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Gyrodyne, LLC - Quarter Report: 2017 June (Form 10-Q)

gyrllc20170630_10q.htm

 

 FORM 10-Q

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended             June 30, 2017           

 

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        001-37547        

Gyrodyne, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New York

 

46-3838291

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

 

1 Flowerfield, Suite 24, St. James, NY 11780 

(Address and Zip Code of principal executive offices)

 

          (631) 584-5400          

         (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No      

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes   X    No      

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

Accelerated filer ☐

Non-accelerated filer ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company ☒

Emerging growth company ☐

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

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

 

On August 10, 2017, there were 1,482,680 common shares outstanding.

 

 
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INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT OF GYRODYNE, LLC

QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2017

 

  Seq. Page
   

Form 10-Q Cover

  1

   

Index to Form 10-Q

  2

   

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  3

   

Item 1. Financial Statements.

  3

   

Consolidated Statements of Net Assets at June 30, 2017 (liquidation basis and unaudited) and December 31, 2016 (liquidation basis)

  3

   

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the six months ended June 30, 2017 (liquidation basis and unaudited)

  4

   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

  5

   

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

14

   
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. 27
   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

28

   

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

28

   

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

28

   

Item 6. Exhibits.

29

   

SIGNATURES

30

   
EXHIBIT INDEX 30

 

 
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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION               

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

GYRODYNE, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET

ASSETS AT JUNE 30, 2017 AND DECEMBER 31, 2016

(Liquidation Basis)

 

   

June 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2017

(Unaudited)

   

2016

 

ASSETS:

               

Real estate held for sale

  $ 29,075,000     $ 31,025,000  

Cash and cash equivalents

    7,300,968       3,770,895  

Investment in marketable securities

    -       4,087,231  

Rent receivable

    45,957       23,096  

Other receivables

    59,582       81,693  

Total Assets

  $ 36,481,507     $ 38,987,915  
                 

LIABILITIES:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 509,970     $ 416,226  

Accrued liabilities

    193,670       224,617  

Deferred rent liability

    33,056       27,487  

Tenant security deposits payable

    298,884       322,862  

Distributions payable

    1,482,680       -  

Estimated liquidation and operating costs net of receipts

    7,463,252       9,885,111  

Total Liabilities

    9,981,512       10,876,303  

Net assets in liquidation

  $ 26,499,995     $ 28,111,612  

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements

 

 
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GYRODYNE, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

FOR THE SIX-MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2017

(Liquidation Basis)

(Unaudited)

 

Net assets in liquidation, at December 31, 2016

          $ 28,111,612  

Changes in assets and liabilities in liquidation:

               
                 
Change in liquidation value of real estate     50,000          

Change in market value of securities

    25,918          

Remeasurement of assets and liabilities

    (204,855 )        

Net decrease in liquidation value

            (128,937 )

Liquidating distributions payable to shareholders

            (1,482,680 )

Total changes in net assets in liquidation

            (1,611,617 )

Net assets in liquidation, at June 30, 2017

          $ 26,499,995  

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements 

 

 
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2017 (unaudited)

 

1.     The Company

 

Gyrodyne, LLC (“Gyrodyne”, the “Company” or the “Registrant”) is a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of New York. The Company’s primary assets are comprised of a geographically diverse portfolio of medical office and industrial properties located on Long Island and in Westchester County, New York.

 

Substantially all of our developed properties are subject to leases in which the tenant reimburses the Company for a portion, all of or substantially all of the costs and/or cost increases for utilities, insurance, repairs, maintenance and real estate taxes. Certain leases provide that the Company is responsible for certain operating expenses.

 

The Company manages its business as one operating segment. The Company’s corporate strategy is to pursue zoning and/or entitlement opportunities intended to increase the values of our two remaining major properties (Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor) so that they can be sold at higher prices that will maximize distributions to our shareholders during the liquidation process within a reasonable period of time and then dissolving the Company. The value of the real estate reported in the Statements of Net Assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is predicated on current asset values and does not include any potential value impact that may result from such value enhancement efforts. There can be no assurance that our value enhancement efforts will result in property value increases that exceed the costs we incur in such efforts, or even any increase at all.

  

Our efforts to generate the highest values for Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor may involve in limited circumstances the acquisition of certain adjacent properties, pursuit of joint venture relationships, entitlements and/or zoning changes, other investments and/or other strategies to enhance the net value of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor to maximize the returns for our shareholders. The Company does not expect the acquisition of properties or the pursuit of joint ventures, if any, to adversely affect the timing of distributions to our shareholders. Gyrodyne intends to dissolve after it completes the disposition of all of its real property assets, applies the proceeds of such dispositions first to settle any debts and claims, pending or otherwise, against Gyrodyne, and then makes liquidating distributions to holders of Gyrodyne common shares. The liquidation process and the amount and timing of distributions involve risks and uncertainties. As such, it is impossible at this time to determine the ultimate amount of proceeds that will actually be distributed to our shareholders or the timing of such payments. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the distributions will equal or exceed the estimate of net assets in liquidation presented in our Consolidated Statements of Net Assets. The actual nature, amount and timing of all distributions will be determined by Gyrodyne’s Board in its sole discretion, and will depend in part upon the ability to convert our remaining assets into cash in compliance with our obligations under the Stipulation entered into in connection with the class action lawsuit (See Note 13 – Contingencies) and pay and settle our remaining liabilities and obligations. Under Gyrodyne’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, such dissolution may be effected upon the vote of holders of a majority of Gyrodyne common shares or, in the Board’s discretion and without any separate approval by the holders of the Gyrodyne common shares, at any time the value of Gyrodyne’s assets, as determined by the Board in good faith, is less than $1,000,000.

  

After giving effect to the Company’s dispositions of real property through August 4, 2017 (See Note 8), the Company owns one remaining medical office park and one of fourteen buildings in a second medical office park, together comprising approximately 37,000 rentable square feet and a multitenant industrial park comprising approximately 130,000 rentable square feet. The aforementioned industrial park is situated on ten acres of a 68-acre property in St. James, New York, all of which is owned by the Company. The medical office park in Cortlandt Manor, the building in the Port Jefferson Professional Park and the Flowerfield Industrial Park (including its undeveloped portion) are individually held in single asset LLCs wholly owned by the Company.

  
 
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2.     Strategic Plan to Enhance Property Values, Liquidate and Dissolve

 

Our corporate strategy is to pursue zoning and/or entitlement opportunities which are intended to increase the values of our two remaining major properties so that they can be sold at higher prices that will maximize distributions to our shareholders during the liquidation process within a reasonable period of time. Gyrodyne intends to dissolve after it has completed the disposition of all of its real property assets, has applied the proceeds of such dispositions first to settle any claims, pending or otherwise, against Gyrodyne, and then has made liquidating distributions to holders of Gyrodyne common shares. To accomplish this, the Company’s plan consists of:

 

 

managing the real estate portfolio to improve operating cash flow while simultaneously increasing the market values of the underlying properties;

 

managing the opportunistic sale of real estate assets;

 

pursuing the entitlement/re-zoning efforts of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties, to maximize value;

 

focusing use of capital by the Company to preserve or improve the market value of the real estate portfolio; and

 

balancing working capital and funds available for the entitlement process with making distributions during the liquidation process.

 

Gyrodyne’s strategy is to enhance the value of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor by pursuing possible entitlement and/or zoning opportunities, which the Gyrodyne Board believes will improve the chances of obtaining better values for such properties. The value of the real estate reported in the Statements of Net Assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is predicated on current asset values and does not include any potential value impact that may result from such value enhancement efforts. There can be no assurance that our value enhancement efforts will result in property value increases that exceed the costs we incur in such efforts, or even any increase at all. The pursuit of the highest and best use of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor may involve the acquisition of properties, pursuit of joint venture relationships and other investments and or other strategies to maximize the returns for our shareholders. The Company does not expect the acquisition of properties or the pursuit of joint ventures, if any, to adversely affect the timing of the distributions to our shareholders. Gyrodyne intends to dissolve after it has completed the disposition of all of its real property assets, has applied the proceeds of such dispositions first to settle any claims, pending or otherwise, against Gyrodyne, and then has made liquidating distributions to holders of Gyrodyne common shares. We are unable to predict the precise nature, amount or timing of such distributions.

  

Sales of properties by Gyrodyne could take the form of individual sales of assets, as has been our recent experience in Port Jefferson, sales of groups of assets, a single sale of all or substantially all of the assets or some other form of sale. The assets may be sold to one or more purchasers in one or more transactions over a period of time.

 

A sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company would require shareholder approval under New York law. The prices at which the various assets may be sold depend largely on factors beyond our control, including, without limitation, the condition of financial markets, the availability of financing to prospective purchasers of the assets, regulatory approvals, public market perceptions, and limitations on transferability of certain assets.

  

We cannot give any assurance on the timing of the ultimate sale of all of the Company’s properties. Assuming the liquidation process continues through the end of 2018, and giving effect to the estimated flow of cash from the operation of our existing properties, we expect that Gyrodyne will have a cash balance of approximately $26.5 million, without giving effect to any future distributions, based on the estimate of net assets in liquidation presented in our Consolidated Statements of Net Assets. Such cash would equate to future liquidating distribution of approximately $17.87 per share based on Gyrodyne, LLC having 1,482,680 common shares outstanding. These estimated distributions are based on values at June 30, 2017 and do not include any potential value that may be derived from the investments being made to maximize the value on Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor. While the real estate market is dynamic and the economy is volatile, the Company believes the estimated remaining entitlement costs of $2.27 million will improve the estimated distributions versus selling the real estate under its current zoning and entitlements.

