Franklin Street Properties Corp: Form 10-K for the period ended Dec 31, 2023
Filed with the SEC on Feb 26, 2024 and accepted by EDGAR at Feb 26, 2024, 16:25 ET.
Business
As filed, 31,543 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
History
Our company, Franklin Street Properties Corp., which we refer to as FSP Corp., the Company, we or our, is a Maryland corporation that operates in a manner intended to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes. Our common stock is traded on the NYSE American under the symbol “FSP”. FSP Corp. is the successor to Franklin Street Partners Limited Partnership, or the FSP Partnership, which was originally formed as a Massachusetts general partnership in January 1997 as the successor to a Massachusetts general partnership that was formed in 1981. On January 1, 2002, the FSP Partnership converted into FSP Corp., which we refer to as the conversion. As a result of this conversion, the FSP Partnership ceased to exist and we succeeded to the business of the FSP Partnership. In the conversion, each unit of both general and limited partnership interests in the FSP Partnership was converted into one share of our common stock. As a result of the conversion, we hold, directly and indirectly, 100% of the interest in three former subsidiaries of the FSP Partnership: FSP Investments LLC, FSP Property Management LLC, and FSP Holdings LLC. We operate some of our business through these subsidiaries.
Our Business
We are a REIT focused on commercial real estate investments primarily in office markets and currently operate in only one segment: real estate operations. The principal revenue sources for our real estate operations include rental income from real estate leasing, interest income from secured loans made on office properties, property dispositions and fee income from asset/property management and development.
We invest in infill and central business district office properties in the United States sunbelt and mountain west regions as well as select opportunistic markets. We believe that the United States sunbelt and mountain west regions have macro-economic drivers that have the potential to increase occupancies and rents. We seek value-oriented investments with an eye towards long-term growth and appreciation, as well as current income.
Previously we also operated in an investment banking segment, which was discontinued in December 2011. Our investment banking segment generated brokerage commissions, loan origination fees, development services and other fees related to the organization of single-purpose REITs that own real estate and the private placement of equity in those entities.
From time-to-time we may acquire real estate or invest in real estate by making secured loans on real estate. We may also pursue on a selective basis the sale of our properties to take advantage of the value creation and demand for our properties, or for geographic or property specific reasons.
Real Estate
As of December 31, 2023, we owned and operated a portfolio of real estate consisting of 17 properties, which we refer to as our owned properties, and a non-controlling common stock interest in the corporation that is the sole member of FSP Monument Circle LLC, which was organized to operate as a real estate investment trust and which we refer to as the Sponsored REIT or Monument Circle. The Sponsored REIT was consolidated in our financial statements effective January 1, 2023. We refer to these 18 properties as our owned and consolidated properties. We derive rental revenue from income paid to us by tenants of these properties. See Item 2 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information about our properties. From time-to-time we dispose of properties generating gains or losses in an ongoing effort to improve and upgrade our portfolio.
We provide asset management, property management, property accounting, investor and/or development services to our portfolio and our Sponsored REIT through our subsidiaries FSP Investments LLC and FSP Property Management LLC. Neither FSP Investments LLC nor FSP Property Management LLC receives any rental income.
Sustainability
As an owner of commercial real estate, a sector with significant environmental, social and governance, or ESG, impact, we strive to maximize shareholder value through the prudent application of sound ESG strategies. Our efforts have been awarded recognition from various third party review entities, such as GRESB, ENERGY STAR and LEED.
Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
Considerable uncertainty still surrounds the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential effects on the population, including the spread of more contagious variants of the virus, and on the commercial real estate market and our business. Many of our tenants still do not fully occupy the space that they lease. The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present material uncertainty and risk with respect to the performance of our properties and our financial results and we are unable to estimate the full extent of this impact on our future financial results at this time. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for additional information.
Investment Objectives
Our investment objectives are to create shareholder value by increasing revenue from rental, dividend, interest and fee income and net gains from sales of properties and increase the cash available for distribution in the form of dividends to our stockholders. We expect that we will continue to derive real estate revenue from owned properties and the Sponsored REIT Loan and fees from asset management, property management and investor services. We may also acquire additional real properties.
Although our property portfolio is focused on properties in the central business districts of Dallas, Denver, Houston and Minneapolis, we may acquire, and have acquired, real properties in any geographic area of the United States and of any property type. Our 18 owned and consolidated office properties are located in six different states as of December 31, 2023. See Item 2 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information about our properties.
We continue to believe that the current price of our common stock does not accurately reflect the value of our underlying real estate assets and we will seek to increase shareholder value by (1) pursuing the sale of select properties where we believe that short to intermediate term valuation potential has been reached and (2) striving to lease vacant space.
As a result, from time to time, as market conditions warrant, we expect to sell properties owned by us. On March 10, 2023, we sold an office property located in Elk Grove, Illinois for a gross sales price of $29.1 million, at a gain of approximately $8.4 million. On August 9, 2023, we sold a property in Charlotte, North Carolina for a gross sales price of $9.2 million at a loss of $0.8 million. On October 26, 2023, we sold an office property located in Plano, Texas for a gross sales price of $48 million at a gain of $10.6 million. On December 6, 2023, we sold an office property located in Miami, Florida for a gross sales price of $68.0 million at a loss of approximately $18.9 million. In 2022, we sold two office properties located in Broomfield, Colorado for aggregate gross sales proceeds of $102.5 million at a gain of $24.1 million and one office property located in Evanston, Illinois for gross sale proceeds of $27.8 million at a gain of $3.9 million. In 2021, we sold 10 office properties located in four different states for aggregate gross sale proceeds of $602.7 million, at a net gain of $113.1 million.
As we continue to execute on our strategy of select property dispositions and striving to lease vacant space, our revenue, Funds From Operations, and capital expenditures may decrease. Proceeds from dispositions are intended to be used primarily for the repayment of debt.
Generally, in selecting real properties for acquisition by FSP Corp. and managing them after acquisition, we rely on the following principles:
- we seek to buy or develop investment properties at a price which produces value for investors and avoid overpaying for real estate merely to outbid competitors;
- we seek to buy or develop properties in excellent locations with substantial infrastructure in place around them and avoid investing in locations where the future construction of such infrastructure is speculative;
- we seek to buy or develop properties that are well-constructed and designed to appeal to a broad base of users and avoid properties where quality has been sacrificed for cost savings in construction or which appeal only to a narrow group of users;
- we aggressively manage, maintain and upgrade our properties and refuse to neglect or undercapitalize management, maintenance and capital improvement programs; and
- we believe that we have the ability to hold properties through down cycles because we generally do not have mortgage debt on the Company, which could place the properties at risk of foreclosure. As of February 23, 2024, none of our owned properties were subject to mortgage debt.
Competition
With respect to our real estate investments, we face competition in each of the markets where our properties are located. In order to establish, maintain or increase the rental revenues for a property, it must be competitive on location, cost and amenities with other buildings of similar use. Some of our competitors may have significantly more resources than we do and may be able to offer more attractive rental rates or services. On the other hand, some of our competitors may be smaller or have less fixed overhead costs, less cash or other resources that make them willing or able to accept lower rents in order to maintain a certain occupancy level. In markets where there is not currently significant existing property competition, our competitors may decide to enter the market and build new buildings to compete with our existing projects or those in a development stage. Our competition is not only with other developers, but also with property users who choose to own their building or a portion of the building in the form of an office condominium. Competitive conditions are affected by larger market forces beyond our control, such as general economic conditions, which may increase competition among landlords for quality tenants, and individual decisions by tenants that are beyond our control.
Governmental Regulations
Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, we, as an owner or operator of real property may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous substances released on or in our property. Such laws may impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or caused, the release of such hazardous substances. The presence of hazardous substances on a property may adversely affect the owner’s ability to sell such property or to borrow using such property as collateral, and it may cause the owner of the property to incur substantial remediation costs. In addition to claims for cleanup costs, the presence of hazardous substances on a property could result in the owner incurring substantial liabilities as a result of a claim by a private party for personal injury or a claim by an adjacent property owner for property damage.
All of our properties are required to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, or ADA, and the regulations, rules and orders that may be issued thereunder. The ADA has separate compliance requirements for “public accommodations” and “commercial facilities,” but generally requires that buildings be made accessible to persons with disabilities. Compliance with ADA requirements might require, among other things, removal of access barriers. Noncompliance with such requirements could result in the imposition of fines by the U.S. government or an award of damages to private litigants.
In addition, we are required to operate our properties in compliance with fire and safety regulations, building codes and other land use regulations, as they may be adopted by governmental agencies and bodies and become applicable to our properties. Compliance with such requirements may require us to make substantial capital expenditures, which expenditures would reduce cash otherwise available for distribution to our stockholders.
The provisions of the tax code governing the taxation of REITs are very technical and complex, and although we expect that we will be organized and will operate in a manner that will enable us to meet such requirements, no assurance can be given that we will always succeed in doing so. If in any taxable year we do not qualify as a REIT, we would be taxed as a corporation and distributions to our stockholders would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income. In addition, if we were to fail to qualify as a REIT, we could be disqualified from treatment as a REIT in the year in which such failure occurred and for the next four taxable years and, consequently, we would be taxed as a regular corporation during such years. Failure to qualify for even one taxable year could result in a significant reduction of our cash available for distribution to our stockholders or could require us to incur indebtedness or liquidate investments in order to generate sufficient funds to pay the resulting federal income tax liabilities.
See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for additional information.
Human Capital
We had 28 employees as of both February 23, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Women represent 46.4% of our employees, of which 38.5% hold management level/leadership roles. We endeavor to maintain a workplace that is free from discrimination or harassment on the basis of color, race, sex, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression or any other status protected by applicable law. We regularly conduct training to prevent harassment and discrimination. The Company’s basis for recruitment, hiring, development, training, compensation and advancement of employees is qualifications, performance, skills and experience. Many of our employees have a long tenure with the Company. Our employees are compensated without regard to gender, race and ethnicity, and our compensation program is designed to attract and retain talent.
Available Information
We make available, free of charge through our website http://www.fspreit.com our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.
We will voluntarily provide paper copies of our filings and code of ethics upon written request received at the address on the cover of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, free of charge.
Information about our Directors
The following table sets forth the names, ages and positions of all our directors as of February 23, 2024.
| Name | | Age | | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George J. Carter | 75 | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | | ||
| John N. Burke (1) (2) (3) (4) | 62 | Director | | ||
| Brian N. Hansen (2) (3) (5) | 52 | Director | | ||
| Kenneth Hoxsie (1) (3) (6) | | 73 | | Director | |
| Dennis J. McGillicuddy (1) | 82 | Director | | ||
| Georgia Murray (1) (2) (7) | 73 | Director | | ||
| Kathryn P. O'Neil (1) (2) (3) | | 60 | | Director | |
| Milton P. Wilkins, Jr. (1) | | 76 | | Director | |
(1) Member of the Audit Committee
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee
(3) Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
(4) Chair of the Audit Committee
(5) Chair of the Compensation Committee
(6) Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
(7) Lead Independent Director
George J. Carter, age 75, is Chief Executive Officer and has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of FSP Corp. since 2002. Mr. Carter also was the President of FSP Corp. from 2002 to May 2016. Mr. Carter is responsible for all aspects of the business of FSP Corp. and its affiliates, with special emphasis on the evaluation, acquisition and structuring of real estate investments. Prior to the conversion, he was President of the general partner of the FSP Partnership and was responsible for all aspects of the business of the FSP Partnership and its affiliates. From 1992 through 1996 he was President of Boston Financial Securities, Inc. (“Boston Financial”). Prior to joining Boston Financial, Mr. Carter was owner and developer of Gloucester Dry Dock, a commercial shipyard in Gloucester, Massachusetts. From 1979 to 1988, Mr. Carter served as Managing Director in charge of marketing at First Winthrop Corporation, a national real estate and investment banking firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to that, he held a number of positions in the brokerage industry including those with Merrill Lynch & Co. and Loeb Rhodes & Co. Mr. Carter is a graduate of the University of Miami (B.S.).
John N. Burke, age 62, has been a Director of FSP Corp. since 2004 and Chair of the Audit Committee since June 2004. Mr. Burke is a certified public accountant with over 35 years of experience in the practice of public accounting working with both private and publicly traded companies with extensive experience serving clients in the real estate and REIT industry. His experience includes analysis and evaluation of financial reporting, accounting systems, internal controls and audit matters. Mr. Burke has been involved as an advisor on several public offerings, private equity and debt financings and merger and acquisition transactions. Mr. Burke’s consulting experience includes a wide range of accounting, tax and business planning matters. Prior to starting his own firm, BA, Inc., in 2003, where he currently practices, Mr. Burke was an Audit Partner in the Boston office of BDO USA, LLP. Mr. Burke is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of CPAs. Mr. Burke earned an M.S. in Taxation and studied undergraduate accounting at Bentley University.
Brian N. Hansen, age 52, has been a Director of FSP Corp. since 2012 and Chair of the Compensation Committee since February 2021. Since 2007, Mr. Hansen has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Confluence Investment Management LLC, a St. Louis based Registered Investment Advisor. Prior to founding Confluence in 2007, Mr. Hansen served as a Managing Director in A.G. Edwards’ Financial Institutions & Real Estate Investment Banking practice. While at A.G. Edwards, Mr. Hansen advised a wide variety of Real Estate Investment Trusts on numerous capital markets transactions, including public and private offerings of debt and equity securities as well as the analysis of various merger & acquisition opportunities. Prior to joining A.G. Edwards, Mr. Hansen served as a Manager in Arthur Andersen LLP’s Audit & Business Advisory practice. Mr. Hansen has served on the boards of a number of non-profit entities and currently serves on the Finance Council and as the Investment Committee Chair of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and as a member of the St. Louis County Retirement Board. Mr. Hansen earned his M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his Bachelor of Science in Commerce from DePaul University. Mr. Hansen is a Certified Public Accountant.
Kenneth A. Hoxsie, age 73, has been a Director of FSP Corp. since January 2016 and Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee since February 2021. Mr. Hoxsie was a Partner at the international law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (“WilmerHale”) until his retirement in December 2015. He joined Hale and Dorr (the predecessor of WilmerHale) in 1981, subsequently worked at Copley Real Estate Advisors, an institutional real estate investment advisory firm, and rejoined Hale and Dorr in 1994. Mr. Hoxsie has over 30 years’ experience in real estate capital markets transactions, fund formation, public company counseling and mergers and acquisitions and has advised the Company since its formation in 1997. Mr. Hoxsie earned his J.D. (Cum Laude) from Harvard Law School, his M.A. from Harvard University and his B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) from Amherst College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Dennis J. McGillicuddy, age 82, has been a Director of FSP Corp. since May 2002. Mr. McGillicuddy graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. degree and from the University of Florida Law School with a J.D. degree. In 1968, Mr. McGillicuddy joined Barry Silverstein in founding Coaxial Communications, a cable television company. In 1998 and 1999, Coaxial sold its cable systems. Mr. McGillicuddy has served on the boards of various charitable organizations. He is currently President of the Board of Trustees of Florida Studio Theater, a professional non-profit theater organization, and is a Director of All-Star Children’s Foundation, an organization engaged in creating a new paradigm for foster care.
Georgia Murray, age 73, has been a Director of FSP Corp. since April 2005 and Lead Independent Director since February 2014. Ms. Murray is retired from Lend Lease Real Estate Investments, Inc., where she served as a Principal from November 1999 until May 2000. From 1973 through October 1999, Ms. Murray worked at The Boston
Financial Group, Inc., serving as Senior Vice President and a Director at times during her tenure. Boston Financial was an affiliate of the Boston Financial Group, Inc. She is a past Trustee of the Urban Land Institute and a past President of the Multifamily Housing Institute. Ms. Murray previously served on the Board of Directors of Capital Crossing Bank. She also serves on the boards of numerous non-profit entities. Ms. Murray is a graduate of Newton College.
Kathryn P. O’Neil, age 60, has been a Director of FSP Corp. since January 2016. Ms. O’Neil was a Director at Bain Capital in the Investor Relations area where she focused on Private Equity and had oversight of the Investment Advisory sector from 2011 until her retirement in 2014. From 1999 to 2007, Ms. O’Neil was a Partner at FLAG Capital Management LLC, a manager of fund-of-funds investment vehicles in private equity, venture capital, real estate and natural resources. Previously, Ms. O’Neil was an Investment Consultant at Cambridge Associates where she specialized in Alternative Assets. Ms. O’Neil currently serves on a variety of non-profit boards, including the Peabody Essex Museum where she is a Trustee and a member of the Finance and Investment Committees, Horizon’s for Homeless Children where she is a Director and serves on the Executive and Finance Committees, McLean Hospital where she is a member of the Board of Trustees, and the Trustees of Reservations where she serves on the President’s Council and was a member of the Investment Committee from 2006 to 2020. Ms. O’Neil is a Trustee Emeritus of Colby College and a former member of the Board of Overseers of the Boston Museum of Science. Ms. O’Neil holds a B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) and M.A. (Honorary) from Colby College where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Ms. O’Neil received her M.B.A. from The Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
Milton P. Wilkins, Jr., age 76, has been a Director of FSP Corp. since February 2022. Mr. Wilkins has served as an investment advisor with RBF Wealth Advisors in St. Louis, Missouri, since 1997. Concurrently, from 2003 to 2015, Mr. Wilkins served with Hammond Associates/Mercer Investment Consulting as an institutional investment consultant. From 1976 to 1986 and from 1989 to 1997, Mr. Wilkins served in various positions at Monsanto Corporation, including as Vice President of Corporate Development in the corporate mergers and acquisition group. Mr. Wilkins currently serves as Chairman of the St. Louis County Employees Retirement Board (pension plan), a member of the Investment Committee of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Nine PBS public television station in St. Louis. Mr. Wilkins holds a M.B.A. degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College.
