Skip to main content

Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust Inc

For the period ended Sep 30, 2024. Filed Nov 7, 2024.

View on SEC.gov

About this filing

A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.

Sep 30, 2024 · Filed Nov 7, 2024

WHLRP$12.80-0.4%Stored close · as of Oct 26, 2026

Extracted filing text, with the paragraph anchors used by the comparison.

See the whole filing, with its images and exhibits

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

  1. Business and Organization

Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. is a Maryland corporation formed on June 23, 2011. The Trust serves as the general partner of Wheeler REIT, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership"), which was formed as a Virginia limited partnership on April 5, 2012. At September 30, 2024, the Company owned 99.69% of the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2024, the Trust owned and operated seventy-three retail shopping centers andtwo undeveloped properties in South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, Connecticut, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Maryland and West Virginia. These centers and undeveloped properties include the properties acquired through the Cedar Acquisition (defined below). Accordingly, the use of the word "Company", "we," "our" or "us" refers to the Trust and consolidated subsidiaries, except where the context otherwise requires.

The Trust through the Operating Partnership owns Wheeler Interests ("WI") and Wheeler Real Estate, LLC ("WRE") (WRE and, together with WI, the "Operating Companies"). The Operating Companies are taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRS") to accommodate serving the non-REIT properties since applicable REIT regulations consider the income derived from these services to be "bad" income subject to taxation. The regulations allow for costs incurred by the Company commensurate with the services performed for the non-REIT properties to be allocated to a TRS.

Acquisition of Cedar Realty Trust

On August 22, 2022, the Company completed a merger transaction (the "Cedar Acquisition") with Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. ("Cedar"). As a result of the merger, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Cedar’s common stock, which ceased to be publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). Through this acquisition, the Company acquired an additional 19 retail shopping centers in the Northeast. Cedar’s outstanding 7.25% Series B Preferred Stock and 6.50% Series C Preferred Stock ("Cedar Series C Preferred Stock") remain outstanding and continue to trade on the NYSE. As a result of the Cedar Acquisition, Cedar became a subsidiary of the REIT.

  1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation/Basis of Preparation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and include all of the information and disclosures required by U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") for interim reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statement disclosures. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for fair presentation (including normal recurring accruals) have been included. All material balances and transactions between the consolidated entities of the Company have been eliminated. All per share amounts, common units and shares outstanding, warrants, and conversion features of the Convertible Notes for all periods presented reflect our August 2023 Reverse Stock Split, May 2024 Reverse Stock Split, June 2024 Reverse Stock Split and September 2024 Reverse Stock Split, which took effect on August 17, 2023, May 16, 2024, June 27, 2024 and September 19, 2024, respectively. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis in accordance with GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods covered by the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the "2023 Form 10-K").

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q include Cedar starting from the date of the Cedar Acquisition. We have determined that this acquisition is not a variable interest entity, as defined under the consolidation topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB"), Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"), and we evaluated such entity under the voting model and concluded we should consolidate the entity. Under the voting model, we consolidate the entity if we determine that we, directly or indirectly, have greater than 50% of the voting rights and that other equity holders do not have substantive participating rights.

Supplemental Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Information

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
20242023
Non-Cash Transactions:
Conversion of common units to Common Stock$—$57
Conversion of Series D Preferred Stock to Common Stock—140
Accretion of Preferred Stock discounts65438
Redemption of Series D Preferred Stock to Common Stock6,206—
Buildings and improvements included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities2,3891,979
Other Cash Transactions:
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities$719$798
Cash paid for interest19,30818,951

Other Expense

Other expense represents expenses which are non-operating in nature. Other expenses were $0.3 million and $1.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, which primarily consisted of capital structure costs, including repurchase of Convertible Notes and legal and other expenses incurred in connection with the 2024 Reverse Stock Splits, the registration of our Common Stock to issue in settlement of Series D Preferred Stock redemptions and redemptions of the Series D Preferred Stock by holders thereof. Other expenses were $2.2 million and $5.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, which primarily consisted of capital structure costs including repurchase of Convertible Notes and legal and other expenses incurred in connection with an exchange offer for the Company's outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock (the "Exchange Offer"), redemptions by holders of the Series D Preferred Stock and the August 2023 Reverse Stock Split.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting standards that have been recently issued or proposed by the FASB or other standard-setting bodies are not currently applicable to the Company or are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Reclassifications

The Company has reclassified certain prior period amounts in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in order to be consistent with the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net loss.

  1. Real Estate

A significant portion of the Company’s land, buildings and improvements serve as collateral for its secured term loans. Accordingly, restrictions exist as to the encumbered property’s transferability, use and other common rights typically associated with property ownership.