 

The Statements of Net Assets are based on certain estimates. Uncertainties as to the precise value of our non-cash assets, which exclude any estimated additional value achievable from the costs incurred to pursue the maximum value of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties through certain land entitlement efforts (inclusive of the pursuit of special permits and or zone changes) and the ultimate amount of our liabilities make it impracticable to predict the aggregate net value ultimately distributable to shareholders during the liquidation process. Land entitlement costs, claims, liabilities and expenses from operations, including operating costs, salaries, income taxes, payroll and local taxes, legal, accounting and consulting fees and miscellaneous office expenses, will continue to be incurred during our liquidation process, which includes certain enhancement efforts. Excluding the value that may be achieved from the entitlement efforts, expenses incurred in pursuing the Company’s business plan will reduce the amount of assets available for ultimate distribution to shareholders, and, while a precise estimate of those expenses cannot currently be made, management and our Board believe that available cash and amounts received on the sale of assets will be adequate to provide for our obligations, liabilities, expenses and claims (including contingent liabilities) and to make cash distributions to shareholders. However, no assurances can be given that available cash and amounts received on the sale of assets will be adequate to provide for our obligations, liabilities, expenses and claims and to make cash distributions to shareholders. If such available cash and amounts received on the sale of assets are not adequate to provide for our obligations, liabilities, expenses and claims, distributions of cash and other assets to our shareholders will be reduced and could be eliminated.

 

 
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3.     Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gyrodyne, LLC and all subsidiaries. All consolidated subsidiaries are wholly-owned. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 

4.     Basis of Quarterly Presentations

 

The accompanying quarterly financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The financial statements of the Company included herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments which are necessary to present fairly the results for the six-months ended June 30, 2017.

 

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.

 

5.     Significant Accounting Policies

 

Gyrodyne is pursuing the opportunistic disposition of certain properties and the enhancement of the value of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties, by pursuing various zoning/entitlement opportunities, which the Gyrodyne Board believes will improve the chances of obtaining better values for such properties. Gyrodyne intends to dissolve after it has completed the disposition of all its real property assets, has applied the proceeds of such dispositions first to settle any claims, pending or otherwise, against Gyrodyne, and then has made liquidating distributions to holders of Gyrodyne common shares. Therefore, effective September 1, 2015 Gyrodyne adopted the liquidation basis of accounting. This basis of accounting is considered appropriate when, among other things, liquidation of the entity is imminent, as defined in ASC 205-30, Presentation of Financial Statements Liquidation Basis of Accounting. Under Gyrodyne’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “LLC Agreement”), the Board may elect, in its sole discretion and without any separate approval by the shareholders, to dissolve the Company at any time the value of the Company’s assets, as determined by the Board in good faith, is less than $1 million. The LLC Agreement also provides that the Company will dissolve and its affairs wound up upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all of the real properties of the Company. As a result, liquidation is “imminent” in accordance with the guidance provided in ASC 205-30.

 

Basis of Presentation - Liquidation Basis of Accounting – Under the liquidation basis of accounting the consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statement of operations, statement of equity, consolidated statement of comprehensive income and the consolidated statement of cash flows are no longer presented. The consolidated statement of net assets in liquidation and the consolidated statement of changes in net assets in liquidation are the principal financial statements presented under the liquidation basis of accounting.

  

Under the liquidation basis of accounting, all the Company’s assets have been stated at their estimated net realizable value, or liquidation value, (which represents the estimated amount of cash that Gyrodyne will collect on the disposal of assets as it carries out the plan of liquidation), which is based on current contracts, estimates and other indications of sales value.  All liabilities of the Company, including those estimated costs associated with implementing the Plan of Liquidation, have been stated at their estimated settlement amounts.  These amounts are presented in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets in liquidation.  These estimates are periodically reviewed and adjusted as appropriate.  There can be no assurance that these estimated values will be realized.  Such amounts should not be taken as an indication of the timing or amount of future distributions or our actual dissolution.  The valuation of assets at their net realizable value and liabilities at their anticipated settlement amount represent estimates, based on present facts and circumstances, of the net realizable value of the assets and the costs associated with carrying out the Plan of Liquidation.  The actual values and costs associated with carrying out the Plan of Liquidation may differ from amounts reflected in the accompanying financial statements because of the Plan’s inherent uncertainty.  These differences may be material.  In particular, the estimates of our costs will vary with the length of time necessary to complete the Plan of Liquidation, which is currently anticipated to be completed by the end of 2018.  Accordingly, it is not possible to predict with certainty the timing or aggregate amount which may ultimately be distributed to common share holders and no assurance can be given that the distributions will equal or exceed the estimate presented in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets in liquidation.

 

The Company is pursuing value associated with the highest and best use for the Flowerfield property and the Cortlandt Medical Center. The actual costs of achieving such values may differ materially from the assumptions and estimates utilized and accordingly, could have a significant impact on the value of net assets in liquidation.

 

The Company’s assumptions and estimates (including the sales proceeds of all its real estate holdings, selling costs, retention bonus payments, rental revenues, rental expenses, land entitlement costs, general and administrative fees, director and officer liability and reimbursement, post liquidation insurance tail coverage policy and final liquidation costs) are based on completing the liquidation by the end of 2018. As previously stated, on an ongoing basis, Gyrodyne evaluates the estimates and assumptions that can have a significant impact on the reported net assets in liquidation and will update accordingly for any costs and value associated with a change in the duration of the liquidation, as we cannot give any assurance on the timing of the ultimate sale of all the Company’s properties.

 

 
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Management Estimates – In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and the liquidation basis of accounting, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, including net assets in liquidation, and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of receipts and expenditures for the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

The most significant estimates are the estimates on the net realizable value from the sale of our real estate, the estimated costs/time to pursue entitlements/change of zone and the related timeline to complete the liquidation.

 

Estimated Distributions per Share – Under the liquidation basis of accounting, the Company reports estimated distributions per share data by dividing net assets in liquidation by the number of shares outstanding.  

 

This report should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and footnotes therein included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

6.     Statements of Net Assets in Liquidation

 

The Company reports its financial results on the Statements of Net Assets in liquidation and the Statement of Changes in Net Assets in liquidation, both of which track the Company’s estimated remaining liquidating distributions.

 

Net assets in liquidation at June 30, 2017 would result in estimated liquidating distributions of approximately $17.87 per common share. This is a decrease of $1.09 from the December 31, 2016 net assets in liquidation of $18.96 per common share which was mainly the result of a $1.00 per share special distribution declared on June 16, 2017 and paid on July 7, 2017.

  

The cash balance at the end of the liquidation period (currently estimated to be December 31, 2018, although there can be no assurance that the liquidation process won’t end up taking longer to complete), excluding any interim distributions, is estimated based on the June 30, 2017 cash balance of $7.3 million plus adjustments for the following items which are estimated through December 31, 2018:

 

1.

Adjustments for the estimated cash receipts from the operation of the properties net of rental property related expenditures as well as costs expected to be incurred to maintain the net realizable value of the property at its estimated gross sales proceeds.

2.

Proceeds from the sale of all the Company’s real estate holdings.

3.

The net cash used to settle the working capital accounts and distributions announced.

4.

The general and administrative expenses and or liabilities associated with operations and the liquidation of the Company including severance, director and officer liability inclusive of post liquidation tail policy coverage, and financial and legal fees to complete the liquidation.

5.

Costs for the pursuit of the entitlement/rezoning of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties, to maximize value.

6.

Estimated amounts payable under the Retention Bonus Plan (See Note 12) based on the net realizable value of the real estate.

 

The Company estimates the net realizable value of its real estate assets by using income and market valuation techniques. The Company may estimate net realizable values using market information such as broker opinions of value, appraisals, and recent sales data for similar assets or discounted cash flow models, which primarily rely on Level 3 inputs. The cash flow models include estimated cash inflows and outflows over a specified holding period. These cash flows may include contractual rental revenues, projected future rental revenues and expenses and forecasted tenant improvements and lease commissions based upon market conditions determined through discussion with local real estate professionals, experience the Company has with its other owned properties in such markets and expectations for growth. Capitalization rates and discount rates utilized in these models are estimated by management based upon rates that management believes to be within a reasonable range of current market rates for the respective properties based upon an analysis of factors such as property and tenant quality, geographical location and local supply and demand observations. To the extent the Company under estimates forecasted cash outflows (tenant improvements, lease commissions and operating costs) or over estimates forecasted cash inflows (rental revenue rates), the estimated net realizable value of its real estate assets could be overstated.

 

The Company is pursuing various avenues to maximize total distributions to our shareholders during the liquidation process. The Company estimates that it will incur approximately $2.27 million (included in the Statements of Net Assets as part of the estimated liquidation and operating costs net of receipts, See Note 7) in land entitlement costs between July 2017 and the end of 2018, inclusively, in an effort to obtain entitlements, inclusive of zone changes and special permits. The Company believes the commitment of these resources will enable the Company to position the properties for sale with all entitlements necessary to maximize the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor property values. During the first six months of 2017, the Company incurred approximately $1.1 million of land entitlement costs, of which approximately $343,000 was for the purchase of a single-family residence on a .3-acre lot of adjacent land to the Cortlandt Manor Medical Center, inclusive of closing costs. The Company believes the remaining balance of $2.27 million will be incurred from July 2017 through the end of liquidation. The Company does not intend to develop the properties but rather to commit resources to position the properties for sale in a timely manner with all entitlements necessary to achieve maximum pre-construction values. The costs and time frame to achieve the entitlements could change due to a range of factors including a shift in the value of certain entitlements making it more profitable to pursue a different mix of zones/entitlements and the dynamics of the real estate market. As a result, the Company has focused and will continue to focus its land entitlement efforts on achieving the highest and best use. During the process of pursuing such entitlements, the Company may nevertheless entertain offers from potential buyers who may be willing to pay premiums for the properties that the Company finds more acceptable from a timing or value perspective than completing the entitlement processes itself. The value of the real estate reported in the Statements of Net Assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is predicated on current asset values and does not include any potential value impact that may result from the estimated $2.27 million in land entitlement costs. There can be no assurance that our value enhancement efforts will result in property value increases that exceed the costs we incur in such efforts, or even any increase at all.

