| PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | NOTE 2 – PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2018, which have previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been omitted from this report on Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
The results for the interim periods shown in this report are not necessarily indicative of future financial results. The accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2019 and consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive income, consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity, and consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, as applicable, have not been audited by our independent registered public accounting firm. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sterling, Sterling Properties, LLLP, and wholly-owned limited liability companies. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Additionally, we evaluate the need to consolidate affiliates based on standards set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”). In determining whether we have a requirement to consolidate the accounts of an entity, management considers factors such as our ownership interest, our authority to make decisions and contractual and substantive participating rights of the limited partners and shareholders, as well as whether the entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) for which we have both: a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, and b) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be potentially significant to the VIE.
Principal Business Activity
Sterling currently owns directly and indirectly 173 properties. The Trust’s 125 residential properties are located in North Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska and are principally multifamily apartment buildings. The Trust owns 48 commercial properties primarily located in North Dakota with others located in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Texas and Wisconsin. The commercial properties include retail, office, industrial, restaurant and medical properties. Presently, the Trust’s mix of properties is 73.2% residential and 26.8% commercial (based on cost) and total $656,271 in real estate investments at March 31, 2019. Currently Sterling’s acquisition strategy and focus is on multifamily apartment properties. We currently have no plans with respect to our non-multifamily apartment properties. We will consider unsolicited offers for purchase of non-multifamily properties on a case by case basis.
Residential Property
Location
No. of Properties
Units
North Dakota
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Commercial Property
Location
No. of Properties
Sq. Ft
North Dakota
Arkansas
Colorado
Iowa
Louisiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Nebraska
Wisconsin
Concentration of Credit Risk
Our cash balances are maintained in various bank deposit accounts. The bank deposit amounts in these accounts may exceed federally insured limits at various times throughout the year.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated 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.
Real Estate Investments
Real estate investments are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Ordinary repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.
The Company allocates the purchase price of each acquired investment property accounted for as a business combination based upon the estimated acquisition date fair value of the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which generally include (i) land, (ii) building and other improvements, (iii) in-place lease value intangibles, (iv) acquired above and below market lease intangibles, (v) any assumed financing that is determined to be above or below market, (vi) the value of customer relationships and (vii) goodwill, if any. Transaction costs related to acquisitions accounted for as business combinations are expensed as incurred and included within “Administration of REIT expenses” in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive income.
The Company elected to early adopt ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations, on a prospective basis as of July 1, 2017. This new guidance clarifies the definition of a business and provides a screen to determine when an integrated set of assets and activities is not considered a business and, thus, accounted for as an asset acquisition as opposed to a business combination. Under this new guidance, the Company expects most acquisitions of investment property will meet this screen and, thus, be accounted for as asset acquisitions. The Company allocates the purchase price of each acquired investment property that is accounted for as an asset acquisition based upon the relative fair value of the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which generally include (i) land, (ii) building and other improvements, (iii) in-place lease value intangibles, (iv) acquired above and below market lease intangibles, (v) any assumed financing that is determined to be above or below market and (vi) the value of customer relationships. Asset acquisitions do not give rise to goodwill and the related transaction costs are capitalized and included with the allocated purchase price.
For tangible assets acquired, including land, building and other improvements, the Company considers available comparable market and industry information in estimating acquisition date fair value. Key factors considered in the calculation of fair value of both real property and intangible assets include the current market rent values, “dark” periods (building in vacant status), direct costs estimated with obtaining a new tenant, discount rates, escalation factors, standard lease terms, and tenant improvement costs. The Company allocates a portion of the purchase price to the estimated acquired in-place lease value intangibles based on factors available in third party appraisals or cash flow estimates of the property prepared by our internal analysis. These estimates are based upon cash flow projections for the property, existing leases, lease origination costs for similar leases as well as lost rental payments during an assumed lease-up period. The Company also evaluates each acquired lease as compared to current market rates. If an acquired lease is determined to be above or below market, the Company allocates a portion of the purchase price to such above or below market leases based upon the present value of the difference between the contractual lease payments and estimated market rent payments over the remaining lease term. Renewal periods are included within the lease term in the calculation of above and below market lease values if, based upon factors known at the acquisition date, market participants would consider it reasonably assured that the lessee would exercise such options. Fair value estimates used in acquisition accounting, including the discount rate used, require the Company to consider various factors, including, but not limited to, market knowledge, demographics, age and physical condition of the property, geographic location, and size and location of tenant spaces within the acquired investment property.
