Power REIT: Form 10-Q for the period ended Sep 30, 2023

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Report”) includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as statements containing the words “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “assume” or other similar expressions, or negatives of those expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements contained in this Report regarding our future strategy, future operations, projected financial position, estimated future revenues, projected costs, future prospects, the future of our industries and results that might be obtained by pursuing management’s current or future plans and objectives are forward-looking statements.

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control, including those identified below, under Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Report, and those identified under Part I, Item 1A of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2023 (the “2022 10-K”). Our forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of the date of the filing of this Report. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these matters or how they may affect us. Over time, our actual results, performance, financial condition or achievements may differ from the anticipated results, performance, financial condition or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such differences may be significant and materially adverse to our security holders. Our forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date hereof, and we make no commitment to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements in order to reflect new information or subsequent events, circumstances or changes in expectations.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Power REIT (the “Registrant” or the “Trust”, and together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “we”, “us”, or “Power REIT”, unless the context requires otherwise) is a Maryland-domiciled, internally-managed real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) that owns a portfolio of real estate assets related to transportation, energy infrastructure and Controlled Environment Agriculture (“CEA”) in the United States.

We are structured as a holding company and owns our assets through twenty-four direct and indirect wholly-owned, special purpose subsidiaries that have been formed in order to hold real estate assets, obtain financing and generate lease revenue. As of September 30, 2023, the Trust’s assets consisted of approximately 112 miles of railroad infrastructure and related real estate which is owned by its subsidiary Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railroad (“P&WV”), approximately 501 acres of fee simple land leased to a number of utility scale solar power generating projects with an aggregate generating capacity of approximately 88 Megawatts (“MW”) and approximately 263 acres of land with approximately 2,211,000 square feet of existing or under construction CEA properties in the form of greenhouses.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Trust accrued a quarterly dividend of approximately $490,000 ($0.484375 per share per quarter) on Power REIT’s 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock.

Recent Developments

In 2019, we expanded the focus of our real estate activities to include CEA properties in the form of greenhouses in the United States. CEA is an innovative method of growing plants that involves creating optimized growing environments for a given crop indoors. Power REIT is focused on CEA in the form of a greenhouse which use approximately 70% less energy than indoor growing, 95% less water usage than outdoor growing, and does not have any agricultural runoff of fertilizers or pesticides. We believe greenhouse cultivation represents a sustainable solution from both a business and environmental perspective. Certain of our greenhouse properties are operated for the cultivation of cannabis by state-licensed operators. During 2022, we acquired a greenhouse focused on the cultivation of tomatoes. We typically enter into long-term “triple net” leases where our tenants are responsible for all costs related to the property, including insurance, taxes and maintenance.

Our primary objective is to maximize the long-term value of the Trust for our shareholders. To that end, our business goals are to obtain the best possible rental income at our properties in order to maximize our cash flows, net operating income, funds from operations, funds available for distribution to shareholders and other operating measures and results, and ultimately to maximize the values of our properties.

To achieve this primary goal, we have developed a business strategy focused on increasing the values of our properties, and ultimately of the Trust, which includes:

• Raising capital by monetizing the embedded value in our portfolio to enhance our liquidity position and, as appropriate reducing debt levels to strengthen our balance sheet;
• Selling off non-core properties and underperforming assets;
• Seeking to re-lease properties that are vacant or have non-performing tenants
• Raising the overall level of quality of our portfolio and of individual properties in our portfolio;
• Improving the operating results of our properties; and
• Taking steps to position the Company for future growth opportunities.

Improving Our Balance Sheet by Reducing Debt and Leverage; Maintaining Liquidity

Leverage

We continue to seek ways to reduce our leverage by improving our operating performance and through a variety of other means available to us. These means might include selling properties, raising capital or through other actions.

