American Strategic Investment Co
For the period ended Mar 31, 2024. Filed May 10, 2024.
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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.
Mar 31, 2024 · Filed May 10, 2024
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Note
Note 4 —Mortgage Notes Payable, Net
The Company’s mortgage notes payable, net as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are as follows:
| Outstanding Loan Amount | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio · Encumbered Properties · March 31,2024 · December 31,2023 · Effective Interest Rate · Interest Rate · Maturity | |||||||
| (In thousands) · (In thousands) | |||||||
| 123 William Street | 1 | $140,000 | $140,000 | 4.74% | Fixed | Mar. 2027 | |
| 9 Times Square (5) | 1 | 49,500 | 49,500 | 3.73% | Fixed | (1) | Apr. 2024 |
| 1140 Avenue of the Americas (2) | 1 | 99,000 | 99,000 | 4.18% | Fixed | Jul. 2026 | |
| 400 E. 67th Street - Laurel Condominium / 200 Riverside Boulevard - ICON Garage | 2 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 4.59% | Fixed | May 2028 | |
| 8713 Fifth Avenue (3) | 1 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 5.05% | Fixed | Nov. 2028 | |
| 196 Orchard Street | 1 | 51,000 | 51,000 | 3.91% | Fixed | Aug. 2029 | |
| Mortgage notes payable, gross | 7 | 399,500 | 399,500 | 4.36% | |||
| Less: deferred financing costs, net (4) | (3,412) | (3,798) | |||||
| Mortgage notes payable, net | $396,088 | $395,702 | |||||
(1)Fixed as a result of the Company having entered into a “pay-fixed” interest rate swap agreement, which is included in derivatives, at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2024 (see Note 6 — Derivatives and Hedging Activitiesfor additional information).
(2)Due to covenant breaches resulting in cash trap for this property, all cash generated from operating this property is being held in a segregated account, and the Company will not have access to the excess cash flows until the covenant breaches are cleared. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were $2.6 million and $2.5 million, respectively, held in a cash management account, which is part of the Company’s restricted cash on its consolidated balance sheet. See“Debt Covenants”section below for additional details.
(3)Due to covenant breaches resulting in cash trap for this property, all cash generated from operating this property, if any, is required to be held in a segregated account, and the Company will not have access to the excess cash flows until the covenant breaches are cleared. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, no cash was trapped related to this property. The Company signed a lease with a new tenant at this property in November 2021, and the tenant began occupying a portion of the leased space in the quarter ended March 31, 2023 and is expected to occupy the remainder of the space in the second quarter of the year ending December 31, 2024, which will bring the occupancy to 100.0%.
(4)Deferred financing costs represent commitment fees, legal fees, and other costs associated with obtaining commitments for financing. These costs are amortized to interest expense over the terms of the respective financing agreements using the effective interest method. Unamortized deferred financing costs are expensed when the associated debt is refinanced or repaid before maturity. Costs incurred in seeking financial transactions that do not close are expensed in the period in which it is determined that the financing will not close.
(5)Subsequent to March 31, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to the loan agreement that extends the maturity of the loan to October 31, 2024, (with the option of an additional extension to January 31, 2025, subject to certain conditions) at an effective variable interest rate of one-month SOFR plus a spread of 2.60% per annum. As announced in the Company’s press release on April 29, 2024, the Company has determined to market certain of their properties for sale, including 9 Times Square. This amended agreement allows the Company to begin marketing the property for sale, with the option to extend in the event the property is under contract for sale but has not yet closed at the time of maturity. For additional information please see Note 14 — Subsequent Events.
Collateral and Principal Payments
Real estate assets and intangible assets of $716.3 million, at cost (net of below-market lease liabilities), as of March 31, 2024 have been pledged as collateral to the Company’s mortgage notes payable and are not available to satisfy the Company’s other obligations unless first satisfying the mortgage note payable on the property. The Company is required to make payments of interest on its mortgage notes payable on a monthly basis.
The following table summarizes the scheduled aggregate principal payments subsequent to March 31, 2024:
| (In thousands) | Future Minimum Principal Payments |
|---|---|
| 2024 (remainder) | $49,500 |
| 2024 (1) | — |
| 2026 | 99,000 |
| 2027 | 140,000 |
| 2028 | 60,000 |
| Thereafter | 51,000 |
| Total | $399,500 |
(1)Subsequent to March 31, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to the loan agreement that extends the maturity of the loan to October 31, 2024, (with the option of an additional extension to January 31, 2025, subject to certain conditions) at an effective variable interest rate of one-month SOFR plus a spread 2.60% per annum. As announced in the Company’s press release on April 29, 2024, the Company has determined to market certain of their properties for sale, including 9 Times Square. This amended agreement allows the Company to begin marketing the property for sale, with the option to extend in the event the property is under contract for sale but has not yet closed at the time of maturity. For additional information please see Note 14 — Subsequent Events.
Debt Covenants
1140 Avenue of the Americas
The Company has breached both a debt service coverage provision and a reserve fund provision under its non-recourse mortgage secured by the 1140 Avenue of the Americas property in each of the last 15 quarters ended March 31, 2024. The principal amount of the loan was $99.0 million as of March 31, 2024. These breaches are not events of default, rather they require excess cash, if any, generated at the property (after paying operating costs, debt service and capital/tenant replacement reserves) to be held in a segregated account as additional collateral under the loan. The covenants for this loan may be cured if the Company satisfies the required debt service coverage ratio fortwo consecutive quarters, whereupon the additional collateral will be released. The Company can remain subject to this reserve requirement through maturity of the loan without further penalty or ramifications. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 the Company had $2.6 million and $2.5 million, respectively, in cash that is retained by the lender and maintained in restricted cash on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of those dates.
8713 Fifth Avenue
The Company breached a debt service coverage ratio covenant under the non-recourse mortgage secured by 8713 Fifth Avenue in each of the last 15 quarters ended March 31, 2024. The principal amount for the loan was $10.0 million as of March 31, 2024. The breach of this covenant did not result in an event of default but rather triggered an excess cash flow sweep period that has been ongoing. The Company has the ability to avoid the excess cash flow sweep period by electing to fund a reserve in the amount of $125,000 of additional collateral in cash or as a letter of credit. As of the date of filing this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company had not yet determined whether it will do so. If the Company continues to not elect to fund the $125,000 additional collateral, then the excess flow sweep period would commence in such quarter and continue until the covenant breaches are cured in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement.
Additionally, in the event that the debt service coverage ratio covenant remains in breach at or below the current level fortwo consecutive calendar quarters and the lender reasonably determines that such breach is due to the property not being prudently managed by the current manager, the lender has the right, but not the obligation, to require that the Company replace the current manager with a third party manager chosen by the Company. This property did not generate any excess cash since the breach occurred and thus no cash has ever been trapped related to this property. The Company signed a lease with a new tenant at this property in November 2021, and the tenant began occupying a portion of the leased space in the quarter ended March 31, 2023 and is expected to occupy the remainder of the space in the second quarter of the year ending December 31, 2024, which will bring the occupancy to 100.0%.