The Company’s depreciation expense on investment properties for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 totaled $4.7 million and $4.5 million, respectively. The Company’s depreciation expense on investment properties for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 totaled $14.0 million and $13.6 million, respectively.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded impairment charges of $1.2 million on Oregon Avenue, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These impairment charges are included in operating income in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Assets Held for Sale and Dispositions

At September 30, 2024, assets held for sale include South Philadelphia, as the Company has committed to a plan to sell components of the property. There wereno assets held for sale as of December 31, 2023.

Assets held for sale and associated liabilities consisted of the following(in thousands, unaudited):

September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
Real estate, net$24,408$—
Receivables, net - unbilled straight-line rent431—
Deferred costs and other assets, net328—
Total assets held for sale$25,167$—
September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
Below market lease intangibles, net$163$—
Total liabilities associated with assets held for sale$163$—

The following properties were sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands, unaudited):

Disposal DatePropertyContract PriceGain (Loss)Net Proceeds
September 12, 2024Kings Plaza$14,200$6,509$13,746
September 11, 2024Edenton Commons Land Parcel1,4005741,312
June 26, 2024Oakland Commons6,0003,3635,662
June 18, 2024Harbor Point Land Parceln/a(480)n/a
July 11, 2023Carll's Corner Outparcel3,0002,2042,759

Harbor Point Land Parcel Disposition

On June 18, 2024, the Company entered into a settlement agreement (the "Harbor Point Settlement Agreement") with the City of Grove, Oklahoma and the Grove Economic Development Authority of Grove, Oklahoma (collectively, the "City of Grove"), which, among other things, provided for the transfer of the Harbor Point Land Parcel and a one-time payment of $160 thousand to the City of Grove in exchange for a release of the Company from all increment taxes and other obligations under the Economic Development Agreement the Company had entered into with the City of Grove and the dismissal of the litigation commenced by the City of Grove against the Company related thereto.

  1. Investment Securities - Related Party

In 2023, the Company subscribed for an investment in the amount of $10.0 million for limited partnership interests in Stilwell Activist Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("SAI"). On June 1, 2024, the Company subscribed for an additional investment in the amount of $0.5 million for limited partnership interests in SAI. The investment objective of SAI is to seek long-term capital appreciation through investing primarily in publicly-traded undervalued financial institutions or businesses with a strong financial component, or the securities of any of them, and pursuing an activist shareholder agenda with respect to those institutions.

Stilwell Value LLC ("Value") is the general partner of SAI. Joseph Stilwell, a member of the Company's Board of Directors, is the managing member of Value and a limited partner in funds advised by Value. Additionally, E.J. Borrack, a member of the Board of Directors, serves as the General Counsel to Value and its affiliated entities, including SAI and related funds, and is a limited partner in one of the funds advised by Value. Megan Parisi, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, serves as the Director of Communications to Value and its affiliated entities, including SAI and related funds, is a non-managing member of Value and is a limited partner in one of the funds advised by Value.

The Company’s subscriptions were approved by the disinterested directors of the Company, and, after the formation of the Related Person Transactions Committee, by that Committee.

A portion of SAI's underlying investments are in the Company's own equity and debt securities.

SAI records investment transactions based on trade date. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are determined on a specific identification basis. Dividend income, net of withholding taxes, and dividend expense are recognized on the ex-dividend date, and interest income and expense are recognized on an accrual basis. Discounts and premiums to the face amount of debt securities are accreted and amortized using the effective interest rate method over the lives of the respective debt securities.

A limited partner in SAI may request a withdrawal after the expiration of the first anniversary of the date its investment was accepted into SAI. After the expiration of this lock-up period, withdrawal requests can be made quarterly and are generally paid out on a quarterly basis in accordance with the terms of the SAI limited partnership agreement.

In consideration for management, administrative and operational services, limited partners of SAI pay a management fee to an affiliate of Value each calendar quarter, in advance, equal to 0.25% (an annualized rate of 1%) of each limited partner’s capital account balance on the first day of such calendar quarter. In addition, as of the last day of each specified performance period, an incentive allocation of 20% of the amount by which the "positive performance change," if any, that has been credited to the capital account of a limited partner during such period exceeds any positive balance in such limited partner’s "carryforward account," is debited from the limited partner’s capital account and is simultaneously credited to the capital account of Value.

