UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10 - Q

 

(Mark One)

[ X ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011

 

OR

 

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _________ to __________.

 

Commission File Number: 000-52559

 

FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware	20-3965390
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Identification No.)

 

401 Edgewater Place

Wakefield, MA 01880

(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

 

(781) 557-1300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

YES [X]

NO [_]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 

YES [X]

NO [_]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer [_]	Accelerated filer [_]
Non-accelerated filer [_] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

YES [_]

NO [X]

 

The number of shares of common stock outstanding was 1 and the number of shares of preferred stock outstanding was 1,050, each as of October 31, 2011.

 

FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.

 

Form 10-Q

 

Quarterly Report

September 30, 2011

 

Table of Contents

				Page
Part I.	Financial Information
	Item 1.	Financial Statements
		Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010		2
		Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010		3
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010		4
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		5-7
	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		8-13
	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		14
	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		14
Part II.	Other Information
	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		15
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors		15
	Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		15
	Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities		15
	Item 4.	Removed and Reserved		15
	Item 5.	Other Information		15
	Item 6.	Exhibits		15
Signatures				16

 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.
Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except share and par value amounts)		September 30, 2011				December 31, 2010
Assets:
Real estate investments, at cost:
Land		$	3,300			$	3,300
Building and improvements			89,575				86,557
Furniture and fixtures			437				283
			93,312				90,140
Less accumulated depreciation			14,143				11,834
Real estate investments, net			79,169				78,306
Acquired real estate leases, net of accumulated amortization     of $1,389 and $1,202, respectively			577				764
Acquired favorable real estate leases, net of accumulated     amortization of $367 and $317, respectively			147				197
Cash and cash equivalents			1,638				4,030
Tenant rent receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts
of $4 and $5, respectively			112				54
Step rent receivable			2,218				1,789
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated     amortization of $1,216 and $938, respectively			2,162				1,942
Prepaid expenses and other assets			122				373
Total assets		$	86,145			$	87,455
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	2,545			$	4,160
Tenant security deposits			310				240
Loan payable - affiliate			9,300				6,500
Acquired unfavorable real estate leases, net of accumulated     amortization of $417 and $361, respectively			262				318
Total liabilities			12,417				11,218
Commitments and Contingencies			—				—
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 1,050 shares authorized, issued
and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010,
aggregate liquidation preference $105,000			—				—
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 1 share
authorized, issued and outstanding			—				—
Additional paid-in capital			96,188				96,188
Retained earnings and distributions in excess of earnings			(22,460	)			(19,951	)
Total Stockholders’ Equity			73,728				76,237
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity		$	86,145			$	87,455
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

 

		For the								For the
		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)		2011				2010				2011				2010
Revenues:
Rental		$	2,901			$	2,852			$	8,282			$	8,888
Total revenue			2,901				2,852				8,282				8,888
Expenses:
Rental operating expenses			1,532				1,532				4,317				4,714
Real estate taxes and insurance			422				411				1,173				1,195
Depreciation and amortization			962				1,628				2,864				3,790
Interest expense			110				39				290				98
Total expenses			3,026				3,610				8,644				9,797
Loss before interest income			(125	)			(758	)			(362	)			(909	)
Interest income			—				2				1				6
Net loss attributable to preferred stockholders		$	(125	)		$	(756	)		$	(361	)		$	(903	)
Weighted average number of preferred shares outstanding,
basic and diluted			1,050				1,050				1,050				1,050
Net loss per preferred share, basic and diluted		$	(119	)		$	(720	)		$	(344	)		$	(860	)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

 

