Document:

Exhibit 10.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), effective as of February 21, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), is between Ashford Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and having its principal place of business at Dallas, Texas, ASHFORD HOSPITALITY ADVISORS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and having its principal place of business at Dallas, Texas (hereinafter, the “Company”) and DOUGLAS A. KESSLER, an individual residing in Dallas, Texas (the “Executive”).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive have previously entered into that certain Employment Agreement dated effective as of November 12, 2014 (the “Original Agreement”) and now desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company is a subsidiary of Ashford Inc. and currently serves as an external advisor to Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Ashford Trust”), and Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Ashford Prime”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ Executive upon the terms and conditions specified herein, and Executive desires such employment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Executive, in consideration of the respective covenants set out below, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             EMPLOYMENT.

 

(a)           POSITIONS.  During the Term (defined below), the Executive shall be employed by the Company to serve in such positions of the Company and Ashford Inc. as the CEO (defined below) shall determine from time to time, and as Chief Executive Officer of Ashford Trust.  In addition to the foregoing, the Executive shall serve the subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company, Ashford Inc., and Ashford Trust, and shall perform such other duties as reasonably requested by the Company.  If the Executive’s service in one or more of such additional capacities is terminated, the Executive’s compensation provided herein shall not be reduced for so long as the Executive otherwise remains employed by the Company under the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)           RESPONSIBILITIES.  The Executive’s principal employment duties and responsibilities shall be those duties and responsibilities customary for the position of Chief Executive Officer of Ashford Trust, and such other executive duties and responsibilities as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (“CEO”) or the Board of Directors of Ashford Inc. (the “AINC Board”) shall from time to time reasonably assign to the Executive.  With respect to Ashford Trust, the Executive shall be required to follow all directives of the AINC CEO relating to the performance of the Company’s responsibilities pursuant to the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement dated June 10, 2015, as amended from time to time, between Ashford Inc., Ashford Trust and their respective affiliates, unless doing so would conflict with his fiduciary

 

 

duties to Ashford Trust.  The Executive’s duties and responsibilities shall not include any matters pertaining to any charitable contributions.

 

(c)           EXTENT OF SERVICES.  Except for illnesses and vacation periods, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his working time and attention and his best efforts to the performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement and shall not be otherwise employed.  However, the Executive may (i) make any passive investments where he is not obligated or required to, and shall not in fact, devote material managerial efforts, (ii) participate in charitable, academic or community activities or in trade or professional organizations, (iii) hold directorships in charitable or non-profit organizations, or (iv) subject to CEO and AINC Board approval (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or withdrawn), hold directorships in for profit companies, except only that the CEO or the AINC Board shall have the right to limit such services as a director or such participation whenever the CEO or the AINC Board shall reasonably believe that the time spent on such activities infringes in any material respect upon the time required by the Executive for the performance of his duties under this Agreement or is otherwise incompatible with those duties.

 

2.             TERM.  This Agreement shall become effective as of the Effective Date and shall continue for a Term ending on December 31, 2017 (the “Initial Termination Date”) unless it is sooner terminated pursuant to Section 6; provided, however, that this Agreement shall be automatically extended for one additional year on the Initial Termination Date and on each subsequent anniversary of the Initial Termination Date, unless either the Company or the Executive elect not to extend the Term of this Agreement by notifying the other party in writing of such election not less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the expiration of the then current Term.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Term” shall mean the actual duration of the Executive’s employment hereunder, taking into account any extension pursuant to this Section 2 or early termination of employment pursuant to Section 6.

 

3.             SALARY.  The Company shall pay the Executive a Base Salary which shall be payable in periodic installments, less statutory deductions and withholdings, according to the Company’s normal payroll practices.  Commencing as of the Effective Date, the Executive’s base salary shall be SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($725,000) per year.  The AINC Board or a compensation committee duly appointed by the AINC Board (the “Compensation Committee”) shall thereafter review the Executive’s Base Salary annually to determine within its sole discretion whether and to what extent the Executive’s salary may be increased, but in no event shall it be decreased (for the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Base Salary” shall mean the amount established and adjusted from time to time pursuant to this Section 3).  In addition, the Company shall pay the Executive a one-time cash payment of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($250,000) on the Effective Date.

 

4.             ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS.

 

(a)           INCENTIVE BONUS.  The Executive shall be entitled to receive an annual cash incentive bonus (the “Incentive Bonus”) for each calendar year during the Term of this Agreement based on the level of accomplishment of management and performance objectives as established by the CEO, the AINC Board or the Compensation Committee.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 7, if the Executive is not employed for the full calendar year, the Executive

 

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shall be paid a pro-rated Incentive Bonus in an amount equal to the product of (x) the amount of the Incentive Bonus for the calendar year to which the Executive would have been entitled if the Executive had remained employed for the entire calendar year and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the applicable calendar year for which the Executive was employed through the last day of his employment and the denominator of which is the 365 days of the calendar year.  The targeted Incentive Bonus for the Term is 75% to 175% of Base Salary, and in no event shall such targeted Incentive Bonus be decreased.  The Incentive Bonus shall be paid as soon as reasonably practical following each calendar year but not later than June 1st of the following year.

 

(b)           INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS.  During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all other short- and long-term incentive plans, stock and option plans, long term incentive partnership (“LTIP”) plans, practices, policies and other programs, and all savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs, in each case that are applicable generally to senior executives of the Company or Ashford Inc., as may be adopted, or amended from time to time, by the Compensation Committee, including, without limitation, equity incentive programs of other companies advised by the Company.

 

5.             BENEFITS.

 

(a)           VACATION.  The Executive will be entitled to paid vacation in conformance with the Company’s vacation policy for senior executives but in no event less than four (4) weeks of paid vacation per calendar year.  Vacation time not used within the calendar year will not carry forward.  The Executive shall not be entitled to cash in lieu of any unused vacation time except as provided herein.

 

(b)           SICK LEAVE.  The Executive shall be entitled to paid sick leave in accordance with the sick leave policies of the Company in effect for other senior executive officers.

 

(c)           EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.  The Executive and his spouse and eligible dependents, if any, and their respective designated beneficiaries where applicable, will be eligible for and entitled to participate in other benefits maintained by the Company or Ashford Inc. for its senior executive officers, as such benefits may be modified from time to time and for all such employees, such as, without limitation, any medical, dental, vision, pension, 401(k), deferred compensation, accident, disability, and life insurance benefits, on a basis not less favorable than that applicable to other senior executives of the Company or Ashford Inc.  The Executive will also be entitled to appropriate office space, administrative support, secretarial assistance, and such other facilities and services as are suitable to the Executive’s positions and as required for the performance of the Executive’s duties.

 

(d)           EXPENSES.  The Executive will be entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable expenses, in accordance with the Company’s policy as in effect from time to time and on a basis not less favorable than that applicable to other senior executives of the Company or Ashford Inc., including, without limitation, telephone (including in-home, office and cellular telephone, DSL and/or wi-fi costs), travel and entertainment expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the business of the Company, promptly upon the presentation by the Executive of supporting receipts or documentation.

 

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(e)           D&O INSURANCE COVERAGE.  During and for a period three (3) years after the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to director and officer insurance coverage for his acts and omissions while an officer of the Company and Ashford Trust on a basis no less favorable to him than the coverage provided current officers or directors.

 

6.             TERMINATION.  The employment of the Executive by the Company and this Agreement (except as otherwise provided herein) shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(a)           DEATH OR DISABILITY.  Immediately upon death or Disability of the Executive.  As used in this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean an inability to perform the essential functions of his duties, with or without reasonable accommodation, for a period of 90 consecutive days or a total of 180 days, during any 365-day period, in either case as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent.  A determination of Disability shall be made by a physician satisfactory to both the Executive (or his guardian) and the Company, provided that if the Executive and the Company do not agree on a physician, the Executive (or his guardian) and the Company shall each select a physician and these two together shall select a third physician, whose determination as to Disability shall be binding on all parties.  The appointment of one or more individuals to carry out the offices or duties of the Executive during a period of the Executive’s inability to perform such duties and pending a determination of Disability shall not be considered a breach of this Agreement by the Company.