The Company’s SAI investment is accounted for under the equity method and measured at net asset value as a practical expedient and has not been classified within the fair value hierarchy. All gains and losses, realized and unrealized, and fees are recorded through "gains (losses) on investment securities, net" in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. As of September 30, 2024, the fair value of the Company’s SAI inve stment was $12.0 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the gain on investment securities, net was $0.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, gain on investment securities, net was $0.0 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

  1. Deferred Costs and Other Assets, Net

Deferred costs and other assets, net of accumulated amortization are as follows(in thousands, unaudited):

September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
Leases in place, net$11,326$16,663
Lease origination costs, net6,6217,461
Ground lease sandwich interest, net9141,119
Tenant relationships, net178280
Legal and marketing costs, net194278
Prepaid expenses4,2782,224
Other—3
Total$23,511$28,028

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company’s intangible accumulated amortization totaled$70.1 million and $69.9 million, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s intangible amortization expense totaled $1.5 million and $2.4 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s intangible amortization expense totaled $5.2 million and $8.1 million, respectively.

  1. Loans Payable

The Company’s loans payable consist of the following (in thousands, except monthly payment, unaudited):

Property/Description · Monthly Payment · Interest Rate · Maturity · September 30, 2024 · December 31, 2023
Cypress Shopping Center$34,3604.70%July 2024$—$5,769
Conyers CrossingInterest only4.67%October 2025—5,960
Winslow Plaza$24,2954.82%December 20254,2714,331
Tuckernuck$32,2025.00%March 20264,6584,771
Chesapeake Square$23,8574.70%August 2026—4,014
Sangaree/Tri-County$32,3294.78%December 2026—5,990
Timpany PlazaInterest only7.27%September 202811,5609,060
Village of Martinsville$89,6644.28%July 202914,42614,755
Laburnum Square$37,8424.28%September 20297,6557,665
Rivergate (1)$100,2224.25%September 203117,20917,557
Convertible NotesInterest only7.00%December 203130,88231,530
Term loan, 22 propertiesInterest only4.25%July 203275,00075,000
JANAF (2)Interest only5.31%July 203260,00060,000
Cedar term loan, 10 propertiesInterest only5.25%November 2032110,000110,000
Patuxent Crossing/Coliseum MarketplaceInterest only6.35%January 203325,00025,000
Term loan, 12 propertiesInterest only6.19%June 203361,10061,100
Term loan, 8 propertiesInterest only6.24%June 203353,07053,070
Term loan, 5 propertiesInterest only6.80%July 203425,500—
Total Principal Balance500,331495,572
Unamortized deferred financing cost(17,438)(17,998)
Total Loans Payable, net$482,893$477,574

(1) In October 2026, the interest rate under this loan resets based on the 5-year U.S. Treasury Rate, plus 2.70%, with a floor of 4.25%.

(2) Collateralized by JANAF properties.

Cedar Revolving Credit Agreement

On February 29, 2024, the Company entered into a revolving credit agreement with KeyBank National Association to draw up to $9.5 million (the "Cedar Revolving Credit Agreement"). The interest rate under the Cedar Revolving Credit Agreement was the daily SOFR, plus applicable margins of 0.10% plus 2.75%. Interest payments were due monthly, and any outstanding principal was due at maturity on February 28, 2025. The Cedar Revolving Credit Agreement could have been extended, at the Company's option, for up totwo additional three-month periods, subject to customary conditions. The Cedar Revolving Credit Agreement was collateralized by 6 properties, consisting of Carll's Corner, Fieldstone Marketplace, Oakland Commons, Kings Plaza, Oregon Avenue and South Philadelphia, and proceeds were used for capital expenditures and tenant improvements for such properties. Upon the dispositions of Oakland Commons and Kings Plaza, the properties were released from collateral, the outstanding borrowings were repaid and the Cedar Revolving Credit Agreement was closed on September 12, 2024.

Timpany Plaza Loan Agreement

On March 28, 2024, the Company received $1.0 million of $2.5 million in deferred loan proceeds under the Timpany Plaza Loan Agreement following the Company's satisfaction of certain lease-related contingencies. On September 30, 2024, the Company received the remaining balance of $1.5 million following the Company's satisfaction of other lease-related contingencies.

Term Loan, Five Properties

On June 28, 2024, the Company entered into a term loan agreement (the "Term Loan Agreement,5 Properties") with Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC, for $25.5 million at a fixed rate of 6.80% with interest-only payments due monthly. Commencing on August 10, 2029, until the maturity date of July 10, 2034, monthly principal and interest payments will be made based on a 30-year amortization schedule calculated based on the principal amount outstanding at that time. The Term Loan Agreement,5 Properties' proceeds were used to refinance four loans, including paying $0.4 million in defeasance. The Term Loan Agreement,5 Properties is collateralized by Cypress Shopping Center, Conyers Crossing, Chesapeake Square, Sangaree Plaza and Tri-County Plaza.

