Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies

2.   Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all of the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Estimates and Assumptions

The Company prepares its financial statements and related notes in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates in the consolidated financial statements include the allowance for credit losses, purchase price allocations, impairment considerations and the valuation of derivatives.

Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

The Company determines whether an entity is a VIE and, if so, whether it should be consolidated by utilizing judgments and estimates that are inherently subjective. The determination of whether an entity in which the Company holds a, direct or indirect, variable interest is a VIE is based on several factors, including whether the entity’s total equity investment at risk upon inception is sufficient to finance the entity’s activities without additional subordinated financial support. The Company makes judgments regarding the sufficiency of the equity at risk based first on a qualitative analysis, and then a quantitative analysis, if necessary.

The Company analyzes any investments in VIEs to determine if the Company is the primary beneficiary. In evaluating whether the Company is the primary beneficiary, the Company evaluates its direct and indirect economic interests in the entity. Determining which reporting entity, if any, is the primary beneficiary of a VIE is primarily a qualitative approach focused on identifying which reporting entity has both (1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact such entity’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from such entity that could potentially be significant to such entity. Performance of that analysis requires the exercise of judgment.

The Company considers a variety of factors in identifying the entity that holds the power to direct matters that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance including, but not limited to, the ability to direct a proposed sale of the property or merger of the company. In addition, the Company considers the rights of other investors to participate in those decisions, to replace the manager and to amend the corporate charter. The Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE at the time it becomes involved with a VIE and considers that conclusion upon a reconsideration event.

As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s relationship with the Sponsored REIT was considered a VIE and the Company became the primary beneficiary. Upon this reconsideration event, the entity is included within the Company’s consolidated financial statements and all intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. A gain on consolidation of approximately $0.4 million was recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2023. Cash and cash equivalents of $3 million held by Monument Circle was included in the Company’s cash and cash equivalents upon consolidation and is reflected as “Consolidation of Sponsored REIT” in the consolidated statement of cash flows. The cash and cash equivalents held by Monument Circle are unable to be utilized for the Company’s operational purposes. The creditors of Monument Circle’s trade payables do not have any recourse against the Company.

The consolidation value of Monument Circle was allocated to real estate investments and leases, including lease origination costs. Lease origination costs represent the value associated with acquiring an in-place lease (i.e. the market cost to execute a similar lease, including leasing commission, legal, vacancy, and other related costs). The value assigned to building approximates the replacement cost; the value assigned to land approximates its appraised value; and the value assigned to leases approximate their fair value. Other assets and liabilities are recorded at their historical costs, which approximates fair value.

The Company assessed the fair value of the acquired real estate leases based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount rates and available market information. Such inputs are Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired at the date of consolidation, January 1, 2023:

(in thousands)
Real estate assets	$	19,695
Value of acquired real estate leases		305
Total	$	20,000

The following is quantitative information about significant unobservable inputs in the Company’s Level 3 measurement of the assets acquired in the consolidation of Monument Circle and were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at January 1, 2023:

	Fair Value (1) at			Significant	Range				Weighted
Description	January 1, 2023		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Min		Max		Average (2)
		(in thousands)
Monument Circle Consolidation	$	20,000	Discounted Cash Flows	Exit Cap Rate	7.50	%	7.50	%	7.50	%
				Discount Rate	9.50	%	9.50	%	9.50	%
(1) Classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
(2) Unobservable inputs were weighted based on the fair value of the related instrument.

Prior to January 1, 2023, the Company’s relationship with the Sponsored REIT was considered a VIE in which the Company was not the primary beneficiary. The Company’s maximum exposure to losses associated with this VIE was limited to the principal amount outstanding under the loan from the Company to the Sponsored REIT secured by a mortgage on real estate owned by the Sponsored REIT (the “Sponsored REIT Loan”) net of the allowance for credit loss, the related accrued interest receivable and an exit fee receivable, which were in aggregate approximately $22.1 million at December 31, 2022. The accrued interest and exit fee receivables are included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the consolidated balance sheet and were approximately $2.3 million at December 31, 2022. The relationships and investments related to the Sponsored REIT are summarized in Note 3.

Real Estate and Depreciation

Real estate assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.

The Company allocates the value of real estate acquired among land, buildings and identified intangible assets or liabilities. Costs related to land, building and improvements are capitalized. Typical capital items include new roofs, site improvements, various exterior building improvements and major interior renovations. Costs incurred in connection with leasing (primarily tenant improvements and leasing commissions) are capitalized and amortized over the lease period. Routine replacements and ordinary maintenance and repairs that do not extend the life of the asset are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives as follows:

Category	Years
Commercial buildings		39
Building improvements	15	-	39
Fixtures and equipment	3	-	7

