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Gyrodyne Company Of America (GYRO)
NASDAQ:GYRO
Risk Overview Q3, 2024
Risk Distribution
31% Finance & Corporate
31% Production
17% Legal & Regulatory
9% Ability to Sell
9% Macro & Political
3% Tech & Innovation
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.
Risk Change Over Time
S&P500 Average
Sector Average
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Gyrodyne Company Of America Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
Risk Highlights Q3, 2024
Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 11 Risks
Finance & Corporate
With 11 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
35
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 32
35
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 32
Recent Changes
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Sep 2024
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Sep 2024
Number of Risk Changed
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 4
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 4
See the risk highlights of Gyrodyne Company Of America in the last period.
Risk Word Cloud
The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 35
Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 11/35 (31%)Below Sector Average
Share Price & Shareholder Rights5 | 14.3%
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
If our common shares are delisted from Nasdaq, shareholders may find it difficult to dispose of their shares.Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2
Our common shares are thinly traded and there may not be an active, liquid trading market for our common shares.Our common shares are thinly traded and have substantially less liquidity than the average trading market for many other publicly traded companies. Thinly traded stocks can be more volatile than stock trading in an active public market. Our stock price has been volatile in the past and several factors could cause the price to fluctuate substantially in the future. These factors include but are not limited to our announcement of developments related to our plan to sell our properties opportunistically (some of which are or may be the subject of enhancement efforts), stock performance of other companies deemed to be peers, news reports of issues related to REITs or other real property owners and the real estate market and market forces generally. Over the past several years, the stock market has experienced a high level of price and volume volatility, and market prices for the stock of many companies, including those in the real estate sector, have experienced wide price fluctuations that have not necessarily been related to operating performance. Our stock price may fluctuate significantly in the future, and these fluctuations may be unrelated to our performance. General market declines or market volatility in the future, especially in the real estate sector of the economy, could adversely affect the price of our common shares, and the current market price may not be indicative of future market prices. There is no guarantee that an active trading market for our common shares will be maintained on Nasdaq, or that the volume of trading will be sufficient to allow for timely trades. Investors may not be able to sell their shares quickly or at the latest market price if trading in our stock is not active or if trading volume is limited. In addition, if trading volume in our common shares is limited, trades of relatively small numbers of shares may have a disproportionate effect on the market price of our common shares. Therefore, our shareholders may not be able to sell their shares at the volume, prices or times that they desire.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3
Our shareholders may be liable to our creditors for an amount up to the amount distributed by us if our reserves for payments to creditors are inadequate.In the event our shareholders receive distributions from Gyrodyne at a time when the Company is insolvent or is rendered insolvent thereby and there are insufficient funds to pay any creditors who seek payment of claims against Gyrodyne, shareholders could be held liable under New York State's fraudulent conveyance laws for payments made to them and could be required to return all or a part of distributions made to them. Under the New York Uniform Voidable Transactions Act signed into law on December 6, 2019, the reach-back period for voidable transaction claims other than claims based on fraud is reduced from six years to four years with respect to distributions made on or after April 4, 2020.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4
We are subject to risks associated with proxy contests and other actions of activist shareholders.Publicly traded companies have increasingly become subject to campaigns by activist investors advocating corporate actions such as governance changes, financial restructurings, sales of assets and changes to executive and director compensation. The Company received a notice dated April 25, 2023 (the "Nomination Notice") from Star Equity Fund, LP ("Star Equity"), which allegedly owned approximately 5.4% of our outstanding shares at the time of submission, of its intent to nominate a slate of two candidates for election as directors at the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders (the "Annual Meeting"). On August 11, 2023, Star Equity submitted a shareholder proposal to the Company pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Shareholder Proposal").
On September 5, 2023, the Company entered into a letter agreement ("Cooperation Agreement") with Star Equity, pursuant to which Star Equity agreed to irrevocably withdraw both the Nomination Notice and the Shareholder Proposal. Through December 31, 2023, the cumulative cost to the Company of responding to and resolving the foregoing shareholder activist campaign, including changes to our incentive compensation arrangements, was approximately $1,317,000. We are working with insurance coverage counsel to pursue coverage under our existing directors and officers insurance policy for amounts in excess of the $500,000 insurance deductible under the policy. The Company values input from all shareholders, including Star Equity, and remains open to ongoing engagement.
