Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
June 30, 2023
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 001-15371
Safehold Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
95-6881527
(State or other jurisdiction ofincorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. EmployerIdentification Number)
1114 Avenue of the Americas
39th Floor
New York
,
NY
10036
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 930-9400
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
SAFE
NYSE
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports); and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ◻ No ☒
As of July 28, 2023, there were 63,965,605 shares, $0.01 par value per share, of Safehold Inc. common stock outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I
Consolidated Financial Information
Item 1.
Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022
1
Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)—For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
2
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (unaudited)—For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
3
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (unaudited)—For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)—For the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
6
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
42
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
55
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
PART II
Other Information
57
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.
Item 6.
Exhibits
58
SIGNATURES
59
PART I. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets(1)
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
As of
June 30,
December 31,
2023
2022
ASSETS
Net investment in sales-type leases ($336 and $0 of allowances as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)
$
3,167,964
3,106,599
Ground Lease receivables, net ($221 and $0 of allowances as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)
1,484,948
1,374,716
Real estate
Real estate, at cost
740,971
Less: accumulated depreciation
(37,385)
(34,371)
Real estate, net
703,586
706,600
Real estate-related intangible assets, net
214,446
217,795
Total real estate, net and real estate-related intangible assets, net
918,032
924,395
Loans receivable, net - related party ($2,311 of allowances as of June 30, 2023)
112,168
—
Equity investments
267,206
180,388
Goodwill
149,505
Cash and cash equivalents
14,281
20,066
Restricted cash
28,144
28,324
Deferred tax asset, net
6,228
Deferred operating lease income receivable
164,499
148,870
Deferred expenses and other assets, net(2)
106,086
67,564
Total assets
6,419,061
5,850,922
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND EQUITY
Liabilities:
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities(3)
119,797
100,357
Real estate-related intangible liabilities, net
64,172
64,591
Debt obligations, net
3,982,339
3,521,359
Total liabilities
4,166,308
3,686,307
Commitments and contingencies (refer to Note 9)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (refer to Note 3)
19,011
Equity:
Safehold Inc. shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 400,000 shares authorized, 63,966 and 62,397 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively
639
624
Additional paid-in capital
2,034,678
1,986,417
Retained earnings
154,826
151,226
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
9,119
3,281
Total Safehold Inc. shareholders' equity
2,199,262
2,141,548
Noncontrolling interests
34,480
4,056
Total equity
2,233,742
2,145,604
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the Three Months Ended
For the Six Months Ended
Revenues:
Interest income from sales-type leases(1)
58,158
48,247
115,220
91,278
Operating lease income
16,750
16,452
37,651
33,418
Interest income - related party(2)
2,381
Other income(3)
8,372
185
8,738
551
Total revenues
85,661
64,884
163,990
125,247
Costs and expenses:
Interest expense
46,055
30,266
86,929
55,586
Real estate expense
1,013
699
2,218
1,407
Depreciation and amortization
2,527
2,406
4,925
4,808
General and administrative(4)
18,916
10,458
33,983
19,651
Provision for credit losses
47
2,289
Other expense
1,274
596
15,363
705
Total costs and expenses
69,832
44,425
145,707
82,157
Income from operations before other items
15,829
20,459
18,283
43,090
Earnings from equity method investments
6,807
2,252
9,069
4,528
Net income before income taxes
22,636
22,711
27,352
47,618
Income tax expense
(525)
Net income
22,111
26,827
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
19
(33)
(15)
(67)
Net income attributable to Safehold Inc. common shareholders
22,130
22,678
26,812
47,551
Per common share data:
Basic
0.35
0.36
0.42
0.78
Diluted
Weighted average number of common shares:
63,944
63,252
63,809
61,279
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Other comprehensive income:
Reclassification of (gains) losses on derivatives into earnings
(902)
969
41
2,002
Unrealized gain on derivatives
34,221
6,772
5,797
11,028
Other comprehensive income (loss):
33,319
7,741
5,838
13,030
Comprehensive income (loss)
55,430
30,452
32,665
60,648
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Safehold Inc.
55,449
30,419
32,650
60,581
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
Retained
Accumulated
Redeemable
Common
Additional
Earnings
Other
Noncontrolling
Stock at
Paid-In
(Accumulated
Comprehensive
Total
Interests(1)
Par
Capital
Deficit)
Income (Loss)
Interests
Equity
Balance at March 31, 2023
2,031,026
144,164
(24,200)
27,498
2,179,127
(19)
Issuance of common stock, net / amortization
3,652
488
4,140
Dividends declared ($0.177 per share)
(11,468)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income
Contributions from noncontrolling interests
6,525
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
(12)
Balance at June 30, 2023
Balance at March 31, 2022
19,000
619
1,970,443
73,711
(35,691)
3,245
2,012,327
33
5,490
53
5,545
(10,984)
(11)
Balance at June 30, 2022
621
1,975,933
85,405
(27,950)
3,320
2,037,329
Balance at December 31, 2022
Impact from adoption of new accounting standard (refer to Note 3)
(640)
15
14,128
497
14,628
Dividends declared ($0.354 per share)
(22,572)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests, net
(1,443)
30,439
28,996
(527)
Merger consideration (refer to Note 1)
12
35,576
35,588
Balance at December 31, 2021
566
1,663,324
59,368
(40,980)
2,924
1,685,202
67
312,780
333
313,168
Dividends declared ($0.347 per share)
(21,514)
18,829
18
(22)
Additional paid in capital attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests
171
(171)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense
12,670
1,465
Deferred operating lease income
(15,630)
(15,812)
Non-cash interest income from sales-type leases
(41,084)
(33,659)
Non-cash interest expense
7,421
5,977
Amortization of real estate-related intangibles, net
1,152
(9,069)
(4,528)
Distributions from operations of equity method investments
1,860
1,051
Amortization of premium, discount and deferred financing costs on debt obligations, net
3,623
2,676
Non-cash management fees
5,199
9,666
Other operating activities
242
2,496
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Changes in deferred expenses and other assets, net
(10,234)
263
Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
339
23,492
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities
(9,470)
46,665
Cash flows from investing activities:
Origination/acquisition of net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables
(130,744)
(907,281)
Origination of loans receivable, net
(114,450)
Payment for merger consideration
(88,685)
Cash and cash equivalents acquired upon merger
3,213
Contributions to equity method investments
(18,362)
(2)
Funding reserves received from Ground Lease tenant net of disbursements
(218)
58,768
Net proceeds received from sale of real estate available and held for sale
1,631
Deposits on Ground Lease investments
(2,250)
Other investing activities
(8,211)
72
Cash flows used in investing activities
(355,826)
(850,693)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
309,160
Proceeds from debt obligations
358,000
1,460,000
Repayments of debt obligations
(880,000)
Payments for deferred financing costs
(4,615)
(5,034)
Dividends paid to common shareholders
(22,144)
(20,200)
Payment of offering costs
(1,822)
(4,815)
Payments for withholding taxes upon vesting for stock-based compensation
(970)
Contributions from redeemable noncontrolling interests
Cash flows provided by financing activities
359,331
877,137
Changes in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(5,965)
73,109
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
48,390
38,516
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
42,425
111,625
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash presented on the consolidated statements of cash flows
25,002
86,623
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activity:
Debt obligations assumed (refer to Note 3)
99,995
Issuance of common stock for acquisition of assets (refer to Note 3)
Dividends declared to common shareholders
11,471
10,984
Non-cash interest accrued to debt balances
2,014
Accrued finance costs
76
Accrued offering costs
327
536
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1—Business and Organization
Business—On March 31, 2023, Safehold Inc. (“Old SAFE”) merged with and into iStar Inc. (“iStar”) (see Merger Transaction below), at which time Old SAFE ceased to exist and iStar continued as the surviving corporation and changed its name to “Safehold Inc.” (the “Merger”). References to iStar refer to iStar prior to the Merger. For accounting purposes, the Merger is treated as a “reverse acquisition” in which iStar is considered the legal acquirer and Old SAFE is considered the accounting acquirer. Unless context otherwise requires, references to the “Company” refer to the business and operations of Old SAFE and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to the Merger and to Safehold Inc. (formerly known as iStar) and its consolidated subsidiaries following the consummation of the Merger.
The Company operates its business through one reportable segment by acquiring, managing and capitalizing ground leases. The Company also manages entities focused on ground leases (refer to Note 6) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company serves as external manager to Star Holdings (“Star Holdings”), a Maryland statutory trust that holds the legacy non-ground lease assets previously held by iStar. Ground leases are long-term contracts between the landlord (the Company) and a tenant or leaseholder. Ground leases generally represent ownership of the land underlying commercial real estate projects that is net leased by the fee owner of the land to the owners/operators of the real estate projects built thereon (“Ground Leases”). Under a Ground Lease, the tenant is generally responsible for all property operating expenses, such as maintenance, real estate taxes and insurance and is also responsible for development costs and capital expenditures. Ground Leases are typically long-term (base terms ranging from 30 to 99 years, often with tenant renewal options) and have contractual base rent increases (either at a specified percentage or consumer price index (“CPI”) based, or both) and sometimes include percentage rent participations. The Company’s CPI lookbacks are generally capped between 3.0% - 3.5% and generally start between years 11 and 21 of the lease term. In the event cumulative inflation growth for the lookback period exceeds the cap, these rent adjustments may not keep up fully with changes in inflation.
The Company intends to target investments in long-term Ground Leases in which: (i) the initial cost of its Ground Lease represents 30% to 45% of the combined value of the land and buildings and improvements thereon as if there was no Ground Lease on the land (“Combined Property Value”); (ii) the ratio of property net operating income to the Ground Lease payment due the Company (“Ground Rent Coverage”) is between 2.0x to 4.5x, and for this purpose the Company uses estimates of the stabilized property net operating income if it does not receive current tenant information and for properties under construction or in transition, in each case based on leasing activity at the property and available market information, including leasing activity at comparable properties in the relevant market; and (iii) the Ground Lease contains contractual rent escalation clauses or percentage rent that participates in gross revenues generated by the commercial real estate on the land. As a Ground Lease lessor, the Company typically has the right to regain possession of its land and take ownership of the buildings and improvements thereon upon tenant default and the termination of the Ground Lease on account of such default. The Company believes that the Ground Lease structure provides an opportunity for potential value accretion through the reversion to the Company, as the Ground Lease owner, of the buildings and improvements on the land at the expiration or earlier termination of the lease, for no additional consideration from the Company.
Prior to the Merger, Old SAFE was managed by SFTY Manager, LLC (the “Former Manager”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of iStar, pursuant to a management agreement. Old SAFE had no employees, as the Former Manager provided all services to it. Old SAFE relied on the extensive investment origination and sourcing platform of its Former Manager to actively promote the benefits of the Ground Lease structure to prospective Ground Lease tenants. Subsequent to the Merger, the Company is internally managed.
Organization—The Company is a Maryland corporation and its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “SAFE.” The Company (then known as iStar) elected to be treated as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with the tax year ended December 31, 1998.
As part of a restructuring in connection with the Merger (the “Caret Restructuring”), Safehold Operating Partnership LP converted into a Delaware limited liability company and renamed itself “Safehold GL Holdings LLC” (“Portfolio Holdings”), with the Company as its managing member. The Company conducts all of its business and owns all of its properties through Portfolio Holdings. In addition, holders of Caret units in Old SAFE’s subsidiary, Caret Ventures LLC (“Caret Ventures”), contributed their interests in Caret Ventures to Portfolio Holdings in return for Caret units issued by Portfolio Holdings. Following the restructuring, 100% of the equity interests in Caret Ventures is held by Portfolio Holdings. The Company, management of the Company, employees and former employees of the Company, affiliates of MSD Partners (as defined below) and other outside investors own the issued and outstanding equity of Portfolio Holdings.
Merger Transaction—On August 10, 2022, Old SAFE entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with iStar, and on March 31, 2023, the Merger was completed in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. For accounting purposes, the Merger was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”) and treated as a “reverse acquisition” in which iStar is considered the legal acquirer and Old SAFE is considered the accounting acquirer. The Company considered the following relevant facts for this determination:
As a result, the historical financial statements of Old SAFE become the historical financial statements of the Company.
Immediately before the closing of the Merger, iStar separated its remaining legacy non-ground lease assets and businesses, approximately $50.0 million of cash, exclusive of working capital reserves and restricted cash, and approximately 13.5 million shares of Old SAFE common stock into Star Holdings by distributing to iStar’s stockholders, on a pro rata basis, the issued and outstanding equity interests of Star Holdings (the “Spin-Off”).
Other Merger related transactions
On August 10, 2022, iStar entered into an agreement (the “MSD Stock Purchase Agreement”) with MSD Partners, L.P. (“MSD Partners”) pursuant to which MSD Partners agreed to purchase 5,405,406 shares of Old SAFE’s common stock then owned by iStar (the “MSD Stock Purchase”) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $200 million, or $37.00 per share, payable in cash. The MSD Stock Purchase closed on March 31, 2023, shortly before the closing of the Merger. MSD Partners has the right to designate an observer to the board of directors of the Company, a top-up right on future equity issuances (subject to certain exceptions) and registration rights. MSD Partners will be subject to a customary standstill and certain restrictions on sales of its shares of the Company’s common stock.
On August 10, 2022, MSD Partners also agreed to purchase 100,000 Caret units (refer to Note 11) from the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $20.0 million (the “MSD Caret Purchase”). MSD Partners received a credit
7
against their purchase price for Caret units equal to the amount they would have received had they held Caret units at the time of a December 2022 distribution to other Caret unit holders, which was equal to $0.6 million. The closing of the MSD Caret Purchase took place in conjunction with the closing of the Merger on March 31, 2023.
Star Holdings was capitalized in part with an 8.0%, four-year term loan from the Company having an initial principal amount of $115.0 million, as well as SOFR plus 3.00% bank debt of $140.0 million from Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. which is secured by approximately 13.5 million shares of the Company (refer to Note 4).
In connection with the Spin-Off, Safehold Management Services Inc. (“SpinCo Manager”), a Delaware corporation and a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a management agreement with Star Holdings effective as of March 31, 2023, pursuant to which SpinCo Manager will continue to operate and pursue the orderly monetization of Star Holding’s assets. Star Holdings will pay SpinCo Manager an annual management fee of $25.0 million in year one, $15.0 million in year two, $10.0 million in year three and $5.0 million in year four and 2.0% of the gross book value of Star Holdings’ assets, excluding shares of the Company’s common stock, for each annual term thereafter. The Company and Star Holdings also entered into a governance agreement that places certain restrictions on the transfer and voting of the shares of the Company owned by Star Holdings, and a registration rights agreement under which the Company agreed to register such shares for resale in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Note 2—Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
Basis of Presentation—The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10-01 of Regulation S-X for interim financial statements. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. These unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Old SAFE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the “2022 Annual Report”).
