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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, the OP and its subsidiaries. All inter-company accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. In determining whether the Company has a controlling financial interest in a joint venture and the requirement to consolidate the accounts of that entity, management considers factors such as ownership interest, authority to make decisions and contractual and substantive participating rights of the other partners or members as well as whether the entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Substantially all of the Company’s assets and liabilities are held by the OP. The Company has determined the OP is a VIE of which the Company is the primary beneficiary.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management makes significant estimates regarding revenue recognition, purchase price allocations to record investments in real estate, and fair value measurements, as applicable.
Out-of-Period Adjustments
During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recorded an adjustment to reduce interest expense by approximately $0.6 million related to certain historical errors that occurred in the first, second and third quarters of 2020. The amounts, which totaled $0.1 million, $0.2 million, and $0.3 million for the first, second, and third quarters of 2020, respectively, were incorrectly calculated, resulting in an overstatement of interest expense in those periods. The Company concluded that the errors noted above were not material to the current period or any historical periods presented and, accordingly, the Company adjusted the amounts on a cumulative basis in the fourth quarter of 2020.
During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company also recorded an adjustment to increase depreciation expense by approximately $0.3 million related to certain historical errors that occurred in the prior annual period result of placing construction in progress projects into service in the wrong periods, resulting in an understatement of depreciation expense in those periods. The Company concluded that these errors noted above were not material to the current period or any historical periods presented and, accordingly, the Company adjusted the amounts on a cumulative basis in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Non-controlling Interests
The non-controlling interests represent the portion of the equity in the OP that is not owned by the Company. Non-controlling interests are presented as a separate component of equity on the consolidated balance sheets and presented as net loss attributable to non-controlling interests on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Non-controlling interests are allocated a share of net loss based on their share of equity ownership. Prior to the Listing, the Advisor held 37 units of limited partnership designated as “Class A Units” (“Class A Units”), after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split, which represented a nominal percentage of the aggregate OP ownership. These Class A Units were redeemed for an equal number of shares of Class A common stock on the Listing Date. Also, during the second quarter of 2021, 13,100 Class A Units held by a third party were redeemed for an equal number of Class A Common Stock. These Class A Units were still outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and represented a non-controlling interest in the OP.
In addition, under the multi-year outperformance agreement with the Advisor (the “2020 OPP”), the OP issued a class of units of limited partnership designated as LTIP Units (“LTIP Units”) during 2020, which are also reflected as part of non-controlling interest as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. See Note 7 Stockholders’ Equity and Note 11 - Equity-Based Compensation for additional information.
Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. During the first quarter of 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic that has spread around the world and to every state in the United States commenced. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved rapidly and resulted in a decrease in economic activity particularly in the New York City area. Measures such as “shelter-in-place” or “stay-at-home” orders issued by relevant governmental authorities for much of 2020 and early part of 2021 and required social distancing measures had resulted in closure and limitations on the operations of many businesses. While strict “shelter-in-place” and similar orders have generally been lifted, continued limitations on indoor occupancy or other restrictions applicable to in-person operations have been and may in the future be re-instituted along with other steps such as mandatory vaccination as rates of infection increase, including in light of the current spread of the Omicron variant and other potentially more contagious variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. On March 7, 2022, New York City lifted its indoor mask and vaccine mandates. Some of the Company’s tenants operate businesses that require in-person interactions, such as retail stores, gyms, fitness studios and parking garages. Even for businesses that have not closed or have closed and reopened, concern regarding the transmission of COVID-19 has impacted, and will likely continue to impact, the willingness of persons to engage in in-person commerce which has and may continue to impact the revenues generated by the Company’s tenants.
The Company considered the impact of COVID-19 on the assumptions and estimates underlying its consolidated financial statements and believes the estimates and assumptions are reasonable and supportable based on the information available as of December 31, 2021. However, given the rapid evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global response to curb its spread, these estimates and assumptions as of December 31, 2021 are inherently less certain than they would be absent the actual and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Actual results may ultimately differ from those estimates.