The portion of the purchase price allocated to acquired in-place lease value intangibles is amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the related lease as amortization expense. The Company incurred amortization expense pertaining to acquired in-place lease value intangibles of $429 and $540 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The portion of the purchase price allocated to acquired above and below market lease intangibles is amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the related lease as an adjustment to rental income. Amortization pertaining to above market lease intangibles of $54 and $56 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, was recorded as a reduction to income from rental operations. Amortization pertaining to below market lease intangibles of $67 and $70 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, was recorded as an increase to income from rental operations.
Furniture and fixtures are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for renewals and improvements that significantly add to the productive capacity or extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized. Expenditures for routine maintenance and repairs, which do not add to the value or extend useful lives, are charged to expense as incurred.
Depreciation is provided for over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:
Buildings and improvements
40 years
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
5-9 years
Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 totaled $5,012 and $4,767, respectively.
The Company’s investment properties are reviewed for potential impairment at the end of each reporting period whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. At the end of each reporting period, the Company separately determines whether impairment indicators exist for each property.
Examples of situations considered to be impairment indicators include, but are not limited to:
·
a substantial decline or continued low occupancy rate;
·
continued difficulty in leasing space;
·
significant financially troubled tenants;
·
a change in plan to sell a property prior to the end of its useful life or holding period;
·
a significant decrease in market price not in line with general market trends; and
·
any other quantitative or qualitative events or factors deemed significant by the Company’s management or board of trustees.
If the presence of one or more impairment indicators as described above is identified at the end of the reporting period or throughout the year with respect to an investment property, the asset is tested for recoverability by comparing its carrying value to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows. An investment property is considered to be impaired when the estimated future undiscounted cash flows are less than its current carrying value. When performing a test for recoverability or estimating the fair value of an impaired investment property, the Company makes complex or subjective assumptions which include, but are not limited to:
·
projected operating cash flows considering factors such as vacancy rates, rental rates, lease terms, tenant financial strength, demographics, holding period and property location;
·
projected capital expenditures and lease origination costs;
·
projected cash flows from the eventual disposition of an operating property using a property specific capitalization rate;
·
comparable selling prices; and
·
property specific discount rates for fair value estimates as necessary.
To the extent impairment has occurred, the Company will record an impairment charge calculated as the excess of the carrying value of the asset over its fair value for impairment of investment properties. Based on evaluation, there were no impairment losses during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
Properties Held for Sale
We account for our properties held for sale in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360”), which addresses financial accounting and reporting in a period in which a component or group of components of an entity either has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale.
In accordance with ASC 360, at such time as a property is held for sale, such property is carried at the lower of: (1) its carrying amount, or (2) fair value less costs to sell. In addition, a property being held for sale ceases to be depreciated. We classify operating properties as properties held for sale in the period in which all of the following criteria are met:
·
management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the asset;
·
the asset is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets;
·
an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the asset has been initiated;
·
the sale of the asset is probable and the transfer of the asset is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year;
·
the asset is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value; and
·
given the actions required to complete the plan to sell the asset, it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan would be made or that the plan would be withdrawn.
The results of operations of a component of an entity that either has been disposed of or is classified as held-for-sale under the requirements of ASC 360 shall be reported in discontinued operations in accordance with ASC 205, Presentation of Financial Statements (“ASC 205”) if such disposal or classification represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results.
There was one property classified as held for sale at March 31, 2019. There were no properties classified as held for sale at December 31, 2018. See Note 15.