The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Such operating results may not be indicative of the expected results for any other interim periods or the entire year.
Principles of Consolidation—The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Consolidated VIEs—The Company consolidates VIEs for which it is considered the primary beneficiary. As of June 30, 2023, the total assets of these consolidated VIEs were $72.6 million and total liabilities were $30.1 million. The classifications of these assets are primarily within “Net investment in sales-type leases,” “Real estate, net,” “Real estate-related intangible assets, net” and “Deferred operating lease income receivable” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The classifications of liabilities are primarily within “Debt obligations, net” and “Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The liabilities of these VIEs are non-recourse to the Company and can only be satisfied from each VIE’s respective assets. The Company has provided no
8
financial support to VIEs that it was not previously contractually required to provide and did not have any unfunded commitments related to consolidated VIEs as of June 30, 2023.
Note 3—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Significant Accounting Policies
Allowance for credit losses on net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables—Effective January 1, 2023, upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13, the Company implemented procedures to estimate its allowance for credit losses on net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables, including unfunded commitments, using a quantitative analysis to estimate expected loss rates for its portfolio of net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables. ASU 2016-13 replaced the incurred loss impairment methodology in prior GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses over the life of the investment and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The Company analyzes historical unemployment rates and historical data provided by Trepp (“Trepp”) for single asset borrower loans including loan to value ratios, loss rates, timing of losses, vintage, property type and other statistics. The Company utilizes historical loss rates, timing of losses and unemployment rates and updates its analysis for current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of unemployment rates to develop an estimate of credit losses. The Company analyzes its portfolio of Ground Leases based on whether the property is a stabilized property or a development project (projects with unfunded commitments that are under development or in transition). The Company’s development properties are assigned a higher loss rate due to the more inherent risk of deals under construction.
Interest receivable is not included in the Company’s allowance for credit losses on net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables as the Company performs timely write-offs, if any, of aged interest receivables. The Company has also made a policy election to write off aged interest receivables through interest income from sales-type leases as opposed to through the provision for credit losses.
Real estate available and held for sale—The Company reports real estate assets to be sold at the lower of their carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell and classifies them as “Real estate available and held for sale” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. If the estimated fair value less costs to sell is less than the carrying value, the difference will be recorded as an impairment charge. Impairment for real estate assets disposed of or classified as held for sale are included in "Impairment of assets" in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Once a real estate asset is classified as held for sale, depreciation expense is no longer recorded.
9
The Company classifies its real estate assets as held for sale in the period in which all of the following conditions are met: (i) the Company commits to a plan and has the authority to sell the asset; (ii) the asset is available for sale in its current condition; (iii) the Company has initiated an active marketing plan to locate a buyer for the asset; (iv) the sale of the asset is both probable and expected to qualify for full sales recognition within a period of 12 months; (v) the asset is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reflective of its current fair value; and (vi) the Company does not anticipate changes to its plan to sell the asset.
If circumstances arise that were previously considered unlikely and, as a result the Company decides not to sell a property previously classified as held for sale, the property is reclassified as held and used and included in "Real estate, net" on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company measures and records a property that is reclassified as held and used at the lower of: (i) its carrying amount before the property was classified as held for sale, adjusted for any depreciation expense that would have been recognized had the property been continuously classified as held and used; or (ii) the estimated fair value at the date of the subsequent decision not to sell.
Fair Values—The Company is required to disclose fair value information with regard to its financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, for which it is practical to estimate fair value. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The following fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to be used in valuation techniques to measure fair value: Level 1: unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities; Level 2: quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and Level 3: prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). The Company determines the estimated fair values of financial assets and liabilities based on a hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company and the Company’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions.
10
The following table presents the carrying value and fair value for the Company’s financial instruments ($ in millions):
As of June 30, 2023
As of December 31, 2022
Carrying
Fair
Value
Assets
Net investment in sales-type leases(1)
3,168
3,381
3,107
3,236
Ground Lease receivables(1)
1,485
1,669
1,375
1,501
Loans receivable, net - related party(1)
112
Cash and cash equivalents(2)
14
20
Restricted cash(2)
28
Liabilities
Debt obligations, net(1)
Level 1
739
579
738
573
Level 3
3,243
2,810
2,783
2,358
Total debt obligations, net
3,982
3,389
3,521
2,931
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests—In February 2022, the Company sold 108,571 Caret units (refer to Note 11) for $19.0 million to third-party investors and received a commitment from an existing shareholder (which is affiliated with one of the Company’s independent directors) for the purchase of 28,571 Caret units for $5.0 million. As part of the sale, the Company agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide public market liquidity for such Caret units by seeking to provide a listing of the Caret units, or securities into which they may be exchanged, within two years of the sale. In the event public market liquidity of the Caret units is not achieved within such two year period at a valuation not less than the purchase price for the Caret units purchased in February 2022, reduced by an amount equal to the amount of subsequent cash distributions made to the investors on account of such Caret units, then the investors in the February 2022 transaction have the right to cause their Caret units purchased in February 2022 to be redeemed by Portfolio Holdings at their original purchase price as so reduced.
The Company classifies these redeemable Caret units in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480: Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. ASC 480-10-S99-3A requires that equity securities redeemable at the option of the holder be classified outside of permanent stockholders’ equity. The Company classifies redeemable Caret units as “Redeemable noncontrolling interests” in its consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of changes in equity. The redeemable noncontrolling interest’s carrying amount is equal to the higher of (i) the initial carrying amount, increased or decreased for the redeemable noncontrolling interest’s share of net income or loss and dividends; or (ii) the redemption value. In the case of the Company’s redeemable Caret units, the carrying amount equals both the initial carrying amount and the redemption value.
11
Stock-based compensation—In March 2023, the Company granted awards to employees with an aggregate grant date fair value of $25.0 million, or $28.89 per share. The awards vest ratably over a four-year service period. Compensation cost for stock-based awards is measured on the grant date and adjusted over the period of the employees’ services to reflect: (i) actual forfeitures; and (ii) the service conditions through the requisite service period. Compensation costs are recognized ratably over the applicable vesting/service period and recorded in "General and administrative" in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Income taxes— The Company (then known as iStar) elected to be taxed as a REIT under sections 856 through 859 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 1998. The Company operates its business in a manner consistent with its election to be taxed as a REIT. As such, the consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared consistent with the Company’s qualification as a REIT for the periods presented. The Company will be subject to federal and state income taxation at corporate rates on its net taxable income; the Company, however, may claim a deduction for the amount of dividends paid to its shareholders. Amounts distributed as dividends by the Company will be subject to taxation at the stockholder level only. While the Company must distribute at least 90% of its net taxable income to qualify as a REIT, the Company intends to distribute all of its net taxable income, if any, and eliminate federal and state taxes on undistributed net taxable income. Certain states may impose minimum franchise taxes. In addition, the Company is allowed certain other non-cash deductions or adjustments, such as depreciation expense, when computing its net taxable income and distribution requirement. These deductions permit the Company to reduce its dividend payout requirement under federal tax laws. The Company’s tax years from 2019 through 2021 remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions The Company has two taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS”), one of which was formed during the year ended December 31, 2018 and had no material activity during the periods presented. Accordingly, no provision for income taxes was required. The second TRS provides management services to Star Holdings and internally to the REIT. The second TRS was acquired in the Company’s acquisition of iStar and first had activity during the three months ended June 30, 2023. For the three months ended June 30, 2023, the Company recorded current and deferred income tax expense in the amounts of $0.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively, with respect to the TRS. In addition, the Company paid franchise and other state and local income taxes in the amount of $50 thousand during the three months ended June 30, 2023.
Loans receivable, net – related party—Loans receivable, net – related party includes the four-year term loan that the Company originated to Star Holdings (refer to Note 4). Loans receivable classified as held-for-investment are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balance net of any unamortized acquisition premiums or discounts and unamortized deferred loan costs or fees and credit loss allowances.
The Company performs a quarterly analysis of its loan receivable that incorporates management’s current judgments about credit quality based on all known and relevant internal and external factors that may affect collectability. The Company considers, among other things, payment status, lien position, borrower financial resources and investment collateral, collateral type, project economics and other economic factors. The Company estimates its Expected Loss on its loans receivable based on relevant information including current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of its investments. The estimate of the Company’s Expected Loss requires significant judgment. The Company calculated its Expected Loss through the use of third-party market data that provided current and future economic conditions that may impact the performance of the commercial real estate assets securing its investments.
The Company will consider a loan to be non-performing and place it on non-accrual status at such time as: (1) interest payments become 90 days delinquent; (2) it has a maturity default; or (3) management determines it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan. Non-accrual loans will be returned to accrual status when they have become contractually current and management believes all amounts contractually owed will be received.
The Company made the accounting policy election to record accrued interest on its loan asset separate from its loans receivable and to exclude accrued interest from its amortized cost basis disclosures. Any accrued interest receivable is recorded in “Deferred expenses and other assets, net” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had $26 thousand of accrued interest on its consolidated balance sheets. The Company will place its loan on non-accrual status once interest on the loan becomes 90 days delinquent and will reverse any accrued interest as a reduction to interest income or recognizes a credit loss expense at such time. As such, the Company elected the practical expedient to not record an allowance against accrued interest receivable. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company did not reverse any accrued interest on its loan asset.
Equity Investments—Equity investments are accounted for pursuant to the equity method of accounting if the Company can significantly influence the operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company has noncontrolling equity interests in ventures (refer to Note 6) and determined the entities to be voting interest entities. As such, its equity interests in these ventures are accounted for pursuant to the equity method of accounting. The Company’s periodic share of earnings and losses in equity method investees are included in "Earnings from equity method investments" in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Equity investments are included in "Equity investments" on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company acquired two equity interests from iStar in connection with the Merger. In connection with the acquisition, the Company has basis differences in these equity interests that are amortized to income over the life of the underlying assets (refer to Note 6).
Interest Income – related party—Interest income - related party (refer to Note 4) is recognized on an accrual basis using the effective interest method and is recorded in “Interest income – related party” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Management fees—The Company earns management fees through SpinCo Manager’s management agreement with Star Holdings pursuant to which SpinCo Manager operates and pursues the orderly monetization of Star Holding’s assets (refer to Note 1). Effective March 31, 2023, Star Holdings will pay SpinCo Manager an annual management fee of $25.0 million in year one, $15.0 million in year two, $10.0 million in year three, $5.0 million in year four and 2.0% of the gross book value of Star Holdings’ assets, excluding shares of the Company’s common stock, for each annual term thereafter. The Company recognizes management fee income in accordance with ASC 606: Revenue from Contracts with
13
Customers (“ASC 606”). Pursuant to ASC 606, the Company estimated the total transaction price of the management agreement and allocated the transaction price to its performance obligations under the management agreement. The Company determined that the management contract represents a single continuing performance obligation and will measure its progress toward satisfying its performance obligation using an input method to evaluate the level of effort expended to complete its obligations. The Company recognizes management fee income as it satisfies the performance obligations of the contract and records management fees in “Other income” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Acquisitions—The Company evaluates each acquisition transaction to determine whether the acquired asset meets the definition of a business. Under ASC 805, an acquisition does not qualify as a business when (i) substantially all of the fair value is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets; (ii) the acquisition does not include a substantive process in the form of an acquired workforce; or (iii) an acquired contract that cannot be replaced without significant cost, effort or delay. Acquisitions of a business are accounted for as business combinations and other acquisition transactions are accounted for as asset acquisitions. Transaction costs related to asset acquisitions are capitalized as part of the cost basis of the acquired assets, while transaction costs related to business combinations are expensed as incurred.
The Company’s acquisition of iStar was accounted for as a business combination. For business combinations, the Company recognizes and measures identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at their fair values on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. In a business combination, the difference, if any, between the purchase consideration and the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired is either recorded as goodwill or as a bargain purchase gain.
Fair values are based on available information including discounted cash flow analysis or similar fair value models. Fair value estimates are also made using significant assumptions such as capitalization rates, discount rates, fair market lease rates and other market data. The fair value of the Company’s interests in equity investments acquired is calculated using the fair value of the investments held by the venture, which are valued using methods as described above, and considers the Company’s economics in the venture.
The fair value of financial instruments, which could include loans receivable or net investment in sales-type leases, is based on current market conditions and loan or lease agreements in place. The fair value of tangible assets, which could include land, buildings, building improvements and tenant improvements is determined as if these assets are vacant. Intangible assets may include the value of right of use lease assets, above-market leases and in-place leases. As lessee, right of use lease assets and lease liabilities are measured at the present value of lease payments not yet paid, discounted at the implied rate charged by the lessor if that rate is readily determinable, or if that rate is not readily determinable, the Company's incremental borrowing rate, as of the date of the acquisition. As lessee, operating lease right of use assets are included in “Deferred expenses and other assets, net” and operating lease liabilities are recorded in “Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. As lessee, above-market operating lease intangibles, in-place operating lease intangibles and below-market lease assets are each recorded at their fair values and included in “Deferred expenses and other assets, net” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
The table below shows the Company’s purchase consideration for the acquisition of iStar ($ in thousands):
Total Company shares as purchase price(1)
1,195,034
Stock price of the Company’s common stock(2)
29.78
Fair value of the Company's stock transferred
Cash consideration paid by the Company to iStar
88,685
Purchase consideration
124,273
The Merger was accounted for as a business combination pursuant to ASC 805 and all Merger related costs were expensed as incurred. The Company recorded $0.1 million of Merger expenses and $0.3 million of related non-recurring charges during the three months ended June 30, 2023 in “Other expense” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company recorded $18.9 million of Merger expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2023, of which $14.1 million was recorded in “Other expense” and $4.8 million was recorded in “General and administrative” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company also recorded $0.9 million of related non-recurring charges in “Other expense” and a provision for credit losses of $2.3 million on the Secured Term Loan Facility (refer to Note 4) which was originated at the time of the Merger in conjunction with the Spin-Off. Excluding $3.0 million of related non-recurring charges and the $2.3 million provision for credit losses on the Secured Term Loan Facility, through June 30, 2023, the Company has incurred $26.5 million of Merger expenses.
