pw_10q.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014
000-54560
(Commission File Number)
POWER REIT
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
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45-3116572
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(State of Organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
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301 Winding Road, Old Bethpage, NY
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11804
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code)
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(212) 750-0373
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
______________________________N/A_________________________________
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
1,670,288 common shares, $0.001 par value, outstanding at May 12, 2014.
POWER REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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Item 1 – Financial Statements (Unaudited)
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3 |
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Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
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3 |
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Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
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4 |
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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
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5 |
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Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
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6 |
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Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
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14 |
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Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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15 |
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Item 4 – Controls and Procedures
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15 |
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
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Item 1 – Legal Proceedings
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16 |
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Item 1A – Risk Factors
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17 |
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Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
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17 |
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Item 3 – Defaults Upon Senior Securities
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17 |
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Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures
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17 |
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Item 5 – Other Information
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17 |
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Item 6 – Exhibits
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17
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SIGNATURES
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18
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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(Unaudited)
March 31,
2014
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(See Note 1)
December 31,
2013
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ASSETS
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Land
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$ |
2,368 |
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$ |
2,368 |
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Net investment in capital lease - railroad
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9,150 |
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9,150 |
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Total real estate assets
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11,518 |
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11,518 |
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Cash and cash equivalents
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3,085 |
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78 |
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Other receivables
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- |
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6 |
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Prepaid expense
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69 |
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8 |
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Intangible assets, net
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231 |
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233 |
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Other assets
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276 |
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203 |
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TOTAL ASSETS
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$ |
15,179 |
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$ |
12,046 |
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LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
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Deferred revenue
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$ |
150 |
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$ |
6 |
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Accounts payable
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648 |
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406 |
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Accrued interest
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90 |
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55 |
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Current portion of long-term debt
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30 |
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30 |
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Current debt, related party
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1,650 |
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1,650 |
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Other long-term debt
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814 |
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827 |
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TOTAL LIABILITIES
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3,382 |
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2,974 |
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Series A 7.75% Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock Par Value $25.00 (175,000 shares authorized; 108,060 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and 0 issued and outstanding and December 31, 2013)
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2,702 |
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- |
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Commitment and Contingencies
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Equity:
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Common shares, $0.001 par value (100,000,000 shares authorized; 1,670,288 and 1,676,955 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)
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2 |
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2 |
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Additional paid-in capital
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10,441 |
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10,476 |
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Accumulated deficit
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(1,348 |
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(1,406 |
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Total Equity
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9,095 |
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9,072 |
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TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
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$ |
15,179 |
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$ |
12,046 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended
March 31,
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2014
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2013
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REVENUE
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Lease income from capital lease – railroad, net
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$ |
229 |
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$ |
229 |
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Rental income
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69 |
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22 |
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TOTAL REVENUE
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298 |
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251 |
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EXPENSES
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Amortization
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3 |
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- |
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General and administrative
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42 |
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69 |
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Stock-based compensation
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22 |
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27 |
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Property tax
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7 |
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3 |
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Property acquisition expenses
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4 |
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11 |
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Litigation expenses (see note 8)
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113 |
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240 |
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Interest expense
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50 |
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12 |
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TOTAL EXPENSES
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241 |
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362 |
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NET INCOME (LOSS)
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$ |
57 |
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$ |
(111 |
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Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share:
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Basic
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$ |
0.03 |
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$ |
(0.07 |
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Diluted
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0.03 |
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$ |
(0.07 |
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Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding:
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Basic
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1,674,733 |
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1,623,250 |
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Diluted
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1,688,080 |
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1,623,250 |
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Cash dividend per common share
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- |
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$ |
0.10 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended March 31,
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2014
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2013
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Operating activities
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Net income (loss)
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$ |
57 |
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$ |
(111 |
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Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities
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Amortization
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3 |
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- |
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Stock-based compensation
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22 |
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27 |
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities
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Decrease in other receivables
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6 |
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6 |
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(Increase) decrease in prepaid expense
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(61 |
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6 |
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Increase in other assets
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(73 |
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(37 |
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Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue
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144 |
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(2 |
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Increase in accounts payable
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242 |
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103 |
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Increase in accrued interest
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35 |
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11 |
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Net cash provided by operating activities
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375 |
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2 |
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Financing Activities
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Principal payment on long-term debt
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(13 |
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(12 |
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Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock
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2,645 |
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- |
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Cash dividends paid
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- |
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(165 |
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Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
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2,632 |
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(177 |
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Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
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3,007 |
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(175 |
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Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
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78 |
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366 |
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Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
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$ |
3,085 |
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$ |
191 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
POWER REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information, and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, these interim financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the Company, as defined below, these unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary to present fairly the information set forth herein. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full year.
These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes included in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2014.
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Power REIT (the “Registrant” or the “Trust”, and together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “we”, “us”, the “Company” or “Power REIT”, unless the context requires otherwise) is a Maryland-domiciled real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) that holds, develops, acquires and manages real estate assets related to transportation and energy infrastructure in the United States. Within the transportation and energy infrastructure sectors, Power REIT is focused on making new acquisitions of real estate that are or will be leased to renewable energy generation projects, such as utility-scale solar farms and wind farms, that have low or minimal technology risk.
As of March 31, 2014, the Trust’s assets consisted of approximately 112 miles of railroad infrastructure and related real estate leased to a railway company; approximately 54 acres of fee simple land leased to a 5.7MW solar farm in Massachusetts; and approximately 100 acres of fee simple land leased to a number of California solar farms with an aggregate generating capacity of approximately 20MW. Power REIT is actively seeking to expand its portfolio of real estate related to renewable energy generation projects, and is pursuing investment opportunities that qualify for REIT ownership within solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, transmission and other infrastructure projects.