 

(b)           FOR CAUSE.  At the election of the Company, for Cause, immediately upon written notice by the Company to the Executive unless the Executive fully corrects the circumstances constituting Cause within the cure periods provided below, if applicable.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” for termination shall be deemed to exist solely in the event of the following:

 

(i)            The conviction of the Executive of, or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by the Executive to, a felony (exclusive of a conviction, plea of guilty or nolo contendere arising under a statutory provision imposing criminal liability upon the Executive on a PER SE basis due to any offices held by the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, so long as any act or omission of the Executive with respect to such matter was not taken or omitted in contravention of any applicable policy or directive of the CEO or the AINC Board except as permitted in Section 1(b));

 

(ii)           willful breach of duty of loyalty which is materially detrimental to the Company, Ashford Inc. or any entity advised by the Company, except as permitted in Section 1(b), which is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the CEO or the AINC Board within thirty (30) days following written warning to the Executive from the CEO or the AINC Board describing the alleged circumstances;

 

(iii)          willful failure to perform or adhere to explicitly stated duties or guidelines of employment or to follow the lawful directives of the CEO or the

 

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AINC Board, except as permitted in Section 1(b) of this Agreement, which continues for thirty (30) days after written warning to the Executive will be deemed a basis for a “For Cause” termination;

 

(iv)          gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of the Executive’s duties (which is not cured by the Executive within 30 days after written warning from the CEO or the  AINC Board ;

 

(v)           the Executive’s willful commission of an act of dishonesty resulting in material economic or financial injury to the Company, Ashford Inc. or any entity advised by the Company or willful commission of fraud; or

 

(vi)          the Executive’s chronic absence from work for reasons other than illness which is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the CEO within 30 days following written warning to the Executive from the CEO describing the alleged circumstances.

 

For purposes of this Section, no act, or failure to act, on the Executive’s part will be deemed “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without a reasonable belief that the Executive’s act, or failure to act, was in the best interest of the Company, Ashford Inc., Ashford Trust or the entities advised by the Company, as applicable.

 

(c)           WITHOUT CAUSE OR GOOD REASON.  At the election of the Company, without Cause, and at the election of the Executive, without Good Reason, in either case upon sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the Executive or to the Company, as the case may be; provided, however, that if the Executive gives notice, without Good Reason, the Company may waive all or a portion of the sixty (60) days’ written notice and accelerate the effective date of the termination.

 

(d)           FOR GOOD REASON.  At the election of the Executive, for Good Reason, which is not cured by the Company within thirty (30) days after written notice from the Executive to the Company setting forth a description of the circumstances constituting Good Reason.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following actions, omissions or events occurring:

 

(i)            the assignment to the Executive of any title, duties, responsibilities, directives or reporting requirements inconsistent with Section 1(b) hereof or with his positions, from time to time, with the Company or Ashford Inc. or as Chief Executive Officer of Ashford Trust or any material diminishment of the Executive’s duties, responsibilities, or status, including failure of Ashford Inc. or the Company to recommend to the board of directors of Ashford Trust (the “Trust Board”) that the Executive serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Ashford Trust, without the Executive’s prior written consent;

 

(ii)                     a reduction by the Company in the Executive’s annual Base Salary or targeted Incentive Bonus without the Executive’s prior written consent;

 

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(iii)                    the requirement by the Company that the principal place of business at which the Executive performs his duties be changed to a location outside the greater Dallas metropolitan area without the Executive’s prior written consent; or

 

(iv)                    any material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement.

 

(e)           NOTICE OF TERMINATION.  Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other parties hereto given in accordance with Section 16(a) of this Agreement.  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated, and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (provided that the date specified shall not be more than thirty (30) days after the giving of the notice).  The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

 

(f)            DATE OF TERMINATION.  “Date of Termination” means (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified in the notice (provided that the date specified shall not be more than thirty (30) days after the giving of the notice), as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination or such later date specified in such notice, (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive without Good Reason, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Executive notifies the Company of such termination or such later date specified in such notice, unless otherwise agreed by the Company and the Executive, and (iv) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability or non-renewal of this Agreement, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death or Disability of the Executive or the Agreement’s non-renewal date, as the case may be.

 

7.             EFFECTS OF TERMINATION.

 

(a)           TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE; OR NON-RENEWAL BY THE COMPANY.  If the employment of the Executive should terminate by reason of (i) termination by the Company for any reason (other than Cause) or (ii) the Company’s failure to renew this Agreement, then all compensation and benefits for the Executive shall be as follows:

 

(i)            The Executive shall be paid, in a single lump sum payment within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination, the aggregate amount of (A) the Executive’s earned but unpaid Base Salary and accrued but unpaid vacation

 

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through the Date of Termination, and any Incentive Bonus required to be paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 4(a) above for the prior calendar year to the extent not previously paid, and reimbursement of all expenses through the Date of Termination as required pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof (the “Accrued Obligations”), and (B)  three (3) (the “Severance Multiple”) times the sum of (x) the Base Salary in effect on the Termination Date plus (y) the average Incentive Bonus received by the Executive for the three complete calendar years or such lesser number of calendar years as the Executive has been employed by the Company) immediately prior to the Termination Date (the “Severance Payment”).

 

(ii)           At the time when incentive bonuses are paid to the Company’s other senior executives for the calendar year of the Company in which the Date of Termination occurs, the Executive shall be paid a pro-rated Incentive Bonus in an amount equal to the product of (x) the amount of the Incentive Bonus to which the Executive would have been entitled if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated, and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the applicable calendar year for which the Executive was employed through the Date of Termination and the denominator of which is the 365 days of the calendar year (a “Pro-Rated Bonus”).

 

(iii)          The Company will allow the Executive and his dependents, at the Company’s cost, to continue to participate for a period of thirty-six (36) months following the Date of Termination in the Company’s medical, dental and vision plan in effect as of the Date of Termination.  The Company’s payment of this medical coverage will be made monthly during this period of coverage.  To the extent such medical benefits are taxable to the Executive, such benefits will not affect benefits to be provided in any other taxable year, and such amounts are intended to meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv)(A) as “in-kind benefits”.  In addition, the Company will reimburse the Executive for a period of thirty-six (36) months following the Date of Termination for the cost of coverage for life insurance and long-term disability insurance, based upon the level of such benefits that were provided to the Executive under the Company’s life insurance and long-term disability plans in effect as of the Date of Termination, which reimbursements will be paid within seven (7) days after the Executive pays any applicable premium.  (The amount of any such reimbursements may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other year.  Such reimbursements are intended to meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv)(A).) (Collectively, these welfare benefits under (iii) are referred to as the “Other Benefits”).  If the Executive engages in regular employment after his termination of employment with any organization, any employee welfare benefits received by the Executive in consideration of such employment which are similar in nature to the Other Benefits provided by the Company will relieve the Company of its obligation under this Section 7(a)(iii) to provide comparable benefits to the extent of the benefits so received, and such benefit hereunder shall be forfeited.

 

(iv)          Any annual performance shares, restricted shares, LTIP units or options awarded under Section 4(b) hereof shall immediately vest.  Without

 

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limiting the foregoing, it is agreed that if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 7(a), all outstanding stock options, restricted stock, LTIP units, and other equity awards granted to the Executive under any of the Company’s equity incentive plans (or awards substituted therefore covering the securities of a successor company) shall become immediately vested and exercisable in full.  Likewise, all outstanding stock options, restricted stock, LTIP units and other equity awards granted to the Executive under any of the equity incentive plans of any entity advised by Ashford Inc. shall become immediately vested and exercisable in full to the extent provided in such plans and consistent with the vesting terms of such awards.  Further, the Company agrees that upon a termination by the Company without cause or a non-renewal by the Company, to the extent any LTIP units held by Executive have yet to reach the economic equivalent of common units, the LTIP units shall be fully vested (as provided above) but shall continue to be subject to the earn-up provisions of the organizational documents of the issuer, and the Company shall take all reasonable efforts to cause such LTIP units to fully earn-up in accordance with such provisions.

 

(b)           TERMINATION BY THE EXECUTIVE WITH GOOD REASON.  In the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive with Good Reason, the Company will pay the Executive the same Accrued Obligations, Severance Payment, Pro-Rated Bonus, Other Benefits and accelerated vesting, all as provided in Sections 7(a)(i) (ii), (iii) and (iv) above at the times as provided in such sections.  Without limiting the foregoing, it is agreed that if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 7(b), all outstanding stock options, restricted stock, LTIP units and other equity awards granted to the Executive under any of the Company’s equity incentive plans (or awards substituted therefore covering the securities of a successor company) shall become immediately vested and exercisable in full.  Likewise, all outstanding stock options, restricted stock, LTIP units and other equity awards granted to the Executive under any of the equity incentive plans of any entity advised by Ashford Inc. shall become immediately vested and exercisable in full to the extent provided in such plans and consistent with the vesting terms of such awards.  Further, the Company agrees that upon a termination by the Executive with good reason, to the extent any LTIP units held by Executive have yet to reach the economic equivalent of common units, the LTIP units shall be fully vested (as provided above) but shall continue to be subject to the earn-up provisions of the organizational documents of the issuer, and the Company shall take all reasonable efforts to cause such LTIP units to fully earn-up in accordance with such provisions.