Recent Events

On November 1, 2023, a wholly owned subsidiary of Power REIT (“PW SD”) sold its interest in a cannabis related greenhouse cultivation facility located in Maine to an affiliate of its tenant. As previously announced, PW SD had entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement related to this property that has been renegotiated based on current circumstances as part of proceeding towards closing. The total consideration was $4,787,000, of which $3,400,000 was paid in cash, $537,000 was paid in the form of the release of the security deposit held by PW SD and seller financing in the form of an $850,000 note with an 8.5% interest rate that will accrue until maturity on October 30, 2025. The note is secured by a second mortgage on the property and certain corporate and personal guarantees. Of the cash proceeds received from the Sweet Dirt sale, $1,642,187.50 was used to pay down the Debt Facility.

Liquidity

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we determined that there was substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern as a result of net losses incurred, expected reduced revenue and increased property maintenance expenses. As of September 30, 2023, our consolidated balance sheet reflected $3.6 million of cash and cash equivalents which includes $1 million of restricted cash related to a Debt Facility. We believe that this amount and future net cash provided by operations, property sales, and other sources of capital, should provide sufficient liquidity to meet our liquidity requirements in the short term, including for one year from the filing of this Report. Our ability to meet our liquidity requirements beyond one year from the filing of this Report is subject to our ability to sell properties, the potential to enter into new leases and improve collections from existing tenants and raise capital in the form of debt or equity, which if successful should alleviate the substantial doubt about the Trust’s ability to continue as a going concern. However, the Trust cannot predict, with certainty, the outcome of its actions to generate liquidity, including its ability to sell and lease properties, its ability to and the failure to do so could negatively impact its future operations. In addition, any foreclosure on any property held by any of Power REIT’s subsidiaries, such as the Debt Facility that PW CanRe, LLC Holdings entered into that is currently in default, will result in a loss of revenue from such foreclosed property and negatively impact our liquidity.

Capital Recycling

In the later part of 2022, we commenced property reviews to establish a plan for the portfolio and, if appropriate, will seek to dispose of properties that we do not believe meet financial and strategic criteria given economic, market and other circumstances. Disposing of these properties can enable us to redeploy our capital to other uses, such as to repay debt, to reinvest in other real estate assets and development and redevelopment projects, and for other corporate purposes. Along these lines, in early 2023 we completed sales of assets for total gross proceeds of $2.5 million. We also have several properties that we are seeking to sell and/or lease which have been classified as “Assets Held for Sale.”

Improving Our Portfolio

We are currently seeking to refine our property holdings by selling properties and/or re-leasing them in an effort to improve the overall performance going forward.

Taking Steps to Position the Company for Future Growth Opportunities

We are taking steps designed to position the Trust to create shareholder value. In connection therewith, we have implemented processes designed to ensure strong internal discipline in the use, harvesting and recycling of our capital, and these processes will be applied in connection with seeking to reposition properties.

We may continue to seek to acquire, in an opportunistic, selective and disciplined manner, properties that have operating metrics that are better than or equal to our existing portfolio averages, and that we believe have potential to generate cash flow and/or appreciation in value. Taking advantage of any acquisition opportunities would likely involve some use of debt or equity capital. We will pursue transactions that we expect can meet the financial and strategic criteria we apply, given economic, market and other circumstances. In addition, we are exploring the potential to use our existing corporate structure for strategic transactions including potentially merging assets or companies with the Trust.

On January 6, 2023, a wholly owned subsidiary of Power REIT, sold its interest in five ground leases related to utility scale solar farms located in Tulare County, California for gross proceeds of $2,500,000. The purchaser is an unaffiliated third party and the price was established based on an arm’s length negotiation. The properties were acquired by Power REIT in 2013 for $1,550,000.