The Trust is structured as a holding company and owns its assets through three wholly-owned, special purpose subsidiaries that have been formed in order to hold real estate assets and generate lease revenue. The Trust’s railroad infrastructure and related real estate assets are held by its subsidiary Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railroad (“P&WV”), its Massachusetts solar farm-related real estate is owned by subsidiary PW Salisbury Solar, LLC (“PWSS”) and its California solar farm-related real estate is owned by subsidiary PW Tulare Solar, LLC (“PWTS”).
P&WV is a business trust organized under the laws of Pennsylvania for the purpose of owning railroad assets that are currently leased to Norfolk Southern Railway (“NSC”) pursuant to a 99-year lease that became effective in 1964 and is subject to an unlimited number of 99-year renewal periods under the same terms and conditions, including annual rent payments, at the option of NSC (the “Railroad Lease”). P&WV’s assets consist of a railroad line of approximately 112 miles in length, extending through Connellsville, Washington and Allegheny Counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through Brooke County in the State of West Virginia and through Jefferson and Harrison Counties in the State of Ohio, to Pittsburgh Junction in Harrison County, Ohio. There are also branch lines that total approximately 20 miles in length located in Washington and Allegheny Counties in Pennsylvania and Brooke County in West Virginia. NSC pays P&WV base cash rent of $915,000 per year, payable in quarterly installments. In addition, Power REIT believes NSC is responsible for additional rent, which is currently the subject of litigation. (See Note 8).
PWSS is a Massachusetts limited liability company that owns approximately 54 acres of land located in Salisbury, Massachusetts that is leased to a 5.7 MW operational solar farm. Pursuant to the lease agreement, PWSS’ tenant is required to pay PWSS rent of $80,800 cash for the year December 1, 2012 to November 30, 2013, with a 1.0% escalation in each corresponding year thereafter. Rent for the year December 1, 2013 to November 30, 2014 is $81,608. Rent is payable quarterly in advance and is recorded by Power REIT for accounting purposes on a straight-line basis, with $89,494 having been recorded during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. At the end of the 22-year lease period, which commenced on December 1, 2011 (prior to being assumed by PWSS), the tenant has certain renewal options, with terms to be mutually agreed upon.
PWTS is a California limited liability company that owns approximately 100 acres of land leased to a number of solar farms, with an aggregate generating capacity of approximately 20MW, located near Fresno, California. PWTS’s interest was structured to provide it with initial monthly rent payments from the seller of the land, until the solar farm tenants achieved commercial operations. As of the date of filing of this document, all the solar farm tenants have achieved commercial operations. Consequently, the solar farm tenants are currently obligated to pay PWTS an aggregate annual rent of $157,500 cash, payable in advance and without escalation during the 25-year term of the leases. At the end of the 25- year term, which commenced in March 2013 (prior to being assumed by PWTS), the tenants have certain renewal options, with terms to be mutually agreed upon. PWTS recorded rental income of $46,030 and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The Trust was formed as part of a reorganization and reverse triangular merger of P&WV that closed on December 2, 2011. P&WV survived the reorganization as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trust.
The Trust has elected to be treated for tax purposes as a REIT, which means that it is exempt from U.S. federal income tax if a sufficient portion of its annual income is distributed to its shareholders, and if certain other requirements are met. In order for the Trust to maintain its REIT qualification, at least 90% of its ordinary taxable annual income must be distributed to shareholders.
POWER REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include Power REIT and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Trust considers all highly liquid investments with original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of a money market fund reported in the consolidated balance sheet at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Revenue Recognition
The Railroad Lease is treated as a capital lease, and income to P&WV under the Railroad Lease is recognized as earned based on an implicit rate of 10% over the life of the lease, which is assumed to be perpetual for the purposes of revenue recognition and recording the leased assets on the consolidated balance sheet.
Lease revenue from land that is subject to an operating lease with rent escalation provisions is recorded on a straight-line basis when the amount of escalation in lease payments is known at the time Power REIT enters into the lease agreement, or known at the time Power REIT assumes an existing lease agreement as part of a land acquisition (e.g., an annual fixed percentage escalation).
Lease revenue from land that is subject to an operating lease without rent escalation provisions is recorded on a straight-line basis.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts in the 2013 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation.
Other Assets
The Trust records an asset for prepaid expenses and capitalizes other expenses that are expected to provide Power REIT with benefits over a period of one year or longer. During 2013, the Trust capitalized expenses of $96,225 related to its At-The-Market Offering of Common Stock (“ATM”), $36,133 related to its offering of Series A Preferred Stock and $27,193 related to the refinancing of the property owned by PWSS. The ATM and Preferred Stock related assets will be amortized pro-rata across the offering proceeds. The asset related to the refinancing will be amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the loan, which approximates the effective interest method. The Trust expects to amortize the shelf-offering expenses proportionately upon each draw. (See Note 6).
Intangibles
A portion of the acquisition price of the assets acquired by PWTS have been allocated on The Trust’s consolidated balance sheet between Land and Intangibles related thereto based on a report from an independent consultant. The total amount of intangibles established was $237,471, which will be amortized over a 24.6-year period. For the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, $2,413 and $0 of this intangible was amortized.
Land
Land is carried at cost. Newly acquired investments in land with in-place leases are accounted for as business combinations in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, “Business Combinations.” Upon the acquisition of land, management assesses the fair value of acquired assets (including land, improvements and identified intangibles such as above- and below-market leases and acquired in-place leases) and acquired and assumed liabilities (if any), and allocates the acquisition price based on these assessments. Newly acquired investments in land without in-place leases are recorded at cost (including costs related to the acquisition of the land).
POWER REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
Net Investment in Capital Lease – Railroad
P&WV’s net investment in its leased railroad property, recognizing the lessee’s perpetual renewal options, was estimated to have a current value of $9,150,000, assuming an implicit interest rate of 10%.
Fair Value
Fair value represents the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Trust measures its financial assets and liabilities in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value.
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Level 1 – valuations for assets and liabilities traded in active exchange markets, or interest in open-end mutual funds that allow a company to sell its ownership interest back at net asset value on a daily basis. Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets, liabilities or funds.