 

(c)           TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE WITHOUT GOOD REASON.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive without Good Reason including a resignation by the Executive without Good Reason and including an election not to renew this Agreement by the Executive, the Company will pay the Executive the Accrued Obligations as provided in Section 7(a)(i) above but the Executive shall not be entitled to the Severance Payment, Pro-rated Bonus and accelerated vesting set forth in Sections 7(a)(i), (ii) and (iv) hereof; however, the Company shall allow the Executive and his dependents, at the Company’s cost, during the Non-Compete Period (hereinafter defined), to continue to participate in the Company’s Other Benefits in effect as of the Date of Termination as provided and paid in the manner set forth in Section 7(a)(iii), but only through the expiration of the Non-Compete Period.  If the Executive engages in regular employment after his Date of Termination with any

 

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organization, any employee welfare benefits received by the Executive in consideration of such employment which are similar in nature to the Other Benefits provided by the Company will relieve the Company of its obligation under this Section 7(c) to provide comparable benefits to the extent of the benefits so received, and such benefit hereunder shall be forfeited.  In addition, subject to the Executive honoring the non-compete covenant in Section 10(a) hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive a non-compete payment (the “Non-Compete Payment”) equal to the Severance Payment determined with a Severance Multiple equal to one (1).  Subject to the Executive honoring the non-compete covenant in Section 10(a) hereof, the Non-Compete Payment shall be paid monthly over the one-year Non-Compete Period following the Date of Termination in equal monthly installments of one-twelfth (1/12th) of the Non-Compete Payment.

 

(d)           TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY FOR CAUSE.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, the Company will pay the Executive the Accrued Obligations as provided in Section 7(a)(i) above but the Executive shall not be entitled to the Severance Payment, Pro-Rated Bonus, the Other Benefits and accelerated vesting set forth in Sections 7(a)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) hereof.

 

(e)           TERMINATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY.  If the employment of the Executive should terminate by reason of death or Disability of the Executive, then, the Company will pay the Executive the same Accrued Obligations, Severance Payment, Pro-Rated Bonus, Other Benefits and accelerated vesting, all as provided in Sections 7(a)(i) (ii), (iii) and (iv) above at the times as provided in such sections; provided, however, the Severance Multiple for calculation of the Severance Payment shall be one (1).  Without limiting the foregoing, it is agreed that if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 7(e), all outstanding stock options, restricted stock, LTIP units and other equity awards granted to the Executive under any of the Company’s equity incentive plans (or awards substituted therefore covering the securities of a successor company) shall become immediately vested and exercisable in full.  Likewise, all outstanding stock options, restricted stock, LTIP units and other equity awards granted to the Executive under any of the equity incentive plans of any entity advised by Ashford Inc. shall become immediately vested and exercisable in full to the extent provided in such plans and consistent with the vesting terms of such awards.  Further, the Company agrees that upon a termination by reason of death or disability of the Executive, to the extent any LTIP units held by Executive have yet to reach the economic equivalent of common units, the LTIP units shall be fully vested (as provided above) but shall continue to be subject to the earn-up provisions of the organizational documents of the issuer, and the Company shall take all reasonable efforts to cause such LTIP units to fully earn-up in accordance with such provisions.

 

(f)            TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.  Immediately upon the Date of Termination or upon the expiration of this Agreement, notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained herein or otherwise, the Executive will stop serving the functions of his terminated or expired positions, and shall be without any of the authority or responsibility for such positions.  On request of the Board at any time following the termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason (including Executive’s termination of his employment after a Change in Control (as defined herein) or an election by the Executive not to renew this Agreement), the Executive agrees to resign immediately from the board of directors (or any equivalent governing body) of each of the Ashford Related Entities.

 

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(g)                                  RELEASE OF CLAIMS.  As a condition of Executive’s entitlement to the Severance Payment, Pro-Rated Bonus, Non-Compete Payment and Other Benefits provided by this Agreement, the Executive shall be required to execute the terms of a waiver and release of claims against the Company substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A” (as may be modified consistent with the purposes of such waiver and release to reflect changes in law following the date hereof) (the “Release”) within the applicable time period provided in the Release (the “Applicable Release Period”); and shall forfeit all such aforementioned payments hereunder if it is not so timely executed; provided, however, that in any case where the first and last days of the Applicable Release Period are in two separate taxable years, any payments required to be made to Executive that are treated as deferred compensation for purposes of Code Section 409A shall be made in the later taxable year, promptly following the conclusion of the Applicable Release Period.

 

(h)                                 CODE SECTION 409A AND TERMINATION PAYMENTS.  All payments provided under this Agreement shall be subject to this Section 7(h).  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent that the Board reasonably determines, in its sole discretion, that any payment or benefit to be provided under this Agreement to or for the benefit of Executive would be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code or a successor or comparable provision, the commencement of such payments and/or benefits shall be delayed until the earlier of (i) the date that is six months following the Date of Termination or (ii) the date of Executive’s death (such date is referred to herein as the “Distribution Date”), provided, if at such time Executive is a “specified employee” of the Company (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i)) and if amounts payable under this Agreement are on account of an “involuntary separation from service” (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(m)), Executive shall receive payments during the six-month period immediately following the Date of Termination equal to the lesser of (x) the amount payable under this Agreement, as the case may be, or (y) three times the compensation limit in effect under Code Section 401(a)(17) for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs (with any amounts that otherwise would have been payable under this Agreement during such six-month period being paid on the first regular payroll date following the six-month anniversary of the Date of Termination).  In the event that the Board determines that the commencement of any of the employee benefits to be provided under this Agreement are to be delayed pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Company shall require Executive to bear the full cost of such employee benefits until the Distribution Date at which time the Company shall reimburse Executive for all such costs.  Finally, for the purposes of this Agreement, amounts payable under this Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4) (“short-term deferrals”) and (b)(9) (“separation pay plans,” including the exception under subparagraph (iii)) and other applicable provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1 through A-6.

 

8.                                      CHANGE OF CONTROL.

 

(a)                                 CHANGE OF CONTROL.  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change of Control” will be deemed to have taken place upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

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(i)                                    any “person” (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and as modified in Section 12(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than (A) Ashford Inc. or any of its subsidiaries or any of its officers or directors, (B) any employee benefit plan of Ashford Inc. or the Company or any of their subsidiaries, (C) any Remington Affiliate, (D) a company owned, directly or indirectly, by stockholders of Ashford Inc. in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Ashford Inc., or (E) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of Ashford Inc. or Ashford Trust representing 30% or more of the shares of voting stock of Ashford Inc. or Ashford Trust then outstanding;

 

(ii)                                 the consummation of any merger, reorganization, business combination or consolidation of the Company, Ashford Inc. or one of the subsidiaries of the Company or Ashford Inc. with or into any other company, other than a merger, reorganization, business combination or consolidation which would result in the holders of the voting securities of the Company or Ashford Inc., as applicable, outstanding immediately prior thereto holding securities which represent immediately after such merger, reorganization, business combination or consolidation more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of Ashford Inc. or the surviving company or the parent of such surviving company;

 

(iii)                              the consummation of the sale or disposition by Ashford Inc. of all or substantially all of Ashford Inc.’s assets, other than a sale or disposition if the holders of the voting securities of Ashford Inc. outstanding immediately prior thereto hold securities immediately thereafter which represent more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the acquiror, or parent of the acquiror, of such assets; or the stockholders of Ashford Inc. approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of Ashford Inc. as applicable; or

 

(iv)                             individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the AINC Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the AINC Board ; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election to the AINC Board was approved or recommended to respective stockholders of Ashford Inc. by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the the AINC Board.

 

(b)                                 CERTAIN BENEFITS UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL.  If a Change of Control occurs during the Term or the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for any reason on or before the one (1) year anniversary of the effective date of the Change of Control, then the Executive shall be entitled to the Accrued

 

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Obligations, Pro-Rated Bonus, Other Benefits and accelerated vesting, all as provided in Sections 7(a)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above at the times as provided in such sections.  In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to a Severance Payment determined and paid in accordance with Section 7(a)(i) above; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the Severance Multiple shall be three (3).  Without limiting the foregoing, it is agreed that if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 8(b), all outstanding stock options, restricted stock, LTIP units and other equity awards granted to the Executive under any of the Company’s equity incentive plans (or awards substituted therefore covering the securities of a successor company) shall become immediately vested and exercisable in full.  Likewise, all outstanding stock options, restricted stock, LTIP units and other equity awards granted to the Executive under any of the equity incentive plans of any entity advised by Ashford Inc. shall become immediately vested and exercisable in full to the extent provided in such plans and consistent with the vesting terms of such awards.  All payments under this Section 8(b) are subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 7(h) and may be delayed as set forth in Section 7(h) in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

9.                                      CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.  The Executive recognizes and acknowledges that the Executive has and will have access to confidential and proprietary information of the Company, Ashford Inc. and any entity advised by the Company, which, in each case, constitute valuable, special, and unique assets of such entity.  The term “Confidential Information” as used in this Agreement shall mean all proprietary information which is known only to the Executive, the Company, Ashford Inc., any entity advised by the Company, other employees of the Company, or others in a confidential relationship with the Company, Ashford Inc. or any entity advised by Ashford Inc., and relating to the business of the Company, Ashford Inc. or such other entity, as applicable (including, without limitation, information regarding clients, customers, pricing policies, methods of operation, proprietary company programs, sales, acquisitions, products, profits, costs, conditions (financial or other), cash flows, key personnel, formulae, product applications, technical processes, and trade secrets, as such information may exist from time to time), which the Executive acquired or obtained by virtue of work performed for the Company, or which the Executive may acquire or may have acquired knowledge of during the performance of said work.

