Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations excludes the results of our discontinued operations unless otherwise noted. See Note 7, Discontinued operations and environmental incident in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of these operations.
Critical accounting policies:
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has issued guidance for the disclosure of “critical accounting policies.” The SEC defines such policies as those that require application of management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods.
The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. Not all of these significant accounting policies require management to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments or estimates. Management believes that the Company’s revenue recognition policy for long-term leases with scheduled rent increases meets the SEC definition of “critical.”
Certain of the Company’s long-term leases (land and billboard) have original terms of 30 to 149 years and contain scheduled rent increases where the future dollar increases are known at the time of the commencement of the lease or at a subsequent date.
The first such lease commenced in 1988, had an original term of 99 years and provides for fixed percentage increases at specified intervals (as well as reappraisal increases). In accordance with GAAP in accounting for leases, rental income related to the fixed percentage increases that are presently known should be recognized on a straight-line basis. To calculate the annual straight-line amount, the 99 known annual rental amounts are totaled and this total is divided by 99.
In 2009, a scheduled appraisal occurred, resulting in a rental increase. The Company recalculated the future annual straight-line amount using the remaining years under the lease. The turnaround date discussed below did not change.
For this lease, the calculated annual straight-line amount for 1988 was eight times (multiple) the amount paid by the tenant under the terms of the lease (the “contractual amount”). In subsequent years, as the tenant pays higher rents, the multiple gradually decreases until the 57th year of the lease, at which time the contractual amount paid by the tenant will exceed the calculated straight-line amount. If the Company were to report annual revenue for this lease using the straight-line amount, it would record a significant receivable for each of the first 56 years, which receivable would grow to approximately $34,000,000. Management does not believe that the Company should record a receivable that would not begin to be collected until the 56th year (the “turnaround date”) since management could not be assured of collection.
In 1988, management met with the SEC accounting staff to discuss its concerns in applying GAAP as it related to a lease of this length which results in the recording of such a significant receivable that would remain on the Company’s balance sheet and continue to grow on an annual basis with a turnaround date so far in the future. The Company presented the SEC accounting staff with an application of the accounting policy whereby management would evaluate the collectibility of the receivable on an annual basis and report as leasing revenue only that portion of the receivable that management could presently conclude would be collectible. The SEC accounting staff did not object to this application by the Company.
Through December 31, 2019, the receivable on this lease has grown to $25,055,000 (cumulative excess of straight-line over contractual rentals) and management has not been able to conclude that any portion is collectible as the turnaround date is still 26 years away.
In 2004, a second such lease commenced with an original term of 149 years and provides for fixed minimum percentage increases at specified intervals (as well as reappraisal increases). For this lease, the contractual amount paid by the tenant will not exceed the calculated straight-line amount until the 87th year of the lease. Through December 31, 2019, the receivable on this lease is $35,035,000 (cumulative excess of straight-line over contractual rentals) and management has not been able to conclude that any portion is collectible as the turnaround date is 78 years away.
In 2006, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement of Lease with Lamar which provides for fixed percentage increases annually. In 2013, the lease was extended to 2045 following the conversion of billboards at two locations to electronic boards, as required by the lease. For this lease, the contractual amount paid by Lamar will not exceed
8
the calculated straight-line amount until the 23rd year of the extended lease. Through December 31, 2019, the receivable on this lease is $3,288,000 (cumulative excess of straight-line over contractual rentals) and management has not been able to conclude that any portion is collectible as the turnaround date is 11 years away.
Accordingly, the Company has not reported any portion of these amounts as leasing revenue in its consolidated financial statements and does not anticipate that it can reach such a conclusion until the turnaround dates are closer.
Although the Company’s other long-term land leases provide for scheduled rent increases, the provisions of the leases are such that certain future dollar amounts could not be calculated either at the time of the commencement of the lease or now, as such amounts are based on factors that are not presently known, i.e., future cost-of-living adjustments or future appraised values. Through December 31, 2019, the receivable on these leases is $17,837,000 and management has not been able to conclude that any portion is collectible as the turnaround dates are approximately 41 years away.
In February 2016, the FASB established Topic 842, Leases, by issuing Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, which requires lessors to classify leases as sales-type, direct financing, or operating leases. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU No, 2018-111, Targeted Improvements. A lease is a sales-type lease if any one of five criteria are met, each of which indicate that the lease, in effect, transfers control of the underlying asset to the lessee. If none of the five criteria are met, but two additional criteria are both met, indicating that the lessor has transferred substantially all of the risks and benefits of the underlying asset to the lessee and a third party, the lease is a direct financing lease. All leases that are not sales-type or direct financing leases are operating leases.