Information about our Executive Officers
The following table sets forth the names, ages and positions of all our executive officers as of February 23, 2024.
| Name | Age | Position |
|---|---|---|
| George J. Carter (1) | 75 | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
| Jeffrey B. Carter | 52 | President and Chief Investment Officer |
| Scott H. Carter | 52 | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
| John G. Demeritt | 63 | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
| John F. Donahue | 57 | Executive Vice President |
| Eriel Anchondo | 46 | Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
(1) Information about George J. Carter is set forth above. See “Directors of FSP Corp.”
Jeffrey B. Carter, age 52, is President and Chief Investment Officer of FSP Corp. Mr. Carter served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer from February 2012 until May 2016, when he was appointed as President in addition to his position as Chief Investment Officer. Previously, Mr. Carter served as Senior Vice President and Director of Acquisitions of FSP Corp. from 2005 to 2012 and as Vice President - Acquisitions from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Carter oversees the day-to-day execution of the Company’s strategic objectives and business plan. In addition, Mr. Carter is primarily responsible for developing and implementing the Company’s investment strategy, including coordination of acquisitions and dispositions. Prior to joining FSP Corp., Mr. Carter worked in Trust Administration for Northern Trust Bank in Miami, Florida. Mr. Carter is a graduate of Arizona State University (B.A.), The George Washington University (M.A.) and Cornell University (M.B.A.). Mr. Carter’s father, George J. Carter, serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of FSP Corp. and Mr. Carter’s brother, Scott H. Carter, serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of FSP Corp.
Scott H. Carter, age 52, is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of FSP Corp. Mr. Carter has served as General Counsel since February 2008. Mr. Carter joined FSP Corp. in October 2005 as Senior Vice President and In-house Counsel. Mr. Carter is primarily responsible for the management of all of the legal affairs of FSP Corp. and its affiliates. Prior to joining FSP Corp. in October 2005, Mr. Carter was associated with the law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP, which he originally joined in 1999. At Nixon Peabody LLP, Mr. Carter concentrated his practice on the areas of real estate syndication, acquisitions and finance. Mr. Carter received a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree in Finance and Marketing and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Miami. Mr. Carter is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Carter’s father, George J. Carter, serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of FSP Corp. and Mr. Carter’s brother, Jeffrey B. Carter, serves as President and Chief Investment Officer of FSP Corp.
John G. Demeritt, age 63, is Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of FSP Corp. and has been Chief Financial Officer since March 2005. Mr. Demeritt previously served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Principal Accounting Officer from September 2004 to March 2005. Prior to September 2004, Mr. Demeritt was a Manager with Caturano & Company, an independent accounting firm (which later merged with McGladrey) where he focused on Sarbanes Oxley compliance. Previously, from March 2002 to March 2004 he provided consulting services to public and private companies where he focused on SEC filings, evaluation of business processes and acquisition integration. During 2001 and 2002 he was Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis at Cabot Industrial Trust, a publicly traded real estate investment trust, which was acquired by CalWest in December 2001. From October 1995 to December 2000 he was Controller and Officer of The Meditrust Companies, a publicly traded real estate investment trust (formerly known as The La Quinta Companies, which was then acquired by the Blackstone Group), where he was involved with a number of merger and financing transactions. Prior to that, from 1986 to 1995 he had financial and accounting responsibilities at three other public companies, and was previously associated with Laventhol & Horwath, an independent accounting firm from 1983 to 1986. Mr. Demeritt is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Babson College.
John F. Donahue, age 57, is Executive Vice President of FSP Corp. and President of FSP Property Management LLC and has held those positions since May 2016. Mr. Donahue is primarily responsible for the oversight of the management of all of the real estate assets of FSP Corp. and its affiliates. Mr. Donahue joined FSP Corp. in August 2001 as Vice President of FSP Property Management LLC. From 2001 to May 2016, Mr. Donahue was responsible for the management of real estate assets of FSP Corp. and its affiliates. From 1992 to 2001, Mr. Donahue worked in the pension fund advisory business for GE Capital and AEW Capital Management with oversight of office, research and development, industrial and land investments. From 1989 to 1992, Mr. Donahue worked for Krupp Realty in various accounting and finance roles. Mr. Donahue holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Bryant College.
Eriel Anchondo, age 46, is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of FSP Corp. and has held those positions since May 2016. Mr. Anchondo joined FSP Corp. in 2015 as Senior Vice President of Operations. Mr. Anchondo is responsible for ensuring that the Company has the proper operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and people systems and infrastructure in place to effectively grow the organization and maintain financial strength and operating efficiency. Prior to joining FSP Corp., from July 2014 to December 2014, Mr. Anchondo provided consulting services to the retail banking division of ISBAN, which is part of the Technology and Operations division of the Santander Group of financial institutions. From May 2007 to July 2013, Mr. Anchondo was employed by Mercer, a global consulting leader in talent, health, retirement, and investments, as an Employee Education Manager across all lines of Mercer’s business. From May 2005 to May 2007, Mr. Anchondo was a Communications Consultant at New York Life Investment Management. From December 2002 to May 2005, Mr. Anchondo worked in the Preferred Client Services Group at Putnam Investments. Mr. Anchondo is a graduate of Boston University (B.A.) and Cornell University (M.B.A.).
Each of the above executive officers has been a full-time employee of FSP Corp. for the past five fiscal years.
Risk factors
As filed, 41,526 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
The following material factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and presented elsewhere by management from time-to-time.
Risks Related to our Indebtedness
If our one remaining Sponsored REIT defaults on its Sponsored REIT Loan, we may be required to keep balances outstanding on our existing debt, seek new debt or use our cash balance to repay our existing debt, which may reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders or for other corporate purposes.
We have one remaining secured loan to a Sponsored REIT in the form of a mortgage loan, which we refer to as the Sponsored REIT Loan. We anticipate that the Sponsored REIT Loan will be repaid through cash flow from property operations or sale of the underlying property, although the actual amount and timing of any repayment is uncertain and will likely depend on prevailing market conditions at the time of any such sale. If the Sponsored REIT defaults on the Sponsored REIT Loan, the Sponsored REIT could be unable to fully repay the Sponsored REIT Loan and we may have to satisfy our obligations under our existing debt through other means, including without limitation, keeping balances outstanding, seeking new debt, and/or using our cash balance. If that happens, we may have less cash available for distribution to our stockholders or for other corporate purposes.
Our operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected if we are unable to refinance the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes or the Series B Notes.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to refinance the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes or the Series B Notes (each as defined in Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) upon their respective maturities, or that any such refinancings would be on terms as favorable as the terms of the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes, or the Series B Notes, or that we will be able to otherwise obtain funds by selling assets or raising equity to make required payments on the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes or the Series B Notes. If we are unable to refinance the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes or the Series B Notes at maturity or meet our payment obligations, the amount of our distributable cash flow and our financial condition would be adversely affected.
Failure to comply with covenants in the documents evidencing the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes or the Series B Notes could adversely affect our financial condition.
The documents evidencing the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes contain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including some or all of the following: limitations with respect to indebtedness, liens, investments, mergers and acquisitions, disposition of assets, use of net cash proceeds from the disposition of properties, assets and equity issuances, mandatory prepayments, the requirement to have certain subsidiaries provide guarantees, the requirement to pledge our equity interests in certain subsidiaries as collateral, changes in business, certain restricted payments, repurchases and redemptions of our common stock, going concern qualifications to our financial statements, and transactions with affiliates. In addition, subject to certain tax-related exceptions, the documents evidencing the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes restrict our ability to make quarterly dividend distributions that exceed $0.01 per share of our common stock; provided, however, that notwithstanding such restriction, we are permitted to make dividend distributions based on our good faith estimate of projected or estimated taxable income or otherwise as necessary to retain our status as a real estate investment trust, to meet the distribution requirements of Section 857 of the Internal Revenue Code or to eliminate any income or excise taxes to which we would otherwise be subject. The documents evidencing the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes contain the following financial covenants: minimum tangible net worth; maximum leverage ratio; maximum secured leverage ratio; maximum secured recourse leverage ratio; minimum fixed charge coverage ratio; maximum unencumbered leverage ratio; and minimum unsecured interest coverage.
Our continued general compliance with the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes is subject to ongoing compliance with our financial and other covenants. Failure to comply with such covenants could cause a default under the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes or the Series B Notes, and we may then be required to repay them with capital from other sources. Under those circumstances, other sources of capital may not be available to us, or be available only on unattractive terms.
If we breach covenants in the documents evidencing the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes or the Series B Notes, the lenders can declare a default. A default under documents evidencing the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes, or the Series B Notes could result in difficulty financing growth in our business and could also result in a reduction in the cash available for distribution to our stockholders or for other corporate purposes. A default under documents evidencing the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes or the Series B Notes could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
An increase in interest rates would increase our interest costs on variable rate debt and could adversely impact our ability to refinance existing debt or sell assets.
As of December 31, 2023 and February 21, 2024, we had $90 million and $67 million, respectively, outstanding under the BofA Term Loan. Interest on the BofA Term Loan bears interest at variable rates based on a spread over SOFR and includes a 5.00% floor on SOFR.
As of December 31, 2023 and February 21, 2024, we had $115 million and $86 million, respectively, outstanding under the BMO Term Loan. Interest on the BMO Term Loan bears interest at variable rates based on a spread over SOFR and includes a 5.00% floor on SOFR.
During 2023, the Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate target several times, most recently increasing it by 25 basis points on July 26, 2023, to a range of 5.25% to 5.50%. If interest rates continue to increase, then the interest costs on our unhedged variable rate debt will also increase, which could adversely affect our cash flow, our ability to pay principal and interest on our debt and our ability to make distributions to stockholders. In addition, rising interest rates could limit our ability to incur new debt or to refinance existing debt when it matures. From time to time, we may enter into interest rate swap agreements and other interest rate hedging contracts, including swaps, caps and floors. While these agreements are intended to lessen the impact of rising interest rates on us, they also expose us to the risks that the other parties to the agreements will not perform, we could incur significant costs associated with the settlement of the agreements, the agreements will be unenforceable and the underlying transactions will fail to qualify as highly-effective cash flow hedges. In addition, increases in interest rates could decrease the amount third parties are willing to pay for our assets, thereby limiting our ability to change our portfolio promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions, to incur new debt or refinance existing debt when it matures.
Downgrades in our credit ratings could reduce our access to funding sources in the credit and capital markets.
We are currently assigned a corporate credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) based on its evaluation of our creditworthiness. Although our corporate credit rating from Moody’s is currently below investment grade, there can be no assurance that we will not be further downgraded. Credit rating reductions or other negative actions by one or more rating agencies could adversely affect our access to funding sources, the cost and other terms of obtaining funding as well as our overall financial condition, operating results and cash flow.
Risks Related to our Operations and Properties
The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. This impact could be materially adverse to the extent that the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or future pandemics, cause tenants to be unable to pay their rent or reduce the demand for commercial real estate, or cause other impacts described below.
The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted our properties and operating results and continues to present material uncertainty and risk with respect to the performance of our properties and our financial results. Considerable uncertainty still surrounds the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential effects on the population, including the spread of more contagious variants of the virus, and on the commercial real estate market and our business. Many of our tenants still do not fully occupy the space that they lease. Any ongoing negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect us and/or our tenants due to, among other factors: the potential negative impact to the businesses of our tenants, the impact of work-from-home and return-to-work policies, the potential negative impact to leasing efforts and occupancy at our properties, uncertainty regarding future rent collection levels or requests for rent concessions from our tenants, the occurrence of a default under any of our debt agreements, the potential for increased borrowing costs, negative impacts on our ability to refinance existing indebtedness or to secure new sources of capital on favorable terms, fluctuations in our level of dividends, increased costs of operations, making more difficult our ability to complete required capital expenditures in a timely manner and on budget, decreases in values of our real estate assets, changes in law and/or regulation, and uncertainty regarding government and regulatory policy.
Some of our existing tenants and potential tenants operate in businesses and industries that continue to be adversely affected by the continuing disruption to business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of our existing tenants and potential tenants have elected to, or been required to, and may in the future elect to, or be required to, reduce or suspend operations for extended periods of time, including as a result of work-from-home policies. Some of our tenants have requested rent concessions and more tenants may request rent concessions or may not pay rent in the future. These situations could lead to increased rent delinquencies and/or defaults under leases, a lower demand for rentable space leading to increased concessions or lower occupancy, increased tenant improvement capital expenditures, or reduced rental rates to maintain occupancies. For example, on December 21, 2020, the parent company of a tenant that leases approximately 130,000 square feet filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, resulting in a writeoff charge of $3.1 million. Our operations could be materially negatively affected if the economic downturn is prolonged, which could adversely affect our operating results, our ability to pay dividends, our ability to repay or refinance our existing indebtedness, and the price of our common stock.
Economic conditions in the United States could have a material adverse impact on our earnings and financial condition.
Although recent indicators suggest that economic activity has expanded at a modest pace, the global economy continues to experience significant disruptions and uncertainty as a result of various factors, including geopolitical events such as the wars between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas, a U.S. designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, in the Gaza Strip and ongoing conflicts in various other parts of the Middle East, increasing tensions with China, the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing supply chain difficulties. Because economic conditions directly affect the demand for office space, our primary income producing asset, broad economic market conditions in the United States, including uncertainty over interest rates, slower growth, stock market volatility or recession fears, could have a material adverse effect on our earnings and financial condition. Economic conditions may be affected by numerous other factors, including but not limited to, inflation and employment levels, energy prices, uncertainty about government fiscal, monetary, trade and tax policies, changes in currency exchange rates, the regulatory environment and the availability of credit. Future economic factors also may negatively affect the demand for office space, real estate values, occupancy levels and property income.
If we are not able to collect sufficient rents from each of our owned real properties or collect interest on the Sponsored REIT Loan, we may suffer significant operating losses or a reduction in cash available for future dividends.
A substantial portion of our revenue is generated by the rental income of our real properties and the Sponsored REIT Loan. If our properties do not provide us with a steady rental income or we do not collect interest income from the Sponsored REIT Loan, our revenues will decrease, which may cause us to incur operating losses in the future and reduce the cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
We may not be able to dispose of properties on acceptable terms or within the time periods we anticipate pursuant to our disposition strategy.
We have adopted a strategy seeking to increase shareholder value by pursuing the sale of select properties where we believe that short to intermediate term valuation potential has been reached and striving to lease vacant space. As we execute this strategy, our revenue, Funds From Operations, and capital expenditures may decrease in the short term. Proceeds from dispositions are intended to be used primarily for the repayment of debt. We may not be able to dispose of properties at acceptable prices or otherwise on anticipated terms and conditions within the time periods contemplated by our disposition strategy, which would adversely affect our ability to use the proceeds as intended and impair our financial flexibility.
We are dependent on key personnel.
We depend on the efforts of George J. Carter, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors; Jeffrey B. Carter, our President and Chief Investment Officer; Scott H. Carter, our General Counsel, Secretary and an Executive Vice President; John G. Demeritt, our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and an Executive Vice President; John F. Donahue, our President of FSP Property Management LLC and an Executive Vice President; and Eriel Anchondo, our Chief Operating Officer and an Executive Vice President. If any of our executive officers were to resign, our operations could be adversely affected. We do not have employment agreements with any of our executive officers.
We face risks from tenant defaults or bankruptcies.
If any of our tenants defaults on its lease, we may experience delays in enforcing our rights as a landlord and may incur substantial costs in protecting our investment. In addition, at any time, a tenant of one of our properties may seek the protection of bankruptcy laws, which could result in the rejection and termination of such tenant’s lease and thereby cause a reduction in cash available for distribution to our stockholders. For example, on December 21, 2020, the parent company of a tenant that leases approximately 130,000 square feet filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, resulting in a write-off charge of $3.1 million.
New acquisitions may fail to perform as expected.
We may fund acquisitions of new properties, if any, with cash, by assuming existing indebtedness, by entering into new indebtedness, by issuing debt securities, by issuing shares of our stock or by other means. Our acquisition activities are subject to the following risks:
- acquired properties may fail to perform as expected;
- the actual costs of repositioning, redeveloping or maintaining acquired properties may be greater than our estimates; and
- we may be unable to quickly and efficiently integrate new acquisitions into our existing operations, and this could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We face risks in owning, developing, redeveloping and operating real property.
An investment in us is subject to the risks incidental to the ownership, development, redevelopment and operation of real estate-related assets. These risks include the fact that real estate investments are generally illiquid, which may affect our ability to vary our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions, as well as the risks normally associated with:
- changes in general and local economic conditions;
- the supply or demand for particular types of properties in particular markets;
- changes in market rental rates;
- the impact of environmental protection laws;
- changes in tax, real estate and zoning laws; and
- the impact of obligations and restrictions contained in title-related documents.
Certain significant costs, such as real estate taxes, utilities, insurance and maintenance costs, generally are not reduced even when a property’s rental income is reduced. In addition, environmental and tax laws, interest rate levels, the availability of financing and other factors may affect real estate values and property income. Furthermore, the supply of commercial space fluctuates with market conditions.
We may encounter significant delays in reletting vacant space, resulting in losses of income.
When leases expire, we may incur expenses and may not be able to re-lease the space on the same terms. While we cannot predict when existing vacant space in properties will be leased, if existing tenants with expiring leases will renew their leases or what the terms and conditions of the lease renewals will be, we expect to renew or sign new leases at current market rates for locations in which the buildings are located, which in some cases may be below the expiring rates. Certain leases provide tenants the right to terminate early if they pay a fee. If we are unable to re-lease space promptly, if the terms are significantly less favorable than anticipated or if the costs are higher, we may have to reduce distributions to our stockholders. Typical lease terms range from five to ten years, so up to approximately 20% of our rental revenue from commercial properties could be expected to expire each year.
