SL GREEN REALTY CORP
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
General
SL Green Realty Corp. is a self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT, with in-house capabilities in property management, acquisitions and dispositions, financing, development and redevelopment, construction and leasing. We were formed in June, 1997 for the purpose of continuing the commercial real estate business of S.L. Green Properties, Inc., our predecessor entity. S.L. Green Properties, Inc., which was founded in 1980 by Stephen L. Green, the Company's Chairman, had been engaged in the business of owning, managing, leasing, acquiring, and repositioning office properties in Manhattan, a borough of New York City. Reckson Associates Realty Corp., or Reckson, and Reckson Operating Partnership, L.P., or ROP, are wholly-owned subsidiaries of SL Green Realty Corp.
As of December 31, 2016, we owned the following interests in properties in the New York Metropolitan area, primarily in midtown Manhattan. Our investments in the New York Metropolitan area also include investments in Brooklyn, Long Island, Westchester County, Connecticut and New Jersey, which are collectively known as the Suburban properties:
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(1)
The weighted average occupancy for commercial properties represents the total occupied square feet divided by total square footage at acquisition. The weighted average occupancy for residential properties represents the total occupied units divided by total available units.
(2)
As of December 31, 2016, we owned a building that was comprised of approximately 270,132 square feet of retail space and approximately 222,855 square feet of residential space. For the purpose of this report, we have included the building in the number of retail properties we own. However, we have included only the retail square footage in the retail approximate square footage, and have listed the balance of the square footage as residential square footage.
As of December 31, 2016, we also managed an office building with approximately 336,000 square feet, which is owned by a third party, and held debt and preferred equity investments with a book value of $2.0 billion, including $0.3 billion of debt and preferred equity investments and other financing receivables that are included in balance sheet line items other than the Debt and Preferred Equity Investments line item.
Our corporate offices are located in midtown Manhattan at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10170. As of December 31, 2016, our corporate staff consisted of 307 persons, including 209 professionals experienced in all aspects of commercial real estate. We can be contacted at (212) 594-2700. We maintain a website at www.slgreen.com. On our website, you can obtain, free of charge, a copy of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such material electronically with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. We have also made available on our website our audit committee charter, compensation committee charter, nominating and corporate governance committee charter, code of business conduct and ethics and corporate governance principles. We do not intend for information contained on our website to be part of this annual report on Form 10-K. You can also read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington,
DC 20549 (1-800-SEC-0330). The SEC maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to the "Company," "SL Green," "we," "our" and "us" in this annual report means SL Green Realty Corp., a Maryland corporation, and one or more of its subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership, or, as the context may require, SL Green only or the Operating Partnership only, and "S.L. Green Properties" means S.L. Green Properties, Inc., a New York corporation, as well as the affiliated partnerships and other entities through which Stephen L. Green historically conducted commercial real estate activities.
Corporate Structure
In connection with the Company's initial public offering, or IPO, in August 1997, the Operating Partnership received a contribution of interests in real estate properties as well as a 95% economic, non-voting interest in the management, leasing and construction companies affiliated with S.L. Green Properties. We refer to these management, leasing and construction entities, which are owned by S.L. Green Management Corp, as the "Service Corporation." The Company is organized so as to qualify and has elected to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code.
Substantially all of our assets are held by, and all of our operations are conducted through, the Operating Partnership. We are the sole managing general partner of the Operating Partnership, and as of December 31, 2016, we owned 95.84% of its economic interests. All of the management and leasing operations with respect to our wholly-owned properties are conducted through SL Green Management LLC, or Management LLC. The Operating Partnership owns a 100% interest in Management LLC.
In order to maintain the Company's qualification as a REIT while realizing income from management, leasing and construction contracts with third parties and joint venture properties, all of these service operations are conducted through the Service Corporation, a consolidated variable interest entity. We, through our Operating Partnership, receive substantially all of the cash flow from the Service Corporation's operations. All of the voting common stock of the Service Corporation is held by an entity owned and controlled by the chairman of the Company's board of directors.
Business and Growth Strategies
SL Green is New York City's largest owner of commercial real estate and an investment-grade S&P 500 company that is focused primarily on owning, managing and maximizing the value of Manhattan commercial properties.
Our core business is the ownership of high quality commercial properties and our primary business objective is to maximize the total return to stockholders, through growth in net income attributable to common stockholders and funds from operations and through asset value appreciation. The commercial real estate expertise resulting from owning, operating, investing, developing, redeveloping and lending on real estate in Manhattan for over 36 years has enabled us to invest in a collection of premier office and retail properties, selected multifamily residential assets, and high quality debt and preferred equity investments. We also own high quality office properties in the surrounding markets of Brooklyn, Long Island, Westchester County, Connecticut and New Jersey.
We are led by a strong, experienced management team that provides a foundation of skills in all aspects of real estate, including acquisitions, dispositions, management, leasing, development, redevelopment, and financing. It is with this team that we have achieved a market leading position in our targeted submarkets.
We seek to enhance the value of our company by executing strategies that include the following:
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Leasing and property management, which capitalizes on our extensive presence and knowledge of the marketplaces in which we operate;
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Acquiring office, retail and residential properties and employing our local market skills to reposition these assets to create incremental cash flow and capital appreciation;
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Identifying properties primed for development/redevelopment and maximizing value through redevelopment or reconfiguration to match current workplace, retail and housing trends;
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Investing in debt and preferred equity positions that generate consistently strong risk-adjusted returns, increase the breadth of our market insight, foster key market relationships and source potential future investment opportunities;
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Executing dispositions through sales or joint ventures that harvest embedded equity which has been generated through management's value enhancing activities; and
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Maintaining a prudently levered, liquid balance sheet with consistent access to diversified sources of property level and corporate capital.
Leasing and Property Management
We seek to capitalize on our management's extensive knowledge of New York City and surrounding suburban markets and the needs of our tenants through proactive leasing and management programs, which include: (i) use of in-depth market experience resulting from managing and leasing tens of millions of square feet of office and retail space since the Company was founded, predominantly in Manhattan; (ii) careful tenant management, which results in long average lease terms and a manageable lease expiration schedule; (iii) utilization of an extensive network of third-party brokers to supplement our in-house leasing team; (iv) use of comprehensive building management analysis and planning; and (v) a commitment to tenant satisfaction by providing high quality tenant services at competitive rental rates.
We believe that our proactive leasing efforts have directly contributed to our average portfolio occupancy consistently exceeding the market average.
Property Acquisitions
We acquire core properties for long-term value appreciation and earnings growth. We also acquire non-core properties that are typically held for shorter periods during which we intend to create significant increases in value. This strategy has resulted in capital gains that increase our investment capital base. In implementing this strategy, we continually evaluate potential acquisition opportunities. These opportunities may come from new properties as well as acquisitions in which we already hold a joint venture interest or, from time to time, from our debt and preferred equity investments.
Through intimate knowledge of our markets we have developed an ability to source transactions with superior risk-adjusted returns by capturing off-market opportunities. In rising markets, we primarily seek to acquire strategic vacancies that provide the opportunity to take advantage of our exceptional leasing and repositioning capabilities to increase cash flow and property value. In stable or falling markets, we primarily target assets featuring credit tenancies with fully escalated in-place rents to provide cash flow stability near-term and the opportunity for increases over time.
Management’s breadth of activities and expertise in New York City has also enabled us to identify and acquire retail properties in prime Manhattan locations. Combining our real estate skills and ability to attract premier tenants has resulted in transactions that have provided significant capital appreciation. This same market penetration has permitted us to grow a portfolio of high quality, well-located multifamily properties
We believe that we have many advantages over our competitors in acquiring core and non-core properties, both directly and through our joint venture program that includes a predominance of high quality institutional investors. Those advantages include: (i) senior management's average 28 years of experience leading a full-service, fully-integrated real estate company focused on the Manhattan market; (ii) the ability to offer tax-advantaged structures to sellers through the exchange of ownership interests, including units in our Operating Partnership; and (iii) the ability to underwrite and close transactions on an expedited basis even when the transaction requires a complicated structure.
Property Dispositions
We continually evaluate our portfolio to identify those properties that are most likely to meet our long-term earnings and cash flow growth objectives and contribute to increasing portfolio value. Properties that no longer meet our objectives are evaluated for sale, or in certain cases, joint venture to release equity created through management's value enhancement programs or to take advantage of attractive market valuations.
We seek to efficiently deploy the capital proceeds generated from these dispositions into property acquisitions and debt and preferred equity investments that we expect will provide enhanced future capital gains and earnings growth opportunities. Management may also elect to utilize the capital proceeds from these dispositions to repay existing indebtedness of the Company or its subsidiaries, repurchase shares of our common stock, or increase cash liquidity.
Property Repositioning
Our extensive knowledge of the markets in which we operate and our ability to efficiently plan and execute capital projects provide the expertise to enhance returns by repositioning properties that are underperforming. Many of the properties we own or seek to acquire feature unique architectural design elements, including large floor plates, and other amenities and characteristics that can be appealing to tenants when fully exploited. Our strategic investment in these properties, combined with our active management and pro-active leasing, provide the opportunity to creatively meet market needs and generate favorable returns.
Development / Redevelopment
Our constant interactions with tenants and other market participants keep us abreast of innovations in workplace layout, store design and smart living. We leverage this information to identify properties primed for development or redevelopment to meet these demands and unlock value. Our deep visibility into the market allows us to acquire locations before others see the opportunity. The expertise and relationships that we have built from managing complex construction projects in New York City
and its surrounding areas allow us to cost efficiently add new and renovated assets of the highest quality and desirability to our operating portfolio.
Debt and Preferred Equity Investments
We invest in well-collateralized debt and preferred equity investments in New York City that generate attractive yields. See Note 5, "Debt and Preferred Equity Investments," in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Knowledge of our markets and our leasing and asset management expertise provide underwriting capabilities that enable a highly educated assessment of risk and return. The benefits of this investment program, which has a carefully managed aggregate size, net of anticipated payoffs, generally not to exceed 10% of our total enterprise value, include the following:
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Our typical investments provide high current returns at conservative exposure levels and, in certain cases, the potential for future capital gains. Because we are the largest commercial property owner in Manhattan, our expertise and operating capabilities provide both insight and operating skills that mitigate risk.
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In certain instances, these investments serve as a potential source of real estate acquisitions for us when a borrower seeks an efficient off-market transaction. Ownership knows that we are fully familiar with the asset through our existing investment, and that we can close more efficiently and quickly than others. Property owners may also provide us the opportunity to consider off-market transactions involving other properties they own because we have previously provided debt or preferred equity financing to them.
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These investments are concentrated in Manhattan, which helps us gain market insight, awareness of upcoming investment opportunities and foster key relationships that may provide access to future investment opportunities.
Capital Resources
Our objective is to maintain multiple sources of corporate and property level capital to obtain the most appropriate and lowest cost of capital. This objective is supported by:
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Property operations that generally provide stable and growing cash flows through market cycles due to favorable supply/demand metrics in Manhattan, long average lease terms, high credit quality tenants and superior leasing, operating and asset management skills;
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Concentration of our activities in a Manhattan market that is consistently attractive to property investors and lenders through market cycles relative to other markets;
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Maintaining strong corporate liquidity and careful management of future debt maturities; and
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Maintaining access to corporate capital markets through balanced financing and investment activities that result in strong balance sheet and cash flow metrics.
Manhattan Office Market Overview
Manhattan is by far the largest office market in the United States containing more rentable square feet than the next five largest central business district office markets combined. The properties in our portfolio are concentrated in some of Manhattan's most prominent midtown locations.
According to Cushman and Wakefield Research Services as of December 31, 2016, Manhattan has a total office inventory of approximately 396.9 million square feet, including approximately 242.3 million square feet in midtown. Cushman and Wakefield Research Services estimates that in midtown Manhattan, approximately 2.6 million square feet of new construction will become available between 2017 and 2018, approximately 38.3% of which is pre-leased. This increase is partially offset by approximately 1.1 million square feet that is projected to be converted from office use to an alternative use. This will add only approximately 1.0% to Manhattan's total inventory gross of conversions and only approximately 0.6% net of conversions over the next two years.
While the addition of new supply to the Manhattan office inventory is nominal relative to the size of the overall market, we view any additional supply as a positive to the Manhattan office market given the older vintage of the majority of Manhattan’s office inventory and the desire of certain tenants to occupy new, high quality, efficient office space, which often isn’t available in older vintage properties. In addition, Manhattan’s office inventory has only grown by one million square feet over the last 25-30 years.
General Terms of Leases in the Manhattan Markets
Leases entered into for space in Manhattan typically contain terms that may not be contained in leases in other U.S. office markets. The initial term of leases entered into for space in Manhattan is generally seven to fifteen years. Tenants leasing space in excess of 10,000 square feet for an initial term of 10 years or longer often will negotiate an option to extend the term of the lease for one or two renewal periods, typically for a term of five years each. The base rent during the initial term often will provide for agreed-upon periodic increases over the term of the lease. Base rent for renewal terms is most often based upon the then fair
market rental value of the premises as of the commencement date of the applicable renewal term (generally determined by binding arbitration in the event the landlord and the tenant are unable to mutually agree upon the fair market value), though base rent for a renewal period may be set at 95% of the then fair market rent. Very infrequently, leases may contain termination options whereby a tenant can terminate the lease obligation before the lease expiration date upon payment of a penalty together with repayment of the unamortized portion of the landlord's transaction costs (e.g., brokerage commissions, free rent periods, tenant improvement allowances, etc.).
In addition to base rent, a tenant will generally also pay its pro rata share of increases in real estate taxes and operating expenses for the building over a base year, which is typically the year during which the term of the lease commences, based upon the tenant's proportionate occupancy of the building. In some smaller leases (generally less than 10,000 square feet), in lieu of paying additional rent based upon increases in building operating expenses, base rent will be increased each year during the lease term by a set percentage on a compounding basis (though the tenant will still pay its pro rata share of increases in real estate taxes over a base year).
Tenants typically receive a free rent period following commencement of the lease term, which in some cases may coincide with the tenant's construction period.
The landlord most often supplies electricity either on a sub-metered basis at the landlord's cost plus a fixed percentage or a rent inclusion basis (i.e., a fixed fee is added to the base rent for electricity, which amount may increase based upon increases in electricity rates or increases in electrical usage by the tenant). Base building services, other than electricity, such as heat, air conditioning, freight elevator service during business hours and base building cleaning typically are provided at no additional cost, but are included in the building's operating expenses. The tenant will typically pay additional rent only for services which exceed base building services or for services which are provided other than during normal business hours.
In a typical lease for a new tenant renting in excess of 10,000 square feet, the landlord will deliver the premises with existing improvements demolished. In such instances, the landlord will typically provide a tenant improvement allowance, which is a fixed sum that the landlord makes available to the tenant to reimburse the tenant for all or a portion of the tenant's initial construction of its premises. Such sum typically is payable as work progresses, upon submission by the tenant of invoices for the cost of construction and lien waivers. However, in certain leases (most often for relatively small amounts of space), the landlord will construct the premises for the tenant at a cost to the landlord not to exceed an agreed upon amount with the tenant paying any amount in excess of the agreed upon amount. In addition, landlords may rent space to a tenant that is "pre-built" (i.e., space that was constructed by the landlord in advance of lease signing and is ready to for the tenant to move in with the tenant selecting paint and carpet colors).
Occupancy
The following table sets forth the weighted average occupancy rates at our office properties based on space leased as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:
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(1) Same-Store properties for 2016 represents 46 of our 49 consolidated office buildings owned by us at January 1, 2015 and still owned by us in the same manner at December 31, 2016.
Rent Growth
We are constantly evaluating the conditions of the markets in which we operate in order to assess the potential rent growth embedded in our portfolio. We estimated that rents in place at December 31, 2016 for all leases expiring in future periods, excluding triple net leases, in our Manhattan and Suburban consolidated operating properties were 10.2% and 6.0%, respectively, below management's estimates of current market asking rents. Taking rents are typically lower than asking rents and may vary from building to building. We estimated that rents in place at December 31, 2016 for all leases expiring in future periods, excluding triple net leases, in our Manhattan and Suburban operating properties owned through unconsolidated joint ventures were 11.7% and 1.4%, respectively, below management's estimates of current market asking rents. As of December 31, 2016, 41.6% and 52.8% of all leases in-place in our Manhattan and Suburban consolidated operating properties, respectively, were scheduled to expire during the next five years. As of December 31, 2016, 21.6% and 53.8% of all leases in-place in our Manhattan and Suburban
operating properties owned through unconsolidated joint ventures, respectively, were also scheduled to expire during the next five years. There can be no assurances that our estimates of current market rents are accurate, that market rents currently prevailing will not erode in the future or that we will realize any rent growth. However, we believe that rents, which in the current portfolio are below market, provide a potential for long-term internal growth.
Industry Segments
The Company is a REIT that acquires, owns, repositions, manages and leases commercial office, retail and multifamily properties in the New York Metropolitan area and has two reportable segments: real estate and debt and preferred equity investments. Our industry segments are discussed in Note 21, "Segment Information," in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
We evaluate real estate performance and allocate resources based on earnings contribution to income from continuing operations. At December 31, 2016, our real estate portfolio was primarily located in one geographical market, the New York Metropolitan area. The primary sources of revenue are generated from tenant rents and escalations and reimbursement revenue. Real estate property operating expenses consist primarily of security, maintenance, utility costs, real estate taxes and, at certain properties, ground rent expense. As of December 31, 2016, two tenants in our office portfolio contributed 8.1%, and 6.7% of our office portfolio annualized cash rent. No other tenant contributed more than 5.0% of our office portfolio annualized cash rent. Office portfolio annualized cash rent includes our consolidated annualized cash rent and our share of joint venture annualized cash rent. One property, which was sold in June 2016, contributed 12.3% of our consolidated total revenue for 2016. No other property contributed in excess of 10.0% of our consolidated total revenue for 2016.
At December 31, 2016, we held debt and preferred equity investments with a book value of $2.0 billion, including $0.3 billion of debt and preferred equity investments and other financing receivables that are included in balance sheet line items other than the Debt and Preferred Equity Investments line item. At December 31, 2016, the assets underlying our debt and preferred equity investments were located in the New York Metropolitan area. The primary sources of revenue are generated from interest and fee income.
Employees
At December 31, 2016, we employed 1,075 employees, 210 of whom were managers and professionals, 767 of whom were hourly-paid employees involved in building operations and 98 of whom were clerical, data processing and other administrative employees. There are currently six collective bargaining agreements which cover the workforce that services substantially all of our properties.
Highlights from 2016
Our significant achievements from 2016 included:
Corporate
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Broke ground for the development of the 1,401 foot tall, 1.7 million square feet One Vanderbilt office tower directly west of Grand Central Terminal.
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Expanded the number of Independent Directors from five to six by naming Lauren Dillard as an Independent Director.
Leasing
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Signed 169 Manhattan office leases covering approximately 3.2 million square feet. The mark-to-market on signed Manhattan office leases was 27.6% higher in 2016 than the previously fully escalated rents on the same spaces.
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Signed 86 Suburban office leases covering approximately 0.6 million square feet. The mark-to-market on signed Suburban office leases was 6.1% higher in 2016 than the previously fully escalated rents on the same spaces.
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Signed a new lease with Nike, Inc. for 69,214 square feet at 650 Fifth Avenue for 15 years.
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Signed a lease renewal with Penguin Random House at 1745 Broadway for 603,650 square feet, bringing the remaining lease term to 16.8 years.
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Signed a leasehold condominium conveyance with Visiting Nurse Service of New York at 220 East 42nd Street for 308,115 square feet for 30.5 years.
Acquisitions
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Closed on the acquisition of a 20 percent interest in the newly completed, 1,176 unit "Sky" residential tower, located at 605 West 42nd Street, at a previously negotiated purchase option valuation.
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Closed on the off-market acquisition of 183 Broadway for $28.5 million.
Dispositions
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Sourced joint venture partners, National Pension Service of Korea ("NPS") and Hines Interest, LP ("Hines"), which acquired a 27.6% and 1.4% interest, respectively, in One Vanderbilt in January, 2017 and committed aggregate equity to the project of no less than $525 million.
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Closed on the sale of 388 Greenwich Street for $2.0 billion, net of any unfunded tenant concession.
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Closed on the sale of a 40% interest in Eleven Madison Avenue for a total gross valuation of $2.6 billion, inclusive of the costs associated with lease stipulated improvements to the property.
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Together with our joint venture partner, closed on the sale of the Pace University dormitory tower at 33 Beekman for $196.0 million.
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Closed on the sale of a 49% interest in 400 East 57th Street for a gross asset valuation of $170.0 million.
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Together with our joint venture partner, closed on the sale of 7 Renaissance Square for a total gross asset valuation of $20.7 million
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Closed on the sale of 500 West Putnam Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut, for a gross asset valuation of $41.0 million.
Debt and Preferred Equity Investments
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Originated and retained, or acquired, $1,015 million in debt and preferred equity investments, inclusive of advances under future funding obligations, discount and fee amortization, and paid-in-kind interest, net of premium amortization, and recorded $1,044 million of proceeds from sales, repayments and participations.
Finance
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Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services upgraded the corporate credit rating of the Company to investment grade.
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Fitch Ratings upgraded the rating outlook for the Company and affirmed the investment grade corporate credit rating.
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Closed on $1.5 billion of construction financing for One Vanderbilt Avenue. The facility has a term of up to 7 years and bears interest at a floating rate of 3.50% over LIBOR, with the ability to reduce the spread to as low as 3.00% upon achieving certain pre-leasing and completion milestones.
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Closed on an expansion of the term loan portion of the Company's unsecured corporate credit facility by $250.0 million, increasing the total facility size to $2.783 billion.
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Closed on the refinancing of the Company's $300.0 million debt and preferred equity liquidity facility, which provides for favorable financing of the Company's debt and preferred equity portfolio. The new facility has a 2-year term with a 1-year extension option and bears interest ranging from 225 to 400 basis points over LIBOR. depending on the pledged collateral.
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Together with our joint venture partners, closed on a $900.0 million refinancing of 280 Park Avenue. The new facility has a 3-year term (subject to four 1-year extension options), carries a floating interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.00% and replaces the previous $721.0 million of indebtedness on the property that was set to mature in June, 2016.
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Together with our joint venture partners, closed on a $177.0 million 10-year refinancing of 800 Third Avenue, which replaces the previous $20.9 million mortgage that was set to mature in August, 2017. The new mortgage loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.17%, subject to up to a 20 basis point increase under certain conditions.
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Closed on the refinancing of 1-7 Landmark Square in Stamford, Connecticut. The $100.0 million financing has a 10-year term, carries a fixed effective interest rate of 4.91% and replaces the previous $77.9 million of indebtedness on the property.
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Together with our joint venture partners, closed on a $100.0 million recapitalization of Jericho Plaza, which bears interest at a floating rate of 4.15% over LIBOR.
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Together with our joint venture partner, closed on a $97.0 million refinancing of 650 Fifth Avenue, which replaces the previous $65.0 million mortgage and bears interest at a floating rate of 3.75% over LIBOR.
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Obtained floating rate construction financing of $44.0 million for the retail development at 719 Seventh Avenue, which bears interest at a floating rate of 3.05% over LIBOR, with the ability to reduce the spread to 2.55% upon achieving certain hurdles.
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Together with our joint venture partner, closed on the refinancing of 400 East 58th Street. The $40.0 million financing has a 10-year term, carries a fixed interest rate of 3.00%, and replaces the previous $28.5 million of indebtedness on the property.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Declines in the demand for office space in New York City, and in particular midtown Manhattan, as well as our Suburban markets, including Westchester County, Connecticut, New Jersey and Long Island, could adversely affect the value of our real estate portfolio and our results of operations and, consequently, our ability to service current debt and to pay dividends and distributions to security holders.
The majority of our property holdings are comprised of commercial office properties located in midtown Manhattan. Our property holdings also include a number of retail properties and multifamily residential properties. As a result, our business is dependent on the condition of the New York City economy in general and the market for office space in midtown Manhattan in particular. Future weakness and uncertainty in the New York City economy could materially reduce the value of our real estate portfolio and our rental revenues, and thus adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to service current debt and to pay dividends and distributions to security holders. Similarly, future weakness and uncertainty in our suburban markets could adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to service current debt and to pay dividends and distributions to security holders.
We believe that job creation in the financial and professional services industries in New York City impacts our overall financial performance. Both new leasing activity and overall asking rents could be negatively impacted by declining rates of job creation in the current or future periods.
We may be unable to renew leases or relet space as leases expire.
If tenants decide not to renew their leases upon expiration, we may not be able to relet the space. Even if tenants do renew or we can relet the space, the terms of a renewal or new lease, taking into account among other things, the cost of improvements to the property and leasing commissions, may be less favorable than the terms in the expired leases. As of December 31, 2016, approximately 8.3 million and approximately 1.6 million square feet, representing approximately 43.5% and approximately 23.7% of the rentable square feet, are scheduled to expire by December 31, 2021 at our consolidated properties and unconsolidated joint venture properties, respectively, and as of December 31, 2016, these leases had annualized escalated rent totaling $496.4 million and $110.0 million, respectively. We also have leases with termination options beyond 2021. In addition, changes in space utilization by tenants may impact our ability to renew or relet space without the need to incur substantial costs in renovating or redesigning the internal configuration of the relevant property. If we are unable to promptly renew the leases or relet the space at similar rates or if we incur substantial costs in renewing or reletting the space, our cash flow and ability to service debt obligations and pay dividends and distributions to security holders could be adversely affected.
We face significant competition for tenants.
The leasing of real estate is highly competitive. The principal competitive factors are rent, location, services provided and the nature and condition of the property to be leased. We directly compete with all owners, developers and operators of similar space in the areas in which our properties are located.
Our commercial office properties are concentrated in highly developed areas of midtown Manhattan and certain Suburban central business districts, or CBDs. Manhattan is the largest office market in the United States. The number of competitive office properties in Manhattan and CBDs in which our Suburban properties are located, which may be newer or better located than our properties, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to lease office space at our properties, and on the effective rents we are able to charge.
The expiration of long term leases or operating sublease interests where we do not own a fee interest in the land could adversely affect our results of operations.
Our interests in 420 Lexington Avenue, 461 Fifth Avenue, 711 Third Avenue, 625 Madison Avenue, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 1080 Amsterdam Avenue, and 30 East 40th Street, all in Manhattan, and 1055 Washington Avenue, Stamford, Connecticut, are entirely or partially comprised of either long-term leasehold or operating sublease interests in the land and the improvements, rather than by ownership of fee interest in the land.
We have the ability to acquire the fee position at 461 Fifth Avenue for a fixed price on a specific date. The average remaining term of these long-term leases as of December 31, 2016, including our unilateral extension rights on each of the properties, is 51 years. Pursuant to the leasehold arrangements, we, as tenant under the operating sublease, perform the functions traditionally performed by landlords with respect to our subtenants. We are responsible for not only collecting rent from our subtenants, but also maintaining the property and paying expenses relating to the property. Our share of annualized cash rents of the commercial office properties held through long-term leases or operating sublease interests at December 31, 2016 totaled $289.0 million, or 21.8%, of our share of total Portfolio annualized cash rent. Unless we purchase a fee interest in the underlying land or extend the terms of these leases prior to expiration, we will lose our right to operate these properties upon expiration of the leases, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Rent payments under leasehold or operating sublease interests are adjusted, within the parameters of the contractual arrangements, at certain intervals. Rent adjustments may result in higher rents that could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operation.
Adverse economic and geopolitical conditions in general and the commercial office markets in the New York Metropolitan area in particular could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and, consequently, our ability to service debt obligations and to pay dividends and distributions to security holders.
Our business may be affected by volatility in the financial and credit markets and other market, economic, or political challenges experienced by the U.S. economy or the real estate industry as a whole, including changes in law and policy accompanying the new administration and uncertainty in connection with any such changes. Future periods of economic weakness could result in reduced access to credit and/or wider credit spreads. Economic or political uncertainty, including concern about growth and the stability of the markets generally, may lead many lenders and institutional investors to reduce, and in some cases, cease to provide funding to borrowers, which could adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition, and the liquidity and financial condition of our tenants. Our business may also be adversely affected by local economic conditions, as substantially all of our revenues are derived from our properties located in the New York Metropolitan area, particularly in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Because our portfolio consists primarily of commercial office buildings, located principally in midtown Manhattan, as compared to a more diversified real estate portfolio, if economic conditions deteriorate, then our results of operations, financial condition and ability to service current debt and to pay dividends to our stockholders may be adversely affected. Specifically, our business may be affected by the following conditions:
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significant job losses or declining rates of job creation which may decrease demand for our office space, causing market rental rates and property values to be negatively impacted;
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our ability to borrow on terms and conditions that we find acceptable may be limited, which could reduce our ability to pursue acquisition and development opportunities and refinance existing debt, reducing our returns from both our existing operations and our acquisition and development activities and increasing our future interest expense; and
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reduced values of our properties, which may limit our ability to dispose of assets at attractive prices or to obtain debt financing secured by our properties and may reduce the availability of unsecured loans.
We rely on five large properties for a significant portion of our revenue.
Five of our properties, 1515 Broadway, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 11 Madison Avenue, 420 Lexington Avenue, and 1 Madison Avenue accounted for 33.3% of our Portfolio annualized cash rent, which includes our share of joint venture annualized cash rent as of December 31, 2016.
Our revenue and cash available to service debt obligations and for distribution to our stockholders would be materially adversely affected if any of these properties were materially damaged or destroyed. Additionally, our revenue and cash available to service debt obligations and for distribution to our stockholders would be materially adversely affected if tenants at these properties fail to timely make rental payments due to adverse financial conditions or otherwise, default under their leases or file for bankruptcy or become insolvent.
Our results of operations rely on major tenants and insolvency or bankruptcy of these or other tenants could adversely affect our results of operations.
Giving effect to leases in effect as of December 31, 2016 for consolidated properties and unconsolidated joint venture properties, as of that date, our five largest tenants, based on annualized cash rent, accounted for 20.4% of our share of Portfolio annualized cash rent, with two tenants, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, and Viacom International Inc. accounting for 8.1%, and 6.7% of our share of Portfolio annualized cash rent, respectively. Our business and results of operations would be adversely affected if any of our major tenants became insolvent, declared bankruptcy, or otherwise refused to pay rent in a timely fashion or at all. In addition, if business conditions in the industries in which our tenants are concentrated deteriorate, we may experience increases in past due accounts, defaults, lower occupancy and reduced effective rents across tenants in such industries, which could in turn have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Leasing office space to smaller and growth-oriented businesses could adversely affect our cash flow and results of operations.
Some of the tenants in our properties are smaller, growth-oriented businesses that may not have the financial strength of larger corporate tenants. Smaller companies generally experience a higher rate of failure than larger businesses. Growth-oriented firms may also seek other office space as they develop. Leasing office space to these companies could create a higher risk of tenant defaults, turnover and bankruptcies, which could adversely affect our cash flow and results of operations.
We may suffer adverse consequences if our revenues decline since our operating costs do not necessarily decline in proportion to our revenue.
We earn a significant portion of our income from renting our properties. Our operating costs, however, do not necessarily fluctuate in direct proportion to changes in our rental revenue. As a result, our costs will not necessarily decline even if our revenues do. In such event, we may be forced to borrow to cover our costs, we may incur losses or we may not have cash available to service our debt and to pay dividends and distributions to security holders.
We face risks associated with property acquisitions.
We may acquire interests in properties, individual properties and portfolios of properties, including large portfolios that could significantly increase our size and alter our capital structure. Our acquisition activities may be exposed to, and their success may be adversely affected by, the following risks:
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we may be unable to meet required closing conditions;
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we may be unable to finance acquisitions and developments of properties on favorable terms or at all;
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we may be unable to lease our acquired properties on the same terms or to the same level of occupancy as our existing properties;
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acquired properties may fail to perform as we expected;
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we may expend funds on, and devote management time to, acquisition opportunities which we do not complete, which may include non-refundable deposits;
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our estimates of the costs we incur in renovating, improving, developing or redeveloping acquired properties may be inaccurate;
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we may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage for acquired properties; and
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we may be unable to quickly and efficiently integrate new acquisitions and developments, particularly acquisitions of portfolios of properties, into our existing operations, and therefore our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
We may acquire properties subject to both known and unknown liabilities and without any recourse, or with only limited recourse to the seller. As a result, if a liability were asserted against us arising from our ownership of those properties, we might have to pay substantial sums to settle it, which could adversely affect our cash flow. Unknown liabilities with respect to properties acquired might include:
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claims by tenants, vendors or other persons arising from dealing with the former owners of the properties;
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liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business;
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claims for indemnification by general partners, directors, officers and others indemnified by the former owners of the properties; and
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liabilities for clean-up of undisclosed environmental contamination.
Competition for acquisitions may reduce the number of acquisition opportunities available to us and increase the costs of those acquisitions.
We may acquire properties when we are presented with attractive opportunities. We may face competition for acquisition opportunities from other investors, particularly those investors who are willing to incur more leverage, and this competition may adversely affect us by subjecting us to the following risks:
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an inability to acquire a desired property because of competition from other well-capitalized real estate investors, including publicly traded and privately held REITs, private real estate funds, domestic and foreign financial institutions, life insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, pension trusts, partnerships and individual investors; and
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an increase in the purchase price for such acquisition property.
If we are unable to successfully acquire additional properties, our ability to grow our business could be adversely affected. In addition, increases in the cost of acquisition opportunities could adversely affect our results of operations.
We have commenced construction for our ground-up development project at One Vanderbilt Avenue.
The Company continues its significant ground-up development project at One Vanderbilt Avenue. During 2016, the Company obtained a $1.5 billion construction facility for the project and also sourced joint venture partners, NPS and Hines, which acquired a 27.6% and 1.4% interest, respectively, in the project, respectively, in January 2017 and have committed aggregate equity to the project of no less than $525.0 million. The Company and Hines will co-develop the building.
Construction of the project will not be completed for several years. As with any ground-up development project, unforeseen delays and other matters could further delay completion, result in increased costs or otherwise have a material effect on our results of operations. In addition, the extended time frame to complete the project will cause the project to be subject to shifts and trends in the real estate market which may not be consistent with our current business plans for this property.
The Company's project at One Vanderbilt Avenue is located directly above public transit lines and is adjacent to Grand Central Terminal and other historic buildings. Damage to infrastructure or adjacent properties as well as the impact to the area due to construction noise, traffic, or debris could lead to reputational damage and legal actions.
We are subject to risks that affect the retail environment.
Approximately 4.8% of our Portfolio annualized cash rent is generated by retail properties, principally in Manhattan. As a result, we are subject to risks that affect the retail environment generally, including the level of consumer spending, consumer confidence and levels of tourism in Manhattan. These factors could adversely affect the financial condition of our retail tenants and the willingness of retailers to lease space in our retail properties, which could in turn have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
The occurrence of a terrorist attack may adversely affect the value of our properties and our ability to generate cash flow.
Our operations are primarily concentrated in the New York Metropolitan area. In the aftermath of a terrorist attack or other acts of terrorism or war, tenants in the New York Metropolitan area may choose to relocate their business to less populated, lower-profile areas of the United States that those tenants believe are not as likely to be targets of future terrorist activity. In addition, economic activity could decline as a result of terrorist attacks or other acts of terrorism or war, or the perceived threat of such acts. Each of these impacts could in turn trigger a decrease in the demand for space in the New York Metropolitan area, which could increase vacancies in our properties and force us to lease our properties on less favorable terms. Furthermore, we may also experience increased costs in relation to security equipment and personnel. As a result, the value of our properties and our results of operations could materially decline.
Potential losses may not be covered by insurance.