 

The Executive acknowledges that the Company has put in place certain policies and practices to keep such Confidential Information secret, including disclosing the information only on a need-to-know basis.  The Executive further acknowledges that the Confidential Information has been developed or acquired by the Company through the expenditure of substantial time, effort, and money and provides the Company with an advantage over competitors who do not know such Confidential Information.  Finally, the Executive acknowledges that such Confidential Information, if revealed to or used for the benefit of the Company’s competitors or in a manner contrary to the Company’s interests, would cause extensive and immeasurable harm to the Company and to the Company’s competitive position.

 

The Executive shall not, during the Term or at any time thereafter, use for personal gain or detrimentally to the Company all or any part of the Confidential Information, or disclose or make available all or any part of the Confidential Information to any person, firm, corporation, association, or any other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever, directly or indirectly, except as may be required pursuant to his employment hereunder, unless and until such

 

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Confidential Information becomes publicly available other than as a consequence of the breach by the Executive of his confidentiality obligations hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be restricted from disclosing or using Confidential Information that:  (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of an unauthorized disclosure by Executive or his agent; (ii) becomes available to Executive in a manner that is not in contravention of applicable law from a source (other than the Company, Ashford Inc. or an entity advised by the Company or the affiliated entities of such entities or one of its or their officers, employees, agents or representatives) that is not known by Executive, after reasonable investigation, to be bound by a confidential relationship with the Company, Ashford Inc. or an entity advised by the Company or the affiliated entities of such entities or by a confidentiality or other similar agreement; or (iii) is required to be disclosed by law, court order or other legal process; provided, however, that in the event disclosure is required by law, court order or legal process, Executive shall provide the Company, if legally permissible, with prompt notice of such requirement as set forth below in this Section 9.

 

The Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information shall remain at all times the exclusive property of the Company, and no license is granted.  In the event of the termination of his employment, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether by the Company or the Executive, or within seven (7) business days of the Company’s request under any other circumstances, the Executive shall deliver to the Company all Confidential Information, in any form whatsoever, including electronic formats, and shall not take with him any Confidential Information or any reproductions (in whole or in part) or extracts of any items relating to the Confidential Information.  The Company acknowledges that prior to his employment with the Company, the Executive has lawfully acquired extensive knowledge of the industries in which the Company engages in business including, without limitation, markets, valuation methods and techniques, capital markets, investor and business relationships and similar items, and that the provisions of this Section 9 are not intended to restrict the Executive’s use of such previously acquired knowledge.

 

In the event that the Executive receives a request or is required (by deposition, interrogatory, request for documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose all or any part of the Confidential Information, the Executive agrees, if legally permissible, to (a) promptly notify the Company of the existence, terms and circumstances surrounding such request or requirement, (b) consult with the Company on the advisability of taking legally available steps to resist or narrow such request or requirement and (c) assist the Company in seeking a protective order or other appropriate remedy; provided, however, that the Executive shall not be required to take any action in violation of applicable laws.  In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained or that the Company waives compliance with the provisions hereof, the Executive shall not be liable for such disclosure unless disclosure to any such tribunal was caused by or resulted from a previous disclosure by the Executive not permitted by this Agreement.

 

By this Agreement, the Company is providing the Executive with rights that the Executive did not previously have.  In exchange for the foregoing and the additional terms agreed to in this Agreement, the Executive agrees that:  (i) he is being provided with access to Confidential Information to which he has not previously had access; and (ii) all goodwill developed with the Company’s clients, customers and other business contacts by the Executive is

 

13

 

the exclusive property of the Company.  The Executive waives and releases any claim that he should be able to use, for the benefit of any competing person or entity, Confidential Information that was previously received or developed by the Executive while working for the Company, Ashford Inc. or any entity advised by the Company.

 

10.                               NON-COMPETITION, NON-SOLICITATION AND NON-INTERFERENCE.

 

(a)                                 NON-COMPETITION.  During the Term and any Non-Compete Period (hereinafter defined), the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, either as a principal, agent, employee, employer, stockholder or partner engage in any “Competitive Business”; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the foregoing shall not prohibit or limit the Executive’s right to pursue and maintain passive investments allowed pursuant to Section 1(c) hereof.

 

For purposes of this Section 10(a), “Competitive Business” means acquiring, investing in or with respect to, owning, leasing, managing or developing hotel properties in the United States or in any international market in which the Company or any clients it advises conduct such business or originating or acquiring loans in respect of hotel properties in the United States or in any international market in which the Company or any clients it advises conduct such business, in each case, where the Executive had duties or performed services for the Company, which the parties stipulate is a reasonable geographic area because of the scope of the Company’s operations and the Executive’s employment with the Company.  The Executive may not avoid the purpose and intent of this restriction by engaging in conduct within the geographically limited area from a remote location through means such as telecommunications, written correspondence, computer generated or assisted communications, or other similar methods.

 

For purposes of this Section 10(a), the “Non-Compete Period” shall mean the period ending on the first anniversary of his Date of Termination.

 

The Executive acknowledges that the services provided by the Executive are of a special, unique, and extraordinary nature.  The Executive further acknowledges that his work and experience with the Company will enhance his value to a Competitive Business, and that the nature of the Confidential Information to which the Executive has immediate access and will continue to have access during the course of his employment makes it difficult, if not impossible, for him to engage in any Competitive Business without disclosing or utilizing the Confidential Information.  The Executive further acknowledges that his work and experience with the Company places him in a position of trust with the Company.

 

(b)                                 NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES.  The Executive covenants and agrees that (i) during the Term, and (ii) during the period ending on the first anniversary of his Date of Termination, he shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, whether for his own account or on behalf of any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other entity or enterprise, solicit, recruit, hire or cause to be hired any employees of the Company or any of its affiliates, or any person who was an employee of the Company during the six months preceding the Executive’s Date of Termination, or solicit or encourage any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to leave the employment of the Company or any of such affiliates, as applicable.  The parties hereto agree that (i) the placement of general advertisements that may be targeted to a particular geographic or technical area but

 

14

 

which are not targeted directly or indirectly towards any employees, officers, agents or representatives of the Company (or any successor entity) shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 10(b) and (ii) the employment or engagement of such persons by an entity that is not controlled by Executive and whom Executive did not encourage, solicit or induce or in any manner attempt to encourage, solicit or induce to terminate his or her employment with the Company shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 10(b).

 

(c)                                  NON-INTERFERENCE WITH COMPANY OPPORTUNITIES.  The Executive understands and agrees that all business opportunities with which he is involved during his employment with the Company constitute valuable assets of the Company and its affiliated entities, and may not be converted to Executive’s own use or converted by Executive for the use of any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other entity or enterprise.  Accordingly, Executive agrees that during the Term, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether for his own account or on behalf of any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other entity or enterprise, interfere with, solicit, pursue, or in any manner make use of any such business opportunities.

 

(d)                                 REASONABLE RESTRAINTS.  The Executive agrees that restraints imposed upon him pursuant to this Section are necessary for the reasonable and proper protection of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and that each and every one of the restraints is reasonable in respect to subject matter, length of time and geographic area.  The parties further agree that, in the event that any provision of this Section shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its being extended over too great a time, too large a geographic area or too great a range of activities, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to permit its enforcement to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

11.                               NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS.  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive’s continuing or future participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the Company.  Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract agreement with the Company at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any such plan, policy, practice or program noted above to the contrary, the timing of all payments pursuant to this Agreement or any such plan, policy, practice or program shall be subject to the timing rules specified in Section 7(h) of this Agreement.

 

12.                               FULL SETTLEMENT.  The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others.  In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and except as expressly provided, such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment.  The Company agrees to pay as incurred (within 30 days following the Company’s

 

15

 

receipt of an invoice from the Executive), to the full extent permitted by law, all reasonable legal fees and expenses which the Executive or his beneficiaries may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result of any contest by the Executive or his beneficiaries about the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest on any delayed payment at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(a) of the Code to the extent permitted by 409A.  The preceding sentence shall not apply with respect to any such contest if the court having jurisdiction over such contest determines that the Executive’s claim in such contest is frivolous or maintained in bad faith.  This reimbursement obligation shall remain in effect following the Executive’s termination of employment for the applicable statute of limitations period relating to any such claim, and the amount of reimbursements hereunder during any tax year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other tax year.  Such reimbursements are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv)(A).