400 E. 67th Street/200 Riverside Blvd.
The Company entered a lease sweep period under the non-recourse mortgage secured by 400 E. 67th Street/200 Riverside Blvd. in the three months ended March 31, 2024, resulting from a near-maturity lease with a major tenant at the property set to expire in the second quarter of 2024 that, as of March 31, 2024, was not renewed or extended. The principal amount for the loan was $50.0 million as of March 31, 2024. Under the loan agreement, a lease sweep period is triggered when (i) the date that istwelve months prior to the end of the term of the major lease, (ii) the date required by the major tenant to give notice of its exercise of a renewal option, (iii) any major tenant lease is surrendered or terminated prior to the expiration date, (iv) if the major tenant discontinues its operations and the major tenants long term debt is not rated lower than investment grade, (v) any material default under the major tenant’s lease, (vi) any major tenant insolvency proceeding. Under the lease sweep period, any excess cash generated, if any, is to be held in a segregated reserve account controlled by the lender as additional collateral.
9 Times Square
Subsequent to March 31, 2024, the Company entered a cash sweep period under the mortgage secured by the 9 Times Square asset pursuant to an amendment which, among other things, extends the maturity of the loan from April 2024 to October 2024. The amendment provides that Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Amendment) shall be deposited to an account maintained by the Administrative Agent within ten (10) calendar days of the end of each month. For additional information, please see Note 14 — Subsequent Events.
As of March 31, 2024 the Company had $1.1 million retained by the lender in a restricted cash account on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The Company may exit the lease sweep period when the major tenant executes a renewal or extension option.
Other Debt Covenants
The Company was in compliance with the remaining covenants under its other mortgage notes payable as of March 31, 2024 and, it continues to monitor compliance with those provisions. If the Company experiences additional lease terminations, due to tenant bankruptcies or otherwise, or tenants placed on a cash basis continue to not pay rent, it is possible that certain of the covenants on other loans may be breached and the Company may also become restricted from accessing excess cash flows from those properties. Similar to the loans discussed above, the Company’s other mortgages also contain cash management provisions that are not considered events of default, and as such, acceleration of principal would only occur upon an event of default.
Note 5 —Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company determines fair value based on quoted prices when available or through the use of alternative approaches, such as discounting the expected cash flows using market interest rates commensurate with the credit quality and duration of the instrument. This alternative approach also reflects the contractual terms of the instrument, as applicable, including the period to maturity, and may use observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves and implied volatilities, and unobservable inputs, such as expected volatility. The guidance defines three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
| Level 1 | — | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. |
| Level 2 | — | Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset and liability or can be corroborated with observable market data for substantially the entire contractual term of the asset or liability. |
| Level 3 | — | Unobservable inputs that reflect the entity’s own assumptions that market participants would use in the pricing of the asset or liability and are consequently not based on market activity, but rather through particular valuation techniques. |
The determination of where an asset or liability falls in the hierarchy requires significant judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Derivative Instruments
The Company’s derivative instruments are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Although the Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with this derivative utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by the Company and its counterparty. However, as of March 31, 2024, the Company has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of the Company’s derivatives. As a result, the Company has determined that its derivatives valuation in its entirety is classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
The valuation of derivative instruments is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, as well as observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves and implied volatilities. In addition, credit valuation adjustments are incorporated into the fair values to account for the Company’s potential nonperformance risk and the performance risk of the counterparties.
| (In thousands) | Quoted Pricesin Active MarketsLevel 1 | Significant OtherObservableInputsLevel 2 | SignificantUnobservableInputsLevel 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interest rate “Pay - Fixed” swaps - assets | $— | $— | $— | $— |
| Total | $— | $— | $— | $— |
| Interest rate “Pay - Fixed” swaps - assets | $— | $400 | $— | $400 |
| Total | $— | $400 | $— | $400 |
Financial Instruments That Are Not Reported at Fair Value
The Company is required to disclose at least annually the fair value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate the value. The fair value of short-term financial instruments such as cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, prepaid expenses and other assets, accounts payable and distributions payable approximate their carrying value on the consolidated balance sheets due to their short-term nature.
The fair values of the Company’s financial instruments that are not reported at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet are reported below:
| March 31, 2024 · December 31, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | Level | Gross Principal Balance | Fair Value | Gross Principal Balance | Fair Value |
| Mortgage note payable — 9 Times Square | 3 | $49,500 | $49,452 | $49,500 | $49,265 |
| Mortgage note payable — 1140 Avenue of the Americas | 3 | 99,000 | 69,570 | 99,000 | 69,619 |
| Mortgage note payable — 123 William Street | 3 | 140,000 | 129,242 | 140,000 | 130,463 |
| Mortgage note payable — 400 E. 67th Street - Laurel Condominium / 200 Riverside Boulevard - ICON Garage | 3 | 50,000 | 44,837 | 50,000 | 45,442 |
| Mortgage note payable — 8713 Fifth Avenue | 3 | 10,000 | 9,050 | 10,000 | 9,193 |
| Mortgage note payable — 196 Orchard Street | 3 | 51,000 | 44,590 | 51,000 | 44,857 |
| Total | $399,500 | $346,741 | $399,500 | $348,839 | |
Note 6 —Derivatives and Hedging Activities
Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives
The Company currently uses derivative financial instruments, including an interest rate swap, and may in the future use others, including options, floors and other interest rate derivative contracts, to hedge all or a portion of the interest rate risk associated with its borrowings. The principal objective of such arrangements is to minimize the risks and costs associated with the Company’s operating and financial structure as well as to hedge specific anticipated transactions. The Company does not intend to utilize derivatives for speculative or other purposes other than interest rate risk management. The use of derivative financial instruments carries certain risks, including the risk that the counterparties to these contractual arrangements are not able to perform under the agreements. To mitigate this risk, the Company endeavors to only enter into derivative financial instruments with counterparties with high credit ratings and with major financial institutions with which the Company and its affiliates may also have other financial relationships. The Company does not anticipate that any of the counterparties will fail to meet their obligations.
The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
| (In thousands) | Balance Sheet Location | March 31,2024 | December 31, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: | |||
| Interest Rate “Pay-fixed” Swap | Derivative asset, at fair value | $— | $400 |
Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps and collars as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. Interest rate collars designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts if interest rates rise above the cap strike rate on the contract and payments of variable-rate amounts if interest rates fall below the floor strike rate on the contract.
The changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and are subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and year ended December 31, 2023, such derivatives were used to hedge the variable cash flows associated with variable-rate debt. In connection with the modification and partial pay down of the Company’s mortgage loan on its 9 Times Square property in March 2022, the Company terminated a $55.0 million notional, LIBOR based “pay-fixed” interest rate swap and replaced it with a $49.5 million notional, SOFR based “pay-fixed” interest rate swap. In connection with this termination/replacement of the swap derivatives, the Company reflected as a charge (associated with the reduced notional amount) of approximately $38,338 in Other Income (Expense) on the Company’s Statement of Operations for the six month period ended June 30, 2022. At the time of the modification a net carrying amount reflecting the amount paid and the off market value rolled into the new swap and remained in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The amount will be amortized into interest expense over the term of the hedged item. There was $66 of unamortized balance left as of March 31, 2024.
Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s variable-rate debt. During the next 12 months, the Company estimates that $65 will be reclassified from other comprehensive income (loss) as a decrease to interest expense.