We face risks of tenant-type concentration.
As of December 31, 2023, approximately 19% and 13% of our tenants as a percentage of the total rentable square feet operated in the energy services industry and the information technology and computer services industry, respectively. An economic downturn in these or any industry in which a high concentration of our tenants operate or in which a significant number of our tenants currently or may in the future operate, could negatively impact the financial condition of such tenants and cause them to fail to make timely rental payments or default on lease obligations, fail to renew their leases or renew their leases on terms less favorable to us, become bankrupt or insolvent, or otherwise become unable to satisfy their obligations to us, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We face risks from geographic concentration.
The properties in our portfolio as of December 31, 2023, by aggregate square footage, are distributed geographically as follows: South — 41.0%, West — 37.0.%, Midwest — 16.8% and East — 5.2%. However, within certain of those regions, we hold a larger concentration of our properties in Denver, Colorado — 37.0%, Houston, Texas — 20.6%, Dallas, Texas — 17.6%, and Minneapolis, Minnesota — 13.1%. We are likely to face risks to the extent that any of these areas in which we hold a larger concentration of our properties suffer deteriorating economic conditions. As the Dallas, Denver and Houston metropolitan areas have a significant presence in the energy sector, a prolonged period of low oil or natural gas prices, or other factors negatively impacting the energy industry, could have an adverse impact on our ability to maintain the occupancy of our properties in those areas or could cause us to lease space at rates below current in-place rents, or at rates below the rates we have leased space in those areas in the prior year. In addition, factors negatively impacting the energy industry could reduce the market values of our properties in those areas, which could reduce our net asset value and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations, or cause a decline in the value of our common stock.
We compete with national, regional and local real estate operators and developers, which could adversely affect our cash flow.
Competition exists in every market in which our properties are currently located and in every market in which properties we may acquire in the future will be located. We compete with, among others, national, regional and numerous local real estate operators and developers. Such competition may adversely affect the percentage of leased space and the rental revenues of our properties, which could adversely affect our cash flow from operations and our ability to make expected distributions to our stockholders. Some of our competitors may have more resources than we do or other competitive advantages. Competition may be accelerated by any increase in availability of funds for investment in real estate. For example, decreases in interest rates tend to increase the availability of funds and therefore can increase competition. To the extent that our properties continue to operate profitably, this will likely stimulate new development of competing properties. The extent to which we are affected by competition will depend in significant part on both local market conditions and national and global economic conditions.
We face possible risks associated with the physical effects of climate change.
The physical effects of climate change could have a material adverse effect on our properties, operations and business. For example, climate change could increase utility and other costs of operating our properties, including increased costs for energy, water, insurance, regulatory compliance and other supply chain materials, which if not offset by rising rental income and/or paid by tenants, could have a material adverse effect on our properties, operations and business. We are also subject to climate change induced severe storm hazards, which to the extent not covered by insurance, could result in significant capital expenditures. Over time, the physical effects of climate change could result in declining demand for office space in our buildings or our inability to operate the buildings at all.
Security breaches and other disruptions could compromise our information and expose us to liability, which could cause our business and reputation to suffer.
In the ordinary course of our business, we collect and store sensitive data concerning investors in the Sponsored REIT, tenants and vendors. Although we have taken steps to protect the security of our information technology systems and the data maintained in those systems, such systems and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers, computer viruses or ransomware, or breaches due to employee error, malfeasance, impersonation of authorized users or other disruptions. Any such breach or attack could compromise our networks and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and continuously become more sophisticated, often are not recognized until launched against a target and may be difficult to detect for a long time, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventive or detective measures. Any unauthorized access, disclosure or other loss of information could result in significant financial exposure, including significant costs to remediate possible injury to the affected parties. We may also be subject to sanctions and civil or criminal penalties if we are found to be in violation of the privacy or security rules under laws protecting confidential information. Any failure to maintain proper functionality and security of our information systems could interrupt our operations, damage our reputation, subject us to liability claims or regulatory penalties and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
Actual or threatened terrorist attacks may adversely affect our ability to generate revenues and the value of our properties.
We have significant investments in markets that may be the targets of actual or threatened terrorism attacks in the future. As a result, some tenants in these markets may choose to relocate their businesses to other markets or to lower-profile office buildings within these markets that may be perceived to be less likely targets of future terrorist activity. This could result in an overall decrease in the demand for office space in these markets generally or in our properties in particular, which could increase vacancies in our properties or necessitate that we lease our properties on less favorable terms or both. In addition, future terrorist attacks in these markets could directly or indirectly damage our properties, both physically and financially, or cause losses that materially exceed our insurance coverage. As a result of the foregoing, our ability to generate revenues and the value of our properties could decline materially. See also “We may lose capital investment or anticipated profits if an uninsured event occurs.”
We may lose capital investment or anticipated profits if an uninsured event occurs.
We carry, or our tenants carry, comprehensive liability, fire and extended coverage with respect to each of our properties, with policy specification and insured limits customarily carried for similar properties. There are, however, certain types of losses that may be either uninsurable or not economically insurable. Should an uninsured material loss occur, we could lose both capital invested in the property and anticipated profits.
Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Matters
We are subject to possible liability relating to environmental matters, and we cannot assure you that we have identified all possible liabilities.
Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, we, as an owner or operator of real property may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous substances released on or in our property. Such laws may impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or caused, the release of such hazardous substances. The presence of hazardous substances on a property may adversely affect the owner’s ability to sell such property or to borrow using such property as collateral, and it may cause the owner of the property to incur substantial remediation costs. In addition to claims for cleanup costs, the presence of hazardous substances on a property could result in the owner incurring substantial liabilities as a result of a claim by a private party for personal injury or a claim by an adjacent property owner for property damage.
In addition, we cannot assure you that:
- future laws, ordinances or regulations will not impose any material environmental liability;
- the current environmental conditions of our properties will not be affected by the condition of properties in the vicinity of such properties (such as the presence of leaking underground storage tanks) or by third parties unrelated to us;
- tenants will not violate their leases by introducing hazardous or toxic substances into our properties that could expose us to liability under federal or state environmental laws; or
- environmental conditions, such as the growth of bacteria and toxic mold in heating and ventilation systems or on walls, will not occur at our properties and pose a threat to human health.
We are subject to compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and fire and safety regulations, any of which could require us to make significant capital expenditures.
All of our properties are required to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, or ADA, and the regulations, rules and orders that may be issued thereunder. The ADA has separate compliance requirements for “public accommodations” and “commercial facilities,” but generally requires that buildings be made accessible to persons with disabilities. Compliance with ADA requirements might require, among other things, removal of access barriers. Noncompliance with such requirements could result in the imposition of fines by the U.S. government or an award of damages to private litigants.
In addition, we are required to operate our properties in compliance with fire and safety regulations, building codes and other land use regulations, as they may be adopted by governmental agencies and bodies and become applicable to our properties. Compliance with such requirements may require us to make substantial capital expenditures, which expenditures would reduce cash otherwise available for distribution to our stockholders.
We face risks associated with our tenants being designated “Prohibited Persons” by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Pursuant to Executive Order 13224 and other laws, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury, or OFAC, maintains a list of persons designated as terrorists or who are otherwise blocked or banned, which we refer to as Prohibited Persons. OFAC regulations and other laws prohibit conducting business or engaging in transactions with Prohibited Persons, or collectively, the “OFAC Requirements”. Our current leases and certain other agreements require the other party to comply with the OFAC Requirements. If a tenant or other party with whom we contract is placed on the OFAC list, we may be required by the OFAC Requirements to terminate the lease or other agreement. Any such termination could result in a loss of revenue or a damage claim by the other party that the termination was wrongful.
Risks Related to our Common Stock
Our level of dividends may fluctuate.
Because our real estate occupancy levels, rental rates and property disposition levels can fluctuate, there is no predictable recurring level of revenue from such activities and changes in interest rates or in the mix of our fixed and variable rate debt can cause our interest costs to fluctuate. As a result of these fluctuations, the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders may fluctuate, which may result in our not being able to maintain or grow dividend levels, including special dividends, in the future. In 2022, we adopted a variable quarterly dividend policy, which replaced our previous regularly quarterly dividend policy. Under this dividend policy, our Board of Directors determines quarterly dividends based upon a variety of factors, including our estimates of our annual taxable income and the amount that we are required to distribute annually in the aggregate to enable us to continue to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. In addition, the BofA Term Loan, the BMO Term Loan, the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes include restrictions on our ability to make quarterly dividend distributions that exceed $0.01 per share of our common stock; provided, however, that notwithstanding such restrictions, we are permitted to make dividend distributions based on our good faith estimate of projected or estimated taxable income or otherwise as necessary to retain our status as a REIT, to meet the distribution requirements of Section 857 of the Internal Revenue Code or to eliminate any income or excise taxes to which we would otherwise be subject.
The real properties held by us may significantly decrease in value.
As of December 31, 2023, we owned 17 properties. Some or all of these properties may decline in value. To the extent our real properties decline in value, our stockholders could lose some or all of the value of their investments. The value of our common stock may be adversely affected if the real properties held by us decline in value since these real properties represent the majority of the tangible assets held by us. Moreover, if we are forced to sell or lease the real property held by us below its initial purchase price or its carrying costs, respectively, or if we are forced to lease real property at below market rates because of the condition of the property or general economic or local market conditions, our results of operations would be adversely affected and such negative results of operations may result in lower dividends being paid to holders of our common stock.
Further issuances of equity securities may be dilutive to current stockholders.
The interests of our existing stockholders could be diluted if we issue additional equity securities to finance future acquisitions, repay indebtedness or to fund other general corporate purposes. Our ability to execute our business strategy depends on our access to an appropriate blend of debt financing, including unsecured lines of credit and other forms of secured and unsecured debt, and equity financing.
The price of our common stock may vary.
The market prices for our common stock may fluctuate with changes in market and economic conditions, including the market perception of real estate investment trusts, or REITs, in general, and changes in our financial condition and results of operations. Such fluctuations may depress the market price of our common stock independent of the financial performance of FSP Corp. The market conditions for REIT stocks generally could affect the market price of our common stock.
Risks Related to our Organization and Structure
Our employee retention plan may prevent changes in control.
During February 2006, our Board of Directors approved a change in control plan, which included a form of retention agreement and discretionary payment plan. Payments under the discretionary plan are capped at 1% of the market capitalization of FSP Corp. as reduced by the amount paid under the retention plan. The costs associated with these two components of the plan may have the effect of discouraging a third party from making an acquisition proposal for us and may thereby inhibit a change in control under circumstances that could otherwise give the holders of our common stock the opportunity to realize a greater premium over the then-prevailing market prices.
We would incur adverse tax consequences if we failed to qualify as a REIT.
The provisions of the tax code governing the taxation of REITs are very technical and complex, and although we expect that we will be organized and will operate in a manner that will enable us to meet such requirements, no assurance can be given that we will always succeed in doing so. In addition, as a result of our past acquisition of certain sponsored REITs by merger, which we refer to as target REITs, we might no longer qualify as a REIT. We could lose our ability to so qualify for a variety of reasons relating to the nature of the assets acquired from the target REITs, the identity of the stockholders of the target REITs who become our stockholders or the failure of one or more of the target REITs to have previously qualified as a REIT. Moreover, if one or more of the target REITs that we acquired in May 2008, April 2006, April 2005 or June 2003 did not qualify as a REIT immediately prior to the consummation of its acquisition, we could be disqualified as a REIT as a result of such acquisition.
If in any taxable year we do not qualify as a REIT, we would be taxed as a corporation and distributions to our stockholders would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income. In addition, if we were to fail to qualify as a REIT, we could be disqualified from treatment as a REIT in the year in which such failure occurred and for the next four taxable years and, consequently, we would be taxed as a regular corporation during such years. Failure to qualify for even one taxable year could result in a significant reduction of our cash available for distribution to our stockholders or could require us to incur indebtedness or liquidate investments in order to generate sufficient funds to pay the resulting federal income tax liabilities.
Provisions in our organizational documents may prevent changes in control.
Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws contain provisions, described below, which may have the effect of discouraging a third party from making an acquisition proposal for us and may thereby inhibit a change of control under circumstances that could otherwise give the holders of our common stock the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market prices.
Ownership Limits. In order for us to maintain our qualification as a REIT, the holders of our common stock may be limited to owning, either directly or under applicable attribution rules of the Internal Revenue Code, no more than 9.8% of the lesser of the value or the number of our equity shares, and no holder of common stock may acquire or transfer shares that would result in our shares of common stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons. Such ownership limit may have the effect of preventing an acquisition of control of us without the approval of our board of directors. Our Articles of Incorporation give our board of directors the right to refuse to give effect to the acquisition or transfer of shares by a stockholder in violation of these provisions.
Preferred Stock. Our Articles of Incorporation authorize our board of directors to issue up to 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.0001 per share, and to establish the preferences and rights of any such shares issued. The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control even if a change in control may be in our stockholders’ best interest.
Increase of Authorized Stock. Our board of directors, without any vote or consent of the stockholders, may increase the number of authorized shares of any class or series of stock or the aggregate number of authorized shares we have authority to issue. The ability to increase the number of authorized shares and issue such shares could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control even if a change in control may be in our stockholders’ best interest.
Amendment of Bylaws. Our board of directors has the power to amend our Bylaws. This power could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control even if a change in control may be in our stockholders’ best interests.
Stockholder Meetings. Our Bylaws require advance notice for stockholder proposals to be considered at annual and special meetings of stockholders and for stockholder nominations for election of directors at annual and special meetings of stockholders. The advance notice provisions require a proponent to provide us with detailed information about the proponent and/or nominee. Our Bylaws also provide that stockholders entitled to cast more than 50% of all the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting must join in a request by stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders and that a specific process for the meeting request must be followed. These provisions could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control even if a change in control may be in the best interests of our stockholders.
Supermajority Votes Required. Our Articles of Incorporation require the affirmative vote of the holders of no less than 80% of the shares of capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote in order (i) to amend the provisions of our Articles of Incorporation relating to the removal of directors, limitation of liability of officers and directors or indemnification of officers and directors or (ii) to amend our Articles of Incorporation to impose cumulative voting in the election of directors. These provisions could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control even if a change in control may be in our stockholders’ best interest.
Cybersecurity
As filed, 2,877 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
We have certain processes for assessing, identifying and managing cybersecurity risks, which are built into our overall risk management program/information technology function and are designed to help protect our information assets and operations from internal and external cyber threats, protect employee information from unauthorized access or attack, as well as secure our networks and systems. Such processes include physical, procedural and technical safeguards, response plans, regular tests on our systems, and routine review of our policies and procedures to identify risks and enhance our practices. We engage certain external parties to enhance our cybersecurity oversight. We consider the internal risk oversight programs of third-party service providers before engaging them in order to help protect us from any related vulnerabilities.
We do not believe that there are currently any known risks from cybersecurity threats that are reasonably likely to materially affect us or our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition.
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors provides direct oversight over cybersecurity risk and provides updates to the Board of Directors regarding such oversight. The Audit Committee receives quarterly updates from management regarding cybersecurity matters and is notified between such updates regarding significant new cybersecurity threats or incidents.
Our Vice President and Director of Information Technology leads the operational oversight of company-wide cybersecurity strategy, policy, standards and processes and works across relevant departments to assess and help prepare us and our employees to address cybersecurity risks. Prior to his approximately 14 years overseeing and securing our information technology operations, our Vice President and Director of Information Technology held various roles during his approximately 9 years of tenure at USI New England, most recently overseeing and securing their information technology operations as Regional IT Manager. This experience is reinforced with regular cybersecurity training from industry leading organizations such as the SANS Institute and ISC2.
In an effort to protect our resources from cyber threats, we maintain a security program that includes multiple layers designed to prevent, mitigate, detect, defend against, and remediate these threats. These include, but are not limited to, continuous vulnerability assessment and remediation, annual penetration testing conducted by a third party, security and monitoring tools that are monitored by a 24x7 SOC (Security Operations Center) and Incident Response Planning. Additionally, all employees are required to take annual cyber security training that aligns with our risks and current cyber trends such as ransomware, BEC (business email compromise,) phishing, and social engineering.
