UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON , D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
for the quarterly period ended August 30, 2014
OR
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
for the transition period from_____________ to _____________
Commission File Number 1-8546
TRINITY PLACE HOLDINGS INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| DELAWARE | 22-2465228 | |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
| Incorporation or Organization) | ||
| 717 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York | 10022 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (212) 235-2190
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 ¨
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 (Section 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 ¨
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. (Check One):
Large Accelerated Filer ¨ Accelerated Filer ¨ Non-Accelerated Filer ¨ 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 ¨ No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
Yes þ No ¨
At October 14, 2014, there were 20,010,855 shares outstanding of Common Stock of Trinity Place Holdings Inc., par value $0.01 per share.
INDEX
PART 1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
| TRINITY PLACE HOLDINGS INC. | ||
| CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS FOR THE | ||
| PERIOD MARCH 1, 2014 TO AUGUST 30, 2014 (LIQUIDATION BASIS) (UNAUDITED) | ||
| (in thousands) |
| Net Assets (liquidation basis) as of March 1, 2014 available to common shareholders | $ | 88,482 | ||
| Adjustment to fair value of assets and liabilities | (23 | ) | ||
| Adjustment to accrued costs of liquidation | (674 | ) | ||
| Subtotal | (697 | ) | ||
| Net Assets (liquidation basis) as of May 31, 2014 available to common shareholders | 87,785 | |||
| Adjustment to fair value of assets and liabilities | (53 | ) | ||
| Adjustment to accrued costs of liquidation | (1,125 | ) | ||
| Subtotal | (1,178 | ) | ||
| Net Assets (liquidation basis) as of August 30, 2014 available to common shareholders | $ | 86,607 |
| See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements |
| 1 |
| TRINITY PLACE HOLDINGS INC. | |||
| CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS | |||
| AS OF AUGUST 30, 2014 AND MARCH 1, 2014 (LIQUIDATION BASIS) | |||
| (in thousands) |
| August 30, | March 1, | |||||||
| 2014 | 2014 | |||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 13,354 | $ | 9,663 | ||||
| Restricted cash | 6,993 | 5,600 | ||||||
| Receivables | 162 | 209 | ||||||
| Other assets | 1,117 | 2,246 | ||||||
| Real estate, including air rights | 125,525 | 157,660 | ||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 147,151 | $ | 175,378 | ||||
| LIABILITIES | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 1,634 | $ | 6,578 | ||||
| Accrued expenses | 13,131 | 18,018 | ||||||
| Accrued liquidation costs | 12,657 | 17,912 | ||||||
| Other liabilities, primarily lease settlement costs | 26,056 | 37,322 | ||||||
| Obligation to former majority shareholder | 7,066 | 7,066 | ||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | $ | 60,544 | $ | 86,896 | ||||
| Net assets (liquidation basis) available to common shareholders | $ | 86,607 | $ | 88,482 | ||||
| See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements |
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| Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited) |
Note 1 – The Company
As further described below, the predecessor to Trinity Place Holdings Inc. (“Trinity” or the “Company”), Syms Corp. (“Syms”), together with its subsidiaries (the “Debtors”), filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (“Bankruptcy Code” or “Chapter 11”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Court”) on November 2, 2011. On August 30, 2012, the Court entered an order confirming the Modified Second Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Syms Corp. and its Subsidiaries (the “Plan”). On September 14, 2012, the Plan became effective and the Debtors consummated their reorganization under Chapter 11 through a series of transactions contemplated by the Plan and emerged from bankruptcy. As part of those transactions, reorganized Syms merged with and into Trinity, with Trinity as the surviving corporation and successor issuer pursuant to Rule 12g-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Unless otherwise noted, references to the “Company”, “we” and “our” relate to Syms prior to the merger and to Trinity following the merger. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to the last day of February each year.
Overview
Trinity owns commercial real estate and a variety of intellectual property assets focused on the consumer sector. Trinity’s business plan includes the monetization of commercial real estate properties and a condominium which it owned as of September 14, 2012, the effective date of the Plan, and the sale or development of 28-42 Trinity Place in Lower Manhattan, referred to as the Trinity Place Property. As described below, the Company has sold a number of its properties since the effective date of the Plan and is undertaking a review of various strategic, developmental and other value-enhancing alternatives for certain of its remaining commercial real estate properties, including the Trinity Place Property.
During the period from the effective date of the Plan through the period ended August 30, 2014, the Company sold 12 of its properties which were located in Houston, Texas, Fairfield, Connecticut, Southfield, Michigan, Marietta, Georgia, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Elmsford, New York, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Addison, Illinois, Norcross, Georgia, Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and closed on the sale of its lease for the Secaucus, New Jersey property (the “Secaucus Lease”), as well as the condominium, which was located in Secaucus, New Jersey. In addition, the Company’s property in Miami, Florida was sold shortly before the effective date of the Plan. As of August 30, 2014, the Company owned five properties. Subsequent to the period ended August 30, 2014, the Company sold its property located in Williamsville, New York.
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Properties
Certain information about the properties of the Company that have been sold as of August 30, 2014, including the net proceeds generated by the sold properties, net of brokerage commissions and sales costs, are set forth below:
| Property Location | Type of Property | Building Size (estimated square feet) | Net Proceeds ($ in millions) | Date of Sale | ||||||||
| Miami, FL | Short term property | 53,000 | $ | 4.1 | September, 2012 | |||||||
| Houston, TX | Short term property | 42,000 | 3.6 | November, 2012 | ||||||||
| Fairfield, CT | Short term property | 43,000 | 5.5 | December, 2012 | ||||||||
| Secaucus, NJ (Condo) | Short term property | 2,000 | 0.3 | January, 2013 | ||||||||
| Southfield, MI | Short term property | 60,000 | 2.5 | April, 2013 | ||||||||
| Marietta, GA | Short term property | 77,000 | 2.9 | July, 2013 | ||||||||
| Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Short term property | 55,000 | 1.9 | August, 2013 | ||||||||
| Elmsford, NY | Medium term property | 59,000 | 22.0 | August, 2013 | ||||||||
| Cherry Hill, NJ | Short term property | 150,000 | 4.5 | September, 2013 | ||||||||
| Addison, IL | Short term property | 68,000 | 1.9 | December, 2013 | ||||||||
| Norcross, GA | Short term property | 69,000 | 1.1 | February, 2014 | ||||||||
| Berwyn, PA | Short term property | 69,000 | 3.0 | April, 2014 | ||||||||
| Secaucus, NJ | Short term property | 340,000 | 28.0 | May, 2014 | ||||||||
| Total | 1,087,000 | $ | 81.3 | |||||||||
As of August 30, 2014, the Company owned five properties. Certain information about these properties is set forth below.