Scheduled Principal Payments

The Company’s scheduled principal repayments on indebtedness as of September 30, 2024 are as follows (in thousands, unaudited):

For the remaining three months ending December 31, 2024$355
December 31, 20255,953
December 31, 20266,450
December 31, 20272,824
December 31, 202816,091
December 31, 202924,434
Thereafter444,224
Total principal repayments and debt maturities$500,331

On January 17, 2024, the Company paid down $0.6 million of the Convertible Notes through an open market purchase of 23,280 units at a total purchase price of $1.3 million. As a result of that transaction, the Company recognized a $0.7 million loss, which represents the fair value of the purchase price over the amount of principal reduction. The loss is included in "other expense" in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued an aggregate of 28,105 shares of its Common Stock, having an aggregate fair value of $0.4 million, to settle conversion requests of the holders of the Convertible Notes comprising an aggregate principal amount of $0.1 million, which resulted in an aggregate net loss on conversion of Convertible Notes of $0.4 million.

As of September 30, 2024, the conversion price for the Convertible Notes was approximately $2.37 per share of the Company’s Common Stock (approximately 10.53 shares of Common Stock for each $25.00 of principal amount of the Convertible Notes being converted).

Interest expense on the Convertible Notes consisted of the following (in thousands, except for shares):

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,Series B Preferred Stocknumber of shares (1)Series D Preferred Stocknumber of shares (1)Convertible Note interest at 7% couponFair value adjustmentInterest expense
2024—109,676$1,624$948$2,572
2023—160,455$1,718$851$2,569
(1) Shares issued as interest payment on Convertible Notes.

Fair Value Measurements

The fair value of the Company’s fixed rate secured term loans was estimated using available market information and discounted cash flow analyses based on borrowing rates the Company believes it could obtain with similar terms and maturities. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the fair value of the Company’s fixed rate secured term loans, which were determined to be Level 3 within the valuation hierarchy, was$470.1 million and$420.8 million, respectively, and the carrying value of such loans, was $456.6 million and$451.2 million, respectively.

The fair value of the Convertible Notes was estimated using available market information. As of September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the fair value of the Convertible Notes, which were determined to be Level 1 within the valuation hierarchy, was $183.4 million and $75.7 million, respectively, and the carrying value, was $26.3 million and $26.4 million, respectively.

  1. Derivative Liabilities

Fair Value of Warrants

The Company utilized the Black-Scholes valuation method to calculate the fair value of the warrants noted below. Significant observableand unobservable inputs include stock price, conversion price, risk-free rate, term, likelihood of an event of contractual conversion and expected volatility. The Black-Scholes valuation method simulation is a Level 3 valuation technique because it requires the development of significant internal assumptions in addition to observable market indicators. The warrants noted below contain terms and features that give rise to derivative liability classification.

As of the close of business on March 12, 2024 (the third anniversary of the issuance of that certain Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated March 12, 2021, to the holders thereof (the "Warrant")), the exercise price of the Warrant was reset to an amount equal to the product of the Common Stock volume weighted average price as provided under the Warrant, multiplied by a factor of 1.25 for Tranche A,1.50 for Tranche B and 2.50 for Tranche C: approximately $83.43, $100.12, and $166.87, respectively.

Warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock outstanding at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are as follows:

Warrant NameWarrantsExercise PriceExpiration Date
Wilmington Warrant Tranche A142$83.433/12/2026
Wilmington Warrant Tranche B118100.123/12/2026
Wilmington Warrant Tranche C35166.873/12/2026

In measuring the warrant liability, the Company used the following inputs:

September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
Common Stock price$8.09$0.31 (1)
Weighted average contractual term to maturity (years)1.5 years2.2 years
Range of expected market volatility %247.25%137.71%
Range of risk free interest rate3.82%4.23%
(1) Common stock price as of December 31, 2023 and was not restated for any subsequent stock splits.

Fair Value of Conversion Features Related to Convertible Notes

The Company identified certain embedded derivatives related to the conversion features of the Convertible Notes. In accordance with ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging Activities, the embedded conversion options contained within the Convertible Notes were accounted for as derivative liabilities at the date of issuance and shall be adjusted to fair value through each reporting date. The Company utilized a binomial lattice model to calculate the fair value of the embedded derivatives. Significant observableand unobservable inputs include conversion price, stock price, dividend rate, expected volatility, risk-free rate, optional conversion price and term. The binomial lattice model is a Level 3 valuation technique because it requires the development of significant internal assumptions in addition to observable market indicators.