Properties
As filed, 12,541 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
Set forth below is information regarding our properties as of December 31, 2023:
| Property Location Office | | Date of Purchase (1) | | Approx. Square Feet | | Percent Leased as of 12/31/23 | Approx. Number of Tenants | | Major Tenants (2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16285 Park Ten Place | 6/27/02 | 157,609 | 83.8% | 7 | Blade Energy Partners, Ltd. | | ||||
| Houston, TX 77084 | | | | | | | | | Baytex Energy USA, Inc. | |
| | | | | | | | | | Edge Engineering & Science, LLC | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15601 Dallas Parkway | 9/30/02 | 289,333 | 83.0% | 14 | Cyxtera Management Inc. | | ||||
| Addison, TX 75001 | | | | | | | | | WDT Acquisition Corporation | |
| | | | | | | | | | Aerotek, Inc. | |
| | | | | | | | | | CarOffer, LLC | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1500 & 1600 N. Greenville Ave. | 3/3/03 | 300,887 | 85.5% | 8 | ARGO Data Resource Corp. | | ||||
| Richardson, TX 75081 | | | | | | | | EMC Corporation | | |
| | | | | | | | | ID Software, LLC | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5600, 5620 & 5640 Cox Road | 7/16/03 | 298,183 | 90.5% | 5 | Commonwealth of Virginia | | ||||
| Glen Allen, VA 23060 | | | | | | | | | ChemTreat, Inc. | |
| | | | | | | | | GE Vernova International LLC | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1293 Eldridge Parkway | 1/16/04 | 248,399 | 100.0% | 1 | CITGO Petroleum Corporation | | ||||
| Houston, TX 77077 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6550 & 6560 Greenwood Plaza | 2/24/05 | 196,236 | 66.3% | 2 | Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. | | ||||
| Englewood, CO 80111 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16290 Katy Freeway | 9/28/05 | 156,746 | 95.0% | 7 | Olin Corporation | | ||||
| Houston, TX 77094 | | | | | | | | Hargrove and Associates, Inc. | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Bluware, Inc. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5055 & 5057 Keller Springs Rd. | 2/24/06 | 217,841 | 80.2% | 22 | See Footnote 3 | | ||||
| Addison, TX 75001 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 121 South Eighth Street | 6/29/10 | 298,121 | 80.5% | 35 | Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner | | ||||
| Minneapolis, MN 55402 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 801 Marquette Ave. South | | 6/29/10 | 129,691 | 91.8% | 3 | | Workbox Marquette MN, LLC | |
18
| Minneapolis, MN 55402 | | | | | | | | | Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitor Association Deluxe Corporation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5100 & 5160 Tennyson Parkway | 3/10/11 | 209,461 | 56.6% | 6 | ARK-LA-TEX Financial Services, LLC | | ||||
| Plano, TX 75024 | | | | | | | | | CountryPlace Mortgage, LTD | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10370 & 10350 Richmond Ave. | 11/1/12 | 629,025 | 62.7% | 41 | See Footnote 3 | | ||||
| Houston, TX 77042 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1999 Broadway | 5/22/13 | 682,639 | 51.7% | 32 | United States Government | | ||||
| Denver, CO 80202 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1001 17th Street | 8/28/13 | 649,235 | 71.1% | 16 | Permian Resources Operating, LLC | | ||||
| Denver CO, 80202 | | | | | | | | | Hall and Evans, LLC | |
| | | | | | | | | Ping Identity Corp. | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 45 South Seventh Street | 6/6/16 | 330,096 | 62.3% | 18 | PwC US Group | | ||||
| Minneapolis, MN 55402 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1420 Peachtree Street, NE | 8/10/16 | 160,145 | 79.8% | 4 | Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP | | ||||
| Atlanta, GA 30309 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 600 17th Street | 12/1/16 | 612,135 | 81.7% | 36 | EOG Resources, Inc. | | ||||
| Denver, CO 80202 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| 120 Monument Circle | | 1/1/23 | | 213,760 | | 4.1% | 2 | | See Footnote 3 | |
| Indianapolis, IN | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total Owned & Consolidated Portfolio | | | | 5,779,542 | | 71.5% | | | | |
(1) Date of purchase or merged entity date of purchase.
(2) Major tenants that occupy 10% or more of the space in an individual property.
(3) No tenant occupies more than 10% of the space.
All of the properties listed above are owned, directly or indirectly, by us. None of our properties are subject to any mortgage loans. We have no other material undeveloped or unimproved properties, or proposed programs for material renovation or development of any of our properties in 2024. We believe that our properties are adequately covered by insurance as of December 31, 2023.
The information presented below provides the weighted average GAAP rent per square foot for the year ended December 31, 2023 for our properties and weighted occupancy square feet and percentages. GAAP rent includes the impact of tenant concessions and reimbursements. This table does not include information about properties held by our investments in nonconsolidated REITs.
| Property Name | | City | | State | | Year Built or Renovated | | Net Rentable Square Feet | | Weighted Occupied Sq. Ft. | | Weighted Occupied Percentage as of December 31, 2023 (a) | Weighted Average Rent per Occupied Square Feet (b) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innsbrook | | Glen Allen | | VA | | 1999 | | 298,183 | | 142,382 | | 47.8% | 18.69 | |
| East Total | | | | | | | | 298,183 | | 142,382 | | 47.8% | 18.69 | |
| 120 Monument Circle | | Indianapolis | | IN | | 1992 | | 213,760 | | 8,722 | | 4.1% | 31.77 | |
| 121 South 8th Street | | Minneapolis | | MN | | 1974 | | 298,121 | | 243,088 | | 81.5% | 25.28 | |
| 801 Marquette Ave | | Minneapolis | | MN | | 1923/2017 | | 129,691 | | 119,108 | | 91.8% | 24.38 | |
| Plaza Seven | | Minneapolis | | MN | | 1987 | | 330,096 | | 211,162 | | 64.0% | 30.03 | |
| Midwest Total | | | | | | | | 971,668 | | 582,080 | | 59.9% | 26.91 | |
| Park Ten | | Houston | | TX | | 1999 | | 157,609 | | 125,157 | | 79.4% | 28.86 | |
| Addison Circle | | Addison | | TX | | 1999 | | 289,333 | | 240,175 | | 83.0% | 35.58 | |
| Collins Crossing (c) | | Richardson | | TX | | 1999 | | 300,887 | | 278,381 | 92.5% | 27.10 | | |
| Eldridge Green | | Houston | | TX | | 1999 | | 248,399 | | 248,399 | 100.0% | 26.82 | | |
| Park Ten Phase II | | Houston | | TX | | 2006 | | 156,746 | | 148,924 | 95.0% | 29.42 | | |
| Liberty Plaza | | Addison | | TX | | 1985 | | 217,841 | | 157,107 | 72.1% | 24.65 | | |
| Legacy Tennyson Center | | Plano | | TX | | 1999/2008 | | 209,461 | | 98,510 | 47.0% | 30.96 | | |
| Westchase I & II | | Houston | | TX | | 1983/2008 | | 629,025 | | 370,118 | 58.8% | 26.49 | | |
| Pershing Park Plaza (c) | | Atlanta | | GA | | 1989 | | 160,145 | | 127,796 | | 79.8% | 38.51 | |
| South Total | | | | | | | | 2,369,446 | | 1,794,567 | 75.7% | 29.20 | | |
| 1999 Broadway | | Denver | | CO | | 1986 | | 682,639 | | 407,194 | 59.7% | 33.97 | | |
| 1001 17th Street | | Denver | | CO | | 1977/2006 | | 649,235 | | 456,542 | 70.3% | 39.04 | | |
| 600 17th Street | | Denver | | CO | | 1982 | | 612,135 | | 484,934 | 79.2% | 34.29 | | |
| Greenwood Plaza | | Englewood | | CO | | 2000 | | 196,236 | | 130,006 | 66.3% | 29.16 | | |
| West Total | | | | | | | | 2,140,245 | | 1,478,676 | 69.1% | 35.22 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total Owned & Consolidated Properties | | | | | | | | 5,779,542 | | 3,997,705 | | 69.2% | $30.72 | |
(a) Based on weighted occupied square feet for the year ended December 31, 2023, including month-to-month tenants, divided by the property’s net rentable square footage.
(b) Represents annualized GAAP rental revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 per weighted occupied square foot.
(c) Properties were classified as assets held for sale as of December 31, 2023.
The information presented below is a lease expiration table for ten years and thereafter, stating (i) the number of tenants whose leases will expire, (ii) the total area in square feet covered by such leases, (iii) the annual rental represented by such leases in dollars and by square feet, and (iv) the percentage of gross annual rental represented by such leases.
| Year of Lease Expiration December 31, | | Number of Leases Expiring Within the Year (a) | | Rentable Square Footage Subject to Expiring Leases | | Annualized Rent Under Expiring Leases (b) | | Annualized Rent Per Square Foot Under Expiring Leases | | Percentage of Total Annualized Rent Under Expiring Leases | Cumulative Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | | 47 | (c) | 518,878 | | $15,816,296 | | $30.48 | | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| 2025 | | 55 | | 437,374 | | 14,785,284 | | 33.80 | | 11.7% | 24.2% |
| 2026 | | 43 | | 567,886 | | 20,136,729 | | 35.46 | | 15.9% | 40.1% |
| 2027 | | 26 | | 330,757 | | 10,530,650 | | 31.84 | | 8.3% | 48.4% |
| 2028 | | 19 | | 233,589 | | 7,484,290 | | 32.04 | | 5.9% | 54.3% |
| 2029 | | 30 | | 538,125 | | 15,738,822 | | 29.25 | | 12.4% | 66.7% |
| 2030 | | 11 | | 307,108 | | 9,327,691 | | 30.37 | | 7.4% | 74.1% |
| 2031 | | 8 | | 256,836 | | 9,358,506 | | 36.44 | | 7.4% | 81.5% |
| 2032 | | 1 | | 5,901 | | — | | — | | —% | 81.5% |
| 2033 | | 8 | | 489,626 | | 16,080,101 | | 32.84 | | 12.7% | 94.2% |
| 2034 and thereafter | | 39 | | 443,514 | (d) | 7,275,536 | | 16.40 | | 5.8% | 100.0% |
| Leased total | | 287 | | 4,129,594 | | $126,533,905 | | $30.64 | | 100.0% | |
| Vacancies as of 12/31/23 | | | | 1,649,948 | | | | | | | |
| Total Portfolio Square Footage | | | | 5,779,542 | | | | | | | |
(a) The number of leases approximates the number of tenants. Tenants with lease maturities in different years are included in annual totals for each lease. Tenants may have multiple leases in the same year.
(b) Annualized rent represents the monthly rent charged, including tenant reimbursements, for each lease in effect at December 31, 2023 multiplied by 12. Tenant reimbursements generally include payment of real estate taxes, operating expenses and common area maintenance and utility charges.
(c) Includes 4 leases that are month-to-month.
(d) Includes 61,623 square feet that are non-revenue producing building amenities.
Legal proceedings
As filed, 343 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
From time to time, we may be subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Although occasional adverse decisions (or settlements) may occur, we believe that the final disposition of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or results of operations.
Management's discussion and analysis
As filed, 100,186 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report. Historical results and percentage relationships set forth in the consolidated financial statements, including trends which might appear, should not be taken as necessarily indicative of future operations. The following discussion and other parts of this Annual Report on Form 10-K may also contain forward-looking statements based on current judgments and current knowledge of management, which are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that our forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation, adverse changes in general economic or local market conditions, including the impact of recessionary concerns, inflation, energy prices and interest rates, as well as those resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impact of work-from-home and return-to-work policies, and other potential infectious disease outbreaks and terrorist attacks or other acts of violence, which may negatively affect the markets in which we and our tenants operate, our inability to extend and/or refinance our debt or effect asset sales sufficient to repay such debt prior to the maturity dates thereof, adverse changes in energy prices, which if sustained, could negatively impact occupancy and rental rates in the markets in which we own properties, including energy-influenced markets such as Dallas, Denver and Houston, expectations for future property dispositions, expectations for future potential leasing activity, expectations for the potential payment of special dividends, changes in interest rates as a result of economic market conditions, disruptions in the debt markets, economic conditions in the markets in which we own properties, risks of a lessening of demand for the types of real estate owned by us, uncertainties relating to fiscal policy, changes in government regulations and regulatory uncertainty, geopolitical events, and expenditures that cannot be anticipated such as utility rate and usage increases, delays in construction schedules, unanticipated increases in construction costs, unanticipated repairs, increases in the level of general and administrative costs as a percentage of revenues as revenues decrease as a result of property dispositions, additional staffing, insurance increases and real estate tax valuation reassessments. See “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We may not update any of the forward-looking statements after the date this Annual Report on Form 10-K is filed to conform them to actual results or to changes in our expectations that occur after such date, other than as required by law.
Overview
FSP Corp., or we or the Company, operates in a single reportable segment: real estate operations. The real estate operations market involves real estate rental operations, leasing, secured financing of real estate and services provided for asset management, property management, property acquisitions, dispositions and development. Our current strategy is to invest in infill and central business district office properties in the United States sunbelt and mountain west regions as well as select opportunistic markets. We believe that the United States sunbelt and mountain west regions have macro-economic drivers that have the potential to increase occupancies and rents. We seek value-oriented investments with an eye towards long-term growth and appreciation, as well as current income.
As of December 31, 2023, approximately 5.1 million square feet, or approximately 88.4% of our total owned portfolio, was located in Dallas, Denver, Houston and Minneapolis.
The main factor that affects our real estate operations is the broad economic market conditions in the United States. These market conditions affect the occupancy levels and the rent levels on both a national and local level. We have no influence on broader economic market conditions. We may look to acquire and/or develop quality properties in good locations in order to lessen the impact of downturns in the market and to take advantage of upturns when they occur.
We continue to believe that the current price of our common stock does not accurately reflect the value of our underlying real estate assets and we will seek to increase shareholder value by (1) pursuing the sale of select properties where we believe that short to intermediate term valuation potential has been reached and (2) striving to lease vacant space. As we continue to execute this strategy, our revenue, Funds From Operations, and capital expenditures may decrease in the short term. Proceeds from dispositions are intended to be used primarily for the repayment of debt.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, our disposition strategy resulted in aggregate gross sale proceeds of $154.5 million. On February 21, 2024, we repaid $102 million of debt in connection with the extensions of our BofA Term Loan, BMO Term Loan, our Series A Notes and our Series B Notes (each as defined in Liquidity and Capital Resources below).
In July 2022, we adopted a variable quarterly dividend policy, which replaced our previous regular quarterly dividend policy. Under the variable quarterly dividend policy, the Board of Directors determines quarterly dividends based upon a variety of factors, including the Company’s estimates of its annual taxable income and the amount that the Company is required to distribute annually in the aggregate to enable the Company to continue to qualify as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes.
The credit rating for our senior unsecured debt was downgraded by Moody’s Investor Service from Ba1 to Ba3 on April 12, 2023, and from Ba3 to B3 on June 14, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the interest rate applicable to borrowings under the Senior Notes (as defined in– Liquidity and Capital Resources below) was based in part on the rating of our debt. As of February 21, 2024, the interest rate applicable to borrowings under the Senior Notes was no longer based on the rating of our debt.
Trends and Uncertainties
Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
Considerable uncertainty still surrounds the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential effects on the population, including the spread of more contagious variants of the virus, and on the commercial real estate market and our business. Many of our tenants still do not fully occupy the space that they lease. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present material uncertainty and risk with respect to the performance of our properties and our financial results, such as the potential negative impact to the businesses of our tenants, the impact of work-from-home and return-to-work policies, the potential negative impact to leasing efforts and occupancy at our properties, uncertainty regarding future rent collection levels or requests for rent concessions from our tenants, the occurrence of a default under any of our debt agreements, the potential for increased borrowing costs, negative impacts on our ability to refinance existing indebtedness or to secure new sources of capital on favorable terms, fluctuations in our level of dividends, increased costs of operations, making more difficult our ability to complete required capital expenditures in a timely manner and on budget, decreases in values of our real estate assets, changes in law and/or regulation, and uncertainty regarding government and regulatory policy. We are unable to estimate the full extent of the long term impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our future financial results at this time. See “Risk Factors” in Item 1A. “Risk Factors”.
Economic Conditions
Although recent indicators suggest that economic activity has expanded at a modest pace, the global economy continues to experience significant disruptions as a result of various factors, including geopolitical events such as the ongoing wars between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas, a U.S. designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, in the Gaza Strip and ongoing conflicts in various other parts of the Middle East, increasing tensions with China, the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing supply chain difficulties. In addition, various economic factors, including but not limited to, inflation and interest rates, are contributing to recessionary concerns for the economy of the United States. Economic conditions directly affect the demand for office space, our primary income producing asset. In addition, the broad economic market conditions in the United States are typically affected by numerous other factors, including but not limited to, employment levels, energy prices, uncertainty about government fiscal, monetary, trade and tax policies, changes in currency exchange rates, the regulatory environment and the availability of credit. During 2023, the Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate target several times, most recently increasing it by 25 basis points on July 26, 2023, to a range of 5.25% to 5.50%. Any future increases in the target range could also increase interest rates. If interest rates continue to increase, then the interest costs on our unhedged variable rate debt would be adversely affected, which could in turn adversely affect our cash flow, our ability to pay principal and interest on our debt and our ability to make distributions to stockholders. As of December 31, 2023, approximately 50.6% of our total debt constituted unhedged variable rate debt. Increasing interest rates could also decrease the amount third parties are willing to pay for our assets and limit our ability to incur new debt or refinance existing debt when it matures. As of the date of this report, the impact of current economic conditions and geopolitical events and the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are adversely affecting the demand for office space in the United States.
Real Estate Operations
As of December 31, 2023, our real estate portfolio was comprised of 17 owned properties, which we refer to as our owned properties, and a non-controlling common stock interest in the corporation that is the sole member of FSP Monument Circle LLC, which corporation was organized to operate as a real estate investment trust, which we refer to as the Sponsored REIT. The Sponsored REIT, which we also refer to as Monument Circle, was consolidated effective January 1, 2023. We refer to these 18 properties as our owned and consolidated properties. Our owned properties were approximately 74.0% leased as of December 31, 2023, a decrease from 75.6% leased as of December 31, 2022. The 1.6% decrease in leased space was primarily a result of lease maturities that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2023 and the impact on leased percentage from the disposition of one property on each of March 10, 2023, August 9, 2023, October 26, 2023 and December 6, 2023. These decreases were partially offset by new leasing during the year ended December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately 1,650,000 square feet of vacancy in our owned properties compared to approximately 1,524,000 square feet of vacancy at December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we leased approximately 706,000 square feet of office space in our owned properties, of which approximately 478,000 square feet were with existing tenants, at a weighted average term of 6.8 years. On average, tenant improvements for such leases were $22.42 per square foot, lease commissions were $10.56 per square foot and rent concessions were approximately six months of free rent. Average GAAP base rents under such leases were $29.71 per square foot, or 7.4% higher than average rents in the respective properties as applicable compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
Our owned and consolidated properties were approximately 71.5% leased as of December 31, 2023, compared to our owned properties at 75.6% leased as of December 31, 2022. The difference is primarily a result of the consolidation of Monument Circle effective January 1, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, Monument Circle was approximately 4.1% leased.