| Property Location | Building | |||
| Williamsville, NY | 102,000 | * | ||
| West Palm Beach, FL | 112,000 | |||
| Westbury, NY | 92,000 | |||
| Paramus, NJ | 77,000 | |||
| New York, NY (Trinity Place Property) | 57,000 | ** | ||
| Total Square Feet | 440,000 | |||
*As noted above, the Williamsville, NY property was sold subsequent to August 30, 2014. Net proceeds of approximately $2.4 million were received from this sale.
**The Trinity Place Property consists of a vacant 6-story commercial building of approximately 57,000 square feet, yielding approximately 174,000 square feet of zoning floor area as-of-right. The Company also has ownership of approximately 60,000 square feet of development rights from adjacent tax lots, one of which is owned in fee by the Company which is improved with a 4-story landmark building which cannot be demolished.
The Company is undertaking a review of various strategic, developmental and other value-enhancing alternatives for certain of its commercial real estate properties, including the Trinity Place Property. To date, no specific course of action has been determined. The Company has retained advisors, including architects, construction experts and attorneys to assist it in its evaluation and review of cost estimates and monetization strategies. There remains a range of estimated values that may be realized for the Company’s properties.
The Company is also exploring the licensing of its intellectual property assets, including its rights to the Filene’s Basement trademark, the Stanley Blacker and Maine Bay brands, and the intellectual property associated with the Running of the Brides event and An Educated Consumer is Our Best Customer slogan.
The Company expects to continue evaluating the best way in which to monetize its remaining assets for the benefit of stockholders and creditors.
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Brokerage Agreements
The Company has engaged commercial real estate brokers to coordinate the sale and/or rental of its remaining properties, other than the Trinity Place Property. While terms may vary, the agreements generally provide for commissions ranging from 1% to 5% in the case of sales, and 2% to 6% of the base rent on the primary term in the case of rentals, payable only upon closing of a sale transaction or execution of a lease agreement, as applicable.
Competition
The markets in which the Company’s properties are located are inherently competitive. In some of these markets, principally the smaller markets, the Company expects there may be more limited buyer or tenant prospects for the Company’s property, while larger markets may in general offer more attractive supply and demand characteristics to the Company.
Competitive factors with respect to the Company’s Trinity Place Property may have a more material effect on the Company as it is the Company’s most valuable real estate asset. Various municipal entities are making and have indicated an intent to continue to make significant investments in the immediate vicinity of the Trinity Place Property in order to continue to support the growth of the neighborhood as a vibrant 24/7 community to work, visit and live. Several privately funded commercial and residential developments are being built or are proposed to take advantage of the increasing desirability of the neighborhood. The impact of these changing supply and demand characteristics is uncertain, and they could positively or negatively impact the Company’s evolving plan to maximize the value of its Trinity Place Property.
Company History
Prior to filing for bankruptcy, Syms and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Filene’s Basement, LLC (“Filene’s,” “Filene’s, LLC” or “Filene’s Basement”), collectively owned and operated a chain of 46 “off-price” retail stores under the “Syms” name, which were owned and operated by Syms, and the “Filene’s Basement” name, which were owned and operated by Filene’s, LLC. In addition, Syms owned and operated five co-branded Syms/Filene’s Basement stores. Syms and Filene’s, LLC operated in a single operating segment, the “off-price” retail stores segment.
Chapter 11 Cases
Syms and its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for reorganization relief under Chapter 11 in the Court on the petition date and were operating as debtors-in-possession through September 14, 2012, at which time the Plan became effective and reorganized Syms merged with and into Trinity. During the Chapter 11 cases, the Debtors sold their inventory and much of their furniture, fixtures and equipment, ceased retail operations at all of their stores and vacated all their leased retail store and distribution center locations.
As of the petition date, the Debtors were lessees under 35 commercial real estate leases. On December 16, 2011, the Court entered an order that approved the Debtors’ proposed procedures for the marketing and disposition of their leases. The lease marketing process resulted in the sale of the Debtors’ interest in, or consensual termination of, certain of the Debtors’ leases. The Debtors rejected several other leases effective as of December 31, 2011. Under the Bankruptcy Code, when a debtor rejects a real estate lease, the rejection is considered a breach that gives rise to a claim for damages resulting from the breach of the lease, which claims are subject to certain caps and limitations imposed by the Bankruptcy Code.
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Chapter 11 Plan
On August 30, 2012, the Court entered an order confirming the Plan, and the Plan became effective on September 14, 2012. Upon the effective date of the Plan and pursuant to its terms, Syms and its subsidiaries were reorganized and, subject to the obligations under the Plan, discharged of all claims. To effect the reorganization, Syms was reincorporated in Delaware by way of a merger with and into Trinity. As a result of the merger, each share of Syms was converted into one share of Trinity. Under the Plan, Trinity will attempt to monetize its real estate assets over time in a manner intended to maximize their value for the benefit of creditors and shareholders, as further described below. Under the Plan, Syms creditors holding Allowed Claims (as defined in the Plan) are entitled to payment of those claims in full. The Plan also provides for Filene’s, LLC creditors to receive recoveries from the monetization of certain of Trinity’s assets. Filene’s, LLC Class 4A General Unsecured (Short-Term) creditors holding Allowed Claims are entitled to payment in full and Filene’s, LLC Class 5A (Long-Term) creditors holding Allowed Claims are entitled to a recovery of 75% on their claims.