		For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)		2011				2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss		$	(361	)		$	(903	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			2,864				3,790
Amortization of favorable real estate leases			50				53
Amortization of unfavorable real estate leases			(56	)			(60	)
Decrease in bad debt reserve			(1	)			—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Tenant rent receivables			(57	)			(7	)
Step rent receivable			(429	)			167
Prepaid expenses and other assets			251				(69	)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			(680	)			(561	)
Tenant security deposits			70				28
Payment of deferred leasing costs			(588	)			(223	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,063				2,215
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of real estate assets			(4,107	)			(1,133	)
Net cash used for investing activities			(4,107	)			(1,133	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions to stockholders			(2,148	)			(3,099	)
Proceeds from loan payable - affiliate			2,800				1,000
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities			652				(2,099	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(2,392	)			(1,017	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			4,030				4,314
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	1,638			$	3,297
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest		$	290			$	98
Disclosure of non-cash investing activities:
Accrued costs for purchase of real estate assets		$	477			$	240
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1.     Organization, Basis of Presentation, Real Estate and Depreciation, and Financial Instruments

 

Organization

 

FSP Phoenix Tower Corp. (the “Company”) was organized on December 20, 2005 as a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware to purchase, own, operate, improve and reposition a thirty-four story multi-tenant office building containing approximately 629,054 rentable square feet of space located on approximately 2.1 acres of land in Houston, Texas (the “Property”). The Company acquired the Property and commenced operations on February 22, 2006. Franklin Street Properties Corp. (“Franklin Street”) (NYSE Amex: FSP) holds the sole share of the Company’s common stock, $.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”). Between March 2006 and September 2006, FSP Investments LLC (member, FINRA and SIPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Street, completed the sale on a best efforts basis of 1,050 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”) in the Company. FSP Investments LLC sold the Preferred Stock in a private placement offering to “accredited investors” within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

All references to the Company refer to FSP Phoenix Tower Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries, collectively, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company include all the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

The accompanying interim financial statements are unaudited; however, the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America for interim financial information and in conjunction with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring matters) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements for these interim periods have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2011 or for any other period.

Real Estate and Depreciation

Real estate assets are stated at the lower of cost or fair value, as appropriate, less accumulated depreciation.

Costs related to property acquisition and improvements are capitalized. Typical capital items include new roofs, site improvements, various exterior building improvements and major interior renovations. Funding for capital improvements typically is provided by cash set aside at the time the Property was purchased.

Routine replacements and ordinary maintenance and repairs that do not extend the life of the asset are expensed as incurred. Funding for repairs and maintenance items typically is provided by cash flows from operating activities.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives as follows:

 

	Category	Years
	Building - Commercial	39
	Building Improvements	15-39
	Furniture and Fixtures	5-7

 

The Company reviews the Property to determine if the carrying amount will be recovered from future cash flows if certain indicators of impairment are identified at the Property. The evaluation of anticipated cash flows is highly subjective and is based in part on assumptions regarding future occupancy, rental rates and capital requirements that could differ materially from actual results in future periods. When indicators of impairment are present and the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying value of such asset, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the difference between the asset’s current carrying value and its fair value based on discounting its estimated future cash flows. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, no impairment charges were recorded.

FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1.     Organization, Basis of Presentation, Real Estate and Depreciation, and Financial Instruments (continued)

 

Financial Instruments

 

The Company estimates that the carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and loan payable - affiliate approximates their fair values based on their short-term maturity and prevailing interest rates.

2.     Income Taxes

 

The Company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). As a REIT, the Company generally is entitled to a tax deduction for dividends paid to its stockholders, thereby effectively subjecting the distributed net income of the Company to taxation at the shareholder level only. The Company must comply with a variety of restrictions to maintain its status as a REIT. These restrictions include the type of income it can earn, the type of assets it can hold, the number of stockholders it can have and the concentration of their ownership, and the amount of the Company’s income that must be distributed annually.

 

Accrued interest and penalties will be recorded as income tax expense, if the Company records a liability in the future. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and State of Texas jurisdiction. The statute of limitations for the Company’s income tax returns is generally three years and as such, the Company’s returns that remain subject to examination would be primarily from 2008 and thereafter.