The following table sets forth the preliminary allocation of the purchase consideration to the fair values of identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, recognized as a result of the acquisition described in Note 1 above, measurement period adjustments and a revised allocation of the purchase consideration ($ in thousands):
Preliminary
Measurement
Revised
Purchase PriceAllocation
Period Adjustments
1,508
Equity investments(1)
61,247
Deferred tax asset(2)
6,292
Deferred expenses and other assets(3)
25,442
Total assets acquired
91,410
97,702
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities(4)
(22,939)
Debt obligations(5)
(99,995)
Total liabilities assumed
(122,934)
Net identifiable (liabilities assumed) assets acquired
(31,524)
(25,232)
Add: net identifiable liabilities assumed
31,524
(6,292)
25,232
Goodwill(6)
155,797
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The following table summarizes the Company's pro forma revenues and net income (loss) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 as if the Merger described in Note 1 was completed on January 1, 2022 ($ in thousands):(1)
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
Pro forma revenues
75,627
182,917
145,220
Pro forma net income (loss)
(89,865)
56,434
(163,478)
(1)
The pro forma revenues and net income (loss) are presented for informational purposes only and may not be indicative of what the actual results of operations of the Company would have been assuming the transaction occurred on January 1, 2022, nor do they purport to represent the Company’s results of operations for future periods. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, pro forma net loss includes $47.7 million of merger expenses (including $20.3 million of merger expenses borne by iStar), which are non-recurring in nature. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, pro forma net loss includes $116.6 million and $158.7 million, respectively, of losses on extinguishment of debt, which are non-recurring in nature. From the date of the Merger closing through June 30, 2023, $0.1 million of total revenues and $4.6 million of net income of the acquiree are included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Goodwill—Goodwill is calculated as the excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired (or liabilities assumed) and primarily relates to the acquisition of iStar’s workforce and future synergies expected to be realized from the Merger. Goodwill is not subject to amortization but is tested annually for impairment or more frequently should potential triggering events be identified that may indicate potential impairment, such as when a company’s market capitalization is below its book value. Any full or partial impairment of goodwill would flow through the Company’s income statement as a non-cash charge and would adversely affect the Company’s net income for the period in which the impairment is recognized. The Company does not expect goodwill to have any tax impact on its financial statements.
New accounting pronouncements—The following paragraph describes the impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements from the adoption of Accounting Standards Updates ("ASUs") on January 1, 2023.
The Company adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13"), as amended, on January 1, 2023 using the modified retrospective approach method. Under the modified retrospective approach, the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings by recording an initial allowance for credit losses on net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables. Periods presented that are prior to the adoption date of January 1, 2023 will not be adjusted. ASU 2016-13 replaced the incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects a current expected credit loss ("Expected Loss"). ASU 2016-13 impacted all of the Company’s investments held at amortized cost, which included its net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023, the Company recorded an initial allowance for credit losses on net investments in sales-type leases of $0.4 million and an initial allowance for credit losses on Ground Lease receivables of $0.2 million, both of which were recorded as a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. Subsequent increases or decreases in the allowance for credit losses on net investment in sales-type leases or Ground Lease receivables will be charged to "Provision for credit losses" in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. Refer to "Significant Accounting Policies" above for more information on how the Company determines its allowance for credit losses on net investment in sales-type leases, Ground Lease receivables and loans receivable, net – related party.
17
The Company also adopted ASU 2022-02, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses: Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures (“ASU 2022-02”). ASU 2022-02 eliminated troubled debt restructuring recognition and measurement guidance and requires disclosure of gross write-offs by vintage for public business entities. The adoption of ASU 2022-02 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 4—Net Investment in Sales-type Leases, Ground Lease Receivables and Loans Receivable, net – Related Party
The Company classifies certain of its Ground Leases as sales-type leases and records the leases within “Net investment in sales-type leases” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and records interest income in “Interest income from sales-type leases” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. In addition, the Company may enter into transactions whereby it acquires land and enters into Ground Leases directly with the seller. These Ground Leases qualify as sales-type leases and, as such, do not qualify for sale leaseback accounting and are accounted for as financing receivables in accordance with ASC 310 - Receivables and are included in “Ground Lease receivables” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company records interest income from Ground Lease receivables in “Interest income from sales-type leases” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
In July 2022, the Company, pursuant to an agreement with iStar and upon certain construction related conditions being met, acquired an existing Ground Lease from iStar for $36.4 million inclusive of closing costs and was recorded in “Net investment in sales-type leases” and “Real estate-related intangible assets, net” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.
In September 2022, the Company sold a Ground Lease to a third-party for $136.0 million and recognized a gain of $55.8 million in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. $9.5 million of the gain was attributable to noncontrolling interests, of which $0.7 million was attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests.
In May 2023, the Company entered into a joint venture with a sovereign wealth fund, which is also an existing shareholder, focused on new acquisitions for certain Ground Lease investments. The Company committed approximately $275 million for a 55% controlling interest in the joint venture and the sovereign wealth fund committed approximately $225 million for a 45% noncontrolling interest in the joint venture. Each party’s commitment is discretionary. The joint venture is a voting interest entity and the Company consolidates the joint venture in its financial statements due to its controlling interest. The Company’s joint venture partners’ interest is recorded in “Noncontrolling interests” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company receives a management fee, measured on an asset-by-asset basis, equal to 25 basis points on invested equity for such asset for the first five years following its acquisition, and 15 basis points on invested equity thereafter. The Company will also receive a promote of 15% over a 9% internal rate of return, subject to a 1.275x multiple on invested capital. The investment period will be the earlier of 18 months and the full deployment of commitments. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the joint venture acquired two Ground Leases for an aggregate purchase price of $38.5 million, of which $14.5 million has been funded as of June 30, 2023.
The Company’s net investment in sales-type leases were comprised of the following ($ in thousands):
December 31, 2022
Total undiscounted cash flows
29,741,069
29,586,227
Unguaranteed estimated residual value
2,915,013
2,900,218
Present value discount
(29,487,782)
(29,379,846)
Allowance for credit losses
(336)
The following table presents a rollforward of the Company’s net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 ($ in thousands):
Net Investment in
Ground Lease
Sales-type Leases
Receivables
Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
Beginning balance
4,481,315
(351)
(199)
(550)
Origination/acquisition/fundings(1)
33,122
97,948
131,070
Accretion
28,579
12,505
41,084
(Provision for) recovery of credit losses
(7)
Ending balance(2)
4,652,912
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
2,412,716
796,252
3,208,968
474,281
430,517
904,798
24,684
8,975
33,659
Ending balance
2,911,681
1,235,744
4,147,425
Allowance for Credit Losses—Changes in the Company’s allowance for credit losses on net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 were as follows ($ in thousands):
Net investment in sales-type leases
Stabilized
Development
Unfunded
Three Months Ended June 30, 2023
Properties
Commitments
Allowance for credit losses at beginning of period
255
70
326
Provision for credit losses(1)
Allowance for credit losses at end of period(2)
259
77
337
Ground Lease receivables
93
102
63
258
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses(1)
25
(3)
23
94
127
60
281
Impact from adoption of new accounting standard (refer to Note 3)(3)
280
71
357
(21)
(5)
(20)
97
84
283
(8)
30
(24)
The Company’s amortized cost basis in Ground Lease receivables, presented by year of origination and by stabilized or development status, was as follows as of June 30, 2023 ($ in thousands):
Year of Origination
2021
2020
2019
Prior to 2019
Stabilized properties
523,491
238,734
179,092
445,730
1,387,047
Development properties
63,868
34,253
98,122
587,359
272,987
1,485,169
Future Minimum Lease Payments under Sales-type Leases—Future minimum lease payments to be collected under sales-type leases accounted for under ASC 842 - Leases, excluding lease payments that are not fixed and determinable, in effect as of June 30, 2023, are as follows by year ($ in thousands):
Fixed Bumps
with
with Inflation
Fixed
Percentage
Adjustments
Bumps
Rent
2023 (remaining six months)
49,341
1,117
292
50,750
2024
101,639
2,256
586
104,481
2025
103,607
2,283
106,476
2026
105,567
2,311
108,464
2027
107,475
2,339
110,400
Thereafter
28,577,374
583,455
99,669
29,260,498
29,045,003
593,761
102,305
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized interest income from sales-type leases in its consolidated statements of operations as follows ($ in thousands):
Net Investment
Ground
in Sales-type
Lease
Leases
Cash
25,168
12,286
37,454
Non-cash
14,353
6,351
20,704
Total interest income from sales-type leases
39,521
18,637
Three Months Ended June 30, 2022
21,935
8,501
30,436
12,979
4,832
17,811
34,914
13,333
50,050
24,090
74,140
28,575
41,080
78,625
36,595
21
41,761
15,858
57,619
66,445
24,833
Loans receivable, net – related party—On March 31, 2023, the Company, as lender and as administrative agent, and Star Holdings, as borrower, entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $115.0 million (the “Secured Term Loan Facility”) and an additional commitment amount of up to $25.0 million at Star Holding’s election (the “Incremental Term Loan Facility”, together with the Secured Term Loan Facility, the “Star Holdings Term Loan Facility”). During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company recorded $2.4 million of interest income on the Star Holdings Term Loan Facility, which is recorded in “Interest income – related party” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. As of June 30, 2023, the Star Holdings Term Loan Facility had a principal balance of $115.0 million and a carrying value of $112.2 million.
The Star Holdings Term Loan Facility is a secured credit facility. Borrowings under the Star Holdings Term Loan Facility bear interest at a fixed rate of 8.00% per annum, which may increase to 10.00% per annum if either (i) any loans remain outstanding under the Incremental Term Loan Facility or (ii) Star Holdings elects for interest due for any two fiscal quarters to be paid in kind. The interest rate will increase to 12.00% per annum if both (i) and (ii) in the previous sentence occur. The Star Holdings Term Loan Facility has a maturity date of March 31, 2027. The Star Holdings Term Loan Facility is secured by a first-priority perfected security pledge of all the equity interests in Star Holding’s primary real estate subsidiary. Starting the quarter that is six months after closing, within five business days after Star Holdings has delivered its unaudited quarterly financial statements, Star Holdings will apply any unrestricted cash on its balance sheet in excess of the aggregate of (i) an operating reserve; and (ii) $50 million, to prepay its Star Holdings Term Loan Facility or alternatively, with the consent of Company, Star Holdings may apply such cash to prepay its margin loan facility in lieu of any prepayment of the Star Holdings Term Loan Facility. The operating reserve will be calculated quarterly and is equal to the aggregate of projected operating expenses (including payments to the Star Holdings local property consultants but excluding management fees and public company costs), projected land carry costs, projected capital expenditure and projected interest expense on the margin loan facility and Star Holdings Term Loan Facility for the next twelve months; less the projected operating revenues for the next twelve months consistent with the operating budget approved by the Company.
The Star Holdings Term Loan Facility contains certain customary covenants, including affirmative covenants on reporting, maintenance of property, continued ownership of interests in the Company as well as negative covenants relating to investments, indebtedness and liens, fundamental changes, asset dispositions, repayments, distributions and affiliate transactions. Furthermore, the Star Holdings Term Loan Facility contains customary events of default, including payment defaults, failure to perform covenants, cross-default and cross acceleration to other indebtedness, including the margin loan facility, impairment of security interests and change of control.
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $11 thousand and $2.3 million, respectively, on the Secured Term Loan Facility which was originated at the time of the Merger in conjunction with the Spin-Off.
22
Note 5—Real Estate, Real Estate-Related Intangibles and Real Estate Available and Held for Sale
The Company’s real estate assets consist of the following ($ in thousands):
Land and land improvements, at cost
547,739
Buildings and improvements, at cost
193,232
Total real estate, net
Total real estate, net and real estate-related intangible assets, net(1)
Real estate-related intangible assets, net consist of the following items ($ in thousands):
Gross
Intangible
Amortization
Above-market lease assets, net(1)
186,002
(16,821)
169,181
In-place lease assets, net(2)
65,345
(20,789)
44,556
Other intangible assets, net
750
(41)
709
252,097
(37,651)
(15,254)
170,748
(19,011)
46,334
(37)
713
(34,302)
The amortization of real estate-related intangible assets had the following impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 ($ in thousands):
Income Statement
Intangible asset
Location
Above-market lease assets (decrease to income)
784
In-place lease assets (decrease to income)
889
897
Other intangible assets (decrease to income)
1,567
1,778
1,789
The estimated amortization of real estate-related intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows ($ in thousands):(1)
Year
Amount
3,333
6,634
3,725
Real estate-related intangible liabilities, net consist of the following items ($ in thousands):
Below-market lease liabilities(1)
68,618
(4,446)
(4,027)
24
The amortization of real estate-related intangible liabilities had the following impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 ($ in thousands):
Intangible liability
Below-market lease liabilities (increase to income)
209
419
Future Minimum Operating Lease Payments—Future minimum lease payments to be collected under non-cancelable operating leases, excluding lease payments that are not fixed and determinable, in effect as of June 30, 2023, are as follows by year ($ in thousands):
Bumps with
Inflation-
Inflation
Linked
2,906
8,710
1,111
5,509
196
18,432
5,811
17,677
2,247
11,018
421
37,174
18,004
2,313
37,567
18,370
2,357
986
27,945
18,755
2,388
28,361
435,056
4,308,109
433,110
15,826
304
5,192,405
Note 6—Equity Investments
The Company’s equity investments and its proportionate share of earnings (losses) from equity investments were as follows ($ in thousands):
Earnings from
Carrying Value
Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investments(1)
as of
Equity investment
425 Park Avenue
134,154
133,118
872
827
1,708
1,677
32 Old Slip
49,850
47,270
1,420
1,425
2,846
2,851
Ground Lease Plus Fund(1)
54,123
1,688
Loan Plus Fund(2)
29,079
2,827
425 Park Avenue—In August 2019, the Company formed a venture with a sovereign wealth fund that is an existing shareholder of the Company to acquire the existing Ground Lease at 425 Park Avenue in New York City. The venture acquired the Ground Lease in November 2019. The Company has a 54.8% noncontrolling equity interest in the venture and is the manager of the venture. iStar was the manager prior to the Merger.
32 Old Slip—In June 2021, the Company acquired a 29.2% noncontrolling equity interest in a Ground Lease at an office property in New York City.
Ground Lease Plus Fund—In connection with Merger, the Company acquired from iStar an investment fund that iStar managed that targets the origination and acquisition of Ground Leases for commercial real estate projects that are in a pre-development phase (the “Ground Lease Plus Fund”). The Company owns a 53% noncontrolling equity interest in the Ground Lease Plus Fund. The Company does not have a controlling interest in the Ground Lease Plus Fund due to the substantive participating rights of its partner and accounts for this investment as an equity method investment. The Company receives a fee from its partner in exchange for managing the entity and is also entitled to a promote payment on investments in the Ground Lease Plus Fund. The Ground Lease Plus Fund has first look rights through December 2023 on qualifying pre-development projects that the Company has elected to not originate.
In November 2021, iStar acquired land for $33.3 million and simultaneously structured and entered into a Ground Lease on which a multi-family project will be constructed (refer also to Note 13). In December 2021, iStar sold the Ground Lease to the Ground Lease Plus Fund and recognized no gain or loss on the sale. At the time of iStar’s acquisition in November 2021, the Company and iStar entered into an agreement pursuant to which the Company would acquire the land and related Ground Lease from the Ground Lease Plus Fund when certain construction related conditions are met by a specified time period.