 

13.                               DISPUTES.

 

(a)                                 EQUITABLE RELIEF.  The Executive acknowledges and agrees that upon any breach by the Executive of his obligations under Sections 9 or 10 hereof, the Company will have no adequate remedy at law, and accordingly will be entitled to specific performance and other appropriate injunctive and equitable relief.  In the event an enforcement remedy is sought under Section 10 hereof, the time periods provided for in that Section shall be extended by one day for each day the Executive failed to comply with the restriction at issue.

 

(b)                                 ARBITRATION.  Excluding only requests for equitable relief by the Company under Section 13(a) of this Agreement, in the event that there is any claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, and the parties hereto shall not have resolved such claim or dispute within 60 days after written notice from one party to the other setting forth the nature of such claim or dispute, then such claim or dispute shall be settled exclusively by binding arbitration in Dallas, Texas in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association by an arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto or, in the absence of such agreement, by an arbitrator selected according to such Rules.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if either the Company or the Executive shall request, such arbitration shall be conducted by a panel of three arbitrators, one selected by the Company, one selected by the Executive and the third selected by agreement of the first two, or, in the absence of such agreement, in accordance with such Rules.  Neither party shall have the right to claim or recover punitive damages.  Judgment upon the award rendered by such arbitrator(s) shall be entered in any Court having jurisdiction thereof upon the application of either party.

 

14.                               INDEMNIFICATION.  The Company will indemnify the Executive, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, against all costs, charges and expenses incurred or sustained by the Executive, including the cost of legal counsel selected and retained by the Executive in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which the Executive may be made a party by reason of the Executive being or having been an officer, director, or employee of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, any entity advised by the Company or any new platform or entity to be created by, or spun-off from, Ashford Inc., Ashford Prime or

 

16

 

Ashford Trust.  The Company’s obligations under this Section 14 shall be in addition to any other indemnification rights to which the Executive may be entitled.

 

15.                               COOPERATION IN FUTURE MATTERS.  The Executive hereby agrees that, for a period of one (1) year following his termination of employment, he shall cooperate with the Company’s reasonable requests relating to matters that pertain to the Executive’s employment by the Company, including, without limitation, providing information or limited consultation as to such matters, participating in legal proceedings, investigations or audits on behalf of the Company, or otherwise making himself reasonably available to the Company for other related purposes.  Any such cooperation shall be performed at times scheduled taking into consideration the Executive’s other commitments, including business and family matters, and the Executive shall be compensated at a reasonable hourly or PER DIEM rate to be agreed by the parties to the extent such cooperation is required on more than an occasional and limited basis.  The Executive shall not be required to perform such cooperation to the extent it conflicts with any requirements of exclusivity of services for another employer or otherwise, nor in any manner that in the good faith belief of the Executive would conflict with his rights under or ability to enforce this Agreement.

 

16.                               GENERAL.

 

(a)                                 NOTICES.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing or by written telecommunication, and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally or if sent by overnight courier or by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or sent by written telecommunication or telecopy, to the relevant address set forth below, or to such other address as the recipient of such notice or communication shall have specified to the other party hereto in accordance with this Section 16(a).

 

	
If   to the Company, to:
    	
Ashford   Hospitality Advisors, LLC
    
	
 
    	
14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1100
    
	
 
    	
Dallas, Texas 75254
    
	
 
    	
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
with   a copy to:
    	
Ashford   Inc.
    
	
 
    	
14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1100
    
	
 
    	
Dallas, Texas 75254
    
	
 
    	
Attn: General Counsel
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
and
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Ashford Inc.
    
	
 
    	
14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1100
    
	
 
    	
Dallas, Texas 75254
    
	
 
    	
Attn: Lead Director
    

 

17

 

If to the Executive, at his last residence shown on the records of the Company,

 

	
with   a copy to:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

Any such notice shall be effective (i) if delivered personally, when received, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, when receipted for, and (iii) if mailed, two (2) days after being mailed as described above.

 

(b)                                 SEVERABILITY.  If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any law, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

 

(c)                                  WAIVERS.  No delay or omission by either party hereto in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall impair such right, power or privilege, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

 

(d)                                 COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  In making proof of this Agreement, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.

 

(e)                                  ASSIGNS.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company’s successors and the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Executive, it being understood and agreed that this is a contract for the Executive’s personal services.  This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Company except in connection with a transaction involving the succession by a third party to all or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise), in which case such successor shall assume this Agreement and expressly agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform it in the absence of a succession; however such assignment by the Company shall not affect Executive’s rights as described in Section 8.  For all purposes under this Agreement, the term “Company” shall include any successor to the Company’s business and/or assets that executes and delivers the assumption agreement described in the immediately preceding sentence or that becomes bound by this Agreement by operation of law.

 

(f)                                   ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties, supersedes all prior agreements, including the Original Agreement, and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof, except for any Indemnification Agreement the Executive has entered, or shall enter, into with the Company, Ashford Prime or Ashford Trust.  This Agreement may not be amended except by a written instrument hereafter signed by the Executive, the Company, and a duly authorized representative of the Board.

 

18

 

(g)                                  GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement and the performance hereof shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.  Jurisdiction and venue shall be solely in the federal or state courts of Dallas County, Texas.  This provision should not be read as a waiver of any right to removal to federal court in Dallas County.

 

(h)                                 CONSTRUCTION.  The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party.  The headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect its meaning or construction.

 

(i)                                     PAYMENTS AND EXERCISE OF RIGHTS AFTER DEATH.  Any amounts due hereunder after the Executive’s death shall be paid to the Executive’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, whether received as a designated beneficiary or by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  The Executive may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries for all purposes of this Agreement, and may change at any time such designation, by notice to the Company making specific reference to this Agreement.  If no designated beneficiary survives the Executive or the Executive fails to designate a beneficiary for purposes of this Agreement prior to his death, all amounts thereafter due hereunder shall be paid, as and when payable, to his spouse, if she survives the Executive, and otherwise to his estate.

 

(j)                                    CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL.  The Executive acknowledges that he has had a full and complete opportunity to consult with counsel or other advisers of his own choosing concerning the terms, enforceability and implications of this Agreement, and that the Company has not made any representations or warranties to the Executive concerning the terms, enforceability and implications of this Agreement other than as are reflected in this Agreement.

 

(k)                                 WITHHOLDING.  Any payments provided for in this Agreement shall be paid net of any applicable tax withholding required under federal, state or local law.

 

(l)                                     NON-DISPARAGEMENT.  The Executive agrees that, during the Term and thereafter including following Executive’s termination of employment for any reason) he will not make statements or representations, or otherwise communicate, directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or otherwise, or take any action which may, directly or indirectly, disparage the Company or its affiliates or their respective officers, directors, employees, advisors, businesses or reputations.  The Company agrees that, during the Term and thereafter (including following Executive’s termination of employment for any reason), the Company’s directors, officers or other employees will not make statements or representations, or otherwise communicate, directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or otherwise, or take any action which may directly or indirectly, disparage Executive or his family or his business or reputation; provided, however, the Company shall have no liability for any communication by its employees (other than its officers) that violates this non-disparagement clause, unless an officer of the Company is made aware of such communication and fails to take appropriate action to enforce this non-disparagement clause on behalf of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude either Executive or the Company from making truthful statements or disclosures that are required by applicable law, regulation, or legal process.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement prohibits Executive from reporting possible violations of federal law

 

19

 

or regulation to any government agency or entity or making the other disclosures that are protected under whistleblower provisions of law.  Executive does not need prior authorization to make such reports or disclosures and is not required to notify the Company that he has made any such report or disclosure.

 

(m)                             CODE SECTION 409A.  It is the intention of the parties to this Agreement that no payment or entitlement pursuant to this Agreement will give rise to any adverse tax consequences to the Executive under Section 409A of the Code.  The Agreement shall be interpreted to that end and, consistent with that objective and notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Company may unilaterally take any action it deems necessary or desirable to amend any provision herein to avoid the application of or excise tax under Section 409A.  Further, no effect shall be given to any provision herein in a manner that reasonably could be expected to give rise to adverse tax consequences under that provision.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed under seal as of the date first above written.

 

	
 
    	
ASHFORD   HOSPITALITY ADVISORS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/   David A. Brooks
    
	
 
    	
Name:   David A. Brooks
    
	
 
    	
Title:   Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Dated:   February 20, 2017
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
EXECUTIVE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Douglas A. Kessler
    
	
 
    	
DOUGLAS   A. KESSLER
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Dated:   February 20, 2017
    

 

 

EXHIBIT “A”

 

RELEASE AND WAIVER

 

THIS RELEASE AND WAIVER (the “Termination Release”) is made as of the     day of    , 20    by DOUGLAS A. KESSLER (the “Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the Executive, and the Company have entered into an Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of [       ], effective as of [         ] and providing certain compensation and severance amounts upon the Executive’s termination of employment; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive has agreed, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, to execute a release and waiver in the form set forth in this Termination Release in consideration of the Company’s agreement to provide the compensation and severance amounts upon the Executive’s termination of employment set out in the Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to settle all rights, duties and obligations between them, including without limitation all such rights, duties, and obligations arising under the Agreement or otherwise out of the Executive’s employment by the Company;

 

NOW THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound and for good and valid consideration the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Executive agrees as follows:

 

1.                                      QUALIFYING TERMINATION PAYMENTS AND CONDITIONS.  The Executive and the Company acknowledge and agree that the Date of Termination is                , 20  .  Payment of the compensation and severance amounts contained in the Agreement is subject to Executive’s execution and non-revocation of the Termination Release and is due pursuant to the terms described in the Agreement.  Consistent with the revocation period described below, no such payment will be due sooner than eight days following the date that Executive executes the Termination Release.