In measuring the embedded derivative liability, the Company used the following inputs:

September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
Conversion price$2.38 (1)$0.16 (1) (2)
Common Stock price$8.09$0.31 (2)
Contractual term to maturity (years)7.3 years8.0 years
Expected market volatility %155.00%100.00%
Risk-free interest rate3.70%3.90%
Traded WHLRL price, % of par594.00%240.00%
(1) Represents the volume weighted average of the Company's closing Common Stock price for the 10 trading days preceding the valuation, less a discount of 45%.
(2) Value as of December 31, 2023 and was not restated for any subsequent stock splits.

The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in fair value of the Company's derivative liabilities, which include both the warrant and embedded derivative liabilities (in thousands, unaudited):

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023
Balance at the beginning of period$3,653$7,111
Changes in fair value - Warrants9(495)
Changes in fair value - Convertible Notes49,765(2,963)
Balance at end of period$53,427$3,653
  1. Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Commitments

The Company is the lessee under several ground leases and for its corporate headquarters; all are accounted for as operating leases. Most leases includeone or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from 5 to 50 years. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, the weighted average remaining lease term of our leases was 36 and 36 years, respectively. Rent expense under the operating lease agreements was $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Rent expense under the operating lease agreements was $0.7 million and $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Litigation

The Company is involved in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of its business, including, but not limited to commercial disputes. The Company believes that such litigation, claims and administrative proceedings will not have a material adverse impact on its financial position or its results of operations. The Company records a liability when it considers the loss probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. In addition, the below legal proceedings are in process:

On April 8, 2022, several purported holders of Cedar’s outstanding preferred stock filed a putative class action complaint against Cedar, Cedar's of Directors prior to the Merger, and WHLR in Montgomery County Circuit Court, Maryland entitled Sydney, et al. v. Cedar Realty Trust, Inc., et al., (Case No. C-15-CV-22-001527).

On May 6, 2022, the Plaintiffs in Sydney filed a motion for a preliminary injunction. Also on May, 6, 2022, a purported holder of Cedar’s outstanding preferred stock filed a separate putative class action complaint against Cedar and Cedar's Board of Directors prior to the Cedar Acquisition in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, entitled Kim v. Cedar Realty Trust, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 22-cv-01103. On May 11, 2022, Cedar, former Board of Directors of Cedar and the Company removed the Sydney action to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Case No. 8:22-cv-01142-GLR. On May 16, 2022, the court ordered that a hearing on the

Sydney Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction be held on June 22, 2022. On June 2, 2022, the Plaintiffs in Kim also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction. The court consolidated the motions for preliminary injunction.

On June 23, 2022, following a hearing, the court issued an order denying both motions for preliminary injunction, holding that the Plaintiffs in both cases were unlikely to succeed on the merits and that Plaintiffs had not established that they would suffer irreparable harm if the injunction was denied.

By order dated July 11, 2022, the court consolidated the Sydney and Kim cases and set an August 24, 2022 deadline for the Plaintiffs in both cases to file a consolidated amended complaint. Plaintiffs filed their amended complaint on August 24, 2022. The amended complaint alleges on behalf of a putative class of holders of Cedar's preferred stock, among other things, claims for breach of contract against Cedar and Cedar's former Board of Directors with respect to the articles supplementary governing the terms of Cedar's preferred stock, breach of fiduciary duty against Cedar's former Board of Directors, and tortious interference and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty against the Company. On October 7, 2022, Defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint. Plaintiffs opposed the motion to dismiss and filed a motion to certify a question of law to Maryland’s Supreme Court. On August 1, 2023, the court issued a decision and order granting Defendants’ motions to dismiss.

The Plaintiffs appealed the dismissal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Case No. 23-1905. On September 4, 2024, the Fourth Circuit affirmed the District Court order dismissing the complaint.

Daniel Khoshaba v. Joseph D. Stilwell, et al., Civil Action No. 2:24CV237 in the United States District Court for the Easter District of Virginia. On April 10, 2024, Daniel Khoshaba, a holder of the Company's Common Stock and former CEO of the Company, filed a derivative action on behalf of the Company and putative class action on behalf of common stockholders who had not purchased the Convertible Notes in a rights offering alleging that the current and certain former directors of the Company breached their duty to the Company and its common stockholders, and that certain of those directors and an officer of the Company were unjustly enriched. The complaint primarily asserts the Defendants failed to take sufficient action to mitigate the potential dilution that could be caused by the redemption rights of holders of Series D Preferred Stock and that the Defendants should not have authorized dividends on the Convertible Notes sold in the rights offering to be paid in Series D Preferred Stock. The Company is named as a nominal defendant in the case and no claims are asserted against it. The Company is providing indemnification (including legal fees and costs) to the directors and officer Defendants. On June 10, 2024, the individual Defendants and the other parties filed motions to dismiss the complaint. On September 13, 2024, the District Court issued an opinion (i) granting the directors’ motion to dismiss the derivative claims, finding no demand was made and that demand would not have been futile; (ii) granting the motion to dismiss the unjust enrichment claim against the directors based on a failure to plead facts supporting the elements of such a claim, and (ii) denying the motions to dismiss on all other grounds. At this juncture, discovery is ongoing and the outcome of the litigation remains uncertain.