During 2023 and 2022, we had no redevelopment properties. On November 16, 2021, we sold a property known as Stonecroft in Chantilly, Virginia and another property located in Chantilly, Virginia for aggregate gross sales proceeds of approximately $40 million. Stonecroft had been our sole redevelopment property prior to its sale.
Our property known as Blue Lagoon in Miami, Florida, was substantially completed during the first quarter of 2021, and had previously been classified as a redevelopment property. As of December 31, 2022 and September 30, 2023, the property had leases signed for 98.5% of the rentable square feet of the property, including one tenant occupying approximately 73.6% of the rentable square feet of the property. On December 6, 2023, we sold this property for gross sales proceeds of approximately $68.0 million.
As of December 31, 2023, leases for approximately 9.0% and 7.6% of the square footage in our owned portfolio are scheduled to expire during 2024 and 2025, respectively. As the first quarter of 2024 begins, we believe that our operating properties are stabilized, with a balanced lease expiration schedule, and existing vacancy is being actively marketed to numerous potential tenants. While leasing activity at our properties has continued, we believe that the impact of geopolitical events, current economic conditions and the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may limit or delay new tenant leasing during at least the the first quarter of 2024 and potentially in future periods.
While we cannot generally predict when an existing vacancy in our owned properties will be leased or if existing tenants with expiring leases will renew their leases or what the terms and conditions of the lease renewals will be, we expect to renew or sign new leases at then-current market rates for locations in which the buildings are located, which could be above or below the expiring rates. Also, we believe the potential exists for any of our tenants to default on its lease or to seek the protection of bankruptcy. If any of our tenants defaults on its lease, we may experience delays in enforcing our rights as a landlord and may incur substantial costs in protecting our investment. In addition, at any time, a tenant of one of our properties may seek the protection of bankruptcy laws, which could result in the rejection and termination of such tenant’s lease and thereby cause a reduction in cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
Real Estate Acquisition and Investment Activity
During 2023:
- on September 26, 2023, we agreed to extend the maturity date of our existing loan to Monument Circle that is secured by a mortgage on real estate owned by Monument Circle, which we refer to as the Sponsored REIT Loan, to September 30, 2024.
During 2022:
- we continued to actively explore additional potential real estate investment opportunities.
During 2021:
- on October 29, 2021, the Company agreed to amend and restate the Sponsored REIT Loan to extend the maturity date from December 6, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and to advance an additional $3.0 million tranche of indebtedness to FSP Monument Circle LLC with the same June 30, 2023 maturity date, effectively increasing the aggregate principal amount of the Sponsored REIT Loan from $21 million to $24 million. In addition, the Company agreed to defer all principal and interest payments due under the Sponsored REIT Loan until the maturity date on June 30, 2023. As part of its consideration for agreeing to amend and restate the Sponsored REIT Loan, the Company obtained from the stockholders of the parent of FSP Monument Circle LLC the right to vote their shares in favor of any sale of the property owned by FSP Monument Circle LLC any time on or after January 1, 2023.
- we continued to actively explore additional potential real estate investment opportunities.
Property Dispositions and Assets Held for Sale
During 2023, we sold an office property located in Elk Grove, Illinois on March 10, 2023 for a sales price of $29.1 million, at a gain of approximately $8.4 million. During the three months ended June 30, 2023, we entered into an agreement to sell a property in Charlotte, North Carolina at an expected loss of $0.8 million, which was recorded as an impairment and we classified the property as an asset held for sale as of June 30, 2023. The property sold on August 9, 2023 for a sales price of $9.2 million, at a loss of $0.8 million, which had been our expected loss. During the three months ended September 30, 2023, we recorded a gain on sale of $53,000 as a result of conveying approximately 7,826 square feet of land at our Addison, Texas property to the Town of Addison as part of a road revitalization project. In addition, during the three months ended September 30, 2023, we executed purchase and sale agreements with four different unrelated purchasers for the potential sale of four properties. Three of these potential dispositions were classified as assets held for sale as of September 30, 2023. On October 26, 2023, we completed the sale of one of the assets held for sale as of September 30, 2023, an office building located in Plano, Texas for a sales price of $48.0 million at a gain of approximately $10.6 million. On December 6, 2023, we sold another of the assets held for sale, an office property located in Miami, Florida for a sales price of $68.0 million at a loss of approximately $18.9 million. The one remaining asset held for sale was expected to sell for a sales price of $40.0 million at a loss of approximately $20.5 million, which was recorded as an impairment as of September 30, 2023, however on November 15, 2023, we received notice from the buyer indicating that the buyer was terminating the transaction and directing the deposit and interest be disbursed to us. During the three months ended December 31, 2023, we executed a purchase and sale agreement to sell a property located in Richardson, Texas for $35 million at an expected loss of approximately $2.1 million, which was recorded as an impairment as of December 31, 2023. On January 26, 2024, we sold the office property located in Richardson, Texas for a sales price of $35 million, at a loss of approximately $2.1 million, which is consistent with the previously recorded impairment.
During 2022, we sold two office properties located in Broomfield, Colorado on August 31, 2022 for an aggregate sales price of $102.5 million, at a gain of approximately $24.1 million. We also sold an office property in Evanston, Illinois on December 28, 2022 for a sales price of approximately $27.8 million, at a gain of $3.9 million. There were no properties held for sale as of December 31, 2022.
During 2021, we sold three office properties located in Atlanta, Georgia on May 27, 2021 for an aggregate sales price of approximately $219.5 million, at a net gain of approximately $22.8 million. We sold an office property in Dulles, Virginia on June 29, 2021 for a sales price of approximately $17.3 million, at a loss of $2.1 million. We sold an office property located in Indianapolis, Indiana on August 31, 2021 for a sales price of approximately $35 million, at a loss of approximately $1.7 million. We sold two office properties located in Chesterfield, Missouri on September 23, 2021 for an aggregate sales price of approximately $67 million, at a gain of approximately $10.3 million. On October 22, 2021, we sold an office property in Atlanta Georgia for a sales price of approximately $223.9 million, at a gain of approximately $86.8 million. On November 16, 2021, we sold two office properties in Chantilly, Virginia for an aggregate sales price of approximately $40 million, at a loss of approximately $2.9 million.
We used, or intend to use, the proceeds of the dispositions primarily to repay outstanding indebtedness.
The dispositions of these properties did not represent a strategic shift that has a major effect on our operations and financial results. Our current strategy is to continue to invest in the sunbelt and mountain west regions of the United States. Accordingly, the properties sold remained classified within continuing operations for all periods presented.
We continue to believe that the current price of our common stock does not accurately reflect the value of our underlying real estate assets, and we will seek to increase shareholder value by (1) pursuing the sale of select properties where we believe that short to intermediate term valuation potential has been reached and (2) striving to lease vacant space. As we continue to execute this strategy, our revenue, Funds From Operations, and capital expenditures may decrease in the short term. Proceeds from dispositions are intended to be used primarily for the repayment of debt.
Critical Accounting Estimates
We have certain critical accounting policies that are subject to judgments and estimates by our management and uncertainties of outcome that affect the application of these policies. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates. In the event estimates or assumptions prove to be different from actual results, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information. The accounting policies that we believe are most critical to the understanding of our financial position and results of operations, and that require significant management estimates and judgments, are discussed below. Significant estimates in the consolidated financial statements include purchase price allocations, impairment considerations and the valuation of derivatives.
Critical accounting policies are those that have the most impact on the reporting of our financial condition and results of operations and those requiring significant judgments and estimates. We believe that our judgments and estimates are consistently applied and produce financial information that fairly presents our results of operations. Our most critical accounting policies involve our investments in sponsored REITs and our investments in real property. These policies affect our:
- allocation of purchase price;
- allowance for loan losses on mortgage loans;
- assessment of the carrying values and impairments of long lived assets;
- valuation of derivatives; and
- ownership of stock in a Sponsored REIT and related interests.
These policies involve significant judgments made based upon our experience, including judgments about current valuations, ultimate realizable value, current and future economic conditions and competitive factors in the markets in which our properties are located. Competition, economic conditions and other factors may cause occupancy declines in the future. In the future we may need to revise our carrying value assessments to incorporate information which is not now known and such revisions could decrease the carrying values of our assets.
Allocation of Purchase Price
We allocate the value of real estate acquired among land, buildings, improvements and identified intangible assets and liabilities, which may consist of the value of above market and below market leases, the value of in-place leases, and the value of tenant relationships. Purchase price allocations and the determination of the useful lives are based on management’s estimates. Under some circumstances we may rely upon studies commissioned from independent real estate appraisal firms in determining the purchase price allocations.
Purchase price allocated to land and building and improvements is based on management’s determination of the relative fair values of these assets assuming the property was vacant. Management determines the fair value of a property using methods similar to those used by independent appraisers. Purchase price allocated to above or below market leases is based on the present value (using an interest rate which reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the in-place leases including consideration of potential lease renewals and (ii) our estimate of fair market lease rates for the corresponding leases, measured over a period equal to the remaining non-cancelable terms of the respective leases. This aggregate value is allocated between in-place lease values and tenant relationships based on management’s evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant’s lease; however, the value of tenant relationships has not been separated from in-place lease value because such value and its consequence to amortization expense is immaterial for acquisitions reflected in our financial statements. Factors considered by us in performing these analyses include (i) an estimate of carrying costs during the expected lease-up periods, including real estate taxes, insurance and other operating income and expenses, and (ii) costs to execute similar leases in current market conditions, such as leasing commissions, legal and other related costs. If future acquisitions result in our allocating material amounts to the value of tenant relationships, those amounts would be separately allocated and amortized over the estimated life of the relationships.
Impairment
We periodically evaluate our real estate properties for impairment indicators. These indicators may include lower or declining tenant occupancy, weak or declining tenant profitability, cash flow or liquidity, our decision to dispose of an asset before the end of its estimated useful life or legislative, economic or market changes that permanently reduce the value of our investments. If indicators of impairment are present, we evaluate the carrying value of the property by comparing it to its expected future undiscounted cash flows. A property’s value is impaired only if management’s estimate of future undiscounted cash flows to be generated by the property over its estimated holding period is less than the carrying value of the property. If there are different potential outcomes for a property, we will take a probability weighted approach to estimating future cash flows. If we determine that impairment has occurred, the affected assets are reduced to their fair value. This analysis requires us to judge whether indicators of impairment exist and to estimate likely future cash flows. If we misjudge or estimate incorrectly or if future tenant profitability, market or industry factors differ from our expectations, we may record an impairment charge which is inappropriate or fail to record a charge when we should have done so, or the amount of such charges may be inaccurate.
Derivative Instruments
We recognize derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that do not qualify, or are not designated as hedge relationships, must be adjusted to fair value through income. Derivative instruments designated in a hedge relationship to mitigate exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Cash flow hedges are accounted for by recording the fair value of the derivative instrument on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability. To the extent hedges are effective, a corresponding amount, adjusted for swap payments, is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. Amounts are then reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to the income statement in the period or periods the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value will be recognized in earnings in the same period in which the hedged interest payments affect earnings, which may increase or decrease reported net income and stockholders’ equity prospectively, depending on future levels of interest rates and other variables affecting the fair values of derivative instruments and hedged items, but will have no effect on cash flows. Derivative instruments designated in a hedge relationship to mitigate exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. We currently have no fair value hedges outstanding. Fair values of derivatives are subject to significant variability based on changes in interest rates and counterparty credit risk. To the extent we enter into fair value hedges in the future, the results of such variability could be a significant increase or decrease in our derivative assets, derivative liabilities, book equity, and/or earnings.
Results of Operations
The following table shows financial results for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
(in thousands)
| Revenues: | | Year ended December 31, 2023 | | 2022 | | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rental | | $145,446 | | $163,739 | | $(18,293) | |
| Related party revenue: | | | | | | | |
| Management fees and interest income from loans | | — | | 1,855 | | (1,855) | |
| Other | | 261 | | 21 | | 240 | |
| Total revenues | | 145,707 | | 165,615 | | (19,908) | |
| Expenses: | | | | | | | |
| Real estate operating expenses | | 50,732 | | 52,820 | | (2,088) | |
| Real estate taxes and insurance | | 27,200 | | 34,620 | | (7,420) | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | 54,738 | | 63,808 | | (9,070) | |
| General and administrative | | 14,021 | | 13,885 | | 136 | |
| Interest | | 24,318 | | 22,808 | | 1,510 | |
| Total expenses | | 171,009 | | 187,941 | | (16,932) | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | | (106) | | (78) | | (28) | |
| Gain on consolidation of Sponsored REIT | | 394 | | — | | 394 | |
| Impairment and loan loss reserve | | — | | (4,237) | | 4,237 | |
| Gain (loss) on sale of properties and impairment of assets held for sale, net | | (23,384) | | 27,939 | | (51,323) | |
| Interest income | | 567 | | — | | 567 | |
| Income (loss) before taxes | | (47,831) | | 1,298 | | (49,129) | |
| Tax expense | | 279 | | 204 | | 75 | |
| Net income (loss) | | $(48,110) | | $1,094 | | $(49,204) | |
Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2023 to the year ended December 31, 2022
Revenues
Total revenues decreased by $19.9 million to $145.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily a result of:
- A decrease in rental revenue of approximately $18.3 million arising primarily from the sale of three properties during 2022 and four properties in 2023 and other losses of rental income from lease expirations during the periods presented. These decreases were partially offset by rental income earned from leases commencing after December 31, 2022. Our leased space in our owned and consolidated properties was 71.5% at December 31, 2023 and for our owned properties was 75.6% at December 31, 2022.
- A decrease in interest income from loans of approximately $1.8 million due to the consolidation of Monument Circle in our financial results as of January 1, 2023.
- These decreases were partially offset by an increase in other income of $0.2 million from a deposit that was forfeited by a potential buyer for a property in Atlanta, Georgia that we had under agreement when the transaction was terminated.
Expenses
Total expenses decreased by $16.9 million to $171.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily a result of:
- A decrease in real estate operating expenses and real estate taxes and insurance of approximately $9.4 million primarily attributable to the property dispositions noted above.
- A decrease in depreciation and amortization of approximately $9.1 million primarily attributable to the property dispositions noted above.
These decreases were partially offset by:
- An increase in general and administrative expenses of $0.1 million primarily attributable to expenses relating to a proposed sale transaction that was terminated by the prospective buyer.
- An increase in interest expense of approximately $1.5 million. The increase was primarily due to higher interest expense as a result of higher interest rates under the loan amendments we entered into on February 10, 2023 described below and was partially offset by a lower principal amount of debt outstanding compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
Loss on extinguishment of debt
During the year ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we repaid debt and incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, related to unamortized deferred financing costs on the dates of the repayments.
Gain on consolidation of Sponsored REIT
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded a gain on consolidation of Sponsored REIT as a result of reducing the Monument Circle loan loss reserve, which resulted in a $0.4 million gain.
Impairment and loan reserve
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded an impairment on a mortgage receivable of $4.2 million.
Gain and loss on sale of properties and impairment
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we sold an office property located in Elk Grove, Illinois on March 10, 2023, for a sales price of $29.1 million, at a gain of approximately $8.4 million.
During the three months ended September 30, 2023, we sold an office property located in Charlotte, North Carolina known as Forest Park, for a sales price of $9.2 million at a loss of approximately $0.8 million. During the three months ended September 30, 2023, we also recorded a gain on sale of $53,000 as a result of conveying approximately 7,826 square feet of land at our Addison, Texas property to the Town of Addison as part of a road revitalization project and increased the loss on sale of Forest Park by $38,000 as a result of final sales adjustments.
During the three months ended September 30, 2023, we entered into an agreement to sell a property in Miami, Florida, known as Blue Lagoon, for a gross sales price of approximately $68.0 million at an expected loss of $19.2 million, that was recorded as an impairment loss. We completed the sale of the property on December 6, 2023 at an actual loss of $18.9 million. During the three months ended September 30, 2023, we entered into an agreement to sell a property in Atlanta, Georgia for a gross sales price of approximately $40.0 million, at an expected loss of $20.5 million that was recorded as an impairment loss. On October 26, 2023, we completed the sale of an asset held for sale as of September 30, 2023, which was an office building located in Plano, Texas for a sales price of $48.0 million at a gain of approximately $10.6 million. During the three months ended September 30, 2023, we entered into a purchase and sales agreement, which was subsequently amended, to sell a property located in Richardson, Texas for a gross sales price of $35 million, at an expected loss of $2.1 million that was recorded as an impairment loss during the three months ended December 31, 2023.
Interest Income
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, we invested disposition proceeds in an interest bearing account and earned $0.6 million in interest income.
Tax expense on income
Included in income taxes is the Revised Texas Franchise Tax, which is a tax on revenues from Texas properties, which was $0.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $0.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Net income and loss
Net loss for year ended December 31, 2023, was $48.1 million compared to net income of $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, for the reasons described above.
