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EX-31.2 - CERTIFICATION OF THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER - First Capital Real Estate Trust Incex31-2.htm
EX-10.22 - DEMAND NOTE - First Capital Real Estate Trust Incex10-22.htm
EX-10.20 - LOAN AGREEMENT - First Capital Real Estate Trust Incex10-20.htm
EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - First Capital Real Estate Trust IncFinancial_Report.xls
EX-32 - WRITTEN STATEMENTS OF THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER - First Capital Real Estate Trust Incex32.htm
EX-31.1 - CERTIFICATION OF THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER - First Capital Real Estate Trust Incex31-1.htm
EX-10.21 - LETTER AGREEMENT - First Capital Real Estate Trust Incex10-21.htm
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015

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: 333-178651

UNITED REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED

 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland   45-3770595
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
60 Broad Street, 34th Floor, New York, NY   10004
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
 (212) 388-6800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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  ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant 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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). ☒ Yes  ☐ 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 definition 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 ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
☐ Yes  ☒ No

As of April 30, 2015 the registrant had 2,360,743 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

        Page
         
Part I. Financial Information   2
  Item 1. Financial Statements   2
    Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2014   2
    Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014   3
    Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2015   4
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014   5
    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   6
  Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   16
  Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   26
  Item 4. Controls and Procedures   26
         
Part II. Other Information   26
  Item 1. Legal Proceedings   26
  Item 1A. Risk Factors   26
  Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds   27
  Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities   29
  Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures   29
  Item 5. Other Information   29
  Item 6. Exhibits   29

 

 

1
 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

UNITED REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

   March 31, 2015
(Unaudited)
  December 31, 2014
ASSETS          
Real estate investments:          
Land   $9,637,115   $9,637,115 
Building and improvements    34,378,164    34,378,164 
    44,015,279    44,015,279 
Less: accumulated depreciation    (1,630,468)   (1,331,162)
    42,384,811    42,684,117 
Mortgage note receivable    1,500,000    1,500,000 
Real estate investments, net    43,884,811    44,184,117 
Cash and cash equivalents    336,512    333,919 
Restricted cash    2,258,812    1,696,480 
Prepaid expenses    204,472    333,822 
Deferred offering costs    4,171,034    3,918,638 
Due from affiliates    5,332,326    1,539,189 
Tenant and other receivables, net    236,100    203,371 
Deferred rent receivable   121,606    52,412 
Other assets    47,520    51,087 
Acquired lease intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization    2,847,157    2,966,329 
Deferred charges, net of accumulated amortization    2,431,610    2,587,089 
Total assets   $61,871,960   $57,866,453 
           
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
Liabilities          
Mortgage notes payable   $32,113,142   $33,212,742 
Preferred loans payable   2,456,000    2,504,000 
Sub-leasehold obligation   1,500,000    1,250,000 
Acquired lease intangible liabilities, net of accumulated amortization    919,099    925,657 
Tenant security deposits    832,171    832,318 
Dividends and distributions payable    187,634    107,618 
Deferred income   64,120    151,465 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses    1,131,980    695,819 
Total Liabilities    39,204,146    39,679,619 
           
Commitments and contingencies    —      —   
           
Equity:          
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value 50,000,000 shares authorized; 500,000 shares issued and outstanding    50,000    50,000 
Common stock, $0.01 par value 200,000,000 shares authorized; 2,306,849 and 1,721,142 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively   23,070    17,211 
Additional paid-in-capital    21,564,963    15,914,451 
Accumulated deficit    (7,443,472)   (6,242,893)
Total United Realty Trust Incorporated stockholders’ equity    14,194,561    9,738,769 
Non-controlling interests:          
Non-controlling interests in consolidated joint ventures    8,435,027    8,435,027 
Limited partners’ interest in Operating Partnership    38,226    13,038 
Total non-controlling interests    8,473,253    8,448,065 
Total equity    22,667,814    18,186,834 
Total liabilities and equity   $61,871,960   $57,866,453 

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements

 

2
 

 

UNITED REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Unaudited)

   Three Months Ended
   March 31,
2015
  March 31,
2014
Revenues          
Base rents  $1,300,361   $722,704 
Recoveries from tenants   269,285    79,935 
Other   481    700 
Total revenues   1,570,127    803,339 
Operating expenses          
Property operating   300,899    141,778 
Real estate taxes   212,168    92,548 
General & administrative expenses   559,494    84,683 
Depreciation and amortization   462,375    270,589 
Acquisition transaction costs   17,500    845 
Total operating expenses   1,552,436    590,443 
Operating income   17,691    212,896 
Non-operating expenses          
Interest expense   (486,696)   (195,184)
Amortization of deferred financing costs   (114,191)   (26,576)
Net loss   (583,196)   (8,864)
Non-controlling interests:          
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests   (141,488)   (143,214)
Net loss and comprehensive loss attributable to United Realty Trust Incorporated  $(724,684)  $(152,078)
Net loss per common share:          
Basic and diluted  $(0.34)  $(0.21)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding          
Basic and diluted   2,118,930    727,928 
Distributions per share  $0.22   $0.19 

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements

 

 

3
 

 

UNITED REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

(Unaudited)

   Preferred Stock  Common Stock  Additional
paid-in
  Retained
earnings
(Accumulated
  Non-controlling  Total
   Shares  Amount  Shares  Par Value  capital  deficit)  interests  Equity
                         
Balance at December 31, 2014    500,000   $50,000    1,721,142   $17,211   $15,914,451   $(6,242,893)  $8,448,065   $18,186,834 
Proceeds from the sale of common stock    —      —      619,352    6,195    6,822,678    —      —      6,828,873 
Distributions paid to non-controlling interests    —      —      —      —      —      —      (141,488)   (141,488)
Shares issued under the stock incentive plan    —      —      1,970    20    23,256    —      —      23,276 
Registration expenditures    —      —      —      —      (739,120)   —      —      (739,120)
Distributions declared    —      —      —      —      —      (475,895)   —      (475,895)
Issuance of shares under distribution reinvestment program    —      —      14,910    149    168,620    —      —      168,769 
Redemption of common stock             (50,525)   (505)   (599,734)   —           (600,239)
Net (loss) income   —      —      —      —      —      (724,684)   141,488    (583,196)
Reallocation adjustment of limited partners interest    —      —      —      —      (25,188)   —      25,188    —   
Balance at March 31, 2015   500,000   $50,000    2,306,849   $23,070   $21,564,963   $(7,443,472)  $8,473,253   $22,667,814 

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements

 

 

4
 

 

UNITED REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(Unaudited)

   For the Three Months Ended
   March 31,
2015
  March 31,
2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES      
Net loss  $(583,196)  $(8,864)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   462,375    270,589 
Amortization of deferred financing costs   114,191    26,576 
Amortization of above/(below)-market rent   9,923    14,306 
Amortization of restricted stock   —      18,000 
Deferred rents receivable   (69,194)   —   
Change in operating assets and liabilities          
Restricted cash - operating   (60,590)   (138,623)
Prepaid expenses and other assets   129,350    98,482 
Security deposits        1,600 
Tenant and other receivables   (32,729)   270,222 
Due to/from affiliates   (3,769,861)   132,859 
Deferred income   (87,345)   —   
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   436,164    (89,082)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   (3,450,912)   596,065 
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES          
Acquisition of real estate   —      —   
Improvements to real estate   —      —   
Restricted cash - investing   (501,888)   (51,816)
Deposit on real estate   —      (238,683)
Net cash flows used in investing activities   (501,888)   (290,499)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES          
Proceeds from the sale of common stock   6,828,872    1,027,313 
Registration expenditures   (739,120)   (112,899)
Redemption of common stock   (600,239)   —   
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable    767,960    —   
Principal repayments on mortgage   (1,867,561)   (62,347)
Principal repayment of preferred loans payable   (48,000)   —   
Deferred financing and other costs   (15,525)   —   
Deferred offering costs   (252,396)   (1,031,810)
Proceeds for sub-leasehold obligation   250,000    —   
Distribution paid to noncontrolling interest   (141,488)   (143,214)
Distributions paid to common stockholders   (227,110)   (79,557)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   3,955,393    (402,514)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   2,593    (96,948)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   333,919    520,449 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $336,512   $423,501 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash activities:          
Cash paid for interest  $474,745   $195,419 
           

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements

 

5
 

 

UNITED REALTY TRUST INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

1. Organization

United Realty Trust Incorporated, which we refer to as “we,” “us,” “our,” or the Company, was formed on November 8, 2011 as a Maryland corporation and elected and qualified to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes beginning with the taxable year ended December 31, 2013. Substantially all of the Company’s business is conducted through United Realty Capital Operating Partnership, L.P., our Operating Partnership or OP, a Delaware limited partnership formed on November 8, 2011. The Company is the general partner of the Operating Partnership and holds both general and limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership. As we complete the settlement for the purchase orders for shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, or Common Shares, in our continuous initial public offering, or our IPO, we transfer substantially all of the net proceeds of the offering to the Operating Partnership in exchange for units of limited partnership in the OP, or OP Units.

At March 31, 2015, the Company owned a 99.6% economic interest in the Operating Partnership. At March 31, 2015, the unaffiliated non-controlling limited partners in the Operating Partnership held a 0.4% economic interest, or 9,091 OP Units, and the affiliated limited partner held 182 OP Units for a de minimis economic interest. The carrying amount of these OP Units is adjusted at the end of each reporting period to an amount equal to the limited partners’ ownership percentage of the Operating Partnership’s net equity. The aggregate 2,316,122 OP Units outstanding at March 31, 2015 are economically equivalent to our Common Shares.

We were organized to invest in a diversified portfolio of income-producing commercial real estate properties and other real estate-related assets. On November 25, 2011, United Realty Advisor Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or the Sponsor, purchased 500,000 shares of our preferred stock for $50,000.

We are offering to the public 100,000,000 Common Shares in our primary offering and 20,000,000 Common Shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment program, or DRIP, as part of our IPO. We may reallocate the Common Shares offered between the primary offering and the DRIP. We expect to sell the Common Shares offered in the primary offering until August 15, 2015.

We have invested and intend to continue investing primarily in interests in real estate located in the United States, with a primary focus on the eastern United States and in markets that we believe are likely to benefit from favorable demographic changes, or that we believe are poised for strong economic growth. We may invest in interests in a wide variety of commercial property types, including office, industrial, retail and hospitality properties, single-tenant properties, multifamily properties, age-restricted residences, and in other real estate-related assets. We may acquire assets directly or through joint ventures, by making an equity investment in a project or by making a mezzanine or bridge loan with a right to acquire equity in the project. We also may buy debt secured by an asset with a view toward acquiring the asset through foreclosure. We also may originate or invest in mortgages, bridge or mezzanine loans and tenant-in-common interests, or entities that make investments similar to the foregoing. Further, we may invest in real estate-related securities, including securities issued by other real estate companies.

Our advisor is United Realty Advisors LP, or the Advisor, a Delaware limited partnership formed on July 1, 2011. The Advisor conducts our operations and manages the portfolio of real estate investments.