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Level 2 – valuations for assets and liabilities traded in less active dealer, or broker markets, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities or quoted prices in markets that are not active. Level 2 includes U.S. Treasury, U.S. government and agency debt securities, and certain corporate obligations. Valuations are usually obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or liabilities.
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Level 3 – valuations for assets and liabilities that are derived from other valuation methodologies, such as option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, and not based on market exchange, dealer, or broker traded transactions. Level 3 valuations incorporate certain assumptions and projections in determining the fair value assigned to such assets or liabilities.
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In determining fair value, the Trust utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as considering counterparty credit risk.
The carrying amounts of Power REIT’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, deposits, and accounts payable approximate fair value because of their relatively short maturity. Financial assets and liabilities disclosed at fair value were as follows:
March 31, 2014
($ in thousands)
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Level 1
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Level 2
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Level 3
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Total
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Assets
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
Cash and cash equivalents(1)
|
|
$ |
3,085 |
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|
$ |
- |
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$ |
- |
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|
$ |
3,085 |
|
Total at fair value
|
|
$ |
3,085 |
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|
$ |
- |
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$ |
- |
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|
$ |
3,085 |
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Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
Current debt, related party(2)
|
|
$ |
- |
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|
$ |
1,650 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
1,650 |
|
Long-term debt(3)
|
|
|
- |
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|
|
814 |
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|
|
- |
|
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|
814 |
|
Total current and long-term debt at fair value
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
2,464 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
2,464 |
|
___________
(1)
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Comprises money market funds, which are included in cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
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(2)
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Current debt, related party, comprises $1,650,000 borrowed by PWTS from Hudson Bay Partners, L.P., a wholly owned affiliate of David H. Lesser, to fund its acquisition of property in July 2013.
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(3)
|
Long-term debt comprises amounts borrowed and assumed by PWSS in connection with its acquisition of property in December 2012. (See Note 5, Long-term Debt.)
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POWER REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
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Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
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|
Level 3
|
|
|
Total
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Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents(1)
|
|
$ |
78 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
78 |
|
Total at fair value
|
|
$ |
78 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
78 |
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt, related party(2)
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
1,650 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
1,650 |
|
Long-term debt(3)
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
827 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
827 |
|
Total long-term debt at fair value
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
2,477 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
2,477 |
|
___________
(1)
|
Comprises money market funds, which are included in cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
|
(2)
|
Long-term debt, related party, comprises $1,650,000 borrowed by PWTS from Hudson Bay Partners, L.P., a wholly owned affiliate of David H. Lesser, to fund its acquisition of property in July 2013.
|
(3)
|
Long-term debt comprises amounts borrowed and assumed by PWSS in connection with its acquisition of property in December 2012. (See Note 5, Long-term Debt.)
|
For financial assets that utilize Level 1 inputs, the Trust utilizes both direct and indirect observable price quotes, including quoted market prices (Level 1 inputs).
Power REIT is actively seeking to expand its portfolio of real estate related to renewable energy generation projects, and is pursuing investment opportunities that qualify for REIT ownership within solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, transmission and other infrastructure projects.
As of July 12, 2013, the Trust’s wholly-owned subsidiary PWTS acquired approximately 100 acres of land located in Tulare County, California, near Fresno, for $1,550,000, not including transaction costs. The land is leased to over 20MW of utility scale solar projects with long-term power purchase agreements with either Southern California Edison or Pacific Gas & Electric. As of the date of the filing of this document, all of the solar projects have achieved commercial operations. Pursuant to the lease agreements, the lessees are required to pay annual cash rent totaling $157,500. Rent is paid annually in advance, in March of each year. At the end of the 25-year terms of the leases, which began running in March 2013 (prior to being assumed by PWTS), the tenants have certain renewal options, with terms to be mutually agreed upon.
The following table summarizes the fair values of the assets acquired as of July 12, 2013:
Land
|
|
$ |
1,312,529 |
|
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
|
|
|
|
|
Leases in-place
|
|
|
105,217 |
|
Leasing commission
|
|
|
85,472 |
|
Legal and marketing costs
|
|
|
46,782 |
|
Total assets acquired
|
|
$ |
1,550,000 |
|
POWER REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
4. CAPITAL LEASES AND OPERATING LEASES
Capital Leases
The Railroad Lease provides for a base cash rental of $915,000 per annum, payable quarterly, for the current 99-year lease period. The leased properties are maintained entirely at the lessee’s expense. Under the terms of the Railroad Lease, which became effective October 16, 1964, NSC (formerly Norfolk and Western Railway Company) leased all of P&WV’s real properties, including its railroad lines, for a term of 99 years, renewable by the lessee upon the same terms for additional 99-year terms in perpetuity. Prior to 1983, the Railroad Lease was accounted for as an operating lease in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board [FASB] ASC 840, Leases, because the railroad assets as accounted for under “betterment accounting” were considered similar to land. Effective January 1, 1983, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) changed the method of accounting for railroad companies from “betterment accounting” (which was previously used by the P&WV and most railroads) to “depreciation accounting”. The leased assets, under “depreciation accounting,” are no longer similar to land; and, effective January 1, 1983, under the provisions of ASC 840, the Railroad Lease is considered a capital lease and the property deemed sold in exchange for rentals receivable under GAAP accounting.
The Railroad Lease may be terminated by the lessee at the expiration of the initial term or any renewal term, or by default of NSC. In the event of termination, NSC is obligated to return to P&WV all properties covered by the Railroad Lease, together with sufficient cash and other assets to permit operation of the railroad for a period of one year. In addition, NSC would be obligated upon default or termination, to the extent NSC has not previously paid indebtedness due to P&WV, to settle remaining indebtedness owed to P&WV. The existing indebtedness owed to P&WV, including the ability of P&WV to make an immediate demand for payment of such amounts, is part of the subject of litigation. See Note 8, Legal Proceedings.