Claims Payment Process
The Company is in the process of reconciling, objecting to and resolving various claims associated with the discharge of liabilities pursuant to the Plan. During the period from the effective date of the Plan through March 2, 2013, the Company’s first fiscal year-end following emergence from Chapter 11, the Company paid approximately $26.2 million to holders of Allowed Claims as defined in and in accordance with the Plan. During the fiscal year ended March 1, 2014, the Company made additional cash payments to holders of Allowed Claims, together with other payments required under the Plan, including to the Majority Shareholder, in an aggregate amount of approximately $33.7 million. The Company made payments of an additional $19.1 million through the twenty-six weeks ended August 30, 2014 and subsequently an additional $3.2 million through September 30, 2014, representing total payments of approximately $82.2 million since emergence.
The Company expects to pay additional Syms and Filene’s Class 3 Convenience Claims, Syms Class 4 General Unsecured Claims and Filene’s Class 4 General Unsecured (Short-Term Claims), and Filene’s Class 5 (General Unsecured (Long Term) Claims) out of Net Proceeds (as defined in the Plan) as they become Allowed Claims in accordance with the terms of the Plan. As of October 14, 2014, based on the reconciliation work to date and the payments made as described above, the Company believes that the remaining estimated aggregate allowed amount of creditor claims, together with the net amount due to the former Majority Shareholder, is between $46 million and $50 million. Because holders of Allowed Filene’s, LLC Class 5A (General Unsecured (Long-Term) Claims) (as defined in the Plan) are entitled to a 75% recovery, the remaining estimated aggregate amount of cash distributions to creditors and the former Majority Shareholder under the Plan is estimated between $40 million and $44 million.
The Plan and the Company’s certificate of incorporation provide that if the holders of Allowed Filene’s Class 4 (General Unsecured (Short-Term) Claims) and Class 5 (General Unsecured (Long-Term) Claims), as defined in the Plan, are not paid their full distributions under the Plan by October 1, 2014 (the “Creditor Payment Date”), then, subject to the extension of the Creditor Payment Date to April 1, 2015 under certain circumstances, the director designated by the holder of the Series A preferred stock (the “Series A Director”) will be entitled to direct the sale process for any remaining “Near-Term Properties” or “Medium-Term Properties,” each as defined in the Plan, pursuant to a commercially reasonable process consistent with maximizing the value of those properties.
The payments through September 30, 2014 constituted the full distributions payable to the holders of the Allowed Syms and Filene’s Class 3 (Convenience Claims) Creditors and the Allowed Syms General Unsecured and Filene’s General Unsecured (Short-Term) Creditors in Syms and Filene’s Class 4, respectively, the Syms Class 5 Union Pension Plan, and the Filene’s Class 5 (General Unsecured (Long Term) Claims), all as defined in the Plan. As a result, the Series A Director did not acquire control of the sale process of the Company’s remaining unsold “Near-Term Properties” and “Medium-Term Properties,” as defined in the Plan. Additionally, at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company held on September 24, 2014, the Creditor Payment Date was extended to April 1, 2015 in accordance with the terms of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and the Plan.
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The process of reconciling claims is different from the process of actually resolving claims. Accordingly, the above estimates are based primarily on the Company’s identification and reconciliation of the amounts of asserted claims to the Company’s books and records, and not on the negotiation or settlement of specific claims. Because of the ongoing reconciliation and settlement processes, the ultimate amount of allowed claims and the ultimate amount of distributions under the Plan could be materially different from the Company’s current estimates.
The Plan and the Company’s certificate of incorporation also provide that if there has not been a General Unsecured Claim Satisfaction, as defined in the Plan, by October 1, 2016, then the size of the Board of Directors shall automatically increase to nine members, seven of which are to be elected by the holder of the Series A preferred stock. If a General Unsecured Claim Satisfaction has occurred but the required payments to the former Majority Shareholder have not been made in full by October 16, 2016, then the size of the Board of Directors will automatically be adjusted to four members, three of whom would be elected by the former Majority Shareholder. In each case, the Board of Directors will remain controlled by the holder of the Series A preferred stock or the former Majority Shareholder, as applicable, until the required payments are made.
Rights Offering and Redemption of Former Majority Shareholder
In connection with the Plan, Syms entered into an Equity Commitment Agreement, (the “ECA”), among (i) Syms, (ii) Marcy Syms, (iii) the Laura Merns Living Trust, (iv) the Marcy Syms Revocable Living Trust (together with Marcy Syms and the Laura Merns Living Trust, the “former Majority Shareholder”) and (v) certain members of the Official Committee of Syms Equity Security Holders and their affiliates, referred to as the Backstop Parties. The ECA provided that, pursuant to and upon the effective date of the Plan, the former Majority Shareholder would sell all of its shares of Syms common stock to Syms at a price of $2.49 per share. Accordingly, on September 14, 2012, immediately following the effectiveness of the Plan, the former Majority Shareholder sold all of its 7,857,794 shares of common stock to Syms. Payment for the shares will be made to the former Majority Shareholder in accordance with the Plan as the Company’s real estate assets are monetized. The net amount due to the former Majority Shareholder was initially $17.8 million and was included as a liability on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Net Assets as of March 2, 2013. On October 1, 2013, the Company met its Plan obligation to pay the former Majority Shareholder $10.7 million of that amount and has a remaining liability due to the former Majority Shareholder on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Net Assets as of August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014 of $7.1 million, which is included in the estimated remaining distributions to creditors.
Under the terms of the Plan, the Company is restricted from making any distributions, dividends or redemptions on its common stock until after the former Majority Shareholder payments are made in full. The certificate of incorporation of the Company provides for a share of Series B preferred stock owned by the former Majority Shareholder and entitling the former Majority Shareholder to control a majority of the Board of Directors if the former Majority Shareholder payments are not made by October 16, 2016, provided that and conditional upon the General Unsecured Claim Satisfaction having occurred.
In connection with the ECA and pursuant to the Plan, Syms conducted a rights offering in which it offered to sell to all existing shareholders, other than the former Majority Shareholder, who qualified as “accredited investors” within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the “Securities Act”), the right to purchase their pro rata portion of 10,040,160 new shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Rights Offering”).
The foregoing descriptions of certain transactions, payments and other matters contemplated by the Plan are summaries only and do not purport to be complete and are qualified in all respects by the actual provisions of the Plan and related documents.