Construction in Progress
The Company capitalizes direct and certain indirect project costs incurred during the development period such as construction, insurance, architectural, legal, interest and other financing costs, and real estate taxes. At such time as the development is considered substantially complete, the capitalization of certain indirect costs such as real estate taxes and interest and financing costs cease and all project-related costs included in construction in process are reclassified to land and building and other improvements.
Construction in progress as of March 31, 2019 consists primarily of development and planning costs associated with phase III of a multifamily apartment community in Bismarck, North Dakota. Phase I and II of the Bismarck development are complete and Phase III is still in the planning stages and construction has not yet commenced.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We classify highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased as cash equivalents.
Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates
We account for unconsolidated affiliates using the equity method of accounting per guidance established under ASC 323, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323”). The equity method of accounting requires the investment to be initially recorded at cost and subsequently adjusted for our share of equity in the affiliates’ earnings and distributions. We evaluate the carrying amount of the investments for impairment in accordance with ASC 323. Unconsolidated affiliates are reviewed for potential impairment if the carrying amount of the investment exceeds its fair value. An impairment charge is recorded when an impairment is deemed to be other-than-temporary. To determine whether impairment is other-than-temporary, we consider whether we have the ability and intent to hold the investment until the carrying amount is fully recovered. The evaluation of an investment in an affiliate for potential impairment can require our management to exercise significant judgments. No impairment losses were recorded related to the unconsolidated affiliates for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
We use the equity method to account for investments that qualify as variable interest entities where we are not the primary beneficiary and entities that we do not control or where we do not own a majority of the economic interest but have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operations and financial policies of the investee. We will also use the equity method for investments that do not qualify as variable interest entities and do not meet the control requirements for consolidation, as defined in ASC 810. For a joint venture accounted for under the equity method, our share of net earnings and losses is reflected in income when earned and distributions are credited against our investment in the joint venture as received.
In determining whether an investment in a limited liability company or tenant in common is a variable interest entity, we consider: the form of our ownership interest and legal structure; the size of our investment; the financing structure of the entity, including the necessity of subordinated debt; estimates of future cash flows; our and our partner’s ability to participate in the decision making related to acquisitions, dispositions, budgeting and financing on the entity; and obligation to absorb losses and preferential returns. As of March 31, 2019, our tenant in common arrangements do not qualify as variable interest entities and do not meet the control requirements for consolidation, as defined in ASC 810.
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the unconsolidated affiliates held total assets of $22,481 and $22,954 and mortgage notes payable of $16,992 and $17,091, respectively.
The operating partnership is a 50% owner of Grand Forks Marketplace Retail Center as a tenant in common through 100% ownership in a limited liability company. Grand Forks Marketplace Retail Center has approximately 183,000 square feet of commercial space in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The property is encumbered by a non-recourse first mortgage with a balance at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 of $10,428 and $10,483, respectively. The Company is jointly and severally liable for the full mortgage balance.
The operating partnership owns a 66.67% interest as tenant in common in an office building with approximately 75,000 square feet of commercial rental space in Fargo, North Dakota. The property is encumbered by a first mortgage with a balance at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 of $6,564 and $6,608, respectively. The Company is jointly and severally liable for the full mortgage balance.
Receivables
Receivables consist primarily of amounts due for rent. Accounts receivable are carried at original amounts billed less an estimate made for doubtful accounts based on a review of outstanding amounts on a quarterly basis and reflect management’s best estimate of the amounts that will not be collected. Accounts receivable are written off when collection efforts have been exhausted and they are deemed uncollectible. Recoveries, if any, of receivables previously written off are recorded when received. The receivables are non-interest bearing and are unsecured. As of March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018 management’s estimate of uncollectible accounts receivable was $628 and $578, respectively. Receivables are included in “Other assets” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Financing and Lease Costs
Financing costs have been capitalized and are being amortized over the life of the financing (line of credit) using the effective interest method. Unamortized financing costs are written off when debt is retired before the maturity date and included in interest expense at that time.