  
 
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The net assets in liquidation at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $26,499,995 and $28,111,612, respectively, results in estimated liquidating distributions of approximately $17.87 and $18.96 per common share (based on 1,482,680 shares outstanding), respectively, based on estimates and other indications of sales value but excluding any actual additional sales proceeds that may result directly or indirectly from the anticipated $2.27 million in land entitlement costs. Neither the additional value that may be derived from the land entitlement costs, nor the bonuses that would be payable under the Company’s retention bonus plan in connection with the sale of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties are included in the estimated liquidating distributions as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The Company believes the land entitlement costs will enhance estimated distributions per share through the improved values from the sales of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties. This estimate of liquidating distributions includes projections of costs and expenses to be incurred during the period required to complete the plan of liquidation. There is inherent uncertainty with these projections, and they could change materially based on the timing of the sales, improved values of the Cortlandt Manor and/or Flowerfield properties resulting from the land entitlement efforts net of any bonuses if such values exceed the minimum values required to pay bonuses under the retention bonus plan, favorable or unfavorable changes in the land entitlement costs, the performance of the underlying assets, the market for commercial real estate properties generally and any changes in the underlying assumptions of the projected cash flows.

  

7.      Liability for Estimated Costs in Excess of Receipts during Liquidation

 

The liquidation basis of accounting requires the Company to estimate net cash flows from operations and to accrue all costs associated with implementing and completing the plan of liquidation. The Company currently estimates that it will incur costs in excess of estimated receipts during the liquidation period, excluding the net proceeds from the real estate sales. These amounts can vary significantly due to, among other things, land entitlement costs, the timing and estimates for executing and renewing leases, capital expenditures to maintain the real estate at its current fair value and estimates of tenant improvement costs, the timing of property sales and any direct/indirect costs incurred that are related to the sales (e.g., retention bonuses on the sale of the Cortlandt Manor and Flowerfield properties, costs to address buy side due diligence inclusive of administrative fees, legal fees and property costs to address items arising from such due diligence and not previously known), the timing and amounts associated with discharging known and contingent liabilities and the costs associated with the winding up of operations. These costs are estimated and are anticipated to be paid during the liquidation period.

 

The change in the liability for estimated costs in excess of estimated receipts during liquidation from January 1, 2017 through June 30, 2017 is as follows:

  

   

January 1,

2017

   

Expenditures/

(Receipts)

   

Remeasurement of

Assets and Liabilities

   

June 30, 2017

 

Assets:

                               

Estimated rents and reimbursements

  $ 4,587,606     $ (1,393,133 )   $ 170,436     $ 3,364,909  

Liabilities:

                               

Property operating costs

    (2,171,863 )     802,527       (369,021 )     (1,738,357 )

Capital expenditures excluding land entitlement costs and land purchases

    (840,000 )     258,699       (123,639 )     (704,940 )

Land entitlement costs

    (3,358,200 )     1,136,407       (50,160 )     (2,271,953 )

Corporate expenditures

    (6,225,694 )     1,377,112       202,551       (4,646,031 )

Selling costs on real estate assets

    (1,861,500 )     142,022       (25,022 )     (1,744,500 )

Retention bonus payments to Directors (a)

    (234,632 )     155,318       (6,500 )     (85,814 )

Retention bonus payments to Executives and other employees (a)

    (126,340 )     83,634       (3,500 )     (46,206 )

Less prepaid expenses and other assets

    345,512       64,128       -       409,640  

Liability for estimated costs in excess of estimated receipts during liquidation

  $ (9,885,111 )   $ 2,626,714     $ (204,855 )   $ (7,463,252 )

 

(a) The value of the real estate reported in the Statements of Net Assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, is predicated on current asset values and does not include any potential value impact that may result from the estimated land entitlement costs. There can be no assurance that our value enhancement efforts will result in property value increases that exceed the costs we incur in such efforts, or even any increase at all. As a result, net realizable value as reported does not exceed the adjusted appraised value under the Company’s retention bonus plan (the appraisal of the real estate in late 2013 plus the estimated entitlement costs) for the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties and accordingly the Company has not included any retention bonuses on the respective property sales in the calculation of estimated costs in excess of estimated receipts.

  
 
9

 

  

8.     Disposition Activities

 

Port Jefferson Professional Park. On June 15, 2017, Gyrodyne, LLC, through its wholly owned subsidiary GSD Port Jefferson, LLC, completed the sale of the two buildings located at 9 Medical Drive and 5380 Nesconset Highway, respectively, in the Port Jefferson Professional Park for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000 pursuant to the previously announced Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of March 30, 2017.

 

On May 23, 2017, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary GSD Port Jefferson, LLC entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement to sell the real property known as 1 Medical Drive, Port Jefferson Station, New York for $800,000 , subject to an evaluation period that expired sixty days following signing (with an optional extension period of fifteen days which the purchaser had exercised), during which time the purchaser shall have the right to terminate the agreement by written notice to GSD Port Jefferson, for any reason or no reason, in which case the purchaser would have had the right to receive a refund of its $40,000 deposit. The Company closed on this transaction on August 4, 2017.

  

The Company has one remaining building comprising approximately 3,500 square feet within the same medical park which is being actively marketed for sale.    

  

9.     Investment in Marketable Securities

 

Under the liquidation basis of accounting, the statements of net assets reports all assets at net realizable value and any changes in such values during a period are reported in the consolidated statement of changes in net assets.

 

The Company reviews its investments on a regular basis and adjusts the balance to fair value in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation and Statements of Net Assets in Liquidation, accordingly.

 

The estimated net realizable value of investments in marketable securities available for sale as of December 31, 2016 was $4,087,231. The Company received principle payments of $129,587 prior to the sale of 100% of its investment in mortgage- backed securities for approximately $3,983,562 during the six months ended June 30, 2017.

 

The Company’s investment was in conforming agency fixed rate mortgage pass through securities (“mortgage-backed securities”), each of which contained either AA or AAA ratings, the principal of which is fully guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. Government. At December 31, 2016, marketable securities based on amortized cost, reflected a yield of approximately 2%, had contractual maturities of 15 or 30 years and an adjusted duration of less than four years. The fair value of mortgage-backed securities was estimated based on a Level 2 methodology, additional details of which are discussed further in Footnote 15 – Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Prior to their sale, all securities were reported at fair value and the changes were reported in the statements of net assets in liquidation and the statement of changes in net assets in liquidation, accordingly.

 

10.   Income Taxes

 

Gyrodyne LLC is not subject to an entity level income tax but rather is treated as a pass-through entity with the taxable income or loss reported annually on a Form K-1 to its shareholders pro rata. Flowerfield Properties, Inc. (“FPI”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. FPI is a “C” corporation and therefore any income generated by FPI is subject to a corporate level tax.

 

 
10

 

  

11.   Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and securities issued with the guarantee of U.S. Government Agencies. The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions and generally limits the amount of credit exposure in any one financial institution. However, while the Company maintains bank account balances which at times exceed insured limits, the Company has not experienced any losses to date. Management does not believe significant credit risk existed at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2017 rental income the three largest tenants represented approximately 14%, 10% and 10% of total rental income. The three largest tenants by revenue as of June 30, 2017 consist of a state agency located in the industrial park, another tenant in the industrial park and a medical tenant in the Cortlandt Manor Medical Center. The tenant in the industrial park that represents 10% of the total rental income gave notice that they will be terminating their lease as of August 31, 2017. The impact of which is included in the estimated liquidation and operating costs net of receipts.

 

12  Commitments

 

Other commitments as of June 30, 2017 are summarized in the below:

 

Management Employment agreements with bonus and severance commitment contingencies

  $ 350,000  

Other employee severance commitment contingencies

    114,200  

Total

  $ 464,200  

 

Employment agreements - The Board of Directors appointed Gary Fitlin as President and Chief Executive Officer effective May 1, 2017. Mr. Fitlin has an employment agreement (the “Agreement”), executed during the quarter ended June 30, 2013. The Agreement contains a bonus of $125,000 payable to him if he is employed by the Company as of the effective date of a change-in-control as defined in the Agreement. If he is terminated without cause, the Company must provide him with at least 60 days’ prior written notice of termination, and must pay him the change-in-control bonus and severance pay equal to six months’ base salary from the date of termination.

  

The Company also has an employment agreement with Peter Pitsiokos, its Chief Operating Officer, executed on May 8, 2014 which provides that if he is terminated without cause, the Company must pay him severance pay equal to six months’ base salary from the date of termination.

  

Under Company policy the aggregate severance commitment contingency to other employees is approximately $114,200.

 

Retention Bonus Plan- In May 2014, the Board of Directors approved a Retention Bonus Plan designed to recognize the nature and scope of the responsibilities related to the Company’s business plan, to reward and incent performance in connection therewith, to align the interests of directors, executives and employees with our shareholders and to retain such persons during the liquidation process. The Retention Bonus Plan provides for bonuses to directors, officers and employees determined by the gross sales proceeds from the sale of each property and the date of sale.

 

The Retention Bonus Plan initially provided for a bonus pool funded with an amount equal to 5% of the specified appraised value of such properties (set forth in the Plan), so long as the gross selling price of a property is equal to or greater than 100% of its 2013 appraised value as designated in the bonus plan. The aggregate amount of the 2013 appraisals for the Company’s properties was utilized to help set the aggregate valuation of the real estate that was included in the non-cash dividend distributed on December 30, 2013. Additional funding of the bonus pool will occur on a property-by-property basis when the gross sales price of a property exceeds its appraised value as follows: 10% on the first 10% of appreciation, 15% on the next 10% of appreciation and 20% on appreciation greater than 20%. Furthermore, if a specified property is sold on or before a designated date specified in the Retention Bonus Plan, an additional amount equal to 2% of the gross selling price of such property also is funded into the bonus pool.