In June 2021, the Company entered into two agreements pursuant to each of which it agreed to acquire land and a related Ground Lease originated by iStar when certain construction related conditions are met by a specified time period.
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In January 2022, iStar sold the two Ground Leases to the Ground Lease Plus Fund, which remain subject to the June 2021 agreement with the Company, and recognized an aggregate $0.5 million of gains on the sale.
Leasehold Loan Fund—In connection with the Merger, the Company acquired from iStar an investment fund that iStar managed that targets customers that may require a mortgage leasehold loan as well as a Ground Lease (the “Leasehold Loan Fund”). The Company owns a 53.0% noncontrolling equity interest in the Leasehold Loan Fund. The Company does not have a controlling interest in the Leasehold Loan Fund due to the substantive participating rights of its partner. The Company accounts for this investment as an equity method investment and receives a fixed annual administrative fee and an asset management fee from its partner in exchange for managing the entity. The Company is also entitled to a promote payment on certain investments in the Leasehold Loan Fund.
In February 2022, the Leasehold Loan Fund committed to provide a $130.0 million loan to the ground lessee of a Ground Lease originated by the Company. The loan was for the Ground Lease tenant’s recapitalization of a life science property. As of June 30, 2023, the Company has not funded any of the commitment.
In June 2022, the Leasehold Loan Fund committed to provide a $105.0 million loan to the ground lessee of a Ground Lease originated by the Company. The loan was for the Ground Lease tenant’s recapitalization of a mixed-use property. As of June 30, 2023, $37.5 million of the commitment has been funded.
Note 7—Deferred Expenses and Other Assets, Net and Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities
Deferred expenses and other assets, net, consist of the following items ($ in thousands):
Operating lease right-of-use asset(1)
36,015
26,312
Interest rate hedge assets
41,690
29,346
Deferred finance costs, net(2)
6,371
4,461
Other assets(3)
16,046
2,664
Purchase deposits
4,333
Leasing costs, net
444
448
Corporate furniture, fixtures and equipment, net
1,187
Deferred expenses and other assets, net
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Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities consist of the following items ($ in thousands):
Interest payable
63,209
55,459
Other liabilities(1)
16,182
17,639
Dividends declared and payable
11,496
11,067
Operating lease liability(2)
18,342
5,471
Management fee payable
5,301
Accrued expenses(3)
10,568
5,420
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
Note 8—Debt Obligations, net
The Company’s outstanding debt obligations consist of the following ($ in thousands):
Interest
Scheduled
Rate(1)
Maturity Date(2)
Secured credit financing:
Mortgages
1,498,113
3.99
%
April 2027 to November 2069
Total secured credit financing(3)
Unsecured financing:
2.80% senior notes
400,000
2.80
June 2031
2.85% senior notes
350,000
2.85
January 2032
3.98% senior notes
475,000
3.98
February 2052
5.15% senior notes
154,001
151,988
5.15
May 2052
2021 Unsecured Revolver
1,048,000
690,000
Adjusted SOFR plus 1.00
March 2026
2023 Unsecured Revolver
July 2025
Trust preferred securities(4)
100,000
LIBOR plus 1.50
October 2035
Total unsecured financing
2,527,001
2,066,988
Total debt obligations
4,025,114
3,565,101
Debt premium, discount and deferred financing costs, net
(42,775)
(43,742)
Mortgages—Mortgages consist of asset specific non-recourse borrowings that are secured by the Company’s real estate and Ground Leases. As of June 30, 2023, the Company’s mortgages are full term interest only, bear interest at a weighted average interest rate of 3.99% and have maturities between April 2027 and November 2069.
Unsecured Notes—In May 2021, Portfolio Holdings, then known as Safehold Operating Partnership LP, (as issuer) and the Company (as guarantor), issued $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.80% senior notes due June 2031 (the “2.80% Notes”). The 2.80% Notes were issued at 99.127% of par. The Company may redeem the 2.80% Notes in whole at any time or in part from time to time prior to March 15, 2031, at the Company’s option and sole discretion, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the 2.80% Notes being redeemed; and (ii) a make-whole premium calculated in accordance with the indenture, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the applicable redemption date. If the 2.80% Notes are redeemed on or after March 15, 2031, the
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redemption price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2.80% Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the applicable redemption date.
In November 2021, Portfolio Holdings, then known as Safehold Operating Partnership LP, (as issuer) and the Company (as guarantor), issued $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.85% senior notes due January 2032 (the “2.85% Notes”). The 2.85% Notes were issued at 99.123% of par. The Company may redeem the 2.85% Notes in whole at any time or in part from time to time prior to October 15, 2031, at the Company’s option and sole discretion, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the 2.85% Notes being redeemed; and (ii) a make-whole premium calculated in accordance with the indenture, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the applicable redemption date. If the 2.85% Notes are redeemed on or after October 15, 2031, the redemption price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2.85% Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the applicable redemption date.
In January 2022, Portfolio Holdings, then known as Safehold Operating Partnership LP, (as issuer) and the Company (as guarantor), issued $475.0 million aggregate principal amount of privately-placed 3.98% senior notes due February 2052 (the “3.98% Notes”). Safehold Operating Partnership LP elected to draw these funds in March 2022. The Company may, at its option, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, the 3.98% Notes, in an amount not less than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the 3.98% Notes then outstanding in the case of a partial prepayment, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, and the applicable make-whole amount calculated in accordance with the indenture, for such tranche determined for the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount; provided, that, so long as no default or event of default shall then exist, at any time on or after November 15, 2051, the Company may, at its option, prepay all or any part of the 3.98% Notes at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, together with, in each case, accrued interest to the prepayment date, without any make-whole amount.
In May 2022, Portfolio Holdings, then known as Safehold Operating Partnership LP, (as issuer) and the Company (as guarantor), issued $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of privately-placed 5.15% senior notes due May 2052 (the “5.15% Notes”). The structure of the 5.15% Notes features a stairstep coupon rate in which the Company will pay cash interest at a rate of 2.50% in years 1 through 10, 3.75% in years 11 through 20, and 5.15% in years 21 through 30. The difference between the 5.15% stated rate and the cash interest rate will accrue in each semi-annual payment period and be paid in kind by adding such accrued interest to the outstanding principal balance, to be repaid at maturity in May 2052. The Company may, at its option, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, the 5.15% Notes, in an amount not less than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the 5.15% Notes then outstanding in the case of a partial prepayment, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, and the applicable make-whole amount calculated in accordance with the indenture; provided, that, so long as no default or event of default shall then exist, at any time on or after February 13, 2052, the Company may, at its option, prepay all or any part of the 5.15% Notes at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, together with, in each case, accrued interest to the prepayment date, without any make-whole amount.
2021 Unsecured Revolver—In March 2021, Portfolio Holdings, then known as Safehold Operating Partnership LP, (as borrower) and the Company (as guarantor), entered into an unsecured revolving credit facility with an initial maximum aggregate principal amount of up to $1.0 billion (the “2021 Unsecured Revolver”). In December 2021, the Company obtained additional lender commitments increasing the maximum availability to $1.35 billion. The 2021 Unsecured Revolver has an initial maturity of March 2024 with two 12-month extension options exercisable by the Company, subject to certain conditions, and accrued interest at an annual rate of applicable LIBOR plus 1.00%, subject to the Company’s credit ratings. The Company also pays a facility fee of 0.125%, subject to the Company’s credit ratings. In January 2023, the Company amended the 2021 Unsecured Revolver primarily to transition from LIBOR to Adjusted SOFR, as defined in the applicable agreement. As of June 30, 2023, there was $302.0 million of undrawn capacity on the 2021 Unsecured Revolver.
2023 Unsecured Revolver—In January 2023, Portfolio Holdings, then known as Safehold Operating Partnership LP (as borrower) and the Company (as guarantor) closed on a new $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the “2023 Unsecured Revolver”). The 2023 Unsecured Revolver has a current borrowing rate of Adjusted SOFR, as defined in the applicable agreement, plus 100 basis points, with a maturity of July 31, 2025. As of June 30, 2023, there was $500.0 million of undrawn capacity on the 2023 Unsecured Revolver.
Trust Preferred Securities—The Company assumed trust preferred securities from iStar in connection with Merger. The trust preferred securities bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.50% and mature in October 2035. Effective July 1, 2023, LIBOR was replaced with a rate equal to three-month Term SOFR plus 0.26161%.
Debt Covenants—The Company is subject to financial covenants under the 2021 Unsecured Revolver and the 2023 Unsecured Revolver, including maintaining: (i) a ratio of total unencumbered assets to total unsecured debt of at least 1.33x; and (ii) a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.15x, as such terms are defined in the documents governing the 2021 Unsecured Revolver and the 2023 Unsecured Revolver, as applicable. In addition, the 2021 Unsecured Revolver and the 2023 Unsecured Revolver contain customary affirmative and negative covenants. Among other things, these covenants may restrict the Company or certain of its subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional debt or liens, engage in certain mergers, consolidations and other fundamental changes, make other investments or pay dividends. The Company’s 2.80% Notes, 2.85% Notes, 3.98% Notes and 5.15% Notes are subject to a financial covenant requiring a ratio of unencumbered assets to unsecured debt of at least 1.25x and contain customary affirmative and negative covenants. The Company’s 3.98% Notes and 5.15% Notes contain a provision whereby they will be deemed to include additional financial covenants and negative covenants to the extent such covenants are incorporated into Portfolio Holdings’ and/or the Company’s existing or future material credit facilities, including the 2021 Unsecured Revolver and 2023 Unsecured Revolver, and to the extent such covenants are more favorable to the lenders under such material credit facilities than the covenants contained in the 3.98% Notes and 5.15% Notes. The Company’s mortgages contain no significant maintenance or ongoing financial covenants. As of June 30, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all of its financial covenants.
Future Scheduled Maturities—As of June 30, 2023, future scheduled maturities of outstanding debt obligations, assuming all extensions that can be exercised at the Company’s option, are as follows ($ in thousands):
Secured(1)
Unsecured
237,000
1,261,113
1,479,001
2,740,114
Total principal maturities
(26,749)
(16,026)
1,471,364
2,510,975
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Note 9—Commitments and Contingencies
Lease Commitments—Future minimum lease obligations under non-cancelable operating leases as of June 30, 2023 are as follows ($ in thousands):(1)
2,863
5,692
5,680
14,235
Present value discount(1)
(1,294)
Other adjustments(2)
5,401
Lease liabilities
Unfunded Commitments—The Company has unfunded commitments to certain of its Ground Lease tenants related to leasehold improvement allowances that it expects to fund upon the completion of certain conditions. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had $250.6 million of such commitments, excluding commitments to be funded by noncontrolling interests.
The Company also has unfunded forward commitments related to agreements that it entered into for the acquisition of new Ground Leases or additions to existing Ground Leases if certain conditions are met (refer to Note 13). These commitments may also include leasehold improvement allowances that will be funded to the Ground Lease tenants when certain conditions are met. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had an aggregate $271.2 million of such commitments. There can be no assurance that the conditions to closing for these transactions will be satisfied and that the Company will acquire the Ground Leases or fund the leasehold improvement allowances.
Other Commitments—Through the Leasehold Loan Fund, the Company will generally fund construction and development loans and build-outs of space in real estate assets over a period of time if and when the borrowers and tenants meet established milestones and other performance criteria. We refer to these arrangements as performance-based commitments. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had $127.7 million of such commitments.
Legal Proceedings—The Company evaluates developments in legal proceedings that could require a liability to be accrued and/or disclosed. Based on its current knowledge, and after consultation with legal counsel, the Company believes it is not a party to, nor are any of its properties the subject of, any pending legal proceeding that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
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Note 10—Risk Management and Derivatives
In the normal course of its ongoing business operations, the Company encounters credit risk. Credit risk is the risk of default on the Company’s leases that result from a tenant’s inability or unwillingness to make contractually required payments.
Risk concentrations—Concentrations of credit risks arise when the Company has multiple leases with a particular tenant or credit party, or a number of the Company’s tenants are engaged in similar business activities, or activities in the same geographic region, or have similar economic features, such that their ability to meet contractual obligations, including those to the Company, could be similarly affected by changes in economic conditions.
Although the Company’s Ground Leases are geographically diverse and the tenants operate in a variety of industries and property types, to the extent the Company has a significant concentration of interest income from sales-type leases or operating lease income from any tenant, the inability of that tenant to make its payment could have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company did not have a significant concentration of operating lease income from any tenant for the periods presented.
Derivative instruments and hedging activity—The Company’s use of derivative financial instruments has been associated with debt issuances and primarily limited to the utilization of interest rate swaps and interest rate caps to manage interest rate risk exposure. The Company does not enter into derivatives for trading purposes.
The Company recognizes derivatives, if any, as either assets or liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at fair value. Interest rate hedge assets are recorded in “Deferred expenses and other assets, net” and interest rate hedge liabilities are recorded in “Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. If certain conditions are met, a derivative may be specifically designated as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability, a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability.
For the Company’s derivatives designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and subsequently reclassified into interest expense in the same periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s debt. If a derivative includes an other-than-insignificant financing element at inception, when the Company is deemed to be the lender all cash inflows and outflows of the derivative are considered cash flows from investing activities in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows and when the Company is deemed to be the borrower all cash inflows and outflows of the derivative are considered cash flows from financing activities in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.
For the Company’s derivatives not designated as hedges, the changes in the fair value of the derivatives are reported in “Interest expense” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Derivatives not designated as hedges are not speculative and are used to manage the Company’s exposure to interest rate movements and other identified risks but do not meet the strict hedge accounting requirements.
The table below presents the Company’s derivatives as well as their classification on the consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 ($ in thousands):(1)
Balance Sheet
Derivative Type
Value(2)
Interest rate swaps
Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features—The Company reports derivative instruments, if any, on a gross basis in its consolidated financial statements. The Company has agreements with each of its derivative counterparties that contain a provision whereby if the Company either defaults or is capable of being declared in default on any of its indebtedness, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had one interest rate hedge that was in a liability position for which the Company has not posted any collateral.
The table below presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments in the consolidated statements of operations and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the three and months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 ($ in thousands):
Amount of Gain
(Loss) Reclassified
(Loss) Recognized
from Accumulated
in Accumulated
Location of Gain (Loss)
When Recognized in
Income into
Derivatives Designated in Hedging Relationships
Income
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023
902
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2022
(969)
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
(2,002)
Note 11—Equity
Common Stock—At the effective time of the Merger on March 31, 2023, each share of Old SAFE common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time (other than any shares owned directly by iStar or any of the wholly-owned subsidiaries of iStar and in each case not held on behalf of third parties) was converted into the right to receive one share of newly issued common stock of the Company. As of June 30, 2023, the Company has one class of common stock outstanding.