A proxy contest or related activities on the part of activist shareholders, including, among others, Star Equity, could adversely affect our business for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, the following:
- Responding to proxy contests and other actions by activist shareholders can be costly and time-consuming, disrupting our operations and diverting the attention of our Board of Directors (the "Board"), management and employees, and could adversely impact the Company's ability to achieve timely or at all our strategic objective of positioning our properties so they can be sold at higher values resulting in maximum distributions to all of our shareholders - Perceived uncertainties as to our future direction may result in the loss or compromise of potential opportunities to liquidate our properties for maximum value;- A successful proxy contest could result in a change of control of our Board, and such an event could subject us to certain contractual obligations under certain material agreements;- If nominees advanced by activist shareholders are elected or appointed to our Board with a specific agenda, it may adversely affect our ability to effectively and timely implement our strategic plan to position our properties for sale at values that will maximize distributions to all of our shareholders; and - Proxy contests may cause our stock price to experience periods of volatility.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5
Distributions to shareholders may be delayed or reduced as a result of sale agreement provisions that allow purchasers to terminate agreements and/or result in purchaser defaults.Purchase and sale agreements that we have entered into with respect to properties we previously sold contained provisions that gave the purchaser the right to terminate the agreement, for any reason or no reason, prior to the expiration of an evaluation period, and receive a refund of earnest money deposits, and it can be anticipated that agreements for future property sales will have similar provisions. The consummation of property sales for which we will enter into sale agreements in the future will also be subject to satisfaction of standard closing conditions. If any property sale contemplated by future sale agreements does not close because a purchaser exercises its termination right or defaults, or because of a failure of a closing condition or for any other reason, we will need to locate a new buyer for the property, which we may be unable to do promptly or at a price or on terms that are as favorable as contained in the original sale agreement. Many of the costs incurred due to a sale that fails to close are sunk costs with no future value and we will also incur additional costs involved in negotiating a new sale agreement for such property. These additional costs are not included in our projections. In the event that we incur these additional costs, distributions to our shareholders would be delayed or reduced.
Accounting & Financial Operations1 | 2.9%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
We cannot assure you of the exact timing and amount of any further distributions to our shareholders.Debt & Financing5 | 14.3%
Debt & Financing - Risk 1
Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, such as actual events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults or non-performance by financial institutions or transactional counterparties, could adversely affect our business operations, strategic goals and our financial condition and results of operations.Debt & Financing - Risk 2
We do not anticipate making distributions other than distributions from property dispositions or of liquidation proceeds.We have not paid any dividends other than the following special dividends/distributions:
- June 15, 2016- A special distribution of $9.25 per share.
- September 15, 2016- A special distribution of $1.50 per share.
- July 7, 2017 – A special distribution of $1.00 per share.
We have a history of operating losses and we anticipate operating losses in the future. There can be no guarantee that we will have income to distribute other than proceeds from the sale of properties or of the Company, and we may not make any dividends or distributions in the future other than distributions of proceeds on the sale of the Company or any of our assets.
Debt & Financing - Risk 3
Our mortgage indebtedness could adversely impact the value of our shareholders' investment if the value of the property securing the debt falls or if we are forced to refinance the debt during adverse economic conditions.The Company secured a non-revolving credit line for up to $3,000,000 (the "Original Line") with a bank, which closed on March 21, 2018. The original line included an interest only phase. On April 30, 2021, the loan converted to the Permanent Phase with an outstanding principal balance of $2,200,000. During the Permanent Phase, the Company is paying interest at a fixed rate of 3.85%, plus principal based on a 20-year amortization period. The loan will mature on April 30, 2028. The outstanding balance as of December 31, 2023 was $1,995,916.
To secure access to additional working capital through the final sale date of the Flowerfield industrial buildings, the Company secured a second loan evidenced by a non-revolving business line of credit agreement and promissory note with the Original Line bank for up to $3,000,000, which closed on January 24, 2019. This loan included an interest only phase. On May 20, 2021, the loan converted to the Permanent Phase with an outstanding principal balance of $3,000,000. During the Permanent Phase, the Company pays interest at a fixed rate of 3.85%, plus principal based on a 20-year amortization period. The loan will mature on May 20, 2028. The outstanding balance as of December 31, 2023 was $2,730,973.