The following table is a summary of the Trust’s properties as of November 2023:

1 Solar Farm Land size represents Megawatts and CEA property size represents greenhouse square feet

2 Not including renewal options

3 Gross Book Value for our Greenhouse Portfolio represents purchase price (excluding capitalized acquisition costs) plus improvements costs - does not include outstanding capital commitments

4Property is vacant

5Tenant is not current on rent/in default

6An impairment has been taken against this asset

7Asset held for sale

Critical Accounting Estimates

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses in the periods presented. We believe that the accounting estimates employed are appropriate and resulting balances are reasonable; however, due to inherent uncertainties in making estimates, actual results may differ from the original estimates, requiring adjustments to these balances in future periods. The critical accounting estimates that affect the consolidated financial statements and the judgments and assumptions used are consistent with those described under Part II, Item 7 of the 2022 10-K.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022

Revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $488,531 and $2,007,645, respectively. Revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2023, consisted of revenue from direct financing lease of $228,750, total rental income of 233,152, and other income of $26,629. The decrease in total revenue was primarily related to a decrease of $1,610,022 in rental income from unrelated parties due to defaulted leases related to the challenges within the cannabis industry and an increase of $64,335 in rental income from related parties due to adjustments in 2022 of leases from straight-line to a cash basis. Other income increased $26,573 due to the increase in interest income. Expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to 2022 increased by $9,086,592 due primarily to a non-cash impairment charge of $8,235,136, as well as an increase in property maintenance expense of $405,886 and increase in property tax of $135,167 as a result of tenant defaults, an increase in general and administrative expenses of $12,470, an increase in interest expense of $177,790 due to the current interest rate environment, and an increase in depreciation expense of $167,444 offset by a decrease in amortization of intangible assets of $47,301. Net (loss)/income attributable to common shareholders during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was ($10,185,943) and $419,762 respectively. Net income attributable to common shares decreased by $10,605,705.

For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, we accrued a dividend to our holders of Series A Preferred Stock of $163,207 and paid a cash dividend of $163,208, respectively.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022

Revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $1,711,161 and $6,226,114, respectively. Revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, consisted of rental income of $857,459, direct financing lease income of $686,250 and other income of $167,452. The decrease in total revenue was primarily related to a decrease of $4,103,339 in rental income from unrelated parties and to a lesser extent a decrease in rental income of $578,991 from transactions with related parties due to defaulted leases related to the challenges within the cannabis industry, offset by an increase in other income of $167,377. Expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased $11,444,498 as compared to total expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 primarily due to a non-cash impairment charge of $8,235,136, as well as an increase in property maintenance expense of $1,441,382 and an increase in property tax of $316,714 as a result of tenant defaults, an increase in general and administrative expenses of $277,146, an increase in depreciation expense of $699,805, an increase in interest expense of $616,218 and a decrease in amortization of intangible assets of $141,903. Other income increased by $880,452 due to a gain on disposal of the Tulare property netted with debt modification expense of $160,000. Net (loss)/income attributable to common shareholders during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was ($13,042,842) and $2,036,157, respectively. Net income attributable to common shareholders decreased by $15,078,999.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, we accrued a dividend to our holders of Series A Preferred Stock of $489,621 and paid a cash dividend to our holders of Series A Preferred Stock of $489,621, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $3,605,689 as of September 30, 2023, a decrease of $242,182 from December 31, 2022. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the decrease in cash was primarily due increased property expenses due to tenant defaults offset by the proceeds of $2,409,178 from the sale of the solar land property.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Trust determined that there was substantial doubt as to its ability to continue as a going concern as a result of net losses incurred, expected reduced revenue and increased property maintenance expenses. As of September 30, 2023, the Trust had approximately $2.6 million of non-restricted cash available and with the potential sale of certain assets, we believe these resources will be sufficient to fund our operations and commitments. The focus on selling properties, the potential to enter into new leases and improve collections from existing tenants and the potential to raise capital in the form of debt or equity, should alleviate the substantial doubt about the Trust’s ability to continue as a going concern. However, we cannot predict, with certainty, the outcome of our actions to generate liquidity and the failure to do so could negatively impact our future operations.

With the cash available as of November, 2023 and the sale and potential sale of certain assets, we believe these resources will be sufficient to fund our operations and commitments; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to sell properties when anticipated and for prices anticipated, if at all. Our cash outlays, other than acquisitions, property improvements, dividend payments and interest expense, are for property maintenance, property taxes and general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses, which consist principally of professional fees, consultant fees, NYSE American listing fees, insurance, shareholder service company fees and auditing costs as well as property related expenses that are not covered by tenants. To the extent we need to raise additional capital to meet our obligations, there can be no assurance that financing will be available when needed on favorable terms. If we are unable to sell certain assets when anticipated at prices anticipated, we may not have sufficient cash to fund operations and commitments.