 

2.                                      GENERAL RELEASE BY EXECUTIVE.

 

(a)                                 The Executive knowingly and voluntarily releases, acquits, covenants not to sue and forever discharges the Company, and its respective owners, parents, stockholders, predecessors, successors, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, divisions and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Releasees”) from any and all charges, complaints, claims, liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, damages, causes of action, suits, rights, costs, losses, debts and expenses of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, foreseen or unforeseen, matured or unmatured (collectively, the “Claims”), against them which the Executive or any of his heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns ever had, now has or at any time hereafter may have, own or hold by reason of any matter, fact, or cause whatsoever from the beginning of time up to and including the date of this Termination Release, including without limitation all claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, Texas Labor Code Section 21.001, et seq. (Texas Employment Discrimination); Texas Labor Code Section 61.001, et seq. (Texas Pay

 

 

Day Act); Texas Labor Code Section 62.002, et seq. (Texas Minimum Wage Act); Texas Labor Code Section 201.001, et seq. (Texas Unemployment Compensation Act); Texas Labor Code Section 401.001, et seq., specifically Section 451.001 formerly codified as Article 8307c of the Revised Civil Statutes (Texas Workers’ Compensation Act and Discrimination Issues); and Texas Genetic Information and Testing Law, each as amended, or any other federal, state or local laws, rules, regulations, judicial decisions or public policies now or hereafter recognized.  Expressly excluded from this General Release are Claims which cannot be waived by law.

 

(b)                                 The Executive represents that he has not filed or permitted to be filed against any of the Releasees, any complaints, charges or lawsuits and covenants and agrees that he will not seek or be entitled to any personal recovery in any court or before any governmental agency, arbitrator or self-regulatory body against any of the Releasees arising out of any matters set forth in Section 1(a) hereof.  Nothing herein shall prevent the Executive from seeking to enforce his rights under the Agreement.  The Executive does not hereby waive or release his rights to any benefits under the Company’s employee benefit plans to which he is or will be entitled pursuant to the terms of such plans in the ordinary course.

 

3.                                      ADEA RELEASE BY EXECUTIVE.  The Executive hereby completely and forever releases and irrevocably discharges the Releasees, from any and all Claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) on or before the date the Executive signs this Termination Release (the “ADEA Release”), and hereby acknowledges and agrees that:  (i) this Termination Release, including the ADEA Release, was negotiated at arm’s length; (ii) this Termination Release, including the ADEA Release, is worded in a manner that the Executive fully understands; (iii) the Executive specifically waives any rights or claims under the ADEA; (iv) the Executive knowingly and voluntarily agrees to all of the terms set forth in this Termination Release, including the ADEA Release; (v) the Executive acknowledges and understands that any claims under the ADEA that may arise after the date of this Termination Release are not waived; and (vi) the rights and claims waived in this Termination Release, including the ADEA Release, are in exchange for consideration over and above anything to which the Executive was already entitled.

 

4.                                      GENERAL RELEASE BY COMPANY.  The Company and its affiliates each does hereby fully, finally and completely release Executive from any and all Claims of any kind or nature arising out of the Executive’s employment with the Company arising from, relating to, or in any way connected with any facts or events occurring on or before the date of the Termination Release, provided, however, that the Executive is not released or discharged from his continuing obligations contained in the Termination Release, the Agreement, or in any other agreement with the Company.

 

5.                                      NON-DISPARAGEMENT.  The Executive covenants and agrees he will not make statements or representations, or otherwise communicate, directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or otherwise, or take any action which may, directly or indirectly, disparage the Company or its affiliates or their respective officers, directors, employees, advisors, businesses or reputations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein or in the Agreement shall preclude the Executive from making truthful statements or disclosures that are required by applicable law, regulation or legal process.  The Company covenants and agrees its directors, officers and other employees will not make statements or representations, or otherwise communicate, directly or

 

A- 2

 

indirectly, in writing, orally, or otherwise, or take any action which may, directly or indirectly, disparage Executive or his family or his business or reputation; provided, however, the Company shall have no liability for any communication by its employees (other than its officers) that violates this non-disparagement clause, unless an officer of the Company is made aware of such communication and fails to take appropriate action to enforce this non-disparagement clause on behalf of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein or in the Agreement shall preclude the Executive or the Company’s officers and directors from making truthful statements or disclosures that are required by applicable law, regulation, or legal process.

 

6.                                      REAFFIRMATION OF CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS.  Nothing in this Termination Release shall be deemed to affect or relieve the Executive from any continuing obligation contained in any other agreement with the Company or the Company’s rights with respect thereto.  The Executive specifically acknowledges and reaffirms his continuing non-competition and non-solicitation obligations to the Company under the Agreement.  The Executive further acknowledges that this reaffirmation is material to this Termination Release, and the Executive acknowledges and agrees that his continuing non-competition and non-solicitation obligations under the Agreement are reasonable and enforceable and that he will not challenge or violate these covenants.

 

7.                                      MODIFICATION; WAIVER.  No modification or addition hereto or waiver or cancellation of any provision hereof shall be valid except by a writing signed by the party to be charged therewith.  No delay on the part of any party to this Termination Release in exercising any right or privilege provided hereunder or by law shall impair, prejudice or constitute a waiver of such right or privilege.

 

8.                                      SEVERABILITY.  If any provision contained in this Termination Release is determined to be void, illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, then the other provisions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect as if the provision which was determined to be void, illegal or unenforceable had not been contained herein.

 

9.                                      COSTS.  The parties hereto agree that each party shall pay its respective costs, including attorney’s fees, if any, associated with this Termination Release.

 

10.                               FULLY UNDERSTOOD; PAYMENTS RECEIVED.  By signing this Termination Release, the Executive acknowledges and affirms that he has read and understands the foregoing Termination Release, agreed to the terms of the Release Agreement, and acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Termination Release.  The Executive also hereby acknowledges and affirms the sufficiency of the compensation and severance amounts recited herein.  The Executive further acknowledges that upon receipt of the compensation and severance amounts recited herein, he shall not be entitled to any further payment, compensation or remuneration of any kind from the Company, with respect to the Executive’s employment with the Company or otherwise.

 

11.                               ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Termination Release contains the entire agreement between the Executive and the Company and supersedes any and all prior understandings or agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral, except as set forth herein and with respect to any of the Executive’s continuing obligations

 

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contained elsewhere (including those contained in the Agreement), which shall continue and remain in full force and effect per the terms of those covenants.

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT.  The Company has advised the Executive to consult with an attorney of his choosing prior to signing this Termination Release and the Executive hereby represents to the Company that he has been offered an opportunity to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Termination Release.  The Company has also advised the Executive that Executive has up to twenty-one days to consider and sign the Termination Release and up to seven days after signing in which to revoke acceptance by giving notice to                                    at                                 by personal delivery or by mail postmarked no later than the seventh day after the Executive signs the Termination Release.  The Executive acknowledges and agrees that any changes in the terms of this Termination Release, whether material or immaterial, after the date upon which the Executive first received this Termination Release shall not affect or restart the above-referenced twenty-one day consideration period.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto has executed this Termination Release under seal as of the day and year first above written.

 

	
 
    	
ASHFORD   HOSPITALITY ADVISORS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Dated:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
EXECUTIVE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
DOUGLAS   A. KESSLER
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Dated:Exhibit 10.3

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of February 20, 2017, by and between Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company” or the “Indemnitor”) and Douglas Kessler (the “Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is an officer and/or a member of the Board of Directors of the Company and in such capacity is performing a valuable service for the Company;

 

WHEREAS, Maryland law permits the Company to enter into contracts with its officers or members of its Board of Directors with respect to indemnification of, and advancement of expenses to, such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company (the “Charter”) provide that the Company shall indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time;

 

WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) provide that each director and officer of the Company shall be indemnified by the Company to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time and shall be entitled to advancement of expenses consistent with Maryland law; and

 

WHEREAS, to induce the Indemnitee to provide services to the Company as an officer and/or a member of the Board of Directors, and to provide the Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance that indemnification will be available to the Indemnitee regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or revocation of the Charter or the Bylaws, or any acquisition transaction relating to the Company, the Indemnitor desires to provide the Indemnitee with protection against personal liability as set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                      DEFINITIONS

 

For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(A)                               “Change of Control” is when the following have occurred and are continuing:

 

·                  the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of shares of the Company entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in elections of directors (except that such person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is

 

 

currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and

 

·                  following the closing of any transaction referred to in the bullet point above, neither the Company nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or ADRs representing such securities) listed on the NYSE, the NYSE Amex or NASDAQ or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE Amex or NASDAQ.

