The take-private acquisition of Sotherly Hotels Inc., which delivered a 152.7% premium to shareholders, has been named a finalist in two categories of the 25th Annual M&A Advisor Awards. FBT Gibbons served as legal advisor to the special committee of independent directors of Sotherly’s board of directors in the transaction, which is nominated for Real Estate Deal of the Year and Corporate/Strategic Deal of the Year ($500 million to $1 billion).
The acquisition of the publicly traded hospitality real estate investment trust (REIT) was completed Feb. 12, 2026, following shareholder approval in January. Under the terms of the agreement, KW Kingfisher LLC, a joint venture of Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners and Ascendant Capital Partners, acquired Sotherly’s outstanding common shares for $2.25 per share in cash, representing the highest premium paid for a publicly traded REIT in the preceding five years.
The transaction involved a portfolio of 10 full-service hotels spanning seven states and totaling 2,786 rooms. Completing the acquisition required coordination across corporate and securities, real estate, and finance matters, including financing arrangements associated with the hotel properties and the transaction’s closing.
The FBT Gibbons team was led by Jeff Hallos and James Giesel on M&A and securities matters, with Josh Brock and Geoffrey White advising on real estate and finance matters.
The annual M&A Advisor Awards recognize significant transactions and the professionals and organizations involved in mergers, acquisitions, and corporate finance. Winners will be announced Nov. 17, 2026, during the Awards Gala at the Future of Dealmaking Summit in New York City.