Document:

EXHIBIT 4.1

 

	
 
    

 

ASHFORD INC.

 

AND

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
 Rights Agent

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement

 

Dated as of October 31, 2016

 

	
 
    

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1
 TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (this “Amendment”), dated as of October 31, 2016, between Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), as successor to Ashford Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Ashford Delaware”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (the “Rights Agent”). All capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (as defined below).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, Ashford Delaware and the Rights Agent are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2015 (the “Amended and Restated Rights Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, in order to change Ashford Delaware’s state of incorporation from Delaware to Maryland, Ashford Delaware is merging with and into the Company effective as of the date hereof, with the Company surviving the merger (the “Reincorporation Merger”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to amend the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement in order to make certain changes and provisions that are necessary or desirable to reflect the Reincorporation Merger and which do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights; and

 

WHEREAS, in compliance with the terms of Section 27 of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, the Company may from time to time, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or amend the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement to make any change to or delete any provision hereof or to adopt any other provisions with respect to the Rights which the Company may deem necessary or desirable.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.          Definitions.

 

(a)  The definition of “Company” contained in the preamble of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”),”

 

(b)           The definition of “Preferred Shares” contained in Section 1.22 of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

““Preferred Shares” means shares of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company having such rights and preferences as are

 

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set forth in Exhibit A hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time.”

 

Section 2.          Notices.  That portion of Section 26 of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement that pertains to the address of the Company is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

“Ashford Inc.

14185 Dallas Parkway Suite 1100

Dallas, Texas 75254

Attention: General Counsel

 

Copy to:

 

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

One World Financial Center

New York, New York 10281

Attention: Richard M. Brand”

 

Section 3.          Governing Law.  Section 31 of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“31.        Governing Law.  This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Maryland and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state, except that the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state.”

 

Section 4.          Exhibit A. Exhibit A to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit A to this Amendment.

 

Section 5.          Exhibit B. Exhibit B to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit B to this Amendment.

 

Section 6.          Exhibit C. Exhibit C to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit C to this Amendment.

 

Section 7.          Governing Law.  This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Maryland and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state, except that the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state.

 

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Section 8.          Counterparts.  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.  A signature to this  Amendment executed and/or transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.

 

Section 9.          Descriptive Headings.  Descriptive headings of the several Sections of this Amendment are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

 

Section 10.        Ratification of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement.  Except as expressly amended hereby, the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect.

 

[Signatures follow on the next page.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the day and the year first above written.

 

 

	
 
    	
ASHFORD INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ David A. Brooks
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
David A. Brooks
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief Operating Officer   and
   General Counsel
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST   COMPANY, N.A.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Fred Papenmeier
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Fred Papenmeier
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President & Manager
    

 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Rights Agreement]

 

 

EXHIBIT A
 (Terms of Series A Preferred Stock)

 

Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(a)           Designation and Amount.  The shares of this series shall be designated as Series A Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be two million (2,000,000).  Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board; provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(b)           Dividends and Distributions.

 

(i)       Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock (or any other stock of the Corporation) ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock in respect thereof, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date a “Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount (if any) per share (rounded to the nearest cent), subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

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(ii)      The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section (b)(i) immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).

 

(iii)     Dividends due pursuant to Section (b)(i) shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.  Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest.  Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.  The Board may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

 

(c)           Voting Rights.  The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

 

(i)       Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(ii)      Except as otherwise provided in the Charter, including any other Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other Capital Stock having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

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(iii)     Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise required by law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

 

(d)           Certain Restrictions.

 

(i)       Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section (b) are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

 

(A)          declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;

 

(B)          declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled; or

 

(C)          redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(ii)      The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of this Section (d), purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

 

(e)           Reacquired Shares.  Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof.  All such shares shall automatically and without further Board action become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock that may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein or in the Charter, including any Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or as otherwise required by law.

 

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(f)            Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up.

 

(i)       Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, voluntary or otherwise, no distribution shall be made to the holders of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “Series A Liquidation Preference”) equal to an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(ii)      If there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.

 

(iii)     Neither the merger nor consolidation of the Corporation into or with another entity nor the merger or consolidation of any other entity into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section (f).

 

(g)           Consolidation, Merger, Etc.  If the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the

 

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number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(h)           Amendment.  At any time that any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Charter shall not be amended in any manner, including in a merger, consolidation or otherwise, which would alter, change or repeal the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately a single class.