New York City, where all the Company’s properties are located, has been among the hardest hit locations in the country. Although New York City has lifted most COVID-19 restrictions on businesses, many offices have not yet reopened. The Company’s properties remain accessible to all tenants, although, even as operating restrictions have expired, not all tenants have resumed in person operations. In addition, as operating restrictions expire, operating costs may begin to rise, including for services, labor and personal protective equipment and other supplies, as the Company’s property managers take appropriate actions to protect tenants and property management personnel. Some of these costs may be recoverable through reimbursement from tenants but others will be borne by the Company. In addition, one of the Company’s tenants, Knotel, Inc. (“Knotel”), which was a tenant at the Company’s 123 William Street and 9 Times Square properties, declared bankruptcy in early 2021 and its leases with the Company were terminated. In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company put Knotel on a cash basis of accounting and fully reserved all receivables from Knotel with the exception of security deposits held, which was reflected as a reduction in revenue from tenants during the period ended December 31, 2020. Management has already re-leased a portion of the vacant space formerly occupied by Knotel at its 123 William Street building, and other previously vacant space at 123 William Street, and is working on securing additional new leases to replace Knotel’s former space at it 9 Times Square building. Also, the leases with the original tenant of the garages at both the 200 Riverside Boulevard property and 400 E. 67th Street - Laurel Condominium property were terminated on October 26, 2021 and the Company simultaneously entered into six -month license agreements with a new operator at both garage properties. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be able to lease all or any portion of the currently vacant space at any property on acceptable or favorable terms, or at all.
The financial stability and overall health of tenants is critical to the Company’s business. The negative effects that the global pandemic has had on the economy includes the closure or reduction in activity for many retail operations such as some of those operated by the Company’s tenants. This has impacted the ability of some of the Company’s tenants to pay their monthly rent either temporarily or in the long term. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company reduced revenue from tenants by $8.5 million for reserves recorded during the period on receivables for which the related tenants have been put on a cash basis. The Company has continued to experience delays in rent collections during 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there has been no rental income received from any of the tenants that were previously placed on a cash basis, however, the Company did receive a lease termination fee of $1.4 million from one of the tenants that was placed on a cash basis in 2020. The Company has taken a proactive approach to achieve mutually agreeable solutions with its tenants and in some cases, in 2020 and 2021, the Company executed different types of lease amendments. These agreements included deferrals and abatements and, in some cases, extensions to the term of the leases. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company executed lease amendments with multiple tenants, which include deferrals, abatements, extensions to the terms of the lease, and in one instance, a reduction of the lease term.
As a result of the financial difficulties of the Company’s tenants and early lease terminations, the Company is in breach of debt covenants on mortgages secured by its 1140 Avenue of Americas, 9 Times Square, Laurel/Riverside and 8713 Fifth Avenue properties under the non-recourse mortgages for those properties. These breaches generally caused cash trap events, but not events of default. See Note 4 — Mortgage Notes Payable, Net for further details regarding these breaches.
For accounting purposes, in accordance with ASC 842: Leases, normally a company would be required to assess a lease modification to determine if the lease modification should be treated as a separate lease and if not, modification accounting would be applied which would require a company to reassess the classification of the lease (including leases for which the prior classification under ASC 840 was retained as part of the election to apply the package of practical expedients allowed upon the adoption of ASC 842, which does not apply to leases subsequently modified). However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in which many leases are being modified, the FASB and SEC have provided relief that allows companies to make a policy election as to whether they treat COVID-19 related lease amendments as a provision included in the pre-concession arrangement, and therefore, not a lease modification, or to treat the lease amendment as a modification. In order to be considered COVID-19 related, cash flows must be substantially the same or less than those prior to the concession. For COVID-19 relief qualified changes, there are two methods to potentially account for such rent deferrals or abatements under the relief, (1) as if the changes were originally contemplated in the lease contract or (2) as if the deferred payments are variable lease payments contained in
the lease contract. For all other lease changes that did not qualify for FASB relief, the Company would be required to apply modification accounting including assessing classification under ASC 842.
Some, but not all of the Company’s lease modifications qualify for the FASB relief. In accordance with the relief provisions, instead of treating these qualifying leases as modifications, the Company has elected to treat the modifications as if previously contained in the lease and recast rents receivable prospectively (if necessary). Under that accounting, for modifications that were deferrals only, there would be no impact on overall rental revenue and for any abatement amounts that reduced total rent to be received, the impact would be recognized ratably over the remaining life of the lease.
For leases not qualifying for this relief, the Company applied modification accounting and determined that there were no changes in the current classification of its leases impacted by negotiations with its tenants.