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had the following derivatives that were designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk.
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interest Rate Derivative | Number ofInstruments | Notional Amount | Number ofInstruments | Notional Amount |
| (In thousands) · (In thousands) | ||||
| Interest Rate “Pay-fixed” Swap | 1 | $49,500 | 1 | $49,500 |
The table below details the location in the financial statements of the gain or loss recognized on interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges for the periods indicated:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | 2024 | 2023 |
| Amount of gain (loss) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss on interest rate derivatives (effective portion) | $8 | $(74) |
| Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into income as interest expense | $414 | $308 |
| Total interest expense recorded in consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss | $4,697 | $4,663 |
Offsetting Derivatives
The table below presents a gross presentation, the effects of offsetting, and a net presentation of the Company’s derivatives as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The net amounts of derivative assets or liabilities can be reconciled to the tabular disclosure of fair value. The tabular disclosure of fair value provides the location that derivative assets and liabilities are presented on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
| Gross Amounts Not Offset on the Balance Sheet | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets | Gross Amounts of Recognized (Liabilities) | Gross Amounts Offset on the Balance Sheet | Net Amounts of Assets (Liabilities) Presented on the Balance Sheet | Financial Instruments | Cash Collateral Received (Posted) | Net Amount |
| March 31, 2024 | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | — |
| December 31, 2023 | $400 | $— | $— | $400 | $— | $— | 400 |
Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features
The Company has agreements with its derivative counterparty that contain a provision where if the Company either defaults or is capable of being declared in default on any of its indebtedness, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company did not have any derivatives with a fair value in a net liability position including accrued interest but excluding any adjustment for nonperformance risk. As of March 31, 2024, the Company did not post any collateral related to these agreements and was not in breach of any agreement provisions.
Note 7 —Stockholders’ Equity
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had 2.4 million and 2.3 million shares of common stock outstanding, respectively, including unvested restricted shares. As of March 31, 2024, all of the Company’s shares of common stock outstanding were Class A common stock, including unvested restricted shares.
Rights Offering
In February 2023, the Company raised gross proceeds of $5.0 million ($4.1 million of net proceeds) from its Rights Offering, which entitled holders of rights to purchase 0.20130805 of a share of its Class A common stock for every right held at a subscription price of $12.95 per whole share. As a result, the Company issued 386,100 shares of its Class A common stock subscribed for in the Rights Offering on February 27, 2023. In connection with the Rights Offering, Bellevue and its affiliates acquired approximately 367,956 shares.
Dividends
On July 1, 2022, the Company announced that it suspended paying dividends and has not declared or paid dividends, beginning with the quarter ended June 30, 2022.
Class A Common Stock Issued to the Advisor In Lieu of Cash
In January 2023, the Advisor elected to receive shares of Class A common stock in lieu of cash in respect of its management fee for that month. The Company issued 31,407 shares of its Class A common stock using the 10-day average price of $15.92 per share, which was greater than minimum price required by the NYSE rules. The Company paid the Advisor in cash for the Advisor’s management fees in subsequent months through February 2024.
In March 2024, the Advisor elected to receive shares of Class A common stock in lieu of cash in respect of its management fee for that month. The Company issued 70,607 shares of its Class A common stock using the 10-day average price of $7.08 per share, which was greater than minimum price required by the NYSE rules.
For accounting purposes, the shares of the Company’s Class A common stock issued in lieu of cash for the management fee, as elected by the Advisor, were treated as issued using the closing price on date of issue. The related expenses are reflected as $0.5 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The following table shows the shares issued in relation to the advisory and property management agreements as of March 31, 2024 and 2023:
| Period of Issuance | Recipient | Agreement | Shares Issued | Closing Share Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2023 | The Advisor | Advisory Agreement | 31,407 (1) | $15.44 (1) |
| March 2024 | The Advisor | Advisory Agreement | 70,607 | $7.54 |
(1)Retroactively adjusted for the effects of the Reverse Stock Split (see Note 1 — Organization for additional information).
Subsequent to March 31, 2024, the Company issued 91,165 shares of its Class A common stock to the Advisor in April 2024 as a result of the Advisor’s decision to elect to receive shares of the Company’s stock in lieu of cash with respect to the property management fees for the month of March and general and administrative expense reimbursements for the month of February, pursuant to the advisory agreement and property management agreement, respectively. These shares were issued using the 10-day average price of $6.64 per share. Additionally, the Company issued 83,543 shares of its Class A common stock to the Advisor in May 2024 as a result of the Advisor’s decision to elect to receive shares of the Company’s stock in lieu of cash with respect to the asset management fee for the month of May. These shares were issued using the 10-day average price of $6.04 per share. The shares were issued at the higher value per share between the minimum price required by the New York Stock Exchange regulations and the price set forth in the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement and the Third Amendment to the Property Management and Leasing Agreement. The 10-day average price is calculated as the average of the daily market price of such security for theten consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of such valuation. For additional information, please see Note 9 — Related Party Transactions and Agreements and Note 14 — Subsequent Events.
Equity Offerings
Class A Common Stock
On October 1, 2020, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement, pursuant to which the Company may, from time to time, offer, issue and sell to the public, through its sales agents, shares of Class A common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $250.0 million in an “at the market” equity offering program (the “Common Stock ATM Program”). The Company’s ability to sell shares under its existing shelf registration statement, including under the Common Stock ATM Program, was limited to one third of the Company’s market capitalization or “public float” unless the aggregate value of its Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $75.0 million. The shelf Registration Statement covering sales under the Common Stock ATM Program expired on October 1, 2023.
Stockholder Rights Plan
In May 2020, the Company announced that its board of directors had approved a stockholder rights plan, but did not take actions to declare a dividend for the plan to become effective. In August 2020, in connection with the listing of the Company’s shares on the NYSE and the related bifurcation of common stock into Class A and Class B common stock, the Company entered into an amended and restated rights agreement, which amended and restated the stockholders rights plan approved in May 2020 and declared a dividend payable in August 2020, ofone Class A right for and on each share of Class A common stock andone Class B right for and on each share of Class B common stock, in each case, outstanding on the close of business on August 28, 2020 to the stockholders of record on that date. Each right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series A Preferred Stock”), of the Company at a price of $55.00 per one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, represented by a right, subject to adjustment. The expiration date of these rights has subsequently been extended to August 18, 2025.
Distribution Reinvestment Plan
An amendment and restatement of the distribution reinvestment plan (the “A&R DRIP”) in connection with the listing of the Company’s shares on the NYSE became effective on August 28, 2020. The A&R DRIP allows stockholders who have elected to participate to have dividends paid with respect to all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock reinvested in additional shares of Class A common stock. Shares received by participants in the A&R DRIP will represent shares that are, at the election of the Company, either (i) acquired directly from the Company, which would issue new shares, at a price based on the average of the high and low sales prices of Class A common stock on the NYSE on the date of reinvestment, or (ii) acquired through open market purchases by the plan administrator at a price based on the weighted-average of the actual prices paid for all of the shares of Class A common stock purchased by the plan administrator with proceeds from reinvested dividends to participants for the related quarter, less a per share processing fee.