P&WV has determined that the lease term is perpetual (for GAAP accounting purposes only) because it is perceived that it would be un-economic for the lessee to terminate and the Lessee has control over its actions with respect to default and has unlimited renewal options. Accordingly, as of January 1, 1983, the rentals receivable of $915,000 per annum, recognizing renewal options by the lessee in perpetuity, were estimated to have a present value of $9,150,000, assuming an implicit interest rate of 10% as of the date FASB ASC 840 was implemented. P&WV believes it is not being paid all sums it is entitled to pursuant to the Railroad Lease above and beyond the base rental amount it has received in cash. (See Note 8).
Operating Leases
PWSS’ land is subject to a lease agreement with a special purpose entity that owns a solar farm with an original 22-year initial term with two five-year extension options on economic terms to be mutually agreed to between PWSS and the lessee. The lease commenced on December 1, 2011 and has approximately twenty years left on the initial term. The initial term is due to expire December 1, 2033, with two five-year extension options at the lessee’s option at fair market rates to be mutually determined. PWSS assumed the existing lease upon its acquisition of the Salisbury land. Rent is paid quarterly in advance with a 1.0% annual escalation. Rental income in each of the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, amounted to $22,373.
PWTS’ land is subject to lease agreements with special purpose entities that own solar farms with an original 25-year initial term (the “PWTS Leases”). The PWTS Leases include two five-year extension options on economic terms to be mutually agreed to between PWTS and the lessees. The PWTS Leases commenced in March 2013 (prior to being assumed by PWTS). PWTS assumed the existing PWTS Leases upon its acquisition of the Tulare land. Pursuant to the PWTS Leases, the lessee will pay PWTS $157,500 of annual cash rent paid annually in advance in March of each year.
5. LONG-TERM DEBT
On July 12, 2013, PWTS borrowed $1,650,000 from Hudson Bay Partners, L.P. (“HBP”), a wholly-owned affiliate of David H. Lesser, our Chairman and CEO, in the form of an A note and a B Note (the “Notes”), to fund the acquisition of property located near Fresno, California. The A note has a principal balance of $1,155,000 and carries an interest rate of 5.0% during the first six months, stepped up to 8.5% thereafter. The B note has a principal balance of $495,000 and carries an interest rate of 9.5% during the first six months, stepped up to 13.5% thereafter. Both notes have an eighteen-month maturity and require interest-only payments at six-month intervals or upon a prepayment. In addition to a first lien mortgage on PWTS’s property, the notes are also secured by a parent guarantee from the Trust.
On July 5, 2013, PWSS borrowed $750,000 from a regional bank (the “PWSS Term Loan”) to refinance a bridge loan that had been extended by HBP in connection with PWSS’ acquisition of leased property in December 2012. The PWSS Term Loan carries a fixed interest rate of 5.0%, a term of 10-years and amortizes based on a twenty-year principal amortization schedule. In addition to being secured by PWSS’ real estate assets, the term loan is secured by a parent guarantee from the Trust. The balance of the PWSS Term Loan as of March 31, 2014 is approximately $736,000.
On December 31, 2012, as part of the Salisbury land acquisition, PWSS assumed existing municipal financing (“Municipal Debt”). The Municipal Debt has approximately 18 years remaining. The Municipal Debt has a simple interest rate of 5.0% that is paid annually, with the next payment due February 1, 2015. The balance of the Municipal Debt as of March 31, 2014 is approximately $103,000.
POWER REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
6. SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT, COMMON STOCK OFFERING AND PREFERRED STOCK OFFERING
In May 2012, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) declared effective The Trust’s $100 million shelf registration statement on Form S-3. Under the registration statement, the Trust may from time to time publicly issue any combination of common or preferred equity or equity-linked securities (warrants, options or units) in any amounts up to an aggregate of $100 million.
On March 28, 2013, the Trust entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with MLV & Co. LLC (“MLV”) as its agent, and filed a prospectus supplement to its shelf registration statement, pursuant to which the Trust may, through MLV, offer and sell, from time to time, up to $5.4 million of its common shares through “at-the-market” offerings. Under the terms of the ATM Agreement, the Trust pays MLV fees equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of any such sales. The offering is being conducted as a “takedown” from the Trust’s shelf registration statement.
During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Trust sold 22,105 common shares, receiving net cash proceeds after fees and expenses of approximately $219,000. During the year ended December 31, 2013, in connection with these sales, the Trust amortized approximately $3,000 to additional paid in capital of previously capitalized expenses related to its shelf registration statement and the March 28, 2013 prospectus supplement.
As of March 31, 2014, Power REIT has an ongoing offering up to 175,000 shares of its 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference $25 per Share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”). The offering of Series A Preferred Stock is being made on a direct and continuous basis pursuant to a public offering prospectus supplement dated January 23, 2014 and an accompanying prospectus pursuant to the shelf registration statement on Form S-3. The Series A Preferred Stock is redeemable by the Trust at par ($25 per share) on or after February 28, 2019. The Series A Preferred Stock is the first issuance by Power REIT of equity securities other than its common shares. The Series A Preferred Stock ranks, as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, senior to our common shares. As of March 31, 2014, 108,060 shares of Preferred Stock have been sold for total gross proceeds of $2,702,000.
7. LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
The Trust grants awards pursuant to its 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (“Plan”), which was approved at the Trust’s 2012 annual shareholder meeting. The Plan provides for grants of stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) and other equity incentive awards to employees, officers and other persons providing services to the Trust and its subsidiaries, including outside directors. Compensation may be awarded under the Plan until it is terminated or until the ten-year anniversary of the Plan.