Revenue Recognition
The Company’s revenues, which are derived primarily from lease contracts, include rents that each tenant pays in accordance with the terms of each lease reported on a straight-line basis over the initial term of the lease. As of December 31, 2021, these leases had a weighted-average remaining lease term of 6.9 years. Because many of the Company’s leases provide for rental increases at specified intervals, straight-line basis accounting requires that the Company record a receivable for, and include in revenue from tenants, unbilled rent receivables that the Company will receive if the tenant makes all rent payments required through the expiration of the initial term of the lease. When the Company acquires a property, the acquisition date is considered to be the commencement date for purposes of this calculation. For new leases after acquisition, the commencement date is considered to be the date the tenant takes control of the space. For lease modifications, the commencement date is considered to be the date the lease modification is executed. The Company defers the revenue related to lease payments received from tenants in advance of their due dates. Pursuant to certain of the Company’s lease agreements, tenants are required to reimburse the Company for certain property operating expenses (recorded in revenue from tenants), in addition to paying base rent, whereas under certain other lease agreements, the tenants are directly responsible for all operating costs of the respective properties. To the extent such costs exceed the applicable tenant’s base year, many but not all of the Company’s leases require the tenant to pay its allocable share of increases in operating expenses, which may include common area maintenance costs, real estate taxes and insurance. Under ASC 842, the Company has elected to report combined lease and non-lease components in a single line “Revenue from tenants”. For expenses paid directly by the tenant, under both ASC 842 and 840, the Company has reflected them on a net basis.
Included in revenue from tenants for the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $0.1 million of tenant reimbursement related to prior year.
The following table presents future base rent payments due to the Company over the next five years and thereafter. These amounts exclude contingent rent payments, as applicable, that may be collected form certain tenants based on provisions related to sales thresholds and increases in annual rent based on exceeding certain economic indexes, among other items.
(In thousands)Future Base Rent Payments
2022$54,196 
202350,134 
202448,268 
202540,934 
202635,683 
Thereafter199,592 
Total$428,807 
    The Company owns certain properties with leases that include provisions for the tenant to pay contingent rental income based on a percent of the tenant’s sales upon the achievement of certain sales thresholds or other targets which may be monthly, quarterly or annual targets. As the lessor under the aforementioned leases, the Company defers the recognition of contingent rental income, until the specified target that triggered the contingent rental income is achieved, or until such sales upon which percentage rent is based are known. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, approximately $0.5 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, in contingent rental income is included in revenue from tenants in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
The Company continually reviews receivables related to rent and unbilled rents receivable and determines collectability by taking into consideration the tenant’s payment history, the financial condition of the tenant, business conditions in the industry in which the tenant operates and economic conditions in the area in which the property is located. Under the leasing standard adopted on January 1, 2019 (see the “Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements” section below), the Company is required to assess, based on credit risk, if it is probable that the Company will collect virtually all of the lease payments at the lease commencement date, and it must continue to reassess collectability periodically thereafter based on new facts and circumstances affecting the credit risk of the tenant. In fiscal year ended 2021 and 2020, this assessment has included consideration of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s tenant’s ability to pay rents in accordance with their contracts. Partial reserves, or the ability to assume partial recovery are no longer permitted. If the Company determines that it is probable that it will collect virtually all of the lease payments (base rent and additional rent), the lease will continue to be accounted for on an accrual basis (i.e., straight-line). However, if the Company determines it is not probable that it will collect virtually all of the lease payments, the lease will be accounted for on a cash basis and the straight-line rent receivable accrued will be written off, as well as any accounts receivable, where it was subsequently concluded that collection was not probable. Cost recoveries from tenants are included in revenue from tenants, in accordance with current accounting rules, on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the period the related costs are incurred, as applicable.
In accordance with lease accounting rules the Company records uncollectable amounts as reductions in revenue from tenants. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company reduced revenue from tenants by $8.5 million for reserves recorded during the period on receivables for which the related tenants have been put on a cash basis (see accounting policy above). Some of these reductions relate to tenants that terminated their leases early while others relate to leases that have not been paying rent and have been placed on a cash basis in accordance with ASC 842. There were no such reductions recorded for the years ended 2021 or 2019. During the year ended December 31, 2021, no rental income was received from any of the tenants that were previously placed on a cash basis, however, the Company did receive a lease termination fee of $1.4 million from two of the tenants that was placed on a cash basis in 2020 (see below).