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Operating Reserves
Under the Plan, the Company’s corporate budget is composed of certain operating reserves to fund working capital and the Company’s operations. Pursuant to the Plan, these reserves were initially funded from the proceeds realized by the Company from the sale of assets, settlements or any other sources in the first year following the Plan’s effective date on September 14, 2012. For the two year period from September 14, 2012 through September 13, 2014, the amounts to be funded and used in these reserves were set under the Plan as follows: (i) a corporate overhead reserve of $5.0 million in the aggregate, (ii) a $3.8 million pension fund reserve (of which $2.0 million is to fund the minimum annual payments due under the Syms pension plan and $1.8 million is to fund the minimum quarterly payments due to Local 1102 for the allowed amount of the claims for pension withdrawal liability), (iii) a carry cost/repair/tenant improvement reserve of $9.0 million in the aggregate, and (iv) a reserve for carry costs of the Trinity Place Property of $3.0 million in the aggregate. Subsequent to September 14, 2014, additional amounts are to be funded to those four reserves plus a discretionary reserve and an emergency fund reserve of $0.5 million each.
The Company’s $5 million corporate overhead reserve initially contemplated by the Plan was depleted prior to the end of the two-year period following the Plan effective date, primarily due to greater than expected professional fees. In January 2014, the holder of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, which has the sole authority to approve an increase in the operating reserves, consented to an increase in the corporate overhead reserve to $11 million, subject to certain limitations and a reduction of up to approximately $0.8 million if certain anticipated expenses are not incurred. Up to $2.5 million of corporate overhead expenses previously paid by the Company from generally available cash will count toward and be reimbursed from the increased corporate overhead reserve following receipt of net cash proceeds from future property sales.
Under the Plan, the consent of the holder of the Series A preferred stock is required for an increase in the aggregate cap for any reserve and the use of funds in a reserve for expenses designated to be paid from another reserve, except that, (i) by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, amounts in the corporate overhead reserve may be reallocated to the carry cost/repair/tenant improvement reserve and (ii) by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, and with the consent of the “Independent Director,” as described in the Plan, amounts in the corporate overhead reserve may be reallocated to the Trinity Place Property carry reserve (see Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources, for additional discussion).
Note 2 – Basis of Presentation
Liquidation Basis of Accounting
In response to the Chapter 11 filing the Company adopted the liquidation basis of accounting effective on October 30, 2011, which was the beginning of the fiscal month closest to the petition date. Under the liquidation basis of accounting, assets are stated at their net realizable value, liabilities are stated at their net settlement amount and estimated costs over the period of liquidation are accrued to the extent reasonably determinable.
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The Company does not believe it would qualify for fresh start accounting if it were to emerge from liquidation. Under fresh-start accounting, assets and liabilities are adjusted to fair value. Since fresh-start accounting would likely not apply if the Company were to emerge from liquidation, the Company’s accounting basis could revert back to the going concern basis of accounting, resulting in all remaining assets and liabilities at that date being adjusted to their net book value less an adjustment for depreciation and/or amortization calculated from the date the Company entered liquidation through the date it emerged from liquidation. Accordingly, if a change in accounting basis were to occur, it would likely result in a decrease in the reporting basis of the respective assets and liabilities. The Company can provide no guarantee that it will emerge from liquidation as a going concern entity, nor can it guarantee the method of accounting that would be adopted upon emergence from liquidation.
The preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with the liquidation basis of accounting requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. These estimates include, among others, realizable value of real estate and other assets, accrued liquidation costs, lease settlement costs, and deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Estimated Costs of Liquidation
Significant estimates and judgment are required to determine the accrued costs of liquidation, which reflects all other remaining operating expenses and contractual commitments such as payroll and related expenses, lease termination costs, professional fees and other outside services to be incurred during the liquidation period. The company’s accrued costs expected to be incurred in liquidation and recorded payments made related to the accrued liquidation costs are as follows (in thousands):
| Balance | Balance | |||||||||||||||
| August 30, | Adjustments | March 1, | ||||||||||||||
| Estimated Costs of Liquidation | 2014 | to Reserves | Payments | 2014 | ||||||||||||
| Real estate related carrying costs | $ | 7,811 | $ | 581 | $ | (3,731 | ) | $ | 10,961 | |||||||
| Professional fees | 2,874 | 1,485 | (2,277 | ) | 3,666 | |||||||||||
| Payroll related costs | 1,673 | 2 | (1,046 | ) | 2,717 | |||||||||||
| Other | 299 | (269 | ) | - | 568 | |||||||||||
| $ | 12,657 | $ | 1,799 | $ | (7,054 | ) | $ | 17,912 | ||||||||
The assumptions underlying the estimated accrued costs of liquidation of $12.7 million as of August 30, 2014 contemplated all changes in estimates resulting from the Plan.
The Company reviewed all of its operating expenses and contractual commitments such as payroll and related expenses, lease termination costs, property carrying costs and professional fees to determine the estimated costs to be incurred during the liquidation period. The liquidation period is currently anticipated to conclude by July 2015.
The following discussion explains the adjustments to the costs of liquidation reserves as recorded during the twenty-six week period ended August 30, 2014:
Adjustments to increase the reserve for real estate related carrying costs of approximately $0.6 million were recorded during the twenty-six weeks ended August 30, 2014. The adjustments were mainly the result of selling expenses related to the sale of the Secaucus Lease.
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Adjustments to increase the reserve for professional fees of approximately $1.5 million were recorded during the twenty-six week period ended August 30, 2014. The majority of the increase reflects the increased costs resulting from the complexities of litigation related to the bankruptcy cases.
Adjustments to Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
The following table summarizes adjustments to the fair value of assets and liabilities under the liquidation basis of accounting during the twenty-six week period ended August 30, 2014 (in thousands):
| Adjustments of Assets and Liabilities to Net Realizable Value | March
2, 2014 through August 30, 2014 | |||
| Adjust real estate to estimated net realizable value | $ | 25 | ||
| Adjust other claims to net realizable value | (101 | ) | ||
| $ | (76 | ) | ||
The following discussion explains the adjustments to the fair value of assets and liabilities under the liquidation basis of accounting as recorded during the twenty-six weeks ended August 30, 2014:
During the twenty-six weeks ended August 30, 2014, there was an increase of approximately $75,000 related to other claims payouts as the Company continues its reconciliation of claims as well as an additional $26,000 of costs related to the sale of common stock in the prior fiscal year.