The new standard was effective for the Company on January 1, 2019. A modified retrospective transition approach is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to use either (1) its effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented as its date of initial application. The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2019 and used the effective date as the date of initial application.
The new standard provides a number of practical expedients in transition. The Company elected the “package of practical expedients”, which permits the Company not to reassess under the new standard prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. For additional information on the Company’s leases, see Note 5 in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
2.
|
Liquidity and capital resources:
|
Historically, the Company generates adequate liquidity to fund its operations.
Cash and cash commitments:
At December 31, 2019, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $1,262,000. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, cash equivalents consist of money market accounts totaling $1,039,000 and $1,048,000, respectively. The Company and its subsidiary each maintain checking and money market accounts in two financial institutions, all of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to a maximum of $250,000. The Company periodically evaluates the financial stability of the financial institutions at which the Company’s funds are held.
Under the terms of each applicable long-term land lease, the contractual rent was increased as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parcel
Number
|
|
Monthly
Increase
|
|
Effective Date of Increase
|
|
Type of
Adjustment
|
Parcel 2
|
|
$4,000
|
|
May 2018
|
|
Cost-of-living
|
Parcels 6A, 6B and 6C
|
|
$6,100
|
|
July 2019
|
|
10%
|
Parcel 3S
|
|
$0
|
|
October 2019
|
|
2019 Appraisal resulted in no rent increase
|
With the execution of the Parcel 20 lease, the Steeple Street Building was transferred to the lessee on December 1, 2018. Accordingly, the Company no longer derives the benefits from or expenses associated with Parcel 20.
9
Pursuant to the Terminal Sale Agreement, $1,724,000 of the Sale Price was placed in an escrow to secure the Company’s indemnity obligations. In February 2019 and 2018 the Company received 50% of the aforementioned escrow ($862,000) in each year.
Pursuant to the Terminal Sale Agreement and related documentation, the Company is required, at its expense, to secure an approved remediation plan and to remediate contamination caused by a 1994 leak in a 25,000 barrel storage tank at the Terminal. See Note 7, “Discontinued operations and environmental incident” in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company submitted its final remediation plan to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) in June 2018 and a response to RIDEM comments was submitted in November 2018. In February 2020, the Company filed a revised Remediation Action Work Plan (“RAWP”) with RIDEM to describe the technical details associated with the preferred remedial activities and to update the 2018 RAWP. At December 31, 2019, the Company’s accrual for the cost of remediation was increased to $1,043,000.
In 2019, the Company declared and paid dividends of $2,970,000 or $0.45 per share which included a special dividend of $0.17 per share. The special dividend resulted from the Board of Director’s determination that the Company had cash on hand in excess of the amount needed to meet normal operating and capital requirements.
The declaration of future dividends will depend on future earnings and financial performance.
3.
|
Results of operations:
|
Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2018:
Continuing operations:
Revenue, leasing from continuing operations decreased $125,000 from 2018 due principally to a decrease in rent associated with the transfer of the Steeple Street building and land leased for parking purposes to the lessee of Parcel 20 effective December 1, 2018 ($297,000) offset by scheduled rent increases ($108,000), and an increase in contingent rent from both Lamar and applicable long-term leases ($64,000). Interest income in 2019 is lower than 2018 due to lower interest rates on and amounts in money market accounts.
Operating expenses decreased $427,000 due principally to: elimination of operating costs associated with the Steeple Street building as a result of the Parcel 20 lease ($344,000), reduced legal costs incurred in connection with the review of tenant compliance with the insurance requirements provided in the Company’s long-term land leases ($62,000) and legal costs related to lease matters ($37,000) offset by an increase in various other expenses ($16,000).
General and administrative expense decreased $381,000 due principally to payroll and payroll related costs as a result of one less employee and lower heath health care costs ($235,000), reduced professional fees associated with development opportunities and strategic initiatives ($240,000), reduced professional fees related to accounting ($24,000) offset by a cost-of-living increase in all salaries effective January 2019 ($19,000), increased office rent expense ($35,000) and insurance costs ($34,000) and a net increase in various other expenses ($30,000).