Shares issued by the Company pursuant to the A&R DRIP, if any, would be recorded within stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets in the period dividends or other distributions are declared. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and year ended December 31, 2023, any DRIP transactions were settled through open market transactions and no shares were issued by the Company.
Non-Controlling Interest
Following the end of the performance period, which ended on August 18, 2023, as required under the 2020 OPP the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company determined that none of the 501,605 of the LTIP Units subject to the 2020 OPP had been earned, and these LTIP Units were thus automatically forfeited effective as of August 18, 2023. On that date, the Company reclassified $25.8 million of amounts reflected in non-controlling interest for these LTIP Units to additional paid in capital on its consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of changes in equity. No amounts remain in non-controlling interests after the expiration date. For additional information on the 2020 OPP, please see Note 11 — Equity-Based Compensation.
Tender Offers by an Affiliate of the Advisor
On September 27, 2023, Bellevue announced a tender offer to purchase up to 350,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock at a purchase price equal to $10.25 per share. The tender offer expired on October 26, 2023 and,223,460 shares were tendered and accepted by Bellevue for a purchase price to Bellevue of an aggregate of approximately $2.3 million, less any fees, expenses, or taxes withheld.
Subsequent to March 31, 2024, Bellevue announced a tender offer to purchase up to 125,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, at a purchase price equal to $9.25 per share. The tender offer expires on July 5, 2024 unless the tender offer is extended or terminated.
Note 8 —Commitments and Contingencies
Lessee Arrangement - Ground Lease
The Company entered into a ground lease agreement in 2016 related to the acquisition of 1140 Avenue of the Americas under a leasehold interest arrangement and recorded an ROU asset and lease liability related to this lease upon adoption of ASU 2016-02 during the year ended December 31, 2019. The ground lease is considered an operating lease. In computing the lease liabilities, the Company discounts future lease payments at an estimated incremental borrowing rate at adoption or acquisition if later. The term of the Company’s ground lease is significantly longer than the term of borrowings available to the Company on a fully-collateralized basis. The Company’s estimate of the incremental borrowing rate required significant judgment.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s ground lease had a weighted-average remaining lease term of 42.8 years and a discount rate of 8.6%. As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s balance sheet includes an ROU asset and liability of $54.7 million and $54.6 million, respectively, which are included in operating lease right-of-use asset and operating lease liability, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheet. For both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company paid cash of $1.2 million for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities and recorded expense of $1.2 million on a straight-line basis in accordance with the standard.
The lease expense is recorded in property operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company did not enter into any additional ground leases as lessee during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
The following table reflects the ground lease rent payments due from the Company and a reconciliation to the net present value of those payments as of March 31, 2024:
| (In thousands) | Future Base Rent Payments |
|---|---|
| 2024 (remainder) | $3,560 |
| 2025 | 4,746 |
| 2026 | 4,746 |
| 2027 | 4,746 |
| 2028 | 4,746 |
| Thereafter | 188,262 |
| Total lease payments | 210,806 |
| Less: Effects of discounting | (156,165) |
| Total present value of lease payments | $54,641 |
Litigation and Regulatory Matters
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may become subject to litigation, claims and regulatory matters. There are no material legal or regulatory proceedings pending or known to be contemplated against the Company.
Environmental Matters
In connection with the ownership and operation of real estate, the Company may potentially be liable for costs and damages related to environmental matters. As of March 31, 2024, the Company has not been notified by any governmental authority of any non-compliance, liability or other claim, and is not aware of any other environmental condition that it believes will have a material adverse effect on the results of operations.
Note 9 —Related Party Transactions and Arrangements
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, entities wholly owned by AR Global owned 361,544 and 290,937 shares, respectively, of the Company’s outstanding Class A common stock. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, Bellevue owned approximately 47.0% and 45.4% of outstanding shares of the Company, respectively.
Fees and Participations Incurred in Connection with the Operations of the Company
Summary of Advisory Agreement
Pursuant to the advisory agreement with the Advisor (as amended from time to time, the “Advisory Agreement”), the Advisor manages the Company’s day-to-day operations. The initial term of the Advisory Agreement ends in July 2030 and will automatically renew for successive five-year terms unless either party gives written notice of its election not to renew at least 180 days prior to the then-applicable expiration date. The Company may only elect not to renew the Advisory Agreement on this basis with the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the Company’s independent directors, and no change of control fee (as defined in the Advisory Agreement) is payable if the Company makes this election.
Asset Management Fees and Variable Management/Incentive Fees
Overview
The Company pays the Advisor a base asset management fee on the first business day of each month equal to (x) $0.5 million plus (y) a variable amount equal to (a) 1.25% of the equity proceeds received after November 16, 2018, divided by (b) 12. The base asset management fee is payable in cash, shares of common stock, or a combination thereof, at the Advisor’s election. Equity proceeds are defined as, with respect to any period, cumulative net proceeds of all common and preferred equity and equity-linked securities issued by the Company and its subsidiaries during the period, including: (i) any equity issued in exchange or conversion of exchangeable notes based on the stock price at the date of issuance and convertible equity; (ii) any other issuances of equity, including but not limited to units in the OP (excluding equity-based compensation but including issuances related to an acquisition, investment, joint-venture or partnership); and (iii) effective following the time the Company commences paying a dividend of at least $0.05 per share per annum to its stockholders, (which occurred in October 2020), any cumulative Core Earnings (as defined in the Advisory Agreement) in excess of cumulative distributions paid on the Company’s common stock since November 16, 2018, the effective date of the most recent amendment and restatement of the Advisory Agreement.
The Advisory Agreement also entitles the Advisor to an incentive variable management fee. Currently and since the year ended December 31, 2021, the variable management fee is equal to (i) the product of (a) the diluted weighted-average outstanding shares of common stock for the calendar quarter (excluding any equity-based awards that are subject to performance metrics that are not currently achieved) multiplied by (b)15.0% multiplied by (c) the excess of Core Earnings Per Adjusted Share for the previous three-month period in excess of $0.1458 (before any adjustment for the Reverse Stock Split), plus (ii) the product of (x) the diluted weighted-average outstanding shares of common stock for the calendar quarter (excluding any equity-based awards that are subject to performance metrics that are not currently achieved) multiplied by (y)10.0% multiplied by (z) the excess of Core Earnings Per Adjusted Share for the previous three-month period in excess of $0.1944 (before any adjustment for the Reverse Stock Split). The variable management fee is payable quarterly in arrears in cash, shares of common stock, or a combination thereof, at the Advisor’s election. No incentive variable management fees were earned during the three months ended March 31, 2024 or 2023.
Management Fee Expense
The Company recorded expense of $1.5 million and $1.5 million for base asset management fees during and three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. There were no variable management fees incurred in either of these periods. The management fees for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were paid partially with cash and partly with shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. The Advisor may elect to but is not obligated to accept shares in lieu of cash for these management fees and makes this election on a monthly basis. The management fees for both periods were paid as follows:
The Company paid base management fees in cash of $1.0 million (for January and February 2024) in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and it issued $0.5 million (for March 2024) in the three months ended March 31, 2024 in shares of Class A common stock in lieu of cash. As a result, the Company issued 70,607 shares of its Class A common stock using the 10-day average price of$7.08.
