BETHESDA, MD–Jonathan Litt, head of activist investment firm Land and Buildings, has come out against RLJ Lodging's newest board of directors appointment: Robert J. McCarthy, former chief operations officer and group president at Marriott International. RLJ apparently chose McCarthy over suggestions made by Land and Buildings for the position.

McCarthy's appointment increases the size of the company's board from eight to nine members, following Patricia Gibson who was tapped to join the board in September 2017.

Land and Buildings was scathing in its assessment of this latest move. It wrote:

While we agree that the RLJ management team, CEO Ross Bierkan and CFO/COO Leslie Hale, are in desperate need of both capital allocation and operating experience – given the horrible performance of RLJ shares following numerous capital allocation missteps – the most glaring need in the boardroom is relevant capital markets and REIT experience.

And

The interests of Executive Chairman Robert Johnson, CEO Ross Bierkan and CFO/COO Leslie Hale are clearly misaligned with the interests of RLJ shareholders given the outsized compensation they earned in 2016 of $3.6 million, $4.4 million and $4 million, respectively.

Land and Buildings added that it has preserved its rights to seek the election of director candidates at the upcoming 2018 Annual Meeting.

Land and Buildings has been disgruntled with the REIT since at least last summer when RLJ rejected an all cash offer from Blackstone for north of $24 per share. Last September the activist shareholder urged RLJ to consider selling itself, noting in a statement that management has been disappointing and the REIT's performance had not unlocked shareholder value.

RLJ responded to the public letter with a statement disputing Land and Building's opinion.

At the start of September RLJ Lodging Trust closed on its $7 billion merger with FelCor Lodging Trust and in this endeavor as well, Land and Buildings has found fault with the REIT. It noted in its letter that RLJ issued equity “at a substantial discount to net asset value to help the FelCor acquisition” and that there was a lack of transparency on synergies related to the merger with FelCor.

Save

Instant Insights /

Jonathan Litt Doesn't Like RLJ's Latest Board Appointment

Related Stories

Recommended For You