In October 2021, the Company signed a termination agreement with the parking garage tenants at its 400 E. 67th Street - Laurel Condominium/200 Riverside Boulevard properties. The previous parking garage tenants have vacated the space and new tenants have signed lease agreements with us for the spaces in the fourth quarter of 2021. In addition, the Company recorded a termination fee for a tenant in its 9 Times Square property. These termination agreements required the tenants to pay termination fees aggregating $1.5 million to the Company, which was all received during the fourth quarter of 2021. The termination fees are recorded in revenue from tenants in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
In the third quarter of 2021, the Company launched Innovate NYC, a co-working company, at 1140 Avenue of the Americas. The Company recorded revenue of approximately $0.3 million from Innovate NYC during the year ended December 31, 2021, which is considered non-lease income.
Investments in Real Estate
Investments in real estate are recorded at cost. Improvements and replacements are capitalized when they extend the useful life of the asset. Costs of repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.
At the time an asset is acquired, the Company evaluates the inputs, processes and outputs of the asset acquired to determine if the transaction is a business combination or asset acquisition. If an acquisition qualifies as a business combination, the related transaction costs are recorded as an expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. If an acquisition qualifies as an asset acquisition, the related transaction costs are generally capitalized and subsequently amortized over the useful life of the acquired assets. See the Purchase Price Allocation section in this Note for a discussion of the initial accounting for investments in real estate.
Disposal of real estate investments that represent a strategic shift in operations that will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial results are required to be presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations. No properties were presented as discontinued operations during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 or 2019. Properties that are intended to be sold are to be designated as “held for sale” on the consolidated balance sheets at the lesser of carrying amount or fair value less estimated selling costs when they meet specific criteria to be presented as held for sale, most significantly that the sale is probable within one year. The Company evaluates probability of sale based on specific facts including whether a sales agreement is in place and the buyer has made significant non-refundable deposits. Properties are no longer depreciated when they are classified as held for sale. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not have any properties held for sale.
As more fully discussed in this Note under Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements - ASU No. 2016-02 Leases, all of the Company’s leases as lessor prior to adoption of ASC 842 on January 1, 2019 were accounted for as operating leases and the Company continued to account for them as operating leases under the transition guidance. The Company evaluates new leases originated after the adoption date (by the Company or by a predecessor lessor/owner) pursuant to the new guidance where a lease for some or all of a building is classified by a lessor as a sales-type lease if the significant risks and rewards of ownership reside with the tenant. This situation is met if, among other things, there is an automatic transfer of title during the lease, a bargain purchase option, the non-cancelable lease term is for more than major part of remaining economic useful life of the asset (e.g., equal to or greater than 75%), if the present value of the minimum lease payments represents substantially all (e.g., equal to or greater than 90%) of the leased property’s fair value at lease inception, or if the asset so specialized in nature that it provides no alternative use to the lessor (and therefore would not provide any future value to the lessor) after the lease term. Further, such new leases would be evaluated to consider whether they would be failed sale-leaseback transactions and accounted for as financing transactions by the lessor. For the three year period ended December 31, 2021, the Company has no leases as a lessor that would be considered as sales-type leases or financings under sale-leaseback rules.
The Company is also the lessee under a land lease which was previously classified prior to adoption of ASC 842 and will continue to be classified as operating leases under transition elections unless subsequently modified. These leases are reflected on the balance sheet and the rent expense is reflected on a straight line basis over the lease term.
Purchase Price Allocation
In both a business combination and an asset acquisition, the Company allocates the purchase price of acquired properties to tangible and identifiable intangible assets or liabilities based on their respective fair values. Tangible assets may include land, land improvements, buildings, fixtures and tenant improvements on an as if vacant basis. Intangible assets may include the value of in-place leases and above- and below- market leases and other identifiable assets or liabilities based on lease or property specific characteristics. In addition, any assumed mortgages receivable or payable and any assumed or issued noncontrolling interests (in a business combination) are recorded at their estimated fair values. In allocating the fair value to assumed mortgages, amounts are recorded to debt premiums or discounts based on the present value of the estimated cash flows, which is calculated to account for either above or below-market interest rates. In a business combination, the difference between the purchase price and the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired is either recorded as goodwill or as a bargain purchase gain. In an asset acquisition, the difference between the acquisition price (including capitalized transaction costs) and the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired is allocated to the non-current assets. There were no acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2021 or 2020 and the acquisition completed during the year ended December 31, 2019 was an asset acquisition.
For acquired properties with leases classified as operating leases, the Company allocates the purchase price of acquired properties to tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their respective fair values. In making estimates of fair values for purposes of allocating purchase price, the Company utilizes a number of sources, including independent appraisals that may be obtained in connection with the acquisition or financing of the respective property and other market data. The Company also considers information obtained about each property as a result of the Company’s pre-acquisition due diligence in estimating the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and intangible liabilities assumed.