 

3. Related Party Transactions

 

The Company has in the past engaged in and currently engages in transactions with a related party, Franklin Street, and its subsidiaries FSP Investments LLC and FSP Property Management LLC (collectively “FSP”). The Company expects to continue to have related party transactions with FSP in the form of management fees paid to FSP to manage the Company on behalf of its stockholders. FSP Property Management LLC currently provides the Company with asset management and financial reporting services. The asset management agreement between the Company and FSP Property Management LLC requires the Company to pay FSP Property Management LLC a monthly fee equal to one percent (1%) of the gross revenues of the Property. The asset management agreement between the Company and FSP Property Management LLC may be terminated by either party without cause at any time, upon at least thirty (30) days’ written notice. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, management fees paid were $79,000 and $86,000, respectively.

 

On December 4, 2008, the Company entered into a three-year secured promissory note for a revolving line of credit (the “Phoenix Revolver”) with Franklin Street for up to $15,000,000. On March 31, 2011, the Phoenix Revolver was amended to extend its maturity date from November 30, 2011 to November 30, 2012 and to increase the interest rate applicable to advances thereunder from the 30-day LIBOR rate plus 300 basis points to the 30-day LIBOR rate plus 440 basis points (4.64% at September 30, 2011). The Phoenix Revolver is secured by a mortgage on the Property and each advance thereunder requires payment of a 50 basis point draw fee. The Company anticipates that the Phoenix Revolver will be replaced or refinanced on or before its maturity date. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to replace or refinance the Phoenix Revolver on favorable terms or at all. As of September 30, 2011, advances drawn and outstanding under the Phoenix Revolver totaled $9,300,000. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the draw fees were $14,000 and $5,000, respectively, and interest expense paid to Franklin Street was approximately $276,000 and $93,000, respectively.

 

On September 22, 2006, Franklin Street purchased 48 shares of Preferred Stock for $4,116,000. Prior to purchasing any shares of Preferred Stock, Franklin Street agreed to vote any shares held by it on any matter presented to the holders of Preferred Stock in a manner that approximates as closely as possible the votes cast in favor of and opposed to such matter by the holders of the Preferred Stock other than Franklin Street and its affiliates. For purposes of determining how Franklin Street votes its shares of Preferred Stock, abstentions and non-votes by stockholders other than Franklin Street are not considered. Franklin Street is entitled to distributions that are declared on the Preferred Stock.

FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

3. Related Party Transactions (continued)

 

Franklin Street is the sole holder of our one share of Common Stock that is issued and outstanding. Subsequent to the completion of the placement of our Preferred Stock in September 2006, Franklin Street has not been entitled to share in our earnings or any dividend related to the Common Stock.

 

4. Net Income Per Share

 

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue shares were exercised or converted into shares. There were no potential dilutive shares outstanding at September 30, 2011 and 2010.

 

5.     Segment Reporting

 

The Company operates in one industry segment, which is real estate ownership of commercial property. The Company owned and operated the Property for all periods presented.

 

6. Cash Distributions

 

The Company’s board of directors declared and paid cash distributions as follows:

 

Quarter Paid		Distributions Per Preferred Share			Total Distributions
First quarter of 2011		$                  714			$            749,700
Second quarter of 2011		$                  666			$            699,300
Third quarter of 2011		$                  666			$            699,300
First quarter of 2010		$                  952			$            999,600
Second quarter of 2010		$               1,047			$         1,099,350
Third quarter of 2010		$                  952			$            999,600

 

7. Subsequent Event

 

The Company’s board of directors declared a cash distribution of $666 per preferred share on October 26, 2011 to the holders of record of the Preferred Stock on November 9, 2011, payable on November 29, 2011.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Historical results and percentage relationships set forth in the consolidated financial statements, including trends which might appear, should not be taken as necessarily indicative of future operations. The following discussion and other parts of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may also contain forward-looking statements based on current judgments and current knowledge of management, which are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that our forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation, geopolitical events, economic conditions globally, in the United States and in the market where we own the Property, disruptions in the debt markets, risks of a lessening of demand for the type of real estate owned by us, changes in government regulations, and expenditures that cannot be anticipated such as utility rate and usage increases, unanticipated repairs, additional staffing, insurance increases and real estate tax valuation reassessments. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We may not update any of the forward-looking statements after the date this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is filed to conform them to actual results or to changes in our expectations that occur after such date, other than as required by law.