The initial number of shares of stock available for issuance under the Plan was 200,000 shares. During the third quarter of 2012, 30,000 shares of restricted common stock, and options to acquire 166,000 shares of common stock, were granted. During the second quarter of 2013, 1,600 shares of restricted common stock were granted to the trustees in lieu of cash compensation. During the first quarter of 2014, 6,667 shares of restricted common stock that had not vested were forfeited pursuant to the terms of the grant. During the first quarter of 2014, options to acquire 40,000 shares of common stock that had not vested were forfeited pursuant to the terms of the grant. As of March 31, 2014, 49,067 common shares remain authorized and available for issuance. The Plan contains an “evergreen” provision that automatically adjusts the number of shares available for future issuance, as provided in Section 4 of the Plan (subject to certain adjustments) as follows: “the number of shares of Stock which shall be made available for issuance under the Plan shall be increased by the positive number of shares equal to the lesser of: (i) (A) 10% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Stock, calculated on a fully diluted and consolidated basis (including the OP Units of our Operating Partnership, if any), less (B) the sum of (1) the aggregate number of shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan as of such date, plus (2) the aggregate number of shares subject to outstanding Awards and unvested shares of Restricted Stock or other unvested equity compensation granted under the Plan as of such date, or (ii) a lesser amount determined by the Compensation Committee. For clarity, if the amount determined in the formula in the preceding sentence is negative, the number of shares available for issuance shall neither be increased nor decreased.
Summary of Plan Activity – Options
The summary of Plan activity for the three months ended March 31, 2014, with respect to the Trust’s stock options, was as follows:
|
|
Number of Options
|
|
|
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
|
|
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2013
|
|
|
166,000 |
|
|
$ |
7.96 |
|
|
$ |
139,440 |
|
Plan Awards
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Options Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Options Forfeited
|
|
|
(40,000 |
) |
|
|
7.96 |
|
|
|
(33,600 |
) |
Balance as of March 31, 2014
|
|
|
126,000 |
|
|
|
7.96 |
|
|
|
105,840 |
|
Options expected to vest March 31, 2014
|
|
|
70,666 |
|
|
|
7.96 |
|
|
|
59,359 |
|
Options exercisable as of March 31, 2014
|
|
|
55,334 |
|
|
|
7.96 |
|
|
|
46,481 |
|
POWER REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
For the quarter ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013, the weighted average fair value of options vested, not vested and granted is $0.96 per share. The Aggregate Intrinsic Value is based on the difference between the option exercise price and the closing stock price of $8.80 at March 31, 2014.
Summary of Plan Activity – Restricted Stock
The summary of Plan activity for the three months ended March 31, 2014, with respect to the Trust’s restricted stock, was as follows:
|
|
Number of
Shares of
Restricted Stock
|
|
|
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2013
|
|
|
20,400 |
|
|
$ |
8.08 |
|
Restricted Stock Vested
|
|
|
(400 |
) |
|
|
10.40 |
|
Restricted Stock Forfeited
|
|
|
(6,667 |
) |
|
|
7.96 |
|
Balance as of March 31, 2014
|
|
|
13,333 |
|
|
|
7.96 |
|
Plan Award Assumptions
The term of each option granted during 2012 is 10 years. Both the restricted stock and options vest over the service period as follows: 33 1/3% on the first-year anniversary of the grant, 33 1/3% on the second-year anniversary of the grant and 33 1/3% on the third-year anniversary of the grant. The Trust recognizes share-based payment expenses based on grant date fair values and market closing price. Restricted stock is valued based on the market price of common stock on the grant date.
The Trust uses historical data to estimate dividend yield and volatility and the “simplified approach” as described in the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 107 and 110 to determine the expected term. The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the options is based on the U.S. treasury yield curve on the grant date. The Trust does not have historical data of forfeiture, and as a policy, has used an estimate of the forfeiture rate in calculating unrecognized share-based compensation expense. Compensation expenses may be adjusted if the actual forfeiture rate differs from this assumption.
Stock-based Compensation
During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the Trust recorded approximately $22,000 of non-cash expense related to restricted stock and options granted under the Plan compared to $27,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. As of March 31, 2014 there was approximately $106,000 of total unrecognized share-based compensation expense, which expense will be recognized through August 2015, equating to a weighted average amortization period of 2.0 years from the issuance date. The Trust does not currently have a policy regarding the repurchase of shares on the open market related to equity awards and does not currently intend to acquire shares on the open market.
8. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
As previously disclosed in its public filings with the SEC, the Trust and its wholly-owned subsidiary P&WV are in litigation with NSC and NSC’s sub-lessee, Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad (“WLE” and, together with NSC, the “Litigants”) concerning matters arising under the Railroad Lease. The case is pending in Federal trial court in Pittsburgh (the “Court”). The Litigants initiated the litigation against the Trust and P&WV in December 2011, seeking, among other things, a declaratory judgment that NSC was not in default under the Railroad Lease.
P&WV, as lessor, has asserted counterclaims, seeking determinations that NSC is in default under the Railroad Lease for, among other things, failing to reimburse P&WV for certain legal fees incurred by P&WV, failing to permit P&WV to inspect NSC’s books and records as called for under the terms of the Railroad Lease and failing to pay other amounts that P&WV believes are due and owing. P&WV also seeks declarations from the Court (a) that NSC’s obligation to repay the indebtedness owed under the Railroad Lease is not indefinite in duration, and (b) that the indebtedness owed to P&WV is due on demand with interest. If P&WV is successful with its counterclaims, it can terminate the Railroad Lease and demand from NSC payment of the indebtedness.
The indebtedness is the cumulative result of amounts received by NSC from its dispositions of P&WV property, additional rental amounts due and other sums that NSC owes to P&WV but which NSC has elected, under its interpretation of the Railroad Lease, to pay by increasing its indebtedness to P&WV rather than by providing P&WV with cash. According to records maintained by NSC pursuant to the Railroad Lease and provided by NSC to P&WV, as of December 31, 2012 the indebtedness owed to P&WV was approximately $16,600,000. NSC has not provided a more recent update of the indebtedness amount. P&WV believes that the indebtedness amount is understated. The indebtedness has not been included in P&WV’s balance sheets prepared under GAAP, because of the dispute as to when it is due. Similarly, certain additional rental amounts that NSC disputes are due on a current basis, and which have historically been treated as indebtedness, have not been included in P&WV’s income statements or balance sheets prepared under GAAP; however, these additional rent amounts have historically been recorded as taxable income on P&WV’s tax returns.