Discontinued operations:
For both 2019 and 2018, the gain from the sale of the Terminal ($862,000 in each year) was reduced by operating expenses that represent legal and professional fees associated with environmental remediation costs associated with a 1994 storage tank leak totaling $846,000 and $167,000, respectively.
10
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
CAPITAL PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
11
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Capital Properties, Inc.
Providence, Rhode Island
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Capital Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the related consolidated statements of income and retained earnings, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Stowe & Degon, LLC
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.
Westborough, Massachusetts
March 6, 2020
12
CAPITAL PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Properties and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation) (Note 3)
|
|
$
|
6,849,000
|
|
|
$
|
6,951,000
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
1,262,000
|
|
|
|
1,147,000
|
|
Prepaid and other
|
|
|
206,000
|
|
|
|
297,000
|
|
Deferred income taxes, discontinued operations
|
|
|
282,000
|
|
|
|
132,000
|
|
|
|
$
|
8,599,000
|
|
|
$
|
8,527,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property taxes
|
|
$
|
157,000
|
|
|
$
|
224,000
|
|
Other
|
|
|
504,000
|
|
|
|
402,000
|
|
Deferred income taxes, net
|
|
|
310,000
|
|
|
|
338,000
|
|
Environmental remediation accrual, discontinued operations (Note 7)
|
|
|
1,043,000
|
|
|
|
490,000
|
|
|
|
|
2,014,000
|
|
|
|
1,454,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders’ equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A common stock, $.01 par; authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and
outstanding 6,599,912 shares
|
|
|
66,000
|
|
|
|
66,000
|
|
Capital in excess of par
|
|
|
782,000
|
|
|
|
782,000
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
5,737,000
|
|
|
|
6,225,000
|
|
|
|
|
6,585,000
|
|
|
|
7,073,000
|
|
|
|
$
|
8,599,000
|
|
|
$
|
8,527,000
|
|
See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
13
CAPITAL PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Revenue and other income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue, leasing
|
|
$
|
5,113,000
|
|
|
$
|
5,238,000
|
|
Other income, interest
|
|
|
56,000
|
|
|
|
94,000
|
|
|
|
|
5,169,000
|
|
|
|
5,332,000
|
|
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
|
|
|
514,000
|
|
|
|
941,000
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
1,270,000
|
|
|
|
1,651,000
|
|
Impairment loss (Note 5)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,832,000
|
|
|
|
|
1,784,000
|
|
|
|
4,424,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
|
|
|
3,385,000
|
|
|
|
908,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense (benefit):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
979,000
|
|
|
|
657,000
|
|
Deferred
|
|
|
(28,000
|
)
|
|
|
(465,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
951,000
|
|
|
|
192,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
|
|
2,434,000
|
|
|
|
716,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of taxes (Note 7)
|
|
|
48,000
|
|
|
|
545,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
2,482,000
|
|
|
|
1,261,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retained earnings, beginning
|
|
|
6,225,000
|
|
|
|
11,762,000
|
|
Dividends on common stock based upon 6,599,912 shares outstanding
|
|
|
(2,970,000
|
)
|
|
|
(6,798,000
|
)
|
Retained earnings, ending
|
|
$
|
5,737,000
|
|
|
$
|
6,225,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic income per common share based upon 6,599,912 shares
outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing operations
|
|
$
|
0.37
|
|
|
$
|
0.11
|
|
Discontinued operations
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
0.08
|
|
Total basic income per common share
|
|
$
|
0.38
|
|
|
$
|
0.19
|
|
See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
14
CAPITAL PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
2,434,000
|
|
|
$
|
716,000
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net
cash provided by operating activities, continuing operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
102,000
|
|
|
|
170,000
|
|
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
(28,000
|
)
|
|
|
(465,000
|
)
|
Impairment loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,832,000
|
|
Changes in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid and other
|
|
|
91,000
|
|
|
|
137,000
|
|
Property taxes and other
|
|
|
(62,000
|
)
|
|
|
(169,000
|
)
|
Net cash provided by operating activities, continuing operations
|
|
|
2,537,000
|
|
|
|
2,221,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of investments
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,025,000
|
)
|
Proceeds from:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sale of investments
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,025,000
|
|
Deferred revenue, Parcel 20
|
|
|
97,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
97,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Discontinued operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from sale of assets
|
|
|
862,000
|
|
|
|
862,000
|
|
Net cash used to settle obligations
|
|
|
(411,000
|
)
|
|
|
(340,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
451,000
|
|
|
|
522,000
|
|
Net cash provided by investing activities
|
|
|
548,000
|
|
|
|
522,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payment of dividends
|
|
|
(2,970,000
|
)
|
|
|
(7,260,000
|
)
|
Funds provided by agent
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
462,000
|
|
|
|
|
(2,970,000
|
)
|
|
|
(6,798,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
115,000
|
|
|
|
(4,055,000
|
)
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning
|
|
|
1,147,000
|
|
|
|
5,202,000
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents, ending
|
|
$
|
1,262,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,147,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosures:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income taxes:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing operations
|
|
$
|
867,000
|
|
|
$
|
652,000
|
|
Discontinued operations, sale of assets
|
|
|
118,000
|
|
|
|
198,000
|
|
|
|
$
|
985,000
|
|
|
$
|
850,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
15
CAPITAL PROPERTIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND 2018
1.