 

Overview

 

Our company, FSP Phoenix Tower Corp., which we refer to as the Company, is a Delaware corporation formed to purchase, own, operate, improve and reposition in the marketplace a 34-story multi-tenant office building containing approximately 629,054 rentable square feet of space located on approximately 2.1 acres of land in Houston, Texas, which we refer to as the Property. The Property was completed in 1984 and includes approximately 1,649 parking spaces located inside a glass-enclosed fully-integrated attached eight-level parking garage and approximately 17 on-site surface parking spaces. The Property also has the right to use approximately 190 additional uncovered off-site parking spaces at an adjacent property pursuant to a lease that expires on February 28, 2019.

 

Franklin Street Properties Corp., which we refer to as Franklin Street, is the sole holder of our one share of common stock, $.01 par value per share, which we refer to as the Common Stock, that is issued and outstanding. Between March 2006 and September 2006, FSP Investments LLC (member, FINRA and SIPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Street, completed the sale on a best efforts basis of 1,050 shares of our preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, which we refer to as the Preferred Stock. FSP Investments LLC sold the Preferred Stock in a private placement offering to “accredited investors” within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933. Since the completion of the placement of the Preferred Stock in September 2006, Franklin Street has not been entitled to share in any earnings or dividend related to the Common Stock.

 

We operate in one business segment, which is real estate operations, and own a single property. Our real estate operations involve real estate rental operations, leasing services and property management services. The main factor that affects our real estate operations is the broad economic market conditions in the United States and, more specifically, the economic conditions in Houston, Texas, the relevant submarket. These market conditions affect the occupancy levels and the rent levels on both a national and local level. We have no influence on national or local market conditions.

 

Trends and Uncertainties

 

Economic Conditions

 

The economy in the United States is continuing to experience a period of limited economic growth, including historically high levels of unemployment, the lingering effect from the failure and near failure of a number of large financial institutions and increased credit risk premiums for a number of market participants. The broad economic conditions in the United States are affected by numerous factors, including but not limited to, inflation and employment levels, energy prices, slow growth and/or recessionary concerns, changes in currency exchange rates, geopolitical events, the regulatory environment, the availability of debt and interest rate fluctuations. We believe that this period of limited economic growth has affected real estate values, occupancy levels and property income levels and may continue or worsen in the future. We also believe that this period of limited economic growth has negatively impacted our ability to lease vacant space at the Property. At this time, we cannot predict the extent or duration of this negative impact on our business and, more specifically, on our efforts to lease currently vacant space at the Property.

Real Estate Operations

 

The Property is occupied by a diverse group of tenants, including financial institutions, energy firms, law firms and other professional service organizations. As of September 30, 2011, the Property was approximately 72.2% leased and management is aggressively working to lease all vacant space. Management believes that any tenant that leases 10% or more of the Property’s rentable space is material. As of September 30, 2011, Permian Mud Service, Inc., an energy-related firm d/b/a Champion Technologies, leased approximately 95,310 square feet (15%) of the Property’s rentable space through February 2018. Other prominent additional tenants include Phillips & Akers, a Texas professional corporation (law firm), which leases approximately 20,284 square feet (3%) through November 2011 (of which Phillips & Akers has renewed 12,742 square feet through November 2016) and Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP (law firm), which leases approximately 51,153 square feet (8%) through July 2018. Permian Mud Service, Inc., Phillips & Akers, and Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP account for approximately 166,747 square feet (26.9%) of the rentable area of the Property. Other well-known tenants include Sprint Communications, Lincoln National Life Insurance Company and NetApp, Inc. There are currently approximately 40 tenants leasing office space at the Property.