POWER REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
The Litigants have alleged that the Trust is a successor in interest in respect of the Railroad Lease. If that allegation were to be decided against us in a fact-finding stage of the litigation, it could lead to liability, expenses or other adverse effects, including to the extent the Trust has issued stock or engaged in certain other financing activities without the prior written consent of the lessee. The Trust believes that it is not a successor in interest in respect of the Railroad Lease and is not constrained by any of the Railroad Lease restrictions.
The parties have made certain supplements to their respective claims and counterclaims. In August 2013, P&WV filed a second supplement to its counterclaims following the Litigants’ disclosure of previously undisclosed dispositions of P&WV property. P&WV believes that additional amounts are owed to it as a result of these dispositions and, accordingly, asserted new counterclaims, including claims of fraud and conversion. Based on the information available at the time P&WV supplemented its claims, P&WV has estimated that the additional amounts owed to it exceed $8 million, not including potential interest and damages. P&WV also supplemented its counterclaim for additional rental amounts due in order to include the reimbursement of its legal expenses related to the litigation. In response to P&WV’s second supplement to its counterclaims, in January 2014 the Litigants amended their pleadings to add additional claims against both P&WV and the Trust. The Litigants’ new claims seek additional declarations from the Court that the Litigants have not defaulted on or violated the terms of the Railroad Lease.
On September 13, 2013, the Trust filed a motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal of all of the claims against it. On January 15, 2014, the Court heard oral argument from the parties on the Trust’s motion. A decision on the Trust’s summary judgment motion is pending.
The fact and expert discovery phases of the litigation have been completed with respect to the parties’ original claims and counterclaims, and their initial rounds of supplements thereto. Fact discovery with respect to P&WV’s August 2013 second supplement to its counterclaims, and the Litigants’ January 2014 pleading amendments made in response, is expected to be completed by May 31, 2014, and expert discovery with respect thereto is expected to be completed by August 11, 2014.
In connection with the litigation, P&WV incurred expenses of approximately $885,000 during the year ended December 31, 2013, and $700,000 during the year ended December 31, 2012. During the quarter ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, P&WV incurred expenses of approximately $113,000 and $240,000 respectively. As of March 31, 2014, P&WV had incurred a total of approximately $1,713,000 of cumulative expenses related to the litigation, of which approximately $454,000 was payable. P&WV believes that the costs associated with the litigation are reimbursable by NSC under the Railroad Lease as additional rent, but NSC has refused to pay such amounts. There can be no assurance that P&WV will prevail in collecting its litigation expenses from NSC; accordingly, the expenses of the litigation are accrued and expensed as incurred.
9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Trust and its subsidiaries have hired Morrison Cohen, LLP (“Morrison Cohen”) as their legal counsel with respect to general corporate matters and the litigation with NSC. A spouse of the Trust’s Chairman, CEO, Secretary and Treasurer is a partner at Morrison Cohen. During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, Power REIT (on a consolidated basis) paid approximately $0 in legal fees and costs to Morrison Cohen in connection with various legal matters, including the litigation with NSC, and another approximately $170,000 had been billed, but not paid.
On July 11, 2013, HBP, a wholly-owned affiliate of the Trust’s Chairman, CEO, Secretary and Treasurer, loaned PWTS $1,650,000 in the form of senior, secured bridge loan notes which remains outstanding at March 31, 2014. (See Note 5).
A wholly-owned subsidiary of HBP provides the Trust and its subsidiaries with office space at no cost.
Under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, the Trust may enter into transactions in which trustees, officers or employees have a financial interest, provided however, that in the case of a material financial interest, the transaction is disclosed to the Board of Trustees or the transaction shall be fair and reasonable. After consideration of the terms and conditions of the retention of Morrison Cohen and the bridge loan arrangements described above, the independent trustees approved the hiring of Morrison Cohen as counsel and approved the bridge loans, determining all such arrangements to be fair and reasonable and in the interest of the Trust.
10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On April 14, 2014, Power REIT Financo, LLC (“Financo”), a wholly owned, direct subsidiary of Power REIT, entered into a $26.2 million credit facility with a major institutional lender (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility is being used to fund a portion of the Kern County Acquisition (see below) and may be used to help fund additional acquisitions. The Credit Facility may also be used to refinance, in part, the existing bridge financing that Power REIT received in late 2013 from Hudson Bay Partners, L.P., a wholly owned affiliate of our Chairman and CEO, Mr. David H. Lesser, in order to make a prior solar project land acquisition. The Credit Facility has a five-year term and carries an interest rate of 350 basis points over LIBOR during the first three years, and 400 basis points over LIBOR during the remainder of the term. Power REIT has entered into interest rate hedging strategies designed to minimize the risks associated with any refinancing and with interest rate swings.
On April, 14, 2014, PW Regulus Solar, LLC (“PWRS”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Financo, completed the acquisition of approximately 450 acres of land in Kern County, California, near Fresno (the “Kern County Acquisition”). The land is the site for a 60 and 82 Megawatt (AC and DC respectively) solar photovoltaic power generation project that is currently under construction. PWRS acquired the land from the power project owner/developer and is leasing the land back to the owner/developer pursuant to a lease with a twenty-year initial term and two five-year extensions at the option of the lessee. Rent is payable in quarterly installments in advance, commencing upon lease effectiveness (on April 14, 2014). The initial annual rent is approximately $735,000 and the lease calls for annual rent escalations of 1%. The lease is a “triple net” lease, with all expenses to be paid by the tenant. During the extension periods, rent will be the greater of a stated rental rate defined in the lease or a percentage of project-level gross revenue. The project has a 20-year power purchase agreement with a major California power company. The acquisition price, not including transaction and closing costs, is approximately $9.2 million.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as statements containing the words "believe," "expect," "will," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "project," "plan," "assume" or other similar expressions, or negatives of those expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements contained in this report regarding our future strategy, future operations, projected financial position, estimated future revenues, projected costs, future prospects, the future of our industries and results that might be obtained by pursuing management's current or future plans and objectives are forward-looking statements.