 

(i)            Rank.  The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding-up, junior to all other series of Preferred Stock, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.

 

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EXHIBIT B
 (Form of Right Certificate)

 

Certificate No. R-                   Rights

 

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER FEBRUARY 25, 2018 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $0.001 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS THAT ARE OR WERE ACQUIRED OR BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY ASSOCIATES OR AFFILIATES THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.

 

Right Certificate
  ASHFORD INC.

 

This certifies that                                          , or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of August 12, 2015, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of October 31, 2016 (as may be further amended from time to time, the “Rights Agreement”), between Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (the “Rights Agent”), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on November 27, 2014, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office or offices of its successor as Rights Agent designated for such purpose, one one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company, at a purchase price of $275 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the “Purchase Price”), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of August 12, 2015, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or other securities or property) which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

 

From and after the occurrence of a Stock Acquisition Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) of the Rights Agreement, if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are or were at any time on or after the earlier of (x) the date of such event or (y) the Distribution Date acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person,

 

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such Rights shall become void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights.

 

This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are incorporated herein by this reference and made a part hereof, and to which Rights Agreement reference is made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. The Company will mail to the holders of this Right Certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor.

 

This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, at the Company’s option, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, or Preferred Shares.

 

No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

 

No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise or exchange hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in the Rights Agreement.

 

This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.

 

[Signatures follow on the next page.]

 

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WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal.

 

Dated as of                ,      .

 

	
Attest:
    	
Ashford Inc.
    

 

	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name: 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

Countersigned:

 

 

	
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST   COMPANY, N.A.
    
	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Authorized Signature
    	
 
    

 

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[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED                               hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

 

(Please print name and address of transferee)

 

Rights represented by this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                              , Attorney, to transfer said Rights on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.

 

DATED:                 ,

 

Signature

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (bank, stock broker or savings and loan association with membership in an approved signature medallion program).

 

Certificate

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by and were not acquired by the undersigned from, and are not being assigned to, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof and are not issued with respect to notional Common Shares related to a Derivative Interest described in Section 1.4.4 of the definition of Beneficial Owner (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).

 

Dated:                   ,

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Signature
    

 

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[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate continued]

 

FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

 

(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the Right Certificate)

 

To ASHFORD INC.:

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise           Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares (or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares (or other securities or property) be issued in the name of:

 

Please insert Social Security or other identifying number:

 

(Please print name and address)

 

If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:

 

Please insert Social Security or other identifying number

 

(Please print name and address)

 

Dated:                        ,

 

Signature

 

(Signature must conform to the holder specified on the Right Certificate)

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (bank, stock broker or savings and loan association with membership in an approved signature medallion program).

 

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[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate continued]

 

Certificate

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by, were not acquired by the undersigned from and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof and are not issued with respect to notional Common Shares related to a Derivative Interest described in Section 1.4.4 of the definition of Beneficial Owner (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).

 

Dated:                   ,

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Signature
    

 

NOTICE

 

The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election to Purchase must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

 

In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, such assignment or election to purchase will not be honored.

 

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EXHIBIT C

 

UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.

 

SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE

 

PREFERRED SHARES

 

On November 16, 2014, the Board of Directors of Ashford Inc. (the “Company”) declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Shares”) outstanding on November 27, 2014 (the “Record Date”) to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company, at a price of $275 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share represented by a Right (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in an Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Rights Agreement”) dated as of August 12, 2015, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated October 31, 2016 (the “Amendment No. 1”), as the same may be further amended from time to time between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as Rights Agent (the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement as amended by Amendment No. 1 and as further amended, the “Rights Agreement”).

 

Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (with certain exceptions as described below, an “Acquiring Person”) (or, in the event an exchange is effected in accordance with Section 24 of the Rights Agreement and the Board determines that a later date is advisable, then such later date that is not more than 20 days after such public announcement) or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates, the “Distribution Date”), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate with a copy of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.