As of March 31, 2015, we owned a 69.2 % interest in a joint venture that owns a residential property located at 2520 Tilden Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, or Tilden Hall, a 14.6% interest in a joint venture that owns a residential property known as 14 Highland Ave., Yonkers, New York, or 14 Highland, a medical building located at 945 82nd Parkway, Myrtle Beach, SC, or Parkway, and an office building located at 7 Carnegie Plaza, Cherry Hill, NJ, or 7 Carnegie. In addition, as of March 31, 2015, we owned a 76.7% interest in a joint venture that owns a mortgage note secured by properties located at 58 and 70 Parker Avenue, in Poughkeepsie, NY, or Parker.

2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP, for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statement disclosures. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

 

6
 

 

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our subsidiaries, which are wholly owned or controlled by us. Entities which we do not control through our voting interest and entities which are variable interest entities, or VIEs, but where we are not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for under the equity method. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

We follow the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, guidance for determining whether an entity is a VIE and require the performance of a qualitative rather than a quantitative analysis to determine the primary beneficiary of a VIE. Under this guidance, an entity would be required to consolidate a VIE if it has (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE.

We assess the accounting treatment for each joint venture. This assessment includes a review of each joint venture or limited liability company agreement to determine the rights of the parties thereto and whether those rights are protective or participating. For all VIEs, we review such agreements in order to determine which party has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. In situations where we or our partner approves, among other things, the annual budget, receives a detailed monthly reporting package from us, meets on a quarterly basis to review the results of the joint venture, reviews and approves the joint venture’s tax return before filing, and approves all leases that cover more than a nominal amount of space relative to the total rentable space at each property, we do not consolidate the joint venture as we consider these to be substantive participation rights that result in shared power of the activities that most significantly impact the performance of the joint venture. At March 31, 2015, we deemed our investment in 14 Highland to be a VIE since it has an economic interest greater than its voting proportion, and we participate in the management activities that significantly impact the performance of the joint venture. Included in real estate investments on our consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, are approximately $1.8 million and $1.8 million, related to our consolidated VIE. The assets of the consolidated VIE can be used to settle obligations of the Company. Included in mortgage notes payable on our consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, are approximately $1.5 million and $1.5 million, respectively, related to our consolidated VIE. The mortgage of the consolidated VIE is non-recourse to our general credit.

A non-controlling interest in a consolidated subsidiary is defined as the portion of the equity (net assets) in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to a parent. Non-controlling interests are required to be presented as a separate component of equity in the consolidated balance sheets.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods covered by the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Reclassification

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation of amortization of deferred finance costs.

Fair Value Measurements

We measure the fair value of financial instruments based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, a fair value hierarchy distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions. In accordance with the fair value hierarchy, Level 1 assets/liabilities are valued based on quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets, Level 2 assets/liabilities are valued based on quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, on quoted prices in less active or inactive markets, or on other “observable” market inputs and Level 3 assets/liabilities are valued based significantly on “unobservable” market inputs.

Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, prepaid expenses, tenant and other receivables, accounts payable, dividends and distributions payable, tenant security deposits, and due from affiliates approximate their fair values based on their short-term maturity.  We have determined that the carrying value of mortgage notes and preferred loans payable and sub-leasehold obligation approximate their fair values based on prevailing market rates for loans of similar risk and maturities.

 

7
 

 

Real Estate Investments

All costs related to the improvement or replacement of real estate properties are capitalized. Additions, renovations and improvements that enhance and/or extend the useful life of a property are also capitalized. Expenditures for ordinary maintenance, repairs and improvements that do not materially prolong the normal useful life of an asset are charged to operations as incurred. We expense transaction costs associated with business combinations and capitalize costs for asset acquisitions in the period incurred.

Upon the acquisition of real estate properties, the fair value of the real estate purchased is allocated to the acquired tangible assets (consisting of land, buildings and improvements), and acquired intangible assets and liabilities (consisting of above-market and below-market leases and acquired in-place leases). Acquired lease intangible assets include above-market leases and acquired in-place leases in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired property is determined by valuing the property as if it were vacant, which value is then allocated to land, buildings and improvements based on management’s determination of the relative fair values of these assets. In valuing an acquired property’s intangibles, factors considered by management include an estimate of carrying costs during the expected lease-up periods, and estimates of lost rental revenue during the expected lease-up periods based on its evaluation of current market demand. Management also estimates costs to execute similar leases, including leasing commissions, tenant improvements, legal and other related costs. Leasing commissions, legal and other related costs, or lease origination costs, are classified as deferred charges in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The value of in-place leases is measured by the excess of (i) the purchase price paid for a property after adjusting existing in-place leases to market rental rates, over (ii) the estimated fair value of the property as if vacant. Above-market and below-market lease values are recorded based on the present value (using a discount rate which reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between the contractual amounts to be received and management’s estimate of market lease rates, measured over the terms of the respective leases that management deemed appropriate at the time of acquisition. Such valuations include a consideration of the non-cancellable terms of the respective leases as well as any applicable renewal periods. The fair values associated with below-market rental renewal options are determined based on our experience and the relevant facts and circumstances that existed at the time of the acquisitions. The value of the above-market and below-market leases associated with the original lease term is amortized to rental income and recorded as either an increase (in the case of below market leases) or decrease (in the case of above market leases), over the terms of the respective leases and option periods. The values of in-place leases are amortized to expense over the remaining non-cancellable terms of the respective leases. If a lease were to be terminated prior to its stated expiration, all unamortized amounts relating to that lease would be recognized in operations at that time. We may record a bargain purchase gain if we determine that the purchase price for the acquired assets was less than the fair value. We will record a liability in situations where any part of the cash consideration is deferred. The amounts payable in the future are discounted to their present value. The liability is subsequently re-measured to fair value with changes in fair value recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. If, up to one year from the acquisition date, information regarding fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is received and estimates are refined, appropriate property adjustments are made to the purchase price allocation on a retrospective basis.

We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to aggregate future net cash flows (undiscounted and without interest) expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amounts of the assets exceed the fair value. Management does not believe that the value of any of our real estate investments was impaired at either March 31, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

The terms of our mortgage notes payable require us to deposit certain replacement and other reserves with its lenders. Such “restricted cash” is generally available only for property-level requirements for which the reserves have been established and is not available to fund other property-level or Company-level obligations.

Segment Reporting

We operate in one industry segment, ownership of real estate properties. We do not distinguish in property operations for purposes of measuring performance. We reassess our conclusion that we have one reportable operating segment at least annually.

 

8
 

 

Revenue Recognition

We recognize minimum rent, including rent abatements and contractual fixed increases attributable to operating leases, on a straight-line basis over the term of the related lease and include amounts expected to be received in later years in deferred rent receivable. We record property operating expense reimbursements due from tenants for common area maintenance, real estate taxes and other recoverable costs in the period the related expenses are incurred. We make certain assumptions and judgments in estimating the reimbursements at the end of each reporting period. We do not expect the actual results to differ from the estimated reimbursement.

We make estimates of the collectability of our tenant receivables related to base rents, expense reimbursements and other revenue or income. We specifically analyze accounts receivable and historical bad debts, customer creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. In addition, with respect to tenants in bankruptcy, we make estimates of the expected recovery of pre-petition and post-petition claims in assessing the estimated collectability of the related receivable. In some cases, the ultimate resolution of these claims can exceed one year. These estimates have a direct impact on our net income because a higher bad debt reserve results in less net income. The provision for doubtful accounts at both March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was approximately $608,000.

Interest income from loans receivable are recognized based on the contractual terms of the debt instrument utilizing the effective interest method. Under the effective interest method, interest income is recognized at a constant yield based on the increasing or decreasing carrying value of the loans. The total interest income for each period is the carrying value of the loans at the start of the period multiplied by the effective interest rate.

Depreciation and Amortization

We use the straight-line method for depreciation and amortization. Buildings and building improvements are depreciated over the estimated useful lives which we estimate to be 27 to 40 years. Land improvements are depreciated over the estimated useful life of 15 years. Tenant improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the related leases or their useful life. Furniture and fixtures are depreciated over the estimated useful lives that range from 5 to 7 years.

Deferred Charges

Deferred charges consist principally of leasing commissions and acquired lease origination costs (which are amortized ratably over the life of the tenant leases) and financing fees (which are amortized over the term of the related debt obligation). As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 deferred charges consisted of the following:

   March 31,
2015
  December 31,
2014
Leasing commissions-acquired leases   $1,731,102   $1,731,102 
Legal-acquired lease    27,767    27,767 
Deferred financing costs    1,375,874    1,360,349 
Total    3,134,743    3,119,218 
Less accumulated amortization(1)    (703,133)   (532,129)
Deferred charges, net of accumulated amortization   $2,431,610   $2,587,089 

 

(1)    Includes accumulated amortization of deferred financing costs of $337,179 as of March 31, 2015 and $222,987 as of December 31, 2014, respectively.

Organization and Offering Expenses

Organization and offering expenses include all costs and expenses to be paid by us in connection with the formation of the Company and our IPO, including our legal, accounting, printing, mailing and filing fees, charges of the escrow agent, reimbursements to the Dealer Manager, registered investment advisors and participating broker-dealers for due diligence expenses set forth in detailed and itemized invoices, amounts to reimburse the Advisor for its portion of the salaries of the employees of its affiliates who provide services to the Advisor, and other costs in connection with administrative oversight of our IPO and the marketing process, such as preparing supplemental sales materials, holding educational conferences and attending retail seminars conducted by the Dealer Manager or participating broker-dealers.

 

9
 

 

We advance funds to the Advisor to pay its organization and offering expenses to the extent the Advisor does not have the funds to pay such expenses. The Advisor reimburses us for organization and offering expenses advanced which are in excess of 2% of the total offering price paid by investors (including proceeds from sale of Common Shares, plus applicable selling commissions and dealer manager fees paid by purchasers of Common Shares). On December 28, 2012, we broke escrow, at which time organization and offering expenses advanced by the Advisor became a liability of ours, subject to the 2% limitation noted above. Between November 25, 2011 and March 31, 2015, we paid $4,675,735 of offering costs of which $511,693 was recorded to additional paid-in capital and $4,171,034 was recorded to deferred offering costs in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We will reclassify amounts from deferred offering costs to additional paid-in capital based on 2% of the total offering price paid by investors. Amounts paid by us in excess of the 2% limitation at the end of the offering will be reimbursed by the Advisor. As of March 31, 2015, the Advisor had incurred an additional $11.9 million of organization and offering expenses, of which $466,211 was billed and paid to the Advisor at March 31, 2015. Effective January 1, 2015, the Advisor will no longer be allocating organization and offering expenses to us.

Offering costs incurred by us, the Advisor and their affiliates on our behalf have been deferred and will be paid from the proceeds of our IPO and will be treated as a reduction of equity.

Income Taxes

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, effective for our taxable year ended December 31, 2013. As a REIT, generally we are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on that portion of our taxable income or capital gain which is distributed to our stockholders. To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (which does not equal net income, as calculated in accordance with GAAP) to our stockholders, determined without regard to deductions for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gain and meet certain other requirements. If we fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT in any taxable year and we do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We may also be subject to certain state, local and franchise taxes. Under certain circumstances, U.S. federal income and excise taxes may be due on our undistributed taxable income.