|
Description of business:
|
Capital Properties, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Tri-State Displays, Inc., Capital Terminal Company and Dunellen, LLC (collectively referred to as “the Company”) for many years operated in two segments, leasing and petroleum storage. On February 10, 2017, the Company sold its petroleum storage facility and related assets (the “Terminal”) owned or controlled by the Company’s subsidiaries, Capital Terminal Company and Dunellen, LLC to Sprague Operating Resources, LLC (“Sprague”). The sale of the Terminal results in the segment being classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. With the sale of the Terminal, the Board of Directors determined that there was no longer a need to maintain Capital Terminal Company and Dunellen, LLC and at its April 24, 2018 regularly scheduled Board meeting, it voted to liquidate and dissolve these two companies. The companies were dissolved on July 16, 2019.
As a result of the sale of the Terminal, the Company’s operations consist of the long-term leasing of certain of its real estate interests in downtown Providence, Rhode Island (upon the commencement of which the tenants have been required to construct buildings thereon, with the exception of the parking garage and Parcel 6C), the leasing of a portion of its previously owned building (“Steeple Street Building”) under short-term leasing arrangements through December 1, 2018 and the leasing of locations along interstate and primary highways in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to Lamar Outdoor Advertising, LLC (“Lamar”) which has constructed outdoor advertising boards thereon. The Company anticipates that the future development of its remaining properties in and adjacent to the Capital Center area will consist primarily of long-term ground leases. Pending this development, the Company leases these parcels for public parking to Metropark, Ltd.
2.
|
Summary of significant accounting policies:
|
Principles of consolidation:
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts and transactions of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of estimates:
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“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. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fair value of financial instruments:
The Company believes that the fair values of its financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents and payables, approximate their respective book values because of their short-term nature. The fair values described herein were determined using significant other observable inputs (Level 2) as defined by GAAP.
Properties and equipment:
Properties and equipment are stated at cost. Acquisitions and additions are capitalized while routine maintenance and repairs, which do not improve the asset or extend its life, are charged to expense when incurred. Depreciation is being provided by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets.
The Company reviews properties and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the net book value of the asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss will be recognized if the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and before interest) from the use of the asset is less than the net book value of the asset. Generally, the amount of the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the net book value and the estimated fair value of the asset.
Cash and cash equivalents:
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents include money market accounts totaling $1,039,000 and $1,048,000, at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company and its subsidiary each maintain a checking and money market account in two banks,
16
all of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to a maximum of $250,000. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.
Environmental incidents:
The Company accrues a liability when an environmental incident has occurred and the costs are estimable. The Company does not record a receivable for recoveries from third parties for environmental matters until it has determined that the amount of the collection is reasonably assured. The accrued liability is relieved when the Company pays the liability or a third party assumes the liability. Upon determination that collection is reasonably assured or a third party assumes the liability, the Company records the amount as a reduction of expense.
Revenues:
The Company’s properties leased to others are under operating leases. The Company reports leasing revenue when earned under the operating method.
Certain of the Company’s long-term leases (land and billboard) provide for presently known scheduled rent increases over the remaining terms (25 to 135 years). The Company follows GAAP in accounting for leases by recognizing leasing revenue on the straight-line basis over the terms of the leases; however, the Company does not report as revenue that portion of such straight-line rentals which management is unable to conclude is realizable (collectible) due to the length of the lease terms and other related uncertainties.