Both lines are secured by approximately 31.8 acres of the Flowerfield Industrial Park including the related buildings and leases. As of December 31, 2023, the Company is in compliance with the loan covenants. The Company anticipates modifying the terms of the loans following the completion of the subdivision so that the loans remain secured by the subdivided industrial park lot only.
On September 15, 2021, the Company, through its subsidiary GSD Cortlandt, LLC ("GSD Cortlandt"), secured a $4.95 million term loan (the "Mortgage Loan") from Signature Bank, the proceeds of which were used to pay off the previous GSD Cortlandt debt facility of which $1,050,000 was outstanding. The term of the Mortgage Loan is five years with an option to extend for an additional five years (the "Extension Period"). Until the initial maturity date, the Mortgage Loan bears interest at an annual rate equal to 3.75%. If the maturity date is extended for the Extension Period, the rate of interest on the Mortgage Loan will adjust and be fixed for the Extension Period to the greater of (i) 3.75% or (ii) 275 basis points in excess of the weekly average yield on United States Treasury Securities adjusted to a constant maturity of five years as most recently made available by the Federal Reserve Board as of thirty days prior to the first day of the Extension Period. The Mortgage Loan will be paid in monthly installments of principal and interest calculated on the basis of a thirty-year amortization schedule. If the maturity date is extended for the Extension Period, the amount of each monthly installment will be recalculated for the Extension Period based on the adjusted interest rate on the Mortgage Loan and an amortization schedule of twenty-five years. The lender has the right, but not the obligation, to decline to extend the term of the Mortgage Loan if the loan to value ratio of the property is greater than seventy percent (70%), or the property does not support a debt service coverage ratio (as calculated by the lender) of at least 1.3 to 1, in each case on the date the extension is exercised. GSD Cortlandt also is responsible for all fees and expenses associated with the extension including, but not limited to, the lender's reasonable legal fees, an inspection fee in the amount of $150, and a tax service fee.
The Mortgage Loan may be prepaid in whole or in part, at any time, provided the borrower (GSD Cortlandt) pays the bank with each prepayment a prepayment fee equal to (i) during the first loan year and, if applicable, the first loan year of the Extension Period, five percent of the amount of such prepayment; (ii) during the second loan year and, if applicable, during the second loan year of the Extension Period, four percent of the amount of such prepayment; (iii) during the third loan year and, if applicable, during the third loan year of the Extension Period, three percent of the amount of such prepayment; (iv) during the fourth loan year and, if applicable, during the fourth loan year of the Extension Period, two percent of the amount of such prepayment; and (v) during the fifth loan year and, if applicable, during the fifth loan year of the Extension Period, one percent of the amount of such prepayment. There will be no prepayment fee for any prepayment made during the sixty-day period immediately preceding the initial maturity date or the last sixty days of the Extension Period. All prepayments must include accrued and unpaid interest through the date of prepayment. If the Cortlandt Manor property is sold to a bona fide third-party purchaser within the initial two years of the term of the Mortgage Loan, the prepayment fee to be paid upon repayment of the Mortgage Loan in full will be reduced by fifty percent. The outstanding balance as of December 31, 2023 was $4,754,180.
On March 12, 2023, Signature Bank was closed by the New York State Department of Financial Services, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC") as receiver. To protect depositors, the FDIC transferred all the deposits and substantially all of the assets of Signature Bank to Signature Bridge Bank, N.A., a full-service bank that will be operated by the FDIC as it markets the institution to potential bidders. On March 12, 2023, the Company had approximately $61,000 on deposit and approximately $97,000 in a real estate tax escrow account (escrow balance will not exceed approximately $109,000) at Signature Bank. Based upon the announcement on March 12, 2023, from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Federal Reserve and the FDIC that all depositors of Signature Bank would have access to all of their deposits and the fact that the amount on deposit is below the $250,000 cap on FDIC deposit insurance, the Company expects to have access to all of its cash on deposit at Signature Bank. On December 14, 2023, the FDIC transferred the Mortgage Loan to SIG CRE 2023 Venture LLC, which is now the holder of the Mortgage Loan. There are no undrawn amounts under the Mortgage Loan.