 

A Person shall not be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person” if (i) such Person, on the date of the first public announcement of the adoption of the Rights Agreement, is a Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding, (a 

 

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“Grandfathered Stockholder”); provided, however, that Monty J. Bennett and his Affiliates and  Associates shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for so long as they collectively, in the aggregate, are the Beneficial Owners of, directly or indirectly, 20% or less (the “Bennett Threshold”) of the then outstanding Common Shares of the Company (provided that (a) Common Shares held any of by (i) Archie Bennett Jr., (ii) Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc. (“AHT”) or (iii) any directors or officers of AHT, Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. or the Company and (b) Common Shares issuable or reserved for issuance to, or held in trust on behalf of or for the benefit of, Monty J. Bennett or any of his beneficiaries pursuant to any nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall, in all cases, not be aggregated for purposes of determining whether Monty J. Bennett is the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares in excess of the Bennett Threshold); provided, further, that if a Grandfathered Stockholder becomes, after the Record Date, the Beneficial Owner of additional Common Shares (other than Common Shares acquired solely as a result of corporate action of the Company not caused, directly or indirectly, by such Person) at any time such that the Grandfathered Stockholder is or thereby becomes the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding (or such other percentage as would otherwise result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person), then such Grandfathered Stockholder shall be deemed an Acquiring Person; provided, however, that upon the first decrease of a Grandfathered Stockholder’s Beneficial Ownership below 10%, such Grandfathered Stockholder shall no longer be considered a Grandfathered Stockholder. “Beneficial Ownership” shall include any securities such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates (i) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, (ii) has the right to acquire, (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such other Person) with which such first Person or any of such first Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such other Person) with whom such first Person (or any Affiliates or Associates of such first Person) is Acting in Concert has any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (subject to certain limited exceptions) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company, and (iv) which are the subject of, or the reference securities for, or that underlie, any derivative securities (as defined under Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates that increase in value as the value of the underlying equity increases, with the number of Common Shares deemed Beneficially Owned being the notional or other number of Common Shares specified in the documentation evidencing the derivative interest as being subject to be acquired upon the exercise or settlement of the derivative interest or as the basis upon which the value or settlement amount of such derivative interest is to be calculated in whole or in part or, if no such number of Common Shares is specified in such documentation, as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion to be the number of Common Shares to which the derivative interest relates.

 

The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date or upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any 

 

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certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated  with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“Right Certificates”) will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

 

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire on February 25, 2018 (the “Final Expiration Date”), unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below, or upon the occurrence of certain transactions.

 

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Shares; (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares; or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

 

The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.

 

Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled, when, as and if declared, to a quarterly dividend payment of 1,000 multiplied by the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a payment per share equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate payment made per Common Share. Each Preferred Share will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Common Shares. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares are converted or exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 1,000 multiplied by the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.

 

Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights of the Preferred Shares, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one Common Share.

 

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From and after the time any person becomes an Acquiring Person, if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are or were at any time on or after the earlier of (i) the date of such event or (ii) the Distribution Date acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), such Rights shall become void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights.

 

If, at any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or Earning Power (as defined in the Rights Agreement) are sold, proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. If any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates (which will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. If the Board of Directors so elects, the Company shall deliver upon payment of the exercise price of a Right an amount of cash or securities equivalent in value to the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of a Right; provided that, if the Company fails to meet such obligation within 30 days following the date a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company must deliver, upon exercise of a Right but without requiring payment of the exercise price then in effect, Common Shares (to the extent available) and cash equal in value to the difference between the value of the Common Shares otherwise issuable upon the exercise of a Right and the exercise price then in effect. The Board of Directors may extend the 30-day period described above for up to an additional 60 days to permit the taking of action that may be necessary to authorize sufficient additional Common Shares to permit the issuance of Common Shares upon the exercise in full of the Rights.

 

At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by any Person or group of a majority of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such Person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).

 

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.

 

At any time prior to the time any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights may be made 

 

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effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

 

The terms of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights provided that no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company  may at any time prior to such time as any Person being an Acquiring Person amend the Rights Agreement to lower the threshold at which a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, but may not lower the threshold below 5% of the outstanding Common Shares. In addition, the Board may not cause a person or group to become an Acquiring Person by lowering this threshold below the percentage interest that such person or group already owns from and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other than the Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates).

 

Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

 

A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

 

C-5EXHIBIT 10.1

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of October 28, 2016 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and between Ashford Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Ashford (DE)”), and Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Ashford (MD)”).  Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD) are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Constituent Corporations.”