In April 2023, the Company filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR. In addition, the Company and Portfolio Holdings entered into an ATM
34
Equity Offering Sales Agreement (the “Primary Sales Agreement”) with the sales agents named therein pursuant to which the Company may sell, from time to time, shares of its common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $300.0 million (the “Primary Shares”) through or to the sales agents. The Company may sell the Primary Shares in amounts and at times to be determined by the Company from time to time but has no obligation to sell any of the Primary Shares. Actual sales, if any, will depend on a variety of factors to be determined by the Company from time to time, including, among other things, market conditions, the trading price of the Common Stock, capital needs and determinations by the Company of the appropriate sources of its funding. Through June 30, 2023, the Company has not sold any shares of its common stock through the Primary Sales Agreement.
Equity Plans—Old SAFE adopted an equity incentive plan to provide equity incentive opportunities to members of the Former Manager’s management team and employees who performed services for Old SAFE, Old SAFE’s non-management directors, advisers, consultants and other personnel (the “2017 Equity Incentive Plan”). The 2017 Equity Incentive Plan provided for grants of stock options, shares of restricted common stock, phantom shares, dividend equivalent rights and other equity-based awards, including long-term incentive plan units. Grants under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan were recognized as compensation costs ratably over the applicable vesting period and recorded in “General and administrative” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Prior to the effective time of the Merger, Old SAFE awarded all shares of Old SAFE common stock remaining available for issuance under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan to members of its Former Manager’s management team and employees who performed services for Old SAFE. As of June 30, 2023, there were no shares available for issuance for future awards under Old SAFE’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan.
iStar’s amended and restated 2009 Long-Term Incentive Program (the “LTIP”) was approved by stockholders in 2021 and remained in effect after the closing of the Merger. The LTIP is designed to provide incentive compensation for officers, key employees, directors and advisors of the Company. The LTIP provides for awards of stock options, shares of restricted stock, phantom shares, restricted stock units, dividend equivalent rights and other share-based performance awards. All awards under the LTIP are made at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors. Grants under the LTIP are recognized as compensation costs ratably over the applicable vesting period and recorded in “General and administrative” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. In June 2023, the Company issued an aggregate 24,336 vested shares of its common stock with a grant date fair value of $23.58 per share to its directors in consideration for their annual service as directors. On June 20, 2023, the LTIP was further amended to, among other things, increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock available for issuance. As of June 30, 2023, an aggregate of 435,205 shares of the Company’s common stock remain available for awards under the LTIP.
During the third quarter of 2018, Old SAFE adopted, and in the second quarter of 2019, its stockholders approved, the Caret Performance Incentive Plan (the “Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan”). Under the Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan, 1,500,000 Caret units were reserved for grants of performance-based awards to Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan participants, including certain of executives of iStar, and Old SAFE’s directors and service providers. Grants under the Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan were subject to vesting based on time-based service conditions and hurdles relating to Old SAFE’s common stock price, all of which were satisfied as of December 31, 2022, except with respect to approximately 850 Caret units that are scheduled to vest on December 31, 2023. In connection with the Merger, certain of Old SAFE’s former executive officers, entered into re-vesting agreements pursuant to which the executives agreed to subject 25% of their previously vested Caret units to additional vesting conditions which will be satisfied on the second anniversary of the Merger, subject to the applicable executive’s continued employment through such date. In the event of a termination of the executive’s employment by the Company without “cause”, or due to the executive’s death, disability or retirement, the unvested Caret units shall continue to vest as and when the vesting conditions described above are satisfied.
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In connection with the consummation of the Merger and the Caret Restructuring, Old SAFE, Caret Ventures and CARET Management Holdings LLC assigned each Award Agreement (as defined in the Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan) relating to outstanding Caret unit awards to Portfolio Holdings pursuant to the Omnibus Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2023 (the “Caret Assignment Agreement”).
Following the effectiveness of the Caret Assignment Agreement, Old SAFE amended and restated the Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan (the “Amended Caret Performance Incentive Plan”).
Prior to the Merger, the Old SAFE compensation committee, and following the Merger, the Company’s compensation committee, approved the award of 76,801 new Caret units to executive officers and other employees, other than the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s President and Chief Investment Officer, including 15,000 Caret units to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. The new Caret unit awards were granted immediately following the Merger and the effectiveness of the Amended Caret Performance Incentive Plan, and cliff vest on the fourth anniversary of their grant date if the Company’s common stock has traded at an average per share price of $60.00 or more for at least 30 consecutive trading days during that four-year period.
As of June 30, 2023, and after giving effect to the Caret Restructuring and the post-Merger Caret unit awards, Amended Caret Performance Incentive Plan participants held 1,499,432 Caret units, representing 15.41% of the then-outstanding Caret units and 12.50% of the then-authorized Caret units.
During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $0.5 million and $0.3 million in expense from Caret units, which is recorded in “General and administrative” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and “Noncontrolling interests” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Noncontrolling Interests—Noncontrolling interests includes unrelated third-party equity interests in ventures that are consolidated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and Caret units that have been sold to third-parties (refer to Note 1) or have been granted to employees of the Company’s Former Manager. See also “Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests” in Note 3.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)—Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consists of net unrealized gains (losses) on the Company’s derivative transactions.
Dividends—The Company (then known as iStar) elected to be taxed as a REIT beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 1998. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must annually distribute, at a minimum, an amount equal to 90% of its taxable income, excluding net capital gains, and must distribute 100% of its taxable income (including net capital gains) to eliminate corporate federal income taxes payable by the REIT. Because taxable income differs from cash flow from operations due to non-cash revenues and expenses (such as depreciation and other items), in certain circumstances, the Company may generate operating cash flow in excess of its dividends, or alternatively, may need to make dividend payments in excess of operating cash flows. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company declared cash dividends on its common stock of $22.6 million, or $0.354 per share, and $21.5 million, or $0.347 per share, respectively.
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Note 12—Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. The following tables present a reconciliation of net income used in the basic and diluted EPS calculations ($ and shares in thousands, except for per share data):
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income attributable to Safehold Inc. common shareholders for basic and diluted earnings per common share
Earnings attributable to common shares:
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share:
Net income attributable to Safehold Inc. common shareholders - basic
Net income attributable to Safehold Inc. common shareholders - diluted
Denominator for basic and diluted earnings per share:(1)
Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic earnings per common share
Weighted average common shares outstanding for diluted earnings per common share
Basic and diluted earnings per common share:(1)
Note 13—Related Party Transactions
Prior to the Merger, the Company was externally managed by an affiliate of iStar. iStar was an active real estate investor for over 20 years and had an extensive network for sourcing investments, which included relationships with brokers, corporate tenants and developers that it has established over its long operating history.
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Management Agreement
A summary of the terms of the management agreement with iStar prior to the Merger is below:
Manager
SFTY Manager, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of iStar Inc.
Management Fee
Annual fee of 1.00% of total equity (up to $1.5 billion)
Annual fee of 1.25% of total equity (for incremental equity of $1.5 billion to $3.0 billion)
Annual fee of 1.375% of total equity (for incremental equity of $3.0 billion to $5.0 billion) and
Annual fee of 1.5% of total equity (for incremental equity over $5.0 billion)
Management Fee Consideration
At the discretion of the Company’s independent directors, payment will be made in cash or in shares of the Company’s common stock (valued at the greater of: (i) the volume weighted average market price during a specified pricing period; or (ii) the initial public offering price of $20.00 per share)
Lock-up
Restriction from selling common stock received for management fees for two years from the date of such issuance (restriction will terminate in the event of and effective with the termination of the management agreement)
Incentive Fee
None
Term
Non-terminable through June 30, 2023, except for cause.
Automatic annual renewals thereafter, subject to non-renewal upon certain findings by the Company’s independent directors and payment of termination fee.
Termination Fee
3x prior year’s management fee
The Company did not incur management fees to the Former Manager for the three months ended June 30, 2023. During the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Company recorded $5.2 million in management fees to the Former Manager. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded $5.2 million and $9.7 million, respectively, in management fees to the Former Manager. These management fees are recorded in “General and administrative” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Expense Reimbursements
The Company paid, or reimbursed iStar for, certain of the Company’s operating expenses as well as the costs of personnel performing certain legal, accounting, finance, due diligence tasks and other services, in each case except those specifically required to be borne or elected not to be charged by the iStar under the management agreement.
The Company was not allocated any expenses from iStar for the three months ended June 30, 2023. During the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Company was allocated $3.1 million in expenses from iStar. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company was allocated $3.1 million and $6.2 million, respectively, in expenses from iStar. These expenses are recorded in “General and administrative” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Acquisitions and Commitments
iStar participated in certain of the Company’s investment transactions, as the Company’s tenant or either as a seller of land or by providing financing to the Company’s Ground Lease tenants. The following is a list of transactions in which the Company and iStar or other persons deemed to be related parties have participated for the periods presented.
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These transactions were approved by the Company’s independent directors in accordance with the Company’s policy with respect to related party transactions.
In July 2022, the Company, pursuant to an agreement with iStar and upon certain construction related conditions being met, acquired an existing Ground Lease from iStar for $36.4 million inclusive of closing costs (refer to Note 4).
In June 2022, the Company acquired land and simultaneously structured and entered into a Ground Lease as part of the Ground Lease tenant’s recapitalization of a mixed-use property. The Company also committed to provide an additional $35.0 million to the Ground Lease tenant if certain construction and leasing milestones are met. The Leasehold Loan Fund, in which an affiliate of an existing shareholder (which is affiliated with one of the Company’s independent directors) owns a noncontrolling equity interest, committed to provide a $105.0 million loan to the Company’s Ground Lease tenant for the recapitalization of the leasehold. The Company paid the Leasehold Loan Fund $5.0 million of additional consideration in connection with this investment.
In April 2022, the Company acquired an existing Ground Lease from iStar for $9.0 million.
In March 2022, the Company acquired land for a purchase price of $28.5 million and simultaneously structured and entered into a Ground Lease as part of the Ground Lease tenant’s recapitalization of a hotel property. One of the Company’s independent directors has an indirect ownership interest in the entity that is the Ground Lease tenant and controls the company that indirectly manages that entity.
In March 2022, the Company paid iStar $0.3 million to terminate a purchase option that allowed iStar to purchase the land at the expiration of its Ground Lease with the Company. iStar sold the leasehold to a third party in March 2022.
In March 2022, the Company acquired three land properties from iStar for a total purchase price of $122.0 million and simultaneously structured and entered into three Ground Lease’s directly with the Ground Lease tenant.
In February 2022, the Company acquired land and simultaneously structured and entered into a Ground Lease as part of the Ground Lease tenant’s recapitalization of a life science development property. The Leasehold Loan Fund, in which an affiliate of an existing shareholder (which is affiliated with one of the Company’s independent directors) owns a noncontrolling equity interest, committed to provide a $130.0 million loan to the Company’s Ground Lease tenant for the recapitalization of the leasehold. The Company paid the Leasehold Loan Fund $9.0 million of additional consideration in connection with this investment.
In November 2021, the Company entered into an agreement pursuant to which it agreed to acquire land and a related Ground Lease originated by iStar when certain construction related conditions are met by a specified time period. The purchase price to be paid is $33.3 million, plus an amount necessary for iStar to achieve the greater of a 1.25x multiple or a 12% return on its investment. In addition, the Ground Lease documents contain future funding obligations to the Ground Lease tenant of approximately $51.8 million of leasehold improvement allowance upon achievement of certain milestones. In December 2021, iStar contributed the Ground Lease to the Ground Lease Plus Fund. The Company has a noncontrolling interest in the Ground Lease Plus Fund and an affiliate of an existing shareholder (which is affiliated with one of the Company’s independent directors) has a noncontrolling interest in the Ground Lease Plus Fund. The terms of the Company’s commitment under the agreement did not change upon iStar’s contribution of the Ground Lease to the Ground Lease Plus Fund. There can be no assurance that the conditions to closing will be satisfied and that the Company will acquire the Ground Lease from the Ground Lease Plus Fund. In May 2023, certain milestones were met by the tenant as it exited the pre-development stage and the tenant began accessing the leasehold improvement allowance. As of June 30, 2023, the Company funded $6.2 million of the leasehold improvement allowance.
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In June 2021, the Company acquired from iStar a purchase option agreement for $1.2 million, which amount was equal to the deposit previously made by iStar under such option agreement plus assumption of iStar’s out of pocket costs and expenses in connection with entering into such option agreement. Under the option agreement, the Company has the right to acquire for $215.0 million a property that is under a separate option for the benefit of a third party, whereby such third party has the right to enter into a Ground Lease and develop approximately 1.1 million square feet of office space.
In June 2021, the Company entered into two agreements pursuant to each of which it agreed to acquire land and a related Ground Lease originated by iStar when certain construction related conditions are met by a specified time period. The purchase price to be paid for each is $42.0 million, plus an amount necessary for iStar to achieve the greater of a 1.25x multiple and a 9% return on its investment. In addition, each Ground Lease provides for a leasehold improvement allowance up to a maximum of $83.0 million, which obligation would be assumed by the Company upon acquisition. In January 2022, iStar sold the Ground Leases to the Ground Lease Plus Fund in which the Company owns a noncontrolling interest and an existing shareholder (which is affiliated with one of the Company’s independent directors) owns a noncontrolling interest. There can be no assurance that the conditions to closing will be satisfied and that the Company will acquire the properties and Ground Leases from the Ground Lease Plus Fund.
Caret units
In February 2022, Old SAFE sold an aggregate of 108,571 Caret units, 1.08% of the authorized Caret units, to a group of investors (refer to Note 3). In addition, an affiliate of an existing shareholder (which is affiliated with one of the Company’s independent directors) made a commitment to purchase 28,571 Caret units, or 0.29% of the authorized Caret units, for a purchase price of $5.0 million. As part of the sale, Old SAFE agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide public market liquidity for such Caret units by seeking to provide a listing of the Caret units (or securities into which they may be exchanged) on a public exchange within two years of the sale. In the event public market liquidity of the Caret units is not achieved within such two year period at a valuation not less than the purchase price for the Caret units purchased in February 2022, reduced by an amount equal to the amount of subsequent cash distributions made to investors on account of such Caret units, then the investors in the February 2022 transaction have the right to cause their Caret units purchased in February 2022 to be redeemed by Portfolio Holdings at such purchase price as so reduced.
On March 31, 2023, shortly before the closing of the Merger, iStar sold and affiliates of MSD Partners bought 5,405,406 shares of Old SAFE’s common stock then owned by iStar. On March 31, 2023, in conjunction with the closing of the Merger, affiliates of MSD Partners also purchased 100,000 Caret units (refer to Note 11) from the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $20.0 million. Additionally, on March 31, 2023, existing third-party Caret unit holders purchased an aggregate of 22,500 Caret units from the Company for an aggregate $4.5 million.
