Organization

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization

Organization

Global Net Lease, Inc. (the “Company”) is a real estate investment trust for United States (“U.S.”) federal income tax purposes (“REIT”) that focuses on acquiring and managing a global portfolio of income producing net lease assets across the U.S., and Western and Northern Europe. Historically, the Company focused on acquiring and managing a globally diversified portfolio of strategically-located commercial real estate properties, which consisted primarily of mission-critical, single tenant net-lease assets. As a result of acquiring The Necessity Retail REIT, Inc. (“RTL”) in September 2023, as further discussed below, the Company acquired a diversified portfolio of 989 properties consisting of primarily necessity-based retail single-tenant and multi-tenant properties located in the U.S. Until September 12, 2023, the Company was managed by Global Net Lease Advisors, LLC (“Advisor”), who managed the Company’s day-to-day business with the assistance of our property manager, Global Net Lease Properties, LLC (“Property Manager”), who managed and leased our properties to third parties. Prior to September 12, 2023, the former Advisor and the Property Manager were under common control with AR Global Investments, LLC (“AR Global”), and these related parties had historically received compensation and fees for various services provided to the Company. On September 12, 2023, the Company internalized its advisory and property management functions as well as the advisory and property management functions of RTL as a result of the Internalization Merger (defined below) in the quarter ended September 30, 2023.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned 1,296 properties (all references to number of properties, square footage and industry types are unaudited) consisting of 66.8 million rentable square feet, which were 96% leased, with a weighted-average remaining lease term of 6.8 years. Based on the percentage of annualized rental income on a straight-line basis as of December 31, 2023, approximately 80% of the Company’s properties were located in the U.S. and Canada and approximately 20% were located in Europe. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, the Company’s portfolio was comprised of 32% Industrial & Distribution properties, 27% Multi-Tenant retail properties, 21% Single-Tenant Retail properties and 20% Office properties. These represent the Company’s four reportable segments and the percentages are calculated using annualized straight-line rent converted from local currency into the U.S. Dollar (“USD”) as of December 31, 2023. The straight-line rent includes amounts for tenant concessions.

The Company’s properties are leased primarily to “Investment Grade” tenants, which includes both actual investment grade ratings of the tenant or guarantor, if available, or implied investment grade. Implied investment grade may include actual ratings of the tenant parent, guarantor parent (regardless of whether or not the parent has guaranteed the tenant’s obligation under the lease) or tenants that are identified as investment grade by using a proprietary Moody’s Analytics tool, which generates an implied rating by measuring an entity’s probability of default.

The Acquisition of The Necessity Retail REIT and the Internalization

On September 12, 2023 (the “Acquisition Date”), the REIT Merger (as defined below) and the Internalization Merger (as defined below) were both consummated (collectively, the “Mergers”). The REIT Merger and Internalization Merger were conditioned upon each other and accordingly are considered “related” and treated as a single transaction for accounting and reporting purposes (see Note 3 — The Mergers).

The REIT Merger

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 23, 2023 (the “REIT Merger Agreement”), on the Acquisition Date, RTL merged with and into Osmosis Sub I, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GNL (“REIT Merger Sub”), with REIT Merger Sub continuing as the surviving entity (the “REIT Merger”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of GNL, followed by Osmosis Sub II, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Global Net Lease Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “OP”), merging with and into The Necessity Retail REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. (“RTL OP”), with RTL OP continuing as the surviving entity (the “OP Merger” and collectively with the REIT Merger, the “REIT Mergers”).

On the Acquisition Date, pursuant to the REIT Merger Agreement, each issued and outstanding share of RTL’s (i) Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “RTL Class A Common Stock”), was converted into 0.670 shares (the “Exchange Ratio”) of GNL’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), (ii) 7.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“RTL Series A Preferred Stock”), was automatically converted into one share of newly created 7.50% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series D Preferred Stock”), and (iii) 7.375% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“RTL Series C Preferred Stock”), was automatically converted into one share of newly created 7.375% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series E Preferred Stock”).

On the Acquisition Date, after the REIT Merger but prior to the OP Merger, REIT Merger Sub distributed its general partnership interests in RTL OP to the Company. The Company, in turn, contributed its general partnership interests in RTL OP to the OP and, in turn, the OP contributed the general partnership interests in RTL OP to GNL Retail GP, LLC, a newly formed limited liability company that is wholly owned by the OP (“GNL Retail”). By virtue of the OP Merger and without any further action on the part of the OP, (i) GNL Retail became the sole general partner of the surviving company with respect to the OP

Merger; (ii) all the preferred units of RTL OP held by REIT Merger Sub immediately after the Acquisition Date were cancelled and no payment was made with respect thereto; (iii) the OP continues as the sole limited partner of RTL OP; and (iv) each units of limited partnership interest in the OP designated as “OP Units” (“OP Units”) held by a limited partner of RTL OP other than RTL or any subsidiary of RTL issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Acquisition Date was automatically converted into new OP units in an amount equal to (x) one multiplied by (y) the Exchange Ratio, and each holder of new OP units was admitted as a limited partner of the OP in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement of the OP. As a result, GNL Retail became the general partner and the OP is now the limited partner of RTL OP.