The Mortgage Loan is secured by the Cortlandt Manor property located at 1985 Crompond Road (5.01 acres).
On December 27, 2023, the Company, through its subsidiaries GSD Cortlandt, LLC ("GSD Cortlandt") and Buttonwood Acquisition, LLC ("Buttonwood"), secured a term mortgage loan (the "Mortgage Loan") in the principal amount of $1,500,000 with LLYR Resources, LLC. The net proceeds of the Mortgage Loan will be used for general working capital. The Mortgage Loan is unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Company. The term of the Mortgage Loan is two years. Until the maturity date, the Mortgage Loan bears interest at a floating interest rate of 1.5% per annum in excess of the Wall Street Prime Rate, with such interest payable monthly, which may be prepaid, in whole or in part, at any time, without payment of a prepayment fee.
The Mortgage Loan is secured by a first mortgage in the amount of $1,500,000 on the interests of GSD Cortlandt in 1989 Crompond Road and 1987 Crompond Road in Cortlandt Manor, New York, and the interests of Buttonwood in 206 Buttonwood Avenue and certain vacant land off of Buttonwood Road in Cortlandt Manor, New York.
Debt & Financing - Risk 4
Illiquidity of real estate investments could significantly impede our ability to respond to adverse changes in the performance of our properties and harm our financial condition.Because real estate investments are relatively illiquid, our ability to promptly sell one or more properties in the portfolio in response to changing economic, financial and investment conditions is limited.
The real estate market is affected by many factors that are beyond our control, including:
- adverse changes in international, national, regional and local economic and market conditions;- changes in interest rates and in the cost and terms of debt financing;- absence of liquidity in credit markets which limits the availability and amount of debt financing;- changes in governmental laws and regulations, fiscal policies and zoning ordinances and the related costs of compliance with laws and regulations, fiscal policies and ordinances;- the ongoing need for capital improvements, particularly in older structures;- changes in operating expenses; and - civil unrest, acts of God, including earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters, and acts of war or terrorism, including the consequences of the terrorist acts, such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001.
Debt & Financing - Risk 5
Investment in medical parks is capital intensive.Our medical properties require periodic capital expenditures and renovation to remain competitive. Maintaining our occupancy upon renewals or locating new tenants may require rent concessions, tenant improvements or a combination of both. Additionally, the recent federal healthcare legislation has caused some medical professionals to increase their space requirements. Our ability to relocate our tenants into more suitable space within our medical parks may be limited due to the size of the suites currently vacant and the willingness of tenants to relocate within the building. Our ability to fund capital expenditures may be limited.
Production
Total Risks: 11/35 (31%)Above Sector Average
Employment / Personnel2 | 5.7%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
Our business, operations and timelines for pursuing entitlements, property sales and distributions of proceeds could be adversely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.Employment / Personnel - Risk 2
Loss of key management personnel.Our success depends to a significant extent upon the continuing efforts of Gary Fitlin, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and Peter Pitsiokos, our Chief Operating Officer. We have programs in place that have been designed to motivate, reward and retain such executive officers, including employment agreements and our Retention Bonus Plan. Nevertheless, the loss or unavailability of either of our executive officers due to retirement, resignation, COVID-19 or otherwise could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations in general, and our efforts to position our properties to maximize values and distributions to shareholders in particular, if we are unable to retain our executive officers.
Costs9 | 25.7%
Costs - Risk 1
There are risks associated with seeking to enhance the value of certain properties.Costs - Risk 2
If we are unable to maintain the occupancy rates of currently leased space and/or to lease currently available space, if tenants default under their leases or other obligations to us or if our cash flow is otherwise less than we expect, distributions to our shareholders may be delayed or reduced.The sales proceeds that could be generated from opportunistic dispositions of our real properties depend in large part on occupancy and rental rates, our success in renting currently available space and the existence of any significant tenant defaults that were not subsequently cured. In calculating the estimated distributions, it was assumed that we would maintain the occupancy rates of currently leased space and that we would not experience any significant tenant defaults during the process of seeking entitlements and selling assets that were not subsequently cured. Negative trends in one or more of these factors may adversely affect the resale value of the properties, which would reduce our distributions. Disposition proceeds and related distributions will be reduced to the extent that we receive less rental income than we expect. We may also decide in the event of a tenant default to restructure the lease, which could require us to substantially reduce the rent payable to us under the lease or make other modifications that are unfavorable to us.