Star Holdings
On March 31, 2023, immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, the Company (then known as iStar Inc.) completed the Spin-Off, resulting in the spin-off of its remaining legacy assets and certain other assets pursuant to a separation and distribution agreement (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”), dated as of March 31, 2023, by and between the Company and Star Holdings. The Separation and Distribution Agreement sets forth, among other things, Star Holdings’ agreements with the Company regarding the principal transactions necessary to separate Star Holdings from the Company. It also sets forth other agreements that govern certain aspects of Star Holdings’ relationship with the Company after the Spin-Off relating to the transfer of assets and assumption of liabilities, cash assets, release of claims, insurance, non-solicitation, segregation of accounts and other matters. The Separation and Distribution Agreement also includes a mutual release by Star Holdings, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, of the other party from certain specified liabilities, as well as mutual indemnification covenants pursuant to which Star Holdings and the Company have agreed to indemnify each other from certain specified liabilities.
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SpinCo Manager has entered into a management agreement with Star Holdings, pursuant to which it will operate and pursue the orderly monetization of Star Holding’s assets. Pursuant to the management agreement, Star Holdings pays to SpinCo Manager an annual management fee of $25.0 million in year one, $15.0 million in year two, $10.0 million in year three and $5.0 million in year four and 2.0% of the gross book value of Star Holding's assets, excluding shares of the Company’s common stock, for each annual term thereafter. The management agreement has an initial one-year term and will be automatically renewed for successive one-year terms each anniversary date thereafter unless previously terminated. The management agreement may be terminated by Star Holdings without cause by not less than one hundred eighty days’ written notice to SpinCo Manager upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of Star Holdings’ independent directors, provided, however, that if the date of termination occurs prior to the fourth anniversary of the Spin-Off, the termination will be subject to payment of the applicable termination fee to SpinCo Manager. Star Holdings may also terminate the management agreement at any time, including during the initial term, with 30 days’ prior written notice from Star Holdings’ board of trustees for “cause,” as defined in the management agreement.
In the event of a termination without cause by Star Holdings prior to the fourth anniversary of the Spin-Off, Star Holdings will pay SpinCo Manager a termination fee of $50.0 million minus the aggregate amount of management fees actually paid to SpinCo Manager prior to the termination date. However, if Star Holdings has completed the liquidation of its assets on or before the termination date, the termination fee will consist of any portion of the annual management fee that remained unpaid for the remainder of the then current annual term plus, if the termination date occurs on or before the third anniversary of the Spin-Off, the amount of the management fee that would have been payable for the next succeeding annual term, or if the termination date occurs after the third anniversary of the Spin-Off, zero.
In the event of a termination by the Company based on a reduction in the amount of Star Holdings’ consolidated assets below designated thresholds, Star Holdings will pay SpinCo Manager a termination fee of $30.0 million if the termination occurs in the first year, $15.0 million if the termination occurs in the second year and $5.0 million if the termination occurs in the third year, in each case, plus the balance of any unpaid portion of the annual management fee for the applicable year.
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company recorded $7.2 million in management fees from Star Holdings. The management fees are included in “Other income” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
The Company and Star Holdings also entered into a governance agreement that places certain restrictions on the transfer and voting of the shares of the Company owned by Star Holdings, and a registration rights agreement under which the Company agreed to register such shares for resale in accordance with applicable securities laws. As of June 30, 2023, Star Holdings owned approximately 21.1% of the Company’s common stock outstanding through a wholly-owned subsidiary.
In April 2023, the Company, Portfolio Holdings and Star Investment Holdings SPV LLC (“Star Investment Holdings”), a subsidiary of Star Holdings, entered into an ATM Equity Offering Sales Agreement (the “Selling Stockholder Sales Agreement”) with the sales agents named therein pursuant to which Star Investment Holdings may sell, from time to time, subject to receiving the Company’s consent, up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Selling Stockholder Shares”) through or to the sales agents. Star Investment Holdings may sell the Selling Stockholder Shares in amounts and at times to be determined by the Star Investment Holdings, subject to receiving the Company’s consent, from time to time but has no obligation to sell any of the Selling Stockholder Shares. Actual sales, if any, will depend on a variety of factors to be determined by Star Investment Holdings from time to time, including, among other things, market conditions, the trading price of the Company’s common stock, capital needs and determinations by Star Investment Holdings of the appropriate sources of its funding.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Certain statements in this report, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are included with respect to, among other things, Safehold Inc.’s (the “Company’s”) current business plan, business strategy, portfolio management, prospects and liquidity. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In assessing all forward-looking statements, readers are urged to read carefully all cautionary statements contained in this Form 10-Q and the uncertainties and risks described in “Risk Factors” filed as Exhibit 99.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2023, all of which could affect our future results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
The discussion below should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, our 2022 Annual Report and our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2023. These historical financial statements may not be indicative of our future performance.
Merger Transaction
On August 10, 2022, Safehold Inc. (“Old SAFE”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with iStar Inc. (“iStar”), and on March 31, 2023, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, Old SAFE merged with and into iStar, at which time Old SAFE ceased to exist, and iStar continued as the surviving corporation and changed its name to “Safehold Inc.” For accounting purposes, the Merger is treated as a “reverse acquisition” in which iStar is considered the legal acquirer and Old SAFE is considered the accounting acquirer. As a result, the historical financial statements of Old SAFE became the historical financial statements of Safehold Inc. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “iStar” refer to iStar prior to the Merger, and references to “we,” “our” and “the Company” refer to the business and operations of Old SAFE and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to the Merger and to Safehold Inc. (formerly known as iStar Inc.) and its consolidated subsidiaries following the consummation of the Merger. Periods presented prior to the Merger date of March 31, 2023 reflect the operations of Old SAFE and periods presented as of June 30, 2023 represent the financial statements of the Company.
Additionally, in connection with the Merger, Safehold Operating Partnership LP converted from a Delaware limited partnership into a Delaware limited liability company and changed its name to “Safehold GL Holdings LLC” (“Portfolio Holdings”), with the Company as its managing member. In addition, holders of Caret units in Old SAFE’s subsidiary, Caret Ventures, contributed their interests in Caret Ventures to Portfolio Holdings in return for Caret units issued by Portfolio Holdings. Following the restructuring, 100% of the equity interests in Caret Ventures is held by Portfolio Holdings, and Portfolio Holdings is owned by the Company, management, of the Company, employees and former employees of the Company, affiliates of MSD Partners, and other outside investors.
We believe that the Merger will accelerate our market leadership in the Ground Lease industry and make us the only internally-managed, pure-play Ground Lease company in the public markets.
Business Overview
We acquire, manage and capitalize Ground Leases and report our business as a single reportable segment. We believe owning a portfolio of Ground Leases affords our investors the opportunity for safe, growing income. Safety is derived from a Ground Lease’s senior position in the commercial real estate capital structure. Growth is realized through long-term leases with contractual periodic increases in rent. Capital appreciation is realized though appreciation in the value of the land over time and through our typical rights as landlord to acquire the commercial buildings on our land at
the end of a Ground Lease, which may yield substantial value to us. As of June 30, 2023, the percentage breakdown of the gross book value of our portfolio was 44% office, 37% multi-family, 12% hotels, 4% life science and 3% mixed use and other. The diversification by geographic location, property type and sponsor in our portfolio further reduces risk and enhances potential upside.
Many of our Ground Leases have CPI lookbacks, generally starting between years 11 and 21 of the lease term, to mitigate the effects of inflation that are typically capped between 3.0% - 3.5%; however, in the event cumulative inflation growth for the lookback period exceeds the cap, these rent adjustments may not keep up fully with changes in inflation. In 2022, the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) rose to its highest rate in over 40 years. Since then the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates multiple times and it has stated that it is likely it will raise rates again by the end of 2023. Any increase in interest rates may result in a reduction in the availability or an increase in costs of leasehold financing, which is critical to the growth of a robust Ground Lease market. An increase in interest rates could also increase the leasehold financing costs of our Ground Lease tenants and their ability to obtain leasehold financing.
The COVID-19 pandemic is not currently materially impacting our new investment activity, but we continue to monitor its potential impact, which could slow new investment activity because of reduced levels of real estate transactions and constrained conditions for equity and debt financing for real estate transactions, including leasehold loans. In addition, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. office sector has been adversely affected by office vacancies, the rise in interest rates and a decline in market liquidity, all of which could negatively impact our tenants, Ground Rent Coverages and estimated Combined Property Values. See “Risk Factors” filed as Exhibit 99.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2023 for additional discussion of certain potential risks to our business arising from the COVID 19 pandemic. Moreover, the rise in interest rates and increased investment spreads to treasury bonds in the Ground Lease market may attract new competitors, which may result in higher costs for properties, lower returns and impact our ability to grow. See “Risk Factors” filed as Exhibit 99.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2023 for additional discussion of certain potential risks to our business related to competition.
We have chosen to focus on Ground Leases because we believe they meet an important need in the real estate capital markets for our customers. We also believe Ground Leases offer a unique combination of safety, income growth and the potential for capital appreciation for investors for the following reasons:
High Quality Long-Term Cash Flow: We believe that a Ground Lease represents a safe position in a property’s capital structure. The combined value of the land and buildings and improvements thereon subject to a Ground Lease (the “Combined Property Value”) typically significantly exceeds the Ground Lease landlord’s investment in the Ground Lease; therefore, even if the landlord takes over the property following a tenant default or upon expiration of the Ground Lease, the landlord is reasonably likely to recover substantially all of its Ground Lease investment, and possibly amounts in excess of its investment, depending upon prevailing market conditions. Additionally, the typical structure of a Ground Lease provides the landlord with a residual right to regain possession of its land and take ownership of the buildings and improvements thereon upon a tenant default. The landlord’s residual right provides a strong incentive for a Ground Lease tenant or its leasehold lender to make the required Ground Lease rent payments.
Income Growth: Ground Leases typically provide growing income streams through contractual base rent escalators that may compound over the duration of the lease. These rent escalators may be based on fixed increases, a CPI or a combination thereof, and may also include a participation in the gross revenues of the property. We believe that this growth in the lease rate over time can mitigate the effects of inflation and capture anticipated increases in land values over time, as well as serving as a basis for growing our dividend.
Opportunity for Capital Appreciation: The opportunity for capital appreciation comes in two forms. First, as the ground rent grows over time, the value of the Ground Lease should grow under market conditions in which capitalization rates remain flat. Second, our residual right to regain possession of the land underlying the Ground Lease and take title to the buildings and other improvements thereon at lease expiration or earlier termination of the lease for no additional consideration creates additional potential value to our shareholders.
We generally target Ground Lease investments in which the initial cost of the Ground Lease represents 30% to 45% of the Combined Property Value as if the Ground Lease did not exist. If the initial cost of a Ground Lease is equal to
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35% of the Combined Property Value, the remaining 65% of the Combined Property Value represents potential excess value over the amount of our investment that would be turned over to us upon the reversion of the property, assuming no intervening change in the Combined Property Value. In our view, there is a strong correlation between inflation and commercial real estate values over time, which supports our belief that the value of our owned residual portfolio should increase over time as inflation increases, although our ability to recognize value in certain cases may be limited by the rights of our tenants under some of our Ground Leases, including tenant rights to purchase our land in certain circumstances and the right of one tenant to demolish improvements prior to the expiration of the lease. See “Risk Factors” filed as Exhibit 99.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2023 for additional discussion for a discussion of these tenant rights.
Owned Residual Portfolio: We believe that the residual right is a unique feature distinguishing Ground Leases from other fixed income investments and property types. We refer to the value of the land and improvements subject to a Ground Lease in excess of our investment basis as unrealized capital appreciation (“UCA”). We track the UCA in our owned residual portfolio over our basis because we believe it provides relevant information with regard to the three key investment characteristics of our Ground Leases: (1) the safety of our position in a tenant’s capital structure; (2) the quality of the long-term cash flows generated by our portfolio rent that increases over time; and (3) increases and decreases in the Combined Property Value of the portfolio that reverts to us pursuant to such residual rights.
We believe that, similar to a loan to value metric, tracking changes in the value of our owned residual portfolio is useful as an indicator of the quality of our cash flows and the safety of our position in a tenant’s capital structure, which, in turn, supports our objective to pay and grow dividends over time. Observing changes in our owned residual portfolio value also helps us monitor changes in the value of the real estate portfolio that reverts to us under the terms of the leases, either at the expiration or earlier termination of the lease. The value may be realized by us at the relevant time by entering into a new lease reflecting then current market terms and values, selling the building, selling the building with the land, or operating the building directly and leasing the spaces to tenants at prevailing market rates.
We have engaged an independent valuation firm to prepare: (a) initial reports of the Combined Property Value associated with our Ground Lease portfolio; and (b) periodic updates of such reports, which we use, in part, to determine the current estimated value of our owned residual portfolio. We calculate this estimated value by subtracting our original aggregate cost basis in the Ground Leases from our estimated aggregate Combined Property Value, based on estimates by the valuation firm and by management.
The table below shows the current estimated UCA in our owned residual portfolio as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 ($ in millions):(1)
Combined Property Value(2)
16,267
16,529
Ground Lease Cost(2)
6,119
6,008
Unrealized Capital Appreciation in Our Owned Residual Portfolio
10,148
10,521
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In 2018, Old SAFE established the Caret program (as defined below). The Caret program is designed to recognize the two distinct components of value in our Ground Lease portfolio by separating them into:
Portfolio Holdings’ two classes of limited liability company interests are designed to track these two components: “GL units” are intended to track the bond component and “Caret units” are designed to track the Caret component (the “Caret program”). We currently hold all of the issued and outstanding GL units of Portfolio Holdings.
In general, all of our Ground Leases are subject to the Caret program, except for non-commercial Ground Leases and pre-development Ground Leases. Holders of Caret units are generally entitled to amounts equal to the net proceeds from the disposition of a Ground Lease asset in excess of the cost borne by us to acquire such asset (including amounts paid to the tenant in connection with the initial development of improvements at the properties). However, we are entitled to deduct (i) unrecovered acquisition costs borne by Portfolio Holdings following the termination of an applicable Ground Lease by reason of defaults of tenants; (ii) accrued unpaid rent under the applicable Ground Lease; and (iii) unrecovered costs relating to the issuance, maintenance and management of Caret units as a separate security, among other costs, from the amount payable to the holders of Caret units on account of such net proceeds. See “SAFE Proposal 2: The SAFE Caret Amendment Proposal” in our Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed with the SEC on December 16, 2022, for more information on the Caret program.
