sc13g07738ash_05252016.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G
(Rule 13d-102)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)
 
(Amendment No.   )1
 

Ashford Inc.
 (Name of Issuer)
 
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
 (Title of Class of Securities)
 
044104 10 7
 (CUSIP Number)
 
May 25, 2016
 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
 
 

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:
 
   x  Rule 13d-1(b)
 
   o  Rule 13d-1(c)
 
   o  Rule 13d-1(d)
 
 

_______________
1  The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
 
      The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
 
 
 
 
CUSIP NO. 044104 10 7
 
1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
 
Raging Capital Management, LLC
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
  (a) o
  (b) o
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
4
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
DELAWARE
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
- 0 -
6
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
182,282
7
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
- 0 -
8
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
182,282
9
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
182,282
10
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
¨
11
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
9.1%
12
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
IA

 
2
 
CUSIP NO. 044104 10 7
 
1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
 
William C. Martin
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
  (a) o
  (b) o
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
4
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
USA
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
- 0 -
6
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
182,282
7
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
- 0 -
8
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
182,282
9
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
182,282
10
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
¨
11
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
9.1%
12
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
HC

 
3
 
CUSIP NO. 044104 10 7
 
Item 1(a).
Name of Issuer:
 
Ashford Inc.
 
Item 1(b).
Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:
 
14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1100
Dallas, Texas 75254

Item 2(a).
Name of Person Filing:
 
This statement is filed by Raging Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Raging Capital”), and William C. Martin.  Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.”
 
Raging Capital is the Investment Manager of Raging Capital Master Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Raging Master”), in whose name the Issuer’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Shares”), are held.  William C. Martin is the Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Member of Raging Capital.  Raging Master has delegated to Raging Capital the sole authority to vote and dispose of the securities held by Raging Master pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement, dated November 9, 2012 (the “IMA”).  The IMA may be terminated by any party thereto effective at the close of business on the last day of any fiscal quarter by giving the other party not less than sixty-one days’ written notice.  As a result, each of Raging Capital and William C. Martin may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares held by Raging Master.
 
The filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that the Reporting Persons are, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the beneficial owners of any of the securities reported herein.  Each of the Reporting Persons specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein.  Without limiting the foregoing sentence, Raging Master specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by it by virtue of its inability to vote or dispose of such securities as a result of the IMA.
 
Item 2(b).
Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
 
The principal business address of each of Raging Capital and William C. Martin is Ten Princeton Avenue, P.O. Box 228, Rocky Hill, New Jersey 08553.
 
Item 2(c).
Citizenship:
 
Raging Capital is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.  William C. Martin is a citizen of the United States of America.
 
Item 2(d).
Title of Class of Securities:
 
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
 
Item 2(e).
CUSIP Number:
 
044104 10 7
 
 
4
 
CUSIP NO. 044104 10 7
 
Item 3.
If this statement is filed pursuant to Section 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
 
 
/  /
Not Applicable
 
 
(a)
/  /
Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).
 
 
(b)
/  /
Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
 
 
(c)
/  /
Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
 
 
(d)
/  /
Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).
 
 
(e)
/X /
Investment adviser in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
 
 
(f)
/  /
Employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
 
 
(g)
/X/
Parent holding company or control person in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).
 
 
(h)
/  /
Savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).
 
 
(i)
/  /
Church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-3).
 
 
(j)
/  /
Non-U.S. institution in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
 
 
(k)
/  /
Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
 
Item 4.
Ownership.
 
All ownership information reported in this Item 4 is as of the close of business on May 25, 2016.
 
Raging Capital
 
 
(a)
Amount beneficially owned:
 
 
182,282 Shares
 
 
(b)
Percent of class:
 
 
9.1% (based upon 2,010,067 Shares outstanding, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as of May 6, 2016 as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2016).
 
 
(c)
Number of shares as to which such person has:
 
 
(i)
Sole power to vote or to direct the vote
 
 
0 Shares
 
 
5
 
CUSIP NO. 044104 10 7
 
 
(ii)
Shared power to vote or to direct the vote
 
 
182,282 Shares
 
 
(iii)
Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
 
 
0 Shares
 
 
(iv)
Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
 
 
182,282 Shares
 
Mr. Martin
 
 
(a)
Amount beneficially owned:
 
 
182,282 Shares
 
 
(b)
Percent of class:
 
 
9.1% (based upon 2,010,067 Shares outstanding, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as of May 6, 2016 as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2016).
 
 
(c)
Number of shares as to which such person has:
 
 
(i)
Sole power to vote or to direct the vote
 
 
0 Shares
 
 
(ii)
Shared power to vote or to direct the vote
 
 
182,282 Shares
 
 
(iii)
Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
 
 
0 Shares
 
 
(iv)
Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
 
 
182,282 Shares
 
Item 5.
Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
 
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [  ].
 
Item 6.
Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
 
Not Applicable.
 
 
6
 
CUSIP NO. 044104 10 7
 
Item 7.
Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
 
See Item 2(a).
 
Item 8.
Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
 
See Exhibit 99.1.
 
Item 9.
Notice of Dissolution of Group.
 
Not Applicable.
 
Item 10.
Certifications.
 
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
 
 
7
 
CUSIP NO. 044104 10 7
 
SIGNATURES
 
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated:  May 25, 2016
  
 
Raging Capital Management, LLC
   
 
By:
/s/ William C. Martin
   
Name:
William C. Martin
   
Title:
Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Member


 
/s/ William C. Martin
 
William C. Martin
 
 
 
8