Costs - Risk 3
If our land entitlement and liquidation costs or unpaid liabilities are greater than we expect, our distributions to our shareholders may be delayed or reduced.In order to obtain certain entitlements, permits and approvals, we may be required to prepare and present additional data to governmental authorities pertaining to the potential adverse impact that any proposed activities may have on the environment, individually or in the aggregate. Certain approval procedures may require preparation of studies to assess the environmental impact of new sites or the expansion of existing sites. Compliance with these regulatory requirements is expensive and significantly lengthens the time needed to develop a site.
The liquidation basis of accounting requires us to accrue all costs associated with implementing and completing our plan of liquidation. Total liability for estimated costs in excess of estimated receipts during liquidation, inclusive of the costs listed above plus costs associated with the sale of real estate, payments made under the retention bonus plan, litigation costs and liquidating costs, total $11,108,640. The total amount of land entitlement costs, transaction fees and all operating and administrative costs in the liquidation is not yet known and, therefore, we have used estimates of these costs in calculating the amounts of our projected distributions to our shareholders. To the extent that we have underestimated these costs in calculating our projections or we incur unforeseen additional costs, our actual distributions may be lower than our estimated net assets. In addition, if the claims of our creditors are greater than we have anticipated, or we decide to acquire one or more insurance policies covering unknown or contingent claims against us, our distributions may be delayed or reduced. Further, if a reserve fund is established, payment of distributions to our holders of common shares may be delayed or reduced.
Costs - Risk 4
Illiquidity of real estate and lack of diversification may make it difficult for us to sell properties or achieve satisfactory returns in one or more properties within projected timelines.Our assets consist substantially of real properties which are relatively illiquid assets. We may encounter difficulty in disposing of properties when tenants vacate either at the expiration of the applicable lease or otherwise. When we decide to sell a particular property, our ability to do so and the prices we receive on their sale may be affected by many factors, including the number of potential buyers, the number of competing properties on the market and other market conditions, as well as whether the property is leased and if it is leased, the terms of the lease. As a result, we may be unable to sell our properties for an extended period of time at the values disclosed in our Consolidated Statement of Net Assets, which would adversely affect our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition. We expect to complete our process of pre-development enhancement and subsequent sale of all our properties by December 31, 2025. However, the illiquid nature of real estate and the short timeframe that we have chosen to complete pre-development value enhancement and subsequent sale of assets could adversely impact the prospects for achieving our value enhancement and sale objectives and may ultimately result in an extension of the timeline and or additional costs for achieving our pre-development property value enhancement and asset sale objectives.
Costs - Risk 5
Risks incidental to real estate ownership and management.Because our business plan is to pursue the opportunistic disposition of our properties, we do not expect to make any further investments other than to enhance the values of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties which may include acquisitions of land and/or executing land swaps. Accordingly, an investment in Gyrodyne depends upon the financial performance and the value of our current portfolio of properties, which properties are subject to the risks normally associated with the ownership and management of rental properties and real estate in general. The risks associated with ownership and management of rental properties include the non-performance of lease obligations by tenants, leasehold improvements that will be costly or difficult to remove should it become necessary to re-rent the leased space for other uses, covenants in certain retail leases that limit the types of tenants to which available space can be rented (which may limit demand or reduce the rents realized on re-renting), rights of termination of leases due to events of casualty or condemnation affecting the leased space or the property or due to interruption of the tenant's quiet enjoyment of the leased premises, and obligations of a landlord to restore the leased premises or the property following events of casualty or condemnation. The risks associated with ownership and management of real estate in general include:
- adverse changes in general and local economic conditions which affect the demand for real estate assets;- competition from other properties;- fluctuations in interest rates;- reduced availability of financing;- the cyclical nature of the real estate industry and possible oversupply of, or reduced demand for, properties in the markets in which our investments are located;- the attractiveness of our properties to tenants and purchasers;- how well we manage our properties;- changes in market rental rates and our ability to rent space on favorable terms;- the financial condition of our tenants including their becoming insolvent and bankrupt;- the need to periodically renovate, repair and re-lease space and the costs thereof; and - increases in maintenance, insurance and operating costs.