The Company reports contingent revenue in the period in which the factors occur on which the contingent payments are predicated.
Income taxes:
The Company and its subsidiaries file consolidated income tax returns.
The Company provides for income taxes based on income reported for financial reporting purposes. The provision for income taxes differs from the amounts currently payable because of temporary differences associated with the recognition of certain income and expense items for financial reporting and tax reporting purposes.
In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was enacted. The Act includes a number of changes to existing U.S. federal tax laws that impact the Company, most notably a reduction of the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from a maximum of 35 percent to a flat 21 percent for tax years effective January 1, 2018.
The Company has elected to recognize the income tax effects of the Act in its financial statements in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (SAB 118), which provides guidance for the application of ASC Topic 740 Income Taxes, in the reporting period in which the Act was signed into law. Under SAB 118 when the Company does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Act it will recognize provisional amounts if a reasonable estimate can be made. If a reasonable estimate cannot be made, then no impact is recognized for the effect of the Act. SAB 118 permits an up to one- year measurement period to finalize the measurement of the impact of the Act. There were no adjustments made to the statement of income and retained earnings for the year ended December 31, 2018 related to finalizing the measurement of the impact of the Act.
Based on its evaluation, the Company has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the consolidated financial statements. The Company will report any tax-related interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense. The Company’s federal and state income tax returns are generally open for examination for the past three years.
Legal fees:
The Company recognizes legal fees as incurred.
Basic earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
17
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements:
In February 2016, the FASB established Topic 842, Leases, by issuing Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, which requires lessors to classify leases as sales-type, direct financing, or operating leases. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU No, 2018-111, Targeted Improvements. A lease is a sales-type lease if any one of five criteria are met, each of which indicate that the lease, in effect, transfers control of the underlying asset to the lessee. If none of the five criteria are met, but two additional criteria are both met, indicating that the lessor has transferred substantially all of the risks and benefits of the underlying asset to the lessee and a third party, the lease is a direct financing lease. All leases that are not sales-type or direct financing leases are operating leases.
The new standard was effective for the company on January 1, 2019. A modified retrospective transition approach is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to use either (1) its effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented as its date of initial application. The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2019 and used the effective date as the date of initial application. Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019.
The new standard provides a number of practical expedients in transition. The Company elected the “package of practical expedients”, which permits the Company not to reassess under the new standard prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. While our existing leases will continue to be classified as operating leases in accordance with the package of practical expedients, leases that commence on or after the effective date of the new standard may be classified as sales-type leases under the new standard. The adoption of the new lease standard did not have a significant impact on our leasing activities. For additional information on the Company’s leases, see Note 5.
The Company also elected the land easement practical expedient which allows the Company to not assess whether all existing land easements that were not previously accounted for under Topic 840 are or contain a lease under Topic 842.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13), which requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost. ASU 2016-13 replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with a forward-looking expected credit loss model which will result in earlier recognition of credit losses. The Company will adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2023. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2018-13, Changes to Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820) (ASU 2018-13), which improved the effectiveness of disclosure requirements for recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. The standard removes, modifies, and adds certain disclosure requirements. The Company will adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2020 and does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12), which simplifies the accounting for income taxes. This guidance will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2021 on a prospective basis, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
Reclassification of Prior Period Presentation:
The loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes for 2018 has been reclassified for consistency purposes on the statement of cash flows. This change increased net cash provided by operating activities and decreased net cash provided by investing activities by $340,000.
18
3.
|
Properties and equipment:
|
Properties and equipment consist of the following:
|
|
Estimated Useful
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
Life in Years
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land and land improvements on lease or held for lease
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,010,000
|
|
|
$
|
4,010,000
|
|
Office equipment
|
|
5-10
|
|
|
|
67,000
|
|
|
|
95,000
|
|
Steeple Street property under contract (Note 5), net
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
2,925,000
|
|
|
|
3,011,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,002,000
|
|
|
|
7,116,000
|
|
Less accumulated depreciation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land improvements on lease or held for lease
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
87,000
|
|
|
|
79,000
|
|
Office equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,000
|
|
|
|
86,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
153,000
|
|
|
|
165,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
6,849,000
|
|
|
$
|
6,951,000
|
|
Liabilities, other consist of the following:
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Accrued payroll and related costs
|
|
$
|
111,000
|
|
|
$
|
121,000
|
|
Accrued professional fees
|
|
|
149,000
|
|
|
|
157,000
|
|
Deposits and prepaid rent
|
|
|
119,000
|
|
|
|
110,000
|
|
Deferred revenue, Parcel 20
|
|
|
97,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Other
|
|
|
28,000
|
|
|
|
14,000
|
|
|
|
$
|
504,000
|
|
|
$
|
402,000
|
|
5.
|
Description of leasing arrangements:
|
Long-term land leases:
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had entered into ten long-term land leases. The various tenants have completed construction of improvements on eight of the parcels.
