KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc.: Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar 31, 2024

Going Concern Considerations

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and condensed notes in this Quarterly Report have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern. The ongoing challenges affecting the U.S. commercial real estate industry, especially as it pertains to commercial office buildings, continues to be one of the most significant risks and uncertainties we face. The combination of the continued economic slowdown, high interest rates and persistent inflation (or the perception that any of these events may continue), as well as a lack of lending activity in the debt markets, have contributed to considerable weakness in the commercial real estate markets. The usage and leasing activity of our assets in several markets remains lower than pre-pandemic levels, and we cannot predict when economic activity and demand for office space will return to pre-pandemic levels in those markets. Both upcoming and recent tenant lease expirations and leasing challenges in certain markets amidst the aforementioned headwinds coupled with slower than expected return-to-office, most notably in the greater San Francisco Bay Area where we own several assets, have had direct and material impacts to property appraisal values used by our lenders and have impacted our ability to access certain credit facilities and our ongoing cash flow, which, in large part, provide liquidity for capital expenditures needed to manage our real estate assets.

Due to disruptions in the financial markets, it is difficult to refinance maturing debt obligations as lenders are hesitant to make new loans in the current market environment with so many uncertainties surrounding asset valuations, especially in the office real estate market. As of May 14, 2024, we have $1.2 billion of loan maturities in the next 12 months. Considering the current commercial real estate lending environment, this raises substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern for at least a year from the date of the issuance of our financial statements.

On February 12, 2024, after running an interview process with several investment banks, we engaged Moelis & Company LLC, a global investment bank with expertise in real estate, capital raising and restructuring, to assist us in developing, evaluating and pursuing a comprehensive plan to maximize the value of our assets in a manner that would be beneficial to all of our stakeholders.

We are proactively and productively engaged in discussions with our lenders for the modification and extension of our maturing debt obligations, including the Amended and Restated Portfolio Loan Facility with an outstanding principal balance of $601.3 million as of May 14, 2024. On February 6, 2024, we entered a six-month extension and modification agreement for this facility. Among other requirements, the extension agreement requires that we raise not less than $100.0 million in new equity, debt or a combination of both on or prior to July 15, 2024 and the failure to do so constitutes an immediate default under the facility. The extension agreement also provides a default will occur under the Amended and Restated Portfolio Loan Facility if a written demand for payment is delivered by U.S. Bank, National Association following a default under the following loans (a) our Credit Facility, (b) the payment guaranty agreement of our Modified Portfolio Revolving Loan Facility or (c) any other indebtedness of KBS REIT Properties III LLC, our indirect wholly owned subsidiary, where the demand made or amount guaranteed is greater than $5.0 million.

In order to refinance, restructure or extend our maturing debt obligations, we have been required to reduce the loan commitments and/or make paydowns on certain loans, and anticipate we may be required to make additional reductions to loan commitments and paydowns on the loans maturing during the next 12 months in order to refinance, restructure or extend those loans. As a result of reductions in loan commitments and paydowns and the ongoing liquidity needs in our real estate portfolio, in addition to raising capital through new equity or debt, we may consider selling assets into a challenged real estate market in an effort to manage our liquidity needs. Selling real estate assets in the current market would likely adversely impact the ultimate sale price. We also may defer noncontractual expenditures.

There can be no assurances as to the certainty or timing of management’s plans in regards to the matters above, as certain elements of management’s plans are outside our control, including our ability to successfully refinance, restructure or extend certain of our debt instruments, our ability to raise new equity or debt and our ability to sell assets. Moreover, our loan agreements contain cross default provisions, including that the failure of one or more of our subsidiaries to pay debt as it matures under one debt facility may trigger the acceleration of our indebtedness under other debt facilities. If we are unable to successfully refinance or restructure certain of our debt instruments, we may seek the protection of the bankruptcy court to implement a restructuring plan, which would constitute an event of default under other indebtedness of our subsidiaries. As a result of our upcoming loan maturities, reductions in loan commitments and loan paydowns, the challenging commercial real estate lending environment, the current interest rate environment, leasing challenges in certain markets where we own properties, reduction in our cash flows and the lack of transaction volume in the U.S. office market as well as general market instability, management’s plans cannot be considered probable and thus do not alleviate substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

