American Strategic Investment Co. quarterly report, Q1 FY2022

Filing Context and Reporting Period

This Form 10-Q covers the three months ended March 31, 2022. The filing identifies the registrant as New York City REIT, Inc., not American Strategic Investment Co.; investors should verify the requested company identity. The company owned eight New York City properties totaling approximately 1.2 million rentable square feet, with 84.4% portfolio occupancy at quarter-end.

Financial Performance and Position

MetricQ1 2022Q1 2021Change
Revenue from tenants$15.6 million$15.2 million+3.0%
Operating loss$6.4 million$8.8 millionImproved $2.5 million
Net loss attributable to common stockholders$11.1 million$13.5 millionImproved $2.4 million
Net loss per share$0.84$1.06Improved $0.22
Cash flow from operations$2.2 million$2.1 million+1.5%
Cash NOI$5.7 million$5.6 million+1.8%
Core FFO attributable to common stockholders$(2.0) million$(2.9) millionImproved $0.9 million

Operating margin was approximately negative 40.6% and net margin was approximately negative 71.0%, reflecting substantial depreciation, amortization, equity-based compensation and interest expense. Depreciation and amortization declined to $7.0 million from $8.5 million, while interest expense was essentially unchanged at $4.7 million.

  • Cash and cash equivalents were $10.3 million at March 31, 2022, compared with $11.7 million at December 31, 2021 and $29.4 million at March 31, 2021.
  • Restricted cash was $13.0 million, including amounts trapped or retained under mortgage covenant provisions.
  • Total assets were $810.2 million and total liabilities were $466.6 million.
  • Gross mortgage debt was $399.5 million, or $393.0 million net of deferred financing costs, with a weighted-average effective interest rate of 4.35%.
  • No scheduled mortgage principal payments were due during the remainder of 2022; maturities include $49.5 million in 2024 and $99.0 million in 2026.
  • The company paid $1.3 million of common dividends, or $0.10 per share, during the quarter. The board declared another $0.10 per-share dividend on April 1, 2022, paid April 18, 2022.

Material Changes Versus Q1 2021

  • Revenue increased by $0.5 million, primarily from leasing activity at 8713 Fifth Avenue and 9 Times Square and $0.2 million of revenue from the Innovate NYC co-working operation.
  • Property operating expenses declined by $0.2 million, and general and administrative expenses declined by $0.3 million, primarily because of lower legal costs.
  • Depreciation and amortization declined by $1.5 million because of a lower depreciable and amortizable asset base and prior-period impairments and write-offs. Q1 2021 included a $1.3 million write-off of deferred leasing costs related to Knotel’s bankruptcy.
  • Net cash used in financing increased to $6.9 million from $1.5 million, primarily because the company repaid $5.5 million of the 9 Times Square mortgage principal.
  • Occupancy improved from approximately 82.8% in Q1 2021 to 84.4% in Q1 2022. The company signed one new lease covering 3,940 square feet and reported no replacement leases during the quarter.
  • The Advisor reinvested $1.0 million of base management fees in company shares, resulting in the issuance of 88,880 shares and reducing cash fee payments.

Outlook, Risks and Unusual Items

  • Management reported collection of 98% of original cash rent due across the portfolio, including 97% from the top ten tenants, and stated that rent collection delays experienced in 2021 had not continued in Q1 2022. These collection levels are not guaranteed to continue.
  • COVID-19, tenant financial weakness, office utilization trends, inflation and higher operating costs remain significant risks. Approximately 85% of leases contain escalation provisions, averaging 1.74% annually, which may not fully offset inflation.
  • Knotel’s bankruptcy and lease terminations continue to affect occupancy, particularly at 9 Times Square. Replacement rents at 123 William Street were lower per square foot than Knotel’s former rents.
  • Four mortgage loans, totaling approximately $214.0 million of principal, were subject to cash traps or other covenant-related restrictions at quarter-end. The 9 Times Square and 1140 Avenue of the Americas loans remained in breach of specified covenants, although the breaches were not reported as events of default.
  • The amended 9 Times Square loan permits covenant breaches for up to four consecutive quarters, but a continued breach through Q3 2022 could trigger a right-sizing requirement, potential acceleration and foreclosure remedies. The company must also maintain $10.0 million of liquid assets under that agreement.
  • The 1140 Avenue of the Americas lender retained $5.9 million of cash, and $0.7 million remained trapped at 9 Times Square. The company had no cash trapped at 8713 Fifth Avenue, but an additional $125,000 reserve may be required to avoid an excess cash flow sweep.
  • The company expects to fund operating and capital needs with cash on hand, its $250 million ATM program, potential property dispositions and up to $3.0 million of Advisor fee reinvestments through August 4, 2022. No ATM shares were sold during the quarter.
  • The company is evaluating a potential sale of the vacant 421 W. 54th Street property but had not classified it as held for sale because no buyer had been identified.
  • The garage license agreements at 200 Riverside Boulevard and 400 E. 67th Street were extended through October 31, 2022. The company received a $1.4 million lease termination fee in Q4 2021.
  • The 9 Times Square interest-rate swap was replaced with a SOFR-based swap in connection with the loan amendment. The derivative was an asset of $0.1 million at March 31, 2022, compared with a liability of $1.6 million at December 31, 2021.
  • Management reported no material pending legal proceedings, no material off-balance-sheet arrangements and effective disclosure controls.

Key Facts for Investors to Verify

  • Confirm whether this New York City REIT filing corresponds to American Strategic Investment Co. and determine whether a name or registrant transition is involved.
  • Monitor 9 Times Square covenant compliance through Q3 2022, required liquidity levels and the risk of additional principal repayment or foreclosure remedies.
  • Assess whether occupancy and rent collections can improve sufficiently to release trapped cash and support dividends and capital expenditures.
  • Evaluate liquidity after restricted cash, debt service, tenant improvements, leasing commissions and the $10.0 million minimum liquid-asset requirement.
  • Verify the sustainability of the $0.10 quarterly dividend given recurring GAAP losses, negative Core FFO and reliance on operating cash flow and external capital.
  • Track leasing progress at 9 Times Square, 123 William Street, 1140 Avenue of the Americas, 8713 Fifth Avenue and the vacant Hit Factory property.
  • Review related-party fees, the Advisor’s share-based fee reinvestments and the potential dilution from outstanding equity awards and LTIP Units.