We follow a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Recognition (step one) occurs when an enterprise concludes that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination. Measurement (step two) determines the amount of benefit that is more-likely-than-not to be realized upon settlement. Derecognition of a tax position that was previously recognized would occur when a company subsequently determines that a tax position no longer meets the more-likely-than-not threshold of being sustained. The use of a valuation allowance as a substitute for derecognition of tax positions is prohibited. The Company concluded that it has no material uncertain tax positions to be recognized as of March 31, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

Stock-Based Compensation

We have adopted a Stock Incentive Plan, or the Plan, for our independent directors, officers and employees, employees of the Advisor and other affiliates and consultants. Compensation cost for stock options is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the award. Our policy is to grant options with exercise price equal to the offering price of our common stock on the grant date. Awards of stock or restricted stock are expensed as compensation over the benefit period based on the fair value of the stock on the grant date.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. We place our cash and cash equivalents in excess of insured amounts with high quality financial institutions.

Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Common Share

We calculate basic earnings (loss) per Common Share by dividing net income (loss) attributable to United Realty Trust Incorporated by the weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings (loss) per Common Share includes the effects of potentially issuable Common Shares, but only if dilutive. There were no dilutive Common Shares as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Accounting Standard Updates

In April 2014, the FASB issued guidance which amends the requirements for reporting discontinued operations (ASU No. 2014-08). Under the amended guidance, a disposal of an individual property or group of properties (i.e., when a property or properties are sold or meet the criteria to be classified as “held for sale”) is required to be reported in “discontinued operations” only if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on our operations and financial results. The amended guidance also requires additional disclosures about both discontinued operations and the disposal of an individually significant component of an entity that does not qualify for discontinued operations presentation in the financial statements. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after December 15, 2014. The adoption of the guidance did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

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In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which provides guidance for revenue recognition. The standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This update is effective for interim and annual reporting periods, beginning after December 15, 2016. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact the adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15 which requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide disclosures when it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. The guidance is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption being permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued new guidance that amends the current consolidation guidance, including introducing a separate consolidation analysis specific to limited partnerships and other similar entities (ASU, No. 2015-02). Under this analysis, limited partnerships and other similar entities will be considered a VIE unless the limited partners hold substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption of this guidance is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03 which modifies the requirements for reporting debt issuance costs. Under the amendments in ASU No. 2015-03, debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability will no longer be recorded as a separate asset, but will be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by ASU No. 2015-03. ASU No. 2015-03 shall be applied retrospectively for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on our consolidated financial statements.

3. Acquisitions

 

We did not acquire any assets during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, we completed two acquisitions. On December 16, 2014, the Operating Partnership, through a special purpose entity, or the Purchasing Entity, controlled by the Operating Partnership, closed on a purchase and sale agreement, or PSA, entered into on July 23, 2014 by and between FRS Carnegie Plaza, L.L.C., or the Seller, and United Realty Partners, LLC, or URP, an entity controlled and indirectly owned by our chief executive officer and secretary, and further assigned to the Operating Partnership through an assignment and assumption agreement on September 19, 2014, which was further assigned at closing to the Purchaser Entity. The Seller does not have a material relationship with us and the transactions with Seller described herein are not affiliated transactions. Under the PSA, the Purchaser Entity, through a property-owning special purpose entity, or the SPE, acquired the fee simple interest in a commercial property located at 7 Carnegie. This acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition.

The purchase price for the 7 Carnegie was approximately $9.3 million, exclusive of closing costs, escrows and fees paid to the Advisor. Closing costs were approximately $0.4 million and escrows were approximately $1.0 million of which $0.4 million was funded in 2015. Fees paid to the Advisor were approximately $0.3 million. We funded the acquisition as follows: (i) $5.5 million with a new first mortgage loan secured by the Property; (ii) cash from the Operating Partnership of approximately $2.1 million; (iii) closing credits of $1.2 million; and (iv) a $1.8 million mezzanine loan secured by a security interest in the SPE’s right, title and interest in 7 Carnegie.

7 Carnegie is a one-story, triple-net leased office building built in 1988 and renovated in 2004 and 2009, with 90,070 rentable square feet and 599 onsite outdoor parking spaces. Situated on approximately 17.4 acres near the New Jersey Turnpike, 7 Carnegie is located in an upscale suburb approximately 12 miles from downtown Philadelphia.

7 Carnegie is currently 100% leased to Fox Rehabilitation Services, P.C. under a sale-leaseback arrangement. During the first year of the 15-year lease, the base rent will be $856,000. For each subsequent lease year, the annual base rent will increase by the greater of 3% of the prior year’s base rent or the increase in CPI.

On May 21, 2014, we acquired the fee simple interest in Parkway, a 44,323 rentable square foot medical building, for $14.5 million, excluding closing costs. The property was 100% leased at closing.

Closing costs were approximately $669,700, prepaid expenses and escrows were approximately $196,000 and fees paid to the Advisor were approximately $248,000. Closing costs included $362,000 in supplemental transaction-based advisory fees for financing and equity placement paid to URP. We funded the acquisition as follows: (i) $10.3 million with a new first mortgage loan secured by the property; (ii) cash from our OP of approximately $3.2 million; and (iii) a $2.1 million preferred loan from a third party. The 10-year preferred loan yields a preferred return of 15% per annum, compounded monthly (increasing to 24% per annum upon the occurrence of certain events of default) and requires monthly distributions to the preferred lender. The property-holding entity must redeem the preferred loan by June 6, 2024, and has the right to do so at any time upon 30 days prior written notice. Additionally, the lender of the preferred loan may require the OP to redeem the preferred loan at any time after April 21, 2015 upon 30 days prior written notice. The cash from the OP included $1.7 million in proceeds from the OP’s issuance to two third parties of an aggregate of 17 class MB units, or the MB Units, of limited partnership interest. The OP issued 12 MB Units to one of the two investors in consideration for a capital contribution of $1.2 million. Such 12 MB Units were redeemed by the OP in December 2014 for $1.34 million. The OP issued five MB Units to the other investor in consideration for a capital contribution of $500,000. Such five MB Units entitle the holder thereof to an annualized preferred return of 10% on the amount of the capital contribution, and must be redeemed by the OP in May 2015.

 

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On December 11, 2014, OP entered into an agreement with a third-party investor, or Investor, whereby, subject to various terms and conditions, in return for a $1.25 million investment in a sub-leasehold obligation associated with Parkway, the Investor would receive annual lease payments starting at $106,250 and increasing by 2% per annum. The lease terminates on July 30, 2049, but may be terminated after three years at the option of the Investor. In March 2015, another Investor invested $250,000 in this sub-leasehold obligation. This is recorded as sub-leasehold obligation on our consolidated balance sheets.

The financial information set forth below summarizes our preliminary purchase price allocations for the property acquired during the nine months ended March 31, 2015 (in thousands).

    7 Carnegie      Parkway  
ASSETS           
Land $ 1,860    $2,815 
Building and improvements   7,440     9,383 
Acquired in-place lease costs       2,440 
Above market lease value       51 
Assets acquired   9,300     14,689 
Below market lease value       154 
Liabilities assumed       154 
Purchase price allocation $ 9,300    $14,535 

 

Pro Forma Financial Information (Unaudited)

The pro forma financial information set forth below is based upon our historical consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014, adjusted to give effect to the acquisition of Parkway as if it had closed on January 1, 2014.

The pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and may not be indicative of what actual results of operations would have been had the transactions occurred on January 1, 2014, nor does it purport to represent the results of future operations (in thousands):

   Three Months Ended
   March 31,
2014
Statement of operations:   
Revenue  $1,190 
Property operating and other expenses    (412)
Interest expense and amortization of deferred finance costs   (466)
Depreciation and amortization    (343)
Net loss   (31)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests   (143)
Net loss attributable to United Realty Trust Incorporated  $(174)

 

 

4. Mortgage Notes Payable

On March 29, 2013, the Tilden Hall joint venture, or Tilden Hall JV, obtained a first mortgage loan, or the Doral Loan, from Doral Bank in an amount equal to $14.5 million to provide the acquisition funding for Tilden Hall. The Doral Loan has an initial five-year term ending on April 30, 2018 and provides Tilden Hall JV with the option to extend the maturity date to April 30, 2023. The Doral Loan bears interest at a per annum fixed rate of 5.0% and is secured by a mortgage on Tilden Hall. During the extended term, the interest rate will be reset based on a rate of 250 basis points spread over the 5 year Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Advanced Rate, with a minimum floor rate to be not less than the initial interest rate.

 

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On August 2, 2013, the 14 Highland joint venture, or 14 Highland JV, obtained a first mortgage loan, or the Carver Loan, from Carver Bank in an amount equal to $1.5 million to provide the acquisition funding for 14 Highland. The Carver Loan has an initial five-year term ending on September 5, 2018 and provides the 14 Highland JV with the option to extend the maturity date to September 5, 2023. The Carver Loan bears interest at a per annum fixed rate of 4.25% and is secured by a mortgage on 14 Highland. During the extended term, the interest rate will be a fixed rate equal to the greater of: (i) 4.50% per annum; or (ii) the Wall Street Journal’s Prime Rate in effect within three (3) business days prior to September 5, 2018, plus 2.00% per annum.

On May 21, 2014, we closed on a first mortgage loan, or the Starwood Loan, from Starwood Mortgage Capital, LLC in an amount equal to $10.3 million, to provide the acquisition funding for Parkway. The Starwood Loan bears interest at 4.788% with a maturity date of June 6, 2024. We are required to make initial monthly interest-only payments for 24 months following the closing of the loan and thereafter payments of principal and interest over a 30-year amortization period. The Starwood Loan is secured by a mortgage on Parkway, is guaranteed by the Company, and may be accelerated only in the event of a default. We may prepay all or any portion of the principal amount without a prepayment penalty under a defeasance clause in the loan.

On December 16, 2014, we closed on a first mortgage loan from UBS Real Estate Securities, Inc. with a principal amount of $5.5 million, or the UBS Loan, to provide acquisition funding for the acquisition of 7 Carnegie. The UBS Loan bears interest at a rate of 4.25% per annum and matures on January 6, 2020. We are required to make initial monthly interest-only payments for 12 months in an amount equal to approximately $19,479 per month and thereafter payments of principal and interest over a 25-year amortization period in an amount equal to approximately $29,796 per month. The UBS Loan is secured by a mortgage on the 7 Carnegie property, is guaranteed by us, and may be accelerated only in the event of a default.

On December 16, 2014, we also closed on a mezzanine loan from the 7 Carnegie Plaza seller with a principal amount of $1.8 million, or the Mezzanine Loan, to provide additional acquisition funding for the acquisition of 7 Carnegie. The Mezzanine Loan bore interest at an initial rate of 6% per annum, which would have increased to a rate of 8% per annum on March 31, 2015. Interest would have accrued but would not have been payable until January 6, 2020, when all principal and accrued interest would have become due and payable. The Mezzanine Loan was secured by a security interest in 7 Carnegie, guaranteed by us, and could be accelerated only in the event of a default. We were able to prepay all or any portion of the principal amount under the Mezzanine Loan without penalty. Pursuant to a side letter, or the December Side Letter, entered into in connection with the Mezzanine Loan between and among the Seller, the SPE and W.A. Lloyd, LLC, or WAL, a limited liability company controlled by Jacob Frydman, our chairman and chief executive officer, if the SPE did not prepay the principal amount of the Mezzanine Loan by February 28, 2015, the Seller would have been entitled to excess cash flow under the UBS Loan and WAL would have been required to contribute, as additional collateral for the Mezzanine Loan, a separate property, or the WAL Property, unconnected to 7 Carnegie and located in New York owned and owned controlled by WAL. On March 25, 2015, pursuant to a letter agreement between and among the Seller, the SPE and WAL, we repaid the Mezzanine Loan, and the obligations of the parties under the December Side Letter were satisfied, by providing the Seller the following consideration: (i) $1.0 million in cash; (ii) execution of a new promissory note, or the New Note, by the SPE in favor of the Seller in the amount of $767,960 which bears interest at a rate of 6% per annum and matures on September 24, 2015; (iii) a guaranty, or the WAL Guarantee, of the obligations under the New Note by WAL; (iv) a mortgage by WAL of the WAL Property to secure the WAL Guarantee; and (v) a release of a note given by an affiliate of the Seller in favor of us on February 4, 2015 in the amount of $60,959.34.