On September 28, 2017 the Company entered into a long-term ground lease of Parcel 20. Under the terms of the ground lease until the lessee took possession, the Company received all rents from existing tenants and paid all expenses with respect to Parcel 20. On May 14, 2018 the Company and the lessee entered into an Amended and Restated Ground Lease. The lessee took possession of Parcel 20 on December 1, 2018 and the Company conveyed title to the existing building. In addition to the ground lease rent, for 360 months following December 1, 2018, the lessee will pay acquisition period rent consisting of monthly payments $7,471 for the first thirty-six months and monthly payments thereafter of $8,488 plus an amount equal to 1/12th of the product of (a) 5.5% and (b) the difference between (x) $2,750,000 and (y) the aggregate of the prior monthly payments of $8,488. The Amended and Restated Ground Lease is a triple net lease.
The Amended and Restated Ground Lease for Parcel 20, as it relates specifically to the Steeple Street Building, was accounted for as a sales-type lease due to the transfer of the Steeple Street Building to the lessee. The land directly under the Steeple Street Building was allocated in the determination of the value of the property transferred in accordance with ASC 360-20, Property, Plant and Equipment - Real Estate Sales. Since the initial investment by the lessee is insufficient to recognize the transaction as a sale, in accordance with ASC 360-20, the Company will report the acquisition period rent and an allocable portion of the ground rent collected as deferred revenue on its consolidated balance sheet and will continue to include the property transferred in properties and equipment until such time that the Company determines that the lessee’s investment is sufficient or payments can be reasonably assured, at which time the sale will be recognized in accordance with GAAP. The fair value of the property was determined under a present value technique using the rental payments to be made under the lease (significant other observable inputs (Level 2) as defined by GAAP). As the carrying value of the property transferred to the lessee exceeds its fair value, the Company has recognized an impairment loss of $1,832,000 as of December 31, 2018, which amount is included in expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of income and retained earnings for the years ended December 31, 2018. The long-term ground lease of the land on Parcel 20 (exclusive of
19
the Steeple Street Building) is accounted for as an operating lease, consistent with the Company’s other long-term ground leases.
Minimum future contractual rental payments to be received from the sales-type lease on Parcel 20 as of December 31, 2019 are:
Year ending December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2020
|
|
$
|
110,000
|
|
2021
|
|
|
128,000
|
|
2022
|
|
|
281,000
|
|
2023
|
|
|
275,000
|
|
2024
|
|
|
270,000
|
|
2025 - 2153
|
|
|
5,060,000
|
|
|
|
$
|
6,124,000
|
|
Under the ten land leases, the tenants may negotiate tax stabilization treaties or other arrangements, appeal any changes in real property assessments, and pay real property taxes assessed on land and improvements under these arrangements. Accordingly, with the exception of Parcel 20 through December 1, 2018, real property taxes payable by the tenants are excluded from leasing revenues and leasing expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of income and retained earnings. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the real property taxes attributable to the Company’s land under leases were $1,302,000 and $1,230,000, respectively.
Under two of the long-term land leases, the Company receives contingent rentals (based on a fixed percentage of gross revenue received by the tenants) which totaled $119,000 and $109,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
With respect to Parcel 6C lease, the lessee has the right to terminate its lease at any time during the remaining term of that lease upon thirty days’ notice. To date, no notice of termination has been received by the Company. The current annual rents on Parcel 6C is $220,000 and annual real estate taxes paid by the lessee equals $311,000.