Costs - Risk 6
Some of our potential losses may not be covered by insurance.We use our discretion in determining amounts, coverage limits and deductibility provisions of insurance, with a view to maintaining appropriate insurance coverage on our properties at a reasonable cost and on suitable terms. This may result in insurance coverage that, in the event of a substantial loss, would not be sufficient to pay the full current market value or current replacement cost of the property and also may result in certain losses being totally uninsured. Inflation, changes in building codes, zoning or other land use ordinances, environmental considerations or other factors might not make it feasible to use insurance proceeds to replace a building after such building has been damaged or destroyed. Under such circumstances, the insurance proceeds, if any, received by us might not be adequate to restore our economic position with respect to such property.
Costs - Risk 7
We may experience increased operating costs, which might reduce our estimated net assets and the sales prices received for our properties.Our properties are subject to increases in operating expenses such as for cleaning, electricity, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, administrative costs and other costs associated with security, landscaping and repairs and maintenance of our properties. In general, under our leases with tenants, we pass through all or a portion of these costs to them. There can be no assurance that tenants will actually bear the full burden of these higher costs, or that such increased costs will not lead them, or other prospective tenants, to seek space elsewhere. If operating expenses increase, the availability of other comparable space in the geographic markets of our properties might limit our ability to increase rents; if operating expenses increase without a corresponding increase in revenues, our profitability could diminish thereby reducing our estimated proceeds on disposition of real properties and limit the amount and likely delay the timing of our distributions.
Costs - Risk 8
The loss of a major tenant could adversely affect our financial condition.We are and expect that we will continue to be subject to a degree of tenant concentration at certain of our operating properties. As indicated above, we are subject to risks associated with the financial condition of our tenants. In the event that a tenant occupying a significant portion of one or more of our properties or whose rental income represents a significant portion of the rental revenue at such property or properties were to experience financial weakness, default on its lease, elect not to renew its lease or file bankruptcy it would negatively impact our financial condition and, as a result, our distributions. Our existing leases with Stony Brook University Hospital and affiliates comprise approximately 22% of our total rentable square feet and the annual rent is expected to represent approximately 27% of our annual rental revenue for 2024.
The largest medical tenant in the Cortlandt Manor Medical Center represents 14% of our total rentable square feet as of December 31, 2023. The annual rent from such tenant is expected to represent approximately 28% of our annual rental revenue for 2024.
Costs - Risk 9
We are subject to risks associated with renovations and capital improvements.Our properties have an ongoing need for renovations and other capital improvements, including replacement of HVAC systems, parking lots, and other structural items. Tenants often require us to make periodic capital improvements as a condition of renewing leases. Capital improvements and renovation projects may give rise to the following risks:
- possible environmental problems;- construction cost overruns and delays;- a possible shortage of available cash to fund capital improvements and the related possibility that financing for these capital improvements may not be available to us on affordable terms; and - uncertainties as to market demand or a loss of market demand after capital improvements have begun.
The costs associated with capital improvements on our properties could adversely affect our financial condition.
Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 6/35 (17%)Below Sector Average
Regulation3 | 8.6%
Regulation - Risk 1
Federal health care legislation has affected medical office real estate.Regulation - Risk 2
Community opposition could adversely impact our efforts to obtain entitlements and enhance the value of our properties.The process of seeking required entitlements, permits and approvals is sometimes delayed or prevented due to community opposition and adverse publicity from neighboring property owners, members of the general public or non-governmental organizations, or other third parties and other factors beyond our control. The Company's efforts to seek entitlements, permits or other approvals have been the subject of protests by civic groups asserting environmental, traffic and congestion issues as well as adverse impact to the historic nature of the area. Such community opposition could lead to the denial of entitlements, permits or other approvals essential to our efforts to increase the value of our properties or to the imposition of restrictive conditions with which it is not practicable or feasible to comply and could impact our ability to enhance the value of our properties.
