Chatham Lodging Trust Executes Credit Facility Amendment

Rhea-AI Summary

Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT) has amended its $250 million revolving credit facility, building on a previous amendment from May 2020. This amendment includes a waiver of key financial covenants until December 31, 2021, allowing full utilization of the credit facility. Chatham's liquidity stands at approximately $146 million, with $32 million in cash and $114 million available on the credit line. Post-sale of the Residence Inn San Diego Mission Valley, leverage ratios improved significantly. CEO Jeffrey H. Fisher noted that these changes would help Chatham emerge healthier from the pandemic.

Positive

• Liquidity estimated at $146 million, including $32 million in cash.
• Improved leverage ratio from 38% to 35% post-sale of the Residence Inn.
• Reduced net debt to EBITDA ratio from 5.7x to 4.7x.

Negative

• None.

Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in upscale extended-stay hotels and premium branded, select-service, today announced that it amended its $250 million revolving credit facility. This amendment follows the previous amendment completed in May 2020.

Key terms of this amendment, which are applicable during the waiver period, are as follows:

• Waiver of key financial covenants through December 31, 2021.
  • Testing of covenants as of March 31, 2022
• Continues to allow for full utilization of entire $250 million credit facility.
• Uphold applicable margin on borrowings at LIBOR plus 250 basis points if borrowings on the credit facility are under $200 million and LIBOR plus 300 basis points if borrowings are over $200 million.
• Maintain minimum liquidity of $25 million whether in cash or available capacity under the credit facility.
• Allow common share dividends limited to 100 percent of REIT taxable income, and any dividends paid would include a cash component no greater than the minimum percentage allowed under the Internal Revenue Code.

Chatham has estimated liquidity of $146 million, including cash of approximately $32 million as of September 30, 2020 and remaining borrowing capacity on the credit facility of $114 million. Pro forma for the sale of the Residence Inn San Diego Mission Valley and the pending sale of the joint venture with Colony Capital, Chatham’s key credit ratios are significantly enhanced. Pro forma leverage goes to 35 percent from 38 percent based on the ratio of the company’s pro forma net debt to hotel investments at cost as of September 30, 2020, and Chatham’s pro forma 2019 net debt to EBITDA ratio decreases an entire point to 4.7x compared to 5.7x.

Participating lenders in the credit facility include Barclays Bank PLC, Regions Capital Markets, Citibank N.A., US Bank National Association, Wells Fargo Bank National Association, Bank of America N.A., Citizens Bank N.A. and BMO Harris Bank N.A.

“We very much appreciate the collaborative efforts of our participating lending partners to execute this amendment to our credit facility with no significant changes compared to the first amendment earlier this year. This is a testament to our high quality hotels, our performance and the corporate actions we have taken throughout the pandemic to solidify our financial position,” highlighted Jeffrey H. Fisher, Chatham’s president and chief executive officer. “We made significant cost reductions at the outset of the pandemic, including meaningful corporate layoffs and salary reductions, we have delivered the highest absolute RevPAR of any lodging REIT throughout the pandemic, and with the opportunistic sale of the Residence Inn San Diego Mission Valley, we have been able to pay down approximately $65 million or 10 percent of all debt outstanding, including $38 million on our credit facility. We understand our responsibility to protect long-term value for our equity holders, and through our actions and with this amendment, we have further improved our financial position which should propel Chatham to come out of the pandemic healthier than many of our lodging REIT peers.”

About Chatham Lodging Trust

Chatham Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly traded real estate investment trust focused primarily on investing in upscale, extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels. The company owns interests in 85 hotels totaling 11,848 rooms/suites, comprised of 39 properties it wholly owns with an aggregate of 5,900 rooms/suites in 15 states and the District of Columbia and a minority investment in the Innkeepers joint venture that owns 46 hotels with an aggregate of 5,948 rooms/suites. Additional information about Chatham may be found at chathamlodgingtrust.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Safe Harbor

Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations. These forward-looking statements include those with regard to the potential future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of the lodging industry and our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flow and plans and objectives. These statements generally are characterized by the use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “should,” “may” or similar expressions. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, our actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that we think could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected results are summarized below.

One of the most significant factors, however, is the ongoing impact of the current outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United States, regional and global economies, the broader financial markets, our customers and employees, governmental responses thereto and the operation changes we have and may implement in response thereto. The current outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted, and is likely to continue to impact, directly or indirectly, many of the other important factors below. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which factors will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. In particular, it is difficult to fully assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at this time due to, among other factors, uncertainty regarding the severity and duration of the outbreak domestically and internationally and the effectiveness of federal, state and local governments' efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and respond to its direct and indirect impact on the U.S. economy and economic activity.

Other risks include, but are not limited to: national and local economic and business conditions, including the effect on travel of potential terrorist attacks, that will affect occupancy rates at the company’s hotels and the demand for hotel products and services; operating risks associated with the hotel business; risks associated with the level of the company’s indebtedness and its ability to meet covenants in its debt agreements; relationships with property managers; the company’s ability to maintain its properties in a first-class manner, including meeting capital expenditure requirements; the company’s ability to compete effectively in areas such as access, location, quality of accommodations and room rate structures; changes in travel patterns, taxes and government regulations which influence or determine wages, prices, construction procedures and costs; the company’s ability to complete acquisitions and dispositions; and the company’s ability to continue to satisfy complex rules in order for the company to remain a REIT for federal income tax purposes and other risks and uncertainties associated with the company’s business described in the company's filings with the SEC; inaccuracies of our accounting estimates and the uncertainty and economic impact of pandemics, epidemics or other public health emergencies of fear of such events, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The forward-looking statements should also be read in light of the risk factors identified in the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 as updated by the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC under the Exchange Act.

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FAQ

What is the recent amendment made by Chatham Lodging Trust regarding its credit facility?

Chatham Lodging Trust amended its $250 million revolving credit facility, waiving key financial covenants until December 31, 2021, and allowing full utilization of the facility.

What impact has the sale of the Residence Inn San Diego Mission Valley had on Chatham Lodging Trust?

The sale improved Chatham's leverage ratio from 38% to 35% and reduced its net debt to EBITDA ratio from 5.7x to 4.7x.

How much liquidity does Chatham Lodging Trust currently have?

Chatham Lodging Trust has an estimated liquidity of $146 million, including approximately $32 million in cash.

Who were the participating lenders in Chatham Lodging Trust's credit facility?

Participating lenders include Barclays Bank, Regions Capital Markets, Citibank, US Bank, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citizens Bank, and BMO Harris Bank.