Lamar lease:
The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, leases 23 outdoor advertising locations containing 44 billboard faces along interstate and primary highways in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to Lamar under a lease which expires in 2045. The Lamar lease provides, among other things, for the following: (1) the base rent will increase annually at the rate of 2.75% for each leased billboard location on June 1 of each year, and (2) in addition to base rent, for each 12-month period commencing each June 1, Lamar must pay to the Company within thirty days after the close of the lease year 30% of the gross revenues from each standard billboard and 20% of the gross revenues from each electronic billboard for such 12-month period, reduced by the sum of (a) commissions paid to third parties and (b) base monthly rent for each leased billboard display for each 12-month period. For the lease years ended May 31, 2019 and 2018, the percentage rent totaled $133,000 and $119,000, respectively, which amounts are included in operating revenues on the accompanying consolidated statements of income and retained earnings for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Parking lease:
The Company leases the undeveloped parcels of land in or adjacent to the Capital Center area for public parking purposes to Metropark under a ten-year lease. The lease is cancellable as to all or any portion of the leased premises at any time on thirty day’s written notice in order for the Company or any new tenant of the Company to develop all or any portion of the leased premises. The parking lease provides for contingent rentals (based on a fixed percentage of gross revenue in excess of the base rent) which totaled $119,000 and $72,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
20
Minimum future contractual rental payments to be received from non-cancellable long-term leases as of December 31, 2019 are:
Year ending December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2020
|
|
$
|
4,276,000
|
|
2021
|
|
|
4,339,000
|
|
2022
|
|
|
4,393,000
|
|
2023
|
|
|
4,420,000
|
|
2024
|
|
|
4,530,000
|
|
2025 - 2153
|
|
|
799,260,000
|
|
|
|
$
|
821,218,000
|
|
For those leases with presently known scheduled rent increases at December 31, 2019 and 2018, the cumulative excess of straight-line over contractual rentals (considering scheduled rent increases over the initial 30 to 149 year terms of the leases) and the portion of the excess of straight-line over contractual rentals which management has concluded is realizable when payable over the terms of the leases at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Cumulative excess of straight-line over contractual rentals
|
|
$
|
81,316,000
|
|
|
$
|
77,469,000
|
|
Amount management has not been able to conclude is
collectible
|
|
|
(81,260,000
|
)
|
|
|
(77,414,000
|
)
|
Accrued leasing revenues, which are included in
prepaid and other on the accompanying consolidated
balance sheets
|
|
$
|
56,000
|
|
|
$
|
55,000
|
|
In the event of tenant default, the Company has the right to reclaim its leased land together with any improvements thereon, subject to the right of any leasehold mortgagee to enter into a new lease with the Company with the same terms and conditions as the lease in default.
The following table sets forth those major tenants whose revenues exceed 10 percent of the Company’s revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Lamar Outdoor Advertising, LLC
|
|
$
|
1,073,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,034,000
|
|
Metropark, Ltd.
|
|
|
643,000
|
|
|
|
697,000
|
|
One Citizens Plaza Holdings, LLC/Radix LLC
|
|
|
618,000
|
|
|
|
618,000
|
|
AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
|
|
|
623,000
|
|
|
|
615,000
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,957,000
|
|
|
$
|
2,964,000
|
|
6.
|
Income taxes, continuing operations:
|
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations is comprised of the following components:
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Current:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
$
|
699,000
|
|
|
$
|
499,000
|
|
State
|
|
|
280,000
|
|
|
|
158,000
|
|
|
|
|
979,000
|
|
|
|
657,000
|
|
Deferred:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
|
(22,000
|
)
|
|
|
(367,000
|
)
|
State
|
|
|
(6,000
|
)
|
|
|
(98,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
(28,000
|
)
|
|
|
(465,000
|
)
|
|
|
$
|
951,000
|
|
|
$
|
192,000
|
|
21
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, a reconciliation of the income tax provision from continuing operations as computed by applying the United States income tax rate of 21% to income before income taxes is as follows:
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Computed "expected" tax
|
|
$
|
711,000
|
|
|
$
|
191,000
|
|
Increase in "expected" tax resulting from state income tax,
net of federal income tax benefit
|
|
|
207,000
|
|
|
|
53,000
|
|
Nondeductible expenses and other
|
|
|
33,000
|
|
|
|
(52,000
|
)
|
|
|
$
|
951,000
|
|
|
$
|
192,000
|
|
Deferred income taxes are recorded based upon differences between financial statement and tax basis amounts of assets and liabilities. The tax effects of temporary differences from continuing operations which give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Gross deferred tax liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property having a financial statement basis in excess of
tax basis
|
|
$
|
364,000
|
|
|
$
|
364,000
|
|
Insurance premiums and accrued leasing revenues
|
|
|
29,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
393,000
|
|
|
|
389,000
|
|
Deferred tax assets
|
|
|
(83,000
|
)
|
|
|
(51,000
|
)
|
|
|
$
|
310,000
|
|
|
$
|
338,000
|
|
7.
|
Discontinued operations and environmental incident:
|
On February 10, 2017, the Company sold the Terminal to Sprague for $23 Million subject to certain adjustments. In accordance with ASC 205-20, Presentation of Financial Statements – Discontinued Operations, the sale of the Terminal is accounted for as a discontinued operation. The liabilities associated with the discontinued operations are separately identified on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. These liabilities were not assumed by Sprague and remain obligations of the Company until settled. The Petroleum Segment discontinued operations is reported after income from continuing operations.
Pursuant to the Sale Agreement, the Sale Price was reduced by $1,040,000, the estimated cost of a breasting dolphin to be constructed by Sprague adjacent to the Pier in order that the Pier can berth Panamax sized vessels; $1,725,000 of the Sale Price was placed in escrow to secure the Company’s indemnity obligations under the Sale Agreement and $441,000 in normal closing adjustments, transfer taxes, investment banking and other fees, other than federal and state income taxes. The net proceeds delivered to the Company amounted to $19.8 Million. In February 2019 and 2018 the Company received 50% of the aforementioned escrow ($862,000) in each year.
The Sales Agreement also contains a cost sharing provision for the breasting dolphin whereby any variance from the initial estimate of $1,040,000 will be borne equally by Sprague and the Company subject to certain limitations. In May 2018 the Company received notice from Sprague that Sprague had received bids for the breasting dolphin and that the cost of the Project was estimated at $1,923,284. Sprague requested that the Company acknowledge that it was obligated to pay 50% of the cost in excess of $1,040,000, or $441,642. The Company replied that pursuant to the letter agreement between the Company and Sprague (the “Letter Agreement”) the Company’s obligation cannot exceed $104,000 assuming, among other things, that Sprague had been timely in securing bids for the breasting dolphin and the scope of the work as bid was consistent with the Letter Agreement. In November 2019, the Company received a demand letter from Sprague asserting that they were owed $427,000, which amount represents 50% of the actual costs incurred ($1,894,008) in excess of $1,040,000. The Company continues to assert that its obligation cannot exceed $104,000.
In accordance with the Sale Agreement, the Company has agreed to retain and pay for the environmental remediation costs associated with a 1994 storage tank fuel oil leak which allowed the escape of a small amount of fuel oil. Since 1994, the Company and its consultants have continued to worked with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (“RIDEM”) through the various phases of remediation and are now working to complete the final remediation plan. In February 2020, the Company submitted its revised Remediation Action Work Plan (“RAWP”) to RIDEM and is awaiting final approval to proceed. In 2018, the Company incurred costs of $62,000 and increased the amount accrued by $118,000 resulting in a remediation liability of $490,000 at December 31, 2018. In 2019, the Company incurred remediation costs of $293,000. Based on revised remediation cost estimates associated with the revised RAWP submitted in February 2020, which incorporates design changes necessary to meet the requirements of applicable life safety codes, the remediation
22
accrual was increased by $846,000 resulting in an accrual of $1,043,000 at December 31, 2019. Any subsequent increases or decreases to the expected cost of remediation will be recorded in the Company’s consolidated statements of income as gain or loss from discontinued operations.
In February 2019 and 2018, the Company received 50 percent of the aforementioned escrow ($862,000 in each year), which amount is included in gain on sale of discontinued operations net of taxes.
The net gain from sale of discontinued operations as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, was calculated as follows:
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Indemnification escrow proceeds
|
|
$
|
862,000
|
|
|
$
|
862,000
|
|
Environmental remediation expense
|
|
|
846,000
|
|
|
|
167,000
|
|
Gain from discontinued operations before income taxes
|
|
|
16,000
|
|
|
|
695,000
|
|
Income tax expense (benefit):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
118,000
|
|
|
|
198,000
|
|
Deferred
|
|
|
(150,000
|
)
|
|
|
(48,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
(32,000
|
)
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
Gain from discontinued operations, net of taxes
|
|
$
|
48,000
|
|
|
$
|
545,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At its January 28, 2020 regularly scheduled quarterly Board meeting, the Board of Directors voted to declare a quarterly dividend of $.07 per share for shareholders of record on February 10, 2020, payable February 27, 2020.
23