We maintain “all-risk” property and rental value coverage (including coverage regarding the perils of flood, earthquake and terrorism, excluding nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological terrorism ("NBCR")), within three property insurance programs and liability insurance. Management believes the policy specifications and insured limits are appropriate given the relative risk of loss, the cost of the coverage, and industry practice. Separate property and liability coverage may be purchased on a stand-alone basis for certain assets, such as the development of One Vanderbilt.
On January 12, 2015, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2007 ("TRIPRA") (formerly the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act) was reauthorized until December 31, 2020 pursuant to the Terrorism Insurance Program Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2015. The TRIPRA extends the federal Terrorism Insurance Program that requires insurance companies to offer terrorism coverage and provides for compensation for insured losses resulting from acts of certified terrorism, subject to the current program trigger of $120.0 million, which will increase by $20.0 million per annum, commencing December 31, 2015 (Trigger). Coinsurance under TRIPRA is 16%, increasing 1% per annum, as of December 31, 2015 (Coinsurance). There are no assurances TRIPRA will be further extended.
Our wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiary, Belmont Insurance Company, or Belmont, acts as a captive insurance company and as one of the elements of our overall insurance program. Belmont was formed in an effort, among other reasons, to stabilize to some extent the impact of insurance market fluctuations. Belmont is licensed by New York State as a direct insurer of Terrorism and NBCR Terrorism, and a reinsurer with respect to portions of our General Liability, Environmental Liability, Flood, Professional Liability, Employment Practices Liability and D&O coverage. Belmont purchases reinsurance for its Coinsurance and is backstopped by the Federal government for the balance of its terrorism limit for certified acts of terrorism above the Trigger. We purchase direct, third party terrorism insurance up to the Trigger for certified acts of terrorism. Belmont is backstopped by the Federal government for certified acts of NBCR terrorism above the Trigger and subject to its Coinsurance, however does not reinsure its NBCR Coinsurance requirement. There is no coverage for a NBCR terrorism act if covered industry losses are below the Trigger. As long as we own Belmont, we are responsible for its liquidity and capital resources, and the accounts of Belmont are part of our consolidated financial statements. If we experience a loss and Belmont is required to pay a claim under our insurance policies, we would ultimately record the loss to the extent of Belmont's required payment. Therefore, certain insurance coverage provided by Belmont should not be considered as the equivalent of third-party insurance, but rather as a modified form of self-insurance.
Our debt instruments, consisting of mortgage loans secured by our properties (which are generally non-recourse to us), mezzanine loans, ground leases, our 2012 credit facility, senior unsecured notes and other corporate obligations, contain customary covenants requiring us to maintain insurance. Although we believe that we currently maintain sufficient insurance coverage to satisfy these obligations, there is no assurance that in the future we will be able to procure coverage at a reasonable cost. In such instances, there can be no assurance that the lenders or ground lessors under these instruments will not take the position that a total or partial exclusion from “all-risk” insurance coverage for losses due to, for example, terrorist acts is a breach of these debt and ground lease instruments allowing the lenders or ground lessors to declare an event of default and accelerate repayment of debt or recapture of ground lease positions. In addition, if lenders require greater coverage that we are unable to obtain at
commercially reasonable rates, we may incur substantially higher insurance premiums or our ability to finance our properties and expand our portfolio may be adversely impacted.
Furthermore, with respect to certain of our properties, including properties held by joint ventures, or subject to triple net leases, insurance coverage is obtained by a third-party and we do not control the coverage. While we may have agreements with such third parties to maintain adequate coverage and we monitor these policies, such coverage ultimately may not be maintained or adequately cover our risk of loss. We may have less protection than with respect to the properties where we obtain coverage directly. Although we consider our insurance coverage to be appropriate, in the event of a major catastrophe, we may not have sufficient coverage to replace certain properties.
We face possible risks associated with the natural disasters and the physical effects of climate change.
We are subject to risks associated with natural disasters and the physical effects of climate change, which can include storms, hurricanes and flooding, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our properties, operations and business. To the extent climate change causes changes in weather patterns, our markets could experience increases in storm intensity and rising sea-levels. Over time, these conditions could result in declining demand for office space in our buildings or the inability of us to operate the buildings at all. Climate change may also have indirect effects on our business by increasing the cost of (or making unavailable) property insurance on terms we find acceptable, increasing the cost of energy at our properties and requiring us to expend funds as we seek to repair and protect our properties against such risks. There can be no assurance that climate change will not have a material adverse effect on our properties, operations or business.
SL Green depends on dividends and distributions from its direct and indirect subsidiaries.
Substantially all of our assets are held through subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership. Our Operating Partnership’s cash flow is dependent on cash distributions to it by its subsidiaries, and in turn, substantially all of SL Green's cash flow is dependent on cash distributions to it by our Operating Partnership. The creditors of each of our direct and indirect subsidiaries are entitled to payment of that subsidiary’s obligations to them, when due and payable, before distributions may be made by that subsidiary to its equity holders.
Therefore, our Operating Partnership’s ability to make distributions to holders of its partnership units depends on its subsidiaries’ ability first to satisfy their obligations to their creditors and then to make distributions to our Operating Partnership. Likewise, SL Green's ability to pay dividends to holders of common stock and preferred stock depends on our Operating Partnership’s ability first to satisfy its obligations to its creditors and make distributions payable to holders of preferred units and then to make distributions to SL Green.
Furthermore, the holders of preferred partnership units of our Operating Partnership are entitled to receive preferred distributions before payment of distributions to holders of common units of our Operating Partnership, including SL Green. Thus, SL Green’s ability to pay cash dividends to its shareholders and satisfy its debt obligations depends on our Operating Partnership’s ability first to satisfy its obligations to its creditors and make distributions to holders of its preferred partnership units and then to holders of its common units, including SL Green.
In addition, SL Green’s participation in any distribution of the assets of any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries upon the liquidation, reorganization or insolvency, is only after the claims of the creditors, including trade creditors and preferred security holders, are satisfied.
Debt financing, financial covenants, degree of leverage, and increases in interest rates could adversely affect our economic performance.
Scheduled debt payments could adversely affect our results of operations.
Cash flow could be insufficient to pay dividends and meet the payments of principal and interest required under our current mortgages, our 2012 credit facility, our senior unsecured notes, our debentures and indebtedness outstanding at our joint venture properties. The total principal amount of our outstanding consolidated indebtedness was $6.6 billion as of December 31, 2016, consisting of a $1.2 billion unsecured bank term loan, $1.1 billion under our senior unsecured notes, $0.1 billion of junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures, $4.1 billion of non-recourse mortgages and loans payable on certain of our properties and debt and preferred equity investments, and $0.1 billion letters of credit. In addition, we could increase the amount of our outstanding consolidated indebtedness in the future, in part by borrowing under the revolving credit facility portion of our 2012 credit facility. The $1.6 billion revolving credit facility portion of our 2012 credit facility currently matures in March 2020, which includes two six-month extension options. In the first quarter of 2015, we modified and extended the revolving credit facility from March 2018 to March 2020 and reduced the margin by 25 basis points. This modification took effect in the first quarter of 2015. As of December 31, 2016, the total principal amount of non-recourse indebtedness outstanding at the joint venture properties was $6.5 billion, of which our proportionate share was $2.7 billion. As of December 31, 2016, we had no recourse indebtedness outstanding at our unconsolidated joint venture properties.
If we are unable to make payments under our 2012 credit facility, all amounts due and owing at such time shall accrue interest at a rate equal to 2% higher than the rate at which each draw was made. If we are unable to make payments under our senior unsecured notes, the principal and unpaid interest will become immediately payable. If a property is mortgaged to secure payment of indebtedness and we are unable to meet mortgage payments, the mortgagee could foreclose on the property, resulting in loss of income and asset value. Foreclosure on mortgaged properties or an inability to make payments under our 2012 credit facility or our senior unsecured notes could trigger defaults under the terms of our other financings, making such financings at risk of being declared immediately payable, and would have a negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may not be able to refinance existing indebtedness, which may require substantial principal payments at maturity. $267.7 million of consolidated mortgage debt and $312.2 million of unconsolidated joint venture debt is scheduled to mature in 2017 after giving effect to repayments and refinancing of consolidated and joint venture debt between December 31, 2016 and February 17, 2017 as discussed in the "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" section. At the present time, we intend to repay, refinance, or exercise extension options on the debt associated with our properties on or prior to their respective maturity dates. At the time of refinancing, prevailing interest rates or other factors, such as the possible reluctance of lenders to make commercial real estate loans, may result in higher interest rates. Increased interest expense on the extended or refinanced debt would adversely affect cash flow and our ability to service debt obligations and pay dividends and distributions to security holders. If any principal payments due at maturity cannot be repaid, refinanced or extended, our cash flow will not be sufficient to repay maturing or accelerated debt.
Financial covenants could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.
The mortgages and mezzanine loans on our properties generally contain customary negative covenants that limit our ability to further mortgage the properties, to enter into material leases without lender consent or materially modify existing leases, among other things. In addition, our 2012 credit facility and senior unsecured notes contain restrictions and requirements on our method of operations. Our 2012 credit facility and our unsecured notes also require us to maintain designated ratios, including but not limited to, total debt-to-assets, debt service coverage and unencumbered assets-to-unsecured debt. These restrictions could adversely affect operations (including reducing our flexibility and our ability to incur additional debt), our ability to pay debt obligations and our ability to pay dividends and distributions to security holders.
Rising interest rates could adversely affect our cash flow.
Advances under our 2012 credit facility and certain property-level mortgage debt bear interest at a variable rate. Our consolidated variable rate borrowings totaled $1.1 billion at December 31, 2016. In addition, we could increase the amount of our outstanding variable rate debt in the future, in part by borrowing additional amounts under our 2012 credit facility, which consisted of a $1.6 billion revolving credit facility. Borrowings under our revolving credit facility and term loan bore interest at the 30-day LIBOR, plus spreads of 125 basis points and 140 basis points, respectively, at December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, borrowings under our term loan and junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures totaled $1.2 billion and $100.0 million, respectively, and bore weighted average interest at 2.05% and 1.93%, respectively. We may incur indebtedness in the future that also bears interest at a variable rate or may be required to refinance our debt at higher rates. At December 31, 2016, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates across each of our variable interest rate instruments would decrease our annual interest costs by $2.4 million and would increase our share of joint venture annual interest costs by $11.6 million. Our joint ventures may also incur variable rate debt and face similar risks. Accordingly, increases in interest rates could adversely affect our results of operations and financial conditions and our ability to continue to pay dividends and distributions to security holders.
Failure to hedge effectively against interest rate changes may adversely affect results of operations.
The interest rate hedge instruments we use to manage some of our exposure to interest rate volatility involve risk and counterparties may fail to honor their obligations under these arrangements. In addition, these arrangements may not be effective in reducing our exposure to interest rate changes and when existing interest rate hedges terminate, we may incur increased costs in putting in place further interest rate hedges. Failure to hedge effectively against interest rate changes may adversely affect our results of operations.
Increases in our level of indebtedness could adversely affect our stock price.
Our organizational documents do not contain any limitation on the amount of indebtedness we may incur. As of December 31, 2016, assuming the conversion of all outstanding units of the Operating Partnership into shares of SL Green's common stock, our combined debt-to-market capitalization ratio, including our share of joint venture debt of $2.7 billion, was 43.3%. Our market capitalization is variable and does not necessarily reflect the fair market value of our assets at all times. We also consider factors other than market capitalization in making decisions regarding the incurrence of indebtedness, such as the purchase price of properties to be acquired with debt financing, the estimated market value of our properties upon refinancing and the ability of particular properties and our business as a whole to generate cash flow to cover expected debt service. Any changes that increase our debt-to-market capitalization percentage could be viewed negatively by investors. As a result, our stock price could decrease.
A downgrade in our credit ratings could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Our credit rating and the credit ratings assigned to our debt securities and our preferred stock could change based upon, among other things, our results of operations and financial condition. These ratings are subject to ongoing evaluation by credit rating agencies, and any rating could be changed or withdrawn by a rating agency in the future if, in its judgment, circumstances warrant such action. Moreover, these credit ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold our common stock or any other securities. If any of the credit rating agencies that have rated our securities downgrades or lowers its credit rating, or if any credit rating agency indicates that it has placed any such rating on a “watch list” for a possible downgrading or lowering, or otherwise indicates that its outlook for that rating is negative, such action could have a material adverse effect on our costs and availability of funding, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, the trading price of our securities and our ability to satisfy our debt service obligations and to pay dividends and distributions to security holders.
Debt and preferred equity investments could cause us to incur expenses, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
We held first mortgages, mezzanine loans, junior participations and preferred equity interests in 64 investments with an aggregate net book value of $2.0 billion including $0.3 billion of investments recorded in balance sheet line items other than the Debt and Preferred Equity Investments line item at December 31, 2016. Some of these instruments may be recourse to their sponsors, while others are limited to the collateral securing the loan. In the event of a default under these obligations, we may have to take possession of the collateral securing these interests. Borrowers may contest enforcement of foreclosure or other remedies, seek bankruptcy protection against such enforcement and/or bring claims for lender liability in response to actions to enforce their obligations to us. Declines in the value of the property may prevent us from realizing an amount equal to our investment upon foreclosure or realization even if we make substantial improvements or repairs to the underlying real estate in order to maximize such property's investment potential. In addition, we may invest in mortgage-backed securities and other marketable securities.
We maintain and regularly evaluate the need for reserves to protect against potential future losses. Our reserves reflect management's judgment of the probability and severity of losses and the value of the underlying collateral. We cannot be certain that our judgment will prove to be correct and that our reserves will be adequate over time to protect against future losses because of unanticipated adverse changes in the economy or events adversely affecting specific properties, assets, tenants, borrowers, industries in which our tenants and borrowers operate or markets in which our tenants and borrowers or their properties are located. As of December 31, 2016, we had no recorded reserves for possible credit losses. If our reserves for credit losses prove inadequate, we could suffer losses which would have a material adverse effect on our financial performance, the market prices of our securities and our ability to pay dividends and distributions to security holders.
Joint investments could be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority and reliance upon a co-venturer's financial condition.
We co-invest with third parties through partnerships, joint ventures, co-tenancies or other structures, and by acquiring non-controlling interests in, or sharing responsibility for managing the affairs of, a property, partnership, joint venture, co-tenancy or other entity. Therefore, we may not be in a position to exercise sole decision-making authority regarding such property, partnership, joint venture or other entity. Investments in partnerships, joint ventures, or other entities may involve risks not present were a third party not involved, including the possibility that our partners, co-tenants or co-venturers might become bankrupt or otherwise fail to fund their share of required capital contributions. Additionally, our partners or co-venturers might at any time have economic or other business interests or goals which are competitive or inconsistent with our business interests or goals. These investments may also have the potential risk of impasses on decisions such as a sale, because neither we, nor the partner, co-tenant or co-venturer would have full control over the partnership or joint venture. In addition, we may in specific circumstances be liable for the actions of our third-party partners, co-tenants or co-venturers. As of December 31, 2016, our unconsolidated joint ventures owned 41 properties and we had an aggregate cost basis in these joint ventures totaling $1.9 billion. As of December 31, 2016, our share of unconsolidated joint venture debt, which is non-recourse to us, totaled $2.7 billion. None of the joint venture debt is recourse to us as of December 31, 2016.
Certain of our joint venture agreements contain terms in favor of our partners that could have an adverse effect on the value of our investments in the joint ventures.
Each of our joint venture agreements has been individually negotiated with our partner in the joint venture and, in some cases, we have agreed to terms that are more favorable to our partner in the joint venture than to us. For example, our partner may be entitled to a specified portion of the profits of the joint venture before we are entitled to any portion of such profits. We may also enter into similar arrangements in the future. These rights may permit our partner in a particular joint venture to obtain a greater benefit from the value or profits of the joint venture than us, which could have an adverse effect on the value of our investment in the joint venture and on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may incur costs to comply with environmental and health and safety laws.
We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental and health and safety laws which change from time to time. These laws regulate, among other things, air and water quality, our use, storage, disposal and management of hazardous substances and wastes and can impose liability on current and former property owners or operators for the clean-up of certain hazardous substances released on a property and any associated damage to natural resources without regard to whether the release was in compliance with law or whether it was caused by, or known to, the property owner or operator. The presence of hazardous substances on our properties may adversely affect occupancy and our ability to develop or sell or borrow against those properties. In addition to potential liability for clean-up costs, private plaintiffs may bring claims for personal injury, property damage or for similar reasons. Various laws also impose liability for the clean-up of contamination at any facility (e.g., a landfill) to which we have sent hazardous substances for treatment or disposal, without regard to whether the materials were transported, treated and disposed in accordance with law. Being held responsible for such a clean-up could result in significant cost to us and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may incur significant costs complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other regulatory and legal requirements.
Our properties may be subject to risks relating to current or future laws including laws benefiting disabled persons, and other state or local zoning, construction or other regulations. These laws may require significant property modifications in the future, which could result in fines being levied against us in the future. The occurrence of any of these events could have an adverse impact on our cash flows and ability to pay dividends to stockholders.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, all public accommodations must meet federal requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. Additional federal, state and local laws also may require modifications to our properties, or restrict our ability to renovate our properties. We have not conducted an audit or investigation of all of our properties to determine our compliance with laws and regulations to which we are subject. If one or more of our properties is not in compliance with the material provisions of the ADA or other legislation, then we may be required to incur additional costs to bring the property into compliance with the ADA or state or local laws. We cannot predict the ultimate amount of the cost of compliance with ADA or other legislation. If we incur substantial costs to comply with the ADA and any other legislation, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow and/or ability to satisfy our debt service obligations and to pay dividends and distributions to security holders could be adversely affected.
Our charter documents, debt instruments and applicable law may hinder any attempt to acquire us, which could discourage takeover attempts and prevent our stockholders from receiving a premium over the market price of our stock.
Provisions of SL Green's charter and bylaws could inhibit changes in control.
A change of control of our company could benefit stockholders by providing them with a premium over the then-prevailing market price of our stock. However, provisions contained in SL Green's charter and bylaws may delay or prevent a change in control of our company. These provisions, discussed more fully below, are:
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staggered board of directors;
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ownership limitations; and
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the board of directors' ability to issue additional common stock and preferred stock without stockholder approval.
SL Green's board of directors is staggered into three separate classes.
SL Green's board of directors is divided into three classes, with directors in each such class serving staggered three year terms. The terms of the class I, class II and class III directors expire in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Our staggered board may deter a change in control because of the increased time period necessary for a third-party to acquire control of the board.
We have a stock ownership limit.
To remain qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned by five or fewer individuals at any time during the last half of any taxable year. For this purpose, stock may be "owned" directly, as well as indirectly under certain constructive ownership rules, including, for example, rules that attribute stock held by one shareholder to another shareholder. In part to avoid violating this rule regarding stock ownership limitations and maintain our REIT qualification, SL Green's charter prohibits ownership by any single stockholder of more than 9.0% in value or number of shares of its common stock. Limitations on the ownership of preferred stock may also be imposed by us.
SL Green's board of directors has the discretion to raise or waive this limitation on ownership for any stockholder if deemed to be in our best interest. SL Green's board of directors has granted such waivers from time to time. To obtain a waiver, a stockholder must present the board and our tax counsel with evidence that ownership in excess of this limit will not affect our present or future REIT status.
Absent any exemption or waiver, stock acquired or held in excess of the limit on ownership will be transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of a designated charitable beneficiary, and the stockholder's rights to distributions and to vote would terminate. The stockholder would be entitled to receive, from the proceeds of any subsequent sale of the shares transferred to the charitable trust, the lesser of: the price paid for the stock or, if the owner did not pay for the stock, the market price of the stock on the date of the event causing the stock to be transferred to the charitable trust; and the amount realized from the sale.
This limitation on ownership of stock could delay or prevent a change in control of our company.
Debt may not be assumable.
We had $6.6 billion in consolidated debt as of December 31, 2016. Certain of this debt is not assumable and may be subject to significant prepayment penalties. These limitations could deter a change in control of our company.
Maryland takeover statutes may prevent a change of control of our company, which could depress our stock price.
Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, or the MGCL, "business combinations" between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, stock exchange or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:
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any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation's outstanding voting stock; or
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an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the corporation.
A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approves in advance the transaction by which he otherwise would have become an interested stockholder.
After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
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80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation, voting together as a single group; and
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two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.
The business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer, including potential acquisitions that might involve a premium price for SL Green's common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.
In addition, Maryland law provides that holders of "control shares" of a Maryland corporation acquired in a "control share acquisition" will not have voting rights with respect to the control shares except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares of stock owned by the acquiror, by officers of the corporation or by directors who are employees of the corporation, under the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act. "Control shares" means voting shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power: (i) one-tenth or more but less than one-third; (ii) one-third or more but less than a majority; or (iii) a majority or more of all voting power. A "control share acquisition" means the acquisition of ownership of, or the power to direct the exercise of voting power with respect to, issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
We have opted out of these provisions of the MGCL, with respect to business combinations and control share acquisitions, by resolution of SL Green's board of directors and a provision in SL Green's bylaws, respectively. However, in the future, SL Green's board of directors may reverse its decision by resolution and elect to opt in to the MGCL's business combination provisions, or amend SL Green's bylaws and elect to opt in to the MGCL's control share provisions.
Additionally, the MGCL permits SL Green's board of directors, without stockholder approval and regardless of what is provided in SL Green's charter or bylaws, to implement takeover defenses, some of which have not been implemented by SL Green's board of directors. Such takeover defenses, if implemented, may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from making us an acquisition proposal or of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control under circumstances that otherwise could provide our stockholders with an opportunity to realize a premium over the then-current market price.
Future issuances of common stock, preferred stock and convertible debt could dilute existing stockholders' interests.
SL Green's charter authorizes its board of directors to issue additional shares of common stock, preferred stock and convertible equity or debt without stockholder approval and without the requirement to offer rights of pre-emption to existing stockholders. Any such issuance could dilute our existing stockholders' interests. Also, any future series of preferred stock may have voting provisions that could delay or prevent a change of control of our company.
Changes in market conditions could adversely affect the market price of SL Green's common stock.
As with other publicly traded equity securities, the value of SL Green's common stock depends on various market conditions, which may change from time to time. In addition to the current economic environment and future volatility in the securities and credit markets, the following market conditions may affect the value of SL Green's common stock:
•
the general reputation of REITs and the attractiveness of our equity securities in comparison to other equity securities, including securities issued by other real estate-based companies;
•
our financial performance; and
•
general stock and bond market conditions.
The market value of SL Green's common stock is based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the market's perception of the current and future value of our assets, our growth potential and our current and potential future earnings and cash dividends. Consequently, SL Green's common stock may trade at prices that are higher or lower than our net asset value per share of common stock.
The trading price of SL Green's common stock has been and may continue to be subject to wide fluctuations.
Between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016, the closing sale price of SL Green's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, ranged from $80.54 to $119.20 per share. On February 17, 2017, the closing sale price of SL Green's common stock on the NYSE was $111.28. Our stock price may fluctuate in response to a number of events and factors, such as those described elsewhere in this "Risk Factors" section. Additionally, the amount of our leverage may hinder the demand for our common stock, which could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
Market interest rates may have an effect on the value of SL Green's common stock.
If market interest rates go up, prospective purchasers of shares of SL Green's common stock may expect a higher distribution rate on SL Green's common stock. However, higher market interest rates may not result in more funds for us to distribute and could increase our borrowing costs and potentially decrease funds available for distribution. Thus, higher market interest rates could cause the market price of SL Green's common stock to decrease.
Limitations on our ability to sell or reduce the indebtedness on specific mortgaged properties could adversely affect the value of SL Green's common stock.
In connection with past and future acquisitions of interests in properties, we have or may agree to restrictions on our ability to sell or refinance the acquired properties for certain periods. These limitations could result in us holding properties which we would otherwise sell, or prevent us from paying down or refinancing existing indebtedness, any of which may have adverse consequences on our business and result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We face potential conflicts of interest.
There are potential conflicts of interest between us and Stephen L. Green.
There is a potential conflict of interest relating to the disposition of certain property contributed to us by Stephen L. Green, and affiliated entities in our initial public offering. Mr. Green serves as the chairman of SL Green's board of directors and is an executive officer. If we sell a property in a transaction in which a taxable gain is recognized, for tax purposes the built-in gain would be allocated solely to him and not to us. As a result, Mr. Green has a conflict of interest if the sale of a property he contributed is in our best interest but not his.
In addition, Mr. Green's tax basis includes his share of debt, including mortgage indebtedness, owed by the Operating Partnership. If the Operating Partnership were to retire such debt, then he would experience a decrease in his share of liabilities, which, for tax purposes, would be treated as a distribution of cash to him. To the extent the deemed distribution of cash exceeded his tax basis, he would recognize gain. As a result, Mr. Green has a conflict of interest if the refinancing of indebtedness is in our best interest but not his.
Members of management may have a conflict of interest over whether to enforce terms of agreements with entities which Mr. Green, directly or indirectly, has an affiliation.
Alliance Building Services, or Alliance, and its affiliates are partially owned by Gary Green, a son of Stephen L. Green, the chairman of SL Green's board of directors, and provide services to certain properties owned by us. Alliance’s affiliates include First Quality Maintenance, L.P., or First Quality, Classic Security LLC, Bright Star Couriers LLC and Onyx Restoration Works, and provide cleaning, extermination, security, messenger, and restoration services, respectively. In addition, First Quality has the non-exclusive opportunity to provide cleaning and related services to individual tenants at our properties on a basis separately negotiated with any tenant seeking such additional services. The Service Corporation has entered into an arrangement with Alliance whereby it will receive a profit participation above a certain threshold for services provided by Alliance to certain tenants at certain buildings above the base services specified in their lease agreements.
Our company and our tenants accounted for 24.8% of Alliance's 2016 estimated total revenue, based on information provided to us by Alliance. While we believe that the contracts pursuant to which these services are provided were the result of arm's length negotiations, there can be no assurance that the terms of such agreements, or dealings between the parties during the performance of such agreements, will be as favorable to us as those which could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties providing comparable services under similar circumstances.
SL Green's failure to qualify as a REIT would be costly and would have a significant effect on the value of our securities.
We believe we have operated in a manner for SL Green to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and intend to continue to so operate. Many of the REIT compliance requirements, however, are highly technical and complex. The determination that SL Green is a REIT requires an analysis of factual matters and circumstances. These matters, some of which are not totally within our control, can affect SL Green's qualification as a REIT. For example, to qualify as a REIT, at least 95% of our gross income must come from designated sources that are listed in the REIT tax laws. We are also required to distribute to stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income excluding capital gains. The fact that we hold our assets through the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries further complicates the application of the REIT requirements. Even a technical or inadvertent mistake could jeopardize our REIT status. Furthermore, Congress and the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, might make changes to the tax laws and regulations that make it more difficult, or impossible, for us to remain qualified as a REIT.
If SL Green fails to qualify as a REIT, the funds available for distribution to our stockholders would be substantially reduced as we would not be allowed a deduction for dividends paid to our stockholders in computing our taxable income and would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates and we could be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax and possibly increased state and local taxes.
Also, unless the IRS grants us relief under specific statutory provisions, SL Green would remain disqualified as a REIT for four years following the year in which SL Green first failed to qualify. If SL Green failed to qualify as a REIT, SL Green would have to pay significant income taxes and would therefore have less money available for investments, to service debt obligations or to pay dividends and distributions to security holders. This would have a significant adverse effect on the value of our securities. In addition, the REIT tax laws would no longer obligate us to make any distributions to stockholders. As a result of all these factors, if SL Green fails to qualify as a REIT, this could impair our ability to expand our business and raise capital.
We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes
The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are continually under review by Congress, the IRS, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Any such changes could have an adverse effect on an investment in our shares or on the market value or the resale potential of our assets.
We may in the future pay taxable dividends on SL Green's common stock in common stock and cash.
In order to qualify as a REIT, we are required to annually distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gain. In order to avoid taxation of our income, we are required to annually distribute to our stockholders all of our taxable income, including net capital gain. In order to satisfy these requirements, we may make distributions that are payable partly in cash and partly in shares of our common stock. If we pay such a dividend, taxable stockholders would be required to include the entire amount of the dividend, including the portion paid with shares of common stock, as income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, and may be required to pay income taxes with respect to such dividends in excess of the cash dividends received.
We are dependent on external sources of capital.
We need a substantial amount of capital to operate and grow our business. This need is exacerbated by the distribution requirements imposed on us for SL Green to qualify as a REIT. We therefore rely on third-party sources of capital, which may not be available on favorable terms or at all. Our access to third-party sources of capital depends on a number of things, including the market's perception of our growth potential and our current and potential future earnings. In addition, we anticipate raising money in the public equity and debt markets with some regularity and our ability to do so will depend upon the general conditions prevailing in these markets. At any time, conditions may exist which effectively prevent us, or REITs in general, from accessing
these markets. Moreover, additional equity offerings may result in substantial dilution of our stockholders' interests, and additional debt financing may substantially increase our leverage.
Loss of our key personnel could harm our operations and our stock price.
We are dependent on the efforts of Marc Holliday, our chief executive officer, and Andrew W. Mathias, our president. These officers have employment agreements which expire in January 2019 and December 2017, respectively. A loss of the services of either of these individuals could adversely affect our operations and could be negatively perceived by the market resulting in a decrease in our stock price.
Our business and operations would suffer in the event of system failures or cyber security attacks.
Despite system redundancy, the implementation of security measures and the existence of a disaster recovery plan for our internal information technology systems, our systems are vulnerable to a number of risks including energy blackouts, natural disasters, terrorism, war, telecommunication failures and cyber attacks and intrusions, such as computer viruses, malware, attachments to e-mails, intrusion and unauthorized access, including from persons inside our organization or from persons outside our organization with access to our systems. The risk of a security breach or disruption, particularly through cyber attacks and intrusions, including by computer hackers, foreign governments and cyber terrorists, has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and instructions from around the world have increased. Our systems are critical to the operation of our business and any system failure, accident or security breach that causes interruptions in our operations could result in a material disruption to our business. We may also incur additional costs to remedy damages caused by such disruptions. Although we make efforts to maintain the security and integrity of our systems and have implemented various measures to manage the risk of a security breach or disruption, there can be no assurance that our security efforts and measures will be effective or that attempted security breaches or disruptions would not be successful or damaging. Any compromise of our security could also result in a violation of applicable privacy and other laws, significant legal and financial exposure, damage to our reputation, loss or misuse of the information (which may be confidential, proprietary and/or commercially sensitive in nature) and a loss of confidence in our security measures, which could harm our business.
Our property taxes could increase due to reassessment or property tax rate changes.
We are required to pay real property taxes in respect of our properties and such taxes may increase as our properties are reassessed by taxing authorities or as property tax rates change. An increase in the assessed value of our properties or our property tax rates could adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations and our ability to satisfy our debt service obligations and to pay dividends and distributions to our security holders.
Compliance with changing or new regulations applicable to corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses, affect our operations.
Changing or new laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including SEC regulations and NYSE rules, can create uncertainty for public companies. These changed or new laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations in many cases due to their lack of specificity. As a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies, which could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure. If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to practice, our reputation may be harmed.
Our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. In particular, our continued efforts to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related regulations regarding our required assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting and our external auditors' audit of that assessment have required the commitment of significant financial and managerial resources. We expect these efforts to require the continued commitment of significant resources. Further, our directors, chief executive officer and chief financial officer could face an increased risk of personal liability in connection with the performance of their duties. As a result, we may have difficulty attracting and retaining qualified directors and executive officers, which could harm our business.
Forward-looking statements may prove inaccurate.
See Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Forward-looking Information," for additional disclosure regarding forward-looking statements.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
As of December 31, 2016, we did not have any unresolved comments with the staff of the SEC.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our Portfolio
General
As of December 31, 2016, we owned or held interests in 24 consolidated commercial office buildings encompassing approximately 16.1 million rentable square feet and seven unconsolidated commercial office buildings encompassing approximately 6.6 million rentable square feet located primarily in midtown Manhattan. Many of these buildings include some amount of retail space on the lower floors, as well as basement/storage space. As of December 31, 2016, our portfolio also included ownership interests in 25 consolidated commercial office buildings encompassing approximately 4.1 million rentable square feet and two unconsolidated commercial office buildings encompassing approximately 640,000 rentable square feet located in Brooklyn, Long Island, Westchester County, Connecticut and New Jersey. We refer to these buildings as our Suburban properties. Some of these buildings also include a small amount of retail space on the lower floors, as well as basement/storage space.
As of December 31, 2016, we also owned investments in 20 prime retail properties encompassing approximately 818,063 square feet, eight buildings in some stage of development or redevelopment encompassing approximately 814,149 square feet, 21 residential buildings encompassing 4,209 units (approximately 3,719,869 square feet) and two land interests under building improvements that are leased to a third party, encompassing approximately 203,456 square feet. In addition, we manage one office building owned by a third party encompassing approximately 336,000 square feet and held debt and preferred equity investments with a book value of $2.0 billion including $0.3 billion of investments recorded in balance sheet line items other than the Debt and Preferred Equity Investments line item.
The following tables set forth certain information with respect to each of the Manhattan and Suburban office, prime retail, residential, development and redevelopment properties and land interest in the portfolio as of December 31, 2016:
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Excludes leases signed but not yet commenced as of December 31, 2016 .
(2)
Annualized Cash Rent represents the monthly contractual rent under existing leases as of December 31, 2016 multiplied by 12. This amount reflects total rent before any rent abatements and includes expense reimbursements, which may be estimated as of such date. Total rent abatements for leases in effect as of December 31, 2016 for the 12 months ending December 31, 2017 will reduce cash rent by $76.8 million for our consolidated properties and $13.5 million for our unconsolidated properties.
(3)
Includes our share of unconsolidated joint venture annualized cash rent.
(4)
Annualized Cash Rent Per Leased Square Foot represents Annualized Cash Rent, as described in footnote (1) above, presented on a per leased square foot basis.
(5)
The Company has an option to acquire the fee interest for a fixed price on a specific date.
(6)
The Company owns 50% of the fee interest.
(7)
The 1,730,989 gross square foot project, which is anticipated to be completed by the third quarter of 2020, has a total development budget, including land mark-up, of $3.17 billion excluding fees paid to the Company and up to $50.0 million in discretionary owner contingencies. As of December 31, 2016, $2.30 billion of the budget remains to be spent, comprised of $863.2 million of partners’ equity, and $1.44 billion of financing available under the project’s construction facility.
Historical Occupancy
Historically we have achieved consistently higher occupancy rates in our Manhattan portfolio as compared to the overall midtown markets, as shown over the last five years in the following table:
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Includes leases signed but not yet commenced as of the relevant date in our wholly-owned and joint venture properties.
(2)
Includes vacant space available for direct lease and sublease. Source: Cushman & Wakefield.
(3)
The term "Class B" is generally used in the Manhattan office market to describe office properties that are more than 25 years old but that are in good physical condition, enjoy widespread acceptance by high-quality tenants and are situated in desirable locations in Manhattan. Class B office properties can be distinguished from Class A properties in that Class A properties are generally newer properties with higher finishes and frequently obtain the highest rental rates within their markets.
Historically we have achieved consistently higher occupancy rates in our Westchester County and Connecticut portfolios in comparison to the overall Westchester County and Stamford, Connecticut, CBD markets, as shown over the last five years in the following table:
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Includes leases signed but not yet commenced as of the relevant date in our wholly-owned and joint venture properties.
(2)
Includes vacant space available for direct lease and sublease. Source: Cushman & Wakefield.
Lease Expirations
Leases in our Manhattan portfolio, as at many other Manhattan office properties, typically have an initial term of seven to fifteen years, compared to typical lease terms of five to ten years in other large U.S. office markets. For the five years ending December 31, 2021, the average annual lease expirations at our Manhattan consolidated and unconsolidated operating properties is expected to be approximately 1.3 million square feet and approximately 0.3 million square feet, respectively, representing an average annual expiration rate of approximately 8.4% and approximately 4.3%, respectively, per year (assuming no tenants exercise renewal or cancellation options and there are no tenant bankruptcies or other tenant defaults).
