Trinity Place Holdings Inc
For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Mar 29, 2024.
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FY2023 · Filed Mar 29, 2024
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Item 1. BUSINESS
Overview
Trinity Place Holdings Inc., which we refer to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as “Trinity,” “we,” “our,” or “us”, is a real estate holding, investment, development and asset management company. On February 14, 2024, the Company’s real estate assets and related liabilities were contributed to TPHGreenwich Holdings LLC (“TPHGreenwich”), which is owned 95% by the Company, with an affiliate of the lender under the Company’s corporate credit facility(the “Corporate Credit Facility” or “CCF”)owning a 5% interest in, and acting as manager of, such entity. These real estate assets include (i) the property located at 77 Greenwich Street in Lower Manhattan (“77 Greenwich”), which is substantially complete as a mixed-use project consisting of a 90-unit residential condominium tower, retail space and a New York City elementary school, (ii) a 105-unit, 12-story multi-family property located at 237 11 th Street in Brooklyn, New York (“237 11 th”), and (iii) a property occupied by retail tenants in Paramus, New Jersey (the “Paramus Property”). See Item 2. Properties below for a more detailed description of these properties. We also control a variety of intellectual property assets focused on the consumer sector, a legacy of our predecessor, Syms Corp. (“Syms”), including FilenesBasement.com, our rights to the Stanley Blacker® brand, as well as the intellectual property associated with the Running of the Brides® event and An Educated Consumer is Our Best Customer® slogan. In addition, we also had approximately $316.6 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) at December 31, 2023, as well as approximately $318.3 million of various state and local NOLs, which can be used to reduce our future taxable income and capital gains.
Recapitalization Transactions
On February 14, 2024, we consummated the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 5, 2024 (as amended, the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), between the Company, TPHS Lender LLC, the lender under the Company’s Corporate Credit Facility (the “Company Investor”) and TPHS Investor LLC, an affiliate of the Company Investor (the “JV Investor”, and together with the Company Investor, the “Investor”), pursuant to which (i) the Company Investor purchased 25,112,245 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share of the Company (the “Investor Shares”) for a purchase price of $0.30 per share, (ii) the Company and the JV Investor entered into an amended and restated limited liability company operating agreement of TPHGreenwich (the “JV Operating Agreement”), pursuant to which the JV Investor was appointed the initial manager of, and acquired a five percent (5%) interest in, TPHGreenwich, as described in more detail below, and which JV continues to own, indirectly, all of the real property assets and liabilities of the Company, and (iii) TPHGreenwich entered into an asset management agreement (the “Asset Management Agreement”) with a newly formed subsidiary of the Company (the “TPH Manager”), pursuant to which TPHGreenwich hired the TPH Manager to act as initial asset manager for TPHGreenwich for an annual management fee, as described in more detail below (collectively, the “Recapitalization Transactions”).
Under the Recapitalization Transactions, the real estate assets and related liabilities as well as the Corporate Credit Facility became part of TPHGreenwich, with the Company retaining the substantial federal, state and local tax NOLs, intellectual property and a 95% equity interest in TPHGreenwich. In addition, the maturity date of each of the mortgage loan agreement (the “77G Mortgage Loan”) and mezzanine loan agreement (the “77G Mezzanine Loan”) for 77 Greenwich was extended to October 23, 2025 with an option to extend for an additional year, and the maturity date of the Corporate Credit Facility was extended to June 30, 2026.
We believe that the Recapitalization Transactions allow for an improved structure for a new investor to invest in the Company, which is less complex as a result of the real estate assets and substantially all liabilities being off-balance sheet. In addition, the parties agreed to certain provisions in the Stock Purchase Agreement to accommodate a new strategic partner that may invest in the Company.
We believe that the closing of the Recapitalization Transactions has put the Company on a stronger financial footing. As of March 28, 2024, our cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $3.9 million.
Joint Venture Agreement
At the closing of the Recapitalization Transactions, the Company and the JV Investor entered into the JV Operating Agreement, with the Company owning 95% of the ownership interests in TPHGreenwich and the JV Investor owning 5% of the ownership interests in TPHGreenwich. Distributions under the JV Operating Agreement first go to the Investor until the JV Investor has received its initial distribution amount in full (which initial distribution amount is the sum of (v) all amounts due under the CCF and 77G Mezzanine Loan, (w) all amounts due in connection with any additional JV debt financing provided by Investor or its affiliate, (x) Investor’s initial capital contribution, and (y) any additional capital contributions made by Investor), then distributed pro rata pursuant to the members’ respective percentage interests in TPHGreenwich. If TPH Manager is terminated for “Cause” under the Asset Management Agreement, as described below, at the option of Investor, the Company’s right to distributions from TPHGreenwich will be forfeited and any distribution that would otherwise have been made to the Company will instead be distributed to the JV Investor.