Note 3 – New Accounting Pronouncements
There are no proposed or recently issued accounting standards that are expected to have a material impact on the Company.
Note 4 – Financial Position
As of August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $13.4 million and $9.7 million, respectively. At August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014, the Company had restricted cash of $7.0 million and $5.6 million, respectively. The Company used its cash and cash equivalents during the period primarily for the payment of Allowed Claims in accordance with the terms of the Plan, professional fees related to the Chapter 11 cases and the sales of properties, as well as its daily operations.
The Company has estimated claims liabilities recorded in its consolidated financial statements of approximately $42.7 million and $62.1 million at August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014, respectively. The claims liability includes the Majority Shareholder liability of approximately $7.1 million at August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014.
For a discussion of the Company’s payment of claims and the extension of the creditor payment date, see the discussion in the Claims Payment Process section in Note 1.
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The Company believes that it would be able to fund its operations through net cash proceeds from property sales; however, the Plan imposes restrictions on the amount of operating expenses that the Company is allowed to incur and pay from such net cash proceeds. As previously discussed, the Company’s $5 million corporate overhead reserve initially contemplated by the Plan has been depleted, primarily due to greater than expected professional fees, and the Company has obtained the consent of the holder of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock who has the sole authority to approve an increase in the operating reserves, to increase the corporate overhead reserve to $11 million, subject to certain limitations and a reduction of up to approximately $0.8 million if certain anticipated expenses are not incurred. Up to $2.5 million of corporate overhead expenses previously paid by the Company from generally available cash will count toward and be reimbursed from the increased corporate overhead reserve following receipt of net cash proceeds from future property sales. In addition, during fiscal year 2013, the Company raised $13.0 million, net of $0.5 million in offering costs, from the issuance of stock, which can be used to, among other things, fund overhead and other expenses. The Company believes through the sale of its assets and cash on hand, along with the possibility of additional equity and/or debt financing, it will have the cash necessary to satisfy its required claims distributions and operating activities.
Note 5 – Other Assets
Other assets include trademark license intangibles, with a balance of $0.9 million as of August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014, and security deposits with a balance of $0.2 million and $1.3 million as of August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014, respectively.
Note 6 – Pension Plan
Syms sponsored a defined benefit pension plan for certain eligible employees not covered under a collective bargaining agreement. The pension plan was frozen effective December 31, 2006. As of August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014, the Company had a recorded liability of $3.5 million within accrued expenses which represents the estimated cost to the Company of terminating the plan in a standard termination, which would require the Company to make additional contributions to the plan so that the assets of the plan are sufficient to satisfy all benefit liabilities.
The Company had contemplated other courses of action, including a distress termination, whereby the PBGC would take over the plan. On February 27, 2012, Syms notified the PBGC and other affected parties of its consideration to terminate the plan in a distress termination. However, the estimated total cost associated with a distress termination was approximately $15 million. As a result of the cost savings associated with the standard termination approach, Syms elected not to terminate the plan in a distress termination and formally notified the PBGC of this decision. The Company will maintain the Syms pension plan and make all contributions required under applicable minimum funding rules; provided, however, that the Company may terminate the Syms pension plan from and after January 1, 2017. In the event that the Company terminates the Syms pension plan, the Company intends that any such termination shall be a standard termination. Although the Company has accrued the liability associated with a standard termination, it has not taken any steps to commence such a termination and has made no commitment to do so by a certain date.
Certain employees covered by collective bargaining agreements participate in multiemployer pension plans. Syms ceased to have an obligation to contribute to these plans in 2012, thereby triggering a complete withdrawal from the plans within the meaning of section 4203 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Consequently, the Company is subject to the payment of a withdrawal liability to these pension funds. The Company had a recorded liability of $4.4 million and $5.3 million which is reflected in accrued expenses as of August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014, respectively, and is included as part of the net claims distribution. The Company is required to make quarterly distributions in the amount of $0.2 million until this liability is completely paid to the multiemployer plan.
In accordance with minimum funding requirements and court ordered allowed claims distributions, the Company paid approximately $1.6 million to the Syms sponsored plan and approximately $2.6 million to the multiemployer plans from September 17, 2012 through August 30, 2014 of which no amounts and $0.9 million were funded during the twenty-six weeks ended August 30, 2014 to the Syms sponsored plan and to the multiemployer plans, respectively.
Note 7 – Contingencies
The Company is a party to routine litigation incidental to its former business. Some of the actions to which the Company is a party are covered by insurance and are being defended or reimbursed by the Company’s insurance carriers. Based on advice of counsel and available information and taking into account accruals where they have been established, management currently believes that any liabilities ultimately resulting from this routine litigation will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or net assets (liquidation basis).
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Note 8 – Income Taxes
Under liquidation basis accounting all future estimated taxes are accrued as of the reporting date net of the benefit expected to be derived from available NOLs. Accordingly, it is not appropriate to record a separate deferred tax asset on the same NOLs. A valuation allowance of approximately $83.7 million was recorded through March 2, 2013. The valuation allowance was reduced by approximately $23.8 million during the fiscal year ended March 1, 2014 to $59.9 million primarily due to the increase in the values of the Company’s real estate during the fiscal year ended March 1, 2014 and increased by $0.2 million during the twenty-six weeks ended August 30, 2014 to $60.1 million.
Note 9 – Related Party Transactions
Under the terms of the Plan, the Company is restricted from making any distributions, dividends or redemptions until after the former Majority Shareholder payments are made in full. The Certificate of Incorporation provides for a preferred series share, held by the former Majority Shareholder and which is pledged as security and held in escrow, entitling the Majority Shareholder to control a majority of the Board of Directors if the former Majority Shareholder payments are not made by October 16, 2016, provided and conditioned upon the general unsecured claim satisfaction having occurred.
In addition, as part of the Plan, the former Majority Shareholder agreed to repay the Company $1.6 million for all premiums paid by the Company on her behalf after the adoption of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as $0.2 million for the net present value of pre-Sarbanes-Oxley premiums, for a total of $1.8 million. At August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014, the value of these premiums was recorded as an offset against the payment due under the Plan to the former Majority Shareholder on account of the redemption of the former Majority Shareholder’s shares of Syms common stock. On October 1, 2013 the Company met its Plan obligation to pay the former Majority Shareholder $10.7 million and has a remaining liability of $7.1 million due to the Majority Shareholder recorded on its Consolidated Statement of Net Assets as of August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014.
Ms. Syms, the Company and Filene’s, LLC also entered into an agreement in connection with the Plan whereby the rights to the “Syms” name and to any images of Ms. Syms and her family members were assigned to Ms. Syms. The impact of this provision of the Plan has been reflected in the estimated net realizable value of the trademarks within other assets as of August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014.
Note 10–Subsequent Events
Sale of Properties
During September 2014, the Company sold its Williamsville, New York property for proceeds, net of brokerage commissions and sale costs, of approximately $2.4 million. The value recorded in the consolidated financial statements as of August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014 approximated the net amount realized from this transaction.
Claims Activity
As discussed in Note 1 above, the Plan and the Company’s certificate of incorporation provide that if the holders of Allowed Filene’s Class 4 (General Unsecured (Short-Term) Claims) and Class 5 (General Unsecured (Long-Term) Claims), as defined in the Plan, are not paid their full distributions under the Plan by October 1, 2014 (the “Creditor Payment Date”), then, subject to the extension of the Creditor Payment Date to April 1, 2015 under certain circumstances, the director designated by the holder of the Series A preferred stock (the “Series A Director”) will be entitled to direct the sale process for any remaining “Near-Term Properties” or “Medium-Term Properties,” each as defined in the Plan, pursuant to a commercially reasonable process consistent with maximizing the value of those properties.
The payments through September 30, 2014 constituted the full distributions payable to the holders of the Allowed Syms and Filene’s Class 3 (Convenience Claims) Creditors and the Allowed Syms General Unsecured and Filene’s General Unsecured (Short-Term) Creditors in Syms and Filene’s Class 4, respectively, the Syms Class 5 Union Pension Plan, and the Filene’s Class 5 (General Unsecured (Long Term) Claims), all as defined in the Plan. As a result, the Series A Director did not acquire control of the sale process of the Company’s remaining unsold “Near-Term Properties” and “Medium-Term Properties,” as defined in the Plan. Additionally, at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company held on September 24, 2014, the Creditor Payment Date was extended to April 1, 2015 in accordance with the terms of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and the Plan.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report, including but not limited to factors discussed below as well as those discussed elsewhere in this report, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and information relating to the Company that are based on the beliefs of management of the Company as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. When used in this Quarterly Report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or the management of the Company, identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including among others, the restrictions contained in the Plan and our certificate of incorporation, including restrictions that may be imposed as a result of certain voting and approval rights of the holder of our Series A preferred stock, the adequacy of reserves for Company operating expenses, the influence of certain majority stockholders, the Company’s ability to use net operating loss carryforwards to offset future taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, certain conflicts of interest as a result of certain of our directors having affiliations with certain of our stockholders, competition in the real estate business, the ability of the Company to comply with environmental or other laws, the risk of potential uninsured losses and/or claims, asset values, the outcome of litigation, general economic and market conditions, higher than anticipated costs, unanticipated difficulties which may arise with respect to the Company and other factors which may be outside the Company’s control or that are not currently known to the Company. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those contemplated by any forward looking statements. Subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph and elsewhere described in this Quarterly Report and other reports filed with the SEC.
Disposition of Retail Operations; Implementation of Liquidation Accounting
Prior to November 2, 2011, all of the Company’s and Filene’s business operations consisted primarily of running retail operations. On November 2, 2011, Syms and its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. In response to the Chapter 11 filing, the Company implemented the liquidation basis of accounting effective on October 30, 2011, which was the beginning of the fiscal month closest to the petition date. The liquidation basis of accounting is appropriate when the liquidation of a company appears imminent and the net realizable value of its assets is reasonably determinable. Under this basis of accounting, assets and liabilities are stated at their net realizable value and estimated costs through the liquidation date are provided to the extent reasonably determinable.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the appropriate application of certain accounting policies, many of which require us to make estimates and assumptions about future events and their impact on amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and related notes. Since future events and their impact cannot be determined with certainty, the actual results will inevitably differ from the Company’s estimates. Such differences could be material to the consolidated financial statements.
The Company believes that its application of accounting policies, and the estimates inherently required by the policies, are reasonable. These accounting policies and estimates are reevaluated periodically, and adjustments are made when facts and circumstances dictate a change. Historically, the Company has found the application of accounting policies to be appropriate, and actual results have not differed materially from those determined using necessary estimates.
The Company has identified certain significant accounting policies that have been applied to the Company’s financial reporting after the adoption of liquidation basis of accounting. These policies are described below:
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| a. | Accrued Liquidation Costs – Under the liquidation basis of accounting, management is required to make significant estimates and judgments regarding the anticipated costs of liquidation. These estimates are subject to change based upon work required for the claims settlement process, changes in market conditions and changes in the strategy surrounding the sale of properties. The Company reviews, on a quarterly basis, the estimated fair value of its assets and all other remaining operating expenses and contractual commitments such as payroll and related expenses, lease termination costs, professional fees, alternative minimum income taxes and other outside services to determine the estimated costs to be incurred during the liquidation period. |
| b. | Pension Expense – The Company will terminate its pension plans. Under the liquidation basis of accounting, actuarial valuation analyses are prepared annually to determine the fair value, or termination value, of the plans. These valuations and the ultimate liability to settle the plans may result in adjustments driven by changes in assumptions due to market conditions. The liabilities related to these pension plans will be settled at the same payout percentage as all other unsecured creditor claims. |
| c. | Long-Lived Assets – Real estate and other long-lived assets are recorded at estimated net realizable value based on valuations, purchase agreements and/or letters of intent from interested third parties, when available. |
| d. | Income Taxes – To the extent that income taxes, including alternate minimum income taxes, are expected to be incurred as a result of the liquidation of the Company’s properties, such costs are reflected in accrued expenses. As of August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014 a total of $1.2 million has been accrued. As part of the process of estimating income taxes to be incurred during the liquidation period, management has taken into consideration the extent to which net operating loss carry forwards (“NOLs”) are expected to be available to offset income otherwise taxable on the sale of properties. This involved a process of estimating the extent to which each property had a fair value in excess of its tax basis (a “built in gain”) as of the date of emerging from bankruptcy on September 14, 2012. The Company has analyzed the impact of the change in control that occurred on September 14, 2012 when the Company emerged from bankruptcy could have on its ability to utilize its NOLs. While the analysis is complex and subject to subjective determinations and uncertainties, the Company believes that it should qualify for treatment under Section 382(l)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a result, the Company believes that its NOLs are not currently subject to an annual limitation under Code Section 382 even though an “ownership change” (as defined under Code Section 382) occurred on September 14, 2012. Also, as a result of the passage of two years from emergence without a subsequent Section 382 ownership change, the pre-emergence federal NOL’s will not be forfeited, although they would still become subject to an annual limitation, in the event of such an ownership change. |
Results of Operations
For an entity reporting under the liquidation basis of accounting, the entity is required to present a statement of net assets (which replaces a balance sheet), whereby the assets are reported at estimated realizable amounts and the liabilities are reported at estimated settlement amounts; and a statement of changes in net assets in liquidation (which replaces the statement of operations), which reports changes in estimated fair value and other adjustments recognized during the fiscal year.
Operating Activities for the Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 30, 2014
Certain information about the properties of the Company sold during the twenty-six weeks ended August 30, 2014, including the proceeds generated, net of brokerage commissions and sale costs, is set forth below:
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| Property Location | Type of Property | Building Size (estimated square feet) |
Net Proceeds ($ in millions) |
Date of Sale | ||||||||
| Berwyn, PA | Short term property | 69,000 | $ | 3.0 | April, 2014 | |||||||
| Secaucus, NJ | Short term property | 340,000 | 28.0 | May, 2014 | ||||||||
| Total | 409,000 | $ | 31.0 | |||||||||
The liquidation basis of accounting requires management to make significant estimates and judgments. The Company adjusts its real estate assets to reflect the estimated net realizable value of the owned property. The net realizable value is estimated, by considering a number of factors and the views of multiple parties from various vantage points, including input from a third party valuation expert. As a result of the above sales transactions, the value of the Company’s real estate assets decreased from $157.7 million as of March 1, 2014 to $125.5 million as of August 30, 2014. During the same twenty-six week period, the Company used the aggregate net proceeds from asset sales to pay approximately $19.1 million of allowed claims in accordance with the terms of the Plan, reducing the Company’s liabilities under the Plan.
In addition to the sale transactions, the Company received an additional $1.0 million in rents and other income during the twenty-six weeks ended August 30, 2014. Subsequent to August 30, 2014, the Company paid $3.2 million of allowed claims in accordance with the terms of the Plan, reducing the Company’s liabilities under the Plan.
The Company’s cash operating costs and expenses for the twenty-six weeks ended August 30, 2014 were approximately $8.0 million, of which approximately $4.7 million pertained to real estate related costs, $2.3 million related to professional fees and $1.0 million related to payroll costs. As previously noted, overhead expenses have exceeded the original projections and are outpacing the budgeted reserves, primarily due to professional fees; however the Company has obtained the consent of its Series A stockholder to an increase in operating reserves.
As of August 30, 2014, the net assets of the Company available to Common Shareholders was $86.6 million, a slight decrease from $88.5 million as of March 1, 2014, primarily due to an increase in the estimated costs of liquidation expenses. Total assets decreased from $175.4 million at March 1, 2014 to $147.2 million at August 30, 2014 primarily as a result of claims payments made in accordance with the Plan as well as payments of liquidation expenses. The funds used for these payments were received from the sales of the Berwyn, PA and Secaucus, NJ properties noted above. Liabilities decreased approximately $26.3 million primarily as a result of claims payments made in accordance with the Plan as well as payments of liquidation expenses.
The Company reviews, on a quarterly basis, the estimated fair value of its assets and all other remaining operating expenses and contractual commitments such as payroll and related expenses, lease termination costs, professional fees, alternative minimum income taxes and other outside services in order to determine the estimated costs to be incurred during the remaining liquidation period.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $13.4 million and $9.7 million, respectively. At August 30, 2014 and March 1, 2014, the Company had restricted cash of $7.0 million and $5.6 million, respectively. The Company used its cash and cash equivalents primarily for the payment of Allowed Claims in accordance with the terms of the Plan, professional fees related to the Chapter 11 cases, as well as its daily operations.
The Company believes that it would be able to fund its operations through net cash proceeds from property sales; however, the Plan imposes restrictions on the amount of operating expenses that the Company is allowed to incur and pay from such net cash proceeds. As previously discussed, the Company’s $5 million corporate overhead reserve initially contemplated by the Plan has been depleted, primarily due to greater than expected professional fees, and the Company has obtained the consent of the holder of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, who has the sole authority to approve an increase in the operating reserves, to increase the corporate overhead reserve to $11 million, subject to certain limitations and a reduction of up to approximately $0.8 million if certain anticipated expenses are not incurred. Up to $2.5 million of corporate overhead expenses previously paid by the Company from generally available cash will count toward and be reimbursed from the increased corporate overhead reserve following receipt of net cash proceeds from future property sales. In addition, during fiscal 2013, the Company raised $13.0 million, net of $0.5 million in offering costs, from the issuance of stock, which can be used to, among other things, fund overhead and other expenses. The Company believes through the sale of its assets and cash on hand, along with the possibility of additional equity and/or debt financing, it will have the cash necessary to satisfy its required claims distributions and operating activities.
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Under the Plan, the proceeds of a common equity financing can be used to fund operating expenses in excess of the reserves and for other uses, while the proceeds of a debt financing, following the establishment of reserves, generally must be used to pay creditor claims.
Pursuant to the Plan, with limited exceptions, any Excess Cash (as defined in the Plan) from property sales not applied to fund operating expenses must be distributed in accordance with the priorities established in the Plan. Consistent with the terms of the Plan, the Company made payments to creditors and the former Majority Shareholder of $33.7 million during the fiscal year ended March 1, 2014, $19.1 million during the twenty-six weeks ended August 30, 2014 and subsequently an additional $3.2 million through September 30, 2014.
Net Operating Losses
The Company believes that the Rights Offering and the redemption of the Syms shares owned by the former Majority Shareholder that occurred in connection with the Company’s emergence from bankruptcy on September 14, 2012 resulted in the Company undergoing an “ownership change,” as that term is used in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). However, the Company has analyzed the impact of such ownership change on its ability to utilize its NOLs, and while the analysis is complex and subject to subjective determinations and uncertainties, the Company believes that it should qualify for treatment under Section 382(l)(5) of the Code. As a result, the Company currently believes that its NOLs are not subject to an annual limitation under Code Section 382. However, if the Company were to undergo a subsequent ownership change in the future, the Company’s NOLs could be subject to limitation under Code Section 382. The Company believes that its U.S. Federal NOLs as of the emergence date were approximately $162.8 million and believes its U.S. Federal NOLs at August 30, 2014 are approximately $190.4 million. As a result of the passage of two years from emergence without a subsequent Section 382 ownership change, the $162.8 million of pre-emergence federal NOL’s will not be forfeited, although they would still become subject to an annual limitation, in the event of such an ownership change. Notwithstanding the above, even if all of the Company’s regular U.S. Federal income tax liability for a given year is reduced to zero by virtue of utilizing its NOLs, the Company may still be subject to the U.S. Federal alternative minimum tax (which imposes a tax generally equal to the amount by which 20% of a corporation’s alternative minimum taxable income exceeds the corporation’s regular tax liability, and is calculated in a manner that may reduce the benefit of NOLs) and to state, local or other non-federal income taxes.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
There are no proposed or recently issued accounting standards that are expected to have a material impact on the Company.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Not Applicable.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
| a) | Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures |
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”), evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, to ensure that information that is required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
| b) | Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting |
There were no material changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the thirteen week period ended August 30, 2014, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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| Item 1. | Legal Proceedings |
The Company is a party to routine legal proceedings, which are primarily incidental to its former business. Some of the actions to which the Company is a party are covered by insurance and are being defended or reimbursed by the Company’s insurance carriers. Based on advice of counsel and available information and taking into account accruals where they have been established, management currently believes that any liabilities ultimately resulting from this routine litigation will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or net assets (liquidation basis). Additionally, as discussed in Item 1, the Company operates under the Plan that was approved in connection with the resolution of the Chapter 11 cases involving Syms and its subsidiaries.
On May 8, 2012, the Company filed a motion with the Court for the entry of an order approving the Company’s assumption of the lease for the property located at One Syms Way, Secaucus, New Jersey. The landlord asserted a cure claim of approximately $3.5 million, plus attorneys’ fees and costs. The Company contested all but approximately $5,000 of that amount. On February 19, 2013, the Court ruled that the cure claim should be reduced and allowed at approximately $1.25 million, but reserved ruling on the claims for attorneys’ fees and a relatively minor rent issue. Based on an agreement with the landlord in July 2013, the Company established a reserve of $1.25 million for the potential payment of cure claims associated with assumption of the lease, which reserve had been accrued as a liability as of March 2, 2013.
On March 24, 2014, the Company filed a motion to assume, assign, and sell the Secaucus Lease to ASG Equities Secaucus LLC (“ASG”), which offer was subsequently increased by ASG to $29 million plus the release of the cure claims reserve held by the Company on account of a dispute with the Company’s landlord (the “ASG Motion”). As a result of the ASG Motion, the liability was removed as of March 1, 2014. On April 29, 2014, over the objection of the Company’s landlord, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Company’s decision to assume, assign, and sell the Secaucus Lease to ASG, as the highest and best offer for the Secaucus Lease (the “Approval Order”), subject to certain conditions. On April 30, 2014, the landlord filed a motion requesting the Bankruptcy Court to reconsider the Approval Order. Following additional negotiations, the Company, the landlord, and ASG settled the landlord’s objections to the Approval Order. As a consequence, on May 16, 2014, the Bankruptcy Court entered an amended Approval Order (the “Amended Approval Order”) approving the settlement and the sale of the Secaucus Lease to ASG. Pursuant to the Amended Approval Order, the sale of the Secaucus Lease to ASG closed on May 20, 2014.
| Item 1A. | Risk Factors |
Not applicable.
| Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
None.
| Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
None.
| Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures |
Not applicable.
| Item 5. | Other Information |
None.
| 17 |
| Item 6. | Exhibits |
| 3.1 |
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Trinity Place Holdings Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Form 8-K filed by the Company on October 2, 2013)
|
| 3.2 |
Bylaws of Trinity Place Holdings Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Form 8-K filed by the Company on September 19, 2012)
|
| 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and 18.U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and 18.U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 101 | The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended August 30, 2014 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the Period March 1, 2014 to August 30, 2014 (Liquidation Basis) (unaudited), (ii) Consolidated Condensed Statements of Net Assets as of August 30, 2014 (unaudited) and March 1, 2014 (Liquidation Basis) and (iii) Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements |
| 18 |
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.
| TRINITY PLACE HOLDINGS INC. | ||
| Date: October 14, 2014 | By | /s/ Matthew Messinger |
| MATTHEW MESSINGER | ||
| PRESIDENT and CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | ||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| Date: October 14, 2014 | By | /s/ Richard G. Pyontek |
| RICHARD G. PYONTEK | ||
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TREASURER and SECRETARY | ||
| (Principal Financial Officer) | ||
| 19 |
EXHIBIT INDEX
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Trinity Place Holdings Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Form 8-K filed by the Company on October 2, 2013) |
| 3.2 | Bylaws of Trinity Place Holdings Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Form 8-K filed by the Company on September 19, 2012) |
| 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and 18.U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and 18.U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 101 | The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended August 30, 2014 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the Period March 1, 2014 to August 30, 2014 (Liquidation Basis) (unaudited), (ii) Consolidated Condensed Statements of Net Assets as of August 30, 2014 (unaudited) and March 1, 2014 (Liquidation Basis) and (iii) Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements |
| 20 |