The following table shows financial results for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
(in thousands)
| Revenues: | | Year ended December 31, 2022 | | 2021 | | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rental | | $163,739 | | $207,581 | | $(43,842) | |
| Related party revenue: | | | | | | | |
| Management fees and interest income from loans | | 1,855 | | 1,700 | | 155 | |
| Other | | 21 | | 77 | | (56) | |
| Total revenues | | 165,615 | | 209,358 | | (43,743) | |
| Expenses: | | | | | | | |
| Real estate operating expenses | | 52,820 | | 60,881 | | (8,061) | |
| Real estate taxes and insurance | | 34,620 | | 41,061 | | (6,441) | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | 63,808 | | 78,544 | | (14,736) | |
| General and administrative | | 13,885 | | 15,898 | | (2,013) | |
| Interest | | 22,808 | | 32,273 | | (9,465) | |
| Total expenses | | 187,941 | | 228,657 | | (40,716) | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | | (78) | | (901) | | 823 | |
| Impairment and loan loss reserve | | (4,237) | | — | | (4,237) | |
| Gain on sale of properties, net | | 27,939 | | 113,134 | | (85,195) | |
| Income before taxes on income and equity in income of non-consolidated REITs | | 1,298 | | 92,934 | | (91,636) | |
| Tax expense | | 204 | | 638 | | (434) | |
| Equity in income of non-consolidated REITs | | — | | 421 | | (421) | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Net income | | $1,094 | | $92,717 | | $(91,623) | |
Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2022 to the year ended December 31, 2021
Revenues
Total revenues decreased by $43.7 million to $165.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily a result of:
- A decrease in rental revenue of approximately $43.8 million primarily due to the sale of thirteen properties during 2021 and 2022 and the loss of rental income from lease expirations during the periods presented. These decreases were partially offset by rental income earned from leases that commenced during the periods presented. Our leased space in our operating properties was 75.6% at December 31, 2022 and 78.4% at December 31, 2021.
This decrease was partially offset by:
- An increase in interest income of approximately $0.2 million from a higher principal balance on the Sponsored REIT Loan during 2022 compared to 2021.
Expenses
Total expenses decreased by $40.7 million to $187.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily a result of:
- A decrease in real estate operating expenses and real estate taxes and insurance of approximately $14.5 million primarily attributable to the property dispositions noted above.
- A decrease in depreciation and amortization of approximately $14.7 million primarily attributable to the property dispositions noted above.
- A decrease in general and administrative expenses of approximately $2.0 million, which was primarily due to lower personnel costs of $1.3 million and professional fees and expenses of $0.7 million.
- A decrease in interest expense of approximately $9.5 million. The decrease was primarily from lower interest expense as a result of a lower principal amount of debt outstanding, which was partially offset by higher interest rates during the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. In addition, the decrease was higher in 2022 as a result of interest swap breakage costs in 2021 of $1.9 million related to the repayment of $155 million in term loan debt on June 4, 2021.
Loss on extinguishment of debt
During the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we repaid debt and incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.1 million and $0.9 million, respectively, related to unamortized deferred financing costs on the dates of the repayments.
Impairment and loan reserve
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded an impairment on a mortgage receivable of $4.2 million.
Gain on sale of properties, net
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we sold two office properties located in Broomfield, Colorado on August 31, 2022 for an aggregate sales price of $102.5 million, at a gain of $24.1 million. We also sold an office property in Evanston, Illinois on December 28, 2022 for a sales price of approximately $27.8 million, at a gain of $3.9 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we sold three office properties located in Atlanta, Georgia on May 27, 2021 for an aggregate sales price of approximately $219.5 million at a net gain of approximately $22.8 million. We sold an office property in Dulles, Virginia on June 29, 2021 for a sales price of approximately $17.3 million at a loss of $2.1 million. We sold an office property located in Indianapolis, Indiana on August 31, 2021, for a sales price of approximately $35 million at a loss of approximately $1.7 million. We sold two office properties located in Chesterfield, Missouri on September 23, 2021 for an aggregate sales price of approximately $67 million at a gain of approximately $10.3 million. We sold an office property located in Atlanta, Georgia on October 22, 2021, for a sales price of approximately $223.9 million at a gain of approximately $86.8 million. We sold two office properties located in Chantilly, Virginia on November 16, 2021, for an aggregate sales price of approximately $40 million at a loss of approximately $2.9 million.
Tax expense on income
Included in income taxes is the Revised Texas Franchise Tax, which is a tax on revenues from Texas properties, which was $239,000 during the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $234,000 during the year ended December 31, 2021. We received state tax refunds of $35,000 during the year ended December 31, 2022. We incurred $404,000 in state income taxes as a result of using some net operating loss carryforwards, which are not fully useable for some state income tax purposes during the year ended December 31, 2021
Net income (loss)
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $1.1 million compared to net income of $92.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, for the reasons described above.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Funds From Operations
The Company evaluates performance based on Funds From Operations, which we refer to as FFO, as management believes that FFO represents the most accurate measure of activity and is the basis for distributions paid to equity holders. The Company defines FFO as net income or loss (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, hedge ineffectiveness, acquisition costs of newly acquired properties that are not capitalized and lease acquisition costs that are not capitalized plus depreciation and amortization, including amortization of acquired above and below market lease intangibles and impairment charges on properties or investments in non-consolidated REITs, and after adjustments to exclude equity in income or losses from, and, to include the proportionate share of FFO from, non-consolidated REITs. We exclude FFO from any Sponsored REIT that is consolidated from the calculation of FFO.
FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP), nor as an indicator of the Company’s financial performance, nor as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP), nor as a measure of the Company’s liquidity, nor is it necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of the Company’s needs.
Other real estate companies and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, may define this term in a different manner. We have included the NAREIT FFO definition as of May 17, 2016 in the table and note that other REITs may not define FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition or may interpret the current NAREIT definition differently than we do.
We believe that in order to facilitate a clear understanding of the results of the Company, FFO should be examined in connection with net income and cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities in the consolidated financial statements.
The calculations of FFO are shown in the following table:
| (in thousands): | | | For the Year December 31, 2023 | | 2022 | | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net income (loss) | | | $(48,110) | | $1,094 | | $92,717 | |
| Gain on consolidation of Sponsored REIT | | | (394) | | — | | — | |
| Impairment and loan loss reserve | | | — | | 4,237 | | — | |
| (Gain) loss on sale of properties and impairment of assets held for sale, net | | | 23,384 | (27,939) | | (113,134) | | |
| Equity in income of non-consolidated REITs | | | — | | — | | (421) | |
| FFO from non-consolidated REITs | | | — | | — | | 421 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | 54,694 | | 63,689 | | 78,509 | |
| NAREIT FFO | | | 29,574 | | 41,081 | | 58,092 | |
| Lease Acquisition costs | | | 390 | | 262 | | 387 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Funds From Operations | | | $29,964 | | $41,343 | | $58,479 | |
Net Operating Income (NOI)
The Company provides property performance based on Net Operating Income, which we refer to as NOI. Management believes that investors are interested in this information. NOI is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company defines as net income or loss (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) plus selling, general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, including amortization of acquired above and below market lease intangibles and impairment charges, interest expense, less equity in earnings of nonconsolidated REITs, interest income, management fee income, hedge ineffectiveness, gains or losses on the sale of assets and excludes non-property specific income and expenses. We exclude the NOI from any Sponsored REIT that is consolidated from the calculation of NOI. The information presented includes footnotes and the data is shown by region with properties owned in the periods presented, which we call Same Store. The comparative Same Store results include properties held for the periods presented and exclude acquired properties. We also exclude properties that have been placed in service, but that do not have operating activity for all periods presented, dispositions and significant nonrecurring income such as bankruptcy settlements and lease termination fees. NOI, as defined by the Company, may not be comparable to NOI reported by other REITs that define NOI differently. NOI should not be considered an alternative to net income or loss as an indication of our performance or to cash flows as a measure of the Company’s liquidity or its ability to make distributions. The calculations of NOI are shown in the following table:
(in thousands)
| Region | | Net Operating Income (NOI)* Rentable Square Feet | | Year Ended 31-Dec-23 | | Year Ended 31-Dec-22 | | Inc (Dec) | % | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | 298 | | $1,143 | | $1,088 | | $55 | 5.1% | ||
| MidWest | 758 | | 7,009 | | 10,408 | | (3,399) | (32.7)% | ||
| South | 2,369 | | 25,631 | | 20,180 | | 5,451 | 27.0% | ||
| West | 2,140 | | 25,334 | | 27,108 | | (1,774) | (6.5)% | ||
| Property NOI from the continuing portfolio | 5,565 | | 59,117 | | 58,784 | | 333 | 0.6% | ||
| Dispositions, Non-Operating, Development or Redevelopment | | | | 6,877 | | 15,798 | | (8,921) | (12.1)% | |
| Property NOI | | | | $65,994 | | $74,582 | | $(8,588) | (11.5)% | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Same Store | | | | $59,117 | | $58,784 | | $333 | 0.6% | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Less Nonrecurring | | | | | | | | | | |
| Items in NOI (a) | | | | 2,295 | | 2,843 | | (548) | 1.0% | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Comparative | | | | | | | | | | |
| Same Store | | | | $56,822 | | $55,941 | | $881 | 1.6% |
| Reconciliation to Net income | | Year Ended 31-Dec-23 | | Year Ended 31-Dec-22 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Income | | $(48,110) | | $1,094 | |
| Add (deduct): | | | | | |
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | | 106 | | 78 | |
| Gain on consolidation of Sponsored REIT | | (394) | | — | |
| Impairment and loan loss reserve | | - | | 4,237 | |
| Gain on sale of property | | 23,384 | | (27,939) | |
| Management fee income | | (1,707) | | (1,127) | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | 54,738 | | 63,808 | |
| Amortization of above/below market leases | | (45) | | (118) | |
| General and administrative | | 14,021 | | 13,886 | |
| Interest expense | | 24,318 | | 22,808 | |
| Interest income | | (567) | | (1,828) | |
| Equity in income of non-consolidated REITs | | - | | — | |
| Non-property specific items, net | | 250 | | (317) | |
| Property NOI | | $65,994 | | $74,582 | |
(a) Nonrecurring Items in NOI include proceeds from bankruptcies, lease termination fees or other significant nonrecurring income or expenses, which may affect comparability.
* Excludes NOI from investments in and interest income from secured loans to non-consolidated REITs.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and cash equivalents were $127.9 million and $6.6 million at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The increase of $121.3 million is attributable to $17.9 million provided by operating activities, plus $113.6 million provided by investing activities less $10.2 million used in financing activities. Management believes that existing cash and cash anticipated to be generated internally by operations, including property dispositions, will be sufficient to meet working capital requirements and anticipated capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. Although there is no guarantee that we will be able to obtain the funds necessary for our future growth, we anticipate generating funds from continuing real estate operations and property dispositions. We believe that we have adequate funds to cover unusual expenses and capital improvements, in addition to normal operating expenses. Our ability to maintain or increase our level of dividends to stockholders, however, depends in significant part upon the level of rental income from our real properties, property dispositions and our interest costs.
Operating Activities
Cash provided by our operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 of $17.9 million is primarily attributable to a net loss of $48.1 million excluding net losses on sale of properties of $23.3 million less the gain on consolidation of Sponsored REIT of $0.4 million, plus the add-back of $54.4 million of non-cash expenses, less $7.6 million increase in payments of deferred leasing commissions, a $2.7 million increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses, a $2.0 million increase in lease acquisition costs plus a $0.5 million increase in tenant security deposits and a $0.4 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets.
Investing Activities
Cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 of $113.6 million is primarily attributable to proceeds from the sale of four properties of $142.2 million and an increase of investment in a mortgage receivable of $3.0 million from cash recorded in consolidation of Monument Circle, which was partially offset by capital expenditures and office equipment investments of approximately $31.6 million.
Financing Activities
Cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 of $10.2 million is primarily attributable to repayment of the Former BofA Term Loan (defined below) in the amount of $50.0 million, distributions paid to stockholders in the amount of $4.1 million, and payment of deferred financing costs of $2.3 million, which was partially offset by net borrowings under the BofA Revolver (defined below) of $42.0 million and the proceeds from the termination of interest rate swap of $4.2 million.
Liquidity beyond the next 12 months
Our ability to generate cash adequate to meet our needs is dependent primarily on income from real estate investments, the sale of real estate investments, leveraging of real estate investments, availability of bank borrowings, proceeds from public offerings of stock, private placement of debt and access to the capital markets. The acquisition of new properties, the payment of expenses related to real estate operations, capital improvement expenses, debt service payments, general and administrative expenses, and distribution requirements place demands on our liquidity.
We intend to operate our properties from the cash flows generated by our properties. However, our expenses are affected by various factors, including inflation. See Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors for additional factors. Increases in operating expenses are predominantly borne by our tenants. To the extent that increases cannot be passed on to our tenants through rent reimbursements, such expenses would reduce the amount of available cash flow, which can adversely affect the market value of the applicable property.
We have used a variety of sources to fund our cash needs in addition to our free cash flow generated from our investments in real estate. In the past, we considered borrowing on our revolving line of credit facility (which was converted to a term loan on February 21, 2024, and is no longer available), adding or refinancing existing term debt or raising capital through public offerings or At The Market (ATM) programs of our common stock. See Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Contractual Obligations. We believe these sources of funds will provide sufficient funds to adequately meet our obligations beyond the next twelve months.
JPM Term Loan
On August 2, 2018, we entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, which we refer to as JPMorgan, and the other lending institutions party thereto, which we refer to as the JPM Credit Agreement, which provided a single unsecured bridge loan in the aggregate principal amount of $150 million, which we refer to as the JPM Term Loan. On December 24, 2020, we repaid a $50 million portion of the JPM Term Loan with a portion of the proceeds from the December 23, 2020 sale of our Durham, North Carolina property, and $100 million remained fully advanced and outstanding under the JPM Term Loan. On June 4, 2021, we repaid the remaining $100 million outstanding on the loan, which had been scheduled to mature on November 30, 2021, and incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.1 million related to unamortized deferred financing costs.
Although the interest rate on the JPM Term Loan was variable under the JPM Credit Agreement, we fixed the LIBOR-based rate on a portion of the JPM Term Loan by entering into interest rate swap transactions. On March 7, 2019, we entered into ISDA Master Agreements with various financial institutions to hedge a $100 million portion of the future LIBOR-based rate risk under the JPM Credit Agreement. Effective March 29, 2019, we fixed the LIBOR-based rate at 2.44% per annum on a $100 million portion of the JPM Term Loan until November 30, 2021. On June 4, 2021, we paid approximately $1.2 million to terminate the interest rate swap, which was scheduled to mature on November 30, 2021.
BMO Term Loan
As of February 21, 2024, we have a term loan borrowing in the amount of approximately $86.0 million, which we refer to as the BMO Term Loan, with Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent, and the other lending institutions party thereto, that matures on April 1, 2026. On February 21, 2024, we entered into a Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with the lending institutions party thereto, which we refer to as the BMO Second Amendment. The BMO Second Amendment amended the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated September 27, 2018, which we refer to as the Original BMO Credit Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated February 10, 2023, which we refer to as the BMO First Amendment, to, among other things: (1) extend the maturity date from October 1, 2024 to April 1, 2026; (2) change the interest rate from either 300 basis points over SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate) or 200 basis points over the base rate to either 300 basis points over SOFR with a floor on SOFR of 500 basis points or 200 basis points over the base rate with a floor on the base rate of 600 basis points; (3) provide that, if, as of March 31, 2025, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the BMO Term Loan, the BofA Term Loan (defined below) and the Senior Notes (defined below) exceeds $200 million, the spread over SOFR or the base rate, as applicable, will permanently increase by 100 basis points, from 300 basis points to 400 basis points in the case of SOFR, and from 200 basis points to 300 basis points in the case of the base rate; (4) require mandatory prepayments of the BMO Term Loan, the BofA Term Loan and the Senior Notes with net cash proceeds from the disposition of property, assets and equity issuances as follows: (a) 25.55556% to the BMO Term Loan; (b) 20.00000% to the BofA Term Loan; (c) 44.44444% to the Senior Notes; and (d) the remaining 10% to be retained by us; (5) require that, within 90 days of the February 21, 2024 effective date of the BMO Second Amendment, certain of our subsidiaries guarantee the BMO Term Loan; (6) require that, within 90 days of the February 21, 2024 effective date of the BMO Second Amendment, we pledge our equity interests in certain of our subsidiaries as collateral for the BMO Term Loan; (7) reduce our minimum fixed charge coverage ratio from 1.50x to 1.25x; and (8) reduce our minimum unsecured interest coverage ratio from 1.75x to 1.25x. We refer to the Original BMO Credit Agreement, as amended by the BMO First Amendment and the BMO Second Amendment, as the BMO Credit Agreement.
The BMO Credit Agreement initially provided for an unsecured term loan borrowing in the amount of $220 million, of which approximately $86.0 million remains outstanding. The BMO Term Loan initially consisted of a $55 million tranche A term loan and a $165 million tranche B term loan. On June 4, 2021, we repaid the tranche A term loan that was scheduled to mature on November 30, 2021, and incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.1 million related to unamortized deferred financing costs. On February 10, 2023, we repaid a $40 million portion of the tranche B term loan, so that $125 million remained outstanding. On August 10, 2023, we repaid an additional $10 million portion of the tranche B term loan, so that $115 million remained outstanding as of August 10, 2023 and as of December 31, 2023. On February 21, 2024, as part of the BMO Second Amendment, we repaid an approximately $29.0 million portion of the tranche B term loan so that approximately $86.0 million remains outstanding. The tranche B term loan matures on April 1, 2026.