Tangible assets include land, land improvements, buildings, fixtures and tenant improvements on an as-if vacant basis. The Company utilizes various estimates, processes and information to determine the as-if vacant property value. Estimates of value are made using customary methods, including data from appraisals, comparable sales, discounted cash flow analysis and other methods. Fair value estimates are also made using significant assumptions such as capitalization rates, discount rates, fair market lease rates and land values per square foot.
Identifiable intangible assets include amounts allocated to acquire leases for above- and below-market lease rates and the value of in-place leases as applicable. Factors considered in the analysis of the in-place lease intangibles include an estimate of carrying costs during the expected lease-up period for each property, taking into account current market conditions and costs to execute similar leases. In estimating carrying costs, the Company includes real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses and estimates of lost rentals at contract rates during the expected lease-up period, which typically ranges from six to 24 months. The Company also estimates costs to execute similar leases including leasing commissions, legal and other related expenses.
Above-market and below-market lease values for acquired properties are initially recorded based on the present value (using a discount rate which reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to each in-place lease and (ii) management’s estimate of fair market lease rates for each corresponding in-place lease, measured over a period equal to the remaining initial term of the lease for above-market leases and the remaining initial term plus the term of any below-market fixed rate renewal options for below-market leases.
The aggregate value of intangible assets related to customer relationship, as applicable, is measured based on the Company's evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant’s lease and the Company's overall relationship with the tenant. Characteristics considered by the Company in determining these values include the nature and extent of its existing business relationships with the tenant, growth prospects for developing new business with the tenant, the tenant’s credit quality and expectations of lease renewals, among other factors. The Company did not record any intangible asset amounts related to customer relationships for the acquisition completed during the year ended December 31, 2019.
Gain on Dispositions of Real Estate Investments
Gains on sales of rental real estate are not considered sales to customers and will generally be recognized pursuant to the provisions included in ASC 610-20, Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets. The Company did not have any dispositions during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 or 2019.
Impairment of Long Lived Assets
The Company periodically assesses whether there are any indicators that the value of a property may be impaired or that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The indicators include sustained net operating losses, a significant change in occupancy, a significant decline in rent collection, economic changes, or a likely disposition of a property. To determine whether an asset is impaired, the carrying value of the property’s asset group is compared to the estimated future undiscounted cash flow that the Company expects the property’s asset group will generate, including any estimated proceeds from the eventual sale of the property’s asset group. The estimated future undiscounted cash flow considers factors such as expected future operating income, market and other applicable trends and residual value, as well as the effects of leasing demand, competition and other factors. The Company estimates the expected future operating income using in place contractual rent and market rents. The Company estimates the lease up period, market rents and residual values using market information from outside sources such as third-party market research, external appraisals, broker quotes, or recent comparable sales. For residual values, management applies a selected market capitalization rate based on current market data. If an impairment exists, due to the inability to recover the carrying value of a property, the Company would recognize an impairment loss in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive (loss) to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the property for properties to be held and used. For properties held for sale, the impairment loss recorded would equal the adjustment to fair value less estimated cost to dispose of the asset. The Company estimates the expected approximate fair value of the property by developing a discounted cash flow analysis, which considers factors such as lease up period, expected future operating income, market and other applicable trends, residual value, and discount rate. These assessments have a direct impact on net income because recording an impairment loss results in an immediate negative adjustment to net earnings. The Company recorded an impairment charge during the year ended December 31, 2021 of $1.5 million for this property as it was determined that the carrying value exceeded the Company’s most recent estimate of the fair market value of the property, which was based on the estimated selling price. (see Note 3 — Real Estate Investments). The Company did not recognize any impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2020 or 2019.
Reportable Segment
The Company has determined that it has one reportable segment, income-producing properties, which consists of activities related to investing in real estate.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of up to 40 years for buildings, 15 years for land improvements, five to seven years for fixtures and improvements, and the shorter of the useful life or the remaining lease term for tenant improvements and leasehold interests.
The value of in-place leases, exclusive of the value of above-market and below-market in-place leases, is amortized to expense over the remaining periods of the respective leases.
The value of customer relationship intangibles, if any, is amortized to expense over the initial term and any renewal periods in the respective leases, but in no event does the amortization period for intangible assets exceed the remaining depreciable life of the building. If a tenant terminates its lease, the unamortized portion of the in-place lease value and customer relationship intangibles is charged to expense.
