UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO

§ 240.13d-2(a)

(Amendment No. 2)1

 

Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

044103109

(CUSIP Number)

 

CHRISTOPHER SWANN 

CYGNUS CAPITAL, INC. 

3060 Peachtree Road NW, Suite 1080

Atlanta, Georgia 30305

(404) 465-3685

 

STEVE WOLOSKY, ESQ.,

ELIZABETH GONZALEZ- SUSSMAN, ESQ.,

OLSHAN FROME WOLOSKY LLP

1325 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

(212) 451-2300

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

September 28, 2020

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box ☒.

  

 

1              The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

Note. Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

(Continued on following pages)

 

 

CUSIP No. 044103109

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Cygnus Opportunity Fund, LLC  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☐
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        WC  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Delaware  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         - 0 -  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         494,080  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          - 0 -  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          494,080  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        494,080  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        3.8%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO  

  

2

CUSIP No. 044103109

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Cygnus Property Fund IV, LLC  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☐
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        WC  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Delaware  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         - 0 -  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         5,405  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          - 0 -  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          5,405  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        5,405  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        Less than 1%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO  

  

3

CUSIP No. 044103109

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Cygnus Property Fund V, LLC  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☐
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        WC  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Delaware  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         - 0 -  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         134,121  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          - 0 -  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          134,121  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        134,121  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        1.0%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO  

  

4

CUSIP No. 044103109

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Cygnus Capital Advisers, LLC  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☐
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        AF  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Wyoming  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         - 0 -  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         494,080  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          - 0 -  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          494,080  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        494,080  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        3.8%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO  

  

5

CUSIP No. 044103109

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Cygnus General Partners, LLC  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☐
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        AF  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Wyoming  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         - 0 -  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         494,080  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          - 0 -  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          494,080  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        494,080  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        3.8%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO  

  

6

CUSIP No. 044103109

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Cygnus Capital Real Estate Advisors II, LLC  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☐
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        AF  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Wyoming  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         - 0 -  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         139,526  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          - 0 -  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          139,526  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        139,526  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        1.1%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO  

  

7

CUSIP No. 044103109

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Cygnus Capital, Inc.  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☐
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        AF  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Wyoming  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         - 0 -  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         633,606  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          - 0 -  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          633,606  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        633,606  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        4.9%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        CO  

  

8

CUSIP No. 044103109

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Christopher Swann  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☐
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        AF, PF  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        USA  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         - 0 -  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         1,012,231 (1)  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          - 0 -  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          1,012,231 (1)  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        1,012,231 (1)  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        7.8%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        IN  

  

(1) Includes 70,000 Shares (as defined in Item 1) underlying certain call options.

 

9

CUSIP No. 044103109

 

The following constitutes Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 2”). This Amendment No. 2 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.

 

Item 4.                    Purpose of Transaction.

 

Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

 

On September 28, 2020, the Reporting Persons issued a press release highlighting significant reservations made by proxy advisor firm Institutional Shareholder Services in its report dated September 25, 2020 concerning the Issuer’s upcoming special meeting of stockholders scheduled to be held on October 6, 2020. In the press release, the Reporting Persons also noted reports issued by industry analysts suggesting the Issuer and the hospitality industry should improve over the next year or two. The Reporting Persons believe such reports call into question the Issuer’s rationale for needing to dilute common stockholders by approximately 94% through exchange offers of all of the outstanding preferred stock into common stock. The full text of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. 

 

Item 7.                    Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

 

Item 7 is hereby amended to add the following exhibit:

 

99.1 Press Release, dated September 28, 2020.

 

10

CUSIP No. 044103109

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Dated: September 28, 2020

 

  Cygnus Opportunity Fund, LLC
   
  By: Cygnus General Partners, LLC, its general partner
     
  By: Cygnus Capital, Inc., its managing member
     
    /s/ Christopher Swann
    Name: Christopher Swann
    Title: President and CEO

 

 

  Cygnus Property Fund IV, LLC
   
  By: Cygnus Capital Real Estate Advisors II, LLC, its general partner
     
  By: Cygnus Capital, Inc., its managing member
     
    /s/ Christopher Swann
    Name: Christopher Swann
    Title: President and CEO

 

 

  Cygnus Property Fund V, LLC
   
  By: Cygnus Capital Real Estate Advisors II, LLC, its general partner
     
  By: Cygnus Capital, Inc., its managing member
     
    /s/ Christopher Swann
    Name: Christopher Swann
    Title: President and CEO

 

    Cygnus Capital Advisers, LLC
   
    By:   Cygnus Capital, Inc., its managing member
     
      /s/ Christopher Swann
      Name: Christopher Swann
      Title: President and CEO

 

11

CUSIP No. 044103109

  Cygnus General Partners, LLC
   
  By: Cygnus Capital, Inc., its managing member
     
    /s/ Christopher Swann
    Name: Christopher Swann
    Title: President and CEO

 

 

  Cygnus Capital Real Estate Advisors II, LLC
   
  By: Cygnus Capital, Inc., its managing member
     
    /s/ Christopher Swann
    Name: Christopher Swann
    Title: President and CEO

 

 

  Cygnus Capital, Inc.
   
  /s/ Christopher Swann
  Name: Christopher Swann
  Title: President and CEO

 

 

   
  /s/ Christopher Swann
  Christopher Swann

12

Ashford Hospitality (NYSE:AHT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024 Click Here for more Ashford Hospitality Charts.
Ashford Hospitality (NYSE:AHT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024 Click Here for more Ashford Hospitality Charts.