The information in this proxy statement/prospectus is not complete and may be changed. Gyrodyne, LLC may not sell or issue these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part is effective. This proxy statement/prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and Gyrodyne, LLC is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or sale is not permitted.
| One Flowerfield, Suite 24Saint James, New York 11780 | | | PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT — SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED JUNE 17, 2014 PROXY STATEMENT OF GYRODYNE COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC. PROSPECTUS OF GYRODYNE, LLC1,482,680 common shares | |
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Dear Shareholders:
I cordially invite you to a special meeting of shareholders of Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc., which we will hold at Flowerfield Celebrations, Mills Pond Road, Saint James, New York 11780 on August 14, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. At the special meeting, we will ask you to authorize a plan of merger and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger of Gyrodyne and Gyrodyne Special Distribution, LLC with and into a limited liability company, Gyrodyne, LLC. Shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2014, will be entitled to vote at the special meeting or its adjournment or postponement, if any.
Gyrodyne has had a stated goal of providing one or more tax efficient liquidity events to its shareholders and taking into account, among other factors, Gyrodyne’s receipt of a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that permitted Gyrodyne to distribute, by means of a special dividend, the approximately $98,685,000 in gains realized from its receipt of additional damages in July 2012 in connection with judgments in Gyrodyne’s favor in condemnation litigation with the State of New York regarding 245.5 acres of Gyrodyne’s Flowerfield property in St. James and Stony Brook, New York, subject to a 4% excise tax but without incurring a REIT-level 35% capital gains tax. On September 12, 2013 and further to such goal, our board of directors concluded that it is in the best interests of Gyrodyne and its shareholders to liquidate the Company for federal income tax purposes. In adopting a plan of liquidation within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code, for federal income tax purposes, our board of directors also determined to pursue the actual disposition of Gyrodyne’s remaining assets in an orderly manner designed to obtain the best value reasonably available for such assets. The completion of the merger would complete the liquidation for tax purposes even though the actual disposition of the properties within the same period had not necessarily occurred. Our board of directors believed that the prompt completion of the liquidation for tax purposes by means of the merger while permitting a longer period to dispose of the remaining assets would help obtain better values by enabling the sales to take place without the potential timing constraints created by completing the merger as promptly as practicable. In addition, the ability to extend the time of holding the properties would permit Gyrodyne to seek enhancements of the value of Flowerfield including by pursuing various development or zoning opportunities.
The first of two special dividends was paid on December 30, 2013 to shareholders of record as of November 1, 2013 in the form of $68,000,000, or $45.86 per share, in cash, and nontransferable interests in a newly formed New York limited liability company, Gyrodyne Special Distribution, LLC, valued at $30,685,000, or $20.70 per share. Gyrodyne Special Distribution, LLC was formed to hold Gyrodyne’s properties in Flowerfield as well as its medical office buildings in Port Jefferson Station, New York, Cortlandt Manor, New York and Fairfax, Virginia. The transfer of such properties by Gyrodyne to Gyrodyne Special Distribution, LLC in December 2013 resulted in the recognition of approximately $28.4 million of capital gain income by Gyrodyne in 2013. Giving effect to offsetting deductions, Gyrodyne had approximately $18 million in REIT income for 2013. In order to satisfy applicable REIT distribution requirements, Gyrodyne declared the second special dividend in December 2013 to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2013. The second special dividend was paid on January 31, 2014 in the form of nontransferable dividend notes aggregating $16,150,000 (or $10.89 per share) in principal amount.
The plan of merger is designed to facilitate the liquidation of Gyrodyne for federal income tax purposes and to reassemble as equity interests in Gyrodyne, LLC, the interests in Gyrodyne Special Distribution, LLC distributed in the first special dividend, the dividend notes issued in the second special dividend and the common shares of Gyrodyne, thereby resulting in a simplified capital structure and permitting holders of nontransferable interests in Gyrodyne Special Distribution, LLC and holders of nontransferable dividend notes as well as Gyrodyne shareholders to receive freely transferable common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC, the entity that will hold and operate the Flowerfield, Port Jefferson, Cortlandt Manor and Fairfax properties, pending their sale or other disposition. In essence, having made the first special dividend to achieve the benefits of the private letter ruling and the second special dividend to make a required distribution of 2013 REIT income, the merger will effect the final step in the plan of liquidation within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code, while simplifying the corporate structure and interrelationships of Gyrodyne and Gyrodyne Special Distribution, LLC. Based on the number of common shares of Gyrodyne outstanding on June 30, 2014, the record date, Gyrodyne expects to issue approximately 1,482,680 common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC in connection with the merger. The common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC are intended to become publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol “GYRO.” No assurance can be given that NASDAQ will permit trading of the common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC. The merger, which will effect the completion of the plan of liquidation for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code, will result in holders of Gyrodyne common stock receiving approximately 15.2% of the common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC in the aggregate (0.152 common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC per share of Gyrodyne common stock, or an aggregate of 225,367 common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC), holders of nontransferable dividend notes receiving approximately 29.2% of the common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC in the aggregate (0.292 common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC per $10.89 principal amount Dividend Note and accrued interest thereon, or an aggregate of 432,943 common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC), and holders of nontransferable interests in Gyrodyne Special Distribution, LLC receiving approximately 55.6% of the common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC in the aggregate (0.556 common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC per GSD interest, or an aggregate of 824,370 common shares of Gyrodyne, LLC), subject to adjustment in the discretion of the Gyrodyne board of directors. In addition, shareholders will consider such other matters as may properly come before the meeting. Our board of directors believes that the proposal being submitted for shareholder action is in the best interests of Gyrodyne and its shareholders and recommends a vote “FOR” the proposal.
This proxy statement/prospectus is the proxy statement of Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. for the special meeting and also the prospectus of Gyrodyne, LLC for the common shares representing limited liability company interests in Gyrodyne, LLC that will be issued to Gyrodyne shareholders, holders of nontransferable dividend notes and holders of nontransferable interests in Gyrodyne Special Distribution, LLC, in connection with the merger, if it is implemented. This proxy statement/prospectus contains information about the special meeting and will serve as your guide to the matters on which you will be asked to vote. In particular, you should carefully read the section captioned “Risk Factors” beginning on page [•] for a discussion of certain risk factors relating to the merger.
Your vote is very important to us and it is important that your shares be represented at the special meeting. The plan of merger and the transactions contemplated thereby cannot be completed unless shareholders of at least two-thirds of all outstanding shares of Gyrodyne common stock entitled to vote thereon vote in favor of such proposal. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, I encourage you to promptly vote your shares by proxy by following the instructions beginning on page [•] of this proxy statement. If you are able to attend the meeting and wish to vote in person, you may withdraw your proxy at that time.
If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares of Gyrodyne common stock, please call MacKenzie Partners, Inc., our proxy solicitor, toll-free at 1-800-322-2885.
Thank you for your continued support of Gyrodyne. I look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Sincerely,
Frederick C. Braun III
President and Chief Executive Officer
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulatory agency has approved or disapproved the plan of merger or the transactions contemplated thereby, passed upon the merits or fairness of the plan of merger and the transactions contemplated thereby, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosure in this document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This proxy statement/prospectus is dated [•], 2014 and is first being mailed to shareholders on or about [•], 2014.