 

The bonus pool is distributable in the following proportions to the named participants in the bonus plan for so long as they are directors or employees of the Company: 15% for the Chairman, 50% for the directors other than the Chairman (10% for each of the other five directors) and 35% (the “Employee Pool”) for the Company’s executives and employees. Such share of the bonus pool is earned only upon the completion of the sale of a property at a gross selling price equal to or greater than its appraised value and is paid to the named beneficiaries of the Retention Bonus Plan or their designees within 60 days of the completion of such sale or, if later, within 60 days of receipt of any subsequent post-completion installment payment related to such sale. All allocations to individual beneficiaries of the Employee Pool shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or its successor in consultation with its President.

 

 
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On May 24, 2016, the Board of Directors amended its Retention Bonus Plan to provide that land entitlement costs incurred on a property since the date of the 2013 appraisal will be added to that value of the property (“Adjusted Appraised Value”) in calculating appreciation for determining the bonus pool. The foregoing change was approved to better align the interests of the participants in the Retention Bonus Plan with those of the shareholders. The amendment also provides that each of the ten buildings in the Port Jefferson Professional Park will be treated as a “property”, so that a participant’s right to bonus payment on the sale of a Port Jefferson building will vest on, and payments to the bonus pool may be made shortly following, the closing of the sale of that building. As originally adopted, all ten buildings in the Port Jefferson Professional Park were treated as one property, so that a participant departing prior to the sale of all ten buildings would forfeit bonus on all ten buildings. The reason for this original designation was that, at the time of adoption, the Board of Directors believed that Gyrodyne’s entire Port Jefferson property would be sold as one block, not as individual buildings. Subsequent to adoption, the Gyrodyne Board decided that the sale of individual buildings would generate the greatest aggregate values and thus would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

 

The value of the real estate reported in the Statements of Net Assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, is predicated on current asset values and does not include any potential value impact that may result from the estimated land entitlement costs. There can be no assurance that our value enhancement efforts will result in property value increases that exceed the costs we incur in such efforts, or even any increase at all. As a result, net realizable value as reported does not exceed the Adjusted Appraised Value under the Retention Bonus Plan on the Cortlandt Manor and Flowerfield properties and accordingly the Company has not included any retention bonuses on the respective property sales in the calculation of estimated costs in excess of receipts.

  

Payments made during the six months ended June 30, 2017 under the Retention Bonus Plan relating to the sales of two buildings in the Port Jefferson Professional Park were as follows:

 

RETENTION BONUS PLAN PARTICPANTS

 

Total

 

Board of Directors

  $ 155,318  

Chief Executive Officer

    40,000  

Chief Operating Officer

    37,000  

Other Employees

    6,634  

Total

  $ 238,952  

 

Master Lease - The Company retained a Master lease obligation under the terms of the sale of Fairfax Medical Center which expires May 3, 2018. The remaining maximum total obligation of $50,593, to the purchaser is based on approximately 3,852 square feet. The obligation will be reduced by any new leases or expansions signed by the buyer, which obligations will terminate if the financial obligation is satisfied through leases to one or more third party tenants.

 

13.   Contingencies

 

Putative Class Action Lawsuit 

 

On July 3, 2014, a purported stockholder of Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. (the “Corporation”) filed a putative class action lawsuit against the Corporation and members of its Board of Directors (the "Individual Defendants"), and against GSD and the Company (collectively, the "Defendants"), in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Suffolk (the "Court"), captioned Cashstream Fund v. Paul L. Lamb, et al., Index No. 065134/2014 (the "Action").  The complaint alleged, among other things, that (i) the Individual Defendants breached their fiduciary duties or aided and abetted the breach of those duties in connection with the merger of the Corporation and GSD into the Company (the “Merger”) and (ii) the Corporation and the Individual Defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to disclose material information in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Merger. 

 

On August 14, 2015, the parties to the Action entered into a Stipulation of Settlement (the "Settlement") providing for the settlement of the Action, subject to the Court's approval.  Under the Settlement, the Corporation and the Company amended the proxy statement/prospectus on August 17, 2015 with certain supplemental disclosures, and agreed that any sales of its properties would be effected only in arms’-length transactions at prices at or above their appraised values as of December 2014.  The plaintiff, on behalf of itself and the members of the putative class it represented, agreed to release and dismiss with prejudice all claims that had or could have been asserted in the Action or in any other forum against the Defendants and their affiliates and agents arising out of or relating to the Merger and the other transactions alleged by plaintiff in its complaint, as supplemented.  On April 8, 2016, the Court entered a Final Order and Judgment approving the Settlement. By order of the same date, the Court also granted plaintiff’s application for an award of attorney’s fees and reimbursement of expenses in the amount of $650,000 which was paid in full in April 2016.

 

As of June 30, 2017, the aggregate value, based on the 2016 appraisals, of the remaining unsold properties was $550,000 lower than the 2014 appraised values.

   
 
12

 

 

General 

 

In the normal course of business, the Company is a party to various legal proceedings. After reviewing all actions and proceedings pending against or involving the Company, management considers that any loss resulting from such proceedings individually or in the aggregate will not be material to the Company’s financial statements.

 

14.   Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Management has evaluated the impact of newly issued accounting pronouncements, whether effective or not as of June 30, 2017, and has concluded that they will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements since the Company reports on a liquidation basis.

 

15.   Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair-Value – The Company believes the concepts for determining net realizable value are consistent with the guidance for measuring fair value. As a result, the Company follows authoritative guidance on fair value measurements, which defines fair-value, establishes a framework for measuring fair-value, and expands disclosures about fair-value measurements. The guidance applies to reported balances that are required or permitted to be measured at fair-value under existing accounting pronouncements.

 

The Company follows authoritative guidance on the fair value option for financial assets, which permits companies to choose to measure certain financial instruments and other items at fair-value in order to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. However, the Company adopted the liquidation basis of accounting, and therefore reports all assets and liabilities at net realizable value.  

 

The guidance emphasizes that fair-value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair-value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair-value measurements, the guidance establishes a fair-value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy). In instances where the determination of the fair-value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair-value hierarchy, the level in the fair-value hierarchy within which the entire fair-value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair-value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair-value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

 

During the six-months ended June 30, 2017, the company received $4,113,149 through principal debt service and the sale of 100% of its investment in mortgage backed securities which exceeded the net realizable value of the Company’s investment in marketable securities as of December 31, 2016 of $4,087,231. The Company’s investments in marketable securities were limited to mortgage backed securities which had either AA or AAA ratings fully guaranteed by US government agencies (the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). The net realizable values of mortgage backed securities originated by US government agencies are based on a pricing model that incorporates coupon type, prepayment speeds and the type of collateral backing the securities. A discount rate is applied to the cash flows in the model to arrive at the net realizable value. Market quotes, current yields, and their spreads to benchmark indices are obtained for each type of security. With this data, a yield curve is derived for each category of mortgage backed securities. Each security is priced by discounting the cash flow stream by the appropriate yield found on the yield curve. As the significant inputs used to derive the value of the mortgage-backed securities are observable market inputs, the net realizable value of these securities is included in the Level 2 fair value hierarchy.

 

Fair Value Measurements:

 

The Company adopted the liquidation basis of accounting effective September 1, 2015; accordingly, the Company reports all real estate at their net realizable value.

 

The Company estimates the net realizable value of its real estate assets by using income and market valuation techniques. The Company may estimate net realizable values using market information such as broker opinions of value, appraisals, and recent sales data for similar assets or discounted cash flow models, which primarily rely on Level 3 inputs. The cash flow models include estimated cash inflows and outflows over a specified holding period. These cash flows may include contractual rental revenues, projected future rental revenues and expenses and forecasted tenant improvements and lease commissions based upon market conditions determined through discussion with local real estate professionals, experience the Company has with its other owned properties in such markets and expectations for growth. Capitalization rates and discount rates utilized in these models are estimated by management based upon rates that management believes to be within a reasonable range of current market rates for the respective properties based upon an analysis of factors such as property and tenant quality, geographical location and local supply and demand observations. To the extent, the Company under estimates forecasted cash outflows (tenant improvements, lease commissions and operating costs) or over estimates forecasted cash inflows (rental revenue rates), the estimated net realizable value of its real estate assets could be overstated.

 

 
13

 

  

The following table presents the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of June 30, 2017, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall:

 

            Fair Value Measurements Using  

Description

 

Balance

    (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)   

Real estate assets

  $ 29,075,000     $     $     $ 29,075,000  

  

The Company is a limited partner in Callery-Judge Grove, L.P. (the “Grove”), which is in the process of liquidation. The proceeds, if any, that the Company may receive effectively reflect an illiquid receivable and therefore there is no net realizable value included in the Company’s Statements of Net Assets from this investment.

 

16.   Related Party Transactions

 

In April 2016, Paul Lamb, the Chairman of the Board of Gyrodyne, LLC founded and became the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of a not-for-profit corporation under New York law in which he does not earn any compensation or receive any other financial benefit. In May 2016, the Company entered into a 30-month real property lease (which was extended an additional two months in April 2017) with such entity comprising 1,971 square feet and an annual and total lease commitment (inclusive of the extension) of $16,754 and $44,676, respectively. Approximately $4,700 in improvements were provided by the Company. The Company believes the lease is at market value.

 

In April 2017, the Company entered into a new lease with the above not-for-profit entity. The leasing term of 20 months comprise an additional 1,905 square feet and annual and total additional lease commitments of $16,193 and $26,988, respectively. The Company believes the lease is at market value.

 

The above leases were approved unanimously by the board of the Company with Mr. Lamb recusing himself from deliberations and vote.

 

17.   Subsequent Events

 

On August 2, 2017, the Suffolk County Planning Commission voted 11-0 to approve without conditions the Company’s subdivision application for its Flowerfield property. The subdivision application is now referred back to the Town of Smithtown Planning Board which is currently reviewing the Company’s application. Although the approval by the Suffolk County Planning Commission is not binding on the Town of Smithtown, the approval without conditions means that the requisite vote threshold at the Town of Smithtown’s Town Board is a simple majority.