Lease costs incurred in connection with new leases have been capitalized and are being amortized over the life of the lease using the straight-line method. We record the amortization of leasing costs in depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. If an applicable lease terminates prior to the expiration of its initial lease term, we write off the carrying amount of the costs to amortization expense.
Debt Issuance Costs
We amortize external debt issuance costs using the effective interest rate method, over the estimated life of the related debt. We record debt issuance costs related to notes and mortgage notes, net of amortization, on our consolidated balance sheets as an offset to their related debt. We record debt issuance costs related to revolving lines of credit on our consolidated balance sheets as financing fees, regardless of whether a balance on the line of credit is outstanding. We record the amortization of all debt issuance costs as interest expense.
Intangible Assets
Lease intangibles are a purchase price allocation recorded on property acquisition. The lease intangibles represent the estimated value of in-place leases, tenant relationships and the value of leases with above or below market lease terms. Lease intangibles are amortized over the term of the related lease.
The carrying amount of intangible assets is regularly reviewed for indicators of impairments in value. Impairment is recognized only if the carrying amount of the intangible asset is considered to be unrecoverable from its undiscounted cash flows and is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the asset. Based on the review, management determined no impairment charges were necessary at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Noncontrolling Interest
A noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary (minority interest) is in most cases an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent company’s equity. In addition, consolidated net income is required to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest and the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interest are required to be disclosed on the face of the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
Operating Partnership: Interests in the operating partnership held by limited partners are represented by operating partnership units. The operating partnership’s income is allocated to holders of units based upon the ratio of their holdings to the total units outstanding during the period. Capital contributions, distributions, syndication costs, and profits and losses are allocated to noncontrolling interests in accordance with the terms of the operating partnership agreement.
Partially Owned Properties: The Company reflects noncontrolling interests in partially owned properties on the balance sheet for the portion of properties consolidated by the Company that are not wholly owned by the Company. The earnings or losses from those properties attributable to the noncontrolling interests are reflected as noncontrolling interests in partially owned properties in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
Syndication Costs
Syndication costs consist of costs paid to attorneys, accountants, and selling agents, related to the raising of capital. Syndication costs are recorded as a reduction to beneficial and noncontrolling interest.
Federal Income Taxes
We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, as amended. A REIT calculates taxable income similar to other domestic corporations, with the major difference being a REIT is entitled to a deduction for dividends paid. A REIT is generally required to distribute each year at least 90% of its taxable income. If it chooses to retain the remaining 10% of taxable income, it may do so, but it will be subject to a corporate tax on such income. REIT shareholders are generally taxed on REIT distributions of ordinary income in the same manner as they are taxed on other corporate distributions.
We intend to continue to qualify as a REIT and, provided we maintain such status, will not be taxed on the portion of the income that is distributed to shareholders. In addition, we intend to distribute all of our taxable income; therefore, no provisions or liabilities for income taxes have been recorded in the financial statements.
Sterling conducts its business activity as an Umbrella Partnership Real Estate Investment Trust (“UPREIT”) through its Operating Partnership – Sterling Properties, LLLP. The Operating Partnership is organized as a limited liability limited partnership. Income or loss is allocated to the partners in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code 704(b) and 704(c). UPREIT status allows non-recognition of gain by an owner of appreciated real estate if that owner contributes the real estate to a partnership in exchange for a partnership interest. The conversion of a partnership interest to shares of beneficial interest in the REIT will be a taxable event to the limited partner.
We follow ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, to recognize, measure, present and disclose in our consolidated financial statements uncertain tax positions that we have taken or expect to take on a tax return. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 we did not have any liabilities for uncertain tax positions that we believe should be recognized in our consolidated financial statements. We are no longer subject to Federal and State tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2015.
The operating partnership has elected to record related interest and penalties, if any, as income tax expense on the consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive income.
Revenue Recognition
We are the lessor for its residential and commercial leases and these leases will continue to be accounted for as operating leases under the new standard as described in Note 2. Therefore, the Company did not have significant changes in the accounting for its lease revenues.