JV Investor, in its capacity as manager of TPHGreenwich, will manage, control and conduct the affairs of TPHGreenwich, subject only to certain major decisions set forth in the JV Operating Agreement. Major decisions are (1) entering into any transaction with or for the benefit of Investor or its affiliate, other than any transaction involving Investor or its affiliate providing debt and/or equity to the Company as set forth in the JV Operating Agreement or any arms-length transaction, (2) any amendment or modification of the JV Operating Agreement or any operating agreement of a subsidiary company of TPHGreenwich, or any other agreement with the Company or a subsidiary company of TPHGreenwich if such amendment would materially adversely affect the rights or obligations of the Company in a manner that is disproportionate to the JV Investor, (3) any tax or accounting matter decision relating to net operating losses that would be materially adverse to the Company but not the JV Investor, and (4) the admission of any other member to TPHGreenwich or its subsidiary except as permitted under the JV Operating Agreement.
Under the JV Operating Agreement, the Company will retain control of the Paramus Property and will have the sole and exclusive right to manage and make decisions regarding the Paramus Property, subject to (i) the Company Investor’s right to approve any purchase and sale agreement for the Paramus Property that may be entered into in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Stock Purchase Agreement; (ii) the JV Investor’s right to approve any material modifications of such purchase and sale agreement for the Paramus Property, and (iii) the JV Investor’s right to approve any dissolution of the owner of the Paramus Property.
The Company’s liability under any cause of action arising from or in connection with the JV Operating Agreement is limited to its interest in TPHGreenwich, other than with respect to certain Company guaranty liabilities related to (a) any loss or expense incurred by the JV Investor under any non-recourse carveout guaranty or environmental indemnity to a third-party lender, or (b) indemnification and reimbursement from the Company if the JV Investor makes a payment to a third party lender pursuant to a guaranty (other than a non-recourse carve out guaranty or environmental indemnity), in each case, to the extent such loss, expense or payment was caused solely by, or required solely as a result of, the acts or omissions of the Company or the TPH Manager without the prior written consent of the JV Investor.
Asset Management Agreement
At the closing of the Recapitalization Transactions, the TPH Manager entered into the Asset Management Agreement with TPHGreenwich. The Asset Management Agreement provides that the TPH Manager agrees to provide certain services in connection with the construction (with respect to 77 Greenwich), management, operation, supervision and maintenance of 77 Greenwich and 237 11 th. To compensate TPH Manager for such services, TPHGreenwich will pay an annual management fee to TPH Manager equal to the greater of (x) $400,000 or (y) 1.25% of (i) the outstanding principal balance of the CCF plus (ii) the outstanding principal balance of the 77G Mezzanine Loan, plus (iii) the principal balance of any future fundings of any type under the CCF and/or 77G Mezzanine Loan.
The Asset Management Agreement will continue until the earlier to occur of (a) both consummation of a sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of 77 Greenwich and 237 11 th and the final resolution of the 237 11 th litigation, or (b) the earlier termination of the Asset Management Agreement pursuant to its terms. TPHGreenwich has the right to terminate the Asset Management Agreement at any time with or without cause, provided that if the TPH Manager is terminated without cause prior to the 18-month anniversary of the Asset Management Agreement, the TPH Manager will be entitled
to a termination payment equal to 75 days’ payment of the management fee, based on the average fee paid to the TPH Manager during the immediately prior 12 months. After the 18-month anniversary of the Asset Management Agreement, the TPH Manager will also have the right to terminate the Asset Management Agreement in its sole and absolute discretion, upon not less than 75 days’ prior written notice to TPHGreenwich.
As described above, if TPH Manager is terminated for “Cause” under the Asset Management Agreement, at the option of Investor, the Company’s right to distributions from TPHGreenwich will be forfeited and any distribution that would otherwise have been made to the Company will instead be distributed to the JV Investor. The term “Cause” means (a) the Company ceasing to be a member under the JV Operating Agreement, (b) TPH Manager transfers its rights or obligations under the Asset Management Agreement in violation of the terms therein, (c) TPH Manager files or consents to a petition in bankruptcy, (d) TPH Manager, any Key Manager Employee (defined below) or any affiliate is convicted of fraud or is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to a final judgment to have committed an act of fraud, (e) any misappropriation, gross negligence or willful misconduct by TPH Manager, any Key Manager Employee or any affiliate of the foregoing (which is curable one time during the term of the Asset Management Agreement if committed by a non-senior level employee), (e) any of the Company, TPH Manager or any Key Manager Employee is convicted of a felony crime or crime of moral turpitude, (f) any representation or warranty made by TPH Manager under the Asset Management Agreement is untrue in any material respect and remains uncured after notice from TPHGreenwich, (g) a material breach by TPH Manager of the terms of the Asset Management Agreement (other than as set forth above in this definition) which breach has a material adverse effect on TPHGreenwich and remains uncured after notice from TPHGreenwich, or (h) the breach or failure to comply by TPHGreenwich or any subsidiary with any loan documents (other than, in the case of loan documents in which an affiliate of JV Investor is a lender, with respect to any key person provisions relating to Mr. Messinger, our chief executive officer, or a replacement) in the event such breach or failure is caused by the actions of TPH Manager, Key Manager Employee or any affiliate and continues after the giving of any required notice and the expiration of any applicable cure period under such loan documents, and which is not the subject of a forbearance or waiver from such lender. Under the Asset Management Agreement, “Key Manager Employee” means Mr. Messinger or a replacement officer or employee of TPH Manager with reasonably equivalent skills and abilities (as determined by the JV Investor on behalf of TPHGreenwich in its reasonable discretion). In the event Mr. Messinger fails to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the TPH Manager pursuant to the Asset Management Agreement, TPHGreenwich agrees its sole and exclusive remedy will be to terminate TPH Manager without cause on 30 days’ notice.