  1. Rental Revenue and Tenant Receivables

Tenant Receivables

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company’s allowance for uncollectible tenant receivables totaled $1.1 million and $0.9 million, respectively. At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were $8.4 million and $7.9 million, respectively, in unbilled straight-line rent, which is included in "receivables, net."

Lease Contract Revenue

The below table disaggregates the Company’s revenue by type of service (in thousands, unaudited):

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024202320242023
Base rent$18,317$18,190$55,364$54,316
Tenant reimbursements - variable lease revenue5,4075,03017,14915,467
Above (below) market lease amortization, net8341,2322,6073,865
Straight-line rents1592858851,004
Percentage rent - variable lease revenue222217460567
Lease termination fees6—237115
Other4505498191,257
Total25,39525,50377,52176,591
Credit adjustments on operating lease receivables(603)(299)(540)(481)
Total$24,792$25,204$76,981$76,110
  1. Equity and Mezzanine Equity

2024 Reverse Stock Splits

On March 5, 2024, in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law, our Board of Directors declared the 2024 Reverse Stock Splits advisable, and directed that they be submitted to the Company’s stockholders for consideration. The Company’s stockholders approved the 2024 Reverse Stock Splits, including such other reverse stock splits as may be determined by the Board of Directors through March 31, 2025, at the annual meeting held on May 6, 2024.

The May 2024, June 2024, and September 2024 Reverse Stock Splits were effective on May 16, June 27, and September 19, 2024, respectively, at the reverse stock split ratios of one-for-24, one-for-five, and one-for-three, respectively. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the 2024 Reverse Stock Splits. Stockholders who would have otherwise been issued a fractional share of the Company’s Common Stock as a result of each of the 2024 Reverse Stock Splits instead received a cash payment in lieu of such fractional share in an amount equal to the applicable fraction multiplied by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on Nasdaq on each effective date thereof, without any interest.

All share and share-related information presented in this Form 10-Q, including our condensed consolidated financial statements, has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the decreased number of shares resulting from the 2024 Reverse Stock Splits, unless otherwise noted.

Series D Preferred Stock - Redeemable Preferred Stock

At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had 6,000,000 authorized shares of Series D Preferred Stock, without par value with a $25.00 liquidation preference per share, or $96.9 million and $97.1 million in aggregate liquidation value, respectively.

After September 21, 2023, each holder of the Series D Preferred Stock may, at such holder's option, request that the Company redeem any or all of such holder's shares on a monthly basis (each redemption date, a "Holder Redemption Date") at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, to and including the Holder Redemption Date, payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or any combination thereof, at the Company's option. Redemptions commenced on September 22, 2023, and the first Holder Redemption Date was October 5, 2023.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company processed redemptions for an aggregate of 232,509 shares of Series D Preferred Stock from the holders thereof. Accordingly, the Company issued 475,361 shares of Common Stock in settlement of an aggregate redemption price of approximately $9.0 million.

The value of the Common Stock issued to holders redeeming their Series D Preferred Stock is the volume weighted average price (the "VWAP") per share of our Common Stock for theten consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the Holder Redemption Date as reported on Nasdaq. During the three and nine months ended September 30,

2024, the Company has realized a gain of $2.5 million and $2.7 million in the aggregate, respectively, due to the closing price of the Common Stock on the last VWAP date differing from the VWAP used to calculate the shares issued in each redemption round.

At September 30, 2024, the Company had received requests to redeem 85,019 shares of Series D Preferred Stock with respect to the October 2024 Holder Redemption Date. As such, the redemption of these shares of the Series D Preferred Stock is considered certain at September 30, 2024 and the liquidation value associated with these shares of $3.3 million is presented as a liability.

At September 21, 2024, the annual dividend rate increased by 2% of the liquidation preference per annum to 14.75%.