The Company reviews its properties to determine if their carrying amounts will be recovered from future operating cash flows if certain indicators of impairment are identified at those properties. These indicators may include lower or declining tenant occupancy, weak or declining tenant profitability, cash flows or liquidity, the Company’s decision to dispose of an asset before the end of its estimated useful life or legislative, economic, or market changes that permanently reduce the value of the Company’s investment. If indicators of impairment are present, the Company evaluates the carrying value of the property by comparing it to its expected future undiscounted cash flow. A property’s value is impaired only if management’s estimate of future undiscounted cash flows to be generated by the property over its estimated holding period is less than the carrying value of the property. If there are different potential outcomes for a property, the Company will take a probability weighted approach to estimating future cash flows. If the Company determines that impairment has occurred, the affected assets are reduced to their fair value. The evaluation of anticipated cash flows is highly subjective and is based in part on assumptions regarding future occupancy, rental rates, capital requirements, estimated holding periods and outcome probabilities that could differ materially from actual results in future periods. Since cash flows are considered on an undiscounted basis in the analysis that the Company conducts to determine whether an asset has been impaired, the Company’s strategy of holding properties over the long term directly decreases the likelihood of recording an impairment loss. If the Company’s strategy changes or market conditions otherwise dictate an earlier sale date, an impairment loss may be recognized. The Company did not recognize any impairment losses on any assets classified as held and used for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Acquired Real Estate Leases and Amortization

Acquired real estate leases represent costs associated with acquiring an in-place lease (i.e., the market cost to execute a similar lease, including leasing commission, tenant improvements, legal, vacancy and other related costs) and the value relating to leases with rents above the market rate. Amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the term of the leases, which range from 12 months to 154 months. Amortization of these combined components was approximately $3.2 million, $4.5 million and $8.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Amortization related to costs associated with acquiring an in-place lease is included in depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of income. Amortization related to leases with rents above the market rate is offset against

the rental revenue in the consolidated statements of income. The estimated annual amortization expense for the five years and thereafter following December 31, 2023 is as follows:

(in thousands)	December 31,
2024	$	2,489
2025		1,718
2026		1,644
2027		389
2028		300
2029 and thereafter		154

Acquired Unfavorable Real Estate Leases and Amortization

Acquired unfavorable real estate leases represent the value relating to leases with rents below the market rate. Amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the term of the leases, which range from 12 months to 151 months. Amortization expense was approximately $0.1 million, $0.2 million and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Amortization related to leases with rents below the market rate is included with rental revenue in the consolidated statements of income. The estimated annual amortization for the five years and thereafter following December 31, 2023 is as follows:

(in thousands)	December 31,
2024	$	42
2025		10
2026		8
2027		8
2028		6
2029 and thereafter		13

Asset Held For Sale

Classification of a property as held for sale typically occurs upon the execution of a purchase and sale agreement and belief by management that the sale or disposition is probable of occurrence within one year. Upon determining that a property was held for sale, the Company discontinues depreciating the property and reflects the property in its consolidated balance sheet at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less the cost to sell. The Company presents the property held for sale on its consolidated balance sheet as “Asset held for sale”. The Company reports the results of operations of its properties sold or held for sale (that do not represent a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on financial results) in its consolidated statements of income through the date of sale.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

	December 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2023		2022
Cash and cash equivalents (1)	$	125,530	$	3,739
Restricted cash		2,350		2,893
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	127,880	$	6,632
(1) Includes $2,167 at December 31, 2023, pertaining to Monument Circle, which the Company is unable to utilize for its own operational purposes.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of tenant security deposits, which are required by law in some states or by contractual agreement to be kept in a segregated account, and escrows arising from property sales. Tenant security deposits are refunded when tenants vacate, provided that the tenant has not damaged the property.

Cash held in escrow is paid based on the terms of the closing agreement for the sale. Restricted cash also may include funds segregated for specific tenant improvements per lease agreements.

Tenant Rent Receivables

Tenant rent receivables are expected to be collected within one year. The Company recognizes the effect of a change in its assessment of whether the collectability of operating lease receivables are probable as an adjustment to lease income.

Related Party Mortgage Loan Receivable

Management monitors and evaluates the secured loans compared to the expected performance, cash flow and value of the underlying real estate.

Concentration of Credit Risks

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash investments, derivatives, related party mortgage loan receivable and accounts receivable. The Company maintains its cash balances principally in two banks which the Company believes to be creditworthy. The Company periodically assesses the financial condition of the banks and believes that the risk of loss is minimal. Cash balances held with various financial institutions frequently exceed the insurance limit of $250,000 provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The derivatives that the Company has are from three interest rate swap agreements that are discussed in Note 5. The related party mortgage loan receivable is held with one Sponsored REIT. The Company performs regular evaluations on the extent and impact of any credit deterioration that could affect the performance and value of the secured property, as well as the financial and operating capability of the borrower. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its tenants and requires certain 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 rent and the costs associated with re-tenanting the space. The Company has no single tenant which accounts for more than 10% of its annualized rent.

Financial Instruments

The Company estimates that the carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, prepaid expenses, accounts payable and accrued expenses, accrued compensation, and tenant security deposits approximate their fair values based on their short-term maturity and the bank note and term loans payable approximate their fair values as they bear interest at variable interest rates.