Assumed mortgage premiums or discounts, if applicable, are amortized as a reduction or increase to interest expense over the remaining term of the respective mortgages.
Above and Below-Market Lease Amortization
The above-market lease assets are amortized as a reduction of revenue from tenants over the remaining terms of the respective leases and the below-market lease liabilities are amortized as an increase to revenue from tenants over the remaining initial terms plus the terms of any below-market fixed rate renewal options of the respective leases. If a tenant with a below-market rent renewal does not renew, any remaining unamortized amount will be taken into income at that time.
The above-market ground lease liabilities are amortized as a reduction of property operating expense over the remaining terms of the respective leases. The below-market ground lease assets are amortized as an increase to property operating expense over the remaining terms of the respective leases and expected below-market renewal option periods.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company accelerated amortization of the remaining unamortized balance of a below-market lease liabilities of approximately $7.9 million, the majority of which related to a terminated lease with a former parking garage tenant at our 200 Riverside Boulevard property. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company accelerated amortization of the remaining unamortized balance of certain above and below-market lease liabilities of $1.8 million.
Derivative Instruments
The Company may use derivative financial instruments to hedge all or a portion of the interest rate risk associated with its borrowings. Certain of the techniques used to hedge exposure to interest rate fluctuations may also be used to protect against declines in the market value of assets that result from general trends in debt markets. The principal objective of such agreements is to minimize the risks and costs associated with the Company’s operating and financial structure as well as to hedge specific anticipated transactions.
The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the 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. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Derivatives may also be designated as hedges of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge.  The Company may enter into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of its risk, even though hedge accounting does not apply or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting.
The accounting for subsequent changes in the fair value of these derivatives depends on whether each has been designated and qualifies for hedge accounting treatment. If the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting treatment, any change in the fair value of these derivative instruments is recognized immediately in gains (losses) on derivative instruments in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. If the derivative is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting treatment, the change in the estimated fair value of the derivative is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) to the extent that it is effective with any ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings. After the adoption of ASU 2017-12, if the derivative qualified for hedge accounting, all the change in value is recorded in other comprehensive income.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in bank accounts as well as investments in highly-liquid money market funds with original maturities of three months or less. The Company deposits cash with high quality financial institutions. These deposits are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Company (“FDIC”) up to an insurance limit. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of $28.4 million and $40.0 million, of which $26.3 million and $38.2 million, respectively, were in excess of the amount insured by the FDIC. Although the Company bears risk to amounts in excess of those insured by the FDIC, it does not anticipate any losses as a result thereof.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash primarily consists of ground rent, real estate taxes, structural, leasing commissions, free rent and insurance reserves.
Deferred Financing and Leasing Costs, net
Deferred leasing costs, net consist primarily of lease commissions and professional fees incurred, and are deferred and amortized to depreciation and amortization expense over the term of the related lease.
Deferred financing costs relating to the mortgage notes payable (see Note 4 — Mortgage Notes Payable, Net) are reflected net of the related financing on our balance sheet. Deferred financing costs associated with the mortgage notes payable represent commitment fees, legal fees, and other costs associated with obtaining commitments for financing. These costs are amortized as additional interest expense over the term of the financing agreement. Unamortized deferred financing costs are expensed when the associated debt is refinanced or paid down before maturity. Costs incurred in seeking financial transactions that do not close are expensed in the period in which it is determined that the financing will not close.
Equity-Based Compensation
The Company has a stock-based plan under which its directors, officers and other employees of the Advisor or its affiliates who are involved in providing services to the Company are eligible to receive awards. Awards granted thereunder are accounted for under the guidance for share based payments. The cost of services received in exchange for these stock awards is measured at the grant date fair value of the award and the expense for such an award is included in equity-based compensation and is recognized in accordance with the service period (i.e., vesting) required or when the requirements for exercise of the award have been met.
Effective at the Listing, the Company entered into the 2020 OPP (as defined herein) under which the LTIP Units (as defined herein) were issued to the Advisor. These awards are market-based awards with a related required service period. In accordance with ASC 718, the LTIP Units were valued at their measurement date and that value is reflected as a charge to earnings evenly over the service period. Further, in the event of a modification, any incremental increase in the value of the instrument measured on the date of the modification both before and after the modification, will result in an incremental amount to be reflected prospectively as a charge to earnings over the remaining service period. The expense for these non-employee awards is included in the equity-based compensation line item of the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 11 — Equity-Based Compensation for additional information.