You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of the date of the filing of this report. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these matters or how they may affect us. Over time, our actual results, performance, financial condition or achievements may differ from the anticipated results, performance, financial condition or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such differences may be significant and materially adverse to our security holders. Our forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date hereof, and we make no commitment to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements in order to reflect new information or subsequent events, circumstances or changes in expectations.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Power REIT is a Maryland-domiciled REIT that holds, develops, acquires and manages real estate assets related to transportation and energy infrastructure in the United States. Within the transportation and energy infrastructure sectors, Power REIT is focused on making new acquisitions of real estate that are or will be leased to renewable energy generation projects, such as utility-scale solar farms and wind farms, that have low or minimal technology risk.
Power REIT is structured as a holding company and owns its assets through three wholly-owned, special purpose subsidiaries that have been formed in order to hold real estate assets and generate lease revenue. Power REIT was formed as part of a reorganization and reverse triangular merger of P&WV that closed on December 2, 2011. P&WV survived the reorganization as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant. The Company’s investment strategy, which is focused on transportation and energy infrastructure-related real estate, builds upon its subsidiary P&WV’s historical ownership of railroad real estate assets, which are currently triple-net leased to NSC.
As of March 31, 2014, the Company’s assets consisted of approximately 112 miles of railroad infrastructure and related real estate leased to a railway company; approximately 54 acres of fee simple land leased to a 5.7MW solar farm in Massachusetts; and approximately 100 acres of fee simple land leased to a number of California solar farms with an aggregate generating capacity of approximately 20MW. Power REIT is actively seeking to expand its portfolio of real estate related to renewable energy generation projects, and is pursuing investment opportunities that qualify for REIT ownership within solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, transmission and other infrastructure projects.
Revenue during the first quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2013 was approximately $298,000 and $251,000, respectively. Net income (loss) available for distribution during the first quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2013 was approximately $57,000 and $(111,000), respectively. The difference between our 2014 and 2013 first quarter results were principally attributable to the following: contribution of an additional $47,000 of additional rental income from acquired properties; a $127,000 decrease of litigation expenses related to the NSC litigation; a $27,000 decrease of general and administrative expense; a $38,000 increase of interest expense related to loans to acquire property.
The Trust’s cash outlays, other than acquisitions and dividend payments, are for general and administrative ("G&A") expenses, which consist principally of legal and other professional fees, consultant fees, trustees' fees, NYSE MKT listing fees, shareholder service company fees and auditing costs, litigation expenses, interest expense and property taxes. The Trust expects that it will continue to incur substantial litigation expenses during the remainder of 2014 related to the NSC litigation.
To meet its working capital and longer-term capital needs, Power REIT relies on cash provided by its operating activities, proceeds received from the issuance of equity securities and proceeds received from borrowings, which are typically secured by liens on acquired assets.
During the first quarter of 2014, the Company completed the sale of 108,060 shares of Preferred Stock that have been sold for total gross proceeds of $2,702,000.
FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS - NON GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We assess and measure our overall operating results based upon an industry performance measure referred to as Core Funds From Operations ("Core FFO") which management believes is a useful indicator of our operating performance. This report contains supplemental financial measures that are not calculated pursuant to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), including the measure identified by us as Core FFO. Following is a definition of this measure, an explanation as to why we present it and, at the end of this section, a reconciliation of core FFO to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
Core FFO: Management believes that Core FFO is a useful supplemental measure of the Company's operating performance. Management believes that alternative measures of performance, such as net income computed under GAAP, or Funds From Operations computed in accordance with the definition used by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT"), include certain financial items that are not indicative of the results provided by the Company's asset portfolio and inappropriately affect the comparability of the Company's period-over-period performance. These items include non-recurring expenses, such as those incurred in connection with litigation, one-time upfront acquisition expenses that are not capitalized under ASC-805 and certain non-cash expenses, including stock-based compensation expense amortization. Therefore, management uses Core FFO and defines it as net income excluding such items. Management believes that, for the foregoing reasons, these adjustments to net income are appropriate. The Company believes that Core FFO is a useful supplemental measure for the investing community to employ, including when comparing the Company to other REITs that disclose similarly adjusted FFO figures, and when analyzing changes in the Company's performance over time. Readers are cautioned that other REITs may use different adjustments to their GAAP financial measures than we do, and that as a result, the Company's Core FFO may not be comparable to the FFO measures used by other REITs or to other non-GAAP or GAAP financial measures used by REITs or other companies.
CORE FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS (FFO)
(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)
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Three months ended March 31, |
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2014
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2013
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Core FFO
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$ |
199 |
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$ |
167 |
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Growth - Core FFO
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19 |
% |
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Core FFO per share:
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Basic
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$ |
0.12 |
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$ |
0.10 |
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Diluted
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$ |
0.12 |
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$ |
0.10 |
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Growth - Core FFO per share:
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Basic
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20 |
% |
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Diluted
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20 |
% |
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Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
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Basic
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1,674,733 |
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1,623,250 |
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Diluted
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1,688,080 |
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1,623,250 |
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RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(Dollars in thousands)
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Three months ended March 31,
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2014
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2013
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Net Income (loss)
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$ |
57 |
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$ |
(111 |
) |
Litigation expenses
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113 |
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240 |
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Property acquisition expenses
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4 |
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11 |
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Stock-based compensation
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22 |
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27 |
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Amortization
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3 |
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- |
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Core FFO
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$ |
199 |
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$ |
167 |
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As a smaller reporting company, the Trust is not required to provide the information required by this Item.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective disclosure controls and procedures. As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the individual serving as Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on that evaluation, the individual serving as Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer has concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s required SEC filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.