On March 30, 2022, the Town of Smithtown Planning Board (the "Planning Board") unanimously granted Gyrodyne's application for preliminary approval to divide the Flowerfield property into eight lots, subject to certain conditions (the "Flowerfield Subdivision Application"). On April 26, 2022, the Incorporated Village of Head of the Harbor and certain other parties commenced a special proceeding (the "Article 78 Proceeding") against the Town of Smithtown and certain other parties, including the Company, seeking to annul the Planning Board's determinations relating to the Flowerfield Subdivision Application. The Article 78 Proceeding was commenced by the filing of a petition (the "Petition") in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Suffolk County, pursuant to Article 78 of New York's Civil Practice Law and Rules ("Article 78"). Specifically, the Petition seeks to annul the Planning Board's (i) approval of a findings statement, pursuant to the SEQRA, dated September 16, 2021, and adopted by the Planning Board on March 30, 2022, concerning the Flowerfield Subdivision Application, and (ii) preliminary approval on March 30, 2022 of the Flowerfield Subdivision Application. The arguments made in the Petition are substantially similar to those made by opponents of the Flowerfield Subdivision Application during the SEQRA and subdivision process. The Company and the Town of Smithtown are vigorously defending the Planning Board's determinations against the Petition.
Challenging a government decision in an Article 78 proceeding can lead to delay in enforcement of the government action, whether or not the suit is successful, and the government sometimes agrees to delay implementation until legal challenges are resolved. Although Article 78 proceedings take place on an expedited timeline and generally without discovery, the Article 78 Proceeding could take an additional six months or more for a decision given the impact the pandemic has had on the court system with additional time needed for an appeal, if one is filed. Consequently, the commencement of the Article 78 Proceeding could result in a further extension of the Company's timeline for completing the process of securing entitlements, selling our properties and distributing net proceeds. Nevertheless, the Company remains confident that the process of negotiating purchase agreements, securing final subdivision approval and final unappealable site plan approval and consummating the sale of our properties will culminate by year-end 2025, although the Company believes that standard market contract terms would include resolution to the Article 78 proceeding as condition to closing and there can be no assurance that the Company and the Town of Smithtown will be successful in the defense of the Planning Board's determinations against the Petition or that other factors beyond our control (i.e., potential contract contingencies including site plan approval (excluding the existing industrial buildings situated on two separate lots which can be sold together or separately upon the resolution of the Article 78 Proceeding and the conclusion of the subdivision, without any site plan approvals)) will necessitate an extension of the timeline.
Regulation - Risk 3
Stipulation of Settlement prohibits us from selling our remaining properties at prices below December 2014 appraised values.On August 14, 2015, the Company entered a Stipulation of Settlement (the "Settlement") providing for the settlement of a putative class action lawsuit against the Company and certain related parties. Under the Settlement, Gyrodyne agreed that any sales of its properties would be effected only in arm's-length transactions at prices at or above their appraised values as of 2014.
As of December 31, 2023, the aggregate appraised value of our remaining unsold properties exceeded the respective 2014 aggregate appraised value for such properties.
The requirement in the Settlement that the Company sell its remaining properties at prices above the December 2014 appraised values could limit the options available to the Company. The Company believes that it is in the best interests of the shareholders to pursue certain pre-development enhancements to our remaining properties prior to seeking their ultimate disposition to a developer or other purchaser because doing so will result in higher aggregate values for such properties as a whole and thus higher estimated distributions as compared with selling the properties with their current zoning and entitlements. The Company may also entertain offers from potential buyers who may be willing to pay prices for the properties in their current entitlement and zoning status that the Company finds more attractive from a timing or value perspective than might be achievable through completing an entitlement process. If the Company receives an offer prior to the completion of the entitlement process that it believes is in the best interests of the shareholders, it may nevertheless be prevented from consummating such transaction because of the price floor set in the Settlement. In addition, a severe downturn in the general economy or in the real estate market, or other negative factors beyond our control, may drive down the values of commercial real estate properties, or otherwise result in the values of our remaining properties being reduced to levels below the 2014 appraised values, in which case we may be prohibited under the Settlement from selling such properties. Such limitation on the options available to the Company may make it more difficult to accomplish our stated objective of completing the process of seeking entitlements and selling assets by December 31, 2025.
Furthermore, the Stipulation's price floor provision does not factor in land entitlement costs that may be incurred in enhancing the value of any particular property. The price floor provision may create a perverse incentive for the Company to incur certain land entitlement costs to increase the value of a property beyond its stipulated price floor even if the land entitlement costs incurred exceed the amount of the increase.
Taxation & Government Incentives1 | 2.9%
Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 1
Changes in federal tax law could adversely affect the tax treatment of distributions to our shareholders.Environmental / Social2 | 5.7%
Environmental / Social - Risk 1
We may incur costs to comply with environmental laws.Environmental / Social - Risk 2
Our properties may subject us to known and unknown liabilities.Our existing properties may have known and unknown liabilities for which we would have no recourse, or only limited recourse, to the former owners of such properties. As a result, if a liability were successfully asserted against us based upon ownership of an acquired property, we might be required to pay significant sums to settle it, which could adversely affect our financial results, cash flow and proceeds available for distribution. Unknown liabilities relating to properties could include:
- liabilities for clean-up of pre-existing disclosed or undisclosed environmental contamination;- claims by tenants, vendors or other persons arising on account of actions or omissions of the former owners of the properties; and - liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business.
Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 3/35 (9%)Above Sector Average
Demand2 | 5.7%
Demand - Risk 1
The value of our medical office park may be affected by factors in the healthcare industry.Demand - Risk 2
We are subject to risks associated with the financial condition of our tenants.Our tenants may experience a downturn in their business resulting in their inability to make rental payments when due. In addition, a tenant may seek the protection of bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws, which could result in the rejection and termination of such tenant's lease and cause a reduction in our cash flow. We cannot evict a tenant solely because of its filing for bankruptcy. A bankruptcy court, however, may authorize a tenant to reject and terminate its lease. In such a case, our claim against the tenant for past due rent and unpaid future rent would be subject to a statutory cap that might be substantially less than the remaining rent owed under the lease. In any event, it is unlikely that a bankrupt tenant will pay the entire amount it owes us under a lease. The loss of rental payments from tenants would likely reduce proceeds from real property dispositions and distributions from such proceeds.
The Coronavirus pandemic has affected and will likely for the foreseeable future affect the markets in which our tenants operate and otherwise impact our facilities, which will adversely impact the businesses of our tenants and, in turn, our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to pay distributions.
Sales & Marketing1 | 2.9%
Sales & Marketing - Risk 1
If we are unable to find buyers for our properties at our expected sales prices, distributions may be delayed or reduced.Macro & Political
Total Risks: 3/35 (9%)Above Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment3 | 8.6%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
A sustained or further increase in inflation could have an adverse impact on our operating expenses, and higher interest rates could result in lower sales proceeds from future dispositions.Economy & Political Environment - Risk 2
Geographic concentration of our properties will make our business vulnerable to economic downturns in the New York metropolitan area.All our remaining properties are located in the New York metropolitan area, specifically Northern Westchester and eastern Long Island. Economic conditions in these locations will significantly affect our revenues and the value of our properties. Business layoffs or downsizing, industry slowdowns, changing demographics, the COVID-19 pandemic and other similar factors may adversely affect the economic climate in these areas. Any resulting oversupply or reduced demand for space in the New York metropolitan area would therefore have a disproportionate negative impact on our revenues.
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 3
We are subject to risks stemming from the New York State budgets.Our industrial park borders Stony Brook University and our leases with the University, including leases with the University's affiliates, represent over 22% of our overall rentable space. The New York State budget puts additional pressure on Stony Brook University, part of the State University of New York system, to cut costs. Many of our tenants service the local area and may be adversely affected by a reduction in business from Stony Brook University. Stony Brook University and its affiliates currently have three leases with Gyrodyne comprising approximately 34,000 square feet and $714,000 in annual rental revenue.
Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 1/35 (3%)Below Sector Average
Cyber Security1 | 2.9%
Cyber Security - Risk 1
Cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents may adversely affect our business by causing a disruption to our operations, a compromise or corruption of our confidential information, and/or damage to our tenant and other business relationships, all of which could negatively impact our financial condition.See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.
FAQ
What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
1. Financial & Corporate
- Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
- Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
- Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
2. Legal & Regulatory
- Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
- Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
- Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
- Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
3. Production
- Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
- Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
- Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
- Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
4. Technology & Innovation
- Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
- Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
- Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
- Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
5. Ability to Sell
- Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
- Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
- Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
- Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
6. Macro & Political
- Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
- Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
- International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
- Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.