 

Since its completion in 1984, the Property has competed within the office market in Houston, Texas.  Management believes that the Property is still competitive with other office buildings, but given its age, determined at the time of acquisition that it needed improvements in several important areas in order to maintain or enhance its prominent position in the marketplace.  Management believes that such a repositioning could increase the value of the Property and lead to higher future rent and occupancy levels.  The improvements included, among others, remediation of the glass façade and upgrades to the garage, ground floor lobby, ninth floor sky lobby and terrace, streetscape and landscape.  The improvements were substantially completed in June 2009 at a cost of approximately $12 million and have received favorable responses from our existing tenants, potential future tenants and the local leasing community. 

 

Conditions, including new leasing activity, at the Property have caused management to make additional improvements at additional cost in order to further enhance the Property. Through September 30, 2011, the Company had incurred additional costs of approximately $3.5 million to make additional improvements to the Property, including an elevator modernization project (described further below), common corridor upgrades, multi-tenant corridor conversions and the establishment of a fitness center.  If future conditions warrant, management may elect to make additional improvements at additional cost in order to further enhance the Property.

 

On September 15, 2010, we entered into a $2.8 million dollar contract with Thyssen Krupp Elevator Corporation to modernize 21 elevators serving the Property. Over the years, the increasing costs to maintain and operate the system’s mechanical relay controls, as well as the declining level of performance of the vertical transportation, have warranted the modernization project. The work commenced during the fourth quarter of 2010 and remains on budget and on target to be complete by the end of 2011. Management believes that the elevator modernization project could reduce operating costs, improve the overall performance of elevator service, and provide another positive attribute to entice prospective tenants.

 

It is difficult for management to predict what will happen to occupancy and rents at the Property because the need for space and the price tenants are willing to pay are tied to both the local economy and to the larger trends in the national economy, such as job growth, interest rates, the availability of credit and corporate earnings, which in turn are tied to even larger macroeconomic and political factors, such as recessionary concerns, volatility in energy pricing and the risk of terrorism. In addition to the difficulty of predicting macroeconomic factors, it is difficult to predict how our local market or tenants (existing and potential) will suffer or benefit from changes in the larger economy. In addition, because the Property is in a single geographical market, these macroeconomic trends may have a different effect on the Property and on its tenants (existing and potential), some of which may operate on a national level. Although we cannot predict how long it will take to lease vacant space at the Property or what the terms and conditions of any new leases will be, we expect to sign new leases at then current market rates which may be below the expiring rates. Until the existing vacancy is re-leased, we could see lower occupancy rates and/or lower dividend yields.

 

Given the amount of space that needs to be leased and the potential for significant tenant improvement allowances and leasing commissions, on December 4, 2008, we entered into a three-year secured promissory note for a revolving line of credit, which we refer to as the Phoenix Revolver, with Franklin Street for up to $15,000,000. On March 31, 2011, the Phoenix Revolver was amended to extend its maturity date from November 30, 2011 to November 30, 2012 and to increase the interest rate applicable to advances thereunder from the 30-day LIBOR rate plus 300 basis points to the 30-day LIBOR rate plus 440 basis points (4.64% at September 30, 2011). The Phoenix Revolver is secured by a mortgage on the Property and each advance thereunder requires payment of a 50 basis point draw fee. We anticipate that the Phoenix Revolver will be replaced or refinanced on or before its maturity date. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to replace or refinance the Phoenix Revolver on favorable terms or at all. As of September 30, 2011, advances drawn and outstanding under the Phoenix Revolver totaled $9,300,000. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the draw fees were $14,000 and $5,000, respectively, and interest expense paid to Franklin Street was approximately $276,000 and $93,000, respectively.