The changes in the carrying value of the Series D Preferred Stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 are as follows (in thousands, except per share data, unaudited):

Series D Preferred Stock
SharesValue
Balance December 31, 20232,590,458$96,705
Series D Preferred Stock redemptions(84,561)(2,826)
Undeclared dividends—2,020
Balance March 31, 20242,505,89795,899
Paid-in-kind interest, issuance of Preferred Stock109,6762,031
Accretion to liquidation preference (1)—710
Undeclared dividends—2,000
Balance June 30, 20242,615,573100,640
Series D Preferred Stock redemptions (2)(147,948)(9,098)
Undeclared dividends—2,049
Balance September 30, 20242,467,625$93,591

(1) The Series D Preferred Stock issued for paid-in-kind interest on the Convertible Notes was adjusted to the current carrying value.

(2) The value is net of the October 2024 Holder Redemption Date redemption liquidation value of $3.3 million, which is represented as a liability; however, the corresponding 85,019 shares has not been adjusted for as they remained outstanding at September 30, 2024.

Series D Preferred Stock
SharesValue
Balance December 31, 20223,152,392$101,518
Accretion of Preferred Stock discount—125
Conversion of Series D Preferred Stock to Common Stock(4,244)(140)
Undeclared dividends—2,118
Balance March 31, 20233,148,148103,621
Paid-in-kind interest, issuance of Preferred Stock160,4552,006
Accretion of Preferred Stock discount—124
Undeclared dividends—2,115
Balance June 30, 20233,308,603107,866
Accretion of Preferred Stock discount—124
Undeclared dividends—2,269
Accretion to liquidation preference (1)—13,542
Series D Preferred Stock redemptions—(6,448)
Balance September 30, 20233,308,603$117,353

(1) As of the October 2023 Holder Redemption Date, the Series D Preferred Stock was adjusted to $25.00 liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends, representing a $13.5 million adjustment to its carrying value.

Noncontrolling Interests - Consolidated Subsidiary

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, Cedar repurchased and retired 77,075 shares of Cedar Series C Preferred Stock in a series of repurchase transactions. The shares of Cedar Series C Preferred Stock were repurchased for an aggregate of $1.0 million at an average price of $13.40 per share, representing a premium to the book value of $9.75 per share. The repurchase of the noncontrolling interests caused the recognition of $0.3 million deemed distributions during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. There wereno repurchases of noncontrolling interests in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.

On September 25, 2024, the Company announced and commenced a "modified Dutch auction" tender offer to purchase up to an aggregate amount of $9.0 million of shares of the Cedar Series C Preferred Stock at a price of not less than $13.25 nor greater than $15.50 per Cedar Series C Preferred Stock, to the sellers in cash, less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest (the "Cedar Tender Offer"). Following the expiration of the Cedar Tender Offer on October 24, 2024, Cedar accepted for purchase 688,670 shares of its Cedar Series C Preferred Stock at $14.00 per share for approximately $9.6 million in the aggregate. See Note 12 for additional details.

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is calculated by dividing net income (loss) attributable to the Company’s common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period including participating securities.

Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into shares of common stock.

The following table summarizes the potential dilution of conversion of Operating Partnership common units ("Common Units"), the Company's Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred Stock"), Series D Preferred Stock, warrants and Convertible Notes into the Company's Common Stock. These have been excluded from the Company’s diluted earnings per share calculation because their inclusion would be antidilutive.

September 30, 2024
Outstanding sharesPotential Dilutive Shares
Common units1313
Series B Preferred Stock3,379,142587
Series D Preferred Stock2,467,62522,449,082
Warrants to purchase Common Stock—295
Convertible Notes—13,004,263

Dividends

The following table summarizes the Series D Preferred Stock dividends (in thousands, except for per share amounts, unaudited):

Series D Preferred Stock
Arrears DateUndeclared DividendsPer Share
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024$6,069$2.46
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023$6,502$1.97

The total cumulative dividends in arrears for Series D Preferred Stock is $35.2 million as of September 30, 2024 ($14.28 per share). There wereno dividends declared to holders of Common Stock, the Company's Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock or Series D Preferred Stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.

  1. Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions with Cedar

The Company performs property management and leasing services for Cedar, a subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to the management agreement entered into by and between the companies (the "Wheeler Real Estate Company Management Agreement"). During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, Cedar paid the Company $0.0 million and $0.9 million for these services, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, Cedar paid the Company $0.7 million and $1.1 million for these services, respectively. The Operating Partnership and Cedar’s operating partnership, Cedar Realty Trust Partnership, L.P., are party to a cost sharing and reimbursement agreement, pursuant to which the parties agreed to share costs and expenses associated with certain employees, certain facilities and property, and certain arrangements with third parties (the "Cost Sharing Agreement"). Related party amounts due to the Company from Cedar are comprised of (in thousands):

September 30, 2024 (2)December 31, 2023 (2)
Financings and real estate taxes$7,166$7,166
Management fees551225
Leasing commissions629161
Cost Sharing Agreement allocations (1)738548
Transaction fees315—
Other—(6)
Total$9,399$8,094

(1) Includes allocations for executive compensation and directors and officers liability insurance.