The mortgage notes payable include certain restrictions and covenants which may limit, among other things, the incurrence of liens, and which require, among other things, compliance with, financial ratios relating to, among other things, minimum amount of debt service coverage, minimum amount of fixed charge coverage, maximum amount of debt to value and minimum level of net income. We were in compliance with all covenants at March 31, 2015.

The principal maturity of mortgage notes payable during the next five years and thereafter is as follows (in thousands): 

                         
   

Scheduled

Amortization

 

Principal

Repayments

  Total
2015   $ 200        $ 768        $ 968  
2016     479             479  
2017     580             580  
2018     388       14,676       15,064  
2019     310             310  
Thereafter     865       13,847       14,712  
Total   $ 2,822     $ 29,291     $ 32,113  

 

5. Capitalization

Under our charter, we have the authority to issue 200,000,000 Common Shares and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. All shares of such stock have a par value of $0.01 per share. On November 17, 2011, the Sponsor purchased 18,182 Common Shares for total cash consideration of $200,000 to provide our initial capitalization. On November 25, 2011, for $50,000, the Sponsor purchased 500,000 shares of preferred stock, subsequently exchanged for 500,000 sponsor preferred shares, or Sponsor Preferred Shares, which are convertible into Common Shares upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in our charter, and which have a preference upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up as described below. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the Sponsor will receive a preference in the amount of 15% of any excess of the net sales proceeds from the sale of all the assets in connection with such liquidation, dissolution or winding up over the amount of Invested Capital, as defined in our charter, plus a cumulative non-compounded pre-tax annual return to holders of Common Shares of 7% on Invested Capital. Our board of directors is authorized to amend our charter from time to time, without the approval of the stockholders, to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of capital stock or the number of shares of any class or series that we have authority to issue. As of March 31, 2015, there were 2,306,849 Common Shares outstanding.

 

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6. Stock Incentive Plan

The Plan, as outlined in the prospectus, provides for the grant of equity incentive awards to our independent directors, officers and employees, employees of the Advisor and other affiliates and consultants. The aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued or used for reference purposes or with respect to which awards may be granted under the Plan shall not exceed the lesser of five percent (5%) of Common Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis at any time and 5,000,000 Common Shares, which may be either authorized and unissued Common Shares or Common Shares held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company or both. The vesting period of stock-based awards will be determined by our compensation committee. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we granted 13,342 Common Shares under the Plan all of which were fully vested as of March 31, 2014. Of the 13,342 Common Shares granted, all were granted to employees of an affiliate of ours and to an independent consultant for services provided to us. These Common Shares were recorded as a reduction to a liability due to an affiliated entity. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we expensed $18,000 related to a 2013 grant.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we issued 1,970 common shares pursuant to employment agreements our Advisor has with certain of its employees and recorded $19,109 of compensation related expense.

In May 2014, in connection with an employment agreement, we granted 50,000 stock options at a strike price of $9.50 per Common Share. The stock options must be exercised within two years of the grant date. We recorded $4,156 of compensation expense during the three months ended March 31, 2015 related to these stock options. These stock options were excluded from earnings per share as they were anti-dilutive.

7. Related Party Arrangements

We executed an advisory agreement with the Advisor and a property management agreement with URA Property Management LLC, or the Property Manager, an affiliate of the Sponsor. Effective September 20, 2013, we executed a dealer manager agreement with Cabot Lodge Securities, LLC, the Dealer Manager or CLS, a Delaware limited liability company and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, that does business as United Realty Securities and that is indirectly owned by the Sponsor. Prior to September 20, 2013 we had a dealer manager agreement with an unaffiliated party which had a soliciting dealer agreement with CLS. These agreements entitle the Advisor, the Dealer Manager, and the Property Manager to specified fees upon the provision of certain services with regard to the offering and the investment of funds in real estate properties and real estate-related investments, among other services, as well as reimbursement of organization and offering expenses incurred by the Advisor and the Dealer Manager on our behalf (as discussed in Note 2) and certain costs incurred by the Advisor in providing services to us. We have engaged and may engage from time to time, United Realty Partners LLC, or URP, an entity controlled and indirectly owned by our chief executive officer and secretary, to provide brokerage services, services in connection with the origination or refinancing of debt, or advice in connection with joint venture opportunities and equity financing opportunities for our properties.

As of March 31, 2015, we had a receivable due from the Advisor of $5.3 million as well as deferred offering costs of $4.2 million.

Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, summarized below are the related-party costs incurred by us for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 and any related amounts payable as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

   Incurred 
   Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2015
  Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2014
  Payable as of
     March 31,
2015
  December 31,
2014
Expensed                    
Property Management fees   $61,820   $33,498   $—     $—   
Oversight Fees    720    716    —      —   
Asset Management fees    88,421    47,625    —      —   

 

 

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8. Distributions

The Operating Partnership’s limited partnership agreement generally provides that the Operating Partnership will distribute cash available for distribution to the partners of the Operating Partnership in proportion to each such partner’s holding of GP Units and/or OP Units, as such terms are defined in the Operating Partnership’s limited partnership agreement at the times and in the amounts as determined by us, as the general partner. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we distributed $227,110 in cash and $168,769 in Common Shares through the DRIP.

9.  Economic Dependency

We are dependent on the Advisor or its affiliates for certain services that are essential to us, including the sale of the Common Shares, asset acquisition, management and disposition decisions and other general and administrative responsibilities. If the Advisor and its affiliates are unable to provide such services, we would be required to find alternative service providers.

10.  Subsequent Events

 

We have reviewed all activity from April 1, 2015 to the date the financial statements were issued and determined that there have not been any events that have occurred that would require adjustments to disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, our sub-leasehold obligation increased by $140,000 as a result of a new third party investment therein.

Between April 1 and May 19, 2015, we sold 91,657 Common Shares, raising approximately $1.1 million in net proceeds for us. 

In February 2015, we had advanced $100,000 in cash (the “Initial Deposit”) to United Realty Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), an entity wholly owned and controlled by Jacob Frydman, our chairman and chief executive officer, to allow it to make a soft deposit required by the purchase and sale agreement entered into on January 29, 2015 (the “PSA”) between Lippincott Real Estate Associates, LLC (the “Seller”) and Funds Management pursuant to which Funds Management had the right to acquire the property located at 402 and 404 Lippincott Drive, Marlton, NJ (the “Lippincott Property”). On March 4, 2015, Funds Management assigned its rights and obligations under the PSA to UR Lippincott, DST (“Lippincott DST”), a Delaware statutory trust sponsored and controlled by Funds Management.

On May 15, 2015, Lippincott DST closed the purchase of the Lippincott Property pursuant to an assignment of the PSA for $11.75 million, exclusive of closing costs and escrows as well as fees to be paid to Funds Management, and we, through our operating partnership, entered into a Purchase Agreement with Funds Management to purchase a 5% beneficial interest in the $7.3 million in equity of the Lippincott DST for $365,000, of which $100,000 was deemed to have been previously paid through the advance of the Initial Deposit. The Lippincott Property is a 53,100 square foot commercial building that is leased to a healthcare management service provider under a net lease agreement which expires on December 31, 2024. The annual rent for 2015 is $1,088,550 and the rent is subject to annual increases of $0.50 per square foot per annum until the lease expiration.

On May 19, 2015, an undeveloped land parcel located on Route 9W, Ulster County, NY (“Route 9W”), consisting of approximately 11 acres of land a property owned and controlled by an affiliate of our chairman and chief executive officer, was deeded to our Advisor, which immediately deeded it to us. Our preliminary estimate of the value of Route 9W is $2.5 million based on a 2008 appraisal, but this estimate is preliminary and subject to change. The ultimate value ascribed to Route 9W will be based on a new third-party appraisal, which we expect will be completed by June 30, 2015. If the third-party appraisal is less than $2.5 million, we will adjust the value at that time and our Advisor has agreed to pay us an amount in cash equal to the difference. If the third-party appraisal is greater than our current estimate, we do not owe our Advisor any additional amounts.

During the period from January 1, 2014 to May 19, 2015, we advanced funds to the Advisor and its affiliates upon the receipt of invoices for their operating and acquisition expenses and recorded the amounts advanced as due from affiliates on our balance sheets.

As of May 19, 2015, our Advisor owed us approximately $5.6 million, including interest which accrued at the rate of 1.5% per annum, in repayment of advances we had made to the Advisor to pay operating expenses and acquisition expenses.

Subsequently, our Advisor took steps to satisfy its obligation to repay these advances to us by: (i) crediting of the Initial Deposit towards our purchase of a $365,000 beneficial interest in the Lippincott DST; (ii) assigning us all right, title and interest to Route 9W; (iii) making a $200,000 cash payment to us; and; (iv) arranging for the execution of a promissory note in favor of the Company in the amount of approximately $2.7 million by a non-affiliated third party. This promissory note is due on demand, is guaranteed by the Advisor and bears interest at a rate of 1.5% per annum.

 

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

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, or MD&A is intended to provide the reader with information that will assist in understanding our financial statements and the reasons for changes in key components of our financial statements from period to period. MD&A also provides the reader with our perspective on our financial position and liquidity, as well as certain other factors that may affect our future results. Our MD&A should be read in conjunction with our accompanying financial statements and the notes thereto. As used herein, the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer to United Realty Trust Incorporated, a Maryland corporation, and, as required by context, United Realty Capital Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, is referred to as the Operating Partnership or OP.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or this Quarterly Report, that are not historical facts (including any statements concerning investment objectives, other plans and objectives of management for future operations or economic performance, or assumptions or forecasts related thereto) are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees. Actual events of our investments and results of operations could differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “should,” “expect,” “could,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “predict,” “potential” or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology.

The forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report are based upon our current expectations, plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs, which involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond our control. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to:

  the fact that we have limited operating history and, as of March 31, 2015, our assets totaled approximately $61.9 million;
  our ability to raise capital in our continuous initial public offering, or IPO;
  our ability to deploy effectively the proceeds we raise in our offering of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, or Common Shares;
  changes in economic conditions generally and the real estate market specifically;
  legislative or regulatory changes (including changes to the laws governing the taxation of real estate investment trusts, or REITs);
  the availability of credit;
  interest rates; and
  changes to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP.

Any of the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements included herein could be inaccurate, and undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements included herein. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date this Quarterly Report is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from the expectations expressed herein will increase with the passage of time. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

All forward-looking statements included herein should be read in light of the factors identified in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as updated in this Quarterly Report.

 

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Overview

We were formed in November 2011 for the purpose of investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of income-producing real estate properties and other real estate-related assets. We elected to qualify as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2013. We conduct substantially all our investment activities and own all of our assets through the OP, of which we are the sole general partner and a limited partner and in which we held a 99.6% economic interest as of March 31, 2015. United Realty Advisors LP, a Delaware limited partnership, our Advisor, manages our day-to-day operations and our portfolio of properties and real estate-related assets.