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, Ashford (DE) is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

 

WHEREAS, Ashford (MD) is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ashford (DE);

 

WHEREAS, Ashford (DE) has authority to issue (i) 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Ashford (DE) Common Stock”), of which 2,015,599 shares are issued and outstanding, (ii) 50,000,000 shares of blank check common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding, and (iii) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 2,000,000 shares have been designated as “Series A Preferred Stock” and are reserved for issuance under Ashford (DE)’s stockholder rights plan, and the remaining 48,000,000 shares remain undesignated;

 

WHEREAS, Ashford (MD) has authority to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Ashford (MD) Common Stock”), of which 1,000 shares are issued and outstanding and owned by Ashford (DE);

 

WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD) have determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of such corporations and their stockholders that Ashford (DE) merge with and into Ashford (MD) with Ashford (MD) surviving upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Merger (as defined below) is, among other things, to change the state of incorporation of the parent company to enable it to avail itself of the advantages that the corporate laws of the State of Maryland afford to companies incorporated in Maryland and to align the jurisdiction of organization of the parent company with the jurisdiction of the real estate investment trusts that it manages;

 

WHEREAS, Ashford (MD) is a newly formed corporation organized to effect the Merger (as defined below) and, prior to such transaction, shall hold no assets other than those incident to its formation;

 

WHEREAS, for United States federal income tax purposes, the parties hereto intend the Merger (as defined below) to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of

 

 

Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Ashford (DE) has approved this Agreement in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”); and

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Ashford (MD) and Ashford (DE), in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Ashford (MD), have approved this Agreement by execution of a written consent in accordance with Section 2-505 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements and covenants herein contained, Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD) hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Merger; Effective Time.  Ashford (DE) shall be merged with and into Ashford (MD) (the “Merger”) in accordance with Section 253 of the DGCL and Section 3-102 of the MGCL such that Ashford (MD) shall be the surviving corporation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Surviving Corporation”).  The Merger shall become effective on the date and at the time (the “Effective Time”) specified in Articles of Merger complying with Section 3-109 of the MGCL and in a Certificate of Ownership and Merger complying with the Section 253 of the DGCL, or in a single document meeting the applicable requirements of the MGCL and the DGCL, executed and acknowledged on behalf of Ashford (MD) and Ashford (DE) in accordance with the requirements of the MGCL and the DGCL, respectively, each as filed with the Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland and the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, respectively.

 

2.                                      Governing Documents. The charter of Ashford (MD) shall be amended and restated in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and as so amended and restated shall be the charter of the Surviving Corporation without change or amendment until thereafter amended in accordance with the provisions thereof and applicable law. The Bylaws in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B shall be adopted as the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation without change or amendment until thereafter amended in accordance with the provisions thereof and applicable law.

 

3.                                      Directors.  The persons who are directors of Ashford (DE) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, after the Effective Time, be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, without change until their successors have been duly elected and qualified in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

 

4.                                      Officers.  The persons who are officers of Ashford (DE) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, without change until their successors have been duly elected and qualified in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

 

5.                                      Succession.  At the Effective Time, in accordance with DGCL, the separate corporate existence of Ashford (DE) shall cease and (i) all the rights, privileges, powers and franchises of a public and private nature of each of the Constituent Corporations, subject to all the restrictions, disabilities and duties of each of the Constituent Corporations; (ii) all assets,

 

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property, real, personal and mixed, belonging to each of the Constituent Corporations; and (iii) all debts due to each of the Constituent Corporations on whatever account, including stock subscriptions and all other things in action, in each case, shall succeed to, be vested in and become the property of the Surviving Corporation without any further act or deed as they were of the respective Constituent Corporations.  The title to any real estate vested by deed or otherwise and any other asset, in either of such Constituent Corporations, shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the Merger, but all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of Ashford (DE) shall be preserved unimpaired.  To the extent permitted by law, any claim existing or action or proceeding pending by or against either of the Constituent Corporations may be prosecuted as if the Merger had not taken place.  All debts, liabilities and duties of the respective Constituent Corporations shall thenceforth attach to the Surviving Corporation and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if such debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.  All corporate acts, plans, policies, agreements, arrangements, approvals and authorizations of Ashford (DE), its stockholders, board of directors and committees thereof, officers and agents that were valid and effective immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be taken for all purposes as the acts, plans, policies, agreements, arrangements, approvals and authorizations of the Surviving Corporation and shall be as effective and binding thereon as the same were with respect to Ashford (DE).  The employees and agents of Ashford (DE) shall become the employees and agents of the Surviving Corporation and continue to be entitled to the same rights and benefits that they enjoyed as employees and agents of Ashford (DE).