 

(B)                               “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director or officer of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner (limited or general), member, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, other enterprise (whether conducted for profit or not for profit) or employee benefit plan. The Company shall be deemed to have requested the Indemnitee to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance of the Indemnitee’s duties to the Company also imposes or imposed duties on, or otherwise involves or involved services by, the Indemnitee to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan.

 

(C)                               “Determination” means a determination that either (x) there is a reasonable basis for the conclusion that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee had met the applicable standard of conduct (a “Favorable Determination”) or (y) there is no reasonable basis for the conclusion that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances (an “Adverse Determination”).

 

(D)                               “Disinterested Director” means a director who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee and does not otherwise have an interest materially adverse to any interest of the Indemnitee.

 

(E)                                “Expenses” shall include all attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding.

 

(F)                                 “Proceeding” includes any action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation (including any formal or informal internal investigation to which the Indemnitee is made a party by reason of the Corporate Status of the Indemnitee), administrative hearing, or any other proceeding, including appeals therefrom, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative.

 

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(G)                               “Special Legal Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporate law and neither presently is, or in the past two years has been, retained to represent (i) the Indemnitor or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party, or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.

 

2.                                      INDEMNIFICATION

 

The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this paragraph 2 (in addition to any rights provided under applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any other agreement, a vote of stockholders or resolution of the Board of Directors or otherwise) if, by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by reason of (or arising in part out of) any actual or alleged event or occurrence related to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by reason of any actual or alleged act or omission on the part of the Indemnitee taken or omitted in or relating to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, such Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending, or contemplated Proceeding, including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company.  Unless prohibited by paragraph 13 hereof and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, against judgments, penalties, fines and settlements and reasonable Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein; provided, however, that if such Proceeding was initiated by or in the right of the Company, indemnification may not be made in respect of such Proceeding if the Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged to be liable to the Company.  For purposes of this paragraph 2, excise taxes assessed on the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall be deemed fines.

 

3.                                      INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES

 

(A)                             Without limiting the effect of any other provision of this Agreement (including the Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification under paragraph 2 and advancement of expenses under paragraph 4), without regard to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under paragraph 2 and without regard to the provisions of paragraph 6 hereof:

 

i)                 To the extent that the Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding to which the Indemnitee is a party by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, such Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all reasonable Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnitee in connection therewith.

 

ii)              If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues, or matters in such Proceeding, the Indemnitor shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all reasonable Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.

 

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(B)                               For purposes of this paragraph 3 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

4.                                      ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to paragraph 13 hereof, if the Indemnitee is or was or becomes a party to or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding (including as a witness), or is or was threatened to be made a party to or a participant (including as a witness) in any such Proceeding, by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by reason of (or arising in part out of) any actual or alleged event or occurrence related to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by reason of any actual or alleged act or omission on the part of the Indemnitee taken or omitted in or relating to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, then the Indemnitor shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any such Proceeding within twenty (20) days after the receipt by the Indemnitor of a statement from the Indemnitee requesting such advance from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding; provided that, such statement shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred or to be incurred by the Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by (i) a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Indemnitor as authorized by this Agreement has been met and (ii) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amounts advanced if it should ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification.  The undertaking required by clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be an unlimited general obligation of the Indemnitee but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to financial ability to make the repayment.

 

5.                                      WITNESS EXPENSES

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the Indemnitee is, by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by reason of (or arising in part out of) any actual or alleged event or occurrence related to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by reason of any actual or alleged act or omission on the part of the Indemnitee taken or omitted in or relating to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness (or is forced or asked to respond to discovery requests) for any reason in any Proceeding to which such Indemnitee is not a named defendant or respondent, the Indemnitor shall advance all Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, on an as-incurred basis in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Agreement, in connection therewith and indemnify the Indemnitee therefor.

 

6.                                      DETERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO AND AUTHORIZATION OF INDEMNIFICATION

 

(A)                               To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Indemnitor a written request, including therewith such documentation and information reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification.

 

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(B)                               The Indemnitor agrees that the Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law.  Unless required by Section 3 of this Agreement, applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any other agreement, a vote of stockholders or resolution of the Board of Director, indemnification under this Agreement may not be made unless authorized for a specific Proceeding after a Determination has been made in accordance with this paragraph 6(B) that indemnification of the Indemnitee is permissible in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the following standard of conduct: the Indemnitor shall indemnify the Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 hereof, unless it is established that: (a) the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (x) was committed in bad faith or (y) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (b) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.  Any Determination shall be made within thirty (30) days after receipt of Indemnitee’s written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(A) and such Determination shall be made either (i) by the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, so long as Indemnitee does not request that such Determination be made by Special Legal Counsel, or (ii) if so requested by Indemnitee, in Indemnitee’s sole discretion, by Special Legal Counsel in a written opinion to the Indemnitor and Indemnitee. If a Determination is made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to the Indemnitee shall be made within fifteen (15) business days after such Determination.  Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such Determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such Determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the Disinterested Directors or Special Legal Counsel, as the case may be, making such determination shall be advanced and borne by the Indemnitor in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Agreement (irrespective of the Determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification). If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6(B) of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a Favorable Determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Indemnitor of the request therefor, the requisite Determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such thirty (30) day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the Determination with respect to entitlement to

 

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indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(B) shall not apply if the Determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Special Legal Counsel pursuant to Section 6(E).

 

(C)                               The Indemnitor shall be bound by and shall have no right to challenge a Favorable Determination. If an Adverse Determination is made, or if for any other reason the Indemnitor does not make timely indemnification payments or advancement of Expenses required by this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall have the right to commence a Proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction to challenge such Adverse Determination and/or to require the Indemnitor to make such payments or advancement of expenses (and the Indemnitor shall have the right to defend their position in such Proceeding and to appeal any adverse judgment in such Proceeding). The Indemnitee shall be entitled to have such Expenses advanced by the Indemnitor in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Agreement and applicable law.  If the Indemnitee fails to challenge an Adverse Determination within ninety (90) business days, or if Indemnitee challenges an Adverse Determination and such Adverse Determination has been upheld by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction from which no appeal can be taken, then, to the extent and only to the extent required by such Adverse Determination or final judgment, the Indemnitor shall not be obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

(D)                               The Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person or entity making such Determination with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any reasonable costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by the Indemnitee in so cooperating shall be borne by the Indemnitor (irrespective of the determination as to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Indemnitor hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold the Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

(E)                                In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Special Legal Counsel pursuant to Section 6(B) hereof, the Indemnitee, or the Indemnitor, as the case may be, may, within seven days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Indemnitor or to the Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection.  Such objection may be asserted only on the grounds that the Special Legal Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Special Legal Counsel” as defined in paragraph 1 of this Agreement.  If such written objection is made, the Special Legal Counsel so selected may not serve as Special Legal Counsel until a court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after submission by the Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(A) hereof, no Special Legal Counsel shall have been selected or, if selected, shall

 

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have been objected to, either the Indemnitor or the Indemnitee may petition a court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitor or the Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Special Legal Counsel and/or for the appointment as Special Legal Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Special Legal Counsel under Section 6(B) hereof.  The Indemnitor shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of Special Legal Counsel incurred in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(B) hereof, and all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the selection of such Special Legal Counsel pursuant to this Section 6(D).  In the event that a determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Special Legal Counsel and such determination shall not have been made and delivered in a written opinion within ninety (90) days after the receipt by the Indemnitor of the Indemnitee’s request in accordance with Section 6(A), upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding in accordance with Section 8(A) of this Agreement, Special Legal Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity.

 

7.                                      PRESUMPTIONS

 

(A)                               It shall be presumed that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement (notwithstanding any Adverse Determination), and the Indemnitor or any other person or entity challenging such right shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.

 

(B)                               The termination of any Proceeding by conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, creates a rebuttable presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct described herein for indemnification.

 

8.                                      REMEDIES

 

(A)                               In the event that: (i) an Adverse Determination is made, or (ii) advancement of reasonable Expenses is not timely made pursuant to this Agreement, or (iii) payment of indemnification due the Indemnitee under this Agreement is not timely made, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of competent jurisdiction of such Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.

