset sales, equity issuance, and market capitalization movements.

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement Business
The company signed a significant contract such as a merger agreement, credit facility, or major partnership.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Termination fee horizon 30 years of Foregone Adjusted EBITDA Basis for termination fee, discounted at 2%
Annualized Portfolio Cash Flow trigger $65 million Maximum cash flow to trigger Company Change of Control
Working Capital Reserve $20 million Fixed reserve level under amended agreement
TMC fee step-down thresholds $4B / $5B / $6B Total Market Capitalization levels for 50, 30, 0 bps
Incentive fee cap increase 25% to 100% Cap on incentive fee for peer outperformance
Minimum Tangible Net Worth $600 million Plus 75% of net equity proceeds after June 30, 2023
Initial term end date December 31, 2055 End of initial advisory term, with two 20‑year extensions
Termination Fee financial
"“Termination Fee” was redefined to be thirty (30) years of Foregone Adjusted EBITDA"
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.
Company Change of Control financial
"The definition of “Company Change of Control” was also amended to include that, through December 31, 2026"
Annualized Portfolio Cash Flow financial
"provided that the Company’s “Annualized Portfolio Cash Flow” must be less than $65 million"
Total Market Capitalization financial
"Total Market Capitalization (“TMC”) component of the calculation of the Net Asset Fee Adjustment"
Tangible Net Worth financial
"the minimum required Tangible Net Worth of the Company at the end of each fiscal quarter shall be $600 million"
Incentive Fee financial
"the cap on the Incentive Fee for peer outperformance increased from twenty-five percent (25%) to one hundred percent (100%)"
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): March 27, 2026

ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland001-3177586-1062192
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(Commission File Number)(IRS employer identification number)
14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1200
Dallas
Texas75254
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip code)

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

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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

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

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

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

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company    
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common StockAHTNew York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, Series DAHT-PDNew York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, Series FAHT-PFNew York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, Series GAHT-PGNew York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, Series HAHT-PHNew York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, Series IAHT-PINew York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock Repurchase RightsNew York Stock Exchange



ITEM 1.01    ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement

On March 27, 2026, Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (the “Company”), Ashford Hospitality Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and Ashford TRS Corporation (“Ashford TRS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement (the “Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement”) with Ashford Inc. and Ashford Hospitality Advisors LLC (together, the “Advisor”). The Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement amends and restates the terms of the Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, dated as of March 12, 2024.

Pursuant to the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, “Termination Fee” was redefined to be thirty (30) years of Foregone Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement), discounted at two percent. The definition of “Company Change of Control” was also amended to include that, through December 31, 2026, following a breach of the asset disposition limits that would otherwise constitute a Company Change of Control and trigger a Termination Fee, no Company Change of Control shall automatically be deemed to have occurred for at least six (6) months, after which the Advisor will then have eighteen (18) months to trigger a Company Change of Control at any time, provided that the Company’s “Annualized Portfolio Cash Flow” must be less than $65 million at the time of triggering the Company Change of Control. Additionally, upon a Company Change of Control or similar scenario, the Advisor can begin escrowing the Termination Fee, with the limitation that the Company must be restored to the same condition within thirty (30) days if a Change of Control does not occur.

Further, our Operating Partnership will indemnify and pay or reimburse the Advisor for any amounts paid or incurred by the Advisor and certain employees of Ashford Inc. for all tax liability incurred by them attributable to dispositions of our assets, deemed distributions to them or adjustments to the fair market value or tax basis of our assets since January 1, 2024. The Fourth Amended and Advisory Agreement also removes the obligation of the Advisor to reimburse costs associated with the Company’s chairman emeritus, Mr. Archie Bennett, Jr., the father of Monty J. Bennett, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. In addition, the Company may grant cash incentive awards (previously only equity incentive awards) to employees, officers, affiliates and representatives of the Advisor. Moreover, the Company’s Working Capital Reserve (as defined in the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement) has been fixed to $20 million as opposed to previously $20 million plus a percentage of asset value.

The Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement also provides for, among other things, (i) the potential for the Total Market Capitalization (“TMC”) component of the calculation of the Net Asset Fee Adjustment to be reduced from seventy (70) basis points to: fifty (50) basis points if TMC is greater than or equal to $4 billion, thirty (30) basis points if TMC is greater than or equal to $5 billion and zero (0) basis points if TMC is $6 billion or greater; (ii) the cap on the Incentive Fee for peer outperformance increased from twenty-five percent (25%) to one hundred percent (100%); (iii) the minimum required Tangible Net Worth of the Company at the end of each fiscal quarter shall be $600 million (previously $750 million), plus seventy-five percent (75%) of net equity proceeds received by the Company from equity issuances after June 30, 2023; (iv) the fee renegotiation between the parties would occur on the later of (A) the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement or (B) the most recent amendment, and every tenth anniversary thereafter; (v) the initial term of the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement was extended to December 31, 2055 with two 20-year possible extensions; and (vi) removing the Company’s ability to terminate the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement for fraud.

The description of the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement in this Item 1.01 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.




ITEM 9.01    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit
Number     Exhibit Description

10.1 *    Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2026, by and among Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., Ashford Hospitality Limited Partnership, Ashford TRS Corporation, Ashford Inc. and Ashford Hospitality Advisors
101    Inline Interactive Data File.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

* Filed herewith.



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 hereunto duly authorized.



ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.
Dated: March 30, 2026By:
/s/ Jim Plohg
Jim Plohg
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

FAQ

What advisory agreement did Ashford Hospitality Trust (AHT) amend in this 8-K?

Ashford Hospitality Trust entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement with Ashford Inc. and Ashford Hospitality Advisors. This replaces the prior Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement dated March 12, 2024, and revises key fee, term, and change-of-control provisions.

How is the termination fee defined in Ashford Hospitality Trust’s new advisory agreement?

The termination fee is now defined as 30 years of Foregone Adjusted EBITDA, discounted at 2%. This replaces prior definitions and directly ties the fee to expected advisory economics over a long horizon, affecting costs if the agreement ends or a qualifying change of control occurs.

What change-of-control conditions are introduced for Ashford Hospitality Trust (AHT)?

Through December 31, 2026, after breaching certain asset disposition limits, a Company Change of Control is delayed at least six months. The advisor then has 18 months to trigger it, but Annualized Portfolio Cash Flow must be under $65 million at that time to do so.

How did the minimum Tangible Net Worth requirement change for Ashford Hospitality Trust?

The minimum required Tangible Net Worth at each quarter-end is now $600 million plus 75% of net equity proceeds from issuances after June 30, 2023. Previously, the minimum was $750 million, so the amendment lowers the base threshold and adds an equity proceeds component.

What happens to Ashford Hospitality Trust’s incentive and net asset fee structures under the new agreement?

The cap on the incentive fee for peer outperformance rises from 25% to 100%. The Total Market Capitalization component of the Net Asset Fee Adjustment can drop from 70 basis points to 50, 30, or zero basis points if TMC reaches $4 billion, $5 billion, and $6 billion, respectively.

How long does the new advisory agreement for Ashford Hospitality Trust run?

The initial term of the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement extends to December 31, 2055. It also includes two possible 20-year extensions, and fee renegotiations are scheduled for the tenth anniversary of the effective date or most recent amendment, and every tenth anniversary thereafter.

What other notable governance and cost changes are in Ashford Hospitality Trust’s amended agreement?

The company’s Working Capital Reserve is fixed at $20 million. The advisor is no longer obligated to reimburse costs associated with the chairman emeritus. The agreement permits cash incentive awards to advisor-affiliated personnel and removes the company’s ability to terminate the agreement for fraud.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

5 documents
Ashford Hospitality Tr Inc

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