Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

Previous wording

Our primary business is hotel-related. Therefore, a downturn in the lodging industry, in general, and the segments and markets (especially West Coast major gateway metropolitan markets) in which we operate, in particular, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, the market price of our common shares and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Current wording

Our primary business is hotel-related. Therefore, a downturn in the lodging industry, in general, and markets (especially West Coast major gateway metropolitan markets) in which we operate, in particular, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, the market price of our common shares and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Previous wording

We invest primarily in the upper-upscale segment of the lodging market, which is highly competitive and generally subject to greater volatility than most other market segments and could negatively affect our profitability.

Current wording

We invest primarily in upper-upscale hotel properties, which, as a highly competitive sector and generally subject to greater volatility than most other lodging sectors, could negatively affect our profitability.

Previous wording

The upper-upscale segment of the hotel business is highly competitive. Our hotel properties compete on the basis of location, room rates, quality, service levels, reputation and reservations systems, among many factors. There are many competitors in the upper-upscale segment, and many of these competitors may have substantially greater marketing and financial resources than we have. This competition could reduce occupancy levels and RevPAR at our hotels. In addition, in periods of weak demand, as may occur during a general economic recession, profitability is adversely affected by the relatively high fixed costs of operating upper-upscale hotels.

Current wording

The business of owning upper-upscale hotels and resorts is highly competitive. Ours compete on the basis of location, room rates, quality, service levels, reputation and reservations systems, among many factors. There are many competitors who own upper-upscale hotels and resorts, and many of these competitors may have substantially greater marketing and financial resources than we have. This competition could reduce occupancy levels and RevPAR at our hotels. In addition, in periods of weak demand, as may occur during a general economic recession, profitability is adversely affected by the relatively high fixed costs of operating upper-upscale hotels and resorts.

Previous wording

We have placed and may in the future place mortgages on certain of our hotel properties to secure debt. To the extent we cannot meet any of our debt service obligations, we may be required to sell or we will risk losing to foreclosure some or all of our mortgaged hotel properties. If we are required to sell one or more of our hotel properties to meet debt service obligations, we may have to accept unfavorable terms. Also, covenants applicable to debt could impair our planned investment strategy and, if violated, result in a default. If we violate covenants relating to indebtedness, we could be required to repay all or a portion of our indebtedness before maturity at a time when we might be unable to arrange financing for such repayment on attractive terms, if at all. In addition, future indebtedness agreements may require that we meet certain covenant tests in order to make distributions to our shareholders.

Current wording

We have placed or assumed, and may in the future place, mortgages on certain of our hotel properties to secure debt. To the extent we cannot meet any of our debt service obligations, we may be required to sell or we will risk losing to foreclosure some or all of our mortgaged hotel properties. If we are required to sell one or more of our hotel properties to meet debt service obligations, we may have to accept unfavorable terms. Also, covenants applicable to debt could impair our planned investment strategy and, if violated, result in a default. If we violate covenants relating to indebtedness, we could be required to repay all or a portion of our indebtedness before maturity at a time when we might be unable to arrange financing for such repayment on attractive terms, if at all. In addition, future indebtedness agreements may require that we meet certain covenant tests in order to make distributions to our shareholders.

Previous wording

The credit agreements that govern our existing senior unsecured revolving credit facilities and unsecured term loan facilities contain financial and operating covenants, such as net worth requirements, fixed charge coverage, debt ratios and other limitations that restrict our ability to make distributions or other payments to our stockholders, sell all or substantially all of our assets and engage in mergers, consolidations and certain acquisitions without the consent of the lenders. In addition, property-level debt we enter into in the future may contain restrictions (including cash management provisions) that may under circumstances specified in the loan agreements prohibit our subsidiaries that own our hotels from making distributions or paying dividends, repaying loans to us or other subsidiaries or transferring any of their assets to us or another subsidiary which could adversely affect our ability to make distributions to our shareholders. Failure to meet our financial covenants could result from, among other things, changes in our results of operations, the incurrence of additional debt or changes in general economic conditions. Such failures could cause one or more of our lenders to accelerate the timing of payments and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders. The terms of our debt may restrict our ability to engage in transactions that we believe would otherwise be in the best interests of our shareholders.

Current wording

The credit agreements that govern our existing senior unsecured revolving credit facilities and unsecured term loan facilities contain financial covenants, such as net worth requirements, fixed charge coverage, debt ratios and other limitations that restrict our ability to make distributions or other payments to our shareholders, sell all or substantially all of our assets and engage in mergers, consolidations and certain acquisitions without the consent of the lenders. Similarly, the indenture that governs our senior notes contains customary covenants that limit our Operating Partnership’s ability and, in certain instances, the ability of its subsidiaries, to encumber assets; incur additional indebtedness; create liens securing indebtedness; make restricted payments; enter into agreements that restrict dividends or other payments; issue guarantees; sell assets; engage in transactions with affiliates; or merge, consolidate or transfer all or substantially all of its assets. In addition, our mortgage loan agreements contain restrictions (including cash management provisions) that may under circumstances specified in the loan agreements prohibit our subsidiaries that own our hotels from making distributions or paying dividends, repaying loans to us or other subsidiaries or transferring any of their assets to us or another subsidiary which could adversely affect our ability to make distributions to our shareholders. Failure to meet our covenants could result from, among other things, changes in our results of operations, the incurrence of additional debt or changes in general economic conditions. Such failures could cause one or more of our lenders to accelerate the timing of payments and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders. The terms of our debt may restrict our ability to engage in transactions that we believe would otherwise be in the best interests of our shareholders.

Previous wording

All of our indebtedness for borrowed money, except our senior unsecured revolving credit facility, term loans and senior unsecured notes, is secured by either single property first mortgage liens or leasehold interests under the ground leases on the applicable hotel. If we default on any of the secured loans, the applicable lender will be able to foreclose on the property pledged to secure the loan.

Current wording

Our mortgage loans are secured by either single property first mortgage liens or leasehold interests under the ground leases on the applicable hotel. If we default on a secured loan, the applicable lender will be able to foreclose on the property pledged to secure the loan.

Previous wording

•unforeseen events beyond our control, such as terrorist attacks, cyber-attacks, travel-related health concerns and restrictions as a result of pandemics and epidemics such as H1N1 influenza (swine flu), avian bird flu, Zika virus, SARS, MERS and COVID-19 (coronavirus), political instability, regional hostilities, imposition of taxes or surcharges by regulatory authorities, travel-related accidents and unusual weather patterns, including natural disasters such as hurricanes, tsunamis or earthquakes;

Current wording

•unforeseen events beyond our control, such as terrorist attacks, cyber-attacks, travel-related health concerns and restrictions as a result of pandemics and epidemics such as COVID-19, H1N1 influenza (swine flu), avian bird flu, Zika virus, SARS and MERS, political instability, regional hostilities, imposition of taxes or surcharges by regulatory authorities, travel-related accidents and unusual weather patterns, including natural disasters such as hurricanes, tsunamis or earthquakes;

Previous wording

We may be adversely affected by increased use of business-related technology which may reduce the need for business-related travel.

Current wording

We may be adversely affected by the increased use of technology that reduces the need for business-related travel.

Previous wording

The increased use of teleconference and video-conference technology by businesses, particularly given its widespread use and increased acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic, could result in decreased business travel as companies increase the use of technologies that allow multiple parties from different locations to participate at meetings without traveling to a centralized meeting location. To the extent that such technologies play an increased role in day-to-day business and the necessity for business-related travel decreases, hotel room demand may decrease and our financial condition, results of operations, the market price of our common shares and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders may be adversely affected.

Current wording

The increased use of technology that allows multiple parties from different locations to participate in meetings without traveling to a centralized location could result in decreased business travel. To the extent that such technology plays an increased role in day-to-day business and the necessity for business-related travel decreases, hotel room demand may decrease and our financial condition, results of operations, the market price of our common shares and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders may be adversely affected.

Previous wording

We face risks associated with natural disasters and the direct and indirect physical effects of climate change, which may include more frequent and more severe storms, hurricanes, flooding, droughts and wildfires, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our hotel properties, operations, cash flows and financing options.

Current wording

We face risks associated with natural disasters, the direct and indirect physical effects of climate change, which may include more frequent and more severe storms, hurricanes, flooding, droughts and wildfires, and contagious diseases, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our hotel properties, operations, cash flows and financing options.

Previous wording

We are subject to the risks associated with the direct and indirect physical effects of climate change, which can include more frequent and more severe storms, hurricanes, flooding, droughts, wildfires and power outages, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our hotels, operating results and cash flows. To the extent climate change causes changes in weather patterns, our markets, particularly our coastal markets, could experience increases in storm frequency and intensity and rising sea levels interrupting our operations and causing damage to our hotels. As a result, we could become subject to significant losses and repair costs that may not be fully covered by insurance. Our markets in more remote locations may experience prolonged variations in temperature or precipitation that may limit access to the water needed to operate our hotels or significantly increase energy costs, which may subject those hotels to additional regulatory burdens, such as limitations on water usage or stricter energy efficiency standards. Climate change also may affect our business by increasing the cost of (or even making unavailable) property insurance on terms we find acceptable in areas most vulnerable to such events, increasing operating costs at our hotels, such as the cost of water or energy, and requiring us to expend funds as we seek to mitigate, repair and protect our hotels against such risks. A tightening of credit markets for, or a reduction in the availability of capital to, borrowers whose assets are in areas that are particularly adversely affected by the effects of climate change may reduce our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, or at all, thereby increasing financing costs and/or requiring us to accept financing with increased restrictions and/or significantly higher interest rates, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, the market price of our common shares and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Current wording

We are subject to the risks associated with natural disasters, including the direct and indirect physical effects of climate change, which can include more frequent and more severe storms, hurricanes, flooding, droughts, wildfires and power outages, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our hotels, operating results and cash flows. To the extent climate change causes changes in weather patterns, our markets, particularly our coastal markets, could experience increases in storm frequency and intensity and rising sea levels interrupting our operations and causing damage to our hotels. As a result, we could become subject to significant losses and repair costs that may not be fully covered by insurance. Our markets in more remote locations may experience prolonged variations in temperature or precipitation that may limit access to the water needed to operate our hotels or significantly increase energy costs, which may subject those hotels to additional regulatory burdens, such as limitations on water usage or stricter energy efficiency standards. Climate change also may affect our business by increasing the cost of (or even making unavailable) property insurance on terms we find acceptable in areas most vulnerable to such events, increasing operating costs at our hotels, such as the cost of water or energy, and requiring us to expend funds as we seek to mitigate, repair and protect our hotels against such risks. A tightening of credit markets for, or a reduction in the availability of capital to, borrowers whose assets are in areas that are particularly adversely affected by the effects of climate change may reduce our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, or at all, thereby increasing financing costs and/or requiring us to accept financing with increased restrictions and/or significantly higher interest rates, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, the market price of our common shares and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Previous wording

The COVID-19 pandemic and federal, state and local government responses and restrictions thereto have significantly disrupted, and are expected to continue to significantly disrupt, our business. As a result of this pandemic and subsequent government mandates and health official recommendations and restrictions, hotel demand was nearly eliminated during the second quarter of 2020 and occupancy levels reached historic lows. While our operations have significantly improved, they are still below pre-pandemic levels in some markets, and there can be no assurance that our operations will continue to improve or that our operations will not deteriorate again as a result of surges in the pandemic and government, business and individual responses. Certain states and cities, including those where our hotels are located, reacted to the pandemic by instituting quarantines, restrictions on travel, “shelter in place” rules, restrictions on the types of business that may continue to operate, and/or restrictions on the types of construction projects that may be reinstated. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we temporarily suspended operations at the vast majority of our hotels. The hotels reopened through the first half of 2021 and operations and occupancy began to increase through 2021 and 2022. The majority of our hotels have returned to normal operations although some markets are still recovering and have not yet reached pre-pandemic occupancy levels. Use of our cash during this period of lower demand and certain restrictive covenants of our credit agreements reduced the amount of cash available for hotel capital expenditures, future business opportunities and other purposes, including distributions to our shareholders. To preserve liquidity, we worked with our operators to significantly reduce staffing and expenses at our hotels, reduced the quarterly cash dividend on our common shares to $0.01 per share. While we have returned to positive cash flows, we cannot assure you that these steps will prove to be sufficient or that our forecast or the assumptions we used to estimate our liquidity requirements will be correct.

Current wording

We are also subject to risks associated with the impact of new or re-emergent contagious diseases and federal, state and local government responses and restrictions thereto, which could significantly disrupt our business. For example, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent government mandates and health official recommendations and restrictions such as quarantines, restrictions on travel, “shelter in place” rules and restrictions on the types of business that could continue to operate, hotel demand was nearly eliminated during the second quarter of 2020 and occupancy levels reached historic lows. While our operations have significantly improved, and COVID-19 is now endemic, future pandemics of other diseases (whether due to novel sources or the re-emergent of previous sources) could occur, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, the market price of our common shares and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Previous wording

Previous terrorist attacks and subsequent terrorist alerts have adversely affected the U.S. travel and hospitality industries over the past several years, often disproportionately to the effect on the overall economy. The impact that terrorist attacks in the U.S. or elsewhere could have on domestic and international travel and our business in particular cannot be definitively determined, but any such attacks or the threat of such attacks could have a material adverse effect on our business, our ability to finance our business, our ability to insure our properties and our results of operations and financial condition.