Effective February 10, 2023 upon entering into the BMO First Amendment, interest on the BMO Term Loan has been either (i) 300 basis points over one, three or six month term SOFR, plus a corresponding adjustment of 0.11448%, 0.26161% or 0.42826%, respectively, or (ii) 200 basis points over the base rate. Effective February 21, 2024 upon entering into the BMO Second Amendment, interest on the BMO Term Loan was amended to be either (i) 300 basis points over one, three or six month term SOFR, plus a corresponding adjustment of 0.11448%, 0.26161% or 0.42826%, respectively, with a floor on SOFR of 5.00% or (ii) 200 basis points over the base rate with a floor on the base rate of 6.00%. In addition, effective February 21, 2024 upon entering into the BMO Second Amendment, if, as of March 31, 2025, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the BMO Term Loan, the BofA Term Loan and the Senior Notes exceeds $200 million, the spread over SOFR or the base rate, as applicable, will permanently increase by 100 basis points from 300 basis points to 400 basis points in the case of SOFR, and from 200 basis points to 300 basis points in the case of the base rate. Prior to February 10, 2023, the BMO Term Loan bore interest at either (i) a number of basis points over LIBOR depending on our credit rating (165 basis points over LIBOR at December 31, 2022) or (ii) a number of basis points over the base rate depending on our credit rating (65 basis points over the base rate at December 31, 2022). As of December 31, 2022, our credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service was Ba1.
Effective February 10, 2023 upon entering into the BMO First Amendment, the base rate meant, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of: (i) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by the administrative agent as its “prime commercial rate”, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1% (0.50%), (iii) term SOFR for one month plus 1.00% and (iv) 1.00%. If the base rate is being used because SOFR is not able to be determined, base rate is the greater of clauses (i) and, (ii) and (iv). Effective February 21, 2024 upon entering into the BMO Second Amendment, the base rate was amended to mean, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of: (i) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by the administrative agent as its “prime commercial rate”, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1% (0.50%), (iii) term SOFR for one month plus 1.00% and (iv) 6.00%. If the base rate is being used because SOFR is not able to be determined, base rate is the greater of clauses (i) and, (ii) and (iv). Prior to February 10, 2023, base rate meant, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of: (i) the bank’s prime rate for such day, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate for such day, plus 0.50%, and (iii) the one-month LIBOR based rate for such day plus 1.00%.
As of December 31, 2023, the interest rate on the BMO Term Loan was 8.47% per annum. The weighted average variable interest rate on all amounts outstanding under the BMO Term Loan from February 8, 2023, which is when the Company terminated its outstanding interest rate swaps applicable to the BMO Term Loan as described below, through December 31, 2023 was approximately 8.11% per annum.
Although the interest rate on the BMO Term Loan is currently variable under the BMO Credit Agreement, we previously fixed the base LIBOR interest rate by entering into interest rate swap transactions. On August 26, 2013, we entered into an ISDA Master Agreement with Bank of Montreal that fixed the base LIBOR interest rate on the BMO Term Loan at 2.32% per annum, which matured on August 26, 2020. On February 20, 2019, we entered into ISDA Master Agreements with a group of banks that fixed the base LIBOR interest rate on the BMO Term Loan at 2.39% per annum for the period beginning on August 26, 2020 and ending January 31, 2024. Accordingly, based upon our credit rating, as of December 31, 2022, the effective interest rate on the BMO Term Loan was 4.04% per annum. On June 4, 2021, we paid approximately $0.6 million to terminate the portion of the interest rate swap on tranche A, which was scheduled to mature on November 30, 2021. On February 8, 2023, we terminated all remaining interest rate swaps applicable to the BMO Term Loan and, on February 10, 2023, we received an aggregate of approximately $4.3 million as a result of such terminations.
The BMO Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants for credit facilities of this type, including limitations with respect to indebtedness, liens, investments, mergers and acquisitions, disposition of assets, use of net cash proceeds from the disposition of property, assets and equity issuances, mandatory prepayments, the requirement to have certain subsidiaries provide guarantees, the requirement to pledge our equity interests in certain subsidiaries as collateral, changes in business, certain restricted payments, repurchases and redemptions of our common stock, going concern qualifications to our financial statements, and transactions with affiliates. In addition, the BMO Credit Agreement also restricts our ability to make quarterly dividend distributions that exceed $0.01 per share of our common stock; provided, however, that notwithstanding such restriction, we are permitted to make dividend distributions based on our good faith estimate of projected or estimated taxable income or otherwise as necessary to retain our status as a real estate investment trust, to meet the distribution requirements of Section 857 of the Internal Revenue Code or to eliminate any income or excise taxes to which we would otherwise be subject. The BMO Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants that require us to maintain a minimum tangible net worth, a maximum leverage ratio, a maximum secured leverage ratio, a maximum secured recourse leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, a maximum unencumbered leverage ratio, and minimum unsecured interest coverage. We were in compliance with the BMO Term Loan financial covenants as of December 31, 2023.
The BMO Credit Agreement provides for customary events of default with corresponding grace periods, including failure to pay any principal or interest when due, certain cross defaults and a change in control (as defined in the BMO Credit Agreement). In the event of a default by us, the administrative agent may, and at the request of the requisite number of lenders shall, declare all obligations under the BMO Credit Agreement immediately due and payable, terminate the lenders’ commitments to make loans under the BMO Credit Agreement, and enforce any and all rights of the lenders or administrative agent under the BMO Credit Agreement and related documents. For certain events of default related to bankruptcy, insolvency, and receivership, the commitments of lenders will be automatically terminated and all of our outstanding obligations will become immediately due and payable.
BofA Term Loan
As of February 21, 2024, we have a term loan borrowing in the amount of approximately $67.3 million, which we refer to as the BofA Term Loan, with Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent, and other lending institutions party thereto that matures on April 1, 2026. Prior to February 21, 2024, we referred to the BofA Term Loan as the BofA Revolver. On February 21, 2024, we entered into a Second Amendment to Credit Agreement with the lending institutions party thereto, which we refer to as the BofA Second Amendment. The BofA Second Amendment amended the Credit Agreement dated January 10, 2022, which we refer to as the Original BofA Credit Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated February 10, 2023, which we refer to as the BofA First Amendment, to, among other things: (1) extend the maturity date from October 1, 2024 to April 1, 2026; (2) convert borrowings from being either revolving loans or letters of credit to a term loan; (3) change the interest rate from 300 basis points over SOFR to 300 basis points over SOFR with a floor on SOFR of 500 basis points; (4) provide that, if, as of March 31, 2025, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the BMO Term Loan, the BofA Term Loan and the Senior Notes exceeds $200 million, the spread over SOFR will permanently increase by 100 basis points from 300 basis points to 400 basis points; (5) require mandatory prepayments of the BMO Term Loan, the BofA Term Loan and the Senior Notes with net cash proceeds from the disposition of property, assets and equity issuances as follows: ((a) 25.55556% to the BMO Term Loan; (b) 20.00000% to the BofA Term Loan; (c) 44.44444% to the Senior Notes; and (d) the remaining 10% to be retained by us; (6) require that, within 90 days of the February 21, 2024 effective date of the BofA Second Amendment, certain of our subsidiaries guarantee the BofA Term Loan; (7) require that, within 90 days of the February 21, 2024 effective date of the BofA Second Amendment, we pledge our equity interests in certain of our subsidiaries as collateral for the BofA Term Loan; (8) reduce our minimum fixed charge coverage ratio from 1.50x to 1.25x; and (9) reduce our minimum unsecured interest coverage ratio from 1.75x to 1.25x. We refer to the Original BofA Credit Agreement, as amended by the BofA First Amendment and the BofA Second Amendment, as the BofA Credit Agreement.
Prior to entering into the BofA Second Amendment on February 21, 2024, borrowings made under the BofA Revolver could be revolving loans or letters of credit, the combined sum of which could not exceed $150 million outstanding at any time. On February 10, 2023, we borrowed $40.0 million under the BofA Revolver to repay a portion of the BMO Term Loan. Effective October 1, 2023, availability under the BofA Revolver was reduced to $125 million.
As of December 31, 2023, there were borrowings of $90 million drawn and outstanding under the BofA Revolver. On February 21, 2024, as part of the BofA Second Amendment, we repaid an approximately $22.7 million portion of the BofA Revolver so that approximately $67.3 million remains outstanding under the BofA Term Loan.
Effective February 10, 2023 upon entering into the BofA First Amendment, interest on the BofA Revolver was 300 basis points over either (i) the daily simple SOFR, plus an adjustment of 0.11448%, or (ii) one, three or six month term SOFR, plus a corresponding adjustment of 0.11448%, 0.26161% or 0.42826%, respectively. In addition, under certain circumstances, such as if SOFR is not able to be determined, the BofA Revolver would have instead bore interest at 200 basis points over the base rate. Effective February 21, 2024 upon entering into the BofA Second Amendment, interest on the BofA Term Loan was amended to mean 300 basis points over either (i) the daily simple SOFR, plus an adjustment of 0.11448%, or (ii) one, three or six month term SOFR, plus a corresponding adjustment of 0.11448%, 0.26161% or 0.42826%, respectively, with a floor on SOFR of 5.00%. In addition, effective February 21, 2024 upon entering into the BofA Second Amendment, under certain circumstances, such as if SOFR is not able to be determined, the BofA Term Loan bears interest at 200 basis points over the base rate with a floor on the base rate of 600 basis points. In addition, effective February 21, 2024 upon entering into the BofA Second Amendment, if, as of March 31, 2025, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the BMO Term Loan, the BofA Term Loan and the Senior Notes exceeds $200 million, the spread over SOFR will permanently increase by 100 basis points from 300 basis points to 400 basis points in the case of SOFR, and from 200 basis points to 300 basis points in the case of the base rate.
Prior to February 10, 2023, borrowings under the BofA Revolver bore interest at a margin over either (i) the daily simple SOFR, plus an adjustment of 0.11448%, or (ii) one, three or six month term SOFR, plus a corresponding adjustment of 0.11448%, 0.26161% or 0.42826%, respectively. In addition, under certain circumstances, such as if SOFR was not able to be determined, the BofA Revolver bore interest at a margin over a specified base rate. Prior to February 10, 2023, the margin over SOFR or, if applicable, the base rate, varied depending on our leverage ratio (1.750% over SOFR and 0.750% over the base rate at December 31, 2022). Effective February 10, 2023 upon entering into the BofA First Amendment, we were obligated to pay an annual facility fee on the unused portion of the BofA Revolver at the rate of 0.350% per annum and, if applicable, letter of credit fees. Effective February 21, 2024 upon entering into the BofA Second Amendment, those fees no longer apply. Prior to February 10, 2023, we were also obligated to pay an annual facility fee and, if applicable, letter of credit fees in amounts that were also based on our leverage ratio. The previous facility fee was assessed against the aggregate amount of lender commitments regardless of usage (0.350% at December 31, 2022).
Prior to February 21, 2024, base rate meant, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of: (i) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by the administrative agent as its “prime rate”, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% (0.50%), (iii) term SOFR for one month plus 1.00% and (iv) 1.00%. If the base rate is being used because SOFR is not able to be determined, base rate is the greater of clauses (i), (ii) and (iv). Effective February 21, 2024 upon entering into the BofA Second Amendment, base rate was amended to mean, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of: (i) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by the administrative agent as its “prime rate”, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% (0.50%), (iii) term SOFR for one month plus 1.00% and (iv) 6.00%. If the base rate is being used because SOFR is not able to be determined, base rate is the greater of clauses (i), (ii) and (iv).
As of December 31, 2023, the interest rate on the BofA Revolver was 8.47% per annum. The weighted average variable interest rate on all amounts outstanding under the BofA Revolver through December 31, 2023 was approximately 8.05% per annum.
The BofA Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants for credit facilities of this type, including limitations with respect to indebtedness, liens, investments, mergers and acquisitions, disposition of assets, use of net cash proceeds from the disposition of property, assets and equity issuances, mandatory prepayments, the requirement to have certain subsidiaries provide guarantees, the requirement to pledge our equity interests in certain subsidiaries as collateral, changes in business, certain restricted payments, repurchases and redemptions of our common stock, going concern qualifications to our financial statements, and transactions with affiliates. In addition, the BofA Credit Agreement also restricts our ability to make quarterly dividend distributions that exceed $0.01 per share of our common stock; provided, however, that notwithstanding such restriction, we are permitted to make dividend distributions based on our good faith estimate of projected or estimated taxable income or otherwise as necessary to retain our status as a real estate investment trust, to meet the distribution requirements of Section 857 of the Internal Revenue Code or to eliminate any income or excise taxes to which we would otherwise be subject. The BofA Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants that require us to maintain a minimum tangible net worth, a maximum leverage ratio, a maximum secured leverage ratio, a maximum secured recourse leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, a maximum unencumbered leverage ratio, and minimum unsecured interest coverage. We were in compliance with the BofA Term Loan financial covenants as of December 31, 2023.
The BofA Credit Agreement provides for customary events of default with corresponding grace periods, including failure to pay any principal or interest when due, failure to comply with the provisions of the BofA Credit Agreement, certain cross defaults and a change in control (as defined in the BofA Credit Agreement). In the event of a default by us, the administrative agent may, and at the request of the requisite number of lenders shall, declare all obligations under the BofA Credit Agreement immediately due and payable and enforce any and all rights of the lenders or BofA under the BofA Credit Agreement and related documents. For certain events of default related to bankruptcy, insolvency, and receivership, all of our outstanding obligations will become immediately due and payable.
Former BofA Credit Facility
On July 21, 2016, we entered into a First Amendment, which we refer to as the Former BofA First Amendment, and on October 18, 2017, we entered into a Second Amendment, which we refer to as the Former BofA Second Amendment, to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 29, 2014 with the lending institutions party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, which, as amended by the Former BofA First Amendment and the Former BofA Second Amendment, we refer to as the Former BofA Credit Facility, that continued an existing unsecured revolving line of credit, which we refer to as the Former BofA Revolver, and a term loan, which we refer to as the Former BofA Term Loan. Effective simultaneously with the closing of the Former BofA Credit Facility on January 10, 2022, we delivered a notice terminating the aggregate lender commitments under the Former BofA Revolver in their entirety. There were no amounts drawn on the Former BofA Revolver as of December 31, 2021 and January 10, 2022.
Former BofA Revolver Highlights
- The Former BofA Revolver was terminated at the Company’s election effective January 10, 2022.
- As of December 31, 2021 and January 10, 2022, there were no borrowings under the Former BofA Revolver.
The Former BofA Revolver bore interest at either (i) a margin over LIBOR depending on our credit rating (1.550% over LIBOR at December 31, 2021) or (ii) a margin over the base rate depending on our credit rating (0.550% over the base rate at December 31, 2021). The Former BofA Credit Facility also obligated us to pay an annual facility fee in an amount that was also based on our credit rating. The facility fee was assessed against the total amount of the Former BofA Revolver, or $600 million (0.30% at December 31, 2021). The amount of any applicable facility fee, and the margin over LIBOR rate or base rate was determined based on our credit rating pursuant to a pricing grid.
For purposes of the Former BofA Credit Facility, base rate meant, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of: (i) the bank’s prime rate for such day, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate for such day, plus 0.50%, and (iii) the one month LIBOR based rate for such day plus 1.00%. As of December 31, 2021, our credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service was Ba1.
As of December 31, 2021 and during 2022, there were no borrowings under the Former BofA Revolver. The weighted average interest rate on all amounts outstanding on the Former BofA Revolver during the year ended December 31, 2021 was approximately 1.33% per annum.
Former BofA Term Loan Highlights
- The Former BofA Term Loan was repaid in its entirety on September 6, 2022.
- The original principal amount of the Former BofA Term Loan was $400 million. On September 30, 2021, we repaid a $90 million portion and on October 25, 2021, we repaid a $200 million portion of the Former BofA Term Loan and incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.7 million related to unamortized deferred financing costs. On September 6, 2022, we prepaid the remaining $110 million balance of the Former BofA Term Loan in full and incurred a loss of extinguishment of debt of $0.1 million related to unamortized deferred financing costs.
- If we had not prepaid the Former BofA Term Loan in full on September 6, 2022, the Former BofA Term Loan would have matured on January 12, 2023.
The Former BofA Term Loan bore interest at either (i) a margin over LIBOR depending on our credit rating (1.75% over LIBOR at the date of repayment on September 6, 2022) or (ii) a margin over the base rate depending on our credit rating (0.750% over the base rate at the date of repayment on September 6, 2022). The margin over LIBOR rate or base rate was determined based on our credit rating pursuant to a pricing grid.
For purposes of the Former BofA Credit Facility, base rate meant, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of: (i) the bank’s prime rate for such day, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate for such day, plus 0.50%, and (iii) the one month LIBOR based rate for such day plus 1.00%. At the date of repayment on September 6, 2022, our credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service was Ba1.
The interest rate on the Former BofA Credit Facility was variable through the date of repayment on September 6, 2022. Previously we had fixed the base LIBOR interest rate on the Former BofA Term Loan by entering into interest rate swap transactions. On July 22, 2016, we entered into ISDA Master Agreements with a group of banks that fixed the base LIBOR interest rate on the Former BofA Term Loan at 1.12% per annum for the period beginning on September 27, 2017 and ended on September 27, 2021. The weighted average variable interest rate on all amounts outstanding under the Former BofA Term Loan through the date of repayment on September 6, 2022 was approximately 2.65% per annum. Based upon our credit rating, as of December 31, 2021, the interest rate on the Former BofA Term Loan was 1.84% per annum. The weighted average variable interest rate on all amounts outstanding under the Former BofA Term Loan after the expiration of the interest rate swaps, on September 27, 2021, during the period from September 28 through December 31, 2021, was approximately 1.85% per annum.
