Ashford Announces Acceptance of Compliance Plan by NYSE American

Rhea-AI Summary

Ashford announced that NYSE American has accepted its compliance plan for continued listing. The company was previously not compliant due to a stockholders' deficit of $159.2 million as of June 30, 2020, caused by losses over five recent fiscal years. The acceptance allows Ashford until February 26, 2022 to regain compliance with NYSE standards. The company will be monitored quarterly during this period, and failure to comply could result in delisting. Despite acceptance, Ashford has no assurance of regaining compliance or avoiding adverse events impacting its status.

Positive

• NYSA accepted the compliance plan, allowing for continued listing.
• Plan provided until February 26, 2022, for potential compliance regaining.

Negative

• Stockholders' deficit of $159.2 million as of June 30, 2020.
• Failures in the past five fiscal years, risking future compliance.

DALLAS, Nov. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford Inc. (NYSE American: AINC) ("Ashford" or the "Company") today announced that the NYSE American LLC (the "NYSE American") has accepted the Company's plan of compliance for continued listing on the exchange.

As previously reported, on August 26, 2020, the Company received notification (the "Letter") from the NYSE American that it was not in compliance with the continued listing standards set forth in the NYSE American Company Guide (the "Company Guide"). Specifically, the Letter indicated that the Company was not in compliance with Sections 1003(a)(i) and 1003(a)(ii) of the Company Guide, requiring a listed company to have stockholders' equity of (i) at least $2.0 million if it has reported losses from continuing operations or net losses in two of its three most recent fiscal years and (ii) at least $4.0 million if it has reported losses from continuing operations or net losses in three of its four most recent fiscal years. The Letter noted that the Company reported a stockholders' deficit of $159.2 million as of June 30, 2020, and has had losses from continuing operations and/or net losses in each of its five most recent fiscal years, except for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

The Company was required to submit a plan to the NYSE American by September 25, 2020 addressing how it intends to regain compliance with Sections 1003(a)(i) and (ii) of the Company Guide by February 26, 2022, or sooner if the NYSE American determines that the nature and circumstances of the Company's continued listing status warrant a shorter period of time.  The Company submitted a plan prior to the deadline.

On October 29, 2020, the Company received notice from the NYSE American that it had accepted the Company's plan and granted a plan period through February 26, 2022. During the plan period the Company will be subject to quarterly review to determine if it is making progress consistent with the plan. If the Company does not regain compliance with the NYSE American listing standards by February 26, 2022, or if the Company does not make sufficient progress consistent with its plan, then the NYSE American may initiate delisting proceedings.

The Company's stock will continue to be listed on the NYSE American during the plan period pursuant to an extension. The Company's receipt of such notification from the NYSE American does not affect the Company's business, operations or reporting requirements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Company can provide no assurances that it will be able to make progress with respect to its plan that NYSE American will determine to be satisfactory, that it will regain compliance with Section 1003(a)(i) and (ii) of the Company Guide on or before the expiration of the plan period, or that developments and events occurring subsequent to the Company's formulation of the plan or its acceptance by the NYSE American will not adversely affect the Company's ability to make sufficient progress and/or regain compliance with Section 1003(a)(i) and (ii) of the Company Guide on or before the expiration of the plan period or result in the Company's failure to be in compliance with other NYSE American continued listing standards.

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Ashford provides global asset management, investment management and related services to the real estate and hospitality sectors.

Follow Chairman and CEO Monty Bennett on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBennettAshford or @MBennettAshford.

Ashford has created an Ashford App for the hospitality REIT investor community.  The Ashford App is available for free download at Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store by searching "Ashford."

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and assumptions in this press release contain or are based upon "forward-looking" information and are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities regulations. When we use the words "will likely result," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "should," "expect," "believe," "intend," or similar expressions, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside Ashford Inc.'s control.

These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without limitation: the impact of COVID-19 on our business and investment strategy; the ability of Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., one of the Company's key clients, to continue as a going concern; the timing and outcome of the Securities and Exchange Commission's investigation; anticipated or expected purchases or sales of assets; our projected operating results; completion of any pending transactions; our ability to restructure our current or obtain future financing arrangements; our understanding of our competition; market trends; projected capital expenditures; and the impact of technology on our operations and business. Such forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance taking into account all information currently known to us. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations can change as a result of many potential events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and other objectives may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider this risk when you make an investment decision concerning our securities. These and other risk factors are more fully discussed in Ashford Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release. The Company can give no assurance that these forward-looking statements will be attained or that any deviation will not occur. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, changes in expectations or otherwise.

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SOURCE Ashford Inc.

FAQ

What compliance plan was accepted for Ashford Inc. (AINC)?

The compliance plan accepted by NYSE American aims for Ashford to regain compliance with listing standards by February 26, 2022.

What caused Ashford Inc. (AINC) to be non-compliant with NYSE standards?

Ashford reported a stockholders' deficit of $159.2 million and losses in five of its most recent fiscal years.

How long does Ashford Inc. (AINC) have to comply with NYSE American regulations?

Ashford has until February 26, 2022, to regain compliance with NYSE American regulations.

What could happen if Ashford Inc. (AINC) does not regain compliance?

Failure to regain compliance may lead to delisting proceedings initiated by NYSE American.