On August 15, 2012, our Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC. The Registration Statement covers our initial public offering of up to 120,000,000 Common Shares, consisting of up to 100,000,000 Common Shares in our primary offering on a “best efforts” basis and up to 20,000,000 Common Shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment program, or DRIP.

On December 28, 2012, we received and accepted aggregate subscriptions in excess of the minimum of 200,000 Common Shares, broke escrow and issued Common Shares to our initial investors, who were admitted as stockholders. As of March 31, 2015 we had sold 2,376,578 Common Shares for gross offering proceeds of approximately $25.1 million and net offering proceeds of approximately $22.3 million.

As of March 31, 2015, we owned a 69.2% interest in a joint venture that owns a residential property located at 2520 Tilden Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, or Tilden Hall, a 14.6% interest in a joint venture that owns a residential property known as 14 Highland Ave., Yonkers, New York, or 14 Highland, a medical building located at 945 82nd Parkway, Myrtle Beach, SC, or Parkway and an office building located at 7 Carnegie Plaza, Cherry Hill, NJ, or 7 Carnegie. In addition, as of March 31, 2015, we owned a 76.7% interest in a joint venture that owns a mortgage note secured by properties located at 58 and 70 Parker Avenue, in Poughkeepsie, NY, or Parker.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our accounting policies have been established to conform with GAAP and in conjunction with the rules and regulations of the SEC. We consider these policies critical because they involve significant management judgments and assumptions, require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain and are important for understanding and evaluating our reported financial results. These judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and our disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. With different estimates or assumptions, materially different amounts could be reported in our financial statements. Additionally, other companies may utilize different estimates that may impact the comparability of our results of operations to those of companies in similar businesses. A discussion of the accounting policies that management considers critical in that they involve significant management judgments, assumptions and estimates is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC. In addition, refer to Note 2 of our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of additional accounting policies.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2015 to the three months ended March 31, 2014

As of March 31, 2015, we owned interests in four properties and one mortgage note receivable. At March 31, 2014, we owned interests in two properties which we acquired in March 2013, and one mortgage note receivable.

   Three Months Ended   
   March 31,
2015
  March 31,
2014
  Change
Revenues               
Base rents  $1,300,361   $722,704   $577,657 
Recoveries from tenants   269,285    79,935    189,350 
Other   481    700    (219)
Total revenues   1,570,127    803,339    766,788 
                
Operating expenses               
Property operating   300,899    141,778    159,121 
Real estate taxes   212,168    92,548    119,620 
General & administrative expenses   559,494    84,683    474,811 
Depreciation and amortization   462,375    270,589    191,786 
Acquisition transaction costs   17,500    845    16,655 
Total operating expenses   1,552,436    590,443    961,993 
                
Operating income   17,691    212,896    (195,205)
Non-operating expenses               
Interest expense   (486,696)   (195,184)   (291,512)
Amortization of deferred financing costs   (114,191)   (26,576)   (87,615)
                
Net loss  $(583,196)  $(8,864)  $(574,332)

 

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Rental Income

Rental revenue, which consists of base rents and recoveries from tenants, increased approximately $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2014. The increase in rental income was driven primarily by increases in base rent and recoveries from tenants due to our acquisition of Parkway in May 2014 and 7 Carnegie in December 2014.

Property Operating Expenses and Real Estate Taxes

Property operating expenses and real estate taxes increased approximately $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2014. Property operating expenses consist primarily of asset management fees paid to our Advisor, property insurance and utilities. The increase in these expenses was driven primarily by our acquisition of Parkway in May 2014 and 7 Carnegie in December 2014.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 amounted to approximately $0.6 million compared to approximately $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of professional fees, director fees and insurance costs. The increase in these expenses primarily relate to increased legal and director fees due to ongoing litigation.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation and amortization expense increased approximately $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2014. The purchase price of acquired properties is allocated to tangible and identifiable intangible assets and depreciated or amortized over the estimated useful lives. Depreciation and amortization expense is driven by the timing of real estate acquisitions. The increase in these expenses was driven primarily by our acquisition of Parkway in May 2014 and 7 Carnegie in December 2014.

Acquisition Transaction Costs

Acquisition transaction costs for the three months ended March 31, 2015 amounted to approximately $17,500 which were incurred in connection with a potential acquisition. There were $845 in acquisition transaction costs for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased approximately $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2014. This increase is driven primarily by the financing costs associated with the acquisition of Parkway and 7 Carnegie and the short duration over which the 7 Carnegie mezzanine loans expenses were amortized over.

Deferred Organization and Offering Expenses

We will advance funds to the Advisor to pay its organization and offering expenses to the extent the Advisor does not have the funds to pay such expenses. The Advisor will reimburse us for organization and offering expenses advanced which are in excess of 2% of the total offering price paid by investors (including proceeds from sale of Common Shares, plus applicable selling commissions and dealer manager fees paid by purchasers of Common Shares). On December 28, 2012, we broke escrow, at which time organization and offering expenses advanced by the Advisor became a liability of ours, subject to the 2% limitation noted above. Between November 25, 2011 and March 31, 2015, we paid $4,675,735 of offering costs of which $511,693 was recorded to additional paid-in capital and $4,171,034 was recorded to deferred offering costs in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We will reclassify amounts from deferred offering costs to additional paid-in capital based on 2% of the total offering price paid by investors. Amounts paid by us in excess of the 2% limitation at the end of the offering will be reimbursed by the Advisor. As of March 31, 2015, the Advisor had incurred an additional $11.9 million of organization and offering expenses, of which $466,211 was billed and paid to the Advisor at March 31, 2015. Effective January 1, 2015, the Advisor will no longer be allocating organization and offering expenses to us.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We are dependent upon the net proceeds from our IPO to conduct our proposed operations. We have obtained and will continue to obtain the capital required to purchase properties and other investments and conduct our operations from the proceeds of our IPO and any future offerings we may conduct, including the issuance of limited partnership interests in the OP, from secured or unsecured financings from banks and other lenders and from any undistributed funds from our operations.

If we are unable to raise substantial funds in our IPO, we will make fewer investments resulting in less diversification in terms of the type, number and size of investments we make and the value of an investment in us will fluctuate with the performance of the specific assets we acquire. Further, we will have certain fixed operating expenses, including certain expenses as a publicly offered REIT, regardless of whether we are able to raise substantial funds in our IPO. Our inability to raise substantial funds would increase our fixed operating expenses as a percentage of gross income, reducing our net income and limiting our ability to make distributions. We do not expect to establish a permanent reserve from our offering proceeds for maintenance and repairs of real properties, as we expect the majority of leases for the properties we acquire will provide for tenant reimbursement of operating expenses. However, to the extent that we have insufficient funds for such purposes, we may establish reserves from offering proceeds, out of cash flow from operations or net cash proceeds from the sale of properties. In addition, the terms of our mortgage loans payable require us to deposit certain replacement and other reserves with the lender.

In addition to making investments in accordance with our investment objectives, we expect to use our capital resources to make certain payments to our Advisor and our Dealer Manager. During our organization and offering stage, these payments will include payments to the Dealer Manager for selling commissions and dealer manager fees. During this stage, we will also make payments to our Advisor for reimbursement of certain other organization and offering expenses. However, we will not reimburse our Advisor (except in limited circumstances) for other organization and offering expenses to the extent that our total payments for other organization and offering expenses would exceed 2% of the total offering price paid by investors in our IPO. During our acquisition and development stage, we expect to make payments to our Advisor in connection with the selection and origination or purchase of investments and the management of our assets and to reimburse certain costs incurred by our Advisor in providing services to us.

We expect to repay our other near term debt obligations out of proceeds from our IPO on their maturity dates.

Net Cash Flows

Net cash flows used in operating activities amounted to $3.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to net cash of $0.6 million provided by operations during the three months ended March 31, 2014. This was driven primarily by the increase in funds used to pay operating expenses on behalf of the Advisor.

Investing Activities

Net cash flows used for investing activities amounted to approximately $0.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to net cash used in investing activities of $0.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014. The increase was primarily driven by the funding of additional escrow accounts under our loan agreements.

Financing Activities

Net cash flows provided by financing activities amounted to approximately $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the use of $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. This $4.4 million increase was primarily driven by the following (in millions): 

Net proceeds from the sale of our Common Shares, net of registration expenditures and repurchases  $4.6 
Financing proceeds   1.0 
Loan repayments   (1.9)
Deferred offering costs   0.8 
Distributions   (0.1)
Total change in cash provided  $4.4 

 

Acquisitions

Our Advisor expects to continue to evaluate potential acquisitions of real estate and real estate-related assets and to engage in negotiations with sellers and borrowers on our behalf. Investors should be aware that after a purchase contract that contains specific terms is executed, the property will not be purchased until the successful completion of due diligence and negotiation of final binding agreements. During this period, we may decide to temporarily invest any unused proceeds from offerings of Common Shares in cash or certain investments that could yield lower returns than the properties. These lower returns may affect our ability to make distributions.

 

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Distribution Policy

To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we generally are required to make aggregate annual distributions to our stockholders of at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (which does not equal net income, as calculated in accordance with GAAP), determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gain. We expect that our board of directors will authorize distributions in excess of those required for us to maintain REIT status depending on our financial condition and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant. We expect to continue paying distributions monthly unless our results of operations, our general financial condition, general economic conditions or other factors make it imprudent to do so. The timing and amount of distributions will be determined by our board and will be influenced in part by its intention to comply with REIT requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, we have not established a minimum distribution level and our charter does not require that we make distributions to our stockholders.

As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income that we distribute to our stockholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates and will not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes for four years following the year in which qualification is denied. Failing to qualify as a REIT could materially and adversely affect our net income.

On January 15, 2015, our board of directors declared daily distributions on our Common Shares at an annual rate of 7.78% of NAV per Common Share, which equates to $0.97 per Common Share on an annualized basis based on our NAV per Common Share on January 15, 2015. The distributions began to accrue as of daily record dates beginning on January 1, 2013, and are aggregated and paid monthly, on payment dates determined by us, to stockholders who hold Common Shares as of such daily record dates. We expect to continue paying distributions monthly unless our results of operations, our general financial condition, general economic conditions or other factors make it imprudent to do so. The timing and amount of distributions will be determined by our board and will be influenced in part by our intention to comply with REIT requirements of the Code.

We expect to have little, if any, funds from operations available for distribution until we make substantial investments. Further, because we may receive income from interest or rents at various times during our fiscal year and because we may need funds from operations during a particular period to fund capital expenditures and other expenses, we expect that at least during the early stages of our development and from time to time during our operational stage, our board will authorize and we will declare distributions in anticipation of funds that we expect to receive during a later period and we will pay these distributions in advance of our actual receipt of these funds. In these instances, we expect to use proceeds from our IPO or from the issuance of securities in the future, or third-party borrowings, to fund our distributions. We may also fund such distributions from advances from our Sponsor or from any waiver of fees by our Advisor.

Our board has the authority under our organizational documents, to the extent permitted by Maryland law, to authorize the payment of distributions from any source without limits, including proceeds from our IPO or the proceeds from the issuance of securities in the future, and we expect that, at least in the early stages of our existence, we will use the proceeds of our IPO to pay distributions.