The Trust’s objectives when managing its capital are to seek to ensure that there are adequate capital resources to safeguard the Trust’s ability to continue operating and maintain adequate levels of funding to support its ongoing operations and development such that it can continue to provide returns to shareholders. Our management evaluates whether there are conditions or events, considered in aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued.

FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS – NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

We assess and measure our overall operating results based upon an industry performance measure referred to as Core Funds From Operations (“Core FFO”) which management believes is a useful indicator of our operating performance. Core FFO is a non-GAAP financial measure. Core FFO should not be construed as a substitute for net income (loss) (as determined in accordance with GAAP) for the purpose of analyzing our operating performance or financial position, as Core FFO is not defined by GAAP. The following is a definition of this measure, an explanation as to why we present it and, at the end of this section, a reconciliation of Core FFO to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Management believes that alternative measures of performance, such as net income computed under GAAP, or Funds From Operations computed in accordance with the definition used by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”), include certain financial items that are not indicative of the results provided by our asset portfolio and inappropriately affect the comparability of the Trust’s period-over-period performance. These items include non-recurring expenses, such as one-time upfront acquisition expenses that are not capitalized under ASC-805 and certain non-cash expenses, including stock-based compensation expense, amortization and certain up front financing costs. Therefore, management uses Core FFO and defines it as net income excluding such items. We believe that Core FFO is a useful supplemental measure for the investing community to employ, including when comparing us to other REITs that disclose similarly Core FFO figures, and when analyzing changes in our performance over time. Readers are cautioned that other REITs may use different adjustments to their GAAP financial measures than we use, and that as a result, our Core FFO may not be comparable to the FFO measures used by other REITs or to other non-GAAP or GAAP financial measures used by REITs or other companies.

A reconciliation of our Core FFO to net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 is included in the table below:

CORE FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS (FFO)

(Unaudited)

As a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate disclosure controls and procedures (as defined Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) (to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Our disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. The design and operation of a control system must also reflect that there are resource constraints and management is necessarily required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls.

Our management, including our principal executive officer who is also our principal financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on our evaluation, we believe that our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2023 were effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting:

During the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2023, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

The Trust’s results of operations and financial condition are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties as described in the 2022 10-K, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference. The following information updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the information disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” contained in the 2022 10-K. You should carefully consider the risks set forth in the 2022 10-K and the following risks, together with all the other information in this Report, including our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. If any of the risks actually materialize, our operating results, financial condition and liquidity could be materially adversely affected. Except as disclosed below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in the 2022 10-K.

The investment portfolio is, and in the future may continue to be, concentrated in its exposure to a relatively few numbers of investments, industries and lessees.

As of September 30, 2023, we owned twenty-four property investments, through our ownership of our twenty-four subsidiaries: Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railroad, PW PWV Holdings LLC, PW Salisbury Solar, LLC, PW Regulus Solar, LLC, PW CO CanRE JAB LLC, PW CanRE of Colorado Holdings LLC, PW CO CanRE Mav 5 LLC, PW CO CanRE Mav 14 LLC, PW CO CanRE Sherm 6 LLC, PW ME CanRE SD LLC, PW CO CanRE Tam 7 LLC, PW CO CanRE MF LLC, PW CO CanRE Tam 19 LLC, PW CO CanRE Grail LLC, PW CO CanRE Apotheke LLC, PW CA CanRE Canndescent LLC, PW CO CanRE Gas Station LLC, PW CO CanRE Cloud Nine LLC, PW CO CanRE Walsenburg LLC, PW CanRE OK Vinita LLC, PW CO CanRE JKL LLC, PW MI CanRE Marengo LLC, PW CanRE Holdings LLC, and PW MillPro NE LLC.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, Power REIT collected approximately 83% of its consolidated revenue from two properties. The tenants were Norfolk Southern Railway and Regulus Solar, LLC, which represent 44%, and 39% of consolidated revenue respectively. Comparatively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, Power REIT collected approximately 56% of its consolidated revenue from four properties. The tenants were Sweet Dirt, Fiore Management LLC (“Canndescent”), Norfolk Southern Railway and Regulus Solar, LLC which represent 22%, 13%, 11% and 10% of consolidated revenue respectively.