 

6.                                      Further Assurances.  From time to time, as and when required by the Surviving Corporation or by its successors or assigns, there shall be executed and delivered on behalf of Ashford (DE) such deeds and other instruments, and there shall be taken or caused to be taken by it all such further and other action, as shall be appropriate, advisable or necessary in order to vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in the Surviving Corporation the title to and possession of all property, interests, assets, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises and authority of Ashford (DE), and otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.  The officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation are fully authorized in the name and on behalf of Ashford (DE) or otherwise, to take any and all such action and to execute and deliver any and all such deeds and other instruments.

 

7.                                      Conversion of Shares.  At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof:

 

(i)                                     each share of Ashford (DE) Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be changed and converted into one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Ashford (MD) Common Stock;

 

(ii)                                  each option to purchase or other right to acquire shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time under Ashford (DE)’s 2014 Incentive Plan (the “2014 Incentive Plan”), whether or not then vested or exercisable, shall be converted into an option to purchase or other right to acquire, upon the same terms and conditions (including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting terms and settlement schedule, as applicable, of the option or right), the number of shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock that is equal to the number of shares

 

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of Ashford (DE) Common Stock underlying such option or other right immediately prior to the Effective Time; and

 

(iii)                               each share of Ashford (MD) Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by Ashford (DE) shall be cancelled, without any consideration being issued or paid therefor, and shall resume the status of authorized and unissued shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock, and no shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock or other securities of the Surviving Corporation shall be issued in respect thereof.

 

Prior to the Effective Time, Ashford (DE) or its board of directors or a committee thereof, as applicable, shall pass resolutions and take any actions as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of Section 7(ii) and Section 8.  After the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall reflect in its stock ledger the number of shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock to which each stockholder of Ashford (DE) is entitled pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

8.                                      Conversion of Plans.  The 2014 Incentive Plan shall remain in full force and effect as in effect at the Effective Time; provided, however, that the 2014 Incentive Plan shall be amended effective immediately following the Effective Time such that all references to shares of Ashford (DE) shall be made references to Ashford (MD).

 

9.                                      Fractional Shares.  No fractional shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock shall be issued upon the conversion of any shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock.

 

10.                               Certain Common Stock Rights. All shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock into which shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock shall have been converted pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such converted shares.  At the Effective Time, the holders shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such stock, and their sole rights shall be with respect to Ashford (MD) Common Stock into which their shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock have been converted as provided in this Agreement.  At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of Ashford (DE) shall be closed, and no transfer of shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall thereafter be made or consummated.

 

11.                               Conditions.  Consummation of the Merger and related transactions is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions prior to the Effective Time:

 

(i)                                     The Merger must have been approved by the requisite vote of stockholders of Ashford (DE) and all other necessary action must have taken place to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD).

 

(ii)                                  All regulatory approvals necessary in connection with the consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby must have been obtained.

 

12.                               Section 16.  The boards of directors of Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD), or a committee of non-employee directors thereof (as such term is defined for purposes of

 

4

 

Rule 16b-3(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)), shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any dispositions of or other transactions in Ashford (DE) Common Stock and any acquisitions of or other transactions in Ashford (MD) Common Stock pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by any person who is an officer or director of Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD), respectively, subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD), respectively, to be exempt from liability pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

13.                               Termination; Amendment.  This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger abandoned or deferred by either Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD) by appropriate resolution of the board of directors of either Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD) at any time prior to the Effective Time notwithstanding approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD), or both, if circumstances arise which, in the opinion of the board of directors of Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD) make the Merger inadvisable or such deferral of the time of consummation of the Merger advisable. Subject to applicable law and subject to the rights of the stockholders to approve any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the stockholders, this Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented by written agreement of the parties hereto at any time prior to the Effective Time with respect to any of the terms contained herein.

 

14.                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and each such counterpart hereof shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement.

 

15.                               Descriptive Headings.  The descriptive headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

16.                               Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without giving effect to the choice or conflict of law provisions contained therein to the extent that the application of the laws of another jurisdiction will be required thereby.

 

17.                               Plan of Reorganization.  This Agreement is hereby adopted as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(g).  Each party hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify, and will not knowingly take any actions or cause any actions to be taken which could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying, as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

[Signature follow on the next page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD) have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
Ashford Inc., a Delaware   Corporation
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ David A. Brooks
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
David A. Brooks
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief Operating Officer   and
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
General Counsel
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Ashford Inc., a Maryland   corporation
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ David A. Brooks
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
David A. Brooks
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief Operating Officer   and
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
General Counsel
    

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

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