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we believe that vacancy rates improved and that rental rates remained relatively flat for buildings in the Property’s Houston office submarket. These trends may continue, worsen or improve in the future. Continuing economic turmoil has slowed the pace of leasing activity in the Houston market and will likely prolong the time it takes to lease the vacant space at the Property. However, management believes that the repositioning of the Property in the marketplace, combined with a dwindling supply of large blocks of available Class A office space in the area, will continue to result in increased inquiries from prospective tenants. Management also believes that the position of the Property within the city’s office market is strong, and management is optimistic that the existing vacant space will ultimately be leased to new tenants.

 

The potential for any of our tenants to default on its lease or to seek the protection of bankruptcy laws exists. If any of our tenants defaults on its lease, we may experience delays in enforcing our rights as a landlord and may incur substantial costs in protecting our investment. In addition, at any time, a tenant may seek the protection of bankruptcy laws, which could result in the rejection and termination of such tenant’s lease and thereby cause a reduction in cash available for distribution to our stockholders. Bankruptcy or a material adverse change in the financial condition of a material tenant would likely have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

We have certain critical accounting policies that are subject to judgments and estimates by our management and uncertainties of outcome that affect the application of these policies. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates. In the event estimates or assumptions prove to be different from actual results, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information. The accounting policies that we believe are most critical to the understanding of our financial position and results of operations, and that require significant management estimates and judgments, are discussed in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Critical accounting policies are those that have the most impact on the reporting of our financial condition and results of operations and those requiring significant judgments and estimates. We believe that our judgments and assessments are consistently applied and produce financial information that fairly presents our results of operations.

 

No changes to our critical accounting policies have occurred since the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Results of Operations

 

As of September 30, 2011 the Property was approximately 72.2% leased to a diverse group of tenants with staggered lease expirations. The largest tenant is Permian Mud Service Inc., an energy-related firm d/b/a Champion Technologies, which leases approximately 95,310 square feet (15%) of the Property’s rentable space through February of 2018.

 

Comparison of the three months ended September 30, 2011 to the three months ended September 30, 2010.

 

Revenue

 

Total revenue remained relatively unchanged at $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

 

Expenses

 

Total expenses decreased by $0.6 million to $3.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to $3.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. This decrease was predominately attributable to a decrease of $0.6 million in depreciation and amortization.

 

Comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

Revenue

 

Total revenue decreased by $0.6 million to $8.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to $8.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This decrease was primarily attributable to decreases in base rents of $0.2 million and a decrease in recoverable rent revenue of $0.4 million. The majority of the operating expenses, real estate taxes and insurance expenses represent amounts recoverable by the Company.

 

Expenses

 

Total expenses decreased by $1.2 million to $8.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to $9.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This decrease was predominately attributable to a decrease of $0.4 million in rental operating expenses and $0.9 million in depreciation and amortization and was offset by an increase of $0.2 million in interest expense.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Cash and cash equivalents were $1.6 million at September 30, 2011 and $4.0 million at December 31, 2010. This $2.4 million decrease was primarily attributable to $4.1 million used for investing activities and was offset by $1.0 million provided by operations and $0.7 million provided by financing activities.

 

Management believes that the existing cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2011 of $1.6 million and cash anticipated to be generated internally by operations and borrowings will be sufficient to meet working capital requirements, distributions and anticipated capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months.

 

Operating Activities

 

Cash provided by operating activities of $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is primarily attributable to a net loss of $0.4 million, uses arising from other current accounts of $0.9 million and payments of deferred leasing costs of $0.6 million and was offset by the add-back of $2.9 million of non-cash activities which consisted primarily of depreciation and amortization.

 

Investing Activities

 

The cash used for investing activities of $4.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was for capital expenditures.

 

Financing Activities

 

The cash provided by financing activities of $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was primarily attributable to the $2.8 million proceeds from the loan payable and was offset by the $2.1 million for the distributions to stockholders.