The Company paid base management fees in cash of $1.0 million (for February and March 2023) in the three months ended March 31, 2023 and it issued $0.5 million (for January 2023) in the three months ended March 31, 2023 in shares of Class A common stock in lieu of cash. As a result, the Company issued 31,407 shares of its Class A common stock (adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split) using the 10-day average price of $15.92 (adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split).
On May 1, 2024, the Company issued $0.5 million in its shares of Class A common stock in lieu of cash for the May 2024 asset management fee. As a result, the company issued 83,543 of its Class A common stock using the 10-day average price of$6.04 per share. For more information please see Note 14 — Subsequent Events.
For accounting purposes, the shares of the Company’s Class A common stock issued in lieu of cash for the management fees to the Advisor for March 2024 and January 2023, as elected by the Advisor, are treated as issued using the closing price on date of issue and the related expense totaled $0.5 million for thethree months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Property Management Fees
Pursuant to the Property Management and Leasing Agreement (the “PMA”), as most recently amended on November 16, 2018, except in certain cases where the Company contracts with a third party, the Company pays the Property Manager a property management fee equal to: (i) for non-hotel properties,3.25% of gross revenues from the properties managed, plus market-based leasing commissions; and (ii) for hotel properties, a market-based fee based on a percentage of gross revenues. The term of the PMA is coterminous with the term of the Advisory Agreement.
Pursuant to the PMA, the Company reimburses the Property Manager for property-level expenses. These reimbursements are not limited in amount and may include reasonable salaries, bonuses, and benefits of individuals employed by the Property Manager, except for the salaries, bonuses, and benefits of individuals who also serve as one of the Company’s executive officers or as an executive officer of the Property Manager or any of its affiliates. The Property Manager may also subcontract the performance of its property management and leasing services duties to third parties and pay all or a portion of its property management fee to the third parties with whom it contracts for these services.
On April 13, 2018, in connection with the loan for its 400 E. 67th Street - Laurel Condominium and 200 Riverside Boulevard properties, the Company entered into a new property management agreement with the Property Manager (the “April 2018 PMA”) to manage the properties secured by the loan. With respect to these properties, the substantive terms of the April 2018 PMA are identical to the terms of the PMA, except that the property management fee for non-hotel properties is 4.0% of gross revenues from the properties managed, plus market-based leasing commissions. The April 2018 PMA has an initial term ofone year that is automatically extended for an unlimited number of successiveone-year terms at the end of each year unless any party gives 60 days’ written notice to the other parties of its intention to terminate.
In March 2024, the Company and the Property Manager amended the PMA to allow the Property Manager to elect to receive Class A Units or shares of the Company’s common stock in lieu of cash for all fees payable to the Property Manager. Subsequent to March 31, 2024, the Company issued 22,857 shares of its Class A common stock to the Advisor in April 2024 as a result of the Advisor’s decision to accept shares of the Company’s stock in lieu of cash with respect to the March property management fees. These shares were issued using the 10-day average price of $6.64 per share for the April issuance, of which was the higher value per share between the minimum price required by the New York Stock Exchange regulations and the price set forth in the terms of the PMA (as amended). The 10-day average price is calculated as the average of the daily market price of such security for the ten consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the date of such valuation. For additional information, please see Note 14 — Subsequent Events.
The Company incurred approximately $0.4 million in property management fees during three months ended March 31, 2024, and $0.4 million in property management fees during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Professional Fees and Other Reimbursements
The Company pays directly or reimburses the Advisor monthly in arrears, for all the expenses paid or incurred by the Advisor or its affiliates in connection with the services it provides to the Company under the Advisory Agreement, subject to the following limitations:
(a) With respect to administrative and overhead expenses of the Advisor, including administrative and overhead expenses of all employees of the Advisor or its affiliates directly or indirectly involved in the performance of services but not including their salaries, wages, and benefits, these costs may not exceed in any fiscal year,
(i) $0.4 million, or
(ii) if the Asset Cost (as defined in the Advisory Agreement) as of the last day of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the month is equal to or greater than $1.25 billion, (x) the Asset Cost as of the last day of the fiscal quarter multiplied by (y)0.10%.
(b) With respect to the salaries, wages, and benefits of all employees of the Advisor or its affiliates directly or indirectly involved in the performance of services (including the Company’s executive officers), these amounts must be comparable to market rates and reimbursements may not exceed, in any fiscal year,
(i) $3.0 million ($2.6 million before the three months ended March 31, 2024), or
(ii) if the Asset Cost as of the last day of the fiscal year is equal to or greater than $1.25 billion, (x) the Asset Cost as of the last day of the fiscal year multiplied by (y)0.30%.
Professional fees and other reimbursement include reimbursements to the Advisor for administrative, overhead and personnel services, which are subject to the limits noted above, as well as costs associated with directors and officers insurance which are not subject to those limits.
Professional fees and other reimbursements for three months ended March 31, 2024 were $1.4 million. The amount of expenses included within professional fees and other reimbursements related to administrative, overhead and personnel services provided by and reimbursed to the Advisor for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were $1.2 million($0.9 million were for salaries, wages, and benefits and$0.3 million related to administrative and overhead expenses).
Professional fees and other reimbursements for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were$1.4 million. The amount of expenses included within professional fees and other reimbursements related to administrative, overhead and personnel services provided by and reimbursed to the Advisor for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $1.0 million ($0.8 million were for salaries, wages, and benefits and$0.2 million related to administrative and overhead expenses).
In March 2024, the Company and the Advisor amended the Advisory Agreement to increase the limit of incurred costs from the salaries, wages, and benefits of all employees of the Advisor or its affiliates directly or indirectly involved in the performance of services (including the Company’s executive officers) from $2.6 million to $3.0 million, and to allow the Advisor to elect to receive any expense reimbursement amounts pursuant to the Advisory Agreement in cash, OP Units, shares of the Company’s common stock, or any combination thereof. Subsequent to March 31, 2024, the Company issued 68,308 shares of its Class A common stock to the Advisor in April 2024 as a result of the Advisor’s decision to elect to receive shares of the Company’s stock in lieu of cash with respect to the reimbursement of professional fees for the month of February. These shares were issued using the 10-day average price of $6.64 per share. This issuances was the higher value per share between the minimum price required by the New York Stock Exchange regulations and the price set forth in the terms of the Advisory Agreement (as amended). The 10-day average price is calculated as the average of the daily market price of such security for the ten consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the date of such valuation. For additional information, please see Note 14 — Subsequent Events.
Summary of Fees, Expenses and Related Payables
The following table details amounts incurred in connection with the Company’s operations-related services described above as of and for the periods presented:
| Three Months Ended March 31, · Payable (receivable) as of | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 |
| Ongoing fees: | ||||
| Asset and property management fees to related parties (1) | $1,903 | $1,884 | $615 | $20 |
| Professional fees and other reimbursements (2) | 1,392 | 1,361 | — | — |
| Total related party operation fees and reimbursements | $3,295 | $3,245 | $615 | $20 |
(1)During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, approximately $0.5 million of this expense was for the asset and property management fees paid in shares of the Company’s Class A common stock (see above) in lieu of cash.
(2)Amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are included in general and administrative expenses in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Termination Fees Payable to the Advisor
The Advisory Agreement requires the Company to pay a termination fee to the Advisor in the event the Advisory Agreement is terminated prior to the expiration of the initial term in certain limited scenarios. The termination fee will be payable to the Advisor if either the Company or the Advisor exercises the right to terminate the Advisory Agreement in connection with the consummation of the first change of control (as defined in the Advisory Agreement). The termination fee is equal to $15 million plus an amount equal to the product of: (i)three (if the termination was effective on or prior to June 30, 2020) or (ii)four (if the termination is effective after June 30, 2020), multiplied by applicable Subject Fees (defined below).
The “Subject Fees” are equal to the product of 12 and the actual base management fee for the month immediately prior to the month in which the Advisory Agreement is terminated, plus the product offour and the actual variable management fee for the quarter immediately prior to the quarter in which the Advisory Agreement is terminated, plus without duplication, the annual increase in the base management fee resulting from the cumulative net proceeds of any equity issued by the Company and its subsidiaries in respect of the fiscal quarter immediately prior to the fiscal quarter in which the Advisory Agreement is terminated.
In connection with the termination or expiration of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor will be entitled to receive (in addition to any termination fee) all amounts then accrued and owing to the Advisor, including an amount equal to then-present fair market value of its shares of the Company’s Class A common stock and interest in the OP.
Note 10 —Economic Dependency
Under various agreements, the Company has engaged or will engage the Advisor, its affiliates and entities under common control with the Advisor to provide certain services that are essential to the Company, including asset management services, supervision of the management and leasing of properties owned by the Company, asset acquisition and disposition decisions, as well as other administrative responsibilities for the Company including accounting services, transaction management services and investor relations.
As a result of these relationships, the Company is dependent upon the Advisor and its affiliates. In the event that the Advisor and its affiliates are unable to provide the Company with the respective services, the Company will be required to find alternative providers of these services.
Note 11 —Equity-Based Compensation
Equity Plans
Restricted Share Plan
Prior to the Company listing its shares on the NYSE, the Company had an employee and director incentive restricted share plan (as amended, the “RSP”). The RSP provided for the automatic grant of the number of restricted shares equal to $30,000 divided by the then-current Estimated Per-Share NAV, which were made without any further approval by the Company’s board of directors or the stockholders, after initial election to the board of directors and after each annual stockholder meeting, with such restricted shares vesting annually over afive-year period following the grant date in increments of 20.0% per annum. The RSP also provided the Company with the ability to grant awards of restricted shares to the Company’s board of directors, officers and employees (if the Company ever has employees), employees of the Advisor and its affiliates, employees of entities that provide services to the Company, directors of the Advisor or of entities that provide services to the Company, certain consultants to the Company and the Advisor and its affiliates or to entities that provide services to the Company.
2020 Equity Plan
Effective at the time of the listing, the Company’s independent directors approved an equity plan for the Advisor (the “Advisor Plan”) and an equity plan for individuals (the “Individual Plan” and together with the Advisor Plan, the “2020 Equity Plan”). The Advisor Plan is substantially similar to the Individual Plan, except with respect to the eligible participants. Awards under the Individual Plan are open to the Company’s directors, officers and employees (if the Company ever has employees), employees, officers and directors of the Advisor and as a general matter, employees of affiliates of the Advisor that provide services to the Company. Awards under the Advisor Plan may only be granted to the Advisor and its affiliates (including any person to whom the Advisor subcontracts substantially all of responsibility for directing or performing the day-to-day business affairs of the Company).
The 2020 Equity Plan succeeded and replaced the then existing RSP. Following the effectiveness of the 2020 Equity Plan at the listing of its shares on the NYSE, no further awards have been or will be granted under the RSP; provided, however, any outstanding awards under the RSP, such as unvested restricted shares held by the Company’s independent directors, will remain in effect in accordance with their terms and the terms of the RSP, until all those awards are exercised, settled, forfeited, canceled, expired or otherwise terminated. The Company accounts for forfeitures when they occur. While the RSP provided only for awards of restricted shares, the 2020 Equity Plan has been expanded to also permit awards of restricted stock units, stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, LTIP Units and other equity awards. In addition, the 2020 Equity Plan eliminates the “automatic grant” provisions of the RSP that dictated the terms and amount of the annual award of restricted shares to independent directors. Grants to independent directors are made in accordance with the Company’s new director compensation program, as described below under “—Director Compensation.” The 2020 Equity Plan has a term of 10 years, expiring August 18, 2030. The number of shares of the Company’s capital stock that may be issued or subject to awards under the 2020 Equity Plan, in the aggregate, is equal to 20.0% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Class A common stock on a fully diluted basis at any time. Shares subject to awards under the Individual Plan reduce the number of shares available for awards under the Advisor Plan on aone-for-one basis and vice versa.
Director Compensation
On August 18, 2020 the Company listed its shares of Class A common stock on the NYSE (the “Listing Date”), and effective on that date, the Company’s independent directors approved a change to the Company’s director compensation program. Starting with the annual award of restricted shares made in connection with the Company’s 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, the amount of the annual award was increased from$30,000 to $65,000. No other changes have been made to the Company’s director compensation program.
Restricted Shares
Restricted share awards entitle the recipient to receive shares of common stock from the Company under terms that provide for vesting over a specified period of time. Restricted shares may not, in general, be sold or otherwise transferred until restrictions are removed and the shares have vested. Holders of restricted shares receive cash dividends on the same basis as dividends paid on shares of common stock, if any, prior to the time that the restrictions on the restricted shares have lapsed and thereafter. Any dividends payable in shares of common stock are subject to the same restrictions as the underlying restricted shares.
In March 2022, the compensation committee delegated authority to the Company’s chief executive officer to award up to 25,000 restricted shares (adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split) to employees of the Advisor or its affiliates who are involved in providing services to the Company, including the Company’s chief financial officer, subject to certain limits and restrictions imposed by the compensation committee. The compensation committee remains responsible for approving and administering all grants of awards to the Company’s chief financial officer or any other executive officer of the Company, including any award of restricted shares recommended by the Company’s chief executive officer. No awards under the 2020 Equity Plan may be made pursuant to this delegation of authority to anyone who is also a partner, member or equity owner of the parent of the Advisor. As of March 31, 2024 there have been no shares awarded to anyone who is also a partner, member or equity owner of the parent of the Advisor.
Restricted share awards that have been granted to the Company’s directors provide for accelerated vesting of the portion of the unvested restricted shares scheduled to vest in the year of the recipient’s voluntary termination or the failure to be re-elected to the Company’s board of directors.
In the quarter ended March 31, 2023, the Company issued 2,038 restricted shares (adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split) to a member of the Company’s board of directors. During the quarter ended June 30, 2023 the Company issued 13 restricted shares to an employee of the advisor and its affiliates. In the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Company issued 24,042 shares to the Company’s the board of directors as part of the annual award of restricted shares by the Company to the board of directors. These restricted shares issued to the board of directors will vest in 20% increments on each of the first five anniversaries of the respective grant dates. Also, during the quarter ended September 30, 2023, several former employees of the advisor that were terminated, and as defined in the award agreement, forfeited a total 2,792 restricted shares. During the quarter ended December 31, 2023, the Company granted 10,139 restricted shares to employees of the Advisor. The restricted shares granted to employees of the Advisor will vest in 25% increments on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date.
