CHATHAM LODGING TRUST (Form: 8-K)  

 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):   February 29, 2012

CHATHAM LODGING TRUST
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Maryland 001-34693 27-1200777
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
_____________
(Commission
______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
      
50 Cocoanut Row, Suite 216, Palm Beach, Florida   33480
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
(Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (561) 802-4477

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


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Item 8.01 Other Events.

On February 29, 2011, Chatham Lodging Trust ("Chatham") issued a press release announcing that it had received distributions of $13.1 million from the joint venture between Chatham and Cerberus.

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.





Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit 99.1 - Chatham Lodging Trust Announces Distributions of $13.1 Million from Joint Venture






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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

         
    CHATHAM LODGING TRUST
          
February 29, 2012   By:   Dennis M. Craven
       
        Name: Dennis M. Craven
        Title: Chief Financial Officer


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Exhibit Index


     
Exhibit No.   Description

 
99.1
  Chatham Lodging Trust Announces Distributions of $13.1 Million from Joint Venture
EX-99.1

     
For Immediate Release
Contact:
 

Dennis Craven (Company)
Chief Financial Officer
(561) 227-1386
  Jerry Daly or Carol McCune
Daly Gray (Media)
(703) 435-6293

Chatham Lodging Trust Announces Distributions of $13.1 Million from Joint Venture

Joint Venture Distribution Returns 35 Percent of Initial Investment

PALM BEACH, Fla., February 29, 2012—Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded select-service hotels, announced today that the joint venture between Chatham and Cerberus Capital Management LP, which owns 64 hotels with 8,329 rooms/suites, closed on a $130 million mortgage loan secured by 10 previously unemcumbered hotels comprising 1,707 rooms. Eastdil Secured, L.L.C. arranged the $130 million first mortgage and mezzanine non-recourse financing with lenders Citibank, N.A., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and an affiliate of Starwood Property Trust, Inc. The maturity of the facilities is three years with two one-year extension options and carries an all-in interest rate of 6.9 percent.

In addition to net proceeds from the financing, additional cash generated from operations was distributed to the partners, resulting in a distribution to Chatham of approximately $13.1 million, or more than $1 per share. The $13.1 million distribution represents 35 percent of the company’s initial $37 million investment. Chatham willuse part of the distribution to pay down borrowings outstanding on its senior secured credit facility.

“We believe the joint venture is going to be very successful for Chatham, Cerberus and our shareholders, and this is a first step toward optimizing our equity investment returns in the joint venture,” said Dennis Craven, Chatham’s chief financial officer. “The joint venture has now returned over $1 per share in cash to Chatham. Our remaining equity investment in the joint venture is approximately $24 million, and we are excited about the expected future returns to Chatham shareholders from this remaining investment.”

About Chatham Lodging Trust

Chatham Lodging Trust is a self-advised REIT that was organized to invest in upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels. The company currently owns 18 hotels with an aggregate of 2,414 rooms/suites in 10 states and the District of Columbia and holds a minority investment in a joint venture that owns 64 hotels with 8,329 rooms/suites. Additional information about Chatham may be found at www.chathamlodgingtrust.com.

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