 

On August 4, 2017, Gyrodyne, LLC, through its wholly owned subsidiary GSD Port Jefferson, LLC, completed the sale of the building located at 1 Medical Drive in the Port Jefferson Professional Park for a purchase price of $800,000 pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of May 23, 2017.

   

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

 

When we use the terms “Gyrodyne,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our,” we mean Gyrodyne, LLC and all entities owned or controlled by us, including non-consolidated entities. References to “common shares” in this report refer to Gyrodyne, LLC’s common shares representing limited liability company interests. References herein to our Quarterly Report are to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the six -months ended June 30, 2017.

 

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward- Looking Information. This Quarterly Report and the documents incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report contain forward-looking statements about the Company within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “projects,” “continues” and similar expressions or the negative of these terms constitutes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and they are included in this Quarterly Report for the purpose of invoking these safe harbor provisions. Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in condition, significance, value and effect. The risks, uncertainties and changes in condition, significance, value and effect that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties relating to the plan of liquidation, the risk that the proceeds from the sale of our assets may not be sufficient to satisfy our obligations to our current and future creditors and retention bonus plan participants, the risk of shareholder litigation relating to the tax liquidation, the plan of liquidation or the plan of merger and other unforeseeable expenses related to the proposed liquidation, the tax treatment of condemnation and property sale proceeds, the effect of economic and business conditions, risks inherent in the real estate markets of Suffolk and Westchester Counties in New York, the ability to develop the Company’s existing real estate and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings. Except as may be required under federal law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur.

 

 
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Overview

 

Gyrodyne, LLC (“Gyrodyne”, the “Company” or the “Registrant”) is a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of New York whose primary assets are comprised of a geographically diverse portfolio of medical office and industrial properties located on Long Island and in Westchester County, New York.

 

Substantially all of our developed properties are subject to leases in which the tenant reimburses the Company for a portion, all of or substantially all of the costs and/or cost increases for utilities, insurance, repairs, maintenance and real estate taxes. Certain leases provide that the Company is responsible for certain operating expenses.

 

The Company manages its business as one operating segment. The Company’s corporate strategy is to pursue zoning and/or entitlement opportunities intended to increase the values of our two remaining major properties (Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor) so that they can be sold at higher prices that will maximize distributions to our shareholders during the liquidation process within a reasonable period of time and then dissolving the Company. The value of the real estate reported in the Statements of Net Assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is predicated on current asset values and does not include any potential value impact that may result from such value enhancement efforts. There can be no assurance that our value enhancement efforts will result in property value increases that exceed the costs we incur in such efforts, or even any increase at all.

   

Our efforts to generate the highest values for Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor may involve in limited circumstances the acquisition of certain adjacent properties, pursuit of joint venture relationships, entitlements and/or zoning changes, other investments and/or other strategies to enhance the net value of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor to maximize the returns for our shareholders. The Company does not expect the acquisition of properties or the pursuit of joint ventures, if any, to adversely affect the timing of distributions to our shareholders. Gyrodyne intends to dissolve after it completes the disposition of all of its real property assets, applies the proceeds of such dispositions first to settle any debts and claims, pending or otherwise, against Gyrodyne, and then makes liquidating distributions to holders of Gyrodyne common shares. The liquidation process and the amount and timing of distributions involve risks and uncertainties. As such, it is impossible at this time to determine the ultimate amount of proceeds that will actually be distributed to our shareholders or the timing of such payments. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the distributions will equal or exceed the estimate of net assets in liquidation presented in our Consolidated Statements of Net Assets. The actual nature, amount and timing of all distributions will be determined by Gyrodyne’s Board in its sole discretion, and will depend in part upon the ability to convert our remaining assets into cash in compliance with our obligations under the Stipulation entered into in connection with the class action lawsuit (See Note 13 – Contingencies) and pay and settle our remaining liabilities and obligations. Under Gyrodyne’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, such dissolution may be effected upon the vote of holders of a majority of Gyrodyne common shares or, in the Board’s discretion and without any separate approval by the holders of the Gyrodyne common shares, at any time the value of Gyrodyne’s assets, as determined by the Board in good faith, is less than $1,000,000.

 

After giving effect to the Company’s dispositions of real property through August 4, 2017 (See Note 8), the Company owns one remaining medical office park and one of fourteen buildings in a second medical office park, together comprising approximately 37,000 rentable square feet and a multitenant industrial park comprising approximately 130,000 rentable square feet. The aforementioned industrial park is situated on ten acres of a 68-acre property in St. James, New York, all of which is owned by the Company. The medical office park in Cortlandt Manor, the building in the Port Jefferson Professional Park and the Flowerfield Industrial Park (including its undeveloped portion) are individually owned in single asset LLCs wholly owned by the Company.

  

Strategic Plan to Enhance Property Values, Liquidate and Dissolve

 

Our corporate strategy is to pursue zoning and/or entitlement opportunities intended to increase the values of our two remaining major properties so that they can be sold at higher prices that will maximize distributions to our shareholders during the liquidation process within a reasonable period of time. Gyrodyne intends to dissolve after it has completed the disposition of all of its real property assets, has applied the proceeds of such dispositions first to settle any claims, pending or otherwise, against Gyrodyne, and then has made liquidating distributions to holders of Gyrodyne common shares. To accomplish this, the Company’s plan consists of:

 

 

managing the real estate portfolio to improve operating cash flow while simultaneously increasing the market values of the underlying properties;

 

managing the opportunistic sale of real estate assets;

 

pursuing the re-zoning/entitlement efforts of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties, to maximize value;

 

focusing use of capital by the Company to preserve or improve the market value of the real estate portfolio; and

 

balancing working capital and funds available for the entitlement process with making distributions during the liquidation process.

  

 
15

 

 

Sales of properties by Gyrodyne could take the form of individual sales of assets, as has been our recent experience in Port Jefferson, sales of groups of assets, a single sale of all or substantially all of the assets or some other form of sale. The assets may be sold to one or more purchasers in one or more transactions over a period of time.

 

A sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company would require shareholder approval under New York law. The prices at which the various assets may be sold depend largely on factors beyond our control, including, without limitation, the condition of financial markets, the availability of financing to prospective purchasers of the assets, regulatory approvals, public market perceptions, and limitations on transferability of certain assets.

  

We cannot give any assurance on the timing of the ultimate sale of all of the Company’s properties. Assuming the liquidation process continues through the end of 2018, and giving effect to the estimated flow of cash from the operation of our existing properties, we expect that Gyrodyne will have a cash balance of approximately $26.5 million, prior to any future distributions based on the estimate of net assets in liquidation presented in our Consolidated Statements of Net Assets. Such cash would equate to future liquidating distribution of approximately $17.87 per share based on Gyrodyne LLC, having 1,482,680 common shares outstanding. These estimated distributions are based on values at June 30, 2017 is predicated on current asset values and does not include any potential value that may be derived from the investments being made to maximize the value on Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor. There can be no assurance that our value enhancement efforts will result in property value increases that exceed the costs we incur in such efforts, or even any increase at all. While the real estate market is dynamic and the economy is volatile, the Company believes the estimated remaining entitlement costs of $2.27 million will improve the estimated distributions versus selling the real estate under its current zoning and entitlements.

 

The statements of net assets are based on certain estimates. Uncertainties as to the precise value of our non-cash assets, which exclude any estimated additional value achievable from the costs incurred to pursue the maximum value on Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor through certain land entitlement efforts (inclusive of the pursuit of certain entitlements, special permits and or zone changes) and the ultimate amount of our liabilities make it impracticable to predict the aggregate net value ultimately distributable to shareholders in a liquidation. Land entitlement costs, claims, liabilities and expenses from operations, including operating costs, salaries, income taxes, payroll and local taxes, legal, accounting and consulting fees and miscellaneous office expenses, will continue to be incurred during our liquidation process, which includes certain enhancement efforts. Excluding the value that may be achieved from the entitlement efforts, expenses incurred in pursuing the Company’s business plan will reduce the amount of assets available for ultimate distribution to shareholders, and, while a precise estimate of those expenses cannot currently be made, management and our Board believe that available cash and amounts received on the sale of assets will be adequate to provide for our obligations, liabilities, expenses and claims (including contingent liabilities) and to make cash distributions to shareholders. However, no assurances can be given that available cash and amounts received on the sale of assets will be adequate to provide for our obligations, liabilities, expenses and claims and to make cash distributions to shareholders. If such available cash and amounts received on the sale of assets are not adequate to provide for our obligations, liabilities, expenses and claims, distributions of cash and other assets to our shareholders will be reduced and could be eliminated.

 

Properties under contract or sold

 

Port Jefferson Professional Park 

 

On June 15, 2017, Gyrodyne, LLC, through its wholly owned subsidiary GSD Port Jefferson, LLC, completed the sale of the two buildings located at 9 Medical Drive and 5380 Nesconset Highway, respectively, in the Port Jefferson Professional Park for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000 pursuant to the previously announced Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of March 30, 2017.

 

On May 23, 2017, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary GSD Port Jefferson, LLC entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement to sell the real property known as 1 Medical Drive, Port Jefferson Station, New York for $800,000 , subject to an evaluation period that expired sixty days following signing (with an optional extension period of fifteen days which the purchaser had exercised), during which time the purchaser shall have the right to terminate the agreement by written notice to GSD Port Jefferson, for any reason or no reason, in which case the purchaser would have had the right to receive a refund of its $40,000 deposit. The Company closed on this transaction on August 4, 2017.

  
 
16

 

  

Following the sales indicated above, the Company has one remaining building (comprising approximately 3,500 square feet in total) within the same medical park which is being actively marketed for sale.