Senior Notes
As of February 21, 2024, we have senior notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $149.6 million, which we refer to as the Senior Notes, that mature on April 1, 2026. The Senior Notes consist of (i) Series A Senior Notes due April 1, 2026 in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $86.8 million, which we refer to as the Series A Notes, and (ii) Series B Senior Notes due April 1, 2026 in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $62.8 million, which we refer to as the Series B Notes. On February 21, 2024, we entered into a First Amendment to Note Purchase Agreement, which we refer to as the NPA First Amendment. The NPA First Amendment amended the Note Purchase Agreement dated October 24, 2017, which we refer to as the Original Note Purchase Agreement, to, among other things: (1) extend the maturity date of the Series A Notes from December 20, 2024 to April 1, 2026; (2) shorten the maturity date of the Series B Notes from December 20, 2027 to April 1, 2026; (3) increase the interest rate applicable to the Series A Notes from 4.49% per annum to 8.00% per annum; (4) increase the interest rate applicable to the Series B Notes from 4.76% per annum to 8.00% per annum; (5) provide that, if, as of March 31, 2025, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the BMO Term Loan, the BofA Term Loan and the Senior Notes exceeds $200 million, the per annum interest rates applicable to the Series A Note and the Series B Notes will permanently increase by 1.00% from 8.00% per annum to 9.00% per annum; (6) require mandatory prepayments of the BMO Term Loan, the BofA Term Loan and the Senior Notes with net cash proceeds from the disposition of property, assets and equity issuances as follows: (a) 25.55556% to the BMO Term Loan; (b) 20.00000% to the BofA Term Loan; (c) 44.44444% to the Senior Notes; and (d) the remaining 10% to be retained by us; (7) require that, within 90 days of the February 21, 2024 effective date of the NPA First Amendment, certain of our subsidiaries guarantee the Senior Notes; (8) require that, within 90 days of the February 21, 2024 effective date of the NPA First Amendment, we pledge our equity interests in certain of our subsidiaries as collateral for the Senior Notes; and (9) conform all financial covenants and negative covenants in the Note Purchase Agreement with the BofA Credit Agreement and the BMO Credit Agreement. We refer to the Original Note Purchase Agreement, as amended by the NPA First Amendment, as the Note Purchase Agreement.
Under the Original Note Purchase Agreement, we agreed to sell to the purchasers party thereto an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000 of senior unsecured notes consisting of (i) Series A Senior Notes due December 20, 2024 in an aggregate principal amount of $116 million and (ii) Series B Senior Notes due December 20, 2027 in an aggregate principal amount of $84 million. On December 20, 2017, the Senior Notes were funded and proceeds were used to reduce the outstanding balance of the Former BofA Revolver. On February 21, 2024, as part of the NPA First Amendment, we repaid an approximately $29.2 million portion of the Series A Notes so that approximately $86.8 million of the Series A Notes remains outstanding. In addition, on February 21, 2024, as part of the NPA First Amendment, we repaid an approximately $21.2 million portion of the Series B Notes so that approximately $62.8 million of the Series B Notes remains outstanding.
The Note Purchase Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including limitations with respect to indebtedness, liens, investments, mergers and acquisitions, disposition of assets, use of net cash proceeds from the disposition of property, assets and equity issuances, mandatory prepayments, the requirement to have certain subsidiaries provide guarantees, the requirement to pledge our equity interests in certain subsidiaries as collateral, changes in business, certain restricted payments, repurchases and redemptions of our common stock, going concern qualifications to our financial statements, transactions with affiliates, certain restrictions on severance, retention and similar arrangements applicable to our executive officers, and real estate investment trust compliance requirements. In addition, the Note Purchase Agreement also restricts our ability to make quarterly dividend distributions that exceed $0.01 per share of our common stock; provided, however, that notwithstanding such restriction, we are permitted to make dividend distributions based on our good faith estimate of projected or estimated taxable income or otherwise as necessary to retain our status as a real estate investment trust, to meet the distribution requirements of Section 857 of the Internal Revenue Code or to eliminate any income or excise taxes to which we would otherwise be subject. The Note Purchase Agreement also contains financial covenants that require us to maintain a minimum tangible net worth, a maximum leverage ratio, a maximum secured leverage ratio, a maximum secured recourse leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, a maximum unencumbered leverage ratio, and minimum unsecured interest coverage. We were in compliance with the Note Purchase Agreement financial covenants as of December 31, 2023.
The Note Purchase Agreement contains customary events of default, including payment defaults, cross defaults with certain other indebtedness, breaches of covenants and bankruptcy events. In the case of an event of default, the purchasers may, among other remedies, accelerate the payment of all obligations.
Equity Offering
From time to time, we may issue debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depository shares under a registration statement to fund the acquisition of additional properties, to pay down any existing debt financing and for other corporate purposes.
Stock Repurchases
On June 23, 2021, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to $50 million of the Company’s common stock from time to time in the open market, privately negotiated transactions or other manners as permitted by federal securities laws. The repurchase authorization may be suspended or discontinued at any time. On February 10, 2023, we disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K that our Board of Directors had discontinued the repurchase authorization.
Contingencies
As of December 31, 2023, the Sponsored REIT Loan had $24 million principal amount outstanding. The Sponsored REIT Loan is secured by a mortgage on the underlying property and has a current term of less than one year. We anticipate that the Sponsored REIT Loan will be repaid through cash flow from property operations or sale of the underlying property, although the actual amount and timing of any repayment is uncertain and will likely depend on prevailing market conditions at the time of any such sale.
We may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Although occasional adverse decisions (or settlements) may occur, we believe that the final disposition of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
Loan to Sponsored REIT
Sponsored REIT Loan
The Sponsored REIT Loan is secured by a mortgage on the underlying property and has a current term of less than one year. We anticipate that the Sponsored REIT Loan will be repaid through cash flow from property operations or sale of the underlying property, although the actual amount and timing of any repayment is uncertain and will likely depend on prevailing market conditions at the time of any such sale.
The Sponsored REIT Loan subjects us to credit risk. However, we believe that our position as asset manager of the Sponsored REIT helps mitigate that risk by providing us with unique insight and the ability to rely on qualitative analysis of the Sponsored REIT.
Additional information about the Sponsored REIT Loan outstanding as of December 31, 2023 is incorporated herein by reference to Note 3, “Related Party Transactions and Investments in Non-Consolidated Entities - Management fees and interest income from loans”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.
Other Considerations
We generally pay the ordinary annual operating expenses of our owned and consolidated properties from the rental revenue generated by the properties. For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, the rental income exceeded the expenses for each individual property, with the exception of Monument Circle for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and Pershing Park for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
Monument Circle has approximately 214,000 square feet of rentable space comprised of both office and street level retail space. The office component comprises approximately 95% of the rentable space and had been net leased to a single corporate tenant, through December 31, 2018. The retail component comprises the remaining approximately 5% of the property’s rentable space. Monument Circle had approximately $70,000 of rental income and $293,000 of operating expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2023, all related to the retail component. Monument Circle had approximately $277,000 of rental income and $1,123,000 of operating expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and was 4.1% leased to two retail tenants as of December 31, 2023.
Pershing Park has approximately 160,000 square feet of rentable space, which was 12.4% leased at June 30, 2021 due to a large tenant departure on May 31, 2021. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, we signed a lease with a new tenant. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, we signed an expansion of space with that same tenant. The new lease inclusive of the expansion space is for approximately 101,000 square feet. Pershing Park had approximately $1,977,000 of rental income and $2,269,000 of operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022, and was 79.2% leased as of December 31, 2022.
Rental Income Commitments
Our commercial real estate operations include the leasing of office buildings subject to leases with terms greater than one year. The leases thereon expire at various dates through 2037. Approximate undiscounted cash flows of rental income from non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2023 is:
(in thousands)
| | | Year ending December 31, | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | | $86,936 | |
| 2025 | | 78,662 | |
| 2026 | | 70,489 | |
| 2027 | | 60,660 | |
| 2028 | | 54,527 | |
| Thereafter (2029-2037) | | 162,594 | |
| | | $513,868 | |
Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2023:
(in thousands)
| Contractual Obligations | | Payment due by period Total | | 2024 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2027 | | 2028 | | Thereafter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BofA Revolver (1) (2) (4) | | $95,837 | | $95,837 | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | |
| BMO Term Loan Tranche B (3) (4) | | 122,338 | | 122,338 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| Series A Notes (3) (4) | | 121,066 | | 121,066 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| Series B Notes (3) (4) | | 99,872 | | 3,998 | | 3,998 | | 3,998 | | 87,878 | | — | | — | |
| Operating Lease | | 340 | | 340 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| Total | | $439,453 | | $343,579 | | $3,998 | | $3,998 | | $87,878 | | $— | | $— | |
(1) Amounts include principal and interest payments.
(2) Amounts reflect a facility fee calculated as 0.35% of the $125 million available to be drawn.
(3) Amounts include principal and interest payments.
(4) Debt obligations presented in this table are as of December 31, 2023 and do not reflect subsequent amendments that were entered into effective February 21, 2024 or the BofA Term Loan replacing the BofA Revolver.
The operating lease in the table above consists of our lease of corporate office space, which commenced September 1, 2010, and was amended on October 25, 2016. The amended lease expires on September 30, 2024. The lease includes a base annual rent and additional rent for our share of taxes and operating costs.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Investments in Sponsored REITs
Previously we operated in the investment banking segment, and in December 2011, we discontinued those activities. The investment banking segment involved the structuring of real estate investments and broker/dealer services that included the organization of sponsored REITs, the acquisition and development of real estate on behalf of sponsored REITs and the raising of capital to equitize the sponsored REITs through sale of preferred stock in private placements.
The sponsored REITs owned real estate, purchases of which were financed through the private placement of equity in those entities, typically through syndication. These sponsored REITs operated in a manner intended to qualify as real estate investment trusts. We earned fees related to the sale of preferred stock in the sponsored REITs in these syndications. The sponsored REITs issued both common stock and preferred stock. The common stock is owned by FSP Corp. Generally the preferred stock is owned by unaffiliated investors, however, we held an interest in preferred shares of two sponsored REITs, which were liquidated during 2018. In addition, directors and officers of FSP Corp., have from time to time invested in sponsored REITs. Following consummation of the offerings, the preferred stockholders in each of the sponsored REITs were entitled to 100% of the sponsored REIT’s cash distributions. Subsequent to the completion of the offering of preferred shares, except for the preferred stock we previously owned, we do not share in any of the sponsored REIT’s earnings, or any related dividend, and the common stock ownership interests have virtually no economic benefit or risk.
As a common stockholder, we had no rights to a sponsored REIT’s earnings or any related cash distributions. However, upon liquidation of a sponsored REIT, we were entitled to our percentage interest as a common stockholder in any proceeds remaining after the preferred stockholders have recovered their investment. Our common stock percentage interest in each sponsored REIT was less than 1%. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the sponsored REIT’s preferred stockholders was required for any actions involving merger, sale of property, amendment to charter or issuance of additional capital stock. In addition, all of the sponsored REITs allowed the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding preferred shares to remove (without cause) and replace one or more members of that sponsored REIT’s board of directors.
We previously acquired a preferred stock interest in three sponsored REITs, including one that sold the property owned by it on September 24, 2018, one that sold the property owned by it on July 19, 2018 and one that sold the property owned by it on December 20, 2012 and each made a liquidating distribution to us; and one we acquired on May 15, 2008 by cash merger and another we acquired on April 30, 2006 by merger. As a result of our common stock interest and during the period we owned our preferred stock interests in the remaining two sponsored REITs, we exercised influence over, but did not control these entities. These preferred share investments were accounted for using the equity method. Under the equity method of accounting our cost basis was adjusted by our share of the sponsored REITs’ operations and distributions received. We also agreed to vote our preferred shares in any matter presented to a vote by the stockholders of these sponsored REITs in the same proportion as shares voted by other stockholders of the sponsored REITs.
At December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we held a common stock interest in 1, 1 and 2 sponsored REITs, respectively, all of which were fully syndicated and in which we do not share economic benefit or risk.
As of December 31, 2023, the Sponsored REIT Loan had $24 million principal amount outstanding. Additional information about the Sponsored REIT Loan as of December 31, 2023 is incorporated herein by reference to Note 3, “Related Party Transactions and Investments in Non-Consolidated Entities - Management fees and interest income from loans”, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.
Market risk
As filed, 5,708 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
Market Rate Risk
We are exposed to changes in interest rates primarily from our floating rate borrowing arrangements. We have used interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, if market rates on our outstanding borrowings under the BofA Revolver were subject to a floating rate increased by 10% at maturity, or approximately 85 and 62 basis points, respectively, over the current variable rate, the increase in interest expense would have decreased future earnings and cash flows by approximately $0.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively. The interest rate on the BofA Revolver as of December 31, 2023 was SOFR plus an adjustment of 0.11448% plus 300 basis points, or 8.47% per annum, and as of December 31, 2022 was SOFR plus an adjustment of 0.11448% plus 175 basis points, or 4.358% per annum. There was $90 million and $48 million drawn on the BofA Revolver as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. We do not believe that the interest rate risk on the BofA Revolver was material as of December 31, 2023.
Although the interest rate on the BMO Term Loan is variable, the Company fixed the base LIBOR interest rate on the BMO Term Loan by entering into interest rate swap agreements. On February 20, 2019, the Company fixed the interest rate for the period beginning August 26, 2020 and ending January 31, 2024 on the BMO Term Loan with interest rate swap agreements (the “2019 BMO Interest Rate Swap”). Accordingly, based upon our credit rating, as of December 31, 2022, the interest rate on the BMO Term Loan was 4.04% per annum. The fair value of these interest rate swaps are affected by changes in market interest rates. This interest rate swap was our only derivative instrument as of December 31, 2022. On February 8, 2023, we terminated all outstanding interest rate swaps applicable to the BMO Term Loan and, on February 10, 2023, we received an aggregate of approximately $4.3 million as a result of such terminations, of which approximately $0.1 million related to interest receivable. As of December 31, 2023, if market rates on our outstanding borrowings under the BMO Term Loan were subject to a floating rate increased by 10% at maturity, or approximately 85 basis points over the current variable rate, the increase in interest expense would have decreased future earnings and cash flows by approximately $1.0 million. The interest rate on the BMO Term Loan as of December 31, 2023 was SOFR plus an adjustment of 0.11448% plus 300 basis points, or 8.47% per annum.
The table below lists our derivative instrument, which is hedging variable cash flows related to interest on our BMO Term Loan as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
(in thousands)
| Notional Strike Value Rate | Effective Date | | Expiration Date | | Fair Value (1) at December 31, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 BMO Interest Rate Swap $165,000 2.39% | Aug-20 | Jan-24 | | $— | | $4,358 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| (1) Classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. | | | | | | | |
Our BMO Term Loan hedging transaction used derivative instruments that involved certain additional risks such as counterparty credit risk, the enforceability of hedging contracts and the risk that unanticipated and significant changes in interest rates would cause a significant loss of basis in the contract. We require our derivatives contracts to be with counterparties that have investment grade ratings. As a result, we did not anticipate that any counterparty would fail to meet its obligations. However, there was no assurance that we would be able to adequately protect against the foregoing risks or that we would ultimately realize an economic benefit that exceeds the related amounts incurred in connection with engaging in such hedging strategies.
The Company’s derivatives are recorded at fair value in other assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, the effective portion of the derivatives’ fair value is recorded to other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of other comprehensive income (loss).
The following table presents, as of December 31, 2023 our contractual variable rate borrowings under our BofA Revolver, which had a maturity date of October 1, 2024, under our BMO Term Loan Tranche B, which had a maturity date of October 1, 2024, under our Series A Notes, which had a maturity date of December 20, 2024, and under our Series B Notes, which had a maturity date of December 20, 2027. Because the table below is as of December 31, 2023, it does not reflect our contractial variable rate borrowings or changes in maturity dates as subsequently amended effective February 21, 2024.
(in thousands)
| | | Payment due by period Total | | 2024 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2027 | | 2028 | | Thereafter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BofA Revolver | | $90,000 | | $90,000 | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | |
| BMO Term Loan Tranche B | | 115,000 | | 115,000 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| Series A Notes | | 116,000 | | 116,000 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
| Series B Notes | | 84,000 | | — | | — | | — | | 84,000 | | — | | — | |
| Total | | $405,000 | | $321,000 | | $— | | $— | | $84,000 | | $— | | $— | |
Controls and procedures
As filed, 4,653 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officer and effected by the Company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
- Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
- Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and
- Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. In making this assessment, the Company’s management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, 2013 framework.
Based on our assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited our financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. Please see page F-3.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
No change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Figures reported in this filing
Standardized line items from the XBRL in this filing, for the period ended 2023-12-31. Comparative periods it repeats are left out.
| Line item | Period | Value | XBRL concept |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 12 months2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | $145.7m | us-gaap:Revenues |
| Cost of revenue | 12 months2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | $50.7m | us-gaap:CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold |
| Interest expense | 12 months2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | $24.3m | us-gaap:InterestExpense |
| Income tax | 12 months2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | $279.0k | us-gaap:IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit |
| Net income | 12 months2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | −$48.1m | us-gaap:ProfitLoss |
| Diluted EPS | 12 months2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | −$0.47 | us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted |
| Basic EPS | 12 months2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | −$0.47 | us-gaap:EarningsPerShareBasic |
| Diluted shares (weighted) | 12 months2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | 103,357,000 shares | us-gaap:WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding |
| Operating cash flow | 12 months2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | $17.9m | us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities |
| Capital expenditure | 12 months2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | $31.6m | us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment |
| Dividends paid | 12 months2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31 | $4.1m | us-gaap:PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock |
| Cash and equivalents | At period end2023-12-31 | $125.5m | us-gaap:CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue |
| Total assets | At period end2023-12-31 | $1.17bn | us-gaap:Assets |
| Total liabilities | At period end2023-12-31 | $456.5m | us-gaap:Liabilities |
| Shareholders' equity | At period end2023-12-31 | $712.8m | us-gaap:StockholdersEquity |
Source: SEC EDGAR, the filing index for accession 0001558370-24-001708. Last ingested by Listed: Oct 27, 2026, 16:28 ET. Listed shows no prices and gives no investment advice.