 

(B)                               In the event that an Adverse Determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(B) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this paragraph 8 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits. The fact that an Adverse Determination has been made earlier pursuant to paragraph 6 of this Agreement that the Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification shall not be taken into account in any judicial proceeding

 

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commenced pursuant to this paragraph 8 and the (i) Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced in any way by reason of that Adverse Determination and (ii) the Indemnitor shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(C)                               If a Favorable Determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6(B) of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Indemnitor shall be bound by such Determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this paragraph 8, absent: (i) a misstatement by the Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make the Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(D)                               The Indemnitor shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this paragraph 8 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Indemnitor is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(E)                                In the event that the Indemnitee, pursuant to this paragraph 8, seeks a judicial adjudication of such Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, if successful on the merits or otherwise as to all or less than all claims, issues or matters in such judicial adjudication, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Indemnitor, and shall be indemnified by the Indemnitor against, any and all reasonable Expenses actually incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.

 

(F)                                 Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no Determination as to entitlement of the Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

9.                                      NOTIFICATION AND DEFENSE OF CLAIMS

 

The Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Indemnitor in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information, or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder, but the failure so to notify the Indemnitor will not relieve the Indemnitor from any liability that the Indemnitor may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement unless the Indemnitor can establish that such omission to notify resulted in actual and material prejudice to which it cannot be reversed or otherwise eliminated without any material negative effect on the Indemnitor.  With respect to any such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee notifies the Indemnitor of the commencement thereof:

 

(A)                               The Indemnitor will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense.

 

(B)                               Except as otherwise provided below, the Indemnitor will be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee.  After notice from the Indemnitor to Indemnitee of the Indemnitor’s election to assume the

 

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defense thereof, the Indemnitor will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation or as otherwise provided below.  Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee’s own counsel in such Proceeding, but the fees and disbursements of such counsel incurred after notice from the Indemnitor of the Indemnitor’s assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of Indemnitee unless (a) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized by the Indemnitor, (b) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such action, (c) such Proceeding seeks penalties or other relief against the Indemnitee with respect to which the Indemnitor could not provide monetary indemnification to the Indemnitee (such as injunctive relief or incarceration) or (d) the Indemnitor shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such action, in each of which cases the fees and disbursements of counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnitor.  The Indemnitor shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Indemnitor, or as to which the Indemnitee shall have reached the conclusion specified in clause (b) above, or which involves penalties or other relief against the Indemnitee of the type referred to in clause (c) above.

 

(C)                               The Indemnitor shall not be liable to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without the Indemnitor’s written consent.  The Indemnitor shall not settle any action or claim in any manner that would impose any penalty or limitation on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee’s written consent.  Neither the Indemnitor nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold or delay consent to any proposed settlement.

 

10.                               NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE SUBROGATION

 

(A)                               The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of reasonable Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any other agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of the Board of Directors or otherwise, except that any payments otherwise required to be made by the Indemnitor hereunder shall be offset by any and all amounts received by the Indemnitee from any other indemnitor or under one or more liability insurance policies maintained by an indemnitor or otherwise and shall not be duplicative of any other payments received by an Indemnitee from the Indemnitor in respect of the matter giving rise to the indemnity hereunder; provided, however, that if indemnification rights are provided by an Additional Indemnitor as defined in Section 18(B) hereof, such Section shall govern.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be effective as to the Indemnitee with respect to any action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.

 

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(B)                               To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors and officers of the Company, the Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available and upon any Change of Control the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or arrange for continuation and/or “tail” coverage for the Indemnitee to the maximum extent obtainable at such time.

 

(C)                               Except as otherwise provided in Section 18(B) hereof, in the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Indemnitor shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all actions necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Indemnitor to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(D)                               Except as otherwise provided in Section 18(B) hereof, the Indemnitor shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that the Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, or otherwise.

 

(E)                                If Ashford Inc. (or any member or other affiliate thereof other than the Indemnitor) pays or causes to be paid, for any reason, any amounts with respect to any Proceeding in which the Indemnitee may be indemnified or entitled to indemnification hereunder or under any other indemnification agreement with the Indemnitee (whether pursuant to contract, by-laws, charter or other organizational documents) or otherwise in its capacity as a stockholder of the Company, then (x) Ashford Inc. (or such affiliate, as the case may be) shall be fully subrogated to all rights of the Indemnitee with respect to such payment and (y) the Indemnitor shall fully indemnify, reimburse and hold harmless Ashford Inc. (or such other affiliates) for all such payments actually made by Ashford Inc. (or such other affiliates).

 

11.                               CONTINUATION OF INDEMNITY

 

(A)                               All agreements and obligations of the Indemnitor contained herein shall continue during the period the Indemnitee is an officer or a member of the Board of Directors of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as the Indemnitee shall be subject to any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status and during the period of statute of limitations for any act or omission occurring during the Indemnitee’s term of Corporate Status.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the Indemnitor and its respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee and such Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.

 

(B)                               The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a

 

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substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

12.                               SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, (i) the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provisions held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

13.                               EXCEPTIONS TO RIGHT OF INDEMNIFICATION OR ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of reasonable Expenses under this Agreement with respect to (i) any Proceeding initiated by such Indemnitee against the Indemnitor other than a proceeding commenced pursuant to paragraph 8 hereof, or (ii) any Proceeding for an accounting of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any similar provisions of any federal, state or local statute.

 

14.                               NOTICE TO THE COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS

 

Any indemnification of, or advancement of reasonable Expenses, to an Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement, if arising out of a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company, shall be reported in writing to the stockholders of the Company with the notice of the next Company stockholders’ meeting or prior to the meeting.

 

15.                               HEADINGS

 

The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

16.                               MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

 

No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by each of the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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17.                               NOTICES

 

All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand or by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service and received by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, if so delivered or mailed, as the case may be, to the following addresses:

 

If to the Indemnitee, to the address set forth in the records of the Company.

 

If to the Indemnitor, to:

 

Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.

14185 Dallas Parkway

Suite 1100

Dallas, TX 75254

Attention:  General Counsel

 

or to such other address as may have been furnished to the Indemnitee by the Indemnitor or to the Indemnitor by the Indemnitee, as the case may be.

 

18.                               CONTRIBUTION

 

(A)                               To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, penalties, fines and settlements and Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of an Indemnitee, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

(B)                               The Company acknowledges and agrees that as between the Company and any other entity that has provided indemnification rights in respect of Indemnitee’s service as a director of the Company at the request of such entity (an “Additional Indemnitor”), the Company shall be primarily liable to Indemnitee as set forth in this Agreement for any indemnification claim (including, without limitation, any claim for advancement of Expenses) by Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding for which Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder.  In the event the Additional Indemnitor is liable to any extent to Indemnitee by virtue of indemnification rights provided by the Additional Indemnitor to Indemnitee in respect of Indemnitee’s service on the Board of Directors at the request of the Additional Indemnitor and Indemnitee is also entitled to indemnification under

 

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this Agreement (including, without limitation, for advancement of Expenses) as a result of any Proceeding, the Company shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount of any indemnification claim (including, without limitation, any claim for advancement of Expenses) brought by the Indemnitee against the Company under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any claim for advancement of Expenses) without requiring the Additional Indemnitor to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution, subrogation or any other right of recovery of any kind it may have against the Additional Indemnitor in respect thereof.  The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Additional Indemnitor on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Additional Indemnitor shall be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee against the Company.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company hereby acknowledges that certain of its Directors, including the Directors affiliated with Ashford Inc. (the “Specified Directors”), may have certain rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by Ashford Inc. and certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “Ashford Inc. Indemnitors”), which shall constitute Additional Indemnitors for purposes of this paragraph.  To the extent the Indemnitee is a Specified Director, the Company hereby agrees and acknowledges that with respect to matters for which it is required to provide indemnity pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (i) it shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to the Indemnitee (i.e., its obligations to the Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for expenses or liabilities incurred by the Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) it shall advance the full amount of expenses incurred and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement by the Indemnitee to the extent required by the terms of this Agreement (or any other agreement between the Company and the Indemnitee), without regard to any rights the Specified Directors may have against the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors and (iii) it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof related to the Company’s obligations set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) in this sentence.  The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors on behalf of the Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which the Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Ashford Inc. Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee against the Company.

 

19.                               GOVERNING LAW

 

The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

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20.                               NO ASSIGNMENTS

 

The Indemnitee may not assign its rights or delegate obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Indemnitor.  Any assignment or delegation in violation of this paragraph 20 shall be null and void.

 

21.                               NO THIRD PARTY RIGHTS

 

Except for the rights of an Additional Indemnitor under paragraph 18(B) hereof and except for Ashford Inc., who is expressly made a third party beneficiary of paragraph 10(E) hereof: (a), nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be construed to give any person other than the parties to this Agreement any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement; and (b) this Agreement and all of its provisions are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their successors and permitted assigns.

 

22.                               COUNTERPARTS

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together constitute an agreement binding on all of the parties hereto.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

	
 
    	
ASHFORD   HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   David A. Brooks
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
David   A. Brooks, Chief Operating Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
and   General Counsel
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
INDEMNITEE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Douglas Kessler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Douglas   Kessler

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