The following table shows the sources for the payment of distributions to common stockholders for the periods presented:

 

   Three months ended
   March 31, 2015
Distributions:     Percentage of
Distributions
Distributions paid in cash  $227,110    57.4%
Distributions reinvested   168,769    42.6 
Total distributions  $395,879    100.0%
           
Source of distribution coverage:          
Cash flows provided by operations  $—      —  %
Common Shares issued under the DRIP   168,769    42.6 
Proceeds from issuance of Common Shares   227,110    57.4 
Total sources of distributions  $395,879    100.0%
           
Cash flows used in operations
(GAAP basis)
  $(3,450,912)     
Net loss attributable to stockholders (in accordance with GAAP)  $(724,684)     

 

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The following table compares cumulative distributions paid to cumulative net loss (in accordance with GAAP) for the period from November 8, 2011 (date of inception) through March 31, 2015: 

   For the Period
from November 8, 2011
(date of inception) to
  March 31, 2015
Distributions paid:   
Common stockholders in cash  $831,978 
Common stockholders pursuant to DRIP/offering proceeds   641,167 
Total distributions paid  $1,473,145 
      
Reconciliation of net loss:     
Revenues  $8,289,870 
Acquisition and transaction related   (2,143,433)
Depreciation and amortization   (2,683,346)
Other operating expenses   (5,236,662)
Other non-operating expenses   (3,023,162)
Net loss (in accordance with GAAP) (1)  $(4,796,733)

 

(1)    Net loss as defined by GAAP includes the non-cash impact of depreciation and amortization expense as well as costs incurred relating to acquisitions and related transactions.

Leverage Policies

We may borrow to finance acquisitions of new properties or other real estate-related loans and securities; to originate new loans; to pay for capital improvements, repairs or tenant build-outs to properties; to pay distributions; or to provide working capital. Careful use of debt will help us to achieve our diversification goals because we will have more funds available for investment. Our investment strategy is to utilize primarily secured and possibly unsecured debt to finance our investment portfolio; however, we may elect to forego the use of debt on some of or all our future real estate acquisitions. We may elect to secure financing subsequent to the acquisition date on future real estate properties and initially acquire investments without debt financing. To the extent that we do not finance our properties and other investments, our ability to acquire additional properties and real estate-related investments will be restricted.

As of March 31, 2015, we had approximately $34.6 million of mortgage notes and preferred loans payable. Once we have fully invested the proceeds of our IPO, assuming we sell the maximum amount, we expect that our portfolio-wide loan-to-value ratio (calculated after the close of our IPO) will be approximately 65%. For purposes of calculating our 65% target leverage, we will determine the loan-to-value ratio on our portfolio based on the greater of the aggregate cost and the fair market value of our investments and other assets. There is no limitation on the amount we may borrow for the purchase of any single asset. Our charter allows us to incur leverage up to 300% of our total “net assets” (as defined by our charter) as of the date of any borrowing, which is generally expected to be approximately 75% of the cost of our investments. We may only exceed this 300% limit with the approval of a majority of our independent directors.

During the early stages of our IPO, our independent directors may be more likely to approve debt in excess of this limit. In all events, we expect that our secured and unsecured borrowings will be reasonable in relation to the net value of our assets and will be reviewed by our board of directors at least quarterly.

The form of our indebtedness may be long-term or short-term, secured or unsecured, fixed or floating rate or in the form of a revolving credit facility or repurchase agreements or warehouse lines of credit. Our Advisor will seek to obtain financing on our behalf on the most favorable terms available.

 

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Except with respect to the borrowing limits contained in our charter, we may reevaluate and change our debt policy in the future without a stockholder vote. Factors that we would consider when reevaluating or changing our debt policy include: then-current economic conditions, the relative cost and availability of debt and equity capital, any investment opportunities, the ability of our properties and other investments to generate sufficient cash flow to cover debt service requirements and other similar factors. Further, we may increase or decrease our ratio of debt to book value in connection with any change of our borrowing policies.

We will not borrow from our Advisor or its affiliates to purchase properties or make other investments unless a majority of our directors, including a majority of the independent directors not otherwise interested in the transaction, approves the transaction after determining that it is fair, competitive and commercially reasonable and no less favorable to us than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties. In order to arrive at such a determination, our directors will examine data regarding comparable loans between unaffiliated parties in consultation with counsel and independent financial advisors, investment bankers or mortgage brokers.

Other Obligations

In an effort to provide our stockholders with a limited amount of liquidity in respect of their investment in Common Shares, we have adopted a share repurchase program whereby on a daily basis, stockholders who have held their Common Shares for at least one year may request that we repurchase all or any portion (but generally at least 25%) of their Common Shares. The repurchase price per Common Share on any business day will be 95% of our NAV per Common Share for that day, calculated after the close of business on the repurchase request day, without giving effect to any share purchases or repurchases to be effected on such day; provided, however, that while the primary offering is ongoing, in no event will the repurchase price exceed the then-current offering price under the primary offering.  Prior to January 15, 2015, we limited the Common Shares repurchased during any calendar quarter to 1.25% of the weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding during the previous calendar quarter, or approximately 5% of the weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding in any 12-month period. Following January 15, 2015, we will limit Common Shares repurchased during any calendar quarter to 5% of NAV as of the last day of the previous calendar quarter (or as of January 15, 2015 with respect to repurchases during the first quarter of 2015), or approximately 20% of NAV in any 12-month period. Our board of directors has the right to modify, suspend or terminate the share repurchase program for any reason.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2015.

Contractual Obligations

The following table presents the principal and interest amounts of our long-term debt maturing each year, including amortization of principal based on debt outstanding at March 31, 2015 (in thousands):

Contractual obligations:  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  Thereafter  Total
Mortgage notes payable  $968   $479   $580   $15,064   $310   $14,712   $32,113 
Preferred loans payable   500    —      —      —      —      1,956(1)   2,456 
Sub-leasehold obligation   96    130    1,857    —      —      —      2,083 
Estimated interest expense   1,150    1,485    1,455    967    695    2,024    7,776 
Total  $2,714   $2,094   $3,892   $16,031   $1,005   $18,692   $44,228 

 

(1) This preferred loan is callable upon 30 days notice.

 Inflation

We may be adversely impacted by inflation on our residential leases at 14 Highland, which currently do not contain indexed escalation provisions. However, the leases for Tilden Hall, Parkway and 7 Carnegie contain base rent escalations based on CPI. We anticipate that in the future, if we enter into triple net leases, the tenant will be obligated to pay all property-level operating expenses, which may include maintenance costs, real estate taxes and insurance. This may reduce our exposure to increases in costs and operating expenses resulting from inflation.

Funds from Operations and Modified Funds from Operations

Due to certain unique operating characteristics of real estate companies, as discussed below, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, an industry trade group, has promulgated a measure known as funds from operations, or FFO, which we believe to be an appropriate supplemental measure to reflect the operating performance of a REIT. The use of FFO is recommended by the REIT industry as a supplemental performance measure. FFO is not equivalent to net income or loss as determined under GAAP.

 

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We define FFO, a non-GAAP measure, consistently with the standards established by the White Paper on FFO approved by the Board of Governors of NAREIT, as revised in February 2004, or the White Paper. The White Paper defines FFO as net income or loss computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses from sales of property and asset impairment write-downs, plus depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures are calculated to reflect FFO. Our FFO calculation complies with NAREIT’s policy described above.

The historical accounting convention used for real estate assets requires depreciation of buildings and improvements, which implies that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time, especially if such assets are not adequately maintained or repaired and renovated as required by relevant circumstances or as requested or required by lessees for operational purposes in order to maintain the value disclosed. We believe that, since real estate values historically rise and fall with market conditions, including inflation, interest rates, the business cycle, unemployment and consumer spending, presentations of operating results for a REIT using historical accounting for depreciation may be less informative. Additionally, we believe it is appropriate to disregard impairment charges, as this is a fair value adjustment that is largely based on market fluctuations and assessments regarding general market conditions which can change over time. An asset will only be evaluated for impairment if certain impairment indicators exist and if the carrying, or book, value exceeds the total estimated undiscounted future cash flows (including net rental and lease revenues, net proceeds on the sale of the property, and any other ancillary cash flows at a property or group level under GAAP) from such asset. Investors should note, however, that determinations of whether impairment charges have been incurred are based partly on anticipated operating performance, because estimated undiscounted future cash flows from a property, including estimated future net rental and lease revenues, net proceeds on the sale of the property, and certain other ancillary cash flows, are taken into account in determining whether an impairment charge has been incurred. If the carrying, or book, value exceeds the total estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized to reduce the carrying value to fair value. While impairment charges are excluded from the calculation of FFO as described above, investors are cautioned that due to the fact that impairments are based on estimated undiscounted future cash flows and the relatively limited term of our operations, it could be difficult to recover any impairment charges.

Historical accounting for real estate involves the use of GAAP. Any other method of accounting for real estate such as the fair value method cannot be construed to be any more accurate or relevant than the comparable methodologies of real estate valuation found in GAAP. Nevertheless, we believe that the use of FFO, which excludes the impact of real estate related depreciation and amortization and impairments, provides a more complete understanding of our performance to investors and to management, and when compared year over year, reflects the impact on our operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs, general and administrative expenses, and interest costs, which may not be immediately apparent from net income. However, FFO and modified funds from operations, or “MFFO”, as described below, should not be construed to be more relevant or accurate than the current GAAP methodology in calculating net income or in its applicability in evaluating our operating performance. The method utilized to evaluate the value and performance of real estate under GAAP should be construed as a more relevant measure of operational performance and considered more prominently than the non-GAAP FFO and MFFO measures and the adjustments to GAAP in calculating FFO and MFFO.

Changes in the accounting and reporting promulgations under GAAP (for acquisition fees and expenses from a capitalization/depreciation model to an expensed-as-incurred model) that were put into effect in 2009 and other changes to GAAP accounting for real estate subsequent to the establishment of NAREIT’s definition of FFO have prompted an increase in cash-settled expenses, specifically acquisition fees and expenses for all industries as items that are expensed under GAAP, that are typically accounted for as operating expenses. Management believes these fees and expenses do not affect our overall long-term operating performance. Publicly registered, non-listed REITs typically have a significant amount of acquisition activity and are substantially more dynamic during their initial years of investment and operation. We have used, and will continue to use the proceeds raised in our IPO to acquire properties, and we intend to begin the process of achieving a liquidity event (i.e., listing of our Common Shares on a national exchange, a merger or sale of the Company or another similar transaction) within six to nine years of the completion of our IPO. Thus, we will not continuously purchase assets and have a targeted exit strategy. Due to the above factors and other unique features of publicly registered, non-listed REITs, the Investment Program Association, or IPA, has standardized a measure known as MFFO, which the IPA has recommended as a supplemental measure for publicly registered non-listed REITs and which we believe to be another appropriate supplemental measure to reflect the operating performance of a non-listed REIT having the characteristics described above. MFFO is not equivalent to our net income or loss as determined under GAAP, and MFFO may not be a useful measure of the impact of long-term operating performance on value if we do not continue to operate with a targeted exit strategy, as currently intended. We believe that, because MFFO excludes costs that we consider more reflective of investing activities and other non-operating items included in FFO and also excludes acquisition fees and expenses that affect our operations only in periods in which properties are acquired, MFFO can provide, on a going forward basis, an indication of the sustainability (that is, the capacity to continue to be maintained) of our operating performance after the period in which we are acquiring our properties and once our portfolio is stabilized. By providing MFFO, we believe we are presenting useful information that assists investors and analysts to better assess the sustainability of our operating performance after our IPO has been completed and our portfolio has been stabilized. We also believe that MFFO is a recognized measure of sustainable operating performance by the non-listed REIT industry. Further, we believe MFFO is useful in comparing the sustainability of our operating performance after our IPO and acquisitions are completed with the sustainability of the operating performance of other real estate companies that are not as involved in acquisition activities. Investors are cautioned that MFFO should only be used to assess the sustainability of our operating performance after our IPO has been completed and properties have been acquired, as it excludes acquisition costs that have a negative effect on our operating performance during the periods in which properties are acquired.