 

Sources and Uses of Funds

 

Our principal demands on liquidity are cash for operations, interest on debt payments and dividends paid to equity holders. As of September 30, 2011, we had approximately $2.5 million in accrued liabilities and $9.3 million in long-term debt. In the near term, liquidity is generated by cash from operations.

 

Contingencies

 

We may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Although occasional adverse decisions (or settlements) may occur, we believe that the final disposition of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

We have in the past engaged in and currently engage in transactions with a related party, Franklin Street, and its subsidiaries FSP Investments LLC and FSP Property Management LLC (collectively “FSP”). The Company expects to continue to have related party transactions with FSP in the form of management fees paid to FSP to manage the Company on behalf of its stockholders. FSP Property Management LLC currently provides the Company with asset management and financial reporting services. The asset management agreement between the Company and FSP Property Management LLC requires the Company to pay FSP Property Management LLC a monthly fee equal to one percent (1%) of the gross revenues of the Property. The asset management agreement between the Company and FSP Property Management LLC may be terminated by either party without cause at any time, upon at least thirty (30) days’ written notice. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, management fees paid were $79,000 and $86,000, respectively.

 

On December 4, 2008, we entered into a three-year secured promissory note for a revolving line of credit, which we refer to as the Phoenix Revolver with Franklin Street for up to $15,000,000. On March 31, 2011, the Phoenix Revolver was amended to extend its maturity date from November 30, 2011 to November 30, 2012 and to increase the interest rate applicable to advances thereunder from the 30-day LIBOR rate plus 300 basis points to the 30-day LIBOR rate plus 440 basis points (4.64% at September 30, 2011). The Phoenix Revolver is secured by a mortgage on the Property and each advance thereunder requires payment of a 50 basis point draw fee. We anticipate that the Phoenix Revolver will be replaced or refinanced on or before its maturity date. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to replace or refinance the Phoenix Revolver on favorable terms or at all. As of September 30, 2011, advances drawn and outstanding under the Phoenix Revolver totaled $9,300,000. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the draw fees were $14,000 and $5,000, respectively, and interest expense paid to Franklin Street was approximately $276,000 and $93,000, respectively.

 

On September 22, 2006, Franklin Street purchased 48 shares of Preferred Stock for $4,116,000. Prior to purchasing any shares of Preferred Stock, Franklin Street agreed to vote any shares held by it on any matter presented to the holders of Preferred Stock in a manner that approximates as closely as possible the votes cast in favor of and opposed to such matter by the holders of the Preferred Stock other than Franklin Street and its affiliates. For purposes of determining how Franklin Street votes its shares of Preferred Stock, abstentions and non-votes by stockholders other than Franklin Street are not considered. Franklin Street is entitled to distributions that are declared on the Preferred Stock.

 

Franklin Street is the sole holder of our one share of Common Stock that is issued and outstanding. Subsequent to the completion of the placement of our Preferred Stock in September 2006, Franklin Street has not been entitled to share in our earnings or any dividend related to our Common Stock.

 

 

Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4.   Controls and Procedures.

 

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2011. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2011, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.   Legal Proceedings.

 

From time to time, we may be subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Although occasional adverse decisions (or settlements) may occur, we believe that the final disposition of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or results of operations.

 

Item 1A.   Risk Factors.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

None.

 

Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

Item 4.   Removed and Reserved.

 

 

Item 5.   Other Information.

 

None.

 

Item 6.   Exhibits.

 

See Exhibit Index attached hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.

 

 

 

Date	Signature	Title
Date: November 10, 2011	/s/ George J. Carter George J. Carter	President (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: November 10, 2011	/s/ Barbara J. Fournier Barbara J. Fournier	Chief Operating Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.	Description
31.1*	Certification of FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.'s principal executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*	Certification of FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.'s principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*	Certification of FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.'s principal executive officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*	Certification of FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.'s principal financial officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101**	The following materials from FSP Phoenix Tower Corp.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (iv) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.
*	Filed herewith.
**	XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these Sections.