The Internalization Merger

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 23, 2023 (the “Internalization Merger Agreement”) to internalize the advisory and property management functions of the combined companies, on the Acquisition Date, (i) GNL Advisor Merger Sub LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the OP merged with and into the former Advisor, with the former Advisor continuing in existence; (ii) GNL PM Merger Sub LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the OP merged with and into the Property Manager, with the Property Manager continuing in existence; (iii) RTL Advisor Merger Sub LLC merged with and into Necessity Retail Advisors, LLC (“RTL Advisor”), with RTL Advisor continuing in existence; and (iv) RTL PM Merger Sub LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the OP merged with and into Necessity Retail Properties, LLC (“RTL Property Manager”), with RTL Property Manager continuing in existence (collectively, the “Internalization Merger”). As a result of the consummation of the Internalization Merger, the advisory agreements were terminated for both the Company and RTL and the Company assumed both of the Company’s and RTL’s property management agreements and the Company was no longer externally managed. The Company internalized these functions with its own dedicated workforce (see Note 3 — The Mergers for additional information on the Internalization Merger and see Note 12 — Related Party Transactions for additional information on the Internalization Merger).

Transaction Fees

BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“BMO”), the financial advisor to the special committee of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) comprised solely of independent directors that was formed by the Board (the “Special Committee”), was paid a fee of $30.0 million, $3.0 million of which was paid in the quarter ended June 30, 2023 upon delivery of BMO’s opinion regarding the REIT Merger and the remaining $27.0 million was paid upon consummation of the Mergers in the quarter ended September 30, 2023. In addition, the Company paid BMO a fee of $1.0 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2023, which was paid upon delivery of BMO’s opinion regarding the Internalization Merger. The Company has reimbursed BMO for its transaction-related expenses, which totaled approximately $0.3 million, and agreed to indemnify BMO and certain related parties against certain potential liabilities arising out of or in connection with its engagement.

Other Details

For additional details regarding the terms of the Mergers, including the fair value of the consideration paid and the purchase price allocation to the assets and liabilities acquired (see Note 3 — The Mergers). In addition, various other impacts to the Company’s financial statements occurred in connection with the Mergers, which are discussed throughout these financial statements, including:

•The assumption of RTL’s mortgage debt (see Note 5 — Mortgage Notes Payable, Net).

•The repayment of RTL’s credit facility with additional borrowings from the Company’s credit facility, as well as an amendment to the Company’s credit agreement (see Note 6 — Revolving Credit Facility).

•The assumption of RTL’s $500.0 million aggregate principal, 4.50% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “4.50% Senior Notes”) (see Note 7 — Senior Notes, Net).

•The issuance of two newly created series of preferred stock that were issued to RTL preferred stockholders (see Note 10 — Stockholders' Equity).

•The issuance of Common Stock to the Blackwells/Related Parties (see Note 10 — Stockholders' Equity).

•The termination of the stockholder rights plan (see Note 10 — Stockholders' Equity).

•The modification of the terms of the multi-year outperformance agreement entered into with the former Advisor in 2021 (the “2021 OPP”) OPP to accelerate the timing for determining whether the award is vested and earned (see Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 13 — Equity-Based Compensation). Any RTL awards of long-term incentive plan units of limited partner interest in the RTL OP (“RTL LTIP Units”) that were earned prior to the Acquisition Date were converted into RTL Class A Common Stock prior to the Acquisition Date and were included in the consideration issued to holders of RTL Class A Common Stock (see Note 3 — The Mergers).

•The issuance by the OP of units of limited partnership designated as “Class A Units” (“Class A Units”) to the previous holder of RTL’s units of limited partnership designated as “Class A Units” (“RTL Class A Units”) (see Note 10 — Stockholders' Equity).

•The termination of the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) (see Note 12 — Related Party Transactions).

•The Company has concluded that, as of September 30, 2023, it operates in four reportable segments consistent with its current management internal financial reporting purposes: (1) Industrial & Distribution, (2) Multi-Tenant Retail, (3) Single-Tenant Retail and (4) Office (see Note 15 — Segment Reporting).