During the third quarter of 2018, Old SAFE adopted, and in the second quarter of 2019, its stockholders approved, the Caret Performance Incentive Plan (the “Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan”). Under the Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan, 1,500,000 Caret units were reserved for grants of performance-based awards to Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan participants, including certain executives of the Company, or its affiliates, directors of Old SAFE and service providers of Old SAFE. Initial grants under the Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan were subject to graduated vesting based on time-based service conditions and hurdles of our common stock price, all of which were satisfied as of December 31, 2022, except with respect to approximately 850 Caret units scheduled to vest on December 31, 2023. In connection with the Merger, certain of Old SAFE’s executive officers entered into re-vesting agreements pursuant to which the executives agreed to subject 25% of their previously vested Caret units to additional vesting conditions which will be satisfied on the second anniversary of the Merger, subject to the applicable executive’s continued employment through such date. In connection with the Merger, each Award Agreement (as defined in the Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan) related to outstanding Caret unit awards was assigned to Portfolio Holdings, and Old SAFE amended and restated amended and restated the Original Caret Performance Incentive Plan (the “Caret Performance Incentive Plan”). Following the merger, 76,801 Caret units were awarded to executive officers and other employees under such plan that are subject to cliff vesting on the fourth anniversary of their grant date if our common stock has traded at an average price of $60.00 or more for at least 30 consecutive trading days during that four-year period. As a result, as of June 30, 2023, vested and unvested Caret units beneficially owned by our officers and other employees represent approximately 15.41% of the outstanding Caret units and 12.50% of the authorized Caret units.
In addition to the Caret units awarded or reserved for issuance under our Caret Performance Incentive Plan, as of June 30, 2023, Old SAFE sold or contracted to sell an aggregate of 259,642 Caret units to third-party investors, including affiliates of MSD Partners and an entity affiliated with one of our independent directors. As of June 30, 2023, the Company owns 82.2% of the outstanding Caret units. In connection with the sale of 137,142 Caret units in February 2022 (28,571 of which were committed to be purchased at the time, but have not yet closed), Old SAFE agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide public market liquidity for such Caret units by seeking to provide a listing of the Caret units (or securities into which they may be exchanged) on a public exchange within two years of the sale. In the event market liquidity of the Caret units is not achieved within such two year period at a valuation not less than the purchase price for the Caret units purchased in February 2022, reduced by an amount equal to the amount of subsequent cash distributions made to investors on account of such Caret units, then the investors in the February 2022 transaction have the right to
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cause their Caret units purchased in February 2022 to be redeemed by Portfolio Holdings at such purchase price as so reduced.
On March 31, 2023, Old SAFE sold 100,000 Caret units to affiliates of MSD Partners for an aggregate purchase price of $20.0 million (refer to Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements) pursuant to a subscription agreement entered into on August 10, 2022 and sold an aggregate of 22,500 Caret units to third-party investors for an aggregate $4.5 million.
In September 2022, Old SAFE sold a Ground Lease in the Washington, D.C. market for $136.0 million to a third-party purchaser. The transaction generated a net book gain for us of approximately $46.4 million. After paying closing costs, establishing reserves for Caret-related expenses and deducting the original $76.7 million cost basis to us, the remaining proceeds have been distributed approximately 84% to Old SAFE and approximately 16% to the minority holders of Caret units. In addition, the affiliates of MSD Partners received a credit against their purchase price for Caret units equal to the amount they would have received had they held Caret units at the time of the distribution.
Market Opportunity: We believe that there is a significant market opportunity for a dedicated provider of Ground Lease capital like us. We believe that the market for existing Ground Leases is fragmented with ownership comprised primarily of high net worth individuals, pension funds, life insurance companies, estates and endowments. However, while we intend to pursue acquisitions of existing Ground Leases, our investment thesis is predicated, in part, on what we believe is an untapped market opportunity to expand the use of Ground Leases to a broader component of the approximately $7.0 trillion institutional commercial property market in the U.S. We intend to capture this market opportunity by utilizing multiple sourcing and origination channels, including manufacturing new Ground Leases with third-party owners and developers of commercial real estate and originating Ground Leases to provide capital for development and redevelopment. We further believe that Ground Leases generally represent an attractive source of capital for our tenants and may allow them to generate superior returns on their invested equity as compared to utilizing alternative sources of capital. Prior to the Merger, we relied on the extensive investment origination and sourcing platform of iStar, the parent company of our Former Manager, to actively promote the benefits of the Ground Lease structure to prospective Ground Lease tenants. Subsequent to the Merger and the acquisition of iStar and its employees, we are internally managed.
Additionally, we have created additional channels and products that allows us to build a larger, captive pipeline. In connection with the Merger, Old SAFE acquired iStar’s 53% interest in iStar’s two Ground Lease ecosystem funds, Ground Lease Plus Fund and Leasehold Loan Fund (refer to Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements). The Ground Lease Plus Fund includes 3 assets and targets high quality projects in pre-construction development phase with institutional developers. The Leasehold Loan Fund currently includes 4 assets and allows for customers to receive their full capital structure needs in one place. Customers are able to receive a mortgage leasehold loan as well as a Ground Lease through us. We also created “SAFExSWAP,” which is a program that allows real estate investors with existing ground leases to swap into one of our Ground Leases. Additionally, our product “SAFExSELL” provides clients with an opportunity to enter into a Ground Lease at the time of the sale of a real estate asset, generating greater proceeds than would normally be expected in connection with a fee simple sale.
Our Portfolio
Our portfolio of properties is diversified by property type and region. Our portfolio is comprised of Ground Leases and a master lease (relating to five hotel assets that we refer to as our “Park Hotels Portfolio”) that has many of the characteristics of a Ground Lease. As of June 30, 2023, our estimated portfolio Ground Rent Coverage was 3.7x (see the “Risk Factors -Our estimated UCA, Combined Property Value and Ground Rent Coverage, may not reflect the full potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and may decline materially in future periods, -We rely on Property NOI as reported to us by our tenants, -Our estimates of Ground Rent Coverage for properties in development or transition, or for which we do not receive current tenant financial information, may prove to be incorrect” filed as Exhibit 99.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2023 for a discussion of our estimated Ground Rent Coverage).
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Below is an overview of the top 10 assets in our portfolio as of June 30, 2023 (based on gross book value and excluding unfunded commitments):(1)
Property
Expiration /
Rent Escalation
% of Gross
Property Name
Type
As Extended
Structure
Book Value
425 Park Avenue(2)
Office
New York, NY
2090 / 2090
Fixed with Inflation Adjustments
5.9
135 West 50th Street
2123 / 2123
5.1
195 Broadway
2118 / 2118
4.9
Park Hotels Portfolio(3)
Hotel
Various
2025 / 2035
% Rent
3.7
Alohilani
Honolulu, HI
3.5
20 Cambridgeside
Life Science
Cambridge, MA
2121 / 2121
685 Third Avenue
3.2
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC
2117 / 2117
2.5
100 Cambridgeside
Mixed Use and Other
2.4
Columbia Center
2120 / 2120
The following tables show our portfolio by top 10 markets and property type as of June 30, 2023, excluding unfunded commitments:
Market
Manhattan(1)
Boston
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Denver
Honolulu
Nashville
Miami
Atlanta
Property Type
Multifamily
Unfunded Commitments
We have unfunded commitments to certain of our Ground Lease tenants related to leasehold improvement allowances that we expect to fund upon the completion of certain conditions. As of June 30, 2023, we had $250.6 million of such commitments, excluding commitments to be funded by noncontrolling interests.
We also have unfunded forward commitments related to agreements that we entered into for the acquisition of new Ground Leases or additions to existing Ground Leases if certain conditions are met (refer to Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements). These commitments may also include leasehold improvement allowances that will be funded to the Ground Lease tenants upon the completion of certain conditions. As of June 30, 2023, we had an aggregate
$271.2 million of such commitments. There can be no assurance that the conditions to closing for these transactions will be satisfied and that we will acquire the Ground Leases or fund the leasehold improvement allowances.
Through the Leasehold Loan Fund, we also fund construction and development loans and build-outs of space in real estate assets over a period of time if and when the borrowers and tenants meet established milestones and other performance criteria. We refer to these arrangements as performance-based commitments. As of June 30, 2023, we had $127.7 million of such commitments.
Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 compared to the Three Months Ended June 30, 2022
$ Change
(in thousands)
Interest income from sales-type leases
9,911
298
Interest income - related party
Other income
8,187
20,777
15,789
314
121
General and administrative
8,458
678
25,407
4,555
(75)
(600)
Interest income from sales-type leases increased to $58.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 from $48.2 million for the same period in 2022. The increase was due primarily to the origination of new Ground Leases subsequent to June 30, 2022 and additional fundings on existing Ground Leases classified as sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables.
Operating lease income increased to $16.8 million during the three months ended June 30, 2023 from $16.5 million for the same period in 2022. The increase was due primarily to an increase in percentage rent at certain properties.
Interest income – related party was $2.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and relates to the Star Holdings Term Loan Facility.
Other income for the three months ended June 30, 2023 includes $7.2 million of management fees from Star Holdings. In addition, other income for both the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 includes $0.1 million of other income relating to a Ground Lease in which we are the lessee but our tenant at the property pays this expense directly under the terms of a master lease. Other income for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 also includes $1.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of other ancillary income from our investments. The increase in other ancillary income in 2023 as compared to 2022 was primarily due to sublease income, interest income on our cash balances, and management and other fees earned from the funds that we manage.
During the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, we incurred interest expense from our debt obligations of $46.1 million and $30.3 million, respectively. The increase in 2023 was primarily the result of issuances of unsecured notes to fund our growing portfolio of Ground Leases and additional borrowings on our 2021 Unsecured Revolver which accrued interest at higher rates in 2023 due to an increase in base interest rates.
48
Real estate expense was $1.0 million and $0.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which consisted primarily of the amortization of an operating lease right-of-use asset, legal fees, property taxes and insurance expense. In addition, during both the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, we also recorded $0.1 million of real estate expense relating to a Ground Lease in which we are the lessee but our tenant at the property pays this expense directly under the terms of a master lease. The increase in 2023 was primarily the result of an increase in recoverable property taxes.
Depreciation and amortization was $2.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to $2.4 million for the same period in 2022. Depreciation and amortization primarily relates to our ownership of the Park Hotels Portfolio and a multi-family property, the amortization of in-place lease assets, and beginning in the second quarter of 2023, depreciation on our corporate fixed assets.
Subsequent to the Merger closing on March 31, 2023, general and administrative expenses primarily includes public company costs such as compensation (including equity-based compensation), occupancy and other costs. Prior to the Merger closing, general and administrative expenses included management fees, an allocation of expenses to us from our Former Manager, costs of operating as a public company and stock-based compensation (primarily to our non-management directors). The following table presents our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 ($ in thousands):
Public company and other costs(1)
10,926
940
Stock-based compensation
7,990
1,184
Management fees(2)
5,209
Expense reimbursements to the Former Manager(2)
3,125
Total general and administrative expenses
During the three months ended June 30, 2023, we recorded a provision for credit losses of $0.1 million. The provision was primarily the result of a declining macroeconomic forecast on commercial real estate markets since March 31, 2023.
During the three months ended June 30, 2023, other expense consists primarily of legal and consulting costs and costs incurred from the formation of a joint venture. During the three months ended June 30, 2022, other expense consists primarily of legal costs, fees related to our derivative transactions, unsuccessful pursuit costs and state margin taxes. The increase during the three months ended June 30, 2023 was primarily due to additional costs related to the Merger and costs incurred from the formation of a joint venture (refer to Note 4).
During the three months ended June 30, 2023, earnings from equity method investments resulted from our $0.9 million pro rata share of income from our 425 Park Avenue venture, our $1.4 million pro rata share of income from our 32 Old Slip venture, our $1.7 million pro rata share of income from the Ground Lease Plus Fund and our $2.8 million pro rata share of income from the Leasehold Loan Fund. During the three months ended June 30, 2022, earnings from equity method investments resulted from our $0.8 million pro rata share of income from our 425 Park Avenue venture and our $1.4 million pro rata share of income from our 32 Old Slip venture.
During the three months ended June 30, 2023, we recorded income tax expense of $0.5 million. The income tax expense was primarily the result of our taxable REIT subsidiary recording a current and deferred income tax expense of $0.4 million and $0.1 million respectively.
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Results of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 compared to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
23,942
4,233
38,743
31,343
811
117
14,332
14,658
63,550
4,541
(20,266)
(20,791)
Interest income from sales-type leases increased to $115.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 from $91.3 million for the same period in 2022. The increase was due primarily to the origination of new Ground Leases in 2022 and additional fundings on existing Ground Leases classified as sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables.
Operating lease income increased to $37.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023 from $33.4 million for the same period in 2022. The increase was due primarily to a $3.1 million increase in percentage rent, which was primarily attributable to our Park Hotels Portfolio for which we recognized no percentage rent in 2022 and an increase in recovery income in 2023.
Interest income – related party was $2.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and relates to the Star Holdings Term Loan Facility.
Other income for the six months ended June 30, 2023 primarily includes $7.2 million of management fees from Star Holdings. In addition, other income for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 includes $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of other income relating to a Ground Lease in which we are the lessee but our tenant at the property pays this expense directly under the terms of a master lease. Other income for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 also includes $1.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, of other ancillary income from our investments. The increase in other ancillary income in 2023 as compared to 2022 was primarily due to sublease income, interest income on our cash balances, and management and other fees earned from the funds that we manage.
During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, we incurred interest expense from our debt obligations of $86.9 million and $55.6 million, respectively. The increase in 2023 was primarily the result of issuances of unsecured notes to fund our growing portfolio of Ground Leases and additional borrowings on our 2021 Unsecured Revolver which accrued interest at higher rates in 2023 due to an increase in base interest rates.
Real estate expense was $2.2 million and $1.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which consisted primarily of the amortization of an operating lease right-of-use asset, legal fees, property taxes and insurance expense. In addition, during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, we also recorded $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of real estate expense relating to a Ground Lease in which we are the lessee but our tenant at the property pays this expense directly under the terms of a master lease. The increase in 2023 was primarily the result of an increase in recoverable property taxes.
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Depreciation and amortization was $4.9 million and $4.8 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and primarily relates to our ownership of the Park Hotels Portfolio and a multi-family property, the amortization of in-place lease assets, and beginning in the second quarter of 2023, depreciation on our corporate fixed assets.
Subsequent to the Merger closing on March 31, 2023, general and administrative expenses primarily includes public company costs such as compensation (including equity-based compensation), occupancy and other costs. Prior to the Merger closing, general and administrative expenses included management fees, an allocation of expenses to us from our Former Manager, costs of operating as a public company and stock-based compensation (primarily to our non-management directors). The following table presents our general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 ($ in thousands):
12,989
2,270
Stock-based compensation(2)
Management fees(3)
Expense reimbursements to the Manager(3)
6,250
During the six months ended June 30, 2023, we recorded a provision for credit losses of $2.3 million. The provision was primarily the result of the adoption of a new accounting standard (refer to Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements) in 2023 which resulted in a $2.3 million provision on our loan receivable, net – related party.