As of March 31, 2019, we derived 79% of our revenues from residential leases that are generally for terms of one year or less. The residential leases may include lease income related to such items as parking, storage and pet rent that we treat as a single lease component because the amenities cannot be leased on their own and the timing and pattern of revenue recognition are the same. The collection of lease payments at lease commencement is probable and therefore we subsequently recognize lease income over the lease term on a straight-line basis. Residential leases are renewable upon consent of both parties on an annual or monthly basis.
As of March 31, 2019, we derived 21% of our revenues from commercial leases primarily under long-term lease agreements. We elected to apply the package of practical expedients for the commercial leases and these leases will continue to be accounted for as operating leases as of January 1, 2019. Substantially all commercial leases contain fixed escalations or, in some instances, changes based on the Consumer Price Index, which occur at specified times during the term of the lease. In certain commercial leases, variable lease income, such as percentage rent, is recognized when rents are earned. We recognize rental income and rental abatements from our commercial leases when earned on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Recognition of rental income commences when control of the leased space has been transferred to the tenant.
We recognize variable income from pass-through expenses on an accrual basis over the periods in which the expenses were incurred. Pass-through expenses are comprised of real estate taxes, operating expenses and common area maintenance costs which are reimbursed by tenants in accordance with specific allowable costs per tenant lease agreements. When we pay pass-through expenses, subject to reimbursement by the tenant, they are included within “Operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes” and “Real estate taxes,” and reimbursements are included within “Real estate rental income” along with the associated base rent in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
We record base rents for residntial and commercial leases on a straight-line basis. The monthly base rent income according to the terms of our leases is adjusted so that an average monthly rent is recorded for each tenant over the term of its lease. The straight-line rent adjustment increased revenue by $103 and $52 the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The straight-line receivable balance included in receivables on the consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $3,478 and $3,374, respectively. We receive payments for expense reimbursements from substantially all our multi-tenant commercial tenants throughout the year based on estimates. Differences between estimated recoveries and the final billed amounts, which generally are immaterial, are recognized in the subsequent year.
Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, we elected not to bifurcate lease contracts into lease and non-lease components, since the timing and pattern of revenue is not materially different and the non-lease components is not the primary component of the lease. Accordingly, both lease and non-lease components are presented in “Real estate rental income” in our consolidated financial statements. The adoption of ASU 2016-02 did not result in a material change to our recognition of real estate rental income.
Lease income related to the Company’s operation leases is comprised of the following:
Three months ended March 31, 2019
Residential
Commercial
Total
(in thousands)
Lease income related to fixed lease payments
$
22,797
$
4,777
$
27,574
Lease income related to variable lease payments
—
1,487
1,487
Other (a)
(217)
117
(100)
Lease income (b)
$
22,580
$
6,381
$
28,961
(a)
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, “Other” is comprised of revenue adjustments related to changes in collectibility and amortization of above and below market lease intangibles and lease inducements.
(b)
Excludes other rental income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 of $870, which is accounted for under the revenue recognition standard.
As of March 31, 2019, non-cancelable commercial operating leases provide for future minimum rental income as follows (in thousands). Apartment leases are not included as the terms are generally for one year or less.
Years ending December 31,
Amount
(in thousands)
2019 (April 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019)
$
13,723
2020
18,133
2021
14,433
2022
10,846
2023
9,259
Thereafter
51,794
$
118,188
Earnings per Common Share
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders (the “numerator”) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (the “denominator”) during the period. Sterling had no dilutive potential common shares as of March 31, 2019 and 2018, and therefore, basic earnings per common share was equal to diluted earnings per common share for both periods.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, Sterling’s denominators for the basic and diluted earnings per common share were approximately 9,091,000 and 8,627,000, respectively.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications considered necessary for a fair presentation have been made to the prior period financial statements in order to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications have not changed the results of operations or equity.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which superseded FASB ASC Topic 840. The standard for operating leases as lessor is largely unchanged under ASU 2016-02. However, the standard requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for leases classified as operating and finance leases on the balance sheet. Lessees will recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing |
