Equity Dist Agmts 8K


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): October 1, 2012 (September 28, 2012)

PEBBLEBROOK HOTEL TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maryland
 
001-34571
 
27-1055421
 
 
 
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction
 
(Commission
 
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)
 
File Number)
 
Identification No.)

 
 
 
2 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1530
 
 
Bethesda, Maryland
 
20814
 
 
 
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (240) 507-1300

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





Item 8.01. Other Events.

On September 28, 2012, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (the “Company”) and its operating partnership, Pebblebrook Hotel, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), entered into equity distribution agreements (collectively, the “Equity Distribution Agreements”) with each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (collectively, the “Sales Agents”), pursuant to which the Company may sell the Company's common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $170,000,000 (the “Shares”), from time to time through any of the Sales Agents, acting as sales agent and/or principal.
Upon entering into the Equity Distribution Agreements, the Company simultaneously terminated the equity distribution agreements it entered into with the same parties in connection with a prior “at the market” offering program established in May 2011.
Pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreements, the Shares may be offered and sold through each of the Sales Agents in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange or, subject to the terms of a written notice from the Company, in privately negotiated transactions. Under the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement, each Sales Agent will be entitled to compensation equal to up to 2.0% of the gross proceeds of the Shares sold through that Sales Agent from time to time under the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement. The Company has no obligation to sell any of the Shares under any of the Equity Distribution Agreements and may at any time suspend solicitations and offers under each of the Equity Distribution Agreements.
The Shares will be issued pursuant to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-173468). The Company filed a prospectus supplement, dated September 28, 2012, to the prospectus, dated April 13, 2011, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
The Company expects to engage in investment banking, brokerage and other dealings with each of the Sales Agents and their affiliates in the ordinary course of business and to pay customary fees and commission for their services on those transactions.
The foregoing description of the Equity Distribution Agreements is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the entire Equity Distribution Agreements, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 and incorporated herein by reference.
In connection with the filing of the Equity Distribution Agreements, the Company is filing as Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K opinions of its counsel, Venable LLP and Hunton & Williams LLP, respectively.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
 
 
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description
1.1
 
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated September 28, 2012, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.
1.2
 
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated September 28, 2012, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.
1.3
 
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated September 28, 2012, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
5.1
 
Opinion of Venable LLP, dated September 28, 2012, regarding the legality of the Common Shares.
8.1
 
Opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP, dated October 1, 2012, regarding certain tax matters.
23.1
 
Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
23.2
 
Consent of Hunton & Williams LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1 hereto).

_______________
† Filed herewith.





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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
PEBBLEBROOK HOTEL TRUST
 
 
October 1, 2012 
By:  
/s/ Raymond D. Martz  
 
 
 
Name:  
Raymond D. Martz 
 
 
 
Title:  
Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer, Treasurer and
Secretary 
 
 
 






EXHIBIT INDEX
 
 
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description
1.1
 
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated September 28, 2012, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.
1.2
 
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated September 28, 2012, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.
1.3
 
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated September 28, 2012, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
5.1
 
Opinion of Venable LLP, dated September 28, 2012, regarding the legality of the Common Shares.
8.1
 
Opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP, dated October 1, 2012, regarding certain tax matters.
23.1
 
Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
23.2
 
Consent of Hunton & Williams LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1 hereto).

_____________
† Filed herewith.