We are exposed to risks inherent in this sort of investment concentration. Financial difficulty or poor business performance on the part of any single lessee or a default on any single lease will expose us to a greater risk of loss than would be the case if we were more diversified and holding numerous investments, and the underperformance or non-performance of any of its assets may severely adversely affect our financial condition and results from operations. Our lessees could seek the protection of bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws, which could result in the rejection and termination of our lease agreements and could cause a reduction in our cash flows. Furthermore, we intend to concentrate our investment activities in the CEA sector, which will subject us to more risks than if we were diversified across many sectors. At times, the performance of the infrastructure sector may lag the performance of other sectors or the broader market as a whole.

If our acquisitions or our overall business performance fail to meet expectations, the amount of cash available to us to pay dividends may decrease and we could default on our loans, which are secured by collateral in our properties and assets.

We may not be able to achieve operating results that will allow us to pay dividends at a specific level or to increase the amount of these dividends from time to time. Also, restrictions and provisions in any credit facilities we enter into or any debt securities we issue may limit our ability to pay dividends. We cannot assure you that you will receive dividends at a particular time, or at a particular level, or at all.

PW Regulus Solar, LLC (“PWRS”), one of our subsidiaries, entered into the 2015 PWRS Loan Agreement (as defined below) that is secured by all of PWRS’ interest in the land and intangibles. As of September 30, 2023, the balance of the 2015 PWRS Loan was approximately $6,965,000 (net of unamortized debt costs of approximately $241,000). PWSS, one of our subsidiaries, borrowed $750,000 from a regional bank which loan is secured by PWSS’ real estate assets and is secured by a parent guarantee from the Trust. The balance of the PWSS term loan as of September 30, 2023 is approximately $465,000 (net of approximately $0 of capitalized debt costs which are being amortized over the life of the financing). PW PWV Holdings LLC (“PWV”), one of our subsidiaries, entered into a Loan Agreement in the amount of $15,500,000 that is secured by our equity interest in our subsidiary PWV which is pledged as collateral. The balance of the loan as of September 30, 2023 is $14,463,000 (net of approximately $278,000 of capitalized debt costs). PW CanRE entered into a Debt Facility with initial availability of $20 million. The facility is non-recourse to Power REIT and is structured without initial collateral but has springing liens to provide security against a significant number of Power REIT CEA portfolio properties in the event of default. A modification occurred on March 13, 2023 (see Note 6). As of September 30, 2023, $16,000,000 was drawn on the Debt Facility. As of September 30, 2023, PW CanRE Holdings is not in compliance with all loan covenants and is current with respect to required payments. If we should fail to generate sufficient revenue to pay our outstanding secured debt obligations, the lenders could foreclose on the security pledged. In addition, Maryland law prohibits the payment of dividends if we are unable to pay our debts as they come due.

We must raise additional capital or sell or lease additional properties to fund our operations in order to continue as a going concern.

As of September 30, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $23.8 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we had a net loss of $12.6 million. Although we believe we will have sufficient cash on hand to fund our ongoing operations in the short term, including for one year from the filing of this Report, we need to raise further capital through the sale of additional equity or debt securities or other debt instruments, strategic relationships or grants, or sell additional properties, enter into new leases and improve collections from existing tenants to support our future operations and to meet our liquidity requirements beyond one year from the filing of this Report. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to generate revenue and raise capital from financing transactions or sell properties. In addition, any foreclosure on any property held by any of our subsidiaries, such as the Debt Facility that PW CanRe, LLC Holdings entered into that is currently in default, will result in a loss of revenue from such foreclosed property and negatively impact our liquidity.