Income Taxes
The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2014. The Company believes that, commencing with such taxable year, it has been organized and has operated in a manner so that it qualifies as a REIT under the Code. The Company intends to continue to operate in such a manner, but can provide no assurances that it will operate in a manner so as to remain qualified as a REIT. To continue to qualify as a REIT, the Company must distribute annually at least 90% of the Company’s REIT taxable income (which does not equal net income as calculated in accordance with GAAP), determined without regard for the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and comply with a number of other organizational and operational requirements. If the Company continues to qualify as a REIT, it generally will not be subject to federal corporate income tax on the portion of its REIT taxable income that it distributes to its stockholders. Even if the Company qualifies as a REIT, it may be subject to certain state and local taxes on its income and properties, as well as U.S. federal income and excise taxes on its undistributed income.
The amount of dividends payable to the Company’s stockholders is determined by the board of directors and is dependent on a number of factors, including funds available for distribution, financial condition, capital expenditure requirements, as applicable, and annual distribution requirements needed to qualify and maintain the Company’s status as a REIT under the Code.
A REIT may lease property on an arm's length basis to a TRS so long as no more than 10% of the property is rented to TRSs of the REIT and related parties. A TRS is subject to applicable U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income tax on its taxable income. In the third quarter of 2021, the Company launched Innovate NYC, a co-working company, at 1140 Avenue of the Americas, which is a TRS. The Company leases property on an arm's length basis to Innovate NYC; that property represents 10% or less of the property the Company rents to its TRS (Innovate NYC) and related parties. As a result of launching Innovate NYC in 2021, the Company recorded a tax provision of $37,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021.
The Company had no REIT taxable income requiring distribution for each of the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Accordingly, from a U.S. federal income tax perspective, 100% of distributions, or $0.40 per share for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 100% or $0.04889 per share for the year ended December 31, 2020 represented a return of capital. There were no distributions for the year ended December 31, 2019.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had no material uncertain tax positions. The tax years subsequent to and including December 31, 2015 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.
Per Share Data
Basic net loss per share of common stock is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding during such period. Diluted net loss per share of common stock considers the effect of potentially dilutive instruments outstanding during such period. See Note 12 — Net Loss Per Share for additional information.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Adopted as of January 1, 2019:
ASU No. 2016-02 — Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02") which provides guidance related to the accounting for leases, as well as the related disclosures. For lessors of real estate, leases are accounted for using an approach substantially the same as previous accounting guidance for operating leases and direct financing leases. For lessees, the standard requires the application of a dual lease classification approach, classifying leases as either operating or finance leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, while lease expense for finance leases is recognized based on an effective interest method over the term of the lease. Also, lessees must recognize a right-of-use asset (“ROU”) and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. Further, certain transactions where at inception of the lease the buyer-lessor accounted for the transaction as a purchase of real estate and a new lease, may now be required to have symmetrical accounting to the seller-lessee if the transaction was not a qualified sale-leaseback and accounted for as a financing transaction.
Upon adoption, lessors were allowed a practical expedient, which the Company has elected, by class of underlying assets to account for lease and non-lease components (such as tenant reimbursements of property operating expenses) as a single lease component as an operating lease because: (a) the non-lease components have the same timing and pattern of transfer as the associated lease component; and (b) the lease component, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease. Additionally, only incremental direct leasing costs may be capitalized under this guidance, which is consistent with the Company’s existing policies. Also, upon adoption, companies were allowed a practical expedient package, which the Company has elected, that allowed the Company: (a) to not reassess whether any expired or existing contracts entered into prior to January 1, 2019 are or contain leases; (b) to not reassess the lease classification for any expired or existing leases entered into prior to January 1, 2019 (including assessing sale-leaseback transactions); and (c) to not reassess initial direct costs for any expired or existing leases entered into prior to January 1, 2019. As a result, all of the Company’s existing leases will continue to be classified as operating leases under the standard. Further, any existing leases for which the property is the leased to a tenant in a transaction that at inception was a sale-leaseback transaction will continue to be treated (absent a modification) as operating leases. The Company did not have any leases that would be considered financing leases as of January 1, 2019.
The Company assessed the impact of adoption from both a lessor and lessee perspective, which is discussed in more detail below, and adopted the guidance prospectively on January 1, 2019, using a prospective transition approach under which the Company elected to apply the guidance effective January 1, 2019 and not adjust prior comparative reporting periods (except for the Company’s presentation of lease revenue discussed below).