During the six months ended June 30, 2023, other expense consists primarily of legal and consulting costs and transfer taxes associated with the Merger (refer to Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements). During the six months ended June 30, 2022, other expense consists primarily of fees related to our derivative transactions. The increase during the six months ended June 30, 2023 was primarily due to legal and consulting costs and transfer taxes incurred in connection with the Merger.
During the six months ended June 30, 2023, earnings from equity method investments resulted from our $1.7 million pro rata share of income from our 425 Park Avenue venture, our $2.8 million pro rata share of income from our 32 Old Slip venture, our $1.7 million pro rata share of income from the Ground Lease Plus Fund and our $2.8 million pro rata share of income from the Leasehold Loan Fund. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, earnings from equity method investments resulted from our $1.7 million pro rata share of income from our 425 Park Avenue venture and our $2.8 million pro rata share of income from our 32 Old Slip venture.
During the six months ended June 30, 2023, we recorded income tax expense of $0.5 million. The income tax expense was primarily the result of our taxable REIT subsidiary recording a current and deferred income tax expense of $0.4 million and $0.1 million respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity is a measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including to pay interest and repay borrowings, fund and maintain our assets and operations, complete acquisitions and originations of investments, make distributions to our shareholders and meet other general business needs. In order to qualify as a REIT, we are required under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to distribute to our shareholders, on an annual basis, at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains. We expect to make quarterly cash distributions to our shareholders sufficient to meet REIT qualification requirements.
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In the first quarter 2021, we received investment-grade credit ratings from Moody's Investors Services of Baa1 and Fitch Ratings of BBB+ and entered into an unsecured revolver (refer to Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements) with a total capacity of $1.35 billion (the “2021 Unsecured Revolver”). In the second quarter 2021, the fourth quarter 2021, the first quarter 2022 and the second quarter 2022, we issued four tranches of unsecured notes with varying fixed-rates and maturities ranging from June 2031 to May 2052 (collectively the “Notes”). Our most recent issuance in May 2022 features a stairstep coupon structure (refer to Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements) that is unique in the unsecured and investment-grade market and will benefit key cash flow metrics. In January 2023, we closed on a new $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the “2023 Unsecured Revolver”). The 2023 Unsecured Revolver has a current borrowing rate of Adjusted SOFR, as defined in the applicable agreement, plus 100 basis points, with a maturity of July 31, 2025. We also amended our 2021 Unsecured Revolver (refer to Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements) primarily to transition from LIBOR to Adjusted SOFR, as defined in the applicable agreement. As evidenced by our 2023 Unsecured Revolver, our 2021 Unsecured Revolver and the Notes, we believe the strong credit profile we have established utilizing our modern Ground Leases and our current investment-grade credit ratings from Moody's Investors Services of Baa1 and Fitch Ratings of BBB+ will further accelerate our ability to bring commercial real estate owners, developers and sponsors more efficiently priced capital and allows us significant operational and financial flexibility and supports our ability to scale our Ground Lease platform.
As of June 30, 2023, we had $14 million of unrestricted cash and an aggregate $802 million of undrawn capacity on our 2021 Unsecured Revolver and 2023 Unsecured Revolver. We refer to this unrestricted cash and additional borrowing capacity on our 2021 Unsecured Revolver and 2023 Unsecured Revolver as our “equity” liquidity which can be used for general corporate purposes or leveraged to acquire or originate new Ground Lease assets. Our primary sources of cash to date have been proceeds from equity offerings and private placements, proceeds from our initial capitalization by iStar and two institutional investors and borrowings from our debt facilities, unsecured notes and mortgages. Our primary uses of cash to date have been the acquisition/origination of Ground Leases, repayments on our debt facilities and distributions to our shareholders.
In April 2023, we entered into an at-the-market equity offering (the “ATM”) pursuant to which we may sell shares of our common stock up to an aggregate purchase price of $300.0 million. We may sell such shares in amounts and at times to be determined by us from time to time, but we have no obligation to sell any of the shares. Actual sales, if any, will depend on a variety of factors to be determined by us from time to time, including, among other things, market conditions, the trading price of our common stock, capital needs, and our determinations of the appropriate sources of funding.
We expect our short-term liquidity requirements to include debt service on our debt obligations (refer to Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements), distributions to our shareholders, working capital, new acquisitions and originations of Ground Lease investments. We expect our long-term liquidity requirements to include debt service on our debt obligations (refer to Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements), distributions to our shareholders, working capital, new acquisitions and originations of Ground Lease investments (including in respect of unfunded commitments – refer to Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements) and debt maturities. Our primary sources of liquidity going forward will generally consist of cash on hand and cash flows from operations, new financings, funds from our joint venture partners, unused borrowing capacity under our 2021 Unsecured Revolver (subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable loan agreement), our 2023 Unsecured Revolver (subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable loan agreement) and common and/or preferred equity issuances. We expect that we will be able to meet our liquidity requirements over the next 12 months and beyond.
The following table outlines our cash flows provided by operating activities, cash flows used in investing activities and cash flows provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 ($ in thousands):
52
The decrease in cash flows provided by operating activities during 2023 was primarily due to costs incurred in connection with the Merger, increased costs on our debt obligations in 2023 due to an increase in borrowings and interest rates and us receiving cash in connection with the termination of a derivative transaction in 2022, which were partially offset by an increase in percentage rent and rents collected in 2023 from new originations and acquisitions of Ground Leases throughout 2022. The decrease in cash flows used in investing activities during 2023 was due primarily to a decrease in new originations and acquisitions of Ground Leases, which was partially offset by the origination of the Star Holdings Term Loan Facility, consideration paid in connection with the Merger and an increase in contributions to equity method investments. The decrease in cash flows provided by financing activities during 2023 was due primarily to the issuance of common stock in 2022 and the issuance of unsecured debt to fund our growing Ground Lease portfolio in 2022.
Supplemental Guarantor Disclosure
In March 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted amendments to Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X and created Rule 13-01 to simplify disclosure requirements related to certain registered securities. The amendments became effective on January 4, 2021. We and Portfolio Holdings have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC registering, among other securities, debt securities of Portfolio Holdings, which will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by us. As of June 30, 2023, Portfolio Holdings had issued and outstanding the Notes, which were registered on a Form S-3 filed by Old SAFE and Portfolio Holdings (then known as Safehold Operating Partnership LP). The obligations of Portfolio Holdings to pay principal, premiums, if any, and interest on the Notes are guaranteed on a senior basis by us. The guarantee is full and unconditional, and Portfolio Holdings is a consolidated subsidiary of ours.
As a result of the amendments to Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X, subsidiary issuers of obligations guaranteed by the parent are not required to provide separate financial statements, provided that the subsidiary obligor is consolidated into the parent company’s consolidated financial statements, the parent guarantee is “full and unconditional” and, subject to certain exceptions as set forth below, the alternative disclosure required by Rule 13-01 is provided, which includes narrative disclosure and summarized financial information. Accordingly, separate consolidated financial statements of Portfolio Holdings have not been presented. Furthermore, as permitted under Rule 13-01(a)(4)(vi) of Regulation S-X, we have excluded the summarized financial information for Portfolio Holdings because the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Portfolio Holdings are not materially different than the corresponding amounts in our consolidated financial statements, and management believes such summarized financial information would be repetitive and would not provide incremental value to investors.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and judgments in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported as assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. We have established detailed policies and control procedures intended to ensure that valuation methods, including any judgments made as part of such methods, are well controlled, reviewed and applied consistently from period to period. We base our estimates on historical corporate and industry experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be appropriate under the circumstances. For all of these estimates, we caution that future events rarely develop exactly as forecasted, and, therefore, routinely require adjustment.
Allowance for credit losses on net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables—Effective January 1, 2023, upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13, we implemented procedures to estimate our allowance for credit losses on net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables, including unfunded commitments, using a quantitative analysis to estimate expected loss rates for our portfolio of net investment in sales-type leases and Ground Lease receivables. ASU 2016-13 replaced the incurred loss impairment methodology in prior GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses over the life of the investment and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. We analyze historical unemployment rates and historical data provided by Trepp (“Trepp”) for single asset borrower loans including loan to value ratios, loss rates, timing of losses, vintage, property type and other statistics. We utilize historical loss rates, timing of losses and unemployment rates and update our analysis for current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of unemployment rates to develop an estimate of credit losses. We analyze our portfolio of Ground Leases based on whether the property is
a stabilized property or a development project. Our development properties are assigned a higher loss rate due to the more inherent risk of deals under construction.
We perform a quarterly analysis of our loan receivable that incorporates management’s current judgments about credit quality based on all known and relevant internal and external factors that may affect collectability. We consider, among other things, payment status, lien position, borrower financial resources and investment collateral, collateral type, project economics and geographical location as well as national and regional economic factors. We estimate our Expected Loss on our loans receivable based on relevant information including current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of its investments. The estimate of our Expected Loss requires significant judgment. We calculated our Expected Loss through the use of third-party market data that provided current and future economic conditions that may impact the performance of the commercial real estate assets securing our investments.
Acquisitions—We evaluate each acquisition transaction to determine whether the acquired asset meets the definition of a business. Under ASC 805, an acquisition does not qualify as a business when (i) substantially all of the fair value is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets; (ii) the acquisition does not include a substantive process in the form of an acquired workforce; or (iii) an acquired contract that cannot be replaced without significant cost, effort or delay. Acquisitions of a business are accounted for as business combinations and other acquisition transactions are accounted for as asset acquisitions. Transaction costs related to asset acquisitions are capitalized as part of the cost basis of the acquired assets, while transaction costs related to business combinations are expensed as incurred.
Our acquisition of iStar was accounted for as a business combination. For business combinations, we recognize and measure identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at their fair values on our consolidated balance sheets. In a business combination, the difference, if any, between the purchase consideration and the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired is either recorded as goodwill or as a bargain purchase gain.
Fair values are based on available information including discounted cash flow analysis or similar fair value models. Fair value estimates are also made using significant assumptions such as capitalization rates, discount rates, fair market lease rates and other market data. The fair value of our interests in equity investments acquired is calculated using the fair value of the investments held by the venture, which are valued using methods as described above, and considers our economics in the venture.
The fair value of financial instruments, which could include loans receivable or net investment in sales-type leases, is based on current market conditions and loan or lease agreements in place. The fair value of tangible assets, which could include land, buildings, building improvements and tenant improvements is determined as if these assets are vacant. Intangible assets may include the value of right of use lease assets, above-market leases and in-place leases. Right of use lease assets and lease liabilities are measured at the present value of lease payments not yet paid, discounted at the implied rate charged by the lessor if that rate is readily determinable, or if that rate is not readily determinable, our incremental borrowing rate, as of the date of the acquisition. Right of use assets are included in “Deferred expenses and other assets, net” and lease liabilities are recorded in “Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheets. Above-market leases and in-place leases are each recorded at their fair values and included in “Deferred expenses and other assets, net” on our consolidated balance sheets. Intangible liabilities may also include below-market leases, which are recorded at their fair values and included in “Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheets.
Goodwill—Goodwill is calculated as the excess of purchase consideration over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired and primarily relates to the acquisition of iStar’s workforce and future synergies expected to be realized from the Merger. Goodwill is not subject to amortization but is tested annually for impairment or more frequently should potential triggering events be identified that may indicate potential impairment. We do not expect goodwill to have any tax impact on our financial statements.
For a discussion of other critical accounting policies, refer to Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements and our 2022 Annual Report and our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2023.
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New Accounting Pronouncements—For a discussion of the impact of new accounting pronouncements on our financial condition or results of operations, refer to Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market Risks
Our future income, cash flows and fair values relevant to financial instruments are dependent upon prevalent market prices and interest rates. Market risk refers to the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. One of the principal market risks facing us is interest rate risk on our floating rate indebtedness.
Subject to qualifying and maintaining our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we may mitigate the risk of interest rate volatility through the use of hedging instruments, such as interest rate swap agreements and interest rate cap agreements. Our primary objectives when undertaking hedging transactions will be to reduce our floating rate exposure and to fix a portion of the interest rate for anticipated financing and refinancing transactions. However, we can provide no assurances that our efforts to manage interest rate volatility will successfully mitigate the risks of such volatility on our portfolio. Our current portfolio is not subject to foreign currency risk.
Our objectives with respect to interest rate risk are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on operations and cash flows, and to lower our overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, we may borrow at fixed rates and may enter into hedging instruments such as interest rate swap agreements and interest rate cap agreements in order to mitigate our interest rate risk on a related floating rate financial instrument. We do not enter into derivative or interest rate transactions for speculative purposes.
As of June 30, 2023, we had $2.9 billion principal amount of fixed-rate debt outstanding and $1.1 billion principal amount of floating-rate debt outstanding. The following table quantifies the potential changes in annual net income should interest rates decrease or increase by 10, 50 and 100 basis points, assuming no change in our interest earning assets, interest bearing liabilities, derivative contracts or the shape of the yield curve (i.e., relative interest rates). The base interest rate scenario assumes a 1-month SOFR rate of 5.14% and a 3-month SOFR rate of 5.27% as of June 30, 2023. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimated in the table.
Estimated Change In Net Income
($ in thousands)(1)
Change in Interest Rates
Net Income (Loss)
-100 Basis Points
6,480
-50 Basis Points
3,240
-10 Basis Points
648
Base Interest Rate
+10 Basis Points
(648)
+ 50 Basis Points
(3,240)
+100 Basis Points
(6,480)
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has formed a disclosure committee that is responsible for considering the materiality of information and determining the disclosure obligations of the
Company on a timely basis. The disclosure committee reports directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the disclosure committee and other members of management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b) or Rule 15d-15. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is: (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms; and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this quarterly report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that it will detect or uncover failures within the Company to disclose material information otherwise required to be set forth in the Company’s periodic reports.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are not currently party to any pending legal proceedings that we believe could have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition. However, we may be subject to various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business from time to time.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There were no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Exhibit 99.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2023.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
We did not purchase any shares of our common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2023.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
We did not have any sales of unregistered shares of our common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2023.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
ExhibitNumber
Document Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 10, 2022, by and between iStar Inc. and Safehold Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed August 11, 2022).
3.1
Amended and Restated Charter of Safehold Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed April 4, 2023).
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Safehold Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed April 4, 2023).
+10.1
Amended and Restated 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2023).
22.1
Subsidiary Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities.
31.0
Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
32.0
Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
101*
The following financial information from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2023 is formatted in iXBRL (“eXtensible Business Reporting Language”): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (unaudited) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (unaudited) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022; (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022; and (vi) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
*
In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the iXBRL related information in Exhibit 101 is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.
+
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Registrant
Date:
August 1, 2023
/s/ JAY SUGARMAN
Jay Sugarman
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief
Executive Officer (principal executive officer)
/s/ BRETT ASNAS
Brett Asnas
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer)
/s/ GARETT ROSENBLUM
Garett Rosenblum
Chief Accounting Officer