  

Property Value Enhancement

 

The Company is pursuing entitlements/zoning to maximize the value of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor. During the six months ending June 30, 2017, the Company incurred $1.1 million of land entitlement costs, of which approximately $343,000 was for the purchase, inclusive of closing costs, of a residential 0.3-acre lot adjacent to the Cortlandt Manor Medical Center. The balance was mainly attributable to preparing the respective applications for entitlements inclusive of certain costs related to addressing the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”). The preparation of the application is the first statutory step with each respective town, of our strategic plan to maximize the value to our shareholders with a low amount of risk. We anticipate that the acquired land will enhance the achievable density and sale value of the Cortlandt property. We estimate that the Company may incur approximately $2.27 million in additional land entitlement costs through 2018 in pursuit of special permits and or zone changes (approximately $584,000 in Cortlandt Manor and $1,688,000 in Flowerfield).

 

The Company is focusing its resources on positioning the properties to be sold with all entitlements necessary to achieve maximum pre-construction values in the shortest period of time with the least amount of risk to the Company. During the process of pursuing such entitlements, the Company may entertain offers from potential buyers who may be willing to pay prices for the properties that the Company finds more attractive from a timing or value perspective than completing the entitlement processes. While the real estate market is dynamic and the economy is uncertain, we anticipate that these expenditures will serve to greatly increase the sale prices of the properties and the resulting liquidating distributions to our shareholders.

 

Cortlandt Manor. On March 15, 2016, the Town of Cortlandt Manor (the “Town”) adopted a 2016 Sustainable Comprehensive Plan (the “Plan”) of which one key strategy was the simultaneous creation of a Medical Oriented District (“MOD”). The purpose of the MOD is to expand the Town’s existing medical infrastructure and encourage economic development, including capital investment, job creation and housing options. The MOD allows for a continuum of care, i.e., independent living, assisted living and nursing/hospital care, within or in neighboring facilities by centralizing medical services and related activities. As a designated zoning district, the MOD could include hospital, ambulatory surgery, primary and urgent care, hospice, laboratories, social services, boutique hotels and a wide range of housing.

 

The Company’s existing 33,871 square foot Cortlandt Medical Center and its approximate twelve acres are located directly opposite New York Presbyterian’s Hudson Valley Hospital Center and within the boundaries of the MOD. The Company has committed resources toward both market research and feasibility studies in support of achieving entitlements to maximize the value of the property. For more than a year the Company along with its planner and engineers have been working closely with the Town to identify issues and solutions involved in creating the Plan and more specifically, the MOD.

 

On April 20, 2017, the Company closed on the purchase of a 1,950-square foot single-family residential dwelling located on approximately 0.3 acres in Cortlandt Manor, New York. The purchase price, inclusive of closing costs, was approximately $343,000. The Company was able to take advantage of a distressed sale following foreclosure action by the lender. The property which adjoins the Cortlandt Medical Center and is across the street from New York Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital Center, is expected to become part of the Cortlandt Manor MOD. The property may provide additional vehicular access to the site from Buttonwood Drive and State Route 202 and additional parking which the Company believes will further increase the yield in a manner that is cost effective and should provide a significant return on investment to the shareholders.

 

The Company filed an application with the Town of Cortlandt Manor to develop the Cortlandt Manor property, on March 31, 2017, as follows:

 

SUBDIVISION LOT #

BUILDING SIZE/YIELD

MEDICAL OFFICE

100,000 sft

Multi-family apartments

200 units

Retail

4,000 sft

 

The Company has been working closely with Town officials on entitlement complexity, environmental impact studies, traffic mitigation, effluent, financial impact and other variables to ensure the application synchronizes with the Town’s vision on the MOD. Furthermore, while we are pursuing the above entitlements, we are also seeking the approval of yield that can be transferred between the three proposed uses as market demand changes.

 

The entitlement costs from December 2013 through June 30, 2017 associated with the ownership and development of this property consisted of architectural and engineering costs, legal expenses, economic analysis, soil management, surveys and real estate taxes totaling $1,132,886.

 

 
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Flowerfield. Following extensive market research and related feasibility studies, we identified the entitlements that we believe will maximize the value of Flowerfield in the shortest amount of time with the lowest amount of risk. The Company has been in discussions with the Town of Smithtown on the potential real estate development projects identified by the market research and feasibility studies, all of which currently fall within our “as of right to build” zoning. We are also exploring with the Town of Smithtown whether it would be amenable to certain entitlements, special permits, or other concessions that would allow for the identified development projects.

  

In March 2017, the Company filed a pre-subdivision application with the Town of Smithtown (the “Pre-application”) for the Flowerfield property along with the previously sold (2002) catering hall facility for an eight-lot subdivision. In June 2017, the Company filed a subdivision application with the Town of Smithtown based on feedback provided by the Town of Smithtown staff in the Pre-application process. Because of the property’s location within 500 feet of a municipal boundary and a state road, the Town of Smithtown referred the Company’s subdivision application to the Suffolk County Planning Commission as required by the Suffolk County Administrative Code and the New York State General Municipal Law.

 

On August 2, 2017, the Suffolk County Planning Commission voted 11-0 to approve Gyrodyne’s subdivision application without conditions. The subdivision application is now referred back to the Town of Smithtown Planning Board which is currently reviewing the Company’s application. Although the approval by the Suffolk County Planning Commission is not binding on the Town of Smithtown, the approval without conditions means that the requisite vote threshold at the Town of Smithtown’s Town Board is a simple majority; had the Suffolk County Planning Commission approved the subdivision application with conditions, a supermajority would have been required for the Town of Smithtown’s Town Board to approve the Company’s subdivision application.

  

The details of the Company’s subdivision application are as follows:

  

SUBDIVISION LOT #

LOT SIZE

(acres)

LAND USE

BUILDING SIZE/YIELD

1

18

Existing Industrial Park – Mixed Use

132,719 SFT

2

12

Catering Hall (sold in 2002)

34,685sft

3

6

Hotel with restaurant,

Spa/fitness

and conference center

150 Rooms plus 150 seat restaurant

10,000 sft

500 seats

4

4

Medical Office /R&D Office building

53,400 sft

5

6

Medical Office/R&D Office building

76,350 sft

6

2

Assisted Living

104 units

7

3

Assisted Living

116 units

8

23

Common Area

 

  

In addition to lot 8, the plan envisions an open space network of trails, benches and passive recreation that will serve as a recreational amenity to tie together the uses with in the overall Flowerfield campus landscape. The entitlement costs from December 2013 through June 30, 2017 associated with the ownership and development of this property consisted of architectural and engineering costs, legal expenses, economic analysis, soil management, surveys and real estate taxes totaling $1,511,424. The Company has an additional 5.2 acres bordering the industrial park that are currently zoned residential and are not part of the subdivision application.

 

While we cannot predict the outcome of the subdivision application, we have undertaken to subdivide the Flowerfield property in an accretive manner that is economically advantageous to both the Company and the surrounding communities.

 

As envisioned in the chart above, the subdivision application will seek to subdivide the Flowerfield property using a low-impact development campus approach that provides a complementary mix of land uses with a green space network throughout the subdivision. Opportunities for shared green space, roads, utilities and parking are incorporated into the plan and preserves the historic 200-foot setback from Route 25A. The Flowerfield campus would be a beautiful, environmentally sound and amenity enriched community that wouldn’t overly burden existing infrastructure and the local community with the additional costs of the education of elementary and high school students. We believe the campus will generate a significant new real estate tax base for the Town of Smithtown and the Smithtown Central School District.

  

The Company’s subdivision application is expected to include proposed uses for the subdivided lots, although the specific uses will be determined by the eventual purchasers. It is anticipated that the proposed uses described herein would be typical of those chosen by the future owners and as a result we requested that the subdivision be considered with those uses so that the purchasers of the lots would have an assigned density. Furthermore, while we are pursuing the above entitlements, we are also seeking the approval of yield that can be transferred between the three proposed uses as market demand changes. The Company’s subdivision application includes perfecting the subdivision of the catering facility (12 acres hereafter referred to as lot 2) which the Company sold in 2002.

  

In accordance with the draft Smithtown Comprehensive Plan Update, the new additions to the Flowerfield campus would be focused on uses supportive and beneficial to Stony Brook University (SBU), namely, the development of a first class 150 bed hotel with conference facilities, restaurant and health club; medical office facilities; and assisted living facilities. Furthermore, the connection with SBU via the existing LIRR crossing will help to foster synergy between Flowerfield and SBU.

 

Lot 1 encompasses the existing uses of the current light industrial park being retained thereby keeping in place jobs from the local business community, locations for back office operations of SBU, and studios for a vibrant arts community that yields cultural benefits to Smithtown and the surrounding communities.

 

 
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Lot 2 owned by a catering facility that sits on a 12-acre lot that was sold in 2002. The subdivision was deferred by the town until the overall plan for Flowerfield was submitted.

 

Lot 3 is planned as a 150-room hotel that would include a 150-seat restaurant. The hotel could also have a 500-seat conference space and a 10,000-square foot day spa/fitness center. It is envisioned that this hotel would serve the adjacent catering facility, as well as the office uses on-site and the nearby SBU.

 

Lots 4 and 5 are envisioned as medical office, general office, or tech space (R&D) in support of SBU, its Hospital and Children’s Hospital, and its Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT). The two lots could be developed separately or as one larger lot. Approximately 129,750 square feet of office space in two buildings (53,400 and 76,350 sf) would be provided.

 

Lots 6 and 7 are envisioned as assisted living communities, comprising a total of 220 units, again either as two separate lots or one combined lot. There would be a synergy with the SBU Hospital and with the medical office uses for medical care of the residents of the assisted living facilities.