Lessor Accounting
As discussed above, the Company was not required to re-assess the classification of its leases, which are considered operating leases under ASU 2016-02. The following is a summary of the most significant impacts to the Company of the new accounting guidance, as lessor:
Since the Company elected the practical expedient noted above to not separate non-lease component revenue from the associated lease component, the Company has aggregated revenue from its lease components and non-lease components (tenant operating expense reimbursements) into one line. The prior period has been conformed to this new presentation.
The Company did not have any reserves for bad debts at December 31, 2018, therefore it did not have to make an assessment of any bad debt reserves under the new accounting rules.
Indirect leasing costs in connection with new or extended tenant leases, if any, are being expensed. Under prior accounting guidance, the recognition would have been deferred.
Lessee Accounting
The Company is a lessee under a ground lease for one property as of January 1, 2019. The following is a summary of the most significant impacts to the Company of the new accounting guidance, as lessee:
Upon adoption of the new standard, the Company recorded a right-of-use asset (an “ROU asset”) and lease liability equal to $54.9 million for the present value of the lease payments related to the lease. These amounts are presented separately in operating lease right-of-use asset and operating lease liability, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheet.
The Company also reclassified $2.7 million related to amounts previously reported as a straight-line rent liability, $2.4 million related to amounts previously reported as a below market ground lease intangible asset and $1.2 million of prepaid rent to the ROU asset. For additional information and disclosures related to these operating leases, see Note 8 — Commitments and Contingencies.
Other Accounting Pronouncement Adopted As of January 1, 2019
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, to better align cash flow and fair value hedge accounting with the corresponding risk management activities. Among other things, the amendments expand which hedging strategies are eligible for hedge accounting, align the timing of recognition of hedge results with the earnings effect of the hedged item and allow companies to include the change in fair value of the derivative in the same income statement line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item. Additionally, for cash flow hedges that are highly effective, the update allows for all changes in fair value of the derivative to be recorded in other comprehensive income. The Company has adopted ASU 2017-12 on January 1, 2019, as required under the guidance, using a modified retrospective transition method and the adoption on January 1, 2019 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Adopted as of January 1, 2020:
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which changes how entities measure credit losses for financial assets carried at amortized cost. The update eliminates the requirement that a credit loss must be probable before it can be recognized and instead requires an entity to recognize the current estimate of all expected credit losses. Additionally, the amended standard requires credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities to be carried as an allowance rather than as a direct write-down of the asset. On July 25, 2018, the FASB proposed an amendment to ASU 2016-13 to clarify that operating lease receivables recorded by lessors (including unbilled straight-line rent) are explicitly excluded from the scope of ASU 2016-13. The new guidance is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2020. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2020 and determined it did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The objective of ASU 2018-13 is to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to the financial statements by removing, modifying, and adding certain fair value disclosure requirements to facilitate clear communication of the information required by generally accepted accounting principles. The amended guidance is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2020. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2020 and determined it did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. ASU 2020-04 contains practical expedients for reference rate reform-related activities that impact debt, leases, derivatives, and other contracts. The guidance in ASU 2020-04 is optional and may be elected over time as reference rate reform activities occur. During the first quarter of 2020, we elected to apply the hedge accounting expedients related to probability and the assessments of effectiveness for future London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) indexed cash flows to assume that the index upon which future hedged transactions will be based matches the index on the corresponding derivatives. Application of these expedients preserves the presentation of derivatives consistent with past presentation. The Company will continue to evaluate the impact of the guidance and may apply other elections as applicable as additional changes in the market occur.
Adopted as of January 1, 2021
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Topic 470) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Topic 815). The new standard reduces the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock, and amends the guidance for the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity's own equity. The standard also amends and makes targeted improvements to the related earnings per share guidance. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2021 and determined it did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Pending Adoption as of December 31, 2021
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848). Topic 848 contains practical expedients for reference rate reform related activities that impact debt, leases, derivatives and other contracts. The guidance in Topic 848 is optional and may be elected over the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022 as reference rate reform activities occur. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company elected to apply the hedge accounting expedients related to (i) the assertion that our hedged forecasted transactions remain probable and (ii) the assessments of effectiveness for future LIBOR-indexed cash flows to assume that the index upon which future hedged transactions will be based matches the index on the corresponding derivatives. Application of these expedients preserves the presentation of our derivatives, which will be consistent with our past presentation. The Company will continue to evaluate the impact of the guidance and may apply other elections, as applicable, as additional changes in the market occur.