Management’s Plans and Objectives
Following the Recapitalization Transactions, our primary business is owning over $600 million of federal, and various state and local NOLs and a variety of intellectual property assets focused on the consumer sector, as well as a 95% interest in TPHGreenwich and acting as asset manager for the properties owned by TPHGreenwich. With the Company now unencumbered by its real estate and related liabilities, we continue to focus on exploring a range of strategic and financing alternatives to maximize stockholder value and to engage with parties that have expressed interest in the Company’s attributes and assets and may see the Company as a potential vehicle for growth, with potential opportunities to recapitalize the Company at a lower cost of capital. The Company has engaged Houlihan Lokey and Ackman-Ziff to act as advisors (the “Advisors”) in connection with our strategic review process and to assist us in identifying and evaluating potential alternatives, including among others securing an equity and/or debt financing of the Company, refinancing of existing debt, and/or a sale or merger or reverse merger of the Company. There is no assurance that we will be successful in consummating any such strategic transaction on terms or a timeframe acceptable to us or at all.
Competition
The markets in which the properties owned through TPHGreenwich are located are inherently competitive. With respect to the operating properties currently located in Brooklyn, New York and Paramus, New Jersey, TPHGreenwich is competing for some of the same tenants, contractors and lenders. Competitive factors with respect to 77 Greenwich may have a more material effect on TPHGreenwich as it is its most significant real estate asset. Various municipal entities are making and have indicated an intent to continue to make significant investments in the immediate vicinity of 77 Greenwich to support the growth of the downtown Manhattan neighborhood as a vibrant 24/7 community to work, live and visit. Several privately funded commercial and residential developments have been or are being constructed or have been proposed and office buildings are being converted to residential use to take advantage of the increasing desirability of the
neighborhood. The impact of these changing supply and demand characteristics is uncertain, and they could positively or negatively impact the plan to maximize the value of 77 Greenwich.
Regulatory Matters
Environmental Compliance
Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real estate may be required to investigate and remediate hazardous or toxic substances at a property, and may be held liable to a governmental entity or to third parties for property damage or personal injuries and for investigation and clean-up costs incurred by the parties in connection with the contamination. These laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator had knowledge of, or was responsible for, the release of the hazardous or toxic substances. The presence of contamination or the failure to remediate contamination may adversely affect the owner’s ability to sell or lease real estate or to borrow using the real estate as collateral.
Other federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations require abatement or removal of asbestos-containing materials in the event of demolition or certain renovations or remodeling, the cost of which may be substantial for certain redevelopment projects that a potential purchaser would want to undertake with respect to any particular parcel of real estate we own. Such laws, ordinances and regulations also govern emissions from and exposure to asbestos fibers in the air. Federal and state laws also regulate the operation and removal of underground storage tanks. In connection with the ownership and management of certain properties, we and/or TPHGreenwich could be held liable for the costs of remedial action with respect to these regulated substances or related claims.
Zoning and Planning
In connection with any development or redevelopment of the properties, TPHGreenwich will be required to comply with applicable zoning, land-use, building, occupancy, and other laws and regulations. In many cases, TPHGreenwich is and will continue to be required to obtain governmental permits, site plan approvals and/or other authorizations, or seek variances, prior to proceeding with planned development or other activities.
The Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, effective as of December 15, 1961, as amended (the “Zoning Resolution”), governs the use and development of properties in New York City. Properties in New York City may be developed on an as-of-right basis, i.e. without any discretionary city approvals, unless the proposed use or bulk does not comply with the applicable provisions of the Zoning Resolution. Discretionary approvals may be requested from the New York City Planning Commission or the Board of Standards and Appeals. Discretionary approvals are subject to hearing and public participation requirements and are also subject to environmental review pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act, as implemented by the City Environmental Quality Review.
Intellectual Property Assets
We control a variety of intellectual property assets focused on the consumer sector, a legacy of our predecessor, Syms, including FilenesBasement.com, our rights to the Stanley Blacker® brand, as well as the intellectual property associated with the Running of the Brides® event and An Educated Consumer is Our Best Customer® slogan. In addition, various trademarks are controlled and/or owned by us, including “Filene’s Basement”®, “Stanley Blacker”®, “Running of the Brides”® and “An Educated Consumer is Our Best Customer,”® and have been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Human Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2023, we had a total of six employees, all of which were full-time in executive, management, finance, accounting, operations and administrative capacities.
General Information about Trinity
Trinity is incorporated in Delaware. Trinity maintains its headquarters at 340 Madison Avenue, Suite 3C, New York, New York, 10173, and the telephone number is (212) 235-2190.
Available Information
Our website address iswww.trinityplaceholdings.com orwww.tphs.com. References in this document to our website are not and should not be considered part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
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