The issuance of securities with claims that are senior to those of our common shares, including our Series A Preferred Stock, may limit or prevent us from paying dividends on its common shares. There is no limitation on our ability to issue securities senior to the Trust’s common shares or incur indebtedness.

Our common shares are equity interests that rank junior to our indebtedness and other non-equity claims with respect to assets available to satisfy claims against us, and junior to our preferred securities that by their terms rank senior to our common shares in our capital structure, including our Series A Preferred Stock. As of September 30, 2023, we had outstanding debt in the principal amount of $38.4 million and have raised approximately $9 million from sales of our Series A Preferred Stock. This debt and these preferred securities rank senior to the Trust’s common shares in our capital structure. We expect that in due course we may incur more debt, and issue additional preferred securities as we pursue our business strategy.

In the case of indebtedness, specified amounts of principal and interest are customarily payable on specified due dates. In the case of preferred securities, such as our Series A Preferred Stock, holders are provided with a senior claim to distributions, according to the specific terms of the securities. In contrast, however, in the case of common shares, dividends are payable only when, as and if declared by the Trust’s board of trustees and depend on, among other things, the Trust’s results of operations, financial condition, debt service requirements, obligations to pay distributions to holders of preferred securities, such as the Series A Preferred Stock, other cash needs and any other factors that the board of trustees may deem relevant or that they are required to consider as a matter of law. The incurrence by the Trust of additional debt, and the issuance by the Trust of additional preferred securities, may limit or eliminate the amounts available to the Trust to pay dividends on our Series A Preferred Stock and common shares.

From time to time, our management team may own interests in our lessees or other counterparties, and may thereby have interests that conflict or appear to conflict with the Trust’s interests.

On occasion, our management may have financial interests that conflict, or appear to conflict with the Trust’s interests. For example, four of Power REIT’s properties were leased by tenants in which Millennium Sustainable Ventures Corp., formerly Millennium Investment & Acquisition Company (ticker: MILC) has controlling interests. David H. Lesser, Power REIT’s Chairman and CEO, is also Chairman and CEO of MILC. MILC established cannabis cultivation projects in Colorado (through a loan), Oklahoma, and Michigan which are related to our May 21, 2021, June 11, 2021, and September 3, 2021 acquisitions and a food crop cultivation project in Nebraska related to our March 31, 2022 acquisition. Total rental income recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 from the affiliated tenants in Colorado, Oklahoma, Michigan and Nebraska was $0. The above leases are currently in default and the Trust is evaluating the best path forward related thereto. Also, a portion of the property improvement budget for Sweet Dirt Lease Second Amendment, amounting to $2,205,000, would be supplied by IntelliGen Power Systems LLC which is owned by HBP, an affiliate of David Lesser, Power REIT’s Chairman and CEO. On January 23, 2023, the Sweet Dirt lease was amended to restructure the timing of rent payments but maintain the same overall yield and eliminate the funding of remaining capital improvements for the cogeneration project, which includes eliminating payments that were expected to be paid to IntelliGen, a related party. As of September 30, 2023, $1,102,500 had been paid to IntelliGen for equipment supplied.

Although our Declaration of Trust permits this type of business relationship and a majority of our disinterested trustees must approve, and in those instances did approve, Power REIT’s involvement in such transactions, in any such circumstance, there may be conflicts of interest between Power REIT on one hand, and MILC, IntelliGen, Mr. Lesser and his affiliates and interests on the other hand, and such conflicts may be unfavorable to us.

We currently, and may in the future, have assets held at financial institutions that may exceed the insurance coverage offered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the loss of such assets would have a severe negative affect on our operations and liquidity.

We may maintain our cash assets at certain financial institutions in the U.S. in amounts that may be in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limit of $250,000. In the event of a failure of any financial institutions where we maintain our deposits or other assets, we may incur a loss to the extent such loss exceeds the FDIC insurance limitation, which could have a material adverse effect upon our liquidity, financial condition and our results of operations.