Straight-line Rent Receivable

Certain leases provide for fixed rent increases over the term of the lease. Rental revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the related lease term; however, billings by the Company are based on the lease agreements. Straight-line rent receivable, which is the cumulative revenue recognized in excess of amounts billed by the Company, was $40.4 million, $52.7 million and $49.0 million at December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Deferred Leasing Commissions

Deferred leasing commissions represent direct and incremental external leasing costs incurred in the leasing of commercial space. These costs are capitalized and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the related lease agreements. Amortization expense was approximately $5.9 million, $7.1 million and $10.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The estimated annual amortization for the five years and thereafter following December 31, 2023 is as follows:

(in thousands)	December 31,
2024	$	4,466
2025		3,914
2026		3,285
2027		2,883
2028		2,426
2029 and thereafter		6,690

Common Share Repurchases

The Company recognizes the gross cost of the common shares it repurchases as a reduction in stockholders’ equity using the treasury stock method. Maryland law does not recognize a separate treasury stock account but provides that shares repurchased are classified as authorized but unissued shares. Accordingly, the Company reduces common stock for the par value and the excess of the purchase price over the par value is a reduction to additional paid-in capital.

Revenue Recognition

Rental Revenue - The Company has retained substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership of the Company’s commercial properties and accounts for its leases as operating leases. Rental revenue includes income from leases, certain reimbursable expenses, straight-line rent adjustments and other income associated with renting the property. Rental income from leases, which includes rent concessions (including free rent and other lease inducements) and scheduled increases in rental rates during the lease term, is recognized on a straight-line basis. The Company does not have any significant percentage rent arrangements with its commercial property tenants. Reimbursable expenses are included in rental income in the period earned. A summary of rental revenue is shown in the following table:

	Year Ended
	December 31,
(in thousands)	2023		2022		2021
Income from leases	$	103,716	$	107,990	$	148,705
Reimbursable expenses		42,311		49,736		54,825
Straight-line rent adjustment		(626)		5,895		4,017
Amortization of favorable and unfavorable leases		45		118		34
	$	145,446	$	163,739	$	207,581

Related Party and Other Revenue - Property and asset management fees, interest income on loans and other income are recognized when the related services are performed and the earnings process is complete.

Segment Reporting

The Company is a REIT focused on real estate investments primarily in the office market and currently operates in only one segment: real estate operations.

Income Taxes

Taxes on income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 represent taxes incurred by FSP Protective TRS Corp, which is a taxable REIT subsidiary, and the State of Texas franchise tax applicable to FSP Corp., which is classified as an income tax for reporting purposes.

Net Income Per Share

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue shares were exercised or converted into shares. There were no potential dilutive shares outstanding at

December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. The denominator used for calculating basic and diluted net income per share was 103,357,000, 103,338,000 and 106,667,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Derivative Instruments

The Company recognizes derivatives on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. Derivatives that do not qualify, or are not designated as hedge relationships, must be adjusted to fair value through income. Derivative instruments designated in a hedge relationship to mitigate exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Cash flow hedges are accounted for by recording the fair value of the derivative instrument on the consolidated balance sheets as either an asset or liability. To the extent hedges are effective, a corresponding amount, adjusted for swap payments, is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. Amounts are then reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to the income statement in the period or periods the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. Ineffectiveness, if any, is recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and reclassified into the income statement. The Company reviews the effectiveness of each hedging transaction, which involves estimating future cash flows, at least quarterly. Derivative instruments designated in a hedge relationship to mitigate exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. The Company currently has no fair value hedges outstanding. Fair values of derivatives are subject to significant variability based on changes in interest rates and counterparty credit risk. The results of such variability could be a significant increase or decrease in the Company’s derivative assets, derivative liabilities, equity, and/or earnings.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. There is also an established fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value. Financial assets and liabilities recorded on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value are categorized based on the inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:

Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which is typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity or information. In instances where 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 input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability including credit risk, which was not significant to the overall value.

These inputs (See Notes 2, 3, 5 and 10) were considered and applied to the Company’s derivative instruments, Sponsored REIT Loan, Sponsored REIT purchase price allocation, and assets held for sale. Level 2 inputs were used to value the interest rate swaps and Level 3 inputs were used to value the Sponsored REIT Loan, assets acquired in the consolidation of the Sponsored REIT and the valuation of certain assets held for sale.

Subsequent Events

In preparing these consolidated financial statements the Company evaluated events that occurred through the date of issuance of these financial statements for potential recognition or disclosure.

Recent Accounting Standards

In October 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative (“ASU 2023-06”). ASU 2023-06 adds interim and annual disclosure requirements to GAAP at the request of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The guidance in ASU 2023-06 is required to be applied prospectively and the GAAP requirements will be effective when the removal of the related SEC disclosure requirements is effective. If the SEC does not act to remove its related requirement by June 30, 2027, any related FASB amendments will be removed from the Accounting Standards Codification and will not be effective. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2023-06 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”). ASU 2023-07 requires public entities to disclose significant segment expense and other segment items on an annual and interim basis and to provide in interim periods all disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets that are currently required annually. The guidance in ASU 2023-07 is applied retrospectively to all periods presented in the financial statements and is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2023-07 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 enhances the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures and disclosures about income taxes paid. The guidance in ASU 2023-09 should be applied prospectively but may be applied retrospectively for each period presented. ASU 2023-09 is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2023-09 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.