We are exposed to the effects of interest rate changes as a result of borrowings used to maintain liquidity and to fund property improvements, repairs and tenant build-outs to properties, to pay for other capital needs, to refinance existing indebtedness and to provide working capital. We have also funded distributions to stockholders and redemptions of common stock with borrowings. Our profitability and the value of our real estate investment portfolio may be adversely affected during any period as a result of interest rate changes. Our interest rate risk management objectives are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings, prepayment penalties and cash flows and to lower overall borrowing costs. We may manage interest rate risk by utilizing a variety of financial instruments, including interest rate caps, floors, and swap agreements, in order to limit the effects of changes in interest rates on our operations. When we use these types of derivatives to hedge the risk of interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities, we may be subject to certain risks, including the risk that losses on a hedge position will reduce the funds available for other capital needs and that the losses may exceed the amount we invested in the instruments.

We borrow funds at a combination of fixed and variable rates. Interest rate fluctuations will generally not affect our future earnings or cash flows on our fixed rate debt, unless such instruments mature or are otherwise terminated. However, interest rate changes will affect the fair value of our fixed rate instruments. As of March 31, 2024, the fair value of our fixed rate debt was $119.6 million and the outstanding principal balance of our fixed rate debt was $119.6 million. The fair value estimate of our fixed rate debt is calculated using a discounted cash flow analysis utilizing rates we would expect to pay for debt of a similar type and remaining maturity if the loan was originated as of March 31, 2024. As we expect to hold our fixed rate instruments to maturity (unless the property securing the debt is sold and the loan is repaid) and the amounts due under such instruments would be limited to the outstanding principal balance and any accrued and unpaid interest, we do not expect that fluctuations in interest rates, and the resulting change in fair value of our fixed rate instruments, would have a significant impact on our operations.

Conversely, movements in interest rates on our variable rate debt would change our future earnings and cash flows, but not significantly affect the fair value of those instruments. However, changes in required risk premiums would result in changes in the fair value of variable rate instruments. As of March 31, 2024, we were exposed to market risks related to fluctuations in interest rates on $357.1 million of variable rate debt outstanding after giving consideration to the impact of interest rate swap agreements on approximately $1.1 billion of our variable rate debt. Based on interest rates as of March 31, 2024, if interest rates were 100 basis points higher or lower during the 12 months ending March 31, 2025, interest expense on our variable rate debt would increase or decrease by $3.6 million.

The interest rate and weighted-average effective interest rate of our fixed rate debt and variable rate debt as of March 31, 2024 were 7.5% and 5.7%, respectively. The weighted-average effective interest rate represents the actual interest rate in effect as of March 31, 2024 (consisting of the contractual interest rate and the effect of interest rate swaps, if applicable), using interest rate indices as of March 31, 2024 where applicable.

We continue to have discussions with our lenders regarding potential modifications to certain debt obligations, including the Amended and Restated Portfolio Loan Facility, Carillon Mortgage Loan, 3001 & 3003 Washington Mortgage Loan and Accenture Tower Revolving Loan. Given the challenges affecting the U.S. commercial real estate industry and the challenging interest rate environment, in order to refinance or extend loans, we expect lenders to demand higher interest rate spreads compared to the existing terms in our current loan agreements as was the case with the modification of the Modified Portfolio Revolving Loan Facility executed during the three months ended March 31, 2024. We utilize interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk, and in particular fluctuations in the variable rate, namely SOFR, but these interest rate swaps will not mitigate any risk related to higher interest rate spreads. As a result, we expect interest expense and our weighted-average effective interest rate to increase in the future as a result of recent extensions and as we continue to refinance our maturing debt. For a discussion of the interest rate risks related to the current capital and credit markets, see Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Market Outlook – Real Estate and Real Estate Finance Markets” and the risks discussed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon, and as of the date of, the evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file and submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file and submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Please see the risks discussed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the SEC.