 

Summary. The Company has begun the process of pursuing entitlements, density and/or rezoning, and our ability to obtain required permits and authorizations is subject to factors beyond our control, including environmental concerns of governmental entities and community groups. The process will involve extensive analysis internally at the government entity level, as well as between government entities such as town planning departments and Gyrodyne, and will continue up until such time as entitlement, rezoning and density decisions are made by the relevant government entities. We hope to secure favorable decisions on entitlements, rezoning and density so that we can then seek the sale of our remaining properties at higher prices and then proceed with the intended liquidation and dissolution of the Company. As referred to above, the Suffolk County Planning Commission voted on August 2, 2017 to approve the Company’s subdivision application without conditions. The application is now referred back to the Town of Smithtown, and will require approval of a simple majority of its Town Board for the Company to be able to proceed with its subdivision plan. The Town is now obligated to comply with the provisions of SEQRA in connection with its review of the subdivision application. The time period for the Town of Smithtown to complete its review of the subdivision application will not begin to run until the SEQRA process has been completed. The Company cannot predict with any reasonable degree of certainty the length of time it will take for the Town of Smithtown to complete the SEQRA process. The Company expects the process of pursuing entitlements, rezoning and density could take up to eighteen months with the ultimate timing to a certain extent managed by Gyrodyne but ultimately dependent and under the control of the applicable municipality’s planning board or other governmental authority.

   

Health Care Industry

 

Tenants in our Cortlandt Manor and Port Jefferson properties are healthcare service providers. The healthcare industry is subject to substantial regulation and faces increased regulation particularly relating to fraud, waste and abuse, cost control and healthcare management. The healthcare industry may experience a significant expansion of applicable federal, state or local laws and regulations, previously enacted or future healthcare reform, new interpretations of existing laws and regulations or changes in enforcement priorities, all of which could materially impact the business and operations of our tenants and therefore the marketability of our properties. The recent U.S. presidential election, coupled with a Republican-controlled Congress, makes the repeal and replacement, or no replacement, of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “Affordable Care Act”) a possibility. A shift toward less comprehensive health insurance coverage and increased consumer cost-sharing on health expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our tenants’ financial conditions and results of operations and, in turn, their ability to satisfy their contractual obligations.

 

Our tenants and operators are subject to extensive federal, state, and local licensure laws, regulations and industry standards governing business operations, the physical plant and structure, patient rights and privacy and security of health information. Our tenants’ and operators’ failure to comply with any of these laws could result in loss of licensure, denial of reimbursement, imposition of fines or other penalties, suspension or exclusion from the government sponsored Medicare and Medicaid programs, loss of accreditation or certification, or closure of the facility. In addition, efforts by third-party payors, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs and private insurance carriers, including health maintenance organizations and other health plans, impose greater discounts and more stringent cost controls upon healthcare provider operations (through changes in reimbursement rates and methodologies, discounted fee structures, the assumption by healthcare providers of all or a portion of the financial risk or otherwise). Our tenants and operators may also face significant limits on the scope of services reimbursed and on reimbursement rates and fees, all of which could impact their ability to pay rent or other obligations to us.

 

As of June 30, 2017 the average effective rental revenue per square foot adjusted for tenant improvements was $16.21 compared to $16.37 on December 31, 2016 adjusted for building sold during the six months ended June 30, 2017. The Company defines the effective revenue per square foot as the annual rate per square foot stated in the lease reduced by the average annual tenant improvement allowance provided for in such leases.

 

Transaction Summary for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017

 

The following summarizes our significant transactions and other activity during the six-months ended June 30, 2017.

 

 
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Acquisition Activity

 

Acquisition:

 

On April 20, 2017 the Company closed on the purchase of a single family residential building on approximately 0.3 acres bordering the Cortlandt Manor Medical Center for $319,512 plus closing costs. The Company believes the property may provide additional vehicular access to its Cortlandt Manor property from Buttonwood Drive and State Route 202 and additional parking which the Company believes will further increase the yield in a manner that is cost effective.

 

Employment:

 

The Company and its Chief Executive Officer, Frederick C. Braun III, agreed in principle that Mr. Braun would separate from the Company, effective April 30, 2017. The decision to separate was a mutual one between the Company and Mr. Braun and made following discussions between the Board of Directors and management regarding the need for cost reductions. The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K on April 19, 2017, following the execution of a separation agreement with Mr. Braun dated April 6, 2017. The Board of Directors appointed Gary Fitlin as President and Chief Executive Officer effective May 1, 2017.

  

Disposition Activity

 

Port Jefferson Professional Park:

 

On June 15, 2017, Gyrodyne, LLC, through its wholly owned subsidiary GSD Port Jefferson, LLC, completed the sale of the two buildings located at 9 Medical Drive and 5380 Nesconset Highway, respectively, in the Port Jefferson Professional Park for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000 pursuant to the previously announced Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of March 30, 2017.

 

On May 23, 2017, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary GSD Port Jefferson, LLC entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement to sell the real property known as 1 Medical Drive, Port Jefferson Station, New York for $800,000 , subject to an evaluation period that expired sixty days following signing (with an optional extension period of fifteen days which the purchaser had exercised), during which time the purchaser shall have the right to terminate the agreement by written notice to GSD Port Jefferson, for any reason or no reason, in which case the purchaser would have had the right to receive a refund of its $40,000 deposit. The Company closed on this transaction on August 4, 2017.

  

Investments 

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company sold 100% of its investments in mortgage backed securities for $3,983,562. The Company received principal payments during the six months ended June 30, 2017 of $129,587 from these investments.

 

Leasing 

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company executed four new leases comprising approximately 7,000 square feet, approximately $114,000 in annual revenue plus tenant reimbursements and total lease commitments of approximately $372,000. In addition, the Company executed thirteen renewals comprising approximately 15,000 square feet and approximately $256,000 in annual revenue.

 

The new lease and lease renewals signed during the six months ended June 30, 2017 included tenant allowances and rent abatements of approximately $48,000 and $15,000, respectively which were associated with total lease commitments of approximately $279,107. The Company incurred approximately $24,000 in lease commissions during the six months ended June 30, 2017.

 

Lease terminations/defaults

 

There were three terminations during the six-months ended June 30, 2017, comprising approximately 8,000 square feet and approximately $113,000 in annual revenue.

  

 
20

 

  

Retention Bonus Plan

 

Payments made during the six months ended June 30, 2017 under the Retention Bonus Plan relating to the sales of two buildings in the Port Jefferson Professional Park were as follows:

 

RETENTION BONUS PLAN PARTICPANTS

 

Total

 

Board of Directors

  $ 155,318  

Chief Executive Officer

    40,000  

Chief Operating Officer

    37,000  

Other Employees

    6,634  

Total

  $ 238,952  

 

Subsequent Events 

 

Property Value Enhancements:

On August 2, 2017, the Suffolk County Planning Commission voted 11-0 to approve without conditions the Company’s subdivision application for its Flowerfield property. The subdivision application is now referred back to the Town of Smithtown Planning Board which is currently reviewing the Company’s application. Although the approval by the Suffolk County Planning Commission is not binding on the Town of Smithtown, the approval without conditions means that the requisite vote threshold at the Town of Smithtown’s Town Board is a simple majority.

 

Dispositions:

On August 4, 2017, Gyrodyne, LLC, through its wholly owned subsidiary GSD Port Jefferson, LLC, completed the sale of the building located at 1 Medical Drive in the Port Jefferson Professional Park for a purchase price of $800,000 pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of May 23, 2017.

   
 
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Leasing:

Subsequent to June 30, 2017, the Company signed one new lease encompassing approximately 500 square feet and approximately $12,000 in annual revenue. There were five terminations encompassing approximately 9,600 square feet plus an outside parking lot and $285,000 in annual revenue.

  

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Gyrodyne is pursuing the opportunistic disposition of certain properties and the enhancement of the value of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties, by pursuing various zoning/entitlement opportunities, which the Gyrodyne Board believes will improve the chances of obtaining better values for such properties. Gyrodyne intends to dissolve after it has completed the disposition of all its real property assets, has applied the proceeds of such dispositions first to settle any claims, pending or otherwise, against Gyrodyne, and then has made liquidating distributions to holders of Gyrodyne common shares. Therefore, effective September 1, 2015 Gyrodyne adopted the liquidation basis of accounting. This basis of accounting is considered appropriate when, among other things, liquidation of the entity is imminent, as defined in ASC 205-30, Presentation of Financial Statements Liquidation Basis of Accounting. Under Gyrodyne’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “LLC Agreement”), the Board may elect, in its sole discretion and without any separate approval by the shareholders, to dissolve the Company at any time the value of the Company’s assets, as determined by the Board in good faith, is less than $1 million. The LLC Agreement also provides that the Company will dissolve and its affairs wound up upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all of the real properties of the Company. As a result, liquidation is “imminent” in accordance with the guidance provided in ASC 205-30. 

 

Principles of consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gyrodyne, LLC and all subsidiaries. All consolidated subsidiaries are wholly-owned. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.  

 

Basis of Presentation - Liquidation Basis of Accounting – Under the liquidation basis of accounting the consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statement of operations, statement of equity, consolidated statement of comprehensive income and the consolidated statement of cash flows are no longer presented. The consolidated statement of net assets in liquidation and the consolidated statement of changes in net assets in liquidation are the principal financial statements presented under the liquidation basis of accounting.   

 

Under the liquidation basis of accounting, all the Company’s assets have been stated at their estimated net realizable value, or liquidation value, (which represents the estimated amount of cash that Gyrodyne will collect on the disposal of assets as it carries out the plan of liquidation), which is based on current contracts, estimates and other indications of sales value.  All liabilities of the Company, including those estimated costs associated with implementing the Plan of Liquidation, have been stated at their estimated settlement amounts.  These amounts are presented in the accompanying statements of net assets in liquidation.  These estimates are periodically reviewed and adjusted as appropriate.  There can be no assurance that these estimated values will be realized.  Such amounts should not be taken as an indication of the timing or amount of future distributions or our actual dissolution.  The valuation of assets at their net realizable value and liabilities at their anticipated settlement amount represent estimates, based on present facts and circumstances, of the net realizable value of the assets and the costs associated with carrying out the Plan of Liquidation.  The actual values and costs associated with carrying out the Plan of Liquidation may differ from amounts reflected in the accompanying financial statements because of the Plan’s inherent uncertainty.  These differences may be material.  In particular, the estimates of our costs will vary with the length of time necessary to complete the Plan of Liquidation, which is currently anticipated to be completed by the end of 2018.  The Company has begun the process of pursuing entitlements, density and/or rezoning, and our ability to obtain required permits and authorizations is subject to factors beyond our control, including environmental concerns of governmental entities and community groups. The process will involve extensive analysis internally at the government entity level, as well as between government entities such as town planning departments and Gyrodyne, and will continue up until such time as entitlement, rezoning and density decisions are made by the relevant government entities. We hope to secure favorable decisions on entitlements, rezoning and density so that we can then seek the sale of our remaining properties at higher prices and then proceed with the liquidation and dissolution of the Company. The Company expects the process of pursuing entitlements, rezoning and density could take up to eighteen months with the ultimate timing to a certain extent managed by Gyrodyne but ultimately dependent and under the control of the applicable municipality’s planning board or other governmental authority. Accordingly, it is not possible to predict with certainty the timing or aggregate amount which may ultimately be distributed to common shareholders and no assurance can be given that the distributions will equal or exceed the estimate presented in the accompanying statements of net assets in liquidation.