In the quarter ended March 31, 2024, three former employees of the Advisor terminated their employment, and as defined in the award agreement, forfeited a total of 953 restricted shares.
The following table displays restricted share award activity during the three months ended March 31, 2024:
| Number of Restricted Shares (1) | Weighted-Average Issue Price (1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Unvested, December 31, 2023 | 36,198 | $29.37 |
| Granted | — | — |
| Vested | (408) | 15.44 |
| Forfeitures | (953) | 65.86 |
| Unvested, March 31, 2024 | 34,837 | $28.53 |
As of March 31, 2024, the Company had$0.7 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted share awards granted and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.6 years. Restricted share awards are expensed in accordance with the service period required. Compensation expense related to restricted share awards was approximately $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Compensation expense related to restricted share awards is recorded as equity-based compensation in the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Multi-Year Outperformance Award
2020 OPP
On the Listing Date, the Company, the OP and the Advisor entered into the 2020 OPP pursuant to which a performance-based equity award was granted to the Advisor. The award was based on the recommendation of the Company’s compensation consultant, and approved by the Company’s independent directors, acting as a group.
Initially, the award under the 2020 OPP was in the form of a single LTIP Unit. On September 30, 2020, the 30 th trading day following the Listing Date, in accordance with its terms, the single LTIP Unit automatically converted into 501,605 LTIP Units (adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split), the quotient of $50.0 million divided by $99.68 (adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split), representing the average closing price of one share of Class A common stock over theten consecutive trading days immediately prior to September 30, 2020. This number of LTIP Units represented the maximum number of LTIP Units that could have been earned by the Advisor during a performance period which ended on August 18, 2023. The compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company determined that none of the 501,605 of the LTIP Units subject to the 2020 OPP had been earned under the performance measures.
For accounting purposes, July 19, 2020 was treated as the grant date (the “Grant Date”), because the Company’s independent directors approved the 2020 OPP and the award made thereunder on that date. The Company engaged third party specialists, who used a Monte Carlo simulation, to calculate the fair value as of the date the single LTIP Unit converted (September 30, 2020), on which date the fair value was also fixed. The total fair value of the LTIP Units of $25.8 million was recorded over the requisite service period of 3.07 years beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Listing Date (August 18, 2023). As a result, during the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company did not record any equity-based compensation expense related to the LTIP Units. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 the Company recorded equity-based compensation expense related to the LTIP Units of $2.1 million. As of August 18, 2023, the total fair value of the LTIP Units has been amortized to expense and no future expense remains. Equity-based compensation expense related to the LTIP Units was recorded in equity-based compensation in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
The LTIP Units issued pursuant to the 2020 OPP could potentially have been earned by the Advisor during a performance period which ended on August 18, 2023. The compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company determined that none of the 501,605 of the LTIP Units subject to the 2020 OPP had been earned under the performance measures. These LTIP Units were thus automatically forfeited effective as of August 18, 2023, without the payment of any consideration by the Company or the OP. On that date, the Company reclassified amounts reflected in non-controlling interest for these LTIP Units to additional paid in capital on its consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of equity.
LTIP Units/Distributions/Redemption
The rights of the Advisor as the holder of the LTIP Units were governed by the terms of the LTIP Units set forth in the agreement of limited partnership of the OP. Holders of LTIP Units were entitled to distributions on the LTIP Units equal to 10% of the distributions made per Class A Unit (other than distributions of sale proceeds) until if, and when, the LTIP Units were earned. Distributions paid on a Class A Unit were equal to dividends paid on a share of Class A common stock and were not subject to forfeiture, even though the LTIP Units were not earned and have been forfeited. If the LTIP Units had been earned, the Advisor would have been entitled to a priority catch-up distribution on each earned LTIP Unit equal to 90% of the aggregate distributions paid on Class A Units during the applicable performance period. Any LTIP Units that were earned would have become entitled to receive the same distributions paid on the Class A Units. If the Advisor’s capital account with respect to an earned LTIP Unit had been equal to the capital account balance of a Class A Unit, the Advisor, as the holder of the earned LTIP Unit, in its sole discretion, would have been entitled to convert the LTIP Unit into a Class A Unit, which would have in turn been redeemed on aone-for-one basis for, at the Company’s election, a share of Class A common stock or the cash equivalent thereof. Through the six months ended June 30, 2022 we paid dividends to our common stockholders at our current annual rate of $3.20 per share of Class A common stock (adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split), or $0.80 per share (adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split) on a quarterly basis. Subsequently, the board decided not to declare any further dividends. There is no assurance as to when or if the board will declare future dividends or the amount of any future dividends that may be declared. Because the LTIP Units only receive distributions when the Class A common stock receives dividends, no distributions have been paid since the quarter ended March 31, 2022.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company didnot pay distributions on the LTIP Units. As discussed above, the LTIP Units were automatically forfeited effective as of August 18, 2023, without the payment of any consideration by the Company or the OP.
Performance Measures
As indicated above, on November 7, 2023, following the end of the performance period that expired on August 18, 2023, the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors determined that none of the 501,605 LTIP Units under the 2020 OPP had been earned. These LTIP Units were thus automatically forfeited effective as of August 18, 2023, without the payment of any consideration by the Company or the OP.
With respect to one-half of the LTIP Units granted under the 2020 OPP, the number of LTIP Units that could have potentially become earned was determined as of the last day of the performance period based on the Company’s achievement of absolute total stockholder return (“TSR”) levels as shown in the table below.
| Performance Level · Absolute TSR · Percentage of LTIP Units Earned | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below Threshold | Less than | 12% | 0% | |
| Threshold | 12% | 25% | ||
| Target | 18% | 50% | ||
| Maximum | 24% | or higher | 100% | |
If the Company’s absolute TSR was more than 12% but less than 18%, or more than 18% but less than 24%, the percentage of the Absolute TSR LTIP Units that would have been earned would have been determined using linear interpolation as between those tiers, respectively.
With respect to the remaining one-half of the LTIP Units granted under the 2020 OPP, the number of LTIP Units that could have potentially become earned was determined as of the last day of the performance period base on the difference (expressed in terms of basis points, whether positive or negative, as shown in the table below) between the Company’s absolute TSR on the last day of the performance period relative to the average TSR of a peer group consisting of Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., Franklin Street Properties Corp., Paramount Group, Inc. and Clipper Realty Inc. as of the last day of the performance period.
| Performance Level · Relative TSR Excess · Percentage of LTIP Units Earned | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below Threshold | Less than | -600 | basis points | 0% |
| Threshold | -600 | basis points | 25% | |
| Target | 0 | basis points | 50% | |
| Maximum | +600 | basis points | 100% | |
If the relative TSR excess was between -600 basis points andzero basis points, or between zero basis points and +600 basis points, the number of LTIP Units that would have been earned would have been determined using linear interpolation as between those tiers, respectively.