Current wording

Terrorist attacks and terror alerts have adversely affected the U.S. travel and hospitality industries in the past several, often disproportionately to their effect on the overall economy. The impact that terrorist attacks in the U.S. or elsewhere could have on domestic and international travel and our business in particular cannot be definitively determined, but any such attacks or the threat of such attacks could have a material adverse effect on our business, our ability to finance our business, our ability to insure our properties and our results of operations and financial condition.

Previous wording

We have issued eight series of preferred shares, of which we have repurchased four and four remain outstanding, and three series of senior unsecured notes. In the future, we may increase our capital resources by making debt or equity securities offerings, including senior or subordinated notes, additional series of preferred shares and common shares. We will be able to issue additional common shares or preferred shares without shareholder approval, unless shareholder approval is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Upon liquidation, holders of our debt securities and preferred shares and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of our common shares. Additional equity offerings could significantly dilute the holdings of our existing shareholders or reduce the market price of our common shares, or both. Holders of our common shares are not entitled to preemptive rights or other protections against dilution. Preferred shares and debt, if issued, have a preference on liquidating distributions or a preference on dividend or interest payments that could limit our ability to make a distribution to the holders of our common shares. Because our decision to issue securities will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, our shareholders bear the risk of our future securities issuances reducing the market price of our common shares and diluting their interest.

Current wording

We have issued eight series of preferred shares, of which we repurchased four and four remain outstanding, three series of senior unsecured notes, of which we repaid one and two remain outstanding, and one series of convertible senior notes. In the future, we may increase our capital resources by making debt or equity securities offerings, including senior or subordinated notes, additional series of preferred shares and common shares. We will be able to issue additional common shares or preferred shares without shareholder approval, unless shareholder approval is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Upon liquidation, holders of our debt securities and preferred shares and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of our common shares. Additional equity offerings could significantly dilute the holdings of our existing shareholders or reduce the market price of our common shares, or both. Holders of our common shares are not entitled to preemptive rights or other protections against dilution. Preferred shares and debt have a preference on liquidating distributions or a preference on dividend or interest payments that could limit our ability to make a distribution to the holders of our common shares. Because our decision to issue securities will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, our shareholders bear the risk of our future securities issuances reducing the market price of our common shares and diluting their interest.

Previous wording

Our board of trustees has the authority to designate and issue preferred shares with liquidation, dividend and other rights that are senior to those of our common shares. As of December 31, 2023, 4,400,000 shares of our 6.375% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (the “Series E Preferred Shares”), 6,000,000 shares of our 6.30% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (the “Series F Preferred Shares”), 9,200,000 shares of our 6.375% Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (the “Series G Preferred Shares”) and 8,000,000 shares of our 5.70% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (the “Series H Preferred Shares”) were issued and outstanding. The aggregate liquidation preference with respect to the outstanding preferred shares is approximately $690.0 million as of December 31, 2023, and aggregate annual dividends on our outstanding preferred shares of approximately $47.2 million. Holders of any of these preferred shares are entitled to cumulative dividends before any dividends may be declared or set aside on our common shares. Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, before any payment is made to holders of our common shares, holders of these preferred shares are entitled to receive a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus any accrued and unpaid distributions. This will reduce the remaining amount of our assets, if any, available to distribute to holders of our common shares. In addition, holders of these preferred shares have the right to elect two additional trustees to our board of trustees whenever dividends on the preferred shares are in arrears for six or more quarterly dividends, whether or not consecutive.

Current wording

Our board of trustees has the authority to designate and issue preferred shares with liquidation, dividend and other rights that are senior to those of our common shares. As of December 31, 2024, 4,400,000 shares of our 6.375% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (the “Series E Preferred Shares”), 6,000,000 shares of our 6.30% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (the “Series F Preferred Shares”), 9,200,000 shares of our 6.375% Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (the “Series G Preferred Shares”) and 8,000,000 shares of our 5.70% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (the “Series H Preferred Shares”) were issued and outstanding. The aggregate liquidation preference with respect to the outstanding preferred shares is approximately $690.0 million as of December 31, 2024, and aggregate annual dividends on our outstanding preferred shares of approximately $42.5 million. Holders of any of these preferred shares are entitled to cumulative dividends before any dividends may be declared or set aside on our common shares. Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, before any payment is made to holders of our common shares, holders of these preferred shares are entitled to receive a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus any accrued and unpaid distributions. This will reduce the remaining amount of our assets, if any, available to distribute to holders of our common shares. In addition, holders of these preferred shares have the right to elect two additional trustees to our board of trustees whenever dividends on the preferred shares are in arrears for six or more quarterly dividends, whether or not consecutive.