The following tables set forth a schedule of the annual lease expirations at our Manhattan consolidated and unconsolidated operating properties, respectively, with respect to leases in place as of December 31, 2016 for each of the next ten years and thereafter (assuming that no tenants exercise renewal or cancellation options and that there are no tenant bankruptcies or other tenant defaults):
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Tenants may have multiple leases.
(2)
Annualized Cash Rent of Expiring Leases represents the monthly contractual rent under existing leases as of December 31, 2016 multiplied by 12. This amount reflects total rent before any rent abatements and includes expense reimbursements, which may be estimated as of such date. Total rent abatements for leases in effect as of December 31, 2016 for the 12 months ending December 31, 2017 will reduce cash rent by $70.3 million for the properties.
(3)
Annualized Cash Rent Per Leased Square Foot of Expiring Leases represents Annualized Cash Rent of Expiring Leases, as described in footnote (2) above, presented on a per leased square foot basis.
(4)
Includes approximately 27,470 square feet and annualized cash rent of $1.5 million occupied by month-to-month holdover tenants whose leases expired prior to December 31, 2016.
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Tenants may have multiple leases.
(2)
Annualized Cash Rent of Expiring Leases represents the monthly contractual rent under existing leases as of December 31, 2016 multiplied by 12. This amount reflects total rent before any rent abatements and includes expense reimbursements, which may be estimated as of such date. Total rent abatements for leases in effect as of December 31, 2016 for the 12 months ending December 31, 2017 will reduce cash rent by $13.5 million for the joint venture properties.
(3)
Annualized Cash Rent Per Leased Square Foot of Expiring Leases represents Annualized Cash Rent of Expiring Leases, as described in footnote (2) above, presented on a per leased square foot basis.
(4)
Includes approximately 291 square feet and annualized cash rent of $6,600 occupied by month-to-month holdover tenants whose leases expired prior to December 31, 2016.
Leases in our Suburban portfolio, as at many other suburban office properties, typically have an initial term of five to ten years. For the five years ending December 31, 2021, the average annual lease expirations at our Suburban consolidated and unconsolidated operating properties is expected to be approximately 0.4 million square feet and approximately 48,870 square feet, respectively, representing an average annual expiration rate of approximately 11.0% per year and approximately 10.9%, respectively, per year (assuming no tenants exercise renewal or cancellation options and there are no tenant bankruptcies or other tenant defaults).
The following tables set forth a schedule of the annual lease expirations at our Suburban consolidated and unconsolidated operating properties, respectively, with respect to leases in place as of December 31, 2016 for each of the next ten years and thereafter (assuming that no tenants exercise renewal or cancellation options and that there are no tenant bankruptcies or other tenant defaults):
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Tenants may have multiple leases.
(2)
Annualized Cash Rent of Expiring Leases represents the monthly contractual rent under existing leases as of December 31, 2016 multiplied by 12. This amount reflects total rent before any rent abatements and includes expense reimbursements, which may be estimated as of such date. Total rent abatements for leases in effect as of December 31, 2016 for the 12 months ending December 31, 2017 will reduce cash rent by $6.5 million for the properties.
(3)
Annualized Cash Rent Per Leased Square Foot of Expiring Leases represents Annualized Cash Rent of Expiring Leases, as described in footnote (2) above, presented on a per leased square foot basis.
(4)
Includes approximately 66,467 square feet and annualized cash rent of $2.4 million occupied by month-to-month holdover tenants whose leases expired prior to December 31, 2016.
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Tenants may have multiple leases.
(2)
Annualized Cash Rent of Expiring Leases represents the monthly contractual rent under existing leases as of December 31, 2016 multiplied by 12. This amount reflects total rent before any rent abatements and includes expense reimbursements, which may be estimated as of such date. Total rent abatements for leases in effect as of December 31, 2016 for the 12 months ending December 31, 2017 will reduce cash rent by zero for the joint venture properties.
(3)
Annualized Cash Rent Per Leased Square Foot of Expiring Leases represents Annualized Cash Rent of Expiring Leases, as described in footnote (2) above, presented on a per leased square foot basis.
(4)
Includes approximately 4,060 square feet and annualized cash rent of $0.1 million occupied by month-to-month holdover tenants whose leases expired prior to December 31, 2016.
Tenant Diversification
At December 31, 2016, our Manhattan and Suburban office properties were leased to 1,317 tenants, which are engaged in a variety of businesses, including professional services, financial services, media, apparel, business services and government/non-profit. The following table sets forth information regarding the leases with respect to the 30 largest tenants in our Manhattan and Suburban office properties, which are not intended to be representative of our tenants as a whole, based on the amount of square footage leased by our tenants as of December 31, 2016:
Environmental Matters
We engaged independent environmental consulting firms to perform Phase I environmental site assessments on our portfolio, in order to assess existing environmental conditions. All of the Phase I assessments met the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard. Under the ASTM Standard, a Phase I environmental site assessment consists of a site visit, an historical record review, a review of regulatory agency data bases and records, and interviews with on-site personnel, with the purpose of identifying potential environmental concerns associated with real estate. These environmental site assessments did not reveal any known environmental liability that we believe will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
As of December 31, 2016, the Company and the Operating Partnership were not involved in any material litigation nor, to management's knowledge, was any material litigation threatened against us or our portfolio which if adversely determined could have a material adverse impact on us.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not Applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS' COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
SL GREEN REALTY CORP.
SL Green's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol "SLG." On February 17, 2017, the reported closing sale price per share of common stock on the NYSE was $111.28 and there were 330 holders of record of SL Green's common stock. The table below sets forth the quarterly high and low closing sales prices of the common stock on the NYSE and the dividends declared by us with respect to the periods indicated.
If dividends are declared in a quarter, those dividends are generally paid during the subsequent quarter. We expect to continue our policy of distributing our taxable income through regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis, although there is no assurance as to future dividends because they depend on future earnings, capital requirements and financial condition. See Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Dividends," for additional information regarding our dividends.
UNITS
At December 31, 2016, there were 4,363,716 units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership outstanding and held by persons other than the Company, which received distributions per unit in the same manner as dividends per share were distributed to common stockholders.
SL GREEN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
There is no established public trading market for the common units of the Operating Partnership. On February 17, 2017, there were 330 holders of record and 105,257,631 common units outstanding, 100,579,714 of which were held by SL Green. The table below sets forth the quarterly distributions paid by the Operating Partnership to holders of its common units with respect to the periods indicated.
SL Green expects to pay dividends to its stockholders on a quarterly basis based on the distributions from the Operating Partnership to it primarily from property revenues net of operating expenses or, if necessary, from working capital or borrowings. If SL Green declares a dividend, such dividend is generally paid in the subsequent quarter.
In order for SL Green to maintain its qualification as a REIT, it must make annual distributions to its stockholders of at least 90% of its taxable income (not including net capital gains). SL Green has adopted a policy of paying regular quarterly dividends on its common stock, and the Operating Partnership has adopted a policy of paying regular quarterly distributions to its common units corresponding to dividends paid by SL Green. Cash distributions have been paid on the common stock of SL Green and the common units of the Operating Partnership since the initial public offering of SL Green. Distributions are declared at the discretion of the board of directors of SL Green and depend on actual and anticipated cash from operations, financial condition, capital requirements, the annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and other factors SL Green’s board of directors may consider relevant.
Each time SL Green issues shares of stock (other than in exchange for common units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership, or OP Units, when such OP Units are presented for redemption), it contributes the proceeds of such issuance
to the Operating Partnership in return for an equivalent number of units of limited partnership interest with rights and preferences analogous to the shares issued.
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
None.
SALE OF UNREGISTERED AND REGISTERED SECURITIES; USE OF PROCEEDS FROM REGISTERED SECURITIES
During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, we issued 292,291, 482,311 and 315,054 shares of SL Green's common stock, respectively, to holders of units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership upon the redemption of such units pursuant to the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership. The issuance of such shares was exempt from registration under the Securities Act, pursuant to the exemption contemplated by Section 4(a)(2) thereof for transactions not involving a public offering. The units were converted into an equal number of shares of SL Green's common stock.
The following table summarizes information, as of December 31, 2016, relating to our equity compensation plans pursuant to which shares of SL Green's common stock or other equity securities may be granted from time to time.
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Includes our 2014 Outperformance Plan, Fourth Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, Amended 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amended, and 2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(2)
Includes (i) $1,737,213 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options (748,617 of which are vested and exercisable), (ii) 78,300 restricted stock units and 89,790 phantom stock units that may be settled in shares of common stock (89,790 of which are vested), (iii) 2,079,600 LTIP units that, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, are convertible into common units, which may be presented to us for redemption and acquired by us for shares of SL Green's common stock (1,494,100 of which are vested) and (iv) shares of common stock reserved in connection with LTIP units issued pursuant to the 2014 Outperformance Plan, all of which remain subject to performance-based vesting and a dollar value limitation on the number of LTIP units that may be earned based on SL Green's common stock price when the LTIP units are earned.
(3)
Because there is no exercise price associated with restricted stock units, phantom stock units or LTIP units, these awards are not included in the weighted-average exercise price calculation.
(4)
Balance is after reserving for shares underlying outstanding restricted stock units, phantom stock units granted pursuant to our Non-Employee Directors' Deferral Program and LTIP Units, including, among others, outstanding LTIP Units issued under our 2011 Long-Term Outperformance Plan, which remain subject to performance-based vesting. The number of securities remaining available consists of shares remaining available for issuance under our 2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Third Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and 2014 Outperformance Plan.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth our selected financial data and should be read in conjunction with our Financial Statements and notes thereto included in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in this Form 10-K.
SL GREEN REALTY CORP.
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Funds From Operations, or FFO, is a widely recognized measure of REIT performance. We compute FFO in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, which may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs that do not compute FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition, or that interpret the NAREIT definition differently than we do. The revised White Paper on FFO approved by the Board of Governors of NAREIT in April 2002, and as subsequently amended, defines FFO as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from debt restructurings, sales of properties and real estate related impairment charges, plus real estate related depreciation and amortization and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. We present FFO because we consider it an important supplemental measure of our operating performance and believe that it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of REITs, particularly those that own and operate commercial office properties. We also use FFO as one of several criteria to determine performance-based bonuses for members of our senior management. FFO is intended to exclude GAAP historical cost depreciation and amortization of real estate and related assets, which assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes ratably over time. Historically, however, real estate values have risen or fallen with market conditions. Because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization unique to real estate, gains and losses from property dispositions and extraordinary items, it provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, reflects the impact to operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs, interest costs, providing perspective not immediately apparent from net income. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP), as an indication of our financial performance or to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions.
A reconciliation of FFO to net income computed in accordance with GAAP is included in Item 7, of "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Funds From Operations."
SL GREEN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
SL Green Realty Corp., which is referred to as SL Green or the Company, a Maryland corporation, and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., which is referred to as SLGOP or the Operating Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, were formed in June 1997 for the purpose of combining the commercial real estate business of S.L. Green Properties, Inc. and its affiliated partnerships and entities. The Company is a self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT, with in-house capabilities in commercial and residential property management, acquisitions and dispositions, financing, development and redevelopment, construction and leasing. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to "we," "our" and "us" means the Company and all entities owned or controlled by the Company, including the Operating Partnership.
Reckson Associates Realty Corp., or Reckson, and Reckson Operating Partnership, L.P. or ROP, are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the SL Green Realty Corp.
The following discussion related to our consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements appearing in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The New York City commercial real estate market remained strong in 2016, and we took advantage of this market in improving asking rents and strategically selling or forming joint venture properties at attractive market valuations.
Leasing and Operating
In 2016, our same-store Manhattan office property occupancy based on leases signed was 97.1% compared to 97.2% in the prior year. We signed office leases in Manhattan encompassing approximately 3.2 million square feet, of which approximately 2.6 million square feet represented office leases that replaced previously occupied space. Our mark-to-market on these approximately 2.6 million square feet of signed Manhattan office leases that replaced previously occupied space was 27.6% for 2016.
According to Cushman & Wakefield, new leasing activity in Manhattan in 2016 totaled approximately 26.3 million square feet. Of the total 2016 leasing activity in Manhattan, the Midtown submarket accounted for approximately 17.9 million square feet, or approximately 68.1%. Midtown's overall office vacancy increased from 8.5% at December 31, 2015 to 9.3% at December 31, 2016.
Overall average asking rents in Manhattan increased in 2016 by 1.7% from $71.58 per square foot at December 31, 2015 to $72.82 per square foot at December 31, 2016. Midtown Manhattan average asking rents increased in 2016 by 2.3% from $76.65 per square foot at December 31, 2015 to $78.39 per square foot at December 31, 2016. The Midtown South average asking rent rose 1.7% year-over-year to $70.86 per square foot while downtown average asking rents decreased 0.5% year-over-year to $59.30 per square foot.
Acquisition and Disposition Activity
Overall Manhattan sales volume decreased by 31.5% in 2016 to $39.6 billion as compared to $57.8 billion in 2015. Consistent with our multi-faceted approach to property acquisitions, we selectively sourced the off-market purchase of a retail and residential mixed-use property that provides value enhancement opportunities for $28.5 million.
We also continued to take advantage of significant interest by both international and domestic institutions and individuals seeking ownership interests in Manhattan properties to sell assets, disposing of a significant volume of properties that were non-core or had more limited growth opportunities, raising efficiently priced capital that was used primarily for debt reduction. During the year, we sold all or part of our interest in 11 Madison Avenue, 388-390 Greenwich Street, 885 Third Avenue, 248-252 Bedford Avenue, 400 East 57th Street, 500 West Putnam and 7 International Drive for total gross valuations of $5.3 billion.
Debt and Preferred Equity
In 2015 and 2016, in our debt and preferred equity portfolio we continued to focus on the origination of financings, typically in the form of mezzanine debt, for owners, acquirers or developers of New York City properties. This investment strategy provides us with the opportunity to fill a need for additional debt financing by providing higher leverage than are often available through traditional lending sources, while achieving attractive risk adjusted returns to us on the investments and receiving a significant amount of additional information on the New York City real estate market. The typical investments made by us during 2015 and 2016 were to reputable owners or acquirers which have sizable equity subordinate to our last dollar exposure. During 2016, our debt and preferred equity activities included purchases and originations, inclusive of advances under future funding obligations, discount and fee amortization, and paid-in-kind interest, net of premium amortization, of $1,015 million, and sales, redemption and participations of $1,045 million.
For descriptions of significant activities in 2016, refer to "Part I, Item 1. Business - Highlights from 2016".
Critical Accounting Policies
Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and contingencies as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. We evaluate our assumptions and estimates on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
Investment in Commercial Real Estate Properties
On a periodic basis, we assess whether there are any indications that the value of our real estate properties may be other than temporarily impaired or that their carrying value may not be recoverable. A property's value is considered impaired if management's estimate of the aggregate future cash flows (undiscounted) to be generated by the property is less than the carrying value of the property. To the extent impairment has occurred, the loss will be measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the property over the calculated fair value of the property.
We also evaluate our real estate properties for potential impairment when a real estate property has been classified as held for sale. Real estate assets held for sale are valued at the lower of either their carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. We do not believe that there were any indicators of impairment at any of our consolidated properties at December 31, 2016
During the second quarter of 2016, we recorded a $10.4 million charge in connection with the sale of one property, 500 West Putnam, which closed in the third quarter of 2016. This charge is included in depreciable real estate reserves in the consolidated statements of operations.
During the three months ended September 30, 2015, we recorded a $19.2 million charge in connection with the sale of two of our properties, which closed in the fourth quarter of 2015. This charge is included in depreciable real estate reserves in the consolidated statements of operations.
During the fourth quarter of 2015, we entered into an agreement to sell 885 Third Avenue and recorded a $6.6 million charge which was included in gain on sale of real estate, net in the consolidated statement of operations. At December 31, 2015, 885 Third Avenue was not reclassified as held for sale as a result of not meeting the criteria in ASC 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment - Impairment and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. In February 2016, we closed on the sale of this property but do not anticipate meeting the criteria for the full accrual method in ASC 360-20, Property, Plant and Equipment - Real Estate Sales and as a result the property will remain on our consolidated balance sheet until the criteria is met.
We incur a variety of costs in the development and leasing of our properties. After determination is made to capitalize a cost, it is allocated to the specific component of a project that is benefited. Determination of when a development project is substantially complete and capitalization must cease involves a degree of judgment. The costs of land and building under development include specifically identifiable costs. The capitalized costs include, but are not limited to, pre-construction costs essential to the development of the property, development costs, construction costs, interest costs, real estate taxes, salaries and related costs and other costs incurred during the period of development. We consider a construction project as substantially completed and held available for occupancy upon the completion of tenant improvements, but no later than one year after major construction activity is completed. We cease capitalization on the portions substantially completed and occupied or held available for occupancy, and capitalize only those costs associated with the portions under construction.
Results of operations of properties acquired are included in the consolidated statements of operations from the date of acquisition.
We recognize the assets acquired, liabilities assumed (including contingencies) and any noncontrolling interests in an acquired entity at their fair values on the acquisition date. We expense transaction costs related to the acquisition of certain assets as incurred, which are included in transaction related costs on our consolidated statements of operations.
When we acquire our partner's equity interest in an existing unconsolidated joint venture and gain control over the investment, we record the consolidated investment at fair value. The difference between the book value of our equity investment on the purchase date and our share of the fair value of the investment's purchase price is recorded as a purchase price fair value adjustment in our consolidated statements of operations. In December 2015, we recognized a purchase price fair value adjustment of $40.1 million in connection with the consolidation of 600 Lexington Avenue. In May 2014, we recognized a purchase price fair value adjustment
of $71.4 million in connection with the consolidation of 388-390 Greenwich Street. These acquisitions were previously accounted for as investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.
We allocate the purchase price of real estate to land and building (inclusive of tenant improvements) and, if determined to be material, intangibles, such as the value of above- and below-market leases and origination costs associated with the in-place leases. We depreciate the amount allocated to building (inclusive of tenant improvements) over their estimated useful lives, which generally range from three to 40 years. We amortize the amount allocated to the above- and below-market leases over the remaining term of the associated lease, which generally range from one to 14 years, and record it as either an increase (in the case of below-market leases) or a decrease (in the case of above-market leases) to rental income. We amortize the amount allocated to the values associated with in-place leases over the expected term of the associated lease, which generally ranges from one to 14 years. If a tenant vacates its space prior to the contractual termination of the lease and no rental payments are being made on the lease, any unamortized balance of the related intangible will be written off. The tenant improvements and origination costs are amortized as an expense over the remaining life of the lease (or charged against earnings if the lease is terminated prior to its contractual expiration date). We assess fair value of the leases based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and capitalization rates and available market information. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including the historical operating results, known trends, and market/economic conditions that may affect the property. To the extent acquired leases contain fixed rate renewal options that are below-market and determined to be material, we amortize such below-market lease value into rental income over the renewal period.
Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
We account for our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures under the equity method of accounting in cases where we exercise significant influence over, but do not control, these entities and are not considered to be the primary beneficiary. We consolidate those joint ventures that we control or which are VIEs and where we are considered to be the primary beneficiary. In all these joint ventures, the rights of the joint venture partner are both protective as well as participating. Unless we are determined to be the primary beneficiary in a VIE, these participating rights preclude us from consolidating these VIE entities. These investments are recorded initially at cost, as investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, and subsequently adjusted for equity in net income (loss) and cash contributions and distributions. Equity in net income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures is allocated based on our ownership or economic interest in each joint venture. When a capital event (as defined in each joint venture agreement) such as a refinancing occurs, if return thresholds are met, future equity income will be allocated at our increased economic interest. We recognize incentive income from unconsolidated real estate joint ventures as income to the extent it is earned and not subject to a clawback feature. Distributions we receive from unconsolidated real estate joint ventures in excess of our basis in the investment are recorded as offsets to our investment balance if we remain liable for future obligations of the joint venture or may otherwise be committed to provide future additional financial support. None of the joint venture debt is recourse to us. The Company has performance guarantees under master leases at two joint ventures. See Note 6, "Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures."
We assess our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures for recoverability, and if it is determined that a loss in value of the investment is other than temporary, we write down the investment to its fair value. We evaluate our equity investments for impairment based on the joint ventures' projected discounted cash flows. We do not believe that the values of any of our equity investments were impaired at December 31, 2016.
We may originate loans for real estate acquisition, development and construction, where we expect to receive some of the residual profit from such projects. When the risk and rewards of these arrangements are essentially the same as an investor or joint venture partner, we account for these arrangements as real estate investments under the equity method of accounting for investments. Otherwise, we account for these arrangements consistent with our loan accounting for our debt and preferred equity investments.
Revenue Recognition
Rental revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The excess of rents recognized over amounts contractually due pursuant to the underlying leases are included in deferred rents receivable on the consolidated balance sheets. We establish, on a current basis, an allowance for future potential tenant credit losses, which may occur against this account. The balance reflected on the consolidated balance sheets is net of such allowance.
We record a gain on sale of real estate when title is conveyed to the buyer, subject to the buyer's financial commitment being sufficient to provide economic substance to the sale and provided that we have no substantial economic involvement with the buyer.
Interest income on debt and preferred equity investments is accrued based on the contractual terms of the instruments and when, in the opinion of management, it is deemed collectible. Some debt and preferred equity investments provide for accrual of interest at specified rates, which differ from current payment terms. Interest is recognized on such loans at the accrual rate subject to management's determination that accrued interest is ultimately collectible, based on the underlying collateral and operations of the borrower. If management cannot make this determination, interest income above the current pay rate is recognized only upon actual receipt.
Deferred origination fees, original issue discounts and loan origination costs, if any, are recognized as an adjustment to the interest income over the terms of the related investments using the effective interest method. Fees received in connection with loan commitments are also deferred until the loan is funded and are then recognized over the term of the loan as an adjustment to yield.
Debt and preferred equity investments are placed on a non-accrual status at the earlier of the date at which payments become 90 days past due or when, in the opinion of management, a full recovery of interest income becomes doubtful. Interest income recognition on any non-accrual debt or preferred equity investment is resumed when such non-accrual debt or preferred equity investment becomes contractually current and performance is demonstrated to be resumed. Interest is recorded as income on impaired loans only to the extent cash is received.
We may syndicate a portion of the loans that we originate or sell the loans individually. When a transaction meets the criteria for sale accounting, we derecognize the loan sold and recognize gain or loss based on the difference between the sales price and the carrying value of the loan sold. Any related unamortized deferred origination fees, original issue discounts, loan origination costs, discounts or premiums at the time of sale are recognized as an adjustment to the gain or loss on sale, which is included in investment income on the consolidated statement of operations. Any fees received at the time of sale or syndication are recognized as part of investment income.
Asset management fees are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the asset management agreement.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our tenants to make required payments. If the financial condition of a specific tenant were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of its ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.
Reserve for Possible Credit Losses
The expense for possible credit losses in connection with debt and preferred equity investments is the charge to earnings to increase the allowance for possible credit losses to the level that we estimate to be adequate, based on Level 3 data, considering delinquencies, loss experience and collateral quality. Other factors considered include geographic trends, product diversification, the size of the portfolio and current economic conditions. Based upon these factors, we establish a provision for possible credit loss on each individual investment. When it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts contractually due, the investment is considered impaired.
Where impairment is indicated on an investment that is held to maturity, a valuation allowance is measured based upon the excess of the recorded investment amount over the net fair value of the collateral. Any deficiency between the carrying amount of an asset and the calculated value of the collateral is charged to expense. We continue to assess or adjust our estimates based on circumstances of a loan and the underlying collateral. If additional information reflects increased recovery of our investment, we will adjust our reserves accordingly. There were no loan reserves recorded during years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.
Debt and preferred equity investments held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair market value using available market information obtained through consultation with dealers or other originators of such investments as well as discounted cash flow models based on Level 3 data pursuant to ASC 820-10. As circumstances change, management may conclude not to sell an investment designated as held for sale. In such situations, the investment will be reclassified at its net carrying value to debt and preferred equity investments held to maturity. For these reclassified investments, the difference between the current carrying value and the expected cash to be collected at maturity will be accreted into income over the remaining term of the investment.
Derivative Instruments
In the normal course of business, we use a variety of commonly used derivative instruments, such as interest rate swaps, caps, collars and floors, to manage, or hedge, interest rate risk. Effectiveness is essential for those derivatives that we intend to qualify for hedge accounting. Some derivative instruments are associated with an anticipated transaction. In those cases, hedge effectiveness criteria also require that it be probable that the underlying transaction occurs. Instruments that meet these hedging criteria are formally designated as hedges at the inception of the derivative contract.
To determine the fair values of derivative instruments, we use a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions and risks existing at each balance sheet date. For the majority of financial instruments including most derivatives, long-term investments and long-term debt, standard market conventions and techniques such as discounted cash flow analysis, option pricing models, replacement cost, and termination cost are used to determine fair value. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2016 to the year ended December 31, 2015
The following comparison for the year ended December 31, 2016, or 2016, to the year ended December 31, 2015, or 2015, makes reference to the following: (i) the effect of the “Same-Store Properties,” which represents all operating properties owned by us at January 1, 2015 and still owned by us in the same manner at December 31, 2016 (Same-Store Properties totaled 55 of our 68 consolidated operating properties, representing 75.7% of our share of annualized cash rent), (ii) the effect of the “Acquisition Properties,” which represents all properties or interests in properties acquired in 2016 and 2015 and all non-Same-Store Properties, including properties that are under development, redevelopment or deconsolidated during the period, and (iii) “Other,” which represents corporate level items not allocable to specific properties, as well as the Service Corporation and eEmerge Inc. Any assets sold or held for sale are excluded from the income from continuing operations and from the following discussion.
Rental, Escalation and Reimbursement Revenues
Rental revenues increased primarily as a result of the properties acquired ($98.2 million), which included the acquisition of 11 Madison in the third quarter of 2015 together with the subsequent sale of a 40% interest in 11 Madison in the third quarter of 2016 ($59.2 million), the consolidation of 600 Lexington Avenue in the fourth quarter of 2015 ($19.3 million), and an increase in rents at our Same-Store Properties ($19.1 million). In addition, rental revenues increased as a result of the accelerated recognition
of non-cash deferred income from 388-390 Greenwich Street as a result of Citigroup, Inc. ("Citi") exercising its option to purchase the property and entering into an agreement to accelerate the sale ($37.1 million). This increase was partially offset by the sale of 120 West 45th Street in the third quarter of 2015 ($18.3 million), the sale of 885 Third Avenue in the first quarter of 2016 ($11.9 million), as well as accounting write-offs ($17.4 million) and decreased cash revenue ($2.0 million) related to the space previously leased to Aeropostale at 1515 Broadway following the tenant's bankruptcy.
Escalation and reimbursement revenue increased primarily as a result of higher real estate tax recoveries at the Same-Store Properties ($14.9 million) and Acquisition Properties ($7.6 million) attributable to an increase in the related tax expense. This was partially offset by decreased real estate tax recoveries due to the sale of 120 West 45th Street ($2.3 million), and 140 Grand Street ($1.3 million).
Occupancy in our Same-Store Manhattan consolidated office operating portfolio, excluding leases signed but not yet commenced was 95.9% at December 31, 2016 as compared to 96.5% at December 31, 2015. Occupancy for our Same-Store Suburban consolidated office operating portfolio, excluding leases signed but not yet commenced, increased to 84.4% at December 31, 2016 as compared to 81.4% at December 31, 2015.
The following table presents a summary of the commenced leasing activity for the year ended December 31, 2016 in our Manhattan and Suburban portfolio:
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(1)
Annual initial base rent.
(2)
Escalated rent is calculated as total annual income less electric charges.
(3)
Includes expiring space, relocating tenants and move-outs where tenants vacated. Excludes lease expirations where tenants held over.
(4)
Average starting office rent excluding new tenants replacing vacancies was $63.17 per rentable square feet for 112,581 rentable square feet. Average starting office rent for office space (leased and early renewals, excluding new tenants replacing vacancies) was $70.94 per rentable square feet for 154,379 rentable square feet.
(5)
Average starting office rent excluding new tenants replacing vacancies was $37.65 per rentable square feet for 24,635 rentable square feet. Average starting office rent for office space (leased and early renewals, excluding new tenants replacing vacancies) was $35.86 per rentable square feet for 63,040 rentable square feet.
At December 31, 2016, 5.3% and 7.7% of the office space leased at our consolidated Manhattan and Suburban operating properties, respectively, is expected to expire during 2017. Based on our estimates at December 31, 2016, the current market asking rents on these expected 2017 lease expirations at our consolidated Manhattan operating properties are 6.6% higher than the existing in-place fully escalated rents while the current market asking rents on all of our consolidated Manhattan operating properties are 10.2% higher than the existing in-place fully escalated rents on leases that are scheduled to expire in all future years. Based on our estimates at December 31, 2016, the current market asking rents on these expected 2016 lease expirations at our consolidated Suburban operating properties are 0.2% higher than the existing in-place fully escalated rents while the current market asking rents on all of our consolidated Suburban operating properties are 6.0% higher than the existing in-place fully escalated rents on leases that are scheduled to expire in all future years.
Investment Income
Investment income increased primarily as a result of additional income recognized from the recapitalization of a debt investment ($41.0 million). This increase was partially offset by a lower weighted average yield and balance for the year ended December 31, 2016. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, the weighted average debt and preferred equity investment balance outstanding and weighted average yield were $1.5 billion and 9.7%, respectively, compared to $1.7 billion and 10.3%, respectively, for the same period in 2015. As of December 31, 2016, the debt and preferred equity investments had a fully extended weighted average term to maturity of 3.0 years.
Other Income
Other income increased primarily as a result of the lease termination fee earned in connection with the termination of the lease with Citigroup, Inc. at 388-390 Greenwich Avenue ($94.0 million), and promote income earned in connection with the sale of 33 Beekman ($10.8 million), which was partially offset by a lease termination fee received at 919 Third Avenue in 2015 ($11.3 million).
Property Operating Expenses
Property operating expenses increased primarily as a result of properties acquired ($25.9 million), which includes the acquisition 11 Madison in the third quarter of 2015 together with the subsequent sale of a 40% interest in 11 Madison in the third quarter of 2016 ($9.9 million), the consolidation of 600 Lexington Avenue ($8.6 million) in the fourth quarter if 2015, and higher operating expenses at the Same-Store Properties ($15.5 million) primarily driven by real estate taxes ($13.5 million). These increases were partially offset by a decrease in expenses stemming from our sold properties ($17.7 million), which included the sale of 120 West 45th St in the third quarter of 2015 ($9.8 million).
Marketing, General and Administrative Expenses
Marketing, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $99.8 million, or 4.7% of total combined revenues, including our share of joint venture revenues, and 53 basis points of total combined assets, including our share of joint venture assets compared to $94.9 million, or 5.0% of total revenues including our share of joint venture revenues, and 44 basis points of total combined assets including our share of joint venture assets for 2015.
Interest Expense and Amortization of Deferred Financing Costs, Net of Interest Income
Interest expense, net of interest income, decreased primarily as a result of the sale of 388-390 Greenwich Street in the second quarter of 2016 ($16.5 million), and the sale of 120 West 45th Street in the fourth quarter of 2015 ($7.7 million). These decreases were partially offset by the mortgage related to the acquisition of 11 Madison Avenue in the third quarter of 2015 ($20.8 million). The weighted average consolidated debt balance outstanding increased to $9.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2016 from $9.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2015. The weighted average interest rate was 3.87% for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to 3.78% for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization increased primarily as a result of the accelerated depreciation expense related to 388-390 Greenwich Street as a result of Citi exercising its option to purchase the property and entering into an agreement to accelerate the sale ($329.7 million). The increase is also driven by the acquisition of 100% interest of 11 Madison in the third quarter of 2015 together with the subsequent sale of a 40% interest in 11 Madison in the third quarter of 2016 ($52.5 million). These increases were partially offset by the accelerated depreciation in 2015 related to vacating the properties that comprise the One Vanderbilt development site ($146.6 million).
Equity in Net Income in Unconsolidated Joint Venture/Real Estate
Equity in net income from unconsolidated joint ventures decreased primarily as a result of the sale of a 40% interest in 11 Madison in the third quarter of 2016. The sale did not meet the criteria for sale accounting until December 2016 resulting in recognition of the other partner's share of depreciation ($8.4 million) in addition to our share of the operations of the property. The decrease was partially offset by an increase at 1552-1560 Broadway ($4.6 million) as a result of the settlement in February 2016 of arbitration regarding a tenant's rent at the property and revenue from a debt and preferred equity investment that was contributed to a joint venture in the first quarter of 2016 ($4.5 million), and from the increase at 650 Fifth Avenue as a result of the loan refinance in the third quarter of 2016 ($3.5 million).
Equity in Net Gain on Sale of Interest in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
During the year ended December 31, 2016 we recognized a gain on the sale of 33 Beekman Street ($33.0 million), 7 Renaissance Square ($4.2 million), 1 Jericho ($3.3 million) and EOP Denver ($3.1 million), compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, in which we recognized a gain on sale associated with the sale of our joint venture interest at 315 West 36th Street ($16.3 million), partially offset by a loss on the sale of our joint venture interest at the Meadows ($1.6 million).
Purchase Price Fair Value Adjustment
The purchase price fair value adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2015 was attributable to the acquisition of our joint venture partner's interest in 600 Lexington Avenue.
Gain on Sale of Real Estate
During the year ended December 31, 2016, we recognized a gain on sale associated with the sales of 388-390 Greenwich ($206.4 million), a 49% interest in 400 East 57th Street ($23.9 million), 248-252 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York ($15.3 million), and a 40% interest in 11 Madison Avenue ($3.6 million), partially offset by the loss on the sale of 7 International Drive, Westchester County, NY ($6.9 million). During the year ended December 31, 2015 we recognized a gain on sale associated with the sales of an 80% interest in 131-137 Spring Street ($101.1 million), 120 West 45th Street ($58.6 million), 570 & 574 Fifth Avenue ($24.6 million), partially offset by a loss on the sale of 885 Third Avenue ($6.6 million).
Depreciable Real Estate Reserves
During the year ended December 31, 2016, we recognized depreciable real estate reserves related to the sale of 500 West Putnam ($10.4 million), as compared to the same period in 2015 when we recognized depreciable real estate reserves related to the sale of two properties ($19.2 million).
Discontinued Operations
Discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes the gain recognized on the sale of 180 Maiden Lane ($17.0 million) and the related results of operations. The Company adopted ASU 2014-08 effective January 1, 2015 which raised the threshold for disposals to qualify as discontinued operations to dispositions which represent a strategic shift in an entity’s operations. The guidance was applied prospectively for new disposals. As a result, the results of operations for 388-390 Greenwich Street, which was classified as held for sale at March 31, 2016, 500 West Putnam Avenue, which was classified as held for sale at June 30, 2016 and 400 East 57th Street which was held for sale at September 30, 2016, are included in continuing operations for year ended December 31, 2016.
Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2015 to the year ended December 31, 2014
The following comparison for the year ended December 31, 2015, or 2015, to the year ended December 31, 2014, or 2014, makes reference to the following: (i) the effect of the “Same-Store Properties,” which represents all operating properties owned by us at January 1, 2014 and still owned by us in the same manner at December 31, 2015 (Same-Store Properties totaled 54 of our 75 consolidated operating properties, representing 69.5% of our share of annualized cash rent), (ii) the effect of the “Acquisition Properties,” which represents all properties or interests in properties acquired in 2015 and 2014 and all non-Same-Store Properties, including properties that are under development, redevelopment or deconsolidated during the period, and (iii) “Other,” which represents corporate level items not allocable to specific properties, as well as the Service Corporation and eEmerge Inc. Any assets sold or held for sale are excluded from the income from continuing operations and from the following discussion.
Rental, Escalation and Reimbursement Revenues
Rental revenues increased primarily as a result of the properties acquired ($107.0 million), which included the consolidation of 388-390 Greenwich Street ($58.1 million), as discussed below, and the acquisition of 11 Madison Avenue ($33.9 million), an increase in occupancy at our Same-Store Properties ($33.8 million) and an increase in occupancy at two properties that were placed
into service ($9.2 million). This increase was partially offset by vacating the properties that comprise the One Vanderbilt development site ($16.6 million).
In May 2014, we acquired our joint venture partner's interest in 388-390 Greenwich Street thereby assuming full ownership of this triple net lease property. As a result of this acquisition, we consolidated the results of operations of this property beginning in May 2014. Prior to May 2014, we accounted for our investments in 388-390 Greenwich Street under the equity method of accounting. In January 2016, Citigroup, Inc. exercised its option to purchase 388-390 Greenwich Street for $2.0 billion, net of any unfunded tenant concessions. The closing occurred in June 2016.
Escalation and reimbursement revenue increased primarily as a result of higher real estate tax recoveries ($10.8 million) at the Same-Store Properties attributable to an increase in the related real estate tax expense and properties recently acquired ($6.5 million), partially offset by vacating the properties that comprise the One Vanderbilt development site ($3.0 million).
Occupancy in our Same-Store Manhattan consolidated office operating portfolio, excluding leases signed but not yet commenced, increased to 96.5% at December 31, 2015 as compared to 94.8% at December 31, 2014. Occupancy for our Same-Store Suburban consolidated office operating portfolio, excluding leases signed but not yet commenced, increased to 80.6% at December 31, 2015 as compared to 80.1% at December 31, 2014.
The following table presents a summary of the commenced leasing activity for the year ended December 31, 2015 in our Manhattan and Suburban portfolio:
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Annual initial base rent.
(2)
Escalated rent is calculated as total annual income less electric charges.
(3)
Includes expiring space, relocating tenants and move-outs where tenants vacated. Excludes lease expirations where tenants held over.
(4)
Average starting office rent excluding new tenants replacing vacancies was $71.15 per rentable square feet for 590,152 rentable square feet. Average starting office rent for office space (leased and early renewals, excluding new tenants replacing vacancies) was $64.91 per rentable square feet for 1,022,501 rentable square feet.
(5)
Average starting office rent excluding new tenants replacing vacancies was $36.34 per rentable square feet for 252,177 rentable square feet. Average starting office rent for office space (leased and early renewals, excluding new tenants replacing vacancies) was $33.64 per rentable square feet for 473,275 rentable square feet.
At December 31, 2015, 3.6% and 10.8% of the office space leased at our consolidated Manhattan and Suburban operating properties, respectively, is expected to expire during 2016. Based on our estimates at December 31, 2015, the current market asking rents on these expected 2016 lease expirations at our consolidated Manhattan operating properties are 14.1% higher than the existing in-place fully escalated rents while the current market asking rents on all of our consolidated Manhattan operating properties are 16.3% higher than the existing in-place fully escalated rents on leases that are scheduled to expire in all future years. Based on our estimates at December 31, 2015, the current market asking rents on these expected 2016 lease expirations at our consolidated Suburban operating properties are 8.7% higher than the existing in-place fully escalated rents while the current market asking rents on all of our consolidated Suburban operating properties are 7.4% higher than the existing in-place fully escalated rents on leases that are scheduled to expire in all future years.
Investment Income
Investment income increased primarily as a result of higher average investment balances for the year ended December 31, 2015. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, the weighted average debt and preferred equity investment balance outstanding and weighted average yield were $1.7 billion and 10.3%, respectively, compared to $1.4 billion and 10.5%, respectively, for the same period in 2014. In addition, we recognized additional income as a result of the early repayment of certain mortgage and mezzanine positions ($2.5 million) and the sale of a junior mortgage position ($1.2 million). This increase was partially offset by additional income recognized in 2014 on a mezzanine investment for which the underlying property was sold in June 2014 ($10.1 million) and a financing receivable on which we began accruing interest following the completion of the development of the underlying property ($5.3 million). As of December 31, 2015, the debt and preferred equity investments had a weighted average term to maturity of 1.7 years as compared to a weighted average term to maturity of 2.0 years as of December 31, 2014.
Other Income
Other income increased primarily as a result of lease termination income earned at our same-store properties ($20.2 million), which included 919 Third Avenue ($12.5 million), a non-recurring fee related to the settlement of a previous investment ($6.5 million), a tax benefit related to our taxable REIT subsidiary ($5.3 million), a non-recurring fee received from a current tenant ($3.5 million), and a bankruptcy settlement received from a former tenant ($2.7 million). This increase was partially offset by promote income earned in 2014 in connection with the sale of our joint venture interest in 747 Madison Avenue and 180 Broadway in 2014 ($13.6 million), incentive income received from a joint venture investment in 2014 ($7.6 million), lower contributions from Service Corporation ($8.0 million) and a one-time fee earned in connection with the restructuring of one of our debt investments in 2014 ($5.7 million).
Property Operating Expenses
Property operating expenses increased primarily as a result of higher operating expenses at the Same-Store Properties ($28.3 million) and properties recently acquired ($14.4 million), partially offset by a decrease from vacating the properties that comprise the One Vanderbilt development site ($9.0 million). The increase in property operating expenses at the Same-Store Properties was primarily attributable to higher real estate taxes ($15.7 million), repairs and maintenance ($12.0 million) and professional fees ($2.2 million).
Marketing, General and Administrative Expenses
Marketing, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 were $94.9 million, or 5.0% of total combined revenues, including our share of joint venture revenues, and 44 basis points of total combined assets, including our share of joint venture assets compared to $92.5 million, or 5.3% of total revenues including our share of joint venture revenues, and 49 basis points of total assets including our share of joint venture assets for 2014.
Interest Expense and Amortization of Deferred Financing Costs, Net of Interest Income
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net of interest income, increased primarily as a result of the acquisition of our joint venture partner's interest in May 2014 and a new mortgage at 388-390 Greenwich Street ($16.4 million), increased borrowings on the 2012 credit facility ($10.9 million), and a mortgage related to the acquisition of 11 Madison Avenue ($12.8 million). These increases were partially offset by the repayment of the mortgages at 625 Madison Avenue ($8.4 million) and 125 Park Avenue ($4.3 million) during the fourth quarter of 2014 and 711 Third ($4.8 million) during the first quarter of 2015, the capitalization of interest relating to properties under development ($4.4 million), the redemption of a preferred equity investment which secured a loan ($3.1 million) during the fourth quarter of 2014, and the repayment of 5.875% senior notes issued by ROP in August 2014 ($2.8 million) at their maturity. The weighted average consolidated debt balance outstanding increased to $9.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $8.7 billion for the year ended December 31, 2014. The weighted average interest rate decreased to 3.78% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 4.24% for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization increased primarily as a result of accelerated depreciation expense related to vacating the properties that comprise the One Vanderbilt development site ($138.1 million), the consolidation of 388-390 Greenwich Street in 2014 ($31.2 million), and the acquisition of 11 Madison in August 2015 ($11.1 million), partially offset by the write-off of certain tenant improvements and value for in-place leases associated with a former tenant in 2014 ($3.4 million).
Equity in Net Income in Unconsolidated Joint Venture/Real Estate
Equity in net income from unconsolidated joint ventures decreased primarily as a result of lower net income contributions from 388-390 Greenwich ($7.6 million) as a result of our acquisition of our joint venture partner's interest in May 2014, the refinancing and early prepayment of the debt encumbering 3 Columbus Circle in the first quarter of 2015 ($3.6 million), an increase in net loss recognized as a result of the acquisition of additional interests in 1745 Broadway in the fourth quarter of 2014 ($2.3 million), a decrease in the capitalization of costs for 280 Park Avenue ($1.9 million), and the disposition of 180 Broadway in
September 2014 ($1.6 million). This decrease was partially offset by higher contributions from debt and preferred equity investments that were originated during 2014 and have been accounted for as equity investments ($3.3 million), the net loss recognized in 2014 from the West Coast portfolio ($2.4 million), the refinancing and early prepayment in 2014 of the debt encumbering 100 Park Avenue ($2.0 million) and an increase in occupancy at 600 Lexington Avenue ($1.2 million).
Equity in Net Gain on Sale of Interest in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we recognized a gain on sale associated with the sale of our joint venture interest at 315 West 36th Street ($16.3 million), partially offset by a loss on the sale of our joint venture interest at the Meadows ($1.6 million). During the year ended December 31, 2014 we recognized gains on the sale of a portfolio of office properties primarily in Southern California, or the "West Coast portfolio" ($85.6 million), the sale of partnership interests in 21 West 34th Street ($20.9 million), the sale of the joint venture property at 180 Broadway ($16.5 million) and the sale of condominium units at 248 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn ($1.5 million).
Purchase Price Fair Value Adjustment
The purchase price fair value adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2015 was attributable to the acquisition of our joint venture partner's interest in 600 Lexington Avenue. The purchase price fair value adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2014 was attributable to the acquisition of our joint venture partner's interest in 388-390 Greenwich Street.
Gain on Sale of Real Estate
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we recognized a gain on sale associated with the sales of 120 West 45th Street ($58.6 million), 570 & 574 Fifth Avenue ($24.6 million), an 80% interest in 131-137 Spring Street ($101.1 million), and a loss on the sale of 885 Third Avenue ($6.6 million).
Depreciable Real Estate Reserves
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we recorded a $19.2 million charge in connection with the sale of 140-150 Grand Street.
Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt
Loss on early extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2014 was primarily attributable to the refinancing of the mortgage at 420 Lexington Avenue ($24.5 million) and the early repayment of the mortgage at 625 Madison Avenue ($6.9 million).
Discontinued Operations
Discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 included the gain recognized on the sale of 180 Maiden Lane ($17.0 million) and the related results of operations. Discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 included the gains recognized on the sale of 673 First Avenue ($117.6 million), 985-987 Third Avenue ($29.8 million), and 2 Herald Square ($18.8 million), and the results of operations of these properties and other properties that were held for sale or sold as of December 31, 2014.
Reconciliation of Same-Store Operating Income to Net Operating Income
We present Same-Store net operating income, or Same-Store NOI, because we believe that this measure provides investors with useful information regarding the operating performance of properties that are comparable for the years presented. We determine Same-Store net operating income by subtracting Same-Store property operating expenses and ground rent from Same-Store rental revenues and other income. Our method of calculation may be different from methods used by other REITs, and, accordingly, may not be comparable to such other REITs. Same-Store NOI is not an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) and Same-Store performance should not be considered an alternative to GAAP net income performance.
Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2016 to the year ended December 31, 2015
For properties owned since January 1, 2015 and still owned and operated at December 31, 2016, Same-Store NOI is determined as follows (in millions):
Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2015 to the year ended December 31, 2014
For properties owned since January 1, 2014 and still owned and operated at December 31, 2015, Same-Store NOI is determined as follows (in millions):
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We currently expect that our principal sources of funds to meet our short-term and long-term liquidity requirements for working capital, acquisitions, development or redevelopment of properties, tenant improvements, leasing costs, repurchases or repayments of outstanding indebtedness (which may include exchangeable debt) and for debt and preferred equity investments will include:
(1)
Cash flow from operations;
(2)
Cash on hand;
(3)
Borrowings under the 2012 credit facility;
(4)
Other forms of secured or unsecured financing;
(5)
Net proceeds from divestitures of properties and redemptions, participations and dispositions of debt and preferred equity investments; and
(6)
Proceeds from common or preferred equity or debt offerings by the Company, the Operating Partnership (including issuances of units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership and Trust preferred securities) or ROP.
Cash flow from operations is primarily dependent upon the occupancy level of our portfolio, the net effective rental rates achieved on our leases, the collectability of rent, operating escalations and recoveries from our tenants and the level of operating
and other costs. Additionally, we believe that our debt and preferred equity investment program will continue to serve as a source of operating cash flow.
The combined aggregate principal maturities of our property mortgages and other loans payable, corporate obligations and our share of joint venture debt, including as-of-right extension options, as of December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands):
As of December 31, 2016, we had $364.6 million of consolidated cash on hand, inclusive of $85.1 million of marketable securities. We expect to generate positive cash flow from operations for the foreseeable future. We may seek to divest of properties or interests in properties or access private and public debt and equity capital when the opportunity presents itself, although there is no guarantee that this capital will be made available to us at efficient levels or at all. Management believes that these sources of liquidity, if we are able to access them, along with potential refinancing opportunities for secured debt, will allow us to satisfy our debt obligations, as described above, upon maturity, if not before.
We also have investments in several real estate joint ventures with various partners who we consider to be financially stable and who have the ability to fund a capital call when needed. Most of our joint ventures are financed with non-recourse debt. We believe that property level cash flows along with unfunded committed indebtedness and proceeds from the refinancing of outstanding secured indebtedness will be sufficient to fund the capital needs of our joint venture properties.
Cash Flows
The following summary discussion of our cash flows is based on our consolidated statements of cash flows in "Item 1. Financial Statements" and is not meant to be an all-inclusive discussion of the changes in our cash flows for the years presented below.
Cash and cash equivalents were $279.4 million and $255.4 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, representing a increase of $24.0 million. The increase was a result of the following changes in cash flows (in thousands):
Our principal source of operating cash flow is related to the leasing and operating of the properties in our portfolio. Our properties provide a relatively consistent stream of cash flow that provides us with resources to pay operating expenses, debt service and fund quarterly dividend and distribution requirements. Our debt and preferred equity and joint venture investments also provide a steady stream of operating cash flow to us.
Cash is used in investing activities to fund acquisitions, development or redevelopment projects and recurring and nonrecurring capital expenditures. We selectively invest in new projects that enable us to take advantage of our development, leasing, financing and property management skills and invest in existing buildings that meet our investment criteria. During the year ended December 31, 2016, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, we used cash primarily for the following investing activities (in thousands):
Funds spent on capital expenditures, which comprise building and tenant improvements, increased from $406.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $412.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in capital expenditures relates primarily to increased costs incurred in connection with the redevelopment of properties.
We generally fund our investment activity through the sale of real estate, property-level financing, our 2012 credit facility, our MRA facility, senior unsecured notes, convertible or exchangeable securities, construction loans and from time to time, Company issued common or preferred stock, or the Operating Partnership may issue common or preferred units of limited partnership interest. During the year ended December 31, 2016, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, we used cash for the following financing activities (in thousands):
Capitalization
Our authorized capital stock consists of 260,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value per share, consisting of 160,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, 75,000,000 shares of excess stock, at $0.01 par value per share, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of December 31, 2016, 100,562,349 shares of common stock and no shares of excess stock were issued and outstanding.
As of December 31, 2016, SL Green had 9,200,000 shares of our 6.50% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, or Series I Preferred Stock, outstanding. In addition, persons other than the Company held Preferred Units of limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership having an aggregate liquidation preference of $302.0 million.
In August 2016, our board of directors approved a stock repurchase plan under which we can buy up to $1.0 billion of shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2016, we have not repurchased any shares under the plan.
At-The-Market Equity Offering Program
In July 2011, the Company, along with the Operating Partnership, entered into an "at-the-market" equity offering program, or ATM Program, to sell an aggregate of $250.0 million of SL Green's common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we sold 25,659 shares of our common stock out of the remaining balance of the ATM Program for aggregate net proceeds of $2.8 million. The net proceeds from these offerings were contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 25,659 units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership.
In June 2014, the Company, along with the Operating Partnership, entered into an "at-the-market" equity offering program, or ATM Program, to sell an aggregate of $300.0 million of SL Green's common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we sold 1,626,999 shares of our common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $182.9 million. The net proceeds from these offerings were contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 1,626,999 units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we sold 895,956 shares of our common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $113.4 million comprising the remaining balance of this ATM Program. The net proceeds from these offerings were contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 895,956 units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership.
In March 2015, the Company, along with the Operating Partnership, entered into a new ATM Program to sell an aggregate of $300.0 million of SL Green's common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company did not make any sales of its common stock under an ATM program. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we sold 91,180 shares of our common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $12.0 million. The net proceeds from these offerings were contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 91,180 units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership. The Company did not make any sales of its common stock under an ATM program during 2016.
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan
In February 2015, the Company filed a registration statement with the SEC for our dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, or DRSPP, which automatically became effective upon filing. The Company registered 3,500,000 shares of SL Green's common stock under the DRSPP. The DRSPP commenced on September 24, 2001.
The following table summarizes SL Green common stock issued, and proceeds received from dividend reinvestments and/or stock purchases under the DRSPP for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively (in thousands):
Fourth Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan
The Fourth Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, or the 2005 Plan, was approved by the Company's board of directors in April 2016 and its stockholders in June 2016 at the Company's annual meeting of stockholders. Subject to adjustments upon certain corporate transactions or events, awards with respect to up to a maximum of 27,030,000 fungible units may be granted as options, restricted stock, phantom shares, dividend equivalent rights and other equity-based awards under the 2005 Plan. As of December 31, 2016, 9.5 million fungible units were available for issuance under the 2005 Plan after reserving for shares underlying outstanding restricted stock units, phantom stock units granted pursuant to our Non-Employee Directors' Deferral Program and LTIP Units, including, among others, outstanding LTIP Units issued under our 2014 Outperformance Plan.
2010 Notional Unit Long-Term Compensation Plan
In December 2009, the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors approved the general terms of the SL Green Realty Corp. 2010 Notional Unit Long-Term Compensation Program, or the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan. The 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan is a long-term incentive compensation plan pursuant to which award recipients could earn, in the aggregate, from $15.0 million up to $75.0 million of LTIP Units in the Operating Partnership based on the Company's stock price appreciation over three years beginning on December 1, 2009; provided that, if maximum performance had been achieved, $25.0 million of awards could be earned at any time after the beginning of the second year and an additional $25.0 million of awards could be earned at any time after the beginning of the third year. In order to achieve maximum performance under the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan, the Company's aggregate stock price appreciation during the performance period had to equal or exceed 50%. The compensation committee determined that maximum performance had been achieved at or shortly after the beginning of each of the second and third years of the performance period and for the full performance period and, accordingly, 385,583 LTIP Units, 327,416 LTIP Units and 327,416 LTIP Units were earned under the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan in December 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Substantially in accordance with the original terms of the program, 50% of these LTIP Units vested on December 17, 2012 (accelerated from the original January 1, 2013 vesting date), 25% of these LTIP Units vested on December 11, 2013 (accelerated from the original January 1, 2014 vesting date) and the remainder vested on January 1, 2015 based on continued employment. In accordance with the terms of the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan, distributions were not paid on any LTIP Units until they were earned, at which time we paid all distributions that would have been paid on the earned LTIP Units since the beginning of the performance period.
The cost of the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan ($31.7 million, subject to forfeitures) was amortized into earnings through the final vesting period of January 1, 2015. We recorded compensation expense of $2.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 related to the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan.
2011 Outperformance Plan
In August 2011, the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors approved the general terms of the SL Green Realty Corp. 2011 Outperformance Plan, or the 2011 Outperformance Plan. Participants in the 2011 Outperformance Plan could earn, in the aggregate, up to $85.0 million of LTIP Units in the Operating Partnership based on our total return to stockholders for the three-year period beginning September 1, 2011. Under the 2011 Outperformance Plan, participants were entitled to share in a "performance pool" comprised of LTIP Units with a value equal to 10% of the amount by which our total return to stockholders during the three-year period exceeded a cumulative total return to stockholders of 25%, subject to the maximum of $85.0 million of LTIP Units; provided that if maximum performance was achieved, one-third of each award could be earned at any time after the beginning of the second year and an additional one-third of each award could be earned at any time after the beginning of the third year. LTIP Units earned under the 2011 Outperformance Plan are subject to continued vesting requirements, with 50% of any awards earned vested on August 31, 2014 and the remaining 50% vesting on August 31, 2015, subject to continued employment with us through such dates. Participants were not entitled to distributions with respect to LTIP Units granted under the 2011 Outperformance Plan unless and until they were earned. For LTIP Units that were earned, each participant was also entitled to the distributions that would have been paid had the number of earned LTIP Units been issued at the beginning of the performance period, with such distributions being paid in the form of additional LTIP Units. Thereafter, distributions are to be paid currently with respect to all earned LTIP Units, whether vested or unvested. In June 2014, the compensation committee determined that maximum performance had been achieved during the third year of the performance period and, accordingly, 560,908 LTIP Units, representing two-thirds of each award, were earned, subject to vesting, under the 2011 Outperformance Plan. In September 2014, the compensation committee determined that maximum performance had been achieved for the full three-year performance period and, accordingly, 280,454 LTIP units, representing the final third of each award, were earned, subject to vesting, under the 2011 Outperformance Plan.
The cost of the 2011 Outperformance Plan ($26.7 million, subject to forfeitures) was amortized into earnings through the final vesting period. We recorded no compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2016, and recorded compensation expense of $4.5 million, and $8.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to the 2011 Outperformance Plan.
2014 Outperformance Plan
In August 2014, the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors approved the general terms of the SL Green Realty Corp. 2014 Outperformance Plan, or the 2014 Outperformance Plan. Participants in the 2014 Outperformance Plan may earn, in the aggregate, up to 610,000 LTIP Units in our Operating Partnership based on our total return to stockholders for the three-year period beginning September 1, 2014. Under the 2014 Outperformance Plan, two-thirds of the LTIP Units may be earned based on the Company’s absolute total return to stockholders and one-third of the LTIP Units may be earned based on relative total return to stockholders compared to the constituents of the MSCI REIT Index. Awards earned based on absolute total return to stockholders will be determined independently of awards earned based on relative total return to stockholders. In the event the Company’s performance reaches either threshold before the end of the three-year performance period, a pro-rata portion of the maximum award may be earned. For each component, if the Company’s performance reaches the maximum threshold beginning with the 19th month of the performance period, participants will earn one-third of the maximum award that may be earned for that component. If the Company’s performance reaches the maximum threshold during the third year of the performance period for a component, participants will earn two-thirds (or an additional one-third) of the maximum award that may be earned for that component. LTIP Units earned under the 2014 Outperformance Plan will be subject to continued vesting requirements, with 50% of any awards earned vesting on August 31, 2017 and the remaining 50% vesting on August 31, 2018, subject to continued employment with us through such dates. Participants will not be entitled to distributions with respect to LTIP Units granted under the 2014 Outperformance Plan unless and until they are earned. If LTIP Units are earned, each participant will also be entitled to the distributions that would have been paid had the number of earned LTIP Units been issued at the beginning of the performance period, with such distributions being paid in the form of cash or additional LTIP Units. Thereafter, distributions will be paid currently with respect to all earned LTIP Units, whether vested or unvested.
The cost of the 2014 Outperformance Plan ($27.9 million, subject to forfeitures), based on the portion of the 2014 Outperformance Plan granted as of December 31, 2016, will be amortized into earnings through the final vesting period. We recorded compensation expense of $8.4 million, $5.9 million and $0.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively, related to the 2014 Outperformance Plan.
Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors
Under our Non-Employee Director's Deferral Program, which commenced July 2004, the Company's non-employee directors may elect to defer up to 100% of their annual retainer fee, chairman fees, meeting fees and annual stock grant. Unless otherwise elected by a participant, fees deferred under the program shall be credited in the form of phantom stock units. The program provides that a director's phantom stock units generally will be settled in an equal number of shares of common stock upon the earlier of (i) the January 1 coincident with or the next following such director's termination of service from the Board of Directors or (ii) a change in control by us, as defined by the program. Phantom stock units are credited to each non-employee director quarterly using the closing price of SL Green's common stock on the first business day of the respective quarter. Each participating non-employee director is also credited with dividend equivalents or phantom stock units based on the dividend rate for each quarter, which are either paid in cash currently or credited to the director’s account as additional phantom stock units.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, 9,022 phantom stock units were earned and 9,279 shares of common stock were issued to our board of directors. We recorded compensation expense of $2.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2016 related to the Deferred Compensation Plan. As of December 31, 2016, there were 89,790 phantom stock units outstanding pursuant to our Non-Employee Director's Deferral Program.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In 2007, the Company's board of directors adopted the 2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or ESPP, to encourage our employees to increase their efforts to make our business more successful by providing equity-based incentives to eligible employees. The ESPP is intended to qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Code, and has been adopted by the board to enable our eligible employees to purchase the Company's shares of common stock through payroll deductions. The ESPP became effective on January 1, 2008 with a maximum of 500,000 shares of the common stock available for issuance, subject to adjustment upon a merger, reorganization, stock split or other similar corporate change. The Company filed a registration statement on Form S-8 with the SEC with respect to the ESPP. The common stock is offered for purchase through a series of successive offering periods. Each offering period will be three months in duration and will begin on the first day of each calendar quarter, with the first offering period having commenced on January 1, 2008. The ESPP provides for eligible employees to purchase the common stock at a purchase price equal to 85% of the lesser of (1) the market value of the common stock on the first day of the offering period or (2) the market value of the common stock on the last day of the offering period. The ESPP was approved by our stockholders at our 2008 annual meeting of stockholders. As of December 31, 2016, 95,448 shares of SL Green's common stock had been issued under the ESPP.
Market Capitalization
At December 31, 2016, borrowings under our mortgages and other loans payable, 2012 credit facility, senior unsecured notes, trust preferred securities and our share of joint venture debt represented 43.3% of our combined market capitalization of $20.8 billion (based on a common stock price of $107.55 per share, the closing price of SL Green's common stock on the NYSE on December 31, 2016). Market capitalization includes our consolidated debt, common and preferred stock and the conversion of all units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership, and our share of joint venture debt.
Indebtedness
The table below summarizes our consolidated mortgages and other loans payable, 2012 credit facility, senior unsecured notes and trust preferred securities outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015, (amounts in thousands).
The variable rate debt shown above generally bears interest at an interest rate based on 30-day LIBOR (0.77% and 0.43% at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively). Our consolidated debt at December 31, 2016 had a weighted average term to maturity of 4.28 years.
Certain of our debt and equity investments and other investments, with a carrying value of $1.4 billion at December 31, 2016, are variable rate investments which mitigate our exposure to interest rate changes on our unhedged variable rate debt.
Mortgage Financing
As of December 31, 2016, our total mortgage debt (excluding our share of joint venture mortgage debt of $2.7 billion) consisted of $3.5 billion of fixed rate debt, including swapped variable rate debt, with an effective weighted average interest rate of 4.68% and $0.6 billion of variable rate debt with an effective weighted average interest rate of 2.83%.
Corporate Indebtedness
2012 Credit Facility
In August 2016, we entered into an amendment to the credit facility that was originally entered into by the Company in November 2012, referred to as the 2012 credit facility. As of December 31, 2016, the 2012 credit facility, as amended, consisted of a $1.6 billion revolving credit facility and a $1.2 billion term loan, with a maturity date of March 29, 2019 and June 30, 2019, respectively. The revolving credit facility has an as-of-right extension to March 29, 2020. We also have an option, subject to customary conditions, to increase the capacity under the revolving credit facility to $3.0 billion at any time prior to the maturity date for the revolving credit facility without the consent of existing lenders, by obtaining additional commitments from our existing lenders and other financial institutions.
As of December 31, 2016, the 2012 credit facility bore interest at a spread over LIBOR ranging from (i) 87.5 basis points to 155 basis points for loans under the revolving credit facility and (ii) 95 basis points to 190 basis points for loans under the term loan facility, in each case based on the credit rating assigned to the senior unsecured long term indebtedness of ROP.
At December 31, 2016, the applicable spread was 125 basis points for the revolving credit facility and 140 basis points for the term loan facility. At December 31, 2016, the effective interest rate was 1.78% for the revolving credit facility and 2.27% for the term loan facility. We are required to pay quarterly in arrears a 12.5 to 30 basis point facility fee on the total commitments under the revolving credit facility based on the credit rating assigned to the senior unsecured long term indebtedness of ROP. As of December 31, 2016, the facility fee was 25 basis points.
As of December 31, 2016, we had $56.5 million of outstanding letters of credit, 0 drawn under the revolving credit facility and $1.2 billion outstanding under the term loan facility, with total undrawn capacity of $1.5 billion under the 2012 credit facility. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the revolving credit facility had a carrying value of $(6.3) million, representing deferred financing costs presented within other liabilities, and $985.1 million, respectively, net of deferred financing costs. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the term loan facility had a carrying value of $1.2 billion and $929.5 million, respectively, net of deferred financing costs.
The Company, the Operating Partnership and ROP are all borrowers jointly and severally obligated under the 2012 credit facility. None of our other subsidiaries are obligors under the 2012 credit facility.
The 2012 credit facility includes certain restrictions and covenants (see Restrictive Covenants below).
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Facility
The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Belmont Insurance Company, or Belmont, a New York licensed captive insurance company, is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, or FHLBNY. As a member, Belmont may borrow funds from the FHLBNY in the form of secured advances. As of December 31, 2016, we had $205.0 million in outstanding secured advances with a weighted average borrowing rate of 0.92%.
On January 12, 2016, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, adopted a final regulation on Federal Home Loan Bank, or FHLB, membership. The rule excludes captive insurance entities from FHLB membership on a going-forward basis and provides termination rules for current captive insurance members. Belmont's membership was terminated on February 20, 2017. All funds borrowed from the FHLBNY were repaid in January 2017.
Master Repurchase Agreement
In July, 2016 we entered into a restated Master Repurchase Agreement, or MRA, which provides us with the ability to sell certain debt investments with a simultaneous agreement to repurchase the same at a certain date or on demand. The MRA has a maximum facility capacity of $300.0 million and bears interest ranging from 225 and 400 basis points over 30-day LIBOR depending on the pledged collateral. Since December 6, 2015, we have been required to pay monthly in arrears a 25 basis point fee on the excess of $150.0 million over the average daily balance during the period if the average daily balance is less than $150.0 million. We seek to mitigate risks associated with our repurchase agreement by managing the credit quality of our assets, early repayments, interest rate volatility, liquidity, and market value. The margin call provisions under our repurchase facility permit valuation adjustments based on capital markets activity, and are not limited to collateral-specific credit marks. To monitor credit risk associated with our debt investments, our asset management team regularly reviews our investment portfolio and is in contact with our borrowers in order to monitor the collateral and enforce our rights as necessary. The risk associated with potential margin calls is further mitigated by our ability to recollateralize the facility with additional assets from our portfolio of debt investments, our ability to satisfy margin calls with cash or cash equivalents and our access to additional liquidity through the 2012 credit facility, as defined below.
At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the gross book value of the properties and debt and preferred equity investments collateralizing the mortgages and other loans payable, not including assets held for sale, was approximately $6.0 billion and $10.8 billion, respectively.
Senior Unsecured Notes
The following table sets forth our senior unsecured notes and other related disclosures as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, by scheduled maturity date (dollars in thousands):
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Interest on the senior unsecured notes is payable semi-annually with principal and unpaid interest due on the scheduled maturity dates.
(2)
Issued by the Operating Partnership. Interest on these exchangeable notes is payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15. The notes had an initial exchange rate representing an exchange price that was set at a 30.0% premium to the last reported sale price of SL Green's common stock on October 6, 2010, or $85.81. The initial exchange rate is subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. The current exchange rate is 12.6478 shares of SL Green's common stock per $1,000 principal amount of these notes. The notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Operating Partnership and are exchangeable upon the occurrence of specified events and during the period beginning on the twenty-second scheduled trading day prior to the maturity date and ending on the second business day prior to the maturity date, into cash or a combination of cash and shares of SL Green's common stock, if any, at our option. As a result of meeting specified events (as defined in the Indenture Agreement), these notes became exchangeable commencing January 1, 2016 and will remain exchangeable through March 31, 2016. The notes are guaranteed by ROP. On the issuance date, $78.3 million of the debt balance was recorded in equity. As of December 31, 2016, $10.9 million remained to be amortized into the debt balance.
(3)
Issued by the Company, the Operating Partnership and ROP, as co-obligors.
(4)
Balance was repaid in September 2016.
(5)
Issued by ROP, balance was repaid in March 2016.
Restrictive Covenants
The terms of the 2012 credit facility, as amended, and certain of our senior unsecured notes include certain restrictions and covenants which may limit, among other things, our ability to pay dividends, make certain types of investments, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens and enter into negative pledge agreements and dispose of assets, and which require compliance with financial ratios relating to the maximum ratio of total indebtedness to total asset value, a minimum ratio of EBITDA to fixed charges, a maximum ratio of secured indebtedness to total asset value and a maximum ratio of unsecured indebtedness to unencumbered asset value. The dividend restriction referred to above provides that, we will not during any time when a default is continuing, make distributions with respect to common stock or other equity interests, except to enable the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT for Federal income tax purposes. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, we were in compliance with all such covenants.
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
In June 2005, the Company and the Operating Partnership issued $100.0 million in unsecured trust preferred securities through a newly formed trust, SL Green Capital Trust I, or the Trust, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership. The securities mature in 2035 and bear interest at a fixed rate of 5.61% for the first P10Y years ending July 2015. Thereafter, the interest rate will float at 125 basis points over the three-month LIBOR. Interest payments may be deferred for a period of up to eight consecutive quarters if the Operating Partnership exercises its right to defer such payments. The Trust preferred securities are redeemable at the option of the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, with no prepayment premium. We do not consolidate the Trust even though it is a variable interest entity as we are not the primary beneficiary. Because the Trust is not consolidated, we have recorded the debt on our consolidated balance sheets and the related payments are classified as interest expense.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to changes in interest rates primarily from our variable rate debt. Our exposure to interest rate fluctuations are managed through either the use of interest rate derivatives instruments and/or through our variable rate debt and preferred equity investments. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates along the entire interest rate curve for 2016 would
decrease our annual interest cost, net of interest income from variable rate debt and preferred equity investments, by $2.4 million and would increase our share of joint venture annual interest cost by $11.6 million. This risk is partially mitigated by our floating rate debt investments. At December 31, 2016, 78.0% of our $1.6 billion debt and preferred equity portfolio is indexed to LIBOR.
We recognize most derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges are adjusted to fair value through income. If a derivative is considered a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged asset, liability, or firm commitment through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.
Our long-term debt of $5.5 billion bears interest at fixed rates, and therefore the fair value of these instruments is affected by changes in the market interest rates. Our variable rate debt and variable rate joint venture debt as of December 31, 2016 bore interest based on a spread of LIBOR plus 140 basis points to LIBOR plus 417 basis points.
Contractual Obligations
The combined aggregate principal maturities of mortgages and other loans payable, the 2012 credit facility, senior unsecured notes (net of discount), trust preferred securities, our share of joint venture debt, including as-of-right extension options and put options, estimated interest expense, and our obligations under our capital lease and ground leases, as of December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands):
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have off-balance sheet investments, including joint ventures and debt and preferred equity investments. These investments all have varying ownership structures. Substantially all of our joint venture arrangements are accounted for under the equity method of accounting as we have the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the operating and financial decisions of these joint venture arrangements. Our off-balance sheet arrangements are discussed in Note 5, "Debt and Preferred Equity Investments" and Note 6, "Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures" in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Capital Expenditures
We estimate that for the year ending December 31, 2017, we expect to incur $120.1 million of recurring capital expenditures and $266.7 million of development or redevelopment expenditures, net of loan reserves, (including tenant improvements and leasing commissions) on existing consolidated properties, and our share of capital expenditures at our joint venture properties, net of loan reserves, will be $307.8 million. Future property acquisitions may require substantial capital investments for refurbishment and leasing costs. We expect to fund these capital expenditures with operating cash flow, existing liquidity, or incremental borrowings. We expect our capital needs over the next twelve months and thereafter will be met through a combination of cash on hand, net cash provided by operations, potential asset sales, borrowings or additional equity or debt issuances.
Dividends/Distributions
We expect to pay dividends to our stockholders based on the distributions we receive from our Operating Partnership primarily from property revenues net of operating expenses or, if necessary, from working capital.
To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must pay annual dividends to our stockholders of at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined before taking into consideration the dividends paid deduction and net capital gains. We intend to continue to pay regular quarterly dividends to our stockholders. Based on our current annual dividend rate of $3.10 per share, we would pay $325.3 million in dividends to SL Green's common stockholders on an annual basis. Before we pay any dividend, whether for Federal income tax purposes or otherwise, which would only be paid out of available cash to the extent permitted under the 2012 credit facility and senior unsecured notes, we must first meet both our operating requirements and scheduled debt service on our mortgages and loans payable.
Related Party Transactions
Cleaning/ Security/ Messenger and Restoration Services
Alliance Building Services, or Alliance, and its affiliates are partially owned by Gary Green, a son of Stephen L. Green, the chairman of SL Green's board of directors, and provide services to certain properties owned by us. Alliance’s affiliates include First Quality Maintenance, L.P., or First Quality, Classic Security LLC, Bright Star Couriers LLC and Onyx Restoration Works, and provide cleaning, extermination, security, messenger, and restoration services, respectively. In addition, First Quality has the non-exclusive opportunity to provide cleaning and related services to individual tenants at our properties on a basis separately negotiated with any tenant seeking such additional services. The Service Corporation has entered into an arrangement with Alliance whereby it will receive a profit participation above a certain threshold for services provided by Alliance to certain tenants at certain buildings above the base services specified in their lease agreements.
Income earned from profit participation, which is included in other income on the consolidated statements of operations, was $3.5 million, $3.8 million, and $3.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We also recorded expenses of $23.4 million, $21.3 million, and $21.5 million the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, for these services (excluding services provided directly to tenants).
Management Fees
S.L. Green Management Corp., a consolidated entity, receives property management fees from an entity in which Stephen L. Green owns an interest. We received management fees from this entity of $0.7 million, $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 respectively.
One Vanderbilt Co-Investment
In December 2016, we entered into agreements with entities owned and controlled by Messrs. Holliday and Mathias, pursuant to which they agreed to make a co-investment with us in our One Vanderbilt development project. Pursuant to these agreements, Messrs. Holliday and Mathias agreed to purchase interests in the One Vanderbilt development project that will entitle them to receive approximately 2.50%-3.00% of the profit generated from this project in excess of capital contributions. 50% of these interests were purchased on December 31, 2016 and the remaining 50% are to be purchased on December 31, 2017. The aggregate purchase price for these interests is $2.4 million, which equals the fair market value of these interests as of the date the co-investment agreements were entered into as determined by an independent third party appraisal that we obtained.
Messrs. Holliday and Mathias cannot monetize their interests until after stabilization of the property (50% within three years after stabilization and 100% three years or more after stabilization). In addition, the agreement calls for us to repurchase these interests in the event of a sale of One Vanderbilt or a transactional change of control of the Company. We also have the right to repurchase these interests on the seven-year anniversary of the stabilization of the project or upon the occurrence of certain separation events prior to the stabilization of the project relating to each of Messrs. Holliday’s and Mathias’s continued service with us. The price paid upon monetization of the interests will equal the liquidation value of the interests at the time, with the value of One Vanderbilt being based on its sale price, if applicable, or fair market value as determined by an independent third party appraiser.
Insurance
We maintain “all-risk” property and rental value coverage (including coverage regarding the perils of flood, earthquake and terrorism, excluding nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological terrorism ("NBCR")), within three property insurance programs and liability insurance. Management believes the policy specifications and insured limits are appropriate given the relative risk of loss, the cost of the coverage, and industry practice. Separate property and liability coverage may be purchased on a stand-alone basis for certain assets, such as the development of One Vanderbilt.
On January 12, 2015, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2007 ("TRIPRA") (formerly the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act) was reauthorized until December 31, 2020 pursuant to the Terrorism Insurance Program Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2015. The TRIPRA extends the federal Terrorism Insurance Program that requires insurance companies to offer terrorism coverage and provides for compensation for insured losses resulting from acts of certified terrorism, subject to the current program trigger of $120.0 million, which will increase by $20.0 million per annum, commencing December 31,
2015 (Trigger). Coinsurance under TRIPRA is 16%, increasing 1% per annum, as of December 31, 2015 (Coinsurance). There are no assurances TRIPRA will be further extended.
Our wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiary, Belmont Insurance Company, or Belmont, acts as a captive insurance company and as one of the elements of our overall insurance program. Belmont was formed in an effort, among other reasons, to stabilize to some extent the impact of insurance market fluctuations. Belmont is licensed by New York State as a direct insurer of Terrorism and NBCR Terrorism, and a reinsurer with respect to portions of our General Liability, Environmental Liability, Flood, Professional Liability, Employment Practices Liability and D&O coverage. Belmont purchases reinsurance for its Coinsurance and is backstopped by the Federal government for the balance of its terrorism limit for certified acts of terrorism above the Trigger. We purchase direct, third party terrorism insurance up to the Trigger for certified acts of terrorism. Belmont is backstopped by the Federal government for certified acts of NBCR terrorism above the Trigger and subject to its Coinsurance, however does not reinsure its NBCR Coinsurance requirement. There is no coverage for a NBCR terrorism act if covered industry losses are below the Trigger. As long as we own Belmont, we are responsible for its liquidity and capital resources, and the accounts of Belmont are part of our consolidated financial statements. If we experience a loss and Belmont is required to pay a claim under our insurance policies, we would ultimately record the loss to the extent of Belmont's required payment. Therefore, certain insurance coverage provided by Belmont should not be considered as the equivalent of third-party insurance, but rather as a modified form of self-insurance.
Our debt instruments, consisting of mortgage loans secured by our properties (which are generally non-recourse to us), mezzanine loans, ground leases, our 2012 credit facility, senior unsecured notes and other corporate obligations, contain customary covenants requiring us to maintain insurance. Although we believe that we currently maintain sufficient insurance coverage to satisfy these obligations, there is no assurance that in the future we will be able to procure coverage at a reasonable cost. In such instances, there can be no assurance that the lenders or ground lessors under these instruments will not take the position that a total or partial exclusion from “all-risk” insurance coverage for losses due to, for example, terrorist acts is a breach of these debt and ground lease instruments allowing the lenders or ground lessors to declare an event of default and accelerate repayment of debt or recapture of ground lease positions. In addition, if lenders require greater coverage that we are unable to obtain at commercially reasonable rates, we may incur substantially higher insurance premiums or our ability to finance our properties and expand our portfolio may be adversely impacted.
Furthermore, with respect to certain of our properties, including properties held by joint ventures, or subject to triple net leases, insurance coverage is obtained by a third-party and we do not control the coverage. While we may have agreements with such third parties to maintain adequate coverage and we monitor these policies, such coverage ultimately may not be maintained or adequately cover our risk of loss. We may have less protection than with respect to the properties where we obtain coverage directly. Although we consider our insurance coverage to be appropriate, in the event of a major catastrophe, we may not have sufficient coverage to replace certain properties.
Funds from Operations
Funds from Operations, or FFO, is a widely recognized measure of REIT performance. We compute FFO in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, which may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs that do not compute FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition, or that interpret the NAREIT definition differently than we do. The revised White Paper on FFO approved by the Board of Governors of NAREIT in April 2002, and as subsequently amended, defines FFO as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of properties and real estate related impairment charges, plus real estate related depreciation and amortization and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. We present FFO because we consider it an important supplemental measure of our operating performance and believe that it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of REITs, particularly those that own and operate commercial office properties.
We also use FFO as one of several criteria to determine performance-based bonuses for members of our senior management. FFO is intended to exclude GAAP historical cost depreciation and amortization of real estate and related assets, which assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes ratably over time. Historically, however, real estate values have risen or fallen with market conditions. Because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization unique to real estate, gains and losses from property dispositions and extraordinary items, it provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, reflects the impact to operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs, interest costs, providing perspective not immediately apparent from net income. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP), as an indication of our financial performance or to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions.
FFO for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows (in thousands):
Inflation
Substantially all of our office leases provide for separate real estate tax and operating expense escalations as well as operating expense recoveries based on increases in the Consumer Price Index or other measures such as porters' wage. In addition, many of the leases provide for fixed base rent increases. We believe that inflationary increases will be at least partially offset by the contractual rent increases and expense escalations described above.
Accounting Standards Updates
The Accounting Standards Updates are discussed in Note 2, "Significant Accounting Policies - Accounting Standards Updates" in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Forward-Looking Information
This report includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions thereof. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this report that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such matters as future capital expenditures, dividends and acquisitions (including the amount and nature thereof), development trends of the real estate industry and the Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester County, Connecticut, Long Island and New Jersey office markets, business strategies, expansion and growth of our operations and other similar matters, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially, and we caution you not to place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of the words "may," "will," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," "project," "continue," or the negative of these words, or other similar words or terms.
Forward-looking statements contained in this report are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us. These risks and uncertainties include:
•
the effect of general economic, business and financial conditions, and their effect on the New York City real estate market in particular;
•
dependence upon certain geographic markets;
•
risks of real estate acquisitions, dispositions, developments and redevelopment, including the cost of construction delays and cost overruns;
•
risks relating to debt and preferred equity investments;
•
availability and creditworthiness of prospective tenants and borrowers;
•
bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant or a significant number of smaller tenants;
•
adverse changes in the real estate markets, including reduced demand for office space, increasing vacancy, and increasing availability of sublease space;
•
availability of capital (debt and equity);
•
unanticipated increases in financing and other costs, including a rise in interest rates;
•
our ability to comply with financial covenants in our debt instruments;
•
our ability to maintain its status as a REIT;
•
risks of investing through joint venture structures, including the fulfillment by our partners of their financial obligations;
•
the threat of terrorist attacks;
•
our ability to obtain adequate insurance coverage at a reasonable cost and the potential for losses in excess of our insurance coverage, including as a result of environmental contamination; and,
•
legislative, regulatory and/or safety requirements adversely affecting REITs and the real estate business including costs of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act and other similar laws and regulations.
Other factors and risks to our business, many of which are beyond our control, are described in other sections of this report and in our other filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
See Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Market Rate Risk" for additional information regarding our exposure to interest rate fluctuations.
The table below presents the principal cash flows based upon maturity dates of our debt obligations and debt and preferred equity investments and the weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity dates, including as-of-right extension options, as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Our debt and preferred equity investments had an estimated fair value ranging between $1.6 billion and $1.8 billion at December 31, 2016.
The table below presents the principal cash flows based upon maturity dates of our share of our joint venture debt obligations and the weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity dates as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
The table below lists our consolidated derivative instruments, which are hedging variable rate debt, and their related fair values as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
In addition to these derivative instruments, some of our joint venture loan agreements require the joint venture to purchase interest rate caps on its debt. All such interest rate caps had no value at December 31, 2016. We also swapped certain floating rate debt at some of our joint ventures. These swaps represented in aggregate an asset and obligation of $7.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively, at December 31, 2016.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Index to Financial Statements and Schedules
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SL GREEN REALTY CORP.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SL GREEN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Capital for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Schedules
Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Schedule III- Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation as of December 31, 2016
All other schedules are omitted because they are not required or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of SL Green Realty Corp.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SL Green Realty Corp. (the "Company") as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016. Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2). These financial statements and schedules are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of SL Green Realty Corp. at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 21, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York
February 21, 2017
SL Green Realty Corp.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share data)
SL Green Realty Corp.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SL Green Realty Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
SL Green Realty Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SL Green Realty Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SL Green Realty Corp.
Consolidated Statement of Equity
(in thousands, except per share data)
SL Green Realty Corp.
Consolidated Statement of Equity
(in thousands, except per share data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SL Green Realty Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands, except per share data)
SL Green Realty Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands, except per share data)
SL Green Realty Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
Contribution to consolidated joint venture by noncontrolling interest
-
22,504
-
In December 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company declared quarterly distributions per share of $0.775, $0.72 and $0.60, respectively. These distributions were paid in January 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Partners of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership") as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, capital and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016. Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2). These financial statements and schedules are the responsibility of the Operating Partnership's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Operating Partnership's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 21, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York
February 21, 2017
SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per unit data)
SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per unit data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per unit data)
SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per unit data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Consolidated Statement of Capital
(in thousands, except per unit data)
SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
In December 2016, 2015 and 2014, SLGOP declared quarterly distributions per common unit of $0.775, $0.72 and $0.60, respectively. These distributions were paid in January 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2016
1. Organization and Basis of Presentation
SL Green Realty Corp., which is referred to as the Company or SL Green, a Maryland corporation, and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., which is referred to as SLGOP or the Operating Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, were formed in June 1997 for the purpose of combining the commercial real estate business of S.L. Green Properties, Inc. and its affiliated partnerships and entities. The Operating Partnership received a contribution of interest in the real estate properties, as well as 95% of the economic interest in the management, leasing and construction companies which are referred to as the Service Corporation. All of the management, leasing and construction services that are provided to the properties that are wholly-owned by us and that are provided to certain joint ventures are conducted through SL Green Management LLC which is 100% owned by the Operating Partnership. The Company has qualified, and expects to qualify in the current fiscal year, as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and operates as a self-administered, self-managed REIT. A REIT is a legal entity that holds real estate interests and, through payments of dividends to stockholders, is permitted to minimize the payment of Federal income taxes at the corporate level. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to "we," "our" and "us" means the Company and all entities owned or controlled by the Company, including the Operating Partnership.
Substantially all of our assets are held by, and all of our operations are conducted through, the Operating Partnership. The Company is the sole managing general partner of the Operating Partnership. As of December 31, 2016, noncontrolling investors held, in the aggregate, a 4.16% limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership. We refer to these interests as the noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership is considered a variable interest entity, or VIE, in which we are the primary beneficiary. See Note 11, "Noncontrolling Interests on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements".
Reckson Associates Realty Corp., or Reckson, and Reckson Operating Partnership, L.P., or ROP, are wholly-owned subsidiaries of SL Green Realty Corp.
As of December 31, 2016, we owned the following interests in properties in the New York Metropolitan area, primarily in midtown Manhattan. Our investments in the New York Metropolitan area also include investments in Brooklyn, Long Island, Westchester County, Connecticut and New Jersey, which are collectively known as the Suburban properties:
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(1)
The weighted average occupancy for commercial properties represents the total occupied square feet divided by total square footage at acquisition. The weighted average occupancy for residential properties represents the total occupied units divided by total available units.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
(2)
As of December 31, 2016, we owned a building that was comprised of approximately 270,132 square feet (unaudited) of retail space and approximately 222,855 square feet (unaudited) of residential space. For the purpose of this report, we have included the building in the number of retail properties we own. However, we have included only the retail square footage in the retail approximate square footage, and have listed the balance of the square footage as residential square footage.
As of December 31, 2016, we also managed an approximately 336,000 square foot (unaudited) office building owned by a third party and held debt and preferred equity investments with a book value of $2.0 billion, including $0.3 billion of debt and preferred equity investments and other financing receivables that are included in balance sheet line items other than the Debt and Preferred Equity Investments line item.
Partnership Agreement
In accordance with the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, or the Operating Partnership Agreement, we allocate all distributions and profits and losses in proportion to the percentage of ownership interests of the respective partners. As the managing general partner of the Operating Partnership, we are required to take such reasonable efforts, as determined by us in our sole discretion, to cause the Operating Partnership to distribute sufficient amounts to enable the payment of sufficient dividends by us to minimize any Federal income or excise tax at the Company level. Under the Operating Partnership Agreement, each limited partner has the right to redeem units of limited partnership interests for cash, or if we so elect, shares of SL Green's common stock on a one-for-one basis.
Subsequent Events
In January 2017, we sold a 27.6% interest in One Vanderbilt Avenue to the National Pension Service of Korea ("NPS") and a 1.4% interest to Hines Interest LP ("Hines"). NPS and Hines have committed aggregate equity to the project totaling no less than $525 million. SL Green Realty Corp. and Hines will co-develop the building.
In January 2017, we entered into an agreement to sell 520 White Plains Road in Tarrytown, NY for a gross sale price of $21.0 million. We expect to record a $11.1 million charge in connection with the sale, which will be included in depreciable real estate reserves. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2017. At December 31, 2016, we determined that the held for sale criteria was not met for this property as it was not probable that the sale of the asset would be completed within one year.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our subsidiaries, which are wholly-owned or controlled by us. Entities which we do not control through our voting interest and entities which are variable interest entities, but where we are not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for under the equity method. See Note 5, "Debt and Preferred Equity Investments" and Note 6, "Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures." All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
We consolidate a variable interest entity, or VIE, in which we are considered the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the entity that has (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. Included in commercial real estate properties on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are $1.7 billion and $200.7 million, respectively, related to our consolidated VIEs, excluding the Operating Partnership. Included in mortgages and other loans payable on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are $621.8 million and $101.1 million, respectively, related to our consolidated VIEs, excluding the Operating Partnership. As of December 31, 2015, assets held for sale and liabilities related to assets held for sale on the consolidated balance sheets did not include amounts related to consolidated VIEs.
A noncontrolling interest in a consolidated subsidiary is defined as the portion of the equity (net assets) in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to us. Noncontrolling interests are required to be presented as a separate component of equity in the consolidated balance sheet and the presentation of net income is modified to present earnings and other comprehensive income attributed to controlling and noncontrolling interests.
We assess the accounting treatment for each joint venture and debt and preferred equity investment. This assessment includes a review of each joint venture or limited liability company agreement to determine the rights provided to each party and whether those rights are protective or participating. For all VIEs, we review such agreements in order to determine which party has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance. In situations where we and our partner approve, among other things, the annual budget, receive a detailed monthly reporting package, meet on a quarterly basis
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
to review the results of the joint venture, review and approve the joint venture's tax return before filing, and approve all leases that cover more than a nominal amount of space relative to the total rentable space at each property, we do not consolidate the joint venture as we consider these to be substantive participation rights that result in shared power of the activities that most significantly impact the performance of the joint venture. Our joint venture agreements typically contain certain protective rights such as requiring partner approval to sell, finance or refinance the property and the payment of capital expenditures and operating expenditures outside of the approved budget or operating plan.
Investment in Commercial Real Estate Properties
Real estate properties are presented at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Costs directly related to the development or redevelopment of properties are capitalized. Ordinary repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred; major replacements and betterments, which improve or extend the life of the asset, are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives.
A property to be disposed of is reported at the lower of its carrying value or its estimated fair value, less its cost to sell. Once an asset is held for sale, depreciation expense is no longer recorded. The Company adopted ASU 2014-08 effective January 1, 2015 which raised the threshold for disposals to qualify as discontinued operations to include only dispositions that represent a strategic shift in an entity’s operations. The guidance was applied prospectively for new disposals. As a result, the Company classified 388 Greenwich as held for sale as of March 31, 2016, 500 West Putnam as held for sale as of June 30, 2016, and 400 East 57th Street as held for sale as of September 30, 2016 and included the results of operations in continuing operations for all periods presented.
The Company classified 242-252 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York as held for sale as of December 31, 2015, 570 & 574 Fifth Avenue and 140-150 Grand Street in White Plains, New York as held for sale as of September 30, 2015 and 131-137 Spring Street and 120 West 45th Street as of June 30, 2015 and included the results of operations in continuing operations for all periods presented. Discontinued operations included the results of operations of real estate assets sold or held for sale prior to January 1, 2015. This included 180 Maiden Lane, which was held for sale at December 31, 2014 and sold in January 2015, and 2 Herald Square, 985-987 Third Avenue and 673 First Avenue, which were sold during 2014.
See Note 4, "Properties Held for Sale and Dispositions."
Properties are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives are as follows:
Depreciation expense (including amortization of capital lease assets) totaled $783.5 million, $523.8 million, and $338.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Included in 2015 is $131.8 million of accelerated depreciation expense related to vacating the properties that comprise the One Vanderbilt development site.
On a periodic basis, we assess whether there are any indications that the value of our real estate properties may be other than temporarily impaired or that their carrying value may not be recoverable. A property's value is considered impaired if management's estimate of the aggregate future cash flows (undiscounted) to be generated by the property is less than the carrying value of the property. To the extent impairment has occurred, the loss will be measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the property over the calculated fair value of the property.
We also evaluate our real estate properties for potential impairment when a real estate property has been classified as held for sale. Real estate assets held for sale are valued at the lower of either their carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. We do not believe that there were any indicators of impairment at any of our consolidated properties at December 31, 2016.
During the second quarter of 2016, we recorded a $10.4 million charge in connection with the sale of one property, 500 West Putnam, which closed in the third quarter of 2016. This charge is included in depreciable real estate reserves in the consolidated statements of operations.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
During the third quarter of 2015, we recorded a $19.2 million charge in connection with the sale of two of our properties, which closed in the fourth quarter of 2015. This charge is included in depreciable real estate reserves in the consolidated statements of operations.
During the fourth quarter of 2015, we entered into an agreement to sell 885 Third Avenue and recorded a $6.6 million charge which was included in gain on sale of real estate, net in the consolidated statement of operations. At December 31, 2015, 885 Third Avenue was not reclassified as held for sale as a result of not meeting the criteria in ASC 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment - Impairment and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. We do not anticipate meeting the criteria for the full accrual method in ASC 360-20, Property, Plant and Equipment - Real Estate Sales until the third quarter of 2017, as a result the property will remain on our consolidated balance sheet until the criteria is met.
We incur a variety of costs in the development and leasing of our properties. After determination is made to capitalize a cost, it is allocated to the specific component of a project that is benefited. Determination of when a development project is substantially complete and capitalization must cease involves a degree of judgment. The costs of land and building under development include specifically identifiable costs. The capitalized costs include, but are not limited to, pre-construction costs essential to the development of the property, development costs, construction costs, interest costs, real estate taxes, salaries and related costs and other costs incurred during the period of development. We consider a construction project as substantially completed and held available for occupancy upon the completion of tenant improvements, but no later than one year after major construction activity ceases. We cease capitalization on the portions substantially completed and occupied or held available for occupancy, and capitalize only those costs associated with the portions under construction.
Results of operations of properties acquired are included in the consolidated statements of operations from the date of acquisition.
We recognize the assets acquired, liabilities assumed (including contingencies) and any noncontrolling interests in an acquired entity at their fair values on the acquisition date. We expense transaction costs related to the acquisition of certain assets as incurred, which are included in transaction related costs on our consolidated statements of operations. In January, 2017, the FASB published ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which provides guidance as to whether transaction costs should be expensed or capitalized. Refer to Note 2, Accounting Standards Updates for the Company's adoption of the new guidance.
When we acquire our partner's equity interest in an existing unconsolidated joint venture and gain control over the investment, we record the consolidated investment at fair value. The difference between the book value of our equity investment on the purchase date and our share of the fair value of the investment's purchase price is recorded as a purchase price fair value adjustment in our consolidated statements of operations. In December 2015, we recognized a purchase price fair value adjustment of $40.1 million in connection with the consolidation of 600 Lexington Avenue. In May 2014, we recognized a purchase price fair value adjustment of $71.4 million in connection with the consolidation of 388-390 Greenwich Street. These acquisitions were previously accounted for as investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.
We allocate the purchase price of real estate to land and building (inclusive of tenant improvements) and, if determined to be material, intangibles, such as the value of above- and below-market leases and origination costs associated with the in-place leases. We depreciate the amount allocated to building (inclusive of tenant improvements) over their estimated useful lives, which generally range from three to 40 years. We amortize the amount allocated to the above- and below-market leases over the remaining term of the associated lease, which generally range from one to 14 years, and record it as either an increase (in the case of below-market leases) or a decrease (in the case of above-market leases) to rental income. We amortize the amount allocated to the values associated with in-place leases over the expected term of the associated lease, which generally ranges from one to 14 years. If a tenant vacates its space prior to the contractual termination of the lease and no rental payments are being made on the lease, any unamortized balance of the related intangible will be written off. The tenant improvements and origination costs are amortized as an expense over the remaining life of the lease (or charged against earnings if the lease is terminated prior to its contractual expiration date). We assess fair value of the leases based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and capitalization rates and available market information. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including the historical operating results, known trends, and market/economic conditions that may affect the property. To the extent acquired leases contain fixed rate renewal options that are below-market and determined to be material, we amortize such below-market lease value into rental income over the renewal period. As of December 31, 2016, the weighted average amortization period for above-market leases, below-market leases, and in-place lease costs is 5.1 years, 24.0 years, and 9.9 years, respectively.
We recognized $196.2 million, $38.7 million, and $23.3 million of rental revenue for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 respectively, for the amortization of aggregate below-market leases in excess of above-market leases and a reduction in lease origination costs, resulting from the allocation of the purchase price of the applicable properties. Included in rental revenue
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
for the year ended December 31, 2016 is $172.4 million related to the amortization of below-market leases at 388-390 Greenwich Street as a result of the tenant exercising their option to purchase the property and entering into an agreement to accelerate the sale. We recognized as a reduction to interest expense the amortization of the above-market rate mortgages assumed of $2.8 million, $2.3 million, and $5.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The following summarizes our identified intangible assets (acquired above-market leases and in-place leases) and intangible liabilities (acquired below-market leases) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
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(1)
As of December 31, 2016, no net intangible assets and no net intangible liabilities were reclassified to assets held for sale and liabilities related to assets held for sale.
The estimated annual amortization of acquired above-market leases, net of acquired (below-market) leases (a component of rental revenue), for each of the five succeeding years is as follows (in thousands):
The estimated annual amortization of all other identifiable assets (a component of depreciation and amortization expense) including tenant improvements for each of the five succeeding years is as follows (in thousands):
In February 2016, we closed on the sale of 885 Third Avenue but did not meet the criteria for sale accounting under the full accrual method in ASC 360-20, Property, Plant and Equipment - Real Estate Sales. As a result the property remains on our consolidated balance sheet until the criteria is met.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider all highly liquid investments with maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash primarily consists of security deposits held on behalf of our tenants, interest reserves, as well as capital improvement and real estate tax escrows required under certain loan agreements.
Fair Value Measurements
See Note 16, "Fair Value Measurements."
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
Investment in Marketable Securities
We designate a security as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading at acquisition. As of December 31, 2016, we did not have any securities designated as held-to-maturity or trading. We account for our available-for-sale securities at fair value pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 820-10, with the net unrealized gains or losses reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Any unrealized losses that are determined to be other-than-temporary are recognized in earnings up to their credit component.
The cost of bonds and marketable securities sold is determined using the specific identification method.
At December 31, 2016 and 2015, we held the following marketable securities (in thousands):
The cost basis of the commercial mortgage-backed securities was $36.0 million and $38.7 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These securities mature at various times through 2049. The cost basis of the equity marketable securities was $43.3 million and $4.3 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, we disposed of marketable securities for aggregate net proceeds of $7.0 million and realized loss of $0.1 million, which is included in gain on sale of investment in marketable securities on the consolidated statements of operations. We did not sell any of our marketable securities during the year ended December 31, 2015.
Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
We account for our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures under the equity method of accounting in cases where we exercise significant influence over, but do not control, these entities and are not considered to be the primary beneficiary. We consolidate those joint ventures that we control or which are VIEs and where we are considered to be the primary beneficiary. In all these joint ventures, the rights of the joint venture partner are both protective as well as participating. Unless we are determined to be the primary beneficiary in a VIE, these participating rights preclude us from consolidating these VIE entities. These investments are recorded initially at cost, as investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, and subsequently adjusted for equity in net income (loss) and cash contributions and distributions. Equity in net income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures is allocated based on our ownership or economic interest in each joint venture. When a capital event (as defined in each joint venture agreement) such as a refinancing occurs, if return thresholds are met, future equity income will be allocated at our increased economic interest. We recognize incentive income from unconsolidated real estate joint ventures as income to the extent it is earned and not subject to a clawback feature. Distributions we receive from unconsolidated real estate joint ventures in excess of our basis in the investment are recorded as offsets to our investment balance if we remain liable for future obligations of the joint venture or may otherwise be committed to provide future additional financial support. None of the joint venture debt is recourse to us. The Company has performance guarantees under master leases at two joint ventures. See Note 6, "Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures."
We assess our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures for recoverability, and if it is determined that a loss in value of the investment is other than temporary, we write down the investment to its fair value. We evaluate our equity investments for impairment based on the joint ventures' projected discounted cash flows. We do not believe that the values of any of our equity investments were impaired at December 31, 2016.
We may originate loans for real estate acquisition, development and construction, where we expect to receive some of the residual profit from such projects. When the risk and rewards of these arrangements are essentially the same as an investor or joint venture partner, we account for these arrangements as real estate investments under the equity method of accounting for investments. Otherwise, we account for these arrangements consistent with our loan accounting for our debt and preferred equity investments.
Deferred Lease Costs
Deferred lease costs consist of fees and direct costs incurred to initiate and renew operating leases and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the related lease term. Certain of our employees provide leasing services to the wholly-owned properties. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, $15.4 million, $15.4 million and $15.1 million of their compensation, respectively, was capitalized and is amortized over an estimated average lease term of seven years.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs represent commitment fees, legal, title and other third party costs associated with obtaining commitments for financing which result in a closing of such financing. These costs are amortized over the terms of the respective agreements. Unamortized deferred financing costs are expensed when the associated debt is refinanced or repaid before maturity. Costs incurred in seeking financing transactions, which do not close, are expensed in the period in which it is determined that the financing will not close. Deferred debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability are presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability.
Revenue Recognition
Rental revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Rental revenue recognition commences when the tenant takes possession or controls the physical use of the leased space. In order for the tenant to take possession, the leased space must be substantially ready for its intended use. To determine whether the leased space is substantially ready for its intended use, management evaluates whether we are or the tenant is the owner of tenant improvements for accounting purposes. When management concludes that we are the owner of tenant improvements, rental revenue recognition begins when the tenant takes possession of the finished space, which is when such tenant improvements are substantially complete. In certain instances, when management concludes that we are not the owner (the tenant is the owner) of tenant improvements, rental revenue recognition begins when the tenant takes possession of or controls the space. When management concludes that we are the owner of tenant improvements for accounting purposes, we record amounts funded to construct the tenant improvements as a capital asset. For these tenant improvements, we record amounts reimbursed by tenants as a reduction of the capital asset. When management concludes that the tenant is the owner of tenant improvements for accounting purposes, we record our contribution towards those improvements as a lease incentive, which is included in deferred costs, net on our consolidated balance sheets and amortized as a reduction to rental revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The excess of rents recognized over amounts contractually due pursuant to the underlying leases are included in deferred rents receivable on the consolidated balance sheets. We establish, on a current basis, an allowance for future potential tenant credit losses, which may occur against this account. The balance reflected on the consolidated balance sheets is net of such allowance.
In addition to base rent, our tenants also generally will pay their pro rata share of increases in real estate taxes and operating expenses for the building over a base year. In some leases, in lieu of paying additional rent based upon increases in building operating expenses, the tenant will pay additional rent based upon increases in the wage rate paid to porters over the porters' wage rate in effect during a base year or increases in the consumer price index over the index value in effect during a base year. In addition, many of our leases contain fixed percentage increases over the base rent to cover escalations. Electricity is most often supplied by the landlord either on a sub-metered basis, or rent inclusion basis (i.e., a fixed fee is included in the rent for electricity, which amount may increase based upon increases in electricity rates or increases in electrical usage by the tenant). Base building services other than electricity (such as heat, air conditioning and freight elevator service during business hours, and base building cleaning) are typically provided at no additional cost, with the tenant paying additional rent only for services which exceed base building services or for services which are provided outside normal business hours. These escalations are based on actual expenses incurred in the prior calendar year. If the expenses in the current year are different from those in the prior year, then during the current year, the escalations will be adjusted to reflect the actual expenses for the current year.
We record a gain on sale of real estate when title is conveyed to the buyer, subject to the buyer's financial commitment being sufficient to provide economic substance to the sale and provided that we have no substantial economic involvement with the buyer.
Interest income on debt and preferred equity investments is accrued based on the contractual terms of the instruments and when, in the opinion of management, it is deemed collectible. Some debt and preferred equity investments provide for accrual of interest at specified rates, which differ from current payment terms. Interest is recognized on such loans at the accrual rate subject to management's determination that accrued interest is ultimately collectible, based on the underlying collateral and operations of the borrower. If management cannot make this determination, interest income above the current pay rate is recognized only upon actual receipt.
Deferred origination fees, original issue discounts and loan origination costs, if any, are recognized as an adjustment to the interest income over the terms of the related investments using the effective interest method. Fees received in connection with loan commitments are also deferred until the loan is funded and are then recognized over the term of the loan as an adjustment to yield. Discounts or premiums associated with the purchase of loans are amortized or accreted into interest income as a yield adjustment on the effective interest method based on expected cash flows through the expected maturity date of the related investment. If we purchase a debt or preferred equity investment at a discount, intend to hold it until maturity and expect to recover the full value of the investment, we accrete the discount into income as an adjustment to yield over the term of the investment. If
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
we purchase a debt or preferred equity investment at a discount with the intention of foreclosing on the collateral, we do not accrete the discount. For debt investments acquired at a discount for credit quality, the difference between contractual cash flows and expected cash flows at acquisition is not accreted. Anticipated exit fees, the collection of which is expected, are also recognized over the term of the loan as an adjustment to yield.
Debt and preferred equity investments are placed on a non-accrual status at the earlier of the date at which payments become 90 days past due or when, in the opinion of management, a full recovery of interest income becomes doubtful. Interest income recognition on any non-accrual debt or preferred equity investment is resumed when such non-accrual debt or preferred equity investment becomes contractually current and performance is demonstrated to be resumed. Interest is recorded as income on impaired loans only to the extent cash is received.
We may syndicate a portion of the loans that we originate or sell the loans individually. When a transaction meets the criteria for sale accounting, we derecognize the loan sold and recognize gain or loss based on the difference between the sales price and the carrying value of the loan sold. Any related unamortized deferred origination fees, original issue discounts, loan origination costs, discounts or premiums at the time of sale are recognized as an adjustment to the gain or loss on sale, which is included in investment income on the consolidated statement of operations. Any fees received at the time of sale or syndication are recognized as part of investment income.
Asset management fees are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the asset management agreement.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our tenants to make required payments. If the financial condition of a specific tenant were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of its ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.
Reserve for Possible Credit Losses
The expense for possible credit losses in connection with debt and preferred equity investments is the charge to earnings to increase the allowance for possible credit losses to the level that we estimate to be adequate, based on Level 3 data, considering delinquencies, loss experience and collateral quality. Other factors considered include geographic trends, product diversification, the size of the portfolio and current economic conditions. Based upon these factors, we establish a provision for possible credit loss on each individual investment. When it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts contractually due, the investment is considered impaired.
Where impairment is indicated on an investment that is held to maturity, a valuation allowance is measured based upon the excess of the recorded investment amount over the net fair value of the collateral. Any deficiency between the carrying amount of an asset and the calculated value of the collateral is charged to expense. We continue to assess or adjust our estimates based on circumstances of a loan and the underlying collateral. If additional information reflects increased recovery of our investment, we will adjust our reserves accordingly. There were no loan reserves recorded during years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.
Debt and preferred equity investments held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair market value using available market information obtained through consultation with dealers or other originators of such investments as well as discounted cash flow models based on Level 3 data pursuant to ASC 820-10. As circumstances change, management may conclude not to sell an investment designated as held for sale. In such situations, the investment will be reclassified at its net carrying value to debt and preferred equity investments held to maturity. For these reclassified investments, the difference between the current carrying value and the expected cash to be collected at maturity will be accreted into income over the remaining term of the investment.
Rent Expense
Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the initial term of the lease. The excess of the rent expense recognized over the amounts contractually due pursuant to the underlying lease is included in the deferred lease payable on the consolidated balance sheets.
Underwriting Commissions and Costs
Underwriting commissions and costs incurred in connection with our stock offerings are reflected as a reduction of additional paid-in-capital.
Exchangeable Debt Instruments
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
The initial proceeds from exchangeable debt that may be settled in cash, including partial cash settlements, are bifurcated between a liability component and an equity component associated with the embedded conversion option. The objective of the accounting guidance is to require the liability and equity components of exchangeable debt to be separately accounted for in a manner such that the interest expense on the exchangeable debt is not recorded at the stated rate of interest but rather at an effective rate that reflects the issuer's conventional debt borrowing rate at the date of issuance. We calculate the liability component of exchangeable debt based on the present value of the contractual cash flows discounted at our comparable market conventional debt borrowing rate at the date of issuance. The difference between the principal amount and the fair value of the liability component is reported as a discount on the exchangeable debt that is accreted as additional interest expense from the issuance date through the contractual maturity date using the effective interest method. A portion of this additional interest expense may be capitalized to the development and redevelopment balances qualifying for interest capitalization each period. The liability component of the exchangeable debt is reported net of discounts on our consolidated balance sheets. We calculate the equity component of exchangeable debt based on the difference between the initial proceeds received from the issuance of the exchangeable debt and the fair value of the liability component at the issuance date. The equity component is included in additional paid-in-capital, net of issuance costs, on our consolidated balance sheets. We allocate issuance costs for exchangeable debt between the liability and the equity components based on their relative values.
Income Taxes
SL Green is taxed as a REIT under Section 856(c) of the Code. As a REIT, SL Green generally is not subject to Federal income tax. To maintain its qualification as a REIT, SL Green must distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders and meet certain other requirements. If SL Green fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, SL Green will be subject to Federal income tax on SL Green's taxable income at regular corporate rates. SL Green may also be subject to certain state, local and franchise taxes. Under certain circumstances, Federal income and excise taxes may be due on SL Green's undistributed taxable income.
The Operating Partnership is a partnership and, as a result, all income and losses of the partnership are allocated to the partners for inclusion in their respective income tax returns. The only provision for income taxes included in the consolidated statements of operations relates to the Operating Partnership’s consolidated taxable REIT subsidiaries. The Operating Partnership may also be subject to certain state, local and franchise taxes.
Pursuant to amendments to the Code that became effective January 1, 2001, we have elected, and may elect in the future, to treat certain of our existing or newly created corporate subsidiaries as taxable REIT subsidiaries, or TRSs. In general, TRSs may perform non-customary services for the tenants of the Company, hold assets that we cannot hold directly and generally may engage in any real estate or non-real estate related business. The TRSs generate income, resulting in Federal and state income tax liability for these entities.
During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we recorded Federal, state and local tax provisions of $2.8 million, $3.1 million, $7.8 million, respectively.
We follow a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Recognition (step one) occurs when an enterprise concludes that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination. Measurement (step two) determines the amount of benefit that is more-likely-than-not to be realized upon settlement. Derecognition of a tax position that was previously recognized would occur when a company subsequently determines that a tax position no longer meets the more-likely-than-not threshold of being sustained. The use of a valuation allowance as a substitute for derecognition of tax positions is prohibited.
Stock-Based Employee Compensation Plans
We have a stock-based employee compensation plan, described more fully in Note 14, "Share-based Compensation."
The Company's stock options are recorded at fair value at the time of issuance. Fair value of the stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because our plan has characteristics significantly different from those of traded options and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in our opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the employee stock options.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
Compensation cost for stock options, if any, is recognized over the vesting period of the award. Our policy is to grant options with an exercise price equal to the quoted closing market price of the Company's common stock on the grant date. Awards of stock or restricted stock are expensed as compensation over the benefit period based on the fair value of the stock on the grant date.
For share-based awards with a performance or market measure, we recognize compensation cost over the requisite service period, using the accelerated attribution expense method. The requisite service period begins on the date the compensation committee of SL Green's board of directors authorizes the award, adopts any relevant performance measures and communicates the award to the employees. For programs with awards that vest based on the achievement of a performance condition or market condition, we determine whether it is probable that the performance condition will be met, and estimate compensation cost based on the fair value of the award at the applicable reporting date estimated using a binomial model or market quotes. For share-based awards for which there is no pre-established performance measure, we recognize compensation cost over the service vesting period, which represents the requisite service period, on a straight-line basis. In accordance with the provisions of our share-based incentive compensation plans, we accept the return of shares of the Company's common stock, at the current quoted market price, from certain key employees to satisfy minimum statutory tax-withholding requirements related to shares that vested during the period.
Awards can also be made in the form of a separate series of units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership called long-term incentive plan units, or LTIP units. LTIP units, which can be granted either as free-standing awards or in tandem with other awards under our stock incentive plan, are valued by reference to the value of the Company's common stock at the time of grant, and are subject to such conditions and restrictions as the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors may determine, including continued employment or service, computation of financial metrics and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.
Derivative Instruments
In the normal course of business, we use a variety of commonly used derivative instruments, such as interest rate swaps, caps, collars and floors, to manage, or hedge, interest rate risk. Effectiveness is essential for those derivatives that we intend to qualify for hedge accounting. Some derivative instruments are associated with an anticipated transaction. In those cases, hedge effectiveness criteria also require that it be probable that the underlying transaction occurs. Instruments that meet these hedging criteria are formally designated as hedges at the inception of the derivative contract.
To determine the fair values of derivative instruments, we use a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions and risks existing at each balance sheet date. For the majority of financial instruments including most derivatives, long-term investments and long-term debt, standard market conventions and techniques such as discounted cash flow analysis, option pricing models, replacement cost, and termination cost are used to determine fair value. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.
In the normal course of business, we are exposed to the effect of interest rate changes and limit these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives. To address exposure to interest rates, derivatives are used primarily to fix the rate on debt based on floating-rate indices and manage the cost of borrowing obligations.
We use a variety of commonly used derivative products that are considered plain vanilla derivatives. These derivatives typically include interest rate swaps, caps, collars and floors. We expressly prohibit the use of unconventional derivative instruments and using derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Further, we have a policy of only entering into contracts with major financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors.
We may employ swaps, forwards or purchased options to hedge qualifying forecasted transactions. Gains and losses related to these transactions are deferred and recognized in net income as interest expense in the same period or periods that the underlying transaction occurs, expires or is otherwise terminated.
Hedges that are reported at fair value and presented on the balance sheet could be characterized as cash flow hedges or fair value hedges. Interest rate caps and collars are examples of cash flow hedges. Cash flow hedges address the risk associated with future cash flows of interest payments. For all hedges held by us and which were deemed to be fully effective in meeting the hedging objectives established by our corporate policy governing interest rate risk management, no net gains or losses were reported in earnings. The changes in fair value of hedge instruments are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income. For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the gain or loss, resulting from the change in the estimated fair value of the derivative instruments, is recognized in current earnings during the period of change.
Earnings per Share of the Company
The Company presents both basic and diluted earnings per share, or EPS. Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income or loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
during the period. Basic EPS includes participating securities, consisting of unvested restricted stock that receive nonforfeitable dividends similar to shares of common stock. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock, where such exercise or conversion would result in a lower EPS amount. Diluted EPS also includes units of limited partnership interest. The dilutive effect of stock options is reflected in the weighted average diluted outstanding shares calculation by application of the treasury stock method. There is no dilutive effect for the exchangeable senior notes as the conversion premium will be paid in cash.
Earnings per Unit of the Operating Partnership
The Operating Partnership presents both basic and diluted earnings per unit, or EPU. Basic EPU excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income or loss attributable to common unitholders by the weighted average number of common units outstanding during the period. Basic EPU includes participating securities, consisting of unvested restricted units that receive nonforfeitable dividends similar to shares of common units. Diluted EPU reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common units were exercised or converted into common units, where such exercise or conversion would result in a lower EPU amount. The dilutive effect of unit options is reflected in the weighted average diluted outstanding units calculation by application of the treasury stock method. There is no dilutive effect for the exchangeable senior notes as the conversion premium will be paid in cash.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash investments, debt and preferred equity investments and accounts receivable. We place our cash investments in excess of insured amounts with high quality financial institutions. The collateral securing our debt and preferred equity investments is located in New York City. See Note 5, "Debt and Preferred Equity Investments." We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our tenants and require most tenants to provide security deposits or letters of credit. Though these security deposits and letters of credit are insufficient to meet the total value of a tenant's lease obligation, they are a measure of good faith and a source of funds to offset the economic costs associated with lost revenue and the costs associated with re-tenanting a space. The properties in our real estate portfolio are primarily located in Manhattan, we also have properties located in Brooklyn, Long Island, Westchester County, Connecticut and New Jersey. The tenants located in our buildings operate in various industries. Other than two tenants, no other tenant in our portfolio accounted for more than 5.0% of our share of annualized cash rent, including our share of joint venture annualized rent, at December 31, 2016. For the year ended December 31, 2016, 9.8%, 8.1%, 7.6%, 6.5%, 6.2%, and 5.0% of our annualized cash rent for consolidated properties was attributable to 1515 Broadway, 919 Third Avenue, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 420 Lexington Avenue, One Madison Avenue, and 485 Lexington Avenue, respectively. Annualized cash rent for all other consolidated properties was below 5.0%.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, 10.2%, 9.4%, 7.8%, 7.5%, 7.5%, 6.4%, and 5.7% of our annualized cash rent for consolidated properties was attributable to 1515 Broadway, 388 and 390 Greenwich Street, 919 Third Avenue, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 11 Madison Avenue, 420 Lexington Avenue, and One Madison Avenue, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2014, 9.9%, 9.8%, 7.8% and 7.5% of our annualized cash rent for consolidated properties was attributable to 1515 Broadway, 388-390 Greenwich Street, 1185 Avenue of the Americas and 919 Third Avenue, respectively.
As of December 31, 2016, 71.3% of our work force is covered by six collective bargaining agreements and 71.1% of our work force, which services substantially all of our properties, is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, which expires in December 2019. See Note 20, "Benefits Plans."
Reclassification
Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to our current year presentation.
Accounting Standards Updates
In January, 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business The guidance clarifies the definition of a business and provides guidance to assist with determining whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions of assets or businesses. The main provision is that an acquiree is not a business if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
group of assets. The Company adopted the guidance on the issuance date effective January 5, 2017. The Company expects that most of our real estate acquisitions will be considered asset acquisitions under the new guidance and that transaction costs will be capitalized to the investment basis which is then subject to a purchase price allocation based on relative fair value.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The ASU provides final guidance on eight cash flow issues, including debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, distributions received from equity method investees, separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle, and others. The amendments in the ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company has not yet adopted this new guidance and is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The guidance changes how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that aren’t measured at fair value through net income. The guidance replaces the current ‘incurred loss’ model with an ‘expected loss’ approach. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted after December 2018. The Company has not yet adopted this new guidance and is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The guidance simplifies the accounting for share-based payment award transactions including: income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2017 and there is no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-07, Investments Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323). The guidance eliminates the requirement that an entity retroactively adopt the equity method of accounting if an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership or degree of influence. The amendments require that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2017 and there is no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The guidance requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for those leases classified as operating leases under the previous standard. Depending on the lease classification, lessees will recognize expense based on the effective interest method for finance leases or on a straight-line basis for operating leases. The accounting applied by a lessor is largely unchanged from that applied under the previous standard. One of the impacts on the Company will be the presentation and disclosure in the financial statements of non-lease components such as charges to tenants for a building’s operating expenses. The non-lease components will be presented separately from the lease components in both the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Balance Sheets. Another impact is the measurement and presentation of ground leases under which the Company is lessee. The Company is required to record a liability for the obligation to make payments under the lease and an asset for the right to use the underlying asset during the lease term and will also apply the new expense recognition requirements given the lease classification. The Company is currently quantifying these impacts. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company anticipates adopting this guidance January 1, 2019 and will apply the modified retrospective approach.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 (ASU 825-10), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The guidance requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value and to record changes in instruments-specific credit risk for financial liabilities measured under the fair value option in other comprehensive income. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and for interim periods therein. The Company has not yet adopted this new guidance and is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued final guidance to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs by requiring debt issuance costs to be presented as a deduction from the corresponding debt liability (ASU 2015-03). The guidance requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2016. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2016 and 2015,
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
$82.3 million and $130.3 million, respectively, of deferred debt issuance cost, net of amortization are presented as a direct reduction within Mortgages and other loans payable, Revolving credit facility, Term loan and senior unsecured notes on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
In February 2015, the FASB issued guidance that amends the current consolidation guidance, including introducing a separate consolidation analysis specific to limited partnerships and other similar entities (ASU 2015-02). Under this analysis, limited partnerships and other similar entities will be considered a VIE unless the limited partners hold substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2016. Under the revised guidance, certain entities, including the Operating Partnership, now qualify as variable interest entities while some of our entities originally classified as variable interest entities no longer meet the criteria. The change in designation did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and did not change the consolidation conclusion on these entities.
In May 2014, the FASB issued a new comprehensive revenue recognition guidance which requires us to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services (ASU 2014-09). The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized.
In March 2016, the FASB issued implementation guidance which clarifies principal versus agent considerations in reporting revenue gross versus net (ASU 2016-08).
In April 2016, the FASB issued implementation guidance which clarifies the identification of performance obligations (ASU 2016-10).
In April 2016, the FASB amended its new revenue recognition guidance on identifying performance obligations to allow entities to disregard items that are immaterial and clarify when a good or service is separately identifiable (ASU 2016-10).
In May 2016, the FASB issued implementation guidance relating to transition, collectability, noncash consideration and presentation matters (ASU 2016-12).
These ASUs are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted but not before interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The new guidance can be applied either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented, or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Company anticipates adopting this guidance January 1, 2018, and applying the cumulative-effect adoption method. Since the Company’s revenue is related to leasing activities, the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
3. Property Acquisitions
2016 Acquisitions
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the property listed below was acquired from a third party. The following summarizes our final allocation of the purchase price of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed upon the closing of this acquisition (in thousands):
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(1)
Based on our preliminary analysis of the purchase price, we had allocated $26.6 million and $1.9 million to land and building, respectively. We finalized the allocation in the fourth quarter of 2016. The impact to our consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2016 was an increase in rental revenue of $0.2 million for the amortization of aggregate below-market leases and an additional $2.1 million of depreciation expense.
2015 Acquisitions
During the year ended December 31, 2016, we finalized the purchase price allocations for the following 2015 acquisitions based on facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date for each property (in thousands):
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Based on our preliminary analysis of the purchase price, we had allocated $97.0 million and $180.2 million to land and building, respectively, at 600 Lexington Avenue, $22.1 million and $41.0 million to land and building, respectively, at 187 Broadway and 5&7 Dey Street, $849.9 million and $1.6 billion to land and building, respectively, at 11 Madison Avenue, $89.3 million and $165.8 million to land and building, respectively, at 110 Greene Street, and $17.5 million and $32.5 million to land and building, respectively, at the Upper Eastside Residential Property and $6.1 million and $0.7 million to land and building, respectively, at 1640 Flatbush Avenue. The impact to our consolidated statements of operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 was an increase in rental revenue of $7.8 million for the amortization of aggregate below-market leases and an additional $18.5 million of depreciation expense.
(2)
In December 2015, we acquired Canada Pension Plan Investment Board's 45% interest in this property, thereby consolidating full ownership of the property. The transaction valued the consolidated interests at $277.3 million. We recognized a purchase price fair value adjustment of $40.1 million upon closing of this transaction. This property, which we initially acquired in May 2010, was previously accounted for as an investment in unconsolidated joint ventures.
(3)
We acquired this property for consideration that included the issuance of $10.0 million and $26.9 million aggregate liquidation preferences of Series R and S Preferred Units, respectively, of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership and cash.
(4)
We acquired a 90.0% controlling interest in this property for consideration that included the issuance of $5.0 million and $6.7 million aggregate liquidation preferences of Series P and Q Preferred Units, respectively, of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership and cash.
(5)
We, along with our joint venture partner, acquired this property for consideration that included the issuance of $13.8 million aggregate liquidation preference of Series N Preferred Units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership and cash. We hold a 95.1% controlling interest in this joint venture.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
2014 Acquisitions
During the year ended December 31, 2014, the properties listed below were acquired from third parties. The following summarizes our allocation of the purchase price of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed upon the closing of these acquisitions (in thousands):
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(1)
Based on our preliminary analysis of the purchase price, we had allocated $11.3 million and $21.0 million to land and building, respectively, at 102 Greene Street, $153.7 million to land at 635 Madison Avenue, $14.4 million and $26.7 million to land and building, respectively, at 719 Seventh Avenue, $15.9 million and $37.2 million to land and building, respectively, at 115 Spring Street and $558.7 million and $1.0 billion to land and building, respectively, at 388-390 Greenwich. The impact to our consolidated statements of operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 was $7.6 million in rental revenue for the amortization of aggregate below-market leases and $10.3 million of depreciation expense.
(2)
We, along with our joint venture partner, acquired this property for consideration that included the issuance of $14.1 million aggregate liquidation preference of Series L Preferred Units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership and $9.5 million aggregate liquidation preference of Series K Preferred Units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership. We hold a 75.0% controlling interest in this joint venture.
(3)
In May 2014, we acquired Ivanhoe Cambridge, Inc.'s 49.65% economic interest in this property, thereby consolidating full ownership of the property. The transaction valued the consolidated interests at $1.585 billion. Simultaneous with the closing, we refinanced the previous mortgage with a $1.45 billion mortgage. We also assumed the existing derivative instruments, which swapped $504.0 million of the mortgage to fixed rate (in October 2014, we entered into multiple swap agreements to hedge our interest rate exposure on an additional $500.0 million portion of this mortgage. See Note 8, "Mortgages and Other Loans Payable" for further details). We recognized a purchase price fair value adjustment of $71.4 million upon closing of this transaction. This property, which we initially acquired in December 2007, was previously accounted for as an investment in unconsolidated joint ventures.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
For business combinations achieved in stages, the acquisition-date fair value of our equity interest in a property immediately before the acquisition date is determined based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize available market information and discount and capitalization rates that we deem appropriate. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including historical operating results, known and anticipated trends, and market and economic conditions. The acquisition-date fair value of the equity interest in 600 Lexington Avenue and 388-390 Greenwich Street, which were acquired in 2015 and 2014, respectively, immediately before the acquisition date as well as the purchase price fair value, as determined in accordance with the methodology set out in the prior sentence, are as follows (in thousands):
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(1)
Includes the acceleration of a deferred leasing commission from the joint venture to the Company.
Pro Forma Unaudited
The following table summarizes, on an unaudited pro forma basis, the results of operations of 11 Madison Avenue, which are included in the consolidated results of operations for years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 as though the acquisition of 11 Madison Avenue was completed on January 1, 2014. The supplemental pro forma data is not necessarily indicative of what the actual results of operations would have been assuming the transactions had been completed as set forth above, nor do they purport to represent our results of operations for future periods.
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(1)
The pro forma income from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 includes the effect of the incremental borrowings, including a $1.4 billion, 10-year, interest only, fixed rate mortgage financing carrying a per annum stated interest rate of 3.838% to complete the acquisition and the preliminary allocation of purchase price. In addition, the pro forma income from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 was adjusted to include the sale of real estate assets for properties that have closed either subsequent to December 31, 2015 or we are currently under contract to sell in connection with 11 Madison Avenue, as if the sales were completed on January 1, 2014. The pro forma income from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 excludes these sales.
4. Properties Held for Sale and Property Dispositions
Properties Held for Sale
As of December 31, 2016, no properties in our portfolio were classified as held for sale.
Property Dispositions
The following table summarizes the properties sold during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014:
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
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(1)
Sales price represents the actual sales price for a property or the gross asset valuation for interests in a property.
(2)
The gain on sale for 400 East 57th Street, 11 Madison Avenue, 388 Greenwich, 248-252 Bedford Avenue, 570 & 574 Fifth Avenue, 120 West 45th Street, 131-137 Spring Street, 180 Maiden Lane, 2 Herald Square, 985-987 Third Avenue, and 673 First Avenue are net of $1.0 million, $0.6 million, $1.6 million, $1.3 million, $4.0 million, $2.0 million, $4.1 million, $0.8 million, $2.5 million, $1.3 million, and $3.4 million in employee compensation awards accrued in connection with the realization of these investment gains as a bonus to certain employees that were instrumental in realizing the gain on sale. Additionally, amounts do not include adjustments for expenses recorded in subsequent periods.
(3)
In August 2016, we sold a 40% interest in 11 Madison Avenue. The sale did not meet the criteria for sale accounting and, as a result, the property was accounted for under the profit sharing method. In November 2016, the Company obtained consent to the modifications to the mortgage on the property, which resulted in the Company achieving sale accounting on the transaction. See Note 6, "Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures."
(4)
In February 2016, we closed on the sale of 885 Third Avenue. The sale did not meet the criteria for sale accounting and, therefore, remains consolidated. We expect to deconsolidate the property in or before July 2017. An estimated loss relating to the sale of $6.6 million was recorded in December 2015.
(5)
Gain/(loss) on sale includes a $19.2 million charge that was recorded during the third quarter of 2015. This charge is included in depreciable real estate reserves in the consolidated statement of operations.
(6)
We sold an 80% interest in 131-137 Spring Street and have subsequently accounted for our interest in the properties as an investment in unconsolidated joint ventures. See Note 6, "Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures."
Discontinued Operations
The Company adopted ASU 2014-08 effective January 1, 2015 which raised the threshold for disposals to qualify as discontinued operations to include only dispositions that represent a strategic shift in an entity’s operations. The guidance was applied prospectively for new disposals. As a result, the Company classified 242-252 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York as held for sale as of December 31, 2015, 570 & 574 Fifth Avenue and 140-150 Grand Street in White Plains, New York as held for sale as of September 30, 2015 and 131-137 Spring Street and 120 West 45th Street as of June 30, 2015 and included the results of operations in continuing operations for all periods presented. Discontinued operations included the results of operations of real estate assets sold or held for sale prior to January 1, 2015. This included 180 Maiden Lane, which was held for sale at December 31, 2014 and sold in January 2015, and 2 Herald Square, 985-987 Third Avenue and 673 First Avenue, which were sold during 2014.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
The following table summarizes net income from discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 respectively (in thousands):
5. Debt and Preferred Equity Investments
During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, our debt and preferred equity investments, net of discounts and deferred origination fees, increased $1,015 million and $781 million, respectively, due to originations, purchases, advances under future funding obligations, discount and fee amortization, and paid-in-kind interest, net of premium amortization. We recorded repayments, participations and sales of $1,045 million and $520 million during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which offset the increases in debt and preferred equity investments.
Debt Investments
As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, we held the following debt investments with an aggregate weighted average current yield of 9.34% at December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
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(1)
Carrying value is net of discounts, premiums, original issue discounts and deferred origination fees.
(2)
Represents contractual maturity, excluding any unexercised options.
(3)
Carrying value is net of the following amount that was participated out, which is included in other assets and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets as a result of the transfer not meeting the conditions for sale accounting: (a) $41.3 million, (b) $5.0 million, (c) $12.0 million, (d) $36.3 million, (e) $14.5 million, (f) $14.6 million, (g) $14.1 million, and (h) $5.1 million.
(4)
In September 2014, we acquired a $26.4 million mortgage loan at a $0.2 million discount and a $5.7 million junior mortgage participation at a $5.7 million discount. The junior mortgage participation was a nonperforming loan at acquisition and is currently on non-accrual status.
(5)
This loan was repaid in July 2016.
(6)
In April 2016 we executed a purchase option to acquire a 20% interest in the underlying asset at a previously agreed upon purchase option valuation, and our mezzanine loan was simultaneously repaid.
(7)
This loan was repaid in March 2016.
(8)
This loan was collateralized by defeasance securities.
(9)
This loan was refinanced at maturity in January 2017 by us at market rates, and therefore it was not considered a troubled-debt restructuring.
(10)
This loan was extended in January 2017.
(11)
In March 2016, the mortgage was sold.
(12)
In January 2016, the loans were modified. In March 2016, the mortgage was sold.
(13)
$66.1 million of outstanding principal was syndicated in February 2017.
(14)
This loan was repaid in December 2016.
(15)
This loan was repaid in November 2016.
(16)
This loan was repaid in September 2016.
(17)
This loan was repaid in June 2016.
(18)
This loan was repaid in May 2016.
(19)
In March 2016, we contributed our interest in the loan in exchange for a joint venture interest which is now accounted for under the equity method of accounting. It is included in unconsolidated joint ventures on the consolidated balance sheets.
(20)
This loan was repaid in February 2016.
Preferred Equity Investments
As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, we held the following preferred equity investments with an aggregate weighted average current yield of 8.16% at December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Carrying value is net of deferred origination fees.
(2)
Represents contractual maturity, excluding any unexercised extension options.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
The following table is a rollforward of our total loan loss reserves at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):
At December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, all debt and preferred equity investments were performing in accordance with the terms of the relevant investments, with the exception of the junior mortgage participation acquired in September 2014, which has a carrying value of zero discussed in subnote 4 of the Debt Investments table above.
We have determined that we have one portfolio segment of financing receivables at December 31, 2016 and 2015 comprising commercial real estate which is primarily recorded in debt and preferred equity investments. Included in other assets is an additional amount of financing receivables totaling $99.5 million and $121.5 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. No financing receivables were 90 days past due at December 31, 2016.
6. Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
We have investments in several real estate joint ventures with various partners. As of December 31, 2016 650 Fifth Avenue, 800 Third Avenue, 21 East 66th Street, 605 West 42nd Street, 333 East 22nd Street, and certain properties within the Stonehenge Portfolio are VIEs in which we are not the primary beneficiary. Our net equity investment in these VIEs was $220.1 million as of December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2015, 650 Fifth Avenue and 33 Beekman were VIEs in which we were not the primary beneficiary. Our net equity investment in these VIEs was $39.7 million as of December 31, 2015. Our maximum loss is limited to the amount of our equity investment in these VIEs. All other investments below are voting interest entities. As we do not control the joint ventures listed below, we account for them under the equity method of accounting.
The table below provides general information on each of our joint ventures as of December 31, 2016:
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
(1)
Ownership interest and economic interest represent the Company's interests in the joint venture as of December 31, 2016. Changes in ownership or economic interests within the current year are disclosed in the notes below.
(2)
Acquisition date and price represent the date on which the Company initially acquired an interest in the joint venture and the actual or implied gross purchase price for the joint venture on that date. Acquisition date and price are not adjusted for subsequent acquisitions or dispositions of interest.
(3)
In connection with the restructuring of the joint venture and the loan on the property, our 20.26% ownership increased by 57.52% in October 2015. Our ownership percentage was reduced 66.11% in the first quarter of 2016 upon completion of the restructuring of the venture.
(4)
As a result of the sale of a condominium interest in September 2012, Young & Rubicam, Inc., or Y&R, owns floors three through eight at the property. Because the joint venture has an option to repurchase these floors, the gain associated with this sale was deferred.
(5)
The purchase price represents only the purchase of the 1552 Broadway interest which comprised approximately 13,045 square feet. The joint venture also owns a long-term leasehold interest in the retail space and certain other spaces at 1560 Broadway, which is adjacent to 1552 Broadway.
(6)
We hold a 32.28% interest in three retail and two residential units at the property and a 16.14% interest in three residential units at the property.
(7)
The joint venture owns a long-term leasehold interest in the retail space at 650 Fifth Avenue. In connection with the ground lease obligation, SLG provided a performance guaranty and our joint venture partner executed a contribution agreement to reflect its pro rata obligation. In the event the property is converted into a condominium unit and the landlord elects the purchase option, the joint venture shall be obligated to acquire the unit at the then fair value. In November 2016, the joint venture entered into a lease for an additional 36,890 square feet at the property for a term lasting sixteen years and ten months.
(8)
The joint venture owns two mezzanine notes secured by interests in the entity that owns 76 11th Avenue. The difference between our ownership interest and our economic interest results from our right to 50% of the total exit fee while each of our partners is entitled to receive 25% of the total exit fee and our right to 38% of the total extension fee while each of our partners is entitled to receive 31% of the total extension fee.
(9)
The Company was granted an option to purchase the interest at an agreed upon valuation in July 2014 when it originated a $50.0 million mezzanine loan to the project's developer. The mezzanine loan was repaid prior to the closing of the Company's acquisition of its joint venture interest.
(10)
In August 2016, we closed on the sale of a 40% interest in 11 Madison. The sale did not meet the criteria for sale accounting and as a result the property was accounted for under the profit sharing method. Under the profit sharing method the Company recognized its share of the operations of the property and also recognized the other partner's share of depreciation. In November 2016, the Company obtained consent to the modifications to the mortgage on the property, which resulted in the Company achieving sale accounting on the transaction. The achievement of sale accounting discontinued recognition of the other partner's share of depreciation from that date and had no effect on the balance sheet presentation of the investment. Included in equity in net income from unconsolidated joint ventures is $8.4 million of depreciation for the year ended December 31, 2016 representing the other partner's share of depreciation.
(11)
The joint venture acquired a leasehold interest in the property in October 2016.
(12)
In October 2016, the Company sold a 49% interest in this property to Blackrock, Inc. The Company's interest in the property was sold within a consolidated joint venture owned 90% by the Company and 10% by Stonehenge. The transaction resulted in the deconsolidation of the venture's remaining 51% interest in the property. The Company's joint venture with Stonehenge remains consolidated resulting in the combined 51% interest being shown within investments in unconsolidated joint ventures on the Company's balance sheet.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
Acquisition, Development and Construction Arrangements
Based on the characteristics of the following arrangements, which are similar to those of an investment, combined with the expected residual profit of not greater than 50%, we have accounted for these debt and preferred equity investments under the equity method. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the carrying value for acquisition, development and construction arrangements were as follows (in thousands):
(1)
We have an option to convert our loan to an equity interest subject to certain conditions. We have determined that our option to convert the loan to equity is not a derivative financial instrument pursuant to GAAP.
(2)
The Company has the ability to convert this loan into an equity position starting in 2021 and the borrower is able to force this conversion in 2024.
Sale of Joint Venture Interests or Properties
The following table summarizes the investments in unconsolidated joint ventures sold during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014:
(1)
Represents implied gross valuation for the joint venture or sales price of the property.
(2)
Represents the Company's share of the gain or loss. The gain on sale is net of $2.3 million employee compensation awards accrued in connection with the realization of these investment gains as bonuses to certain employees that were instrumental in realizing the gains on sale.
(3)
In connection with the sale of the property, we also recognized a promote of $10.8 million.
(4)
Our ownership percentage was reduced in the first quarter of 2016, from 77.78% to 11.67%, upon completion of the restructuring of the joint venture.
(5)
In connection with the sale of the property, we also recognized a promote of $3.3 million.
(6)
We sold our ownership interest in the joint venture, which owns 100% interest as tenant-in-common in 30 East 65th Street Corporation and the related proprietary lease of five cooperative apartment units in the property. We also recognized a promote of $10.3 million and originated a $30.0 million preferred equity investment. Given our continuing involvement as a preferred equity holder, we deferred the gain on sale of $13.1 million as we did not meet the requirements of a sale under the full accrual method. We, along with our joint venture partners, retained one apartment unit at this property.
(7)
We sold our ownership interest in the joint venture. We, along with our joint venture partner, retained approximately 91,300 square feet (unaudited) of development rights at the property.
Joint Venture Mortgages and Other Loans Payable
We generally finance our joint ventures with non-recourse debt. In certain cases we have provided guarantees or master leases for tenant space, which terminate upon the satisfaction of specified circumstances or repayment of the underlying loans. The first mortgage notes and other loans payable collateralized by the respective joint venture properties and assignment of leases at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, are as follows (amounts in thousands):
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Effective weighted average interest rate for the year ended December 31, 2016, taking into account interest rate hedges in effect during the period.
(2)
In January 2017, this loan was refinanced with a new $375.0 million mortgage, of which $340.0 million was drawn at closing, with a floating interest rate of LIBOR + 1.85% and a maturity date of January 2020.
(3)
These loans are comprised of a $300.0 million fixed rate mortgage loan and $355.3 million mezzanine loan. The mezzanine loan is subject to accretion based on the difference between contractual interest rate and contractual pay rate.
(4)
Amount is comprised of $13.1 million, $34.5 million, $139.7 million, and $175.2 million in fixed-rate mortgages that mature in April 2017, November 2017, August 2019, and June 2024, respectively.
(5)
In February 2017, this loan was refinanced with a new $170.0 million mortgage with a floating interest rate of LIBOR + 2.25% and a maturity date of February 2020.
(6)
These loans are comprised of a $145.0 million mortgage loan and a $41.5 million mezzanine loan. As of December 31, 2016, $0.6 million of the mortgage loan and $0.5 million of the mezzanine loan was unfunded.
(7)
This loan has a committed amount of $190.0 million, of which $32.7 million was unfunded as of December 31, 2016.
(8)
We hold an 11.67% non-controlling interest in the joint venture and the property secures a two year $100.0 million loan, of which $77.0 million is currently outstanding.
(9)
This loan has a committed amount of $97.0 million, of which $19.5 million was unfunded as of December 31, 2016.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
(10)
Amount is comprised of $55.3 million and $10.2 million in floating-rate mortgages that mature in June 2017 and December 2017, respectively.
We act as the operating partner and day-to-day manager for all our joint ventures, except for 800 Third Avenue, Jericho Plaza, 280 Park Avenue, 3 Columbus Circle, 21 East 66th Street, 175-225 Third Street, 605 West 42nd Street, 400 East 57th Street, and the Stonehenge Portfolio. We are entitled to receive fees for providing management, leasing, construction supervision and asset management services to certain of our joint ventures. We earned $8.1 million, $6.9 million and $16.9 million from these services for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. In addition, we have the ability to earn incentive fees based on the ultimate financial performance of certain of the joint venture properties.
The combined balance sheets for the unconsolidated joint ventures, at December 31, 2016 and 2015, are as follows (in thousands):
The combined statements of operations for the unconsolidated joint ventures, from acquisition date through the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 are as follows (in thousands):
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
7. Deferred Costs
Deferred costs at December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following (in thousands):
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
8. Mortgages and Other Loans Payable
The first mortgages and other loans payable collateralized by the respective properties and assignment of leases at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were as follows (amounts in thousands):
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Effective weighted average interest rate for the year ended December 31, 2016, taking into account interest rate hedges in effect during the period.
(2)
The facility was repaid in January 2017.
(3)
In January 2017, this loan was refinanced with a new $450.0 million mortgage with a fixed effective interest rate of 4.22% and a maturity date of February 2027.
(4)
In February 2017, the mortgage was repaid.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
(5)
We own a 51.0% controlling interest in the consolidated joint venture that is the borrower on this loan.
(6)
The loan carries a fixed interest rate of 3.00% for the first 5 years and is prepayable without penalty in year 5.
(7)
In connection with the acquisition of a commercial real estate property, the Operating Partnership issued $4.0 million, 3.75% Series J Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series J Preferred Units, with a mandatory liquidation preference of $1,000 per unit. The Series J Preferred Units are accounted for as debt because they can be redeemed in cash by the Operating Partnership on the earlier of (i) the date of the sale of the property or (ii) April 30, 2051 or at the option of the unitholders as further prescribed in the related agreement.
(8)
In February 2016, we closed on the sale of 885 Third Avenue. The sale did not meet the criteria for sale accounting and as a result, the property remains on our consolidated balance sheet until the criteria is met. The maturity date of the mortgage on the property, which was assumed by the buyer, is July 2017.
(9)
In October 2016, we closed on the sale of a 49.0% interest on 400 East 57th Street. This property is now classified as an unconsolidated joint venture.
(10)
In August 2016, we closed on the sale of a 40.0% interest on 11 Madison Avenue. This property is now classified as an unconsolidated joint venture.
(11)
In June 2016, we closed on the sale of 388-390 Greenwich Street.
(12)
In January 2016, the mortgage was repaid.
(13)
In January 2017, this loan was refinanced with a new $47.0 million facility with a maturity date of January 2027.
(14)
In September 2016, we closed on a $1.5 billion construction facility in connection with the development of One Vanderbilt Avenue. This facility bears interest at 350 basis points over 30-day LIBOR, with reductions based on meeting certain conditions, and has an initial five-year term with two one-year extension options. Advances under the loan are subject to incurred costs, funded equity, loan to value thresholds, and entering into construction contracts.
(15)
This property at 248-252 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York was sold in February 2016. At December 31, 2015, this property was held for sale and the related mortgage, net of deferred financing, net of amortization costs of $0.6 million, was included in liabilities related to assets held for sale.
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Facility
The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Belmont Insurance Company, or Belmont, a New York licensed captive insurance company, is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, or FHLBNY. As a member, Belmont may borrow funds from the FHLBNY in the form of secured advances. As of December 31, 2016, we had $205.0 million in outstanding secured advances with a weighted average borrowing rate of 0.92%.
On January 12, 2016, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, adopted a final regulation on Federal Home Loan Bank, or FHLB, membership. The rule excludes captive insurance entities from FHLB membership on a going-forward basis and provides termination rules for current captive insurance members. Belmont's membership was terminated on February 20, 2017. All funds borrowed from the FHLBNY were repaid in January 2017.
Master Repurchase Agreement
In July, 2016 we entered into a restated Master Repurchase Agreement, or MRA, which provides us with the ability to sell certain debt investments with a simultaneous agreement to repurchase the same at a certain date or on demand. The MRA has a maximum facility capacity of $300.0 million and bears interest ranging from 225 and 400 basis points over 30-day LIBOR depending on the pledged collateral. Since December 6, 2015, we have been required to pay monthly in arrears a 25 basis point fee on the excess of $150.0 million over the average daily balance during the period if the average daily balance is less than $150.0 million. We seek to mitigate risks associated with our repurchase agreement by managing the credit quality of our assets, early repayments, interest rate volatility, liquidity, and market value. The margin call provisions under our repurchase facility permit valuation adjustments based on capital markets activity, and are not limited to collateral-specific credit marks. To monitor credit risk associated with our debt investments, our asset management team regularly reviews our investment portfolio and is in contact with our borrowers in order to monitor the collateral and enforce our rights as necessary. The risk associated with potential margin calls is further mitigated by our ability to recollateralize the facility with additional assets from our portfolio of debt investments, our ability to satisfy margin calls with cash or cash equivalents and access to additional liquidity through the 2012 credit facility, as defined below.
At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the gross book value of the properties and debt and preferred equity investments collateralizing the mortgages and other loans payable, not including assets held for sale, was approximately $6.0 billion and $10.8 billion, respectively.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
9. Corporate Indebtedness
2012 Credit Facility
In August 2016, we entered into an amendment to the credit facility that was originally entered into by the Company in November 2012, referred to as the 2012 credit facility. As of December 31, 2016, the 2012 credit facility, as amended, consisted of a $1.6 billion revolving credit facility and a $1.2 billion term loan, with a maturity date of March 29, 2019 and June 30, 2019, respectively. The revolving credit facility has an as-of-right extension to March 29, 2020. We also have an option, subject to customary conditions, to increase the capacity under the revolving credit facility to $3.0 billion at any time prior to the maturity date for the revolving credit facility without the consent of existing lenders, by obtaining additional commitments from our existing lenders and other financial institutions.
As of December 31, 2016, the 2012 credit facility bore interest at a spread over LIBOR ranging from (i) 87.5 basis points to 155 basis points for loans under the revolving credit facility and (ii) 95 basis points to 190 basis points for loans under the term loan facility, in each case based on the credit rating assigned to the senior unsecured long term indebtedness of ROP.
At December 31, 2016, the applicable spread was 125 basis points for the revolving credit facility and 140 basis points for the term loan facility. At December 31, 2016, the effective interest rate was 1.78% for the revolving credit facility and 2.27% for the term loan facility. We are required to pay quarterly in arrears a 12.5 to 30 basis point facility fee on the total commitments under the revolving credit facility based on the credit rating assigned to the senior unsecured long term indebtedness of ROP. As of December 31, 2016, the facility fee was 25 basis points.
As of December 31, 2016, we had $56.5 million of outstanding letters of credit, zero drawn under the revolving credit facility and $1.2 billion outstanding under the term loan facility, with total undrawn capacity of $1.5 billion under the 2012 credit facility. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the revolving credit facility had a carrying value of $(6.3) million, representing deferred financing costs presented within other liabilities, and $985.1 million, respectively, net of deferred financing costs. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the term loan facility had a carrying value of $1.2 billion and $929.5 million, respectively, net of deferred financing costs.
The Company, the Operating Partnership and ROP are all borrowers jointly and severally obligated under the 2012 credit facility. None of our other subsidiaries are obligors under the 2012 credit facility.
The 2012 credit facility includes certain restrictions and covenants (see Restrictive Covenants below).
Senior Unsecured Notes
The following table sets forth our senior unsecured notes and other related disclosures as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, by scheduled maturity date (dollars in thousands):
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Interest on the senior unsecured notes is payable semi-annually with principal and unpaid interest due on the scheduled maturity dates.
(2)
Issued by the Operating Partnership. Interest on these exchangeable notes is payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15. The notes had an initial exchange rate representing an exchange price that was set at a 30.0% premium to the last reported sale price of SL Green's common stock on October 6, 2010, or $85.81. The initial exchange rate is subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. The current exchange rate is 12.6478 shares of SL Green's common stock per $1,000 principal amount of these notes. The notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Operating Partnership and are exchangeable
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
upon the occurrence of specified events and during the period beginning on the twenty-second scheduled trading day prior to the maturity date and ending on the second business day prior to the maturity date, into cash or a combination of cash and shares of SL Green's common stock, if any, at our option. As a result of meeting specified events (as defined in the Indenture Agreement), these notes became exchangeable commencing January 1, 2016 and will remain exchangeable through March 31, 2016. The notes are guaranteed by ROP. On the issuance date, $78.3 million of the debt balance was recorded in equity. As of December 31, 2016, $10.9 million remained to be amortized into the debt balance.
(3)
Issued by the Company, the Operating Partnership and ROP, as co-obligors.
(4)
Balance was repaid in September 2016.
(5)
Issued by ROP, balance was repaid in March 2016.
Restrictive Covenants
The terms of the 2012 credit facility, as amended, and certain of our senior unsecured notes include certain restrictions and covenants which may limit, among other things, our ability to pay dividends, make certain types of investments, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens and enter into negative pledge agreements and dispose of assets, and which require compliance with financial ratios relating to the maximum ratio of total indebtedness to total asset value, a minimum ratio of EBITDA to fixed charges, a maximum ratio of secured indebtedness to total asset value and a maximum ratio of unsecured indebtedness to unencumbered asset value. The dividend restriction referred to above provides that, we will not during any time when a default is continuing, make distributions with respect to common stock or other equity interests, except to enable the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT for Federal income tax purposes. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, we were in compliance with all such covenants.
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
In June 2005, the Company and the Operating Partnership issued $100.0 million in unsecured trust preferred securities through a newly formed trust, SL Green Capital Trust I, or the Trust, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership. The securities mature in 2035 and bear interest at a fixed rate of 5.61% for the first ten years ending July 2015. Thereafter, the interest rate will float at 125 basis points over the three-month LIBOR. Interest payments may be deferred for a period of up to eight consecutive quarters if the Operating Partnership exercises its right to defer such payments. The Trust preferred securities are redeemable at the option of the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, with no prepayment premium. We do not consolidate the Trust even though it is a variable interest entity as we are not the primary beneficiary. Because the Trust is not consolidated, we have recorded the debt on our consolidated balance sheets and the related payments are classified as interest expense.
Principal Maturities
Combined aggregate principal maturities of mortgages and other loans payable, 2012 credit facility, trust preferred securities, senior unsecured notes and our share of joint venture debt as of December 31, 2016, including as-of-right extension options and put options, were as follows (in thousands):
Consolidated interest expense, excluding capitalized interest, was comprised of the following (in thousands):
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
10. Related Party Transactions
Cleaning/ Security/ Messenger and Restoration Services
Alliance Building Services, or Alliance, and its affiliates are partially owned by Gary Green, a son of Stephen L. Green, the chairman of SL Green's board of directors, and provide services to certain properties owned by us. Alliance’s affiliates include First Quality Maintenance, L.P., or First Quality, Classic Security LLC, Bright Star Couriers LLC and Onyx Restoration Works, and provide cleaning, extermination, security, messenger, and restoration services, respectively. In addition, First Quality has the non-exclusive opportunity to provide cleaning and related services to individual tenants at our properties on a basis separately negotiated with any tenant seeking such additional services. The Service Corporation has entered into an arrangement with Alliance whereby it will receive a profit participation above a certain threshold for services provided by Alliance to certain tenants at certain buildings above the base services specified in their lease agreements.
Income earned from profit participation, which is included in other income on the consolidated statements of operations, was $3.5 million, $3.8 million, and $3.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We also recorded expenses, inclusive of capitalized expenses, of $23.4 million, $21.3 million, and $21.5 million the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, for these services (excluding services provided directly to tenants).
Management Fees
S.L. Green Management Corp., a consolidated entity, receives property management fees from an entity in which Stephen L. Green owns an interest. We received management fees from this entity of $0.7 million, $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 respectively.
One Vanderbilt Co-Investment
In December 2016, we entered into agreements with entities owned and controlled by Messrs. Holliday and Mathias, pursuant to which they agreed to make a co-investment with us in our One Vanderbilt development project. Pursuant to these agreements, Messrs. Holliday and Mathias agreed to purchase interests in the One Vanderbilt development project that will entitle them to receive approximately 2.50%-3.00% of the profit generated from this project in excess of capital contributions. 50% of these interests were purchased on December 31, 2016 and the remaining 50% are to be purchased on December 31, 2017. The aggregate purchase price for these interests is $2.4 million, which equals the fair market value of these interests as of the date the co-investment agreements were entered into as determined by an independent third party appraisal that we obtained.
Messrs. Holliday and Mathias cannot monetize their interests until after stabilization of the property (50% within three years after stabilization and 100% three years or more after stabilization). In addition, the agreement calls for us to repurchase these interests in the event of a sale of One Vanderbilt or a transactional change of control of the Company. We also have the right to repurchase these interests on the seven-year anniversary of the stabilization of the project or upon the occurrence of certain separation events prior to the stabilization of the project relating to each of Messrs. Holliday’s and Mathias’s continued service with us. The price paid upon monetization of the interests will equal the liquidation value of the interests at the time, with the value of One Vanderbilt being based on its sale price, if applicable, or fair market value as determined by an independent third party appraiser.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
Other
Amounts due from related parties at December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following (in thousands):
11. Noncontrolling Interests on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements
Noncontrolling interests represent the common and preferred units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership not held by the Company as well as third party equity interests in our other consolidated subsidiaries. Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership are shown in the mezzanine equity while the noncontrolling interests in our other consolidated subsidiaries are shown in the equity section of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Common Units of Limited Partnership Interest in the Operating Partnership
As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the noncontrolling interest unit holders owned 4.16%, or 4,363,716 units, and 3.61%, or 3,745,766 units, of the Operating Partnership, respectively. At December 31, 2016, 4,363,716 shares of SL Green's common stock were reserved for issuance upon the redemption of units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership.
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership is recorded at the greater of its cost basis or fair market value based on the closing stock price of SL Green's common stock at the end of the reporting period.
Below is the rollforward analysis of the activity relating to the noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
Preferred Units of Limited Partnership Interest in the Operating Partnership
The Operating Partnership has 1,902,000 4.50% Series G Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series G Preferred Units outstanding, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit, which were issued in January 2012 in conjunction with an acquisition. The Series G Preferred unitholders receive annual dividends of $1.125 per unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The Series G Preferred Units are convertible into a number of common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership equal to (i) the liquidation preference plus accumulated and unpaid distributions on the conversion date divided by (ii) $88.50. The common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership may be redeemed in exchange for SL Green's common stock on a 1-to-1 basis. The Series G Preferred Units also provide the holder with the right to require the Operating Partnership to repurchase the Series G Preferred Units for cash before January 31, 2022.
The Operating Partnership has 60 Series F Preferred Units outstanding with a mandatory liquidation preference of $1,000.00 per unit.
The Operating Partnership has authorized up to 700,000 3.50% Series K Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series K Preferred Units, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit. In August 2014, the Company issued 563,954 Series K Preferred Units in conjunction with an acquisition. The Series K Preferred unitholders receive annual dividends of $0.875 per
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The Series K Preferred Units can be redeemed at any time, at the option of the unitholder, either for cash or are convertible into a number of common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership equal to (i) the liquidation preference plus accumulated and unpaid distributions on the conversion date divided by (ii) $134.67.
The Operating Partnership has authorized up to 500,000 4.00% Series L Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series L Preferred Units, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit. In August 2014, the Company issued 378,634 Series L Preferred Units in conjunction with an acquisition. The Series L Preferred unitholders receive annual dividends of $1.00 per unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The Series L Preferred Units can be redeemed at any time at par for cash at the option of the unitholder.
The Operating Partnership has authorized up to 1,600,000 3.75% Series M Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series M Preferred Units, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit. In February 2015, the Company issued 1,600,000 Series M Preferred Units in conjunction with the acquisition of ownership interests in and relating to certain residential and retail real estate properties. The Series M Preferred unitholders receive annual dividends of $0.9375 per unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The Series M Preferred Units can be redeemed at any time at par for cash at the option of the unitholder.
The Operating Partnership has authorized up to 552,303 3.00% Series N Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series N Preferred Units, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit. In June 2015, the Company issued 552,303 Series N Preferred Units in conjunction with an acquisition. The Series N Preferred unitholders receive annual dividends of $0.75 per unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The Series N Preferred Units can be redeemed at any time at par for cash at the option of the unitholder.
The Operating Partnership has authorized an aggregate of one 6.25% Series O Preferred Unit of limited partnership interest, or the Series O Preferred Unit. In June 2015, the Company issued the Series O Preferred Unit in connection with an acquisition.
The Operating Partnership has authorized up to 200,000 4.00% Series P Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series P Preferred Units, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit. In July 2015, the Company issued 200,000 Series P Preferred Units in conjunction with an acquisition. The Series P Preferred unitholders receive annual dividends of $1.00 per unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The Series P Preferred Units can be redeemed at any time at par for cash at the option of the unitholder.
The Operating Partnership has authorized up to 268,000 3.50% Series Q Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series Q Preferred Units, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit. In July 2015, the Company issued 268,000 Series Q Preferred Units in conjunction with an acquisition. The Series Q Preferred unitholders receive annual dividends of $0.875 per unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The Series Q Preferred Units can be redeemed at any time, at the option of the unitholder, either for cash or are convertible into a number of common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership equal to (i) the liquidation preference plus accumulated and unpaid distributions on the conversion date divided by (ii) $148.95.
The Operating Partnership has authorized up to 400,000 3.50% Series R Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series R Preferred Units, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit. In August 2015, the Company issued 400,000 Series R Preferred Units in conjunction with an acquisition. The Series R Preferred unitholders receive annual dividends of $0.875 per unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The Series R Preferred Units can be redeemed at any time, at the option of the unitholder, either for cash or are convertible into a number of common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership equal to (i) the liquidation preference plus accumulated and unpaid distributions on the conversion date divided by (ii) $154.89.
The Operating Partnership has authorized up to 1,077,280 4.00% Series S Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series S Preferred Units, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit. In August 2015, the Company issued 1,077,280 Series S Preferred Units in conjunction with an acquisition. The Series S Preferred unitholders receive annual dividends of $1.00 per unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The Series S Preferred Units can be redeemed at any time at par for cash at the option of the unitholder.
The Operating Partnership has authorized up to 230,000 2.75% Series T Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series T Preferred Units, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit. In March 2016, the Company issued 230,000 Series T Preferred Units in conjunction with an acquisition. The Series T Preferred unitholders receive annual dividends of $0.6875 per unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The Series T Preferred Units can be redeemed at any time at par, at the option of the unitholder, either for cash or are convertible into a number of common units of
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership equal to (i) the liquidation preference plus accumulated and unpaid distributions on the conversion date divided by (ii) $119.02.
The Operating Partnership has authorized up to 680,000 4.50% Series U Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series U Preferred Units, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit. In March 2016, the Company issued 680,000 Series U Preferred Units in conjunction with an acquisition. The Series U Preferred unitholders initially receive annual dividends of $1.125 per unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The annual dividend is subject to reduction upon the occurence of certain circumstances set forth in the terms of the Series U Preferred Units. The minimum annual dividend is $0.75 per unit. The Series U Preferred Units can be redeemed at any time at par for cash at the option of the unitholder.
Through a consolidated subsidiary, we have authorized up to 109,161 3.5% Series A Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units, with a liquidation preference of $1,000.00 per unit. In August 2015, the Company issued 109,161 Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units in conjunction with an acquisition. The Subsidiary Series A Preferred unitholders receive annual dividends of $35.00 per unit paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. The Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units can be redeemed at any time, at the option of the unitholder, either for cash or are convertible on a one-for-one basis, into the Series B Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Subsidiary Series B Preferred Units. The Subsidiary Series B Preferred Units can be converted at any time, at the option of the unitholder, into a number of common stock equal to 6.71348 shares of common stock for each Subsidiary Series B Preferred Unit. As of December 31, 2016, no Subsidiary Series B Preferred Units have been issued.
Below is the rollforward analysis of the activity relating to the preferred units in the Operating Partnership as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
12. Stockholders’ Equity of the Company
Common Stock
Our authorized capital stock consists of 260,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value per share, consisting of 160,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, 75,000,000 shares of excess stock, at $0.01 par value per share, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of December 31, 2016, 100,562,349 shares of common stock and no shares of excess stock were issued and outstanding.
In August 2016, our board of directors approved a stock repurchase plan under which we can buy up to $1.0 billion of shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2016, we have not repurchased any shares under the plan.
At-The-Market Equity Offering Program
In July 2011, the Company, along with the Operating Partnership, entered into an "at-the-market" equity offering program, or ATM Program, to sell an aggregate of $250.0 million of SL Green's common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we sold 25,659 shares of our common stock out of the remaining balance of the ATM Program for aggregate net proceeds of $2.8 million. The net proceeds from these offerings were contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 25,659 units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership.
In June 2014, the Company, along with the Operating Partnership, entered into an "at-the-market" equity offering program, or ATM Program, to sell an aggregate of $300.0 million of SL Green's common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we sold 1,626,999 shares of our common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $182.9 million. The net proceeds from these offerings were contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 1,626,999 units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we sold 895,956 shares of our common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $113.4 million comprising the remaining balance of this ATM Program. The net proceeds from these offerings were contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 895,956 units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
In March 2015, the Company, along with the Operating Partnership, entered into a new ATM Program to sell an aggregate of $300.0 million of SL Green's common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2015 we sold 91,180 shares of our common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $12.0 million. The net proceeds from these offerings were contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 91,180 units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership. The Company did not make any sales of its common stock under an ATM program in the year ended December 31, 2016.
Perpetual Preferred Stock
We have 9,200,000 shares of our 6.50% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, or the Series I Preferred Stock, outstanding with a mandatory liquidation preference of $25.00 per share. The Series I Preferred stockholders receive annual dividends of $1.625 per share paid on a quarterly basis and dividends are cumulative, subject to certain provisions. We are entitled to redeem the Series I Preferred Stock at par for cash at our option on or after August 10, 2017. In August 2012, we received $221.9 million in net proceeds from the issuance of the Series I Preferred Stock, which were recorded net of underwriters' discount and issuance costs, and contributed the net proceeds to the Operating Partnership in exchange for 9,200,000 units of 6.50% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units of limited partnership interest, or the Series I Preferred Units.
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan
In February 2015, the Company filed a registration statement with the SEC for our dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, or DRSPP, which automatically became effective upon filing. The Company registered 3,500,000 shares of SL Green's common stock under the DRSPP. The DRSPP commenced on September 24, 2001.
The following table summarizes SL Green common stock issued, and proceeds received from dividend reinvestments and/or stock purchases under the DRSPP for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively (in thousands):
Earnings per Share
SL Green's earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 are computed as follows (in thousands):
SL Green has excluded 774,782, 263,991 and 737,361 common stock equivalents from the diluted shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 respectively, as they were anti-dilutive.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
13. Partners' Capital of the Operating Partnership
The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and at December 31, 2016 owned 100,562,349 general and limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership and 9,200,000 Series I Preferred Units. Partnership interests in the Operating Partnership are denominated as “common units of limited partnership interest” (also referred to as “OP Units”) or “preferred units of limited partnership interest” (also referred to as “Preferred Units”). All references to OP Units and Preferred Units outstanding exclude such units held by the Company. A holder of an OP Unit may present such OP Unit to the Operating Partnership for redemption at any time (subject to restrictions agreed upon at the issuance of OP Units to particular holders that may restrict such right for a period of time, generally one year from issuance). Upon presentation of an OP Unit for redemption, the Operating Partnership must redeem such OP Unit in exchange for the cash equal to the then value of a share of common stock of the Company, except that the Company may, at its election, in lieu of cash redemption, acquire such OP Unit for one share of common stock. Because the number of shares of common stock outstanding at all times equals the number of OP Units that the Company owns, one share of common stock is generally the economic equivalent of one OP Unit, and the quarterly distribution that may be paid to the holder of an OP Unit equals the quarterly dividend that may be paid to the holder of a share of common stock. Each series of Preferred Units makes a distribution that is set in accordance with an amendment to the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership. Preferred Units may also be convertible into OP Units at the election of the holder thereof or the Company, subject to the terms of such Preferred Units.
Net income (loss) allocated to the preferred unitholders and common unitholders reflects their pro rata share of net income (loss) and distributions.
Limited Partner Units
As of December 31, 2016, limited partners other than SL Green owned 4.16%, or 4,363,716 common units, of the Operating Partnership.
Preferred Units
Preferred units not owned by SL Green are further described in Note 11, “Noncontrolling Interests on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements - Preferred Units of Limited Partnership Interest in the Operating Partnership.”
Earnings per Unit
The Operating Partnership's earnings per unit for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 respectively are computed as follows (in thousands):
The Operating Partnership has excluded 774,782, 263,991, and 737,361 common unit equivalents from the diluted units outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 respectively, as they were anti-dilutive.
14. Share-based Compensation
We have stock-based employee and director compensation plans. Our employees are compensated through the Operating Partnership. Under each plan, whenever the Company issues common or preferred stock, the Operating Partnership issues an equivalent number of units of limited partnership interest of a corresponding class to the Company.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
Fourth Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan
The Fourth Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, or the 2005 Plan, was approved by the Company's board of directors in April 2016 and its stockholders in June 2016 at the Company's annual meeting of stockholders. The 2005 Plan authorizes the issuance of stock options, stock appreciation rights, unrestricted and restricted stock, phantom shares, dividend equivalent rights, cash-based awards and other equity-based awards. Subject to adjustments upon certain corporate transactions or events, awards with respect to up to a maximum of 27,030,000 fungible units may be granted under the 2005 Plan. Currently, different types of awards count against the limit on the number of fungible units differently, with (1) full-value awards (i.e., those that deliver the full value of the award upon vesting, such as restricted stock) granted after the effective date of the Fourth Amendment 2005 Plan counting as 3.74 Fungible Units per share subject to such awards, (2) stock options, stock appreciation rights and other awards that do not deliver full value and expire five years from the date of grant counting as 0.73 fungible units per share subject to such awards, and (3) all other awards (e.g., ten-year stock options) counting as 1.0 fungible units per share subject to such awards. Awards granted under the 2005 Plan prior to the approval of the fourth amendment and restatement in June 2016 continue to count against the fungible unit limit based on the ratios that were in effect at the time such awards were granted, which may be different than the current ratios. As a result, depending on the types of awards issued, the 2005 Plan may result in the issuance of more or less than 27,030,000 shares. If a stock option or other award granted under the 2005 Plan expires or terminates, the common stock subject to any portion of the award that expires or terminates without having been exercised or paid, as the case may be, will again become available for the issuance of additional awards. Shares of SL Green's common stock distributed under the 2005 Plan may be treasury shares or authorized but unissued shares. Currently, unless the 2005 Plan has been previously terminated by the Company's board of directors, new awards may be granted under the 2005 Plan until June 2, 2026, which is the tenth anniversary of the date that the 2005 Plan was most recently approved by the Company's stockholders. As of December 31, 2016, 9.5 million fungible units were available for issuance under the 2005 Plan after reserving for shares underlying outstanding restricted stock units, phantom stock units granted pursuant to our Non-Employee Directors' Deferral Program and LTIP Units, including, among others, outstanding LTIP Units issued under our 2014 Outperformance Plan.
Options are granted under the plan with an exercise price at the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant and, subject to employment, generally expire five or ten years from the date of grant, are not transferable other than on death, and generally vest in one to five years commencing one year from the date of grant. We have also granted Class O LTIP Units, which are a class of LTIP Units in the Operating Partnership structured to provide economics similar to those of stock options. Class O LTIP Units, once vested, may be converted, at the election of the holder, into a number of common units of the Operating Partnership per Class O LTIP Unit determined by the increase in value of a share of the Company’s common stock at the time of conversion over a participation threshold, which equals the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock at the time of grant. Class O LTIP Units are entitled to distributions, subject to vesting, equal per unit to 10% of the per unit distributions paid with respect to the common units of the Operating Partnership.
The fair value of each stock option or Class O LTIP Unit granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on historical information with the following weighted average assumptions for grants during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
A summary of the status of the Company's stock options as of December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 and changes during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 are as follows:
All options were granted with strike prices ranging from $20.67 to $137.18. The remaining weighted average contractual life of the options outstanding was 3.7 years and the remaining average contractual life of the options exercisable was 2.9 years.
During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, we recognized compensation expense for these options of $8.9 million, $8.0 million, and $8.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2016, there was $13.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.1 years.
Stock-based Compensation
Effective January 1, 1999, the Company implemented a deferred compensation plan, or the Deferred Plan, where shares issued under the Deferred Plan were granted to certain employees, including our executives and vesting will occur annually upon the completion of a service period or our meeting established financial performance criteria. Annual vesting occurs at rates ranging from 15% to 35% once performance criteria are reached.
A summary of the Company's restricted stock as of December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 and charges during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 are as follows:
The fair value of restricted stock that vested during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 was $7.6 million, $7.4 million and $5.5 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2016, there was $21.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.7 years.
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, $6.0 million, $6.5 million, and $6.8 million, respectively, was capitalized to assets associated with compensation expense related to our long-term compensation plans, restricted stock and stock options.
We granted LTIP Units, which include bonus, time-based and performance based awards, with a fair value of $34.9 million and $25.4 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The grant date fair value of the LTIP Unit awards was calculated in accordance with ASC 718. A third party consultant determined the fair value of the LTIP Units to have a discount from SL Green's common stock price. The discount was calculated by considering the inherent uncertainty that the LTIP Units will reach
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
parity with other common partnership units and the illiquidity due to transfer restrictions. As of December 31, 2016, there was $5.7 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to the time-based and performance based awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years. During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, we recorded compensation expense related to bonus, time-based and performance based awards of $26.5 million $30.2 million, and $31.4 million, respectively.
2010 Notional Unit Long-Term Compensation Plan
In December 2009, the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors approved the general terms of the SL Green Realty Corp. 2010 Notional Unit Long-Term Compensation Program, or the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan. The 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan is a long-term incentive compensation plan pursuant to which award recipients could earn, in the aggregate, from $15.0 million up to $75.0 million of LTIP Units in the Operating Partnership based on the Company's stock price appreciation over three years beginning on December 1, 2009; provided that, if maximum performance had been achieved, $25.0 million of awards could be earned at any time after the beginning of the second year and an additional $25.0 million of awards could be earned at any time after the beginning of the third year. In order to achieve maximum performance under the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan, the Company's aggregate stock price appreciation during the performance period had to equal or exceed 50%. The compensation committee determined that maximum performance had been achieved at or shortly after the beginning of each of the second and third years of the performance period and for the full performance period and, accordingly, 385,583 LTIP Units, 327,416 LTIP Units and 327,416 LTIP Units were earned under the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan in December 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Substantially in accordance with the original terms of the program, 50% of these LTIP Units vested on December 17, 2012 (accelerated from the original January 1, 2013 vesting date), 25% of these LTIP Units vested on December 11, 2013 (accelerated from the original January 1, 2014 vesting date) and the remainder vested on January 1, 2015 based on continued employment. In accordance with the terms of the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan, distributions were not paid on any LTIP Units until they were earned, at which time we paid all distributions that would have been paid on the earned LTIP Units since the beginning of the performance period.
The cost of the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan ($31.7 million, subject to forfeitures) was amortized into earnings through the final vesting period of January 1, 2015. We recorded compensation expense of $2.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 related to the 2010 Long-Term Compensation Plan.
2011 Outperformance Plan
In August 2011, the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors approved the general terms of the SL Green Realty Corp. 2011 Outperformance Plan, or the 2011 Outperformance Plan. Participants in the 2011 Outperformance Plan could earn, in the aggregate, up to $85.0 million of LTIP Units in the Operating Partnership based on our total return to stockholders for the three-year period beginning September 1, 2011. Under the 2011 Outperformance Plan, participants were entitled to share in a "performance pool" comprised of LTIP Units with a value equal to 10% of the amount by which our total return to stockholders during the three-year period exceeded a cumulative total return to stockholders of 25%, subject to the maximum of $85.0 million of LTIP Units; provided that if maximum performance was achieved, one-third of each award could be earned at any time after the beginning of the second year and an additional one-third of each award could be earned at any time after the beginning of the third year. LTIP Units earned under the 2011 Outperformance Plan are subject to vesting requirements, with 50% of any awards earned vested on August 31, 2014 and the remaining 50% vesting on August 31, 2015, based on continued employment with us through such dates. Participants were not entitled to distributions with respect to LTIP Units granted under the 2011 Outperformance Plan unless and until they were earned. For LTIP Units that were earned, each participant was also entitled to the distributions that would have been paid had the number of earned LTIP Units been issued at the beginning of the performance period, with such distributions being paid in the form of additional LTIP Units. Thereafter, distributions are to be paid currently with respect to all earned LTIP Units, whether vested or unvested. In June 2014, the compensation committee determined that maximum performance had been achieved during the third year of the performance period and, accordingly, 560,908 LTIP Units, representing two-thirds of each award, were earned, subject to vesting, under the 2011 Outperformance Plan. In September 2014, the compensation committee determined that maximum performance had been achieved for the full three-year performance period and, accordingly, 280,454 LTIP units, representing the final third of each award, were earned, subject to vesting, under the 2011 Outperformance Plan.
The cost of the 2011 Outperformance Plan ($26.7 million, subject to forfeitures) was amortized into earnings through the final vesting period. We recorded no compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2016, and recorded compensation expense of $4.5 million, and $8.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to the 2011 Outperformance Plan.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
2014 Outperformance Plan
In August 2014, the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors approved the general terms of the SL Green Realty Corp. 2014 Outperformance Plan, or the 2014 Outperformance Plan. Participants in the 2014 Outperformance Plan may earn, in the aggregate, up to 610,000 LTIP Units in our Operating Partnership based on our total return to stockholders for the three-year period beginning September 1, 2014. Under the 2014 Outperformance Plan, two-thirds of the LTIP Units may be earned based on the Company’s absolute total return to stockholders and one-third of the LTIP Units may be earned based on relative total return to stockholders compared to the constituents of the MSCI REIT Index. Awards earned based on absolute total return to stockholders will be determined independently of awards earned based on relative total return to stockholders. In the event the Company’s performance reaches either threshold before the end of the three-year performance period, a pro-rata portion of the maximum award may be earned. For each component, if the Company’s performance reaches the maximum threshold beginning with the 19th month of the performance period, participants will earn one-third of the maximum award that may be earned for that component. If the Company’s performance reaches the maximum threshold during the third year of the performance period for a component, participants will earn two-thirds (or an additional one-third) of the maximum award that may be earned for that component. LTIP Units earned under the 2014 Outperformance Plan will be subject to continued vesting requirements, with 50% of any awards earned vesting on August 31, 2017 and the remaining 50% vesting on August 31, 2018, subject to continued employment with us through such dates. Participants will not be entitled to distributions with respect to LTIP Units granted under the 2014 Outperformance Plan unless and until they are earned. If LTIP Units are earned, each participant will also be entitled to the distributions that would have been paid had the number of earned LTIP Units been issued at the beginning of the performance period, with such distributions being paid in the form of cash or additional LTIP Units. Thereafter, distributions will be paid currently with respect to all earned LTIP Units, whether vested or unvested.
The cost of the 2014 Outperformance Plan ($27.9 million, subject to forfeitures), based on the portion of the 2014 Outperformance Plan granted as of December 31, 2016, will be amortized into earnings through the final vesting period. We recorded compensation expense of $8.4 million, $5.9 million and $0.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively, related to the 2014 Outperformance Plan.
Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors
Under our Non-Employee Director's Deferral Program, which commenced July 2004, the Company's non-employee directors may elect to defer up to 100% of their annual retainer fee, chairman fees, meeting fees and annual stock grant. Unless otherwise elected by a participant, fees deferred under the program shall be credited in the form of phantom stock units. The program provides that a director's phantom stock units generally will be settled in an equal number of shares of common stock upon the earlier of (i) the January 1 coincident with or the next following such director's termination of service from the Board of Directors or (ii) a change in control by us, as defined by the program. Phantom stock units are credited to each non-employee director quarterly using the closing price of SL Green's common stock on the first business day of the respective quarter. Each participating non-employee director is also credited with dividend equivalents or phantom stock units based on the dividend rate for each quarter, which are either paid in cash currently or credited to the director’s account as additional phantom stock units.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, 9,022 phantom stock units were earned and 9,279 shares of common stock were issued to our board of directors. We recorded compensation expense of $2.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2016 related to the Deferred Compensation Plan. As of December 31, 2016, there were 89,790 phantom stock units outstanding pursuant to our Non-Employee Director's Deferral Program.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In 2007, the Company's board of directors adopted the 2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or ESPP, to encourage our employees to increase their efforts to make our business more successful by providing equity-based incentives to eligible employees. The ESPP is intended to qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Code, and has been adopted by the board to enable our eligible employees to purchase the Company's shares of common stock through payroll deductions. The ESPP became effective on January 1, 2008 with a maximum of 500,000 shares of the common stock available for issuance, subject to adjustment upon a merger, reorganization, stock split or other similar corporate change. The Company filed a registration statement on Form S-8 with the SEC with respect to the ESPP. The common stock is offered for purchase through a series of successive offering periods. Each offering period will be three months in duration and will begin on the first day of each calendar quarter, with the first offering period having commenced on January 1, 2008. The ESPP provides for eligible employees to purchase the common stock at a purchase price equal to 85% of the lesser of (1) the market value of the common stock on the first day of the offering period or (2) the market value of the common stock on the last day of the offering period. The ESPP was approved by our stockholders at our 2008 annual meeting of stockholders. As of December 31, 2016, 95,448 shares of SL Green's common stock had been issued under the ESPP.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
15. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following tables set forth the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is included in interest expense in the respective consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the deferred net losses from these terminated hedges, which is included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) relating to net unrealized loss on derivative instrument, was $7.1 million and $9.7 million, respectively.
(2)
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is included in equity in net income from unconsolidated joint ventures in the respective consolidated statements of operations.
16. Fair Value Measurements
We are required to disclose fair value information with regard to our financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, for which it is practical to estimate fair value. The 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. We measure and/or disclose the estimated fair value 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 reporting entity and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions. This hierarchy consists of three broad levels: Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the measurement date; Level 2 - inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and Level 3 - unobservable inputs for the asset or liability that are used when little or no market data is available. We follow this hierarchy for our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis. In instances in which the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of the particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.
The following tables set forth the assets and liabilities that we measure at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis by their levels in the fair value hierarchy at December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
We determine other than temporary impairment in real estate investments and debt and preferred equity investments, including intangibles utilizing cash flow projections that apply, among other things, estimated revenue and expense growth rates, discount rates and capitalization rates, which are classified as Level 3 inputs.
The marketable securities classified as Level 1 were derived from quoted prices in active markets. The valuation technique used to measure the fair value of the marketable securities classified as Level 2 were valued based on quoted market prices or model driven valuations using the significant inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data. Marketable securities in an unrealized loss position are not considered to be other than temporarily impaired. We do not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases.
The fair value of derivative instruments is based on current market data received from financial sources that trade such instruments and are based on prevailing market data and derived from third party proprietary models based on well-recognized financial principles and reasonable estimates about relevant future market conditions, which are classified as Level 2 inputs.
The financial assets and liabilities that are not measured at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, debt and preferred equity investments, mortgages and other loans payable and other secured and unsecured debt. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable and accrued expenses reported in our consolidated balance sheets approximates fair value due to the short term nature of these instruments. The fair value of debt and preferred equity investments, which is classified as Level 3, is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using current interest rates at which similar loans with the same maturities would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings. The fair value of borrowings, which is classified as Level 3, is estimated by discounting the contractual cash flows of each debt to their present value using adjusted market interest rates, which is provided by a third-party specialist.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
The following table provides the carrying value and fair value of these financial instruments as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
____________________________________________________________________
(1)
Amounts exclude net deferred financing costs.
(2)
At December 31, 2016, debt and preferred equity investments had an estimated fair value ranging between $1.6 billion and $1.8 billion. At December 31, 2015, debt and preferred equity investments had an estimated fair value ranging between $1.7 billion and $1.8 billion.
(3)
Includes the $29.0 million mortgage at 248-252 Bedford Avenue that is included in liabilities related to assets held for sale on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2015.
Disclosure about fair value of financial instruments was based on pertinent information available to us as of December 31, 2016 and 2015. Although we are not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the reasonable fair value amounts, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these financial statements since that date and current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.
17. Financial Instruments: Derivatives and Hedging
In the normal course of business, we use a variety of commonly used derivative instruments, such as interest rate swaps, caps, collar and floors, to manage, or hedge interest rate risk. We hedge our exposure to variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions in addition to anticipated future interest payments on existing debt. We recognize all derivatives on the balance sheets at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges are adjusted to fair value through earnings. If a derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedge asset, liability, or firm commitment through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings. Reported net income and equity may increase or decrease prospectively, depending on future levels of interest rates and other variables affecting the fair values of derivative instruments and hedged items, but will have no effect on cash flows. Currently, all of our designated derivative instruments are effective hedging instruments.
The following table summarizes the notional value at inception and fair value of our consolidated derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2016 based on Level 2 information. The notional value is an indication of the extent of our involvement in these instruments at that time, but does not represent exposure to credit, interest rate or market risks (amounts in thousands).
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, we recorded a gain on the changes in the fair value of $472,790, $15,000, and $61,000, respectively, which is included in interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations.
The Company has agreements with each of its derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if the Company either defaults or is capable of being declared in default on any of its indebtedness, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations. As of December 31, 2016, the fair value of derivatives in a net liability position including accrued interest but excluding any adjustment for nonperformance risk related to these agreements was $0.1 million. As of December 31, 2016, the Company has not posted any collateral related to these agreements and was not in breach of any agreement provisions. If the Company had breached any of these provisions, it could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements at their aggregate termination value of $0.1 million at December 31, 2016.
Gains and losses on terminated hedges are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, and are recognized into earnings over the term of the related mortgage obligation. Over time, the realized and unrealized gains and losses held in accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into earnings as an adjustment to interest expense in the same periods in which the hedged interest payments affect earnings. We estimate that $2.2 million of the current balance held in accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into interest expense and $1.2 million of the portion related to our share of joint venture accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into equity in net income from unconsolidated joint ventures within the next 12 months.
The following table presents the effect of our derivative financial instruments and our share of our joint ventures' derivative financial instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments on the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively (in thousands):
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
18. Rental Income
The Operating Partnership is the lessor and the sublessor to tenants under operating leases with expiration dates ranging from January 1, 2017 to 2064. The minimum rental amounts due under the leases are generally either subject to scheduled fixed increases or adjustments. The leases generally also require that the tenants reimburse us for increases in certain operating costs and real estate taxes above their base year costs. Approximate future minimum rents to be received over the next five years and thereafter for non-cancelable operating leases in effect at December 31, 2016 for the consolidated properties, including consolidated joint venture properties, and our share of unconsolidated joint venture properties are as follows (in thousands):
19. Benefit Plans
The building employees are covered by multi-employer defined benefit pension plans and post-retirement health and welfare plans. We participate in the Building Service 32BJ, or Union, Pension Plan and Health Plan. The Pension Plan is a multi-employer, non-contributory defined benefit pension plan that was established under the terms of collective bargaining agreements between the Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ, the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, Inc. and certain other employees. This Pension Plan is administered by a joint board of trustees consisting of union trustees and employer trustees and operates under employer identification number 13-1879376. The Pension Plan year runs from July 1 to June 30. Employers contribute to the Pension Plan at a fixed rate on behalf of each covered employee. Separate actuarial information regarding such pension plans is not made available to the contributing employers by the union administrators or trustees, since the plans do not maintain separate records for each reporting unit. However, on September 30, 2014, and September 28, 2015, and September 28, 2016, the actuary certified that for the plan years beginning July 1, 2014, July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016, respectively, the Pension Plan was in critical status under the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The Pension Plan trustees adopted a rehabilitation plan consistent with this requirement. No surcharges have been paid to the Pension Plan as of December 31, 2016. For the the Pension Plan years ended June 30, 2016, 2015, and 2014, the plan received contributions from employers totaling $249.5 million, $221.9 million, and $226.7 million. Our contributions to the Pension Plan represent less than 5.0% of total contributions to the plan.
The Health Plan was established under the terms of collective bargaining agreements between the Union, the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, Inc. and certain other employers. The Health Plan provides health and other benefits to eligible participants employed in the building service industry who are covered under collective bargaining agreements, or other written agreements, with the Union. The Health Plan is administered by a Board of Trustees with equal representation by the employers and the Union and operates under employer identification number 13-2928869. The Health Plan receives contributions in accordance with collective bargaining agreements or participation agreements. Generally, these agreements provide that the employers contribute to the Health Plan at a fixed rate on behalf of each covered employee. For the Health Plan years ended, June 30, 2016, 2015, and 2014, the plan received contributions from employers totaling $1.2 billion, $1.1 billion and $1.0 billion million, respectively. Our contributions to the Health Plan represent less than 5.0% of total contributions to the plan.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
Contributions we made to the multi-employer plans for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 are included in the table below (in thousands):
401(K) Plan
In August 1997, we implemented a 401(K) Savings/Retirement Plan, or the 401(K) Plan, to cover eligible employees of ours, and any designated affiliate. The 401(K) Plan permits eligible employees to defer up to 15% of their annual compensation, subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code. The employees' elective deferrals are immediately vested and non-forfeitable upon contribution to the 401(K) Plan. During 2000, we amended our 401(K) Plan to include a matching contribution, subject to ERISA limitations, equal to 50% of the first 4% of annual compensation deferred by an employee. During 2003, we amended our 401(K) Plan to provide for discretionary matching contributions only. For 2016, 2015 and 2014, a matching contribution equal to 50% of the first 6% of annual compensation was made. For the year ended December 31, 2016, we made matching contribution of $566,000. For each of the years ended 2015 and 2014, we made matching contributions of $550,000.
20. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
As of December 31, 2016, the Company and the Operating Partnership were not involved in any material litigation nor, to management's knowledge, was any material litigation threatened against us or our portfolio which if adversely determined could have a material adverse impact on us.
Environmental Matters
Our management believes that the properties are in compliance in all material respects with applicable Federal, state and local ordinances and regulations regarding environmental issues. Management is not aware of any environmental liability that it believes would have a materially adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Management is unaware of any instances in which it would incur significant environmental cost if any of our properties were sold.
Employment Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with certain executives, which expire between December 2017 and January 2020. The minimum cash-based compensation, including base salary and guaranteed bonus payments, associated with these employment agreements total $5.2 million for 2017. In addition these employment agreements provide for deferred compensation awards based on our stock price and which were valued at $1.6 million on the grant date. The value of these awards may change based on fluctuations in our stock price.
Insurance
We maintain “all-risk” property and rental value coverage (including coverage regarding the perils of flood, earthquake and terrorism, excluding nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological terrorism ("NBCR")), within three property insurance programs and liability insurance. Management believes the policy specifications and insured limits are appropriate given the relative risk of loss, the cost of the coverage, and industry practice. Separate property and liability coverage may be purchased on a stand-alone basis for certain assets, such as the development of One Vanderbilt.
On January 12, 2015, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2007 ("TRIPRA") (formerly the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act) was reauthorized until December 31, 2020 pursuant to the Terrorism Insurance Program Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2015. The TRIPRA extends the federal Terrorism Insurance Program that requires insurance companies to offer terrorism coverage and provides for compensation for insured losses resulting from acts of certified terrorism, subject to the current program trigger of $120.0 million, which will increase by $20.0 million per annum, commencing December 31, 2015 (Trigger). Coinsurance under TRIPRA is 16%, increasing 1% per annum, as of December 31, 2015 (Coinsurance). There are no assurances TRIPRA will be further extended.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
Our wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiary, Belmont Insurance Company, or Belmont, acts as a captive insurance company and as one of the elements of our overall insurance program. Belmont was formed in an effort, among other reasons, to stabilize to some extent the impact of insurance market fluctuations. Belmont is licensed by New York State as a direct insurer of Terrorism and NBCR Terrorism, and a reinsurer with respect to portions of our General Liability, Environmental Liability, Flood, Professional Liability, Employment Practices Liability and D&O coverage. Belmont purchases reinsurance for its Coinsurance and is backstopped by the Federal government for the balance of its terrorism limit for certified acts of terrorism above the Trigger. We purchase direct, third party terrorism insurance up to the Trigger for certified acts of terrorism. Belmont is backstopped by the Federal government for certified acts of NBCR terrorism above the Trigger and subject to its Coinsurance, however does not reinsure its NBCR Coinsurance requirement. There is no coverage for a NBCR terrorism act if covered industry losses are below the Trigger. As long as we own Belmont, we are responsible for its liquidity and capital resources, and the accounts of Belmont are part of our consolidated financial statements. If we experience a loss and Belmont is required to pay a claim under our insurance policies, we would ultimately record the loss to the extent of Belmont's required payment. Therefore, certain insurance coverage provided by Belmont should not be considered as the equivalent of third-party insurance, but rather as a modified form of self-insurance.
Our debt instruments, consisting of mortgage loans secured by our properties (which are generally non-recourse to us), mezzanine loans, ground leases, our 2012 credit facility, senior unsecured notes and other corporate obligations, contain customary covenants requiring us to maintain insurance. Although we believe that we currently maintain sufficient insurance coverage to satisfy these obligations, there is no assurance that in the future we will be able to procure coverage at a reasonable cost. In such instances, there can be no assurance that the lenders or ground lessors under these instruments will not take the position that a total or partial exclusion from “all-risk” insurance coverage for losses due to, for example, terrorist acts is a breach of these debt and ground lease instruments allowing the lenders or ground lessors to declare an event of default and accelerate repayment of debt or recapture of ground lease positions. In addition, if lenders require greater coverage that we are unable to obtain at commercially reasonable rates, we may incur substantially higher insurance premiums or our ability to finance our properties and expand our portfolio may be adversely impacted.
Furthermore, with respect to certain of our properties, including properties held by joint ventures, or subject to triple net leases, insurance coverage is obtained by a third-party and we do not control the coverage. While we may have agreements with such third parties to maintain adequate coverage and we monitor these policies, such coverage ultimately may not be maintained or adequately cover our risk of loss. We may have less protection than with respect to the properties where we obtain coverage directly. Although we consider our insurance coverage to be appropriate, in the event of a major catastrophe, we may not have sufficient coverage to replace certain properties.
Belmont had loss reserves of $6.3 million and $6.4 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Capital and Ground Leases Arrangements
In 2015, we entered into a ground lease for the land and building located at 30 East 40th Street with a lease term ending in August 2114. Based on our evaluation of the arrangement under ASC 840, land was estimated to be approximately 63.6% of the fair market value of the property. The portion attributable to land was classified as operating lease and the remainder as a capital lease in the amount of $20.0 million.
The property located at 420 Lexington Avenue operates under a ground lease ($10.9 million of ground rent annually through December 2019, $11.2 million of ground rent annually through December 2029, and $12.3 million annually afterwards, subject to a one-time adjustment based on 6% of the fair value of the land) with an expiration date of 2050 and two options to renew for an additional 35 years.
The property located at 1080 Amsterdam Avenue operates under a ground and capital lease with an expiration date of 2111 ($41.6 million total over the lease term attributed to ground rent). Land was estimated to be 40.0% of the fair market value of the property, which was classified as an operating lease. The remainder was classified as a capital lease.
The property located at 711 Third Avenue operates under an operating sub-lease, which expires in 2083. The ground rent was reset in July 2011. Following the reset, we are responsible for ground rent payments of $5.25 million annually through July 2016 and then $5.5 million annually thereafter on the 50% portion of the fee that we do not own.
The property located at 461 Fifth Avenue operates under a ground lease ($2.1 million of ground rent annually) with an expiration date of 2027 and two options to renew for an additional 21 years each, followed by a third option for 15 years. We also have an option to purchase the fee position for a fixed price on a specific date.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
The property located at 625 Madison Avenue operates under a ground lease ($4.6 million of ground rent annually) with an expiration date of 2022 and two options to renew for an additional 23 years.
The property located at 1185 Avenue of the Americas operates under a ground lease ($6.9 million of ground rent annually) with an expiration of 2043 and an option to renew for an additional 23 years.
The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments under capital leases and non-cancellable operating leases with initial terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
21. Segment Information
The Company is a REIT engaged in all aspects of property ownership and management including investment, leasing operations, capital improvements, development, redevelopment, financing, construction and maintenance in the New York Metropolitan area and have two reportable segments, real estate and debt and preferred equity. We evaluate real estate performance and allocate resources based on earnings contribution to income from continuing operations.
The primary sources of revenue are generated from tenant rents and escalations and reimbursement revenue. Real estate property operating expenses consist primarily of security, maintenance, utility costs, real estate taxes and ground rent expense (at certain applicable properties). See Note 5, "Debt and Preferred Equity Investments," for additional details on our debt and preferred equity investments.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
Selected results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, and selected asset information as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, regarding our operating segments are as follows (in thousands):
Income from continuing operations represents total revenues less total expenses for the real estate segment and total investment income less allocated interest expense for the debt and preferred equity segment. Interest costs for the debt and preferred equity segment includes actual costs incurred for investments collateralizing the MRA. Interest is imputed on the remaining investments using our corporate borrowing cost. We also allocate loan loss reserves, net of recoveries, and transaction related costs to the debt and preferred equity segment. We do not allocate marketing, general and administrative expenses to the debt and preferred equity segment since the use of personnel and resources is dependent on transaction volume between the two segments and varies period over period. In addition, we base performance on the individual segments prior to allocating marketing, general and administrative expenses. For the years ended, December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 marketing, general and administrative expenses totaled $99.8 million, $94.9 million, and $92.5 million respectively. All other expenses, except interest, relate entirely to the real estate assets.
There were no transactions between the above two segments.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
The table below reconciles income from continuing operations to net income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 (in thousands):
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
22. Quarterly Financial Data of the Company (unaudited)
Summarized quarterly financial data for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, which is reflective of the reclassification of the properties sold or held for sale during 2015 as discontinued operations (see Note 4, "Properties Held for Sale and Dispositions"), was as follows (in thousands, except for per share amounts):
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2016
23. Quarterly Financial Data of the Operating Partnership (unaudited)
Summarized quarterly financial data for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, which is reflective of the reclassification of the properties sold or held for sale during 2015 as discontinued operations (see Note 4, "Properties Held for Sale and Dispositions"), was as follows (in thousands, except for per share amounts):
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
December 31, 2016
(in thousands)
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Schedule III - Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation
December 31, 2016
(in thousands)
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Schedule III - Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation
December 31, 2016
(in thousands)
______________________________________________________________________
(1)
Property located in New York, New York.
(2)
We own a 50.0% interest in this property.
(3)
We own a 51.0% interest in this property.
(4)
Property located in Westchester County, New York.
(5)
Property located in Connecticut.
(6)
Property located in New Jersey.
(7)
Property located in Brooklyn, New York.
(8)
We own a 90.0% interest in this property.
(9)
We own a 92.5% interest in this property.
(10)
We own a 75.0% interest in this property.
(11)
Properties at 317 Madison Avenue, 331 Madison Avenue and 51 East 42nd Street were demolished in preparation of the development site for the One Vanderbilt project.
(12)
We own a 95.1% interest in this property.
(13)
In May 2010 we acquired a 55.0% interest in this property for $193.0 million. In December 2015 we acquired the additional 45.0% interest in this property, thereby consolidating full ownership of the property. The December 2015 transaction valued the consolidated interests at $277.3 million.
(14)
Other includes tenant improvements of eEmerge, capitalized interest and corporate improvements.
SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
Schedule III - Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation
December 31, 2016
(in thousands)
The changes in real estate for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in thousands):
The aggregate cost of land, buildings and improvements, before depreciation, for Federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2016 was $9.2 billion (unaudited).
The changes in accumulated depreciation, exclusive of amounts relating to equipment, autos, and furniture and fixtures, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in thousands):
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTNG AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
SL GREEN REALTY CORP.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure based closely on the definition of "disclosure controls and procedures" in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act. 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 our periodic reports. Also, the Company has investments in certain unconsolidated entities. As the Company does not control these entities, its disclosure controls and procedures with respect to such entities are necessarily substantially more limited than those the Company maintains with respect to its consolidated subsidiaries.
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 Company's management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures were effective to give reasonable assurances to the timely collection, evaluation and disclosure of information relating to the Company that would potentially be subject to disclosure under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework) (COSO). Based on that evaluation, the Company concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2016.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no significant changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the year ended December 31, 2016 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
SL GREEN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Operating Partnership maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Operating Partnership's Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Operating
Partnership's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Operating Partnership's general partner, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure based closely on the definition of “disclosure controls and procedures” in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act. 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 Operating Partnership to disclose material information otherwise required to be set forth in the Operating Partnership's periodic reports. Also, the Operating Partnership has investments in certain unconsolidated entities. As the Operating Partnership does not control these entities, the Operating Partnership's disclosure controls and procedures with respect to such entities are necessarily substantially more limited than those it maintains with respect to its consolidated subsidiaries.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Operating Partnership carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Operating Partnership's general partner, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Operating Partnership's disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Operating Partnership's general partner concluded that the Operating Partnership's disclosure controls and procedures were effective to give reasonable assurances to the timely collection, evaluation and disclosure of information relating to the Operating Partnership that would potentially be subject to disclosure under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Operating Partnership is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 (f) and 15d-15 (f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Operating Partnership's general partner, the Operating Partnership conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework) (COSO). Based on that evaluation, the Operating Partnership concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2016.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The effectiveness of the Operating Partnership's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no significant changes in the Operating Partnership's internal control over financial reporting during the year ended December 31, 2016 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of SL Green Realty Corp.
We have audited SL Green Realty Corp.'s (the "Company") internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 of the Company and our report dated February 21, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York
February 21, 2017
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Partners of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P.
We have audited SL Green Operating Partnership L.P.'s (the "Operating Partnership") internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). The Operating Partnership's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Operating Partnership's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Operating Partnership maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of the Operating Partnership as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, capital and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 of the Operating Partnership and our report dated February 21, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York
February 21, 2017
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by Item 10 will be set forth in our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on or prior to April 30, 2017, or the 2017 Proxy Statement, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by Item 11 will be set forth in the 2017 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by Item 12 will be set forth in the 2017 proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by Item 13 will be set forth under in the 2017 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
I
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
(a)(1) Consolidated Financial Statements
SL GREEN REALTY CORP.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
SL GREEN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules
Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Schedule III-Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation as of December 31, 2016
Schedules other than those listed are omitted as they are not applicable or the required or equivalent information has been included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(a)(3) In reviewing the agreements included as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, please remember they are included to provide you with information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about us or the other parties to the agreements. The agreements contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and:
•
should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate;
•
have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement, which disclosures are not necessarily reflected in the agreement;
•
may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material to you or other investors; and
•
were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement and are subject to more recent developments.
Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time. Additional information about us may be found elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other public filings, which are available without charge through the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
3.1
Articles of Restatement, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q, dated July 11, 2014, filed with the SEC on August 11, 2014.
3.2
Certificate of Correction to Articles of Amendment and Restatement, incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2009.
3.3
Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated March 23, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 23, 2016.
3.4
Articles Supplementary Electing that SL Green Realty Corp. be Subject to Maryland General Corporations Law Section 3-804(c), incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated September 16, 2009, filed with the SEC on September 16, 2009.
3.5
Articles Supplementary reclassifying 4,600,000 shares of 8.0% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock, 1,300,000 shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock and 4,000,000 shares of 7.875% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock into authorized preferred stock without further designation, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated August 7, 2012, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2012.
3.6
Articles Supplementary classifying and designating 9,200,000 shares of the Company's 6.50% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, par value $0.01 per share, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated August 7, 2012, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2012.
3.7
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated October 23, 2002, filed with the SEC on October 23, 2002.
3.8
First Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated May 14, 1998, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated October 23, 2002, filed with the SEC on October 23, 2002.
3.9
Second Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, filed with the SEC on July 31, 2002.
3.10
Third Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated December 12, 2003, incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2004.
3.11
Amended and Restated Fourth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of July 15, 2004, incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2005.
3.12
Fifth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of March 15, 2006, incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006.
3.13
Sixth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of June 30, 2006, incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, filed with the SEC on August 10, 2006.
3.14
Seventh Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of January 25, 2007, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated January 24, 2007, filed with the SEC on January 30, 2007.
3.15
Eighth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of January 20, 2010, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated January 20, 2010, filed with the SEC on January 20, 2010.
3.16
Ninth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of November 30, 2011, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated December 5, 2011, filed with the SEC on December 5, 2011.
3.17
Tenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of January 31, 2012, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated January 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on February 2, 2012.
3.18
Eleventh Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated March 6, 2012, incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2012.
3.19
Twelfth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of August 10, 2012, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated August 10, 2012, filed with the SEC on August 10, 2012.
3.20
Thirteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of April 2, 2014, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated April 4, 2014, filed with the SEC on April 4, 2014.
3.21
Fourteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of July 1, 2014, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated July 2, 2014, filed with the SEC on July 2, 2014.
3.22
Fifteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of July 1, 2014, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated July 2, 2014, filed with the SEC on July 2, 2014.
3.23
Sixteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as February 12, 2015, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated February 12, 2015, filed with the SEC on February 13, 2015.
3.24
Seventeenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of June 19, 2015, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated June 22, 2015, filed with the SEC on June 22, 2015.
3.25
Nineteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of July 22, 2015, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated July 24, 2015, filed with the SEC on July 24, 2015.
3.26
Twentieth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of July 22, 2015, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated July 24, 2015, filed with the SEC on July 24, 2015.
3.27
Twenty-First Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of August 20, 2015, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated as of August 21, 2015, filed with the SEC on August 21, 2015.
3.28
Twenty-Second Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of August 20, 2015, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated as of August 21, 2015, filed with the SEC on August 21, 2015.
4.1
Specimen Common Stock Certificate, incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-29329), declared effective by the SEC on August 14, 1997.
4.2
Form of stock certificate evidencing the 6.50% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of the Company, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, par value $0.01 per share, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated August 7, 2012, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2012.
4.3
Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2007, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and The Bank of New York, as trustee, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated March 21, 2007, filed with the SEC on March 27, 2007.
4.4
Indenture, dated as of March 26, 1999, among ROP, as Issuer, Reckson, as Guarantor, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, incorporated by reference to ROP's Form 8-K, dated March 23, 1999, filed with the SEC on March 26, 1999.
4.5
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 25, 2007, by and among ROP, Reckson, The Bank of New York and the Company, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated January 24, 2007, filed with the SEC on January 30, 2007.
4.6
Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2010, among ROP, as Issuer, the Company and the Operating Partnership, as Co-Obligors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated March 16, 2010, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2010.
4.7
Form of 7.75% Senior Note due 2020 of ROP, the Company and the Operating Partnership, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated March 16, 2010, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2010.
4.8
Indenture, dated as of October 12, 2010, by and among the Operating Partnership, as Issuer, ROP, as Guarantor, the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated October 12, 2010, filed with the SEC on October 14, 2010.
4.9
Indenture, dated as of August 5, 2011, among the Company, the Operating Partnership and ROP, as Co-Obligors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated August 5, 2011, filed with the SEC on August 5, 2011.
4.10
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 5, 2011, among the Company, the Operating Partnership and ROP, as Co-Obligors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated August 5, 2011, filed with the SEC on August 5, 2011.
4.11
Form of 5.00% Senior Note due 2018 of the Company, the Operating Partnership and ROP, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated August 5, 2011, filed with the SEC on August 5, 2011.
4.12
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2012, among the Company, the Operating Partnership and ROP, as Co-Obligors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated November 9, 2012, filed with the SEC on November 15, 2012.
4.13
Form of 4.50% Senior Note due 2018 of the Company, the Operating Partnership and ROP, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated November 9, 2012, filed with the SEC on November 15, 2012.
4.14
Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of June 30, 2005, between the Operating Partnership and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Trustee, incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2005.
10.1
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2012, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and ROP, as Borrowers, each of the Lenders party thereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as the Lead Arrangers, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., as the Joint Bookrunners, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. as the Documentation Agents and the other agents party thereto, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated November 16, 2012, filed with the SEC on November 21, 2012.
10.2
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of ROP, incorporated by reference to ROP's Registration Statement on Form S-11, filed with the SEC on February 12, 1996.
10.3
Supplement to the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of ROP relating to the succession as a general partner of Wyoming Acquisition GP LLC, incorporated by reference to ROP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2008.
10.4
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2007, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Initial Purchaser, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated March 21, 2007, filed with the SEC on March 27, 2007.
10.5
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 12, 2010, by and among the Operating Partnership, ROP, the Company and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated October 12, 2010, filed with the SEC on October 14, 2010.
10.6
Form of Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of SL Green Management Corp., incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-29329), declared effective by the SEC on August 14, 1997.
10.7
Form of Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the persons named therein, incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-29329), declared effective by the SEC on August 14, 1997.
10.8
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement among the Operating Partnership, as depositor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as property trustee, Chase Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware trustee, and the administrative trustees named therein, dated June 30, 2005, incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2005.
10.9
Amended 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-89964), filed with the SEC on June 6, 2002.
10.10
SL Green Realty Corp. Third Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-189362), filed with the SEC on June 14, 2013.
10.11
Form of Award Agreement for granting awards under the SL Green Realty Corp. 2010 Notional Unit Long-Term Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated April 2, 2010, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2010.
10.12
Form of Award Agreement for granting awards under the SL Green Realty Corp. 2011 Long-Term Outperformance Plan Award Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2012.
10.13
Non-Employee Directors' Deferral Program, incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2011.
10.14
First Amendment to Non-Employee Directors' Deferral Program, incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2011.
10.15
Amended and Restated Employment and Non-competition Agreement, dated December 24, 2010, between Stephen L. Green and the Company, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated December 23, 2010, filed with the SEC on December 29, 2010.
10.16
Deferred Compensation Agreement, dated December 18, 2009, between the Company and Stephen L. Green, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated December 18, 2009, filed with the SEC on December 24, 2009.
10.17
Deferred Compensation Agreement, dated December 24, 2010, between the Company and Stephen L. Green, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated December 23, 2010, filed with the SEC on December 29, 2010.
10.18
Amended and Restated Employment and Noncompetition Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2013, by and between the Company and Marc Holliday, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated September 12, 2013, filed with the SEC on September 12, 2013.
10.19
Amended and Restated Employment and Noncompetition Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2016, by and between SL Green Realty Corp. and Marc Holliday, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated February 10, 2016, filed with the SEC on February 12, 2016.
10.20
Deferred Compensation Agreement (2013), dated as of September 12, 2013, by and between the Company and Marc Holliday, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated September 12, 2013, filed with the SEC on September 12, 2013.
10.21
Deferred Compensation Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2016, by and between SL Green Realty Corp. and Marc Holliday, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated February 10, 2016, filed with the SEC on February 12, 2016.
10.22
Amended and Restated Employment and Noncompetition Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2013, between the Company and Andrew Mathias, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated November 8, 2013, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2013.
10.23
Deferred Compensation Agreement (2014), dated as of November 8, 2013, between the Company and Andrew Mathias, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated November 8, 2013, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2013.
10.24
Employment and Noncompetition Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2013, by and between the Company and James Mead, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated October 28, 2013, filed with the SEC on October 28, 2013.
10.25
Amended and Restated Employment and Noncompetition Agreement, dated June 27, 2013, between the Company and Andrew S. Levine, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated June 27, 2013, filed with the SEC on July 3, 2013.
10.26
Amended and Restated Employment and Noncompetition Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2016, by and between SL Green Realty Corp. and Andrew S. Levine, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated February 10, 2016, filed with the SEC on February 12, 2016.
10.27
At-the-Market Equity Offering Sales Agreement, dated July 27, 2011, among the Company, the Operating Partnership and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated July 27, 2011, filed with the SEC on July 27, 2011.
10.28
At-the-Market Equity Offering Sales Agreement, dated July 27, 2011, among the Company, the Operating Partnership and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated July 27, 2011, filed with the SEC on July 27, 2011.
10.29
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Agreement Credit Agreement, dated March 21, 2014, incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 24, 2014, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2014.
10.30
Thirteenth Amendment, dated April 2, 2014, to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K, dated April 4, 2014, filed with the SEC on April 4, 2014.
10.31
Fourteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed with the SEC on July 2, 2014.
10.32
Fifteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed with the SEC on July 2, 2014.
10.33
Sixteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed with the SEC on February 13, 2015.
10.34
Employment Agreement, dated as of October 30, 2014, by and between SL Green Realty Corp. and Matthew DilLiberto.
10.35
Agreement Regarding Additional Term Loan, dated as of November 10, 2014, by and among SL Green Realty Corp., SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. and Reckson Operating Partnership, L.P., as Borrowers, The Bank of New York Mellon (as Increasing Lender) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent.
10.36
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 6, 2015, by and among SL Green Realty Corp., SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. and Reckson Operating Partnership, L.P., as Borrowers, each of the Lenders party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent.
10.37
Seventeenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed with the SEC on June 22, 2015.
10.38
Nineteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed with the SEC on July 24, 2015.
10.39
Twentieth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed with the SEC on July 24, 2015.
10.40
Twenty-First Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed with the SEC on August 21, 2015.
10.41
Twenty-Second Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed with the SEC on August 21, 2015.
10.42
Twenty-Third Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed with the SEC on April 1, 2016.
10.43
Twenty-Fourth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed with the SEC on April 1, 2016.
10.44
Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed with the SEC on November 9, 2016.
10.45
Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2015, by and among SL Green Realty Corp., SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. and Reckson Operating Partnership, L.P., as Borrowers, each of the Lenders party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent.
12.1
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends of SL Green Realty Corp., filed herewith.
12.2
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed herewith.
21.1
Subsidiaries of SL Green Realty Corp., filed herewith.
21.2
Subsidiaries of SL Green Operating Partnership L.P., filed herewith
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP for SL Green Realty Corp., filed herewith.
23.2
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP for SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., filed herewith.
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature pages of this Form 10-K).
31.1
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
31.2
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
31.3
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
31.4
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
32.1
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
32.2
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
32.30
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
32.40
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
101.1
The following financial statements from the SL Green Realty Corp. and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. 's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, (iv) Consolidated Statement of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 of the Company, (v) Consolidated Statement of Capital for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 of the Operating Partnership (vi) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, and (vii) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, detail tagged, filed herewith.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SL GREEN REALTY CORP.
By:
/s/ Matthew J. DiLiberto
Dated: February 21, 2017
Matthew J. DiLiberto
Chief Financial Officer
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that we, the undersigned officers and directors of SL Green Realty Corp. hereby severally constitute Marc Holliday and Matthew J. DiLiberto, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys and with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed herewith and any and all amendments to said Annual Report on Form 10-K, and generally to do all such things in our names and in our capacities as officers and directors to enable SL Green Realty Corp. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signatures
Title
Date
/s/ Stephen L. Green
Chairman of the Board of Directors
February 21, 2017
Stephen L. Green
/s/ Marc Holliday
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
February 21, 2017
Marc Holliday
/s/ Andrew W. Mathias
President and Director
February 21, 2017
Andrew W. Mathias
/s/ Matthew J. DiLiberto
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
February 21, 2017
Matthew J. DiLiberto
/s/ John H. Alschuler Jr.
Director
February 21, 2017
John H. Alschuler, Jr.
/s/ Edwin T. Burton, III
Director
February 21, 2017
Edwin T. Burton, III
/s/ John S. Levy
Director
February 21, 2017
John S. Levy
/s/ Craig M. Hatkoff
Director
February 21, 2017
Craig M. Hatkoff
/s/ Betsy S. Atkins
Director
February 21, 2017
Betsy S. Atkins
/s/ Lauren B. Dillard
Director
February 21, 2017
Lauren B. Dillard
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SL GREEN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
By:
SL Green Realty Corp.
/s/ Matthew J. DiLiberto
Dated: February 21, 2017
By:
Matthew J. DiLiberto
Chief Financial Officer
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that we, the undersigned officers and directors of SL Green Realty Corp., the sole general partner of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., hereby severally constitute Marc Holliday and Matthew J. DiLiberto, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys and with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed herewith and any and all amendments to said Annual Report on Form 10-K, and generally to do all such things in our names and in our capacities as officers and directors to enable SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signatures
Title
Date
/s/ Stephen L. Green
Chairman of the Board of Directors of
SL Green, the sole general partner of
the Operating Partnership
February 21, 2017
Stephen L. Green
/s/ Marc Holliday
Chief Executive Officer and Director of
SL Green, the sole general partner of
the Operating Partnership (Principal Executive Officer)
February 21, 2017
Marc Holliday
/s/ Andrew W. Mathias
President and Director of SL Green, the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership
February 21, 2017
Andrew W. Mathias
/s/ Matthew J. DiLiberto
Chief Financial Officer of
SL Green, the sole general partner of
the Operating Partnership (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
February 21, 2017
Matthew J. DiLiberto
/s/ John H. Alschuler, Jr.
Director of SL Green, the sole general
partner of the Operating Partnership
February 21, 2017
John H. Alschuler, Jr.
/s/ Edwin T. Burton, III
Director of SL Green, the sole general
partner of the Operating Partnership
February 21, 2017
Edwin T. Burton, III
/s/ John S. Levy
Director of SL Green, the sole general
partner of the Operating Partnership
February 21, 2017
John S. Levy
/s/ Craig M. Hatkoff
Director of SL Green, the sole general
partner of the Operating Partnership
February 21, 2017
Craig M. Hatkoff
/s/ Betsy S. Atkins
Director of SL Green, the sole general
partner of the Operating Partnership
February 21, 2017
Betsy S. Atkins
/s/ Lauren B. Dillard
Director of SL Green, the sole general
partner of the Operating Partnership
February 21, 2017
Lauren B. Dillard