 

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We define MFFO, a non-GAAP measure, consistently with the IPA’s Guideline 2010-01, Supplemental Performance Measure for Publicly Registered, Non-Listed REITs: Modified Funds from Operations, issued by the IPA in November 2010, or the Practice Guideline. The Practice Guideline defines MFFO as FFO further adjusted for the following items, as applicable, included in the determination of GAAP net income: acquisition fees and expenses; amounts relating to deferred rent receivables and amortization of above and below market leases and liabilities (which are adjusted in order to reflect such payments from a GAAP accrual basis to a cash basis of disclosing the rent and lease payments); accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums on debt investments; mark-to-market adjustments included in net income; gains or losses included in net income from the extinguishment or sale of debt, hedges, foreign exchange, derivatives or securities holdings where trading of such holdings is not a fundamental attribute of the business plan, unrealized gains or losses resulting from consolidation from, or deconsolidation to, equity accounting, and after adjustments for consolidated and unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures, with such adjustments calculated to reflect MFFO on the same basis. The accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums on debt investments, unrealized gains and losses on hedges, foreign exchange, derivatives or securities holdings, unrealized gains and losses resulting from consolidations, as well as other listed cash flow adjustments are adjustments made to net income in calculating the cash flows provided by operating activities and, in some cases, reflect gains or losses which are unrealized and may not ultimately be realized. While we are responsible for managing interest rate, hedge and foreign exchange risk, we do retain an outside consultant to review all our hedging agreements. In as much as interest rate hedges are not a fundamental part of our operations, we believe it is appropriate to exclude such gains and losses in calculating MFFO, as such gains and losses are not reflective of ongoing operations.

Our MFFO calculation complies with the Practice Guideline. In calculating MFFO, we exclude acquisition related expenses, amortization of above and below market leases, fair value adjustments of derivative financial instruments, deferred rent receivables and the adjustments of such items related to non-controlling interests. Under GAAP, acquisition fees and expenses are characterized as operating expenses in determining operating net income. These expenses are paid in cash by us, and therefore such funds will not be available to distribute to investors. All paid and accrued acquisition fees and expenses negatively impact our operating performance during the period in which properties are acquired and will have negative effects on returns to investors, the potential for future distributions, and cash flows generated by us, unless earnings from operations or net sales proceeds from the disposition of other properties are generated to cover the purchase price of the property, these fees and expenses and other costs related to such property. Therefore, MFFO may not be an accurate indicator of our operating performance, especially during periods in which properties are being acquired. MFFO that excludes such costs and expenses would only be comparable to that of non-listed REITs that have completed their acquisition activities and have similar operating characteristics as us. Further, under GAAP, certain contemplated non-cash fair value and other non-cash adjustments are considered operating non-cash adjustments to net income in determining cash flow from operating activities. In addition, we view fair value adjustments of derivatives as items which are unrealized and may not ultimately be realized. We view both gains and losses from dispositions of assets and fair value adjustments of derivatives as items which are not reflective of ongoing operations and are therefore typically adjusted for when assessing operating performance. The purchase of properties, and the corresponding expenses associated with that process, is a key operational feature of our business plan to generate operational income and cash flows in order to make distributions to investors. Acquisition fees and expenses will not be reimbursed by our Advisor if there are no further proceeds from the sale of Common Shares in our IPO, and therefore such fees and expenses will need to be paid from either additional debt, operational earnings or cash flows, net proceeds from the sale of properties or from ancillary cash flows.

Our management uses MFFO and the adjustments used to calculate it in order to evaluate our performance against other non-listed REITs. We believe that our use of MFFO and the adjustments used to calculate it allow us to present our performance in a manner that reflects certain characteristics that are unique to non-listed REITs, such as a limited and defined acquisition period. By excluding expensed acquisition costs, the use of MFFO provides information consistent with management’s analysis of the operating performance of the properties. Additionally, fair value adjustments, which are based on the impact of current market fluctuations and underlying assessments of general market conditions, but can also result from operational factors such as rental and occupancy rates, may not be directly related or attributable to our current operating performance. By excluding such changes that may reflect anticipated and unrealized gains or losses, we believe MFFO provides useful supplemental information.

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Presentation of this information is intended to provide useful information to investors as they compare the operating performance of different REITs, although it should be noted that not all REITs calculate FFO and MFFO the same way. Accordingly, comparisons with other REITs may not be meaningful. Furthermore, FFO and MFFO are not necessarily indicative of cash flow available to fund cash needs and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or income (loss) from continuing operations as an indication of our performance, as an alternative to cash flows from operations as an indication of our liquidity, or indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs including our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. FFO and MFFO should be reviewed in conjunction with GAAP measurements as an indication of our performance. MFFO has limitations as a performance measure in an offering such as ours where the price of a Common Share in the primary offering is a stated value and there is, with respect to the primary offering, no net asset value determination. MFFO is useful in assisting management and investors in assessing the sustainability of operating performance in future operating periods, and in particular, after the offering and acquisition stages are complete and net asset value is disclosed. FFO and MFFO are not useful measures in evaluating net asset value because impairments are taken into account in determining net asset value but not in determining FFO or MFFO.

Neither the SEC, NAREIT nor any other regulatory body has passed judgment on the acceptability of the adjustments that we use to calculate FFO or MFFO. In the future, the SEC, NAREIT or another regulatory body may decide to standardize the allowable adjustments across the non-listed REIT industry and we would have to adjust our calculation and characterization of FFO or MFFO.

The table below provides a reconciliation of net loss with GAAP to FFO and MFFO for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

   For the
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2015
  For the
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2014
Net loss  $(583,196)  $(8,864)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests   141,488    143,214 
Net loss and comprehensive loss attributable to United Realty Trust Incorporated   (724,684)   (152,078)
Plus: Real property depreciation   302,870    163,096 
Amortization of deferred leasing costs   159,505    107,492 
FFO  $(262,309)  $118,510 
           
Add: Acquisition transaction costs (1)   17,500    845 
Add: Amortization of Above/below-market rent and straight line rent receivable (2)   (59,272)   14,306 
MFFO  $(304,081)  $133,661 
           
Net cash provided by (used in):          
Operating activities  $(3,450,912)  $596,065 
Investing activities  $(501,888)  $(290,499)
Financing activities  $3,955,393   $(402,514)

 

(1) In evaluating investments in real estate, management differentiates the costs incurred to acquire the investment from the on-going operational revenue and costs of the investment. Such information would only be comparable for non-listed REITs that have completed their acquisition activity and have similar operating characteristics. By excluding expensed acquisition costs, management believes MFFO provides useful supplemental information for comparison of each type of real estate investment and is consistent with management’s analysis and evaluation of the investing and operating performance of our properties. Acquisition fees and expenses include payments to our Advisor or third parties. Acquisition fees and expenses under GAAP are considered operating expenses and are included in the determination of net income and income from continuing operations, both of which are performance measures under GAAP. All paid and accrued acquisition fees and expenses will have negative effects on returns to investors, the potential for future distributions, and cash flows generated by us, unless earnings from operations or net sales proceeds from the disposition of properties are generated to cover the purchase price of the property.  
(2) Under GAAP, certain intangibles are accounted for at cost and reviewed at least annually for impairment. Some intangibles are assumed to diminish predictably in value over time and amortized, similar to depreciation and amortization of other real estate related assets that are excluded from FFO. However, because real estate values and market lease rates historically rise or fall with market conditions, management believes that by excluding charges relating to amortization of these intangibles, MFFO provides useful supplemental information on the performance of the real estate portfolio.  

 

 

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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The market risk associated with financial instruments and derivative financial instruments is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices or interest rates. Our long-term debt, which consists of secured financings, bears interest at fixed rates. Our interest rate risk management objectives are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower our overall borrowing costs. From time to time, we may enter into interest rate hedge contracts such as swaps, collars, and treasury lock agreements in order to mitigate our interest rate risk with respect to various debt instruments. We would not hold or issue these derivative contracts for trading or speculative purposes. We do not have any foreign operations and thus we are not exposed to foreign currency fluctuations.

As of March 31, 2015, our debt consisted of fixed-rate secured mortgage loans payable, with a carrying value of $32.1 million, which approximated the fair value at March 31, 2015. Changes in market interest rates on our fixed-rate debt impact the fair value of the loans, but have no impact on interest incurred or cash flow. For instance, if interest rates increase 100 basis points and our fixed-rate debt balance remains constant, we expect the fair value of our obligation to decrease, the same way the price of a bond declines as interest rates rise. The sensitivity analysis related to our fixed–rate debt assumes an immediate 100 basis point move in interest rates from their March 31, 2015 levels, with all other variables held constant. A 100 basis point increase in market interest rates would result in a decrease in the fair value of our fixed-rate debt by $1.6 million. A 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates would result in an increase in the fair value of our fixed-rate debt by $1.4 million. These amounts were determined by considering the impact of hypothetical interest rates changes on our borrowing costs, and assuming no other changes in our capital structure.

As the information presented above includes only those exposures that existed as of March 31, 2015, it does not consider exposures or positions arising after that date. The information represented herein has limited predictive value. Future actual realized gains or losses with respect to interest rate fluctuations will depend on cumulative exposures, hedging strategies employed and the magnitude of the fluctuations.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our disclosure controls and procedures include our controls and other procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in this and other reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. It should be noted that no system of controls can provide complete assurance of achieving a company’s objectives and that future events may impact the effectiveness of a system of controls.

As required by paragraph (b) of Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, together with other members of our management, after conducting an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of March 31, 2015 due to the material weakness described below.

Commencing in January 2014 and continuing through May 2015, the Company exceeded the authority granted to it under its charter when it advanced funds to the Advisor and its affiliates. During May 2015, our management identified a material weakness in our entity level controls and procedures related to making these advances to affiliated entities during the period from January 2014 through May 2015. Accordingly, management reevaluated its previous conclusions on the effectiveness of our entity level controls and procedures as of each reporting period during the year ended December 31, 2014 and determined that this material weakness had also existed as of those dates. As discussed in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements, following the identification of this material weakness in May 2015, the Advisor and its affiliates and the Company took steps such that the Company is no longer advancing funds to the Advisor and its affiliates.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Subsequent to March 31, 2015, in order to prevent the occurrence of such entity level control failure, we have implemented additional levels of review and approval to ensure we are operating in compliance with our charter. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.

As of March 31, 2015, neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership was involved in any material litigation nor, to management’s knowledge, was any material litigation threatened against us or our portfolio other than routine litigation arising in the ordinary course of business or litigation that is adequately covered by insurance.