Note 12 —Income Taxes
On December 30, 2022, the Company announced that it was changing its business strategy by expanding the scope of the assets and businesses the Company may own and operate. By investing in other asset types, the Company may generate income that does not otherwise constitute income that qualifies for purposes of qualifying as a REIT. As a result, on January 9, 2023, the Company’s board of directors authorized the termination of the Company’s REIT election which became effective as of January 1, 2023. Historically, effective with the taxable year ended December 31, 2014 through December 31, 2022, the Company had elected to be taxed as a REIT.
The Company is subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. For deferred items, the Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent the Company believes these assets will more likely than not be realized. Because of the Company’s recent operating history of taxable losses and the continuing adverse economic impacts since the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s results of operations, the Company is not able to conclude that it is more likely than not it will realize the future benefit of its deferred tax assets; thus the Company has provided a 100% valuation allowance as of March 31, 2024 and as of December 31, 2023. If and when the Company believes it is more likely than not that it will recover its deferred tax assets, the Company will reverse the valuation allowance as an income tax benefit in its consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
The effective tax rate waszero for thethree months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. The Company expects to have a taxable loss for federal, state and local income taxes for the year ending December 31, 2024. Accordingly, the Company has recordedno income tax expense (after considering changes in the valuation allowance) for andthree months ended March 31, 2024. The Company remains in a net deferred tax asset position with a full valuation allowance as of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had no material uncertain tax positions.
Note 13 —Net Loss Per Share
The following is a summary of the basic and diluted net loss per share computation for the periods presented:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| (In thousands, except share and per share data) | 2024 | 2023 |
| Net loss attributable to common stockholders (in thousands) | $(7,608) | $(11,758) |
| Adjustments to net loss attributable to common stockholders | — | — |
| Adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders | $(7,608) | $(11,758) |
| Weighted average shares outstanding — Basic and Diluted | 2,322,594 | 2,038,880 |
| Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders — Basic and Diluted | $(3.28) | $(5.77) |
Under current authoritative guidance for determining earnings per share, all unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to distributions are considered to be participating securities and therefore are included in the computation of earnings per share under the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common shares and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The Company’s unvested restricted shares, Class A Units and unearned LTIP Units contain rights to receive distributions considered to be non-forfeitable, except in certain limited circumstances, and therefore the Company applies the two-class method of computing earnings per share. The calculation of earnings per share above adjusts net loss to exclude the distributions to the unvested restricted shares, Class A Units and the unearned LTIP Units that were issued under the 2020 OPP from the numerator. On July 1, 2022, the Company announced that it suspended its policy regarding dividends paid on its Class A common stock, beginning with the dividend that would have been payable for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Accordingly, there is no adjustment for the three month period ended March 31, 2024 or 2023 relating to distributions to LTIP Units which are paid in arrears. Accordingly, since the LTIP Units only receive distributions when the Class A common stock receives dividends there were no distributions to the LTIP Units beginning with the distribution that would have been payable for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 and quarterly periods thereafter.
Diluted net loss per share assumes the conversion of all Class A common stock share equivalents into an equivalent number of shares of Class A common stock, unless the effect is anti-dilutive. The Company considers unvested restricted shares, Class A Units and unvested LTIP Units to be common share equivalents. The following table shows common share equivalents on a weighted average basis that were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as their effect would have been antidilutive for the periods presented.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Unvested restricted shares (1) | 35,025 | 20,104 |
| LTIP Units (2) | — | 501,605 |
| Total weighted-average anti-dilutive common share equivalents | 35,025 | 521,709 |
(1)There were 34,837 and 20,172 unvested restricted shares outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
(2)There wereno LTIP units outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and there were 501,605 LTIP Units outstanding as of March 31, 2023 (see Note 11 — Equity-Based Compensation for additional information).
If dilutive, conditionally issuable shares relating to the 2020 OPP award would be included, as applicable, in the computation of fully diluted EPS on a weighted-average basis for and three month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, based on shares that would be issued if the applicable balance sheet date was the end of the measurement period. No LTIP Unit share equivalents were included in the computation for three month periods ended March 31, 2024 because either or both (i) no LTIP Units would have been earned based on the trading price of Class A common stock including any cumulative dividends paid (since inception of the 2020 OPP) at March 31, 2024 and 2023 or (ii) the Company recorded a net loss to common stockholders for all periods presented and any shares conditionally issuable under the LTIPs would be anti-dilutive.
Note 14 —Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and determined that there have not been any events that have occurred that would require adjustments to disclosures in the consolidated financial statements other than the following:
Asset Management, Property Management Fees and Advisor Expense Reimbursements
On April 1, 2024, the Company issued 91,165 total shares of its Class A common stock to the Advisor as a result of the Advisor’s decision to elect to receive shares of the Company’s common stock in lieu of cash with respect to the March property management fees (22,857 shares) and February general and administrative expense reimbursements (68,308 shares). These shares were issued using the 10-day average price of $6.64, which was the higher value per share between the minimum price required by the New York Stock Exchange regulations and the price set forth in the terms of the Advisory Agreement and the Property Management and Leasing Agreement, as applicable. The 10-day average price is calculated as the average of the daily market price of such security for theten consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the date of such valuation.
On May 1, 2024, the Company issued 83,543 shares of its Class A common stock to the Advisor in May 2024 as a result of the Advisor’s decision to elect to receive shares of the Company’s stock in lieu of cash with respect to the asset management fees for May. These shares were issued using the 10-day average price of $6.04 per share. These issuances were the higher value per share between the minimum price required by the New York Stock Exchange regulations and the price set forth in the terms of the Advisory Agreement (as amended). The 10-day average price is calculated as the average of the daily market price of such security for theten consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the date of such valuation.
9 Times Square Loan Agreement Amendment
On April 29, 2024 the Company entered into a second amendment to its 9 Times Square loan agreement with Capital One.
The second amendment primarily affects the following changes: (i) extends of the maturity date of the mortgage to October 31, 2024 (with the option of an additional extension to January 31, 2025, subject to certain conditions) in order to facilitate the sale of the 9 Times Square property, (ii) increases the interest rate spread on one-month SOFR from 1.60% to 2.60%, (iii) provides that excess operating cash flows shall be deposited to an account maintained by the lender, (iv) requires that the Company deliver a purchase and sale agreement to the lender with respect to 9 Times Square (or another offering document with a prospective buyer) within 60 days of the second amendment, (v) prohibits the Company from making distributions while the mortgage is outstanding and (vi) requires the OP to pledge its equity interest in 9 Times Square as additional collateral for the mortgage if the mortgage is not paid in full on or prior to maturity.
As announced in the Company’s press release on April 29, 2024, the Company has determined to market certain of their properties for sale, including 9 Times Square. This amended agreement facilitates the Company to market the property for sale, with the option to extend maturity to January 31, 2025 in the event the property is under contract for sale but has not yet closed by October 31, 2024. There can be no assurance the Company will be able to sell the property before January 31, 2025. The Company may record significant impairment charges on the property while the property is marketed for sale.
Tender Offer by Affiliates of the Advisor
On May 7, 2024, Bellevue Capital Partners, LLC announced a tender offer to purchase up to 125,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, at a purchase price equal to $9.25 per share. The tender offer expires on July 5, 2024 unless the tender offer is extended or terminated.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.