(2) These related party amounts have been eliminated for consolidation purposes.

Investment securities - related party

The Company has investments held with SAI, a related party. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 the Company recognized $177 thousand and $277 thousand in fees, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 the Company recognized $23 thousand and $33 thousand in fees, respectively. See Note 4 for additional details.

Excepted Holder Limits

On December 4, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors, under the terms of the Company's charter (the "Charter"), created a Capital Stock Excepted Holder Limit of 55% and a Common Stock Excepted Holder Limit of 86% for each of SAI, Stilwell Activist Fund, L.P., Stilwell Value Partners VII, L.P., and Stilwell Associates, L.P. (collectively, the "Investors"). Joseph Stilwell, a member of our Board of Directors, is the managing member and owner of Stilwell Value LLC, which is the general partner of each of the Investors.

On December 5, 2023, the Company entered into an Excepted Holder Agreement with the Investors with respect to such limits. The Capital Stock Excepted Holder Limit provides that the Investors are exempted from the Charter’s aggregate stock ownership limit of not more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of all classes of the Company's capital stock (as calculated under the definitions of "Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit" and "Beneficial Ownership" in the Charter) and are instead subject to the percentage limit established by the Board of Directors. The Common Stock Excepted Holder Limit provides that the Investors are exempted from the Charter’s common stock ownership limit of not more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock (as calculated under the definitions of "Common Stock Ownership Limit" and "Beneficial Ownership" in the Charter) and is instead subject to the percentage limit established by the Board of Directors. The Capital Stock Excepted Holder Limit and Common Stock Excepted Holder Limit will automatically terminate upon reduction of the Investors’ capital stock and Common Stock ownership below 9.8%, respectively.

In consideration of the grant of these Excepted Holder Limits, the Investors concurrently entered into aone-year letter agreement with the Company whereby each Investor agreed that it will not exercise its right to convert Convertible Notes into shares of Common Stock to the extent that such conversion would result in such Investor, whether on its own or as part of a “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), becoming the direct or indirect “beneficial owner”, as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of common equity of the Company representing 50% or more of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of common equity of the Company that is entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

Following the transfer of Common Stock to the Investors in consideration of the February 2024 Series D Preferred Stock redemptions made by the Investors, the Investors would have beneficially owned or constructively owned an amount of capital stock in excess of the Prior Excepted Holder Limits. On February 5, 2024, the Board of Directors agreed to increase the prior Excepted Holder Limits to permit this additional ownership and, accordingly, the Company entered into an amendment to the Excepted Holder Agreement with the Investors under which the Company increased the Capital Stock Excepted Holder Limit granted to Investors under the Excepted Holder Agreement to 60% and the Common Stock Excepted Holder Limit to 90%.

  1. Subsequent Events

Cumulative Series D Preferred Stock Redemption Information

The Company has processed 159,759 shares of Series D Preferred Stock. Accordingly, the Company has issued 546,702 shares of Common Stock in settlement of an aggregate redemption price of approximately $6.3 million.

Noncontrolling Interests - Consolidated Subsidiary - Cedar Tender Offer

On October 24, 2024, the Cedar Tender Offer expired, in accordance with its terms. An aggregate of 688,670 shares of Cedar Series C Preferred Stock were properly tendered and not properly withdrawn at or below the final purchase price of $14.00 per share. Cedar accepted for purchase all shares Cedar Series C Preferred Stock that were properly tendered and not properly withdrawn at or below the final purchase price, which includes 45,813 shares that Cedar has elected to purchase pursuant to its ability to purchase up to an additional 2% of its outstanding Cedar Series C Preferred Stock.

The aggregate purchase price for the Cedar Series C Preferred Stock purchased in the Cedar Tender Offer is approximately $9.6 million, excluding fees and expenses relating to the Cedar Tender Offer. The shares purchased represent approximately 14% of Cedar's issued and outstanding Cedar Series C Preferred Stock as of October 28, 2024.

Exchange of Series B Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock for Common Stock

On October 8, 2024, the Company agreed to issue 88,000 shares of its Common Stock to an unaffiliated holder of the Company’s securities in exchange for 22,000 shares of the Company’s Series D Preferred Stock and 22,000 shares of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock (Series B Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock, collectively, the “Preferred Stock”) from the investor (the “Exchange”). The settlement of the Exchange occurred on the same day. The Company did not receive any cash proceeds as a result of the Exchange, and the shares of the Preferred Stock exchanged have been retired and cancelled.

ContentsView on SEC.gov

The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.