Certain limited partner investors in our advisor, United Realty Advisors LP, have filed a derivative action, which was most recently amended in February 2015, on behalf of United Realty Advisors LP, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York for New York County. The derivative action alleges various causes of action against, among others, each of our directors individually, URTI GP, LLC, Prime United Holdings, LLC, Cabot Lodge Securities, LLC, other affiliated parties and certain third parties and seeks to enjoin the proposed sale of the retail brokerage operation and customer accounts of Cabot Lodge Securities, LLC to such third parties. Although our advisor and sponsor believe that the action is effectively moot as the proposed sale transaction has been terminated and that the plaintiffs lack standing, the derivate action alleges, among other things, that our company will suffer irreparable injury if an injunction is not granted and includes, among other causes of action, the breach of fiduciary duties owed to our advisor by Mr. Frydman and URTI GP, LLC, the aiding and abetting of such breach by our other directors, gross negligence, unjust enrichment and breach of the limited partnership agreement governing our advisor. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of litigation or the possible impact of the litigation on our company, our advisor or our sponsor. Our advisor and sponsor believe that depositions recently taken of all five plaintiffs reveal that the plaintiffs have no basis for the alleged claims made, and they also believe that the allegations in the derivative action are false and that the claims therein are without merit. Each of our advisor, our sponsor and our independent directors filed motions to dismiss the action. On May 5, 2015, this complaint against the independent directors was dismissed in full. 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 other than as disclosed below:

The offer and sale of Common Shares to certain shareholders may be deemed to have violated federal securities laws, and, as a result, those shareholders may have the right to rescind their original purchase of those securities.

 

During the period from January 15, 2015, the NAV pricing start date, through May 8, 2015, which we refer to as the Period, we offered and sold Common Shares at a price per Common Share based on NAV while our post-effective amendments containing information about the price per Common Share in our primary offering being based on NAV were on file with the SEC but had not been declared effective. The offer and sale of Common Shares at a price based on NAV during the Period may have been in violation of the rules and regulations under the Securities Act and the interpretations of the SEC. If a violation of the Section 5 of the Securities Act did in fact occur, anyone who purchased Common Shares during the Period at a price based on NAV would have a right to rescind the purchase. The Securities Act generally requires that any claim brought for a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act be brought within one year of the violation. If all the shareholders who purchased Common Shares at a price based on NAV during the Period demanded rescission within that one-year period, we would be obligated to repay approximately $2,595,815.

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

On August 15, 2012, we commenced our IPO on a “best efforts” basis of up to 100.0 million Common Shares. The IPO is being conducted by United Realty Securities, our Dealer Manager, a division of Cabot Lodge Securities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a member of FINRA that is indirectly owned by our Sponsor. Prior to January 15, 2015, we offered the Common Shares at a price of $10.45 per Common Share and subsequent to January 15, 2015, we began offering the Common Shares at a price of $13.90 per Common Share (a price that represents our NAV per Common Share of $12.51 per share plus the maximum allowable dealer manager fees and selling commissions), in each case subject to certain volume and other discounts, pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-11 (Reg. No. 333-178651), or the Registration Statement, filed with the SEC under the Securities Act. The per share purchase price of Common Shares is based on NAV divided by the number of Common Shares outstanding as of the end of business each day after giving effect to any share purchases or redemptions effected on such day. On January 15, 2014 and on every business day during the period from January 15, 2014 to March 31, 2015, the price per Common Share in our primary offering has been $13.90 because our NAV per Common Share has been equal to $12.51. Our NAV is calculated daily, however, and there can be no assurance that it will not vary in the future. The maximum number of Common Shares to be sold in the primary offering registered on the Registration Statement is 100,000,000. The Registration Statement also covers up to 20.0 million shares available pursuant to our DRIP, under which our stockholders may elect to have their distributions reinvested in additional Common Shares at the greater of our NAV per Common Share and 95% of the fair market value per Common Share.

On March 31, 2015, in connection with our Advisor’s agreement with our chief financial officer, Steven Kahn, who was then an accredited investor, received from the Company a grant of 433 Common Shares valued at a price of $9.41 per share, the offering price of Common Shares net of selling commissions and dealer manager fees as of December 31, 2014, the time the grant was required to be made under the agreement. The Common Shares were offered and sold pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder.

On February 6, 2015, in connection with his resignation as an executive officer and director of the Company, Richard J. Vitale, who was then an accredited investor, received from the Company a grant of 1,527 Common Shares valued at a price of $12.51 per share, the offering price of Common Shares net of selling commissions and dealer manager fees at the time of grant. The Common Shares were offered and sold pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder.

 

As of March 31, 2015 we had 2,306,849 Common Shares outstanding. As of March 31, 2015, we had received gross offering proceeds of approximately $25.1 million and net offering proceeds of $22.3 million from the sale of Common Shares, including pursuant to our DRIP. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, we had incurred selling commissions and dealer manager fees and other organization and offering costs in the amounts set forth below.

See “Item 1A. Risk Factors. The offer and sale of Common Shares to certain shareholders may be deemed to have violated federal securities laws, and, as a result, those shareholders may have the right to rescind their original purchase of those securities.”

The following table reflects the offering costs associated with this issuance of Common Shares.

   Three Months
Ended
   March 31, 2015
Selling commissions and dealer manager fees  $656 
Other offering costs   83 
Total offering costs  $739 

The Dealer Manager re-allowed all the selling commissions and a portion of the dealer manager fees to participating broker-dealers. The following table details the selling commissions incurred and re-allowed related to the sale of Common Shares.

   Three Months
Ended
   March 31, 2015
Total commissions incurred from the Dealer Manager  $656 
Less:     
  Commissions to participating broker-dealers   (452)
  Reallowance to participating broker-dealers   —   
Net to the Dealer Manager  $204 

As of March 31, 2015, we have incurred $2.8 million of cumulative offering costs in connection with the issuance and distribution of Common Shares. Net offering proceeds of $22.3 million exceeded cumulative offering costs by $19.5 million as of March 31, 2015.

Cumulative offering costs of $2.8 million include $2.3 million incurred from our dealer manager for Dealer Manager fees and commissions and $0.5 million from our Advisor.

 

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We expect to use substantially all the net proceeds from our IPO to invest primarily in interests in real estate located in the United States, with a primary focus on the eastern United States and in markets that we believe are likely to benefit from favorable demographic changes, or that we believe are poised for strong economic growth.  As of March 31, 2015, we have used the net proceeds from our IPO to fund a portion of the purchase of four real estate-related investments with an aggregate purchase price of $49.6 million.

Share Repurchase Program

Our Common Shares are not listed on a national securities exchange and we will not seek to list our Common Shares until the time, if such time ever occurs, that our independent directors believe that the listing of our Common Shares would be in the best interest of our stockholders. Stockholders who have held their Common Shares for at least one year may make daily requests that we repurchase all or a portion (but at least 25%) of their Common Shares pursuant to our share repurchase program, but we may not be able to fulfill all repurchase requests. The repurchase price per Common Share on any business day will be 95% of our NAV per Common Share for that day, calculated after the close of business on the repurchase request day, without giving effect to any share purchases or repurchases to be effected on such day; provided, however, that while the primary offering is ongoing, in no event will the repurchase price exceed the then-current offering price under the primary offering. Our share repurchase program was adopted on August 15, 2012.

We will limit Common Shares repurchased during any calendar quarter to 5% of our NAV as of the last day of the previous calendar quarter (or as of January 15, 2015 with respect to repurchases during the first quarter of 2015), or approximately 20% of our NAV in any 12-month period. Our Advisor will evaluate our capital needs and the amount of available cash and other liquid assets (as defined below) each quarter and may elect to increase the amount available for repurchase during such quarter.

In addition, stockholders will only be able to repurchase their Common Shares to the extent that we have sufficient liquid assets (as defined below). Most of our assets will consist of properties which cannot generally be readily liquidated without impacting our ability to realize full value upon their disposition. We may not always have sufficient liquid resources to satisfy all repurchase requests. In order to provide liquidity for repurchases, we intend to maintain the following percentage of the overall value of our portfolio in cash, cash equivalents and other short-term investments and certain types of real estate related assets that can be liquidated more readily than properties and are referred to collectively as “liquid assets”: (A) 15% of our NAV up to $333 million; (B) 10% of our NAV between $333 million and $667 million; and (C) 5% of our NAV in excess of $667 million. In addition, our board of directors may decide, but is not obligated, to maintain borrowing capacity under a line of credit.

Our board of directors in its discretion may modify, suspend or terminate our share repurchase program for any reason.

The table below outlines the Common Shares we repurchased pursuant to our share repurchase program during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

   Total Number of
Common Shares
Repurchased
  Average Price
Paid per Common
Share(2)
  Total Number of
Common Shares
Repurchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
  Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar
Value) of Common
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs
January 2015   693.5076   $11.88    —      (1)
February 2015   18,518.5101    11.88    —      (1)
March 2015   31,313.1171    11.88    —      (1)
    50,525.1348   $11.88    —      (1)

 

(1) A description of the maximum number of Common Shares that may be repurchased under our share repurchase program is included under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Other Obligations.”
   
(2)

Represents 95% of our NAV per Common Share, which was $12.51 for every day in the period.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we received 13 requests to repurchase an aggregate of 87,034 Common Shares pursuant to our share repurchase program. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we funded nine of these repurchase requests with respect to 50,525 Common Shares at an average price per share of $11.88 and one repurchase request for 1,119 Common Shares was withdrawn. Subsequent to March 31, 2015, we funded the remaining three repurchase requests, received during the three months ended March 31, 2015, with respect to 15,517 Common Shares at an average price per share of $11.88. We fund Common Share repurchases from cash flows from offering proceeds. As of the date of this filing and subsequent to March 31, 2015, we received three additional requests to repurchase 16,136 Common Shares.

 

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Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Item 5.  Other Information.

The summaries of the material terms of the transactions entered into between the Company, the Advisor and its affiliates and certain unaffiliated third parties entered into during May 2015 that are included in “Note 10. Subsequent Events” are incorporated by references into this Item 5 of this Form 10-Q in lieu of reporting such transactions pursuant to Items 1.01 and 2.03 of Form 8-K, as applicable. However, such summaries are not intended to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the applicable underlying agreements, copies of which will be filed as exhibits to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Item 6.  Exhibits.

The exhibits filed in response to Item 601 of Regulation S-K listed on the Exhibit Index (following the signatures section of this Quarterly Report) are included herewith.

 

 

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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.

  United Realty Trust Incorporated
     
Date: May 20, 2015 By: /s/ Jacob Frydman
    Jacob Frydman
    Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and
    Chairman of the Board of Directors
    (Principal Executive Officer)
     
Date: May 20, 2015 By: /s/ Steven Kahn
    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
    (Principal Financial Officer and
    Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 (and are numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K).

Exhibit No.   Description
10.20*  

Side Letter dated as of December 16, 2014

10.21*   Letter Agreement dated as of March 25, 2015
10.22*   Demand Note dated March 31, 2015.
31.1*   Certification of the Principal Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*   Certification of the Principal Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32*   Written statements of the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101*   XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language). The following materials from the United Realty Trust Incorporated Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2015, formatted in XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited), (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (unaudited), (iii) the Consolidated Statement of Equity (unaudited), (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (unaudited) and (v) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited). As provided in Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, this information is furnished and not filed for purpose of Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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* Filed herewith

 

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