There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date the Company carried out its evaluation.
Power REIT maintains a system of internal accounting controls that is designed to provide reasonable assurance that its books and records accurately reflect its transactions and that its policies and procedures are followed. There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period ended March 31, 2014 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 previously disclosed in its public filings with the SEC, the Trust and its wholly-owned subsidiary P&WV are in litigation with NSC and NSC’s sub-lessee, Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad (“WLE” and, together with NSC, the “Litigants”) concerning matters arising under the Railroad Lease. The case is pending in Federal trial court in Pittsburgh (the “Court”). The Litigants initiated the litigation against the Trust and P&WV in December 2011, seeking, among other things, a declaratory judgment that NSC was not in default under the Railroad Lease.
P&WV, as lessor, has asserted counterclaims, seeking determinations that NSC is in default under the Railroad Lease for, among other things, failing to reimburse P&WV for certain legal fees incurred by P&WV, failing to permit P&WV to inspect NSC’s books and records as called for under the terms of the Railroad Lease and failing to pay other amounts that P&WV believes are due and owing. P&WV also seeks declarations from the Court (a) that NSC’s obligation to repay the indebtedness owed under the Railroad Lease is not indefinite in duration, and (b) that the indebtedness owed to P&WV is due on demand with interest. If P&WV is successful with its counterclaims, it can terminate the Railroad Lease and demand from NSC payment of the indebtedness.
The indebtedness is the cumulative result of amounts received by NSC from its dispositions of P&WV property, additional rental amounts due and other sums that NSC owes to P&WV but which NSC has elected, under its interpretation of the Railroad Lease, to pay by increasing its indebtedness to P&WV rather than by providing P&WV with cash. According to records maintained by NSC pursuant to the Railroad Lease and provided by NSC to P&WV, as of December 31, 2012 the indebtedness owed to P&WV was approximately $16,600,000. NSC has not provided a more recent update of the indebtedness amount. P&WV believes that the indebtedness amount is understated. The indebtedness has not been included in P&WV’s balance sheets prepared under GAAP, because of the dispute as to when it is due. Similarly, certain additional rental amounts that NSC disputes are due on a current basis, and which have historically been treated as indebtedness, have not been included in P&WV’s income statements or balance sheets prepared under GAAP; however, these additional rent amounts have historically been recorded as taxable income on P&WV’s tax returns.
The Litigants have alleged that the Trust is a successor in interest in respect of the Railroad Lease. If that allegation were to be decided against us in a fact-finding stage of the litigation, it could lead to liability, expenses or other adverse effects, including to the extent the Trust has issued stock or engaged in certain other financing activities without the prior written consent of the lessee. The Trust believes that it is not a successor in interest in respect of the Railroad Lease and is not constrained by any of the Railroad Lease restrictions.
The parties have made certain supplements to their respective claims and counterclaims. In August 2013, P&WV filed a second supplement to its counterclaims following the Litigants’ disclosure of previously undisclosed dispositions of P&WV property. P&WV believes that additional amounts are owed to it as a result of these dispositions and, accordingly, asserted new counterclaims, including claims of fraud and conversion. Based on the information available at the time P&WV supplemented its claims, P&WV has estimated that the additional amounts owed to it exceed $8 million, not including potential interest and damages. P&WV also supplemented its counterclaim for additional rental amounts due in order to include the reimbursement of its legal expenses related to the litigation. In response to P&WV’s second supplement to its counterclaims, in January 2014 the Litigants amended their pleadings to add additional claims against both P&WV and the Trust. The Litigants’ new claims seek additional declarations from the Court that the Litigants have not defaulted on or violated the terms of the Railroad Lease.
On September 13, 2013, the Trust filed a motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal of all of the claims against it. On January 15, 2014, the Court heard oral argument from the parties on the Trust’s motion. A decision on the Trust’s summary judgment motion is pending.
The fact and expert discovery phases of the litigation have been completed with respect to the parties’ original claims and counterclaims, and their initial rounds of supplements thereto. Fact discovery with respect to P&WV’s August 2013 second supplement to its counterclaims, and the Litigants’ January 2014 pleading amendments made in response, is expected to be completed by May 31, 2014, and expert discovery with respect thereto is expected to be completed by August 11, 2014.
In connection with the litigation, P&WV incurred expenses of approximately $885,000 during the year ended December 31, 2013, and $700,000 during the year ended December 31, 2012. During the quarter ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, P&WV incurred expenses of approximately $113,000 and $240,000 respectively. As of March 31, 2014, P&WV had incurred a total of approximately $1,713,000 of expenses related to the litigation, of which approximately $454,000 was payable. P&WV believes that the costs associated with the litigation are reimbursable by NSC under the Railroad Lease as additional rent, but NSC has refused to pay such amounts. There can be no assurance that P&WV will prevail in collecting its litigation expenses from NSC; accordingly, the expenses of the litigation are accrued and expensed as incurred.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
The Trust’s results of operations and financial condition are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties as described in its annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2014, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference. You should carefully consider these risk factors in conjunction with the other information contained in this report. Should any of these risks materialize, the Trust’s business, financial condition and future prospects could be negatively impacted.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Not Applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not Applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
Not Applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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31.1 |
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Section 302 Certification for David H. Lesser
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32.1 |
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Section 906 Certification for David H. Lesser
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101 |
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Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T, for the quarter ended March 31, 2014: (i) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (iv) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
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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.
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POWER REIT
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By:
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/s/ David H. Lesser
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David H. Lesser
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Chairman of the Board &
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Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
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