  

The Company is pursuing value associated with the highest and best use for the Flowerfield property and the Cortlandt Medical Center. The actual costs of achieving such values may differ materially from the assumptions and estimates utilized and accordingly, could have a significant impact on the value of net assets in liquidation.  

 

The Company’s assumptions and estimates (including the sales proceeds of all its real estate holdings, selling costs, retention bonus payments, rental revenues, rental expenses, land entitlement costs, general and administrative fees, director and officer liability and reimbursement, post liquidation insurance tail coverage policy and final liquidation costs) are based on completing the liquidation by the end of 2018. As previously stated, on an ongoing basis, Gyrodyne evaluates the estimates and assumptions that can have a significant impact on the reported net assets in liquidation and will update accordingly for any costs and value associated with a change in the duration of the liquidation, as we cannot give any assurance on the timing of the ultimate sale of all the Company’s properties.  

 

 
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Management Estimates – In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and the liquidation basis of accounting, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, including net assets in liquidation, and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of receipts and expenditures for the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates. 

 

The most significant estimates are the estimates on the net realizable value from the sale of our real estate, the estimated costs/time to pursue entitlements/change of zone and the related timeline to complete the liquidation.

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts – Rent receivable is carried at net realizable value. Management makes estimates of the collectability of rents receivable. Management specifically analyzes receivables and historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer credit-worthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. 

 

Cash equivalents - The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

 

Income taxes - The Company follows the guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. This guidance, among other things, creates a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Recognition (step one) occurs when an enterprise concludes that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination. Measurement (step two) determines the amount of benefit that more-likely-than-not will be realized upon settlement. Derecognition of a tax position that was previously recognized would occur when a company subsequently determines that a tax position no longer meets the more-likely-than-not threshold of being sustained. This interpretation specifically prohibits the use of a valuation allowance as a substitute for derecognition of tax positions, and it has expanded disclosure requirements. The Company believes it is more likely than not that its tax positions will be sustained in any tax examinations. The Company has no income tax expense, deferred tax assets or liabilities, associated with any such uncertain tax positions for the operations of any entity included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company’s open tax years are 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

 

Fair Value Measurements – The Company believes the concepts for determining net realizable value are consistent with the guidance for measuring fair value. As a result, the Company follows the guidance of FASB Accounting Standards Codification, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures to determine the fair value of financial and non-financial instruments. The guidance defines fair value, establishes a hierarchy framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures related to the fair value. The guidance establishes a hierarchy breaking down observable and unobservable inputs into three levels: Level 1 – observable inputs in an active market on or around the measurement date, Level 2 – observable inputs that are based on prices not quoted on active markets but corroborated by market data and Level 3 – unobservable inputs utilized when no other data is available.  

 

New accounting pronouncements - Management has evaluated the impact of newly issued accounting pronouncements, whether effective or not as of June 30, 2017, and has concluded that they will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements since the Company reports on a liquidation basis.

 

Discussion of the Statements of Net Assets

 

Net assets in liquidation at June 30, 2017 would result in estimated liquidating distributions of approximately $17.87 per common share. This is a decrease of $0.09 from the December 31, 2016 net assets in liquidation of $17.96 per common share, adjusted for the $1.00 per share distribution declared in June 2017.

 

The cash balance at the end of the liquidation period (currently estimated to be December 31, 2018, although the estimated completion of the liquidation period may change), excluding any interim distributions, is estimated based on the June 30, 2017 cash balance of $7.3 million plus adjustments for the following items which are estimated through December 31, 2018:

 

1.

Adjustments for the estimated cash receipts from the operation of the properties net of rental property related expenditures as well as costs expected to be incurred to maintain the net realizable value of the property at its estimated gross sales proceeds.

2.

Proceeds from the sale of all the Company’s real estate holdings.

3.

The net cash used to settle the working capital accounts and distributions announced but not yet paid.

4.

The general and administrative expenses and or liabilities associated with operations and the liquidation of the Company including severance, director and officer liability inclusive of post liquidation tail policy coverage, and financial and legal fees to complete the liquidation.

5.

Costs for the pursuit of the entitlement/rezoning of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties, to maximize value

6.

Estimated amounts based on the net realizable value of the real estate under the Retention Bonus Plan (See Note 12).

 

 
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The Company estimates the net realizable value of its real estate assets by using income and market valuation techniques. The Company may estimate net realizable values using market information such as broker opinions of value, appraisals, and recent sales data for similar assets or discounted cash flow models, which primarily rely on Level 3 inputs. The cash flow models include estimated cash inflows and outflows over a specified holding period. These cash flows may include contractual rental revenues, projected future rental revenues and expenses and forecasted tenant improvements and lease commissions based upon market conditions determined through discussion with local real estate professionals, experience the Company has with its other owned properties in such markets and expectations for growth. Capitalization rates and discount rates utilized in these models are estimated by management based upon rates that management believes to be within a reasonable range of current market rates for the respective properties based upon an analysis of factors such as property and tenant quality, geographical location and local supply and demand observations. To the extent the Company under estimates forecasted cash outflows (tenant improvements, lease commissions and operating costs) or over estimates forecasted cash inflows (rental revenue rates), the estimated net realizable value of its real estate assets could be overstated.

 

The Company is pursuing various avenues to maximize total distributions to our shareholders during the liquidation process. The Company estimates that it will incur approximately $2.27 million (included in the statements of net assets as part of the estimated liquidation and operating costs net of receipts, See Note 7) in land entitlement costs over the 18 months ended December 31, 2018, inclusively, in an effort to obtain entitlements, inclusive of zone changes and special permits. The Company believes the commitment of these resources will enable the Company to position the properties for sale with all entitlements necessary to maximize the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor property values. During the first six months of 2017, the Company incurred approximately $1.1 million of land entitlement costs, of which approximately $343,000 was for the purchase of a single-family residence on a 0.3-acre lot of adjacent land to the Cortlandt Manor Medical Center, inclusive of closing costs (see note 17). The Company believes the remaining balance of $2.27 million will be incurred from July 2017 through the end of liquidation. The Company does not intend to develop the properties but rather to commit resources to position the properties for sale in a timely manner with all entitlements necessary to achieve maximum pre-construction values. The costs and time frame to achieve the entitlements could change due to a range of factors including a shift in the value of certain entitlements making it more profitable to pursue a different mix of zones/entitlements and the dynamics of the real estate market. As a result, the Company has focused and will continue to focus its land entitlement efforts on achieving the highest and best use. During the process of pursuing such entitlements, the Company may entertain offers from potential buyers who may be willing to pay premiums for the properties that the Company finds more acceptable from a timing or value perspective than completing the entitlement processes itself. The value of the real estate reported in the Statements of Net Assets as of June 30, 2017 is predicated on current asset values and does not include any potential value impact that may result from the estimated $2.27 million in land entitlement costs. There can be no assurance that our value enhancement efforts will result in property value increases that exceed the costs we incur in such efforts, or even any increase at all.

  

The net assets in liquidation at June 30, 2017 ($26,499,995) results in estimated liquidating distributions of approximately $17.87 per common share (1,482,680 shares outstanding), based on estimates and other indications of sales value but excluding any actual additional sales proceeds that may result directly or indirectly from the remaining $2.27 million in land entitlement costs. Neither the additional value that may be derived from the land entitlement costs, nor the retention bonuses for the sale of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties are included in the estimated liquidating distributions as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The Company believes the land entitlement costs will enhance estimated distributions per share through the improved values from the sales of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties. This estimate of liquidating distributions includes projections of costs and expenses to be incurred during the period required to complete the plan of liquidation. There is inherent uncertainty with these projections, and they could change materially based on the timing of the sales, improved values of the Cortlandt Manor and/or Flowerfield properties resulting from the land entitlement efforts net of any bonuses if such values exceed the minimum values required to pay bonuses under the retention bonus plan, favorable or unfavorable changes in the land entitlement costs, the performance of the underlying assets, the market for commercial real estate properties generally and any changes in the underlying assumptions of the projected cash flows.

 

 
24

 

  

The following table summarizes the estimates to arrive at the Net Assets in Liquidation as of June 30, 2017 (dollars are in millions).

 

June 30, 2017 cash and investment balance

  $ 7.3  

(i)

Interest income offset by net cash used to settle current working capital acct and security deposits

    (0.9 )

(ii)

Free cash flow from rental operations

    1.3  

(iii)

General and administrative expenses including final liquidation and dissolution

    (3.8 )

(iv)

Land entitlement costs in pursuit of the highest and best use

    (2.3 )

(v)

Gross real estate proceeds

    29.1    

Selling costs on real estate

    (1.7 )  

Retention bonus plan for directors, officers and employees

    (0.1 )

(vi)

Severance

    (0.5 )  

Directors and officers insurance (“D&O”) – tail policy

    (0.4 )  

Distribution payable

    (1.5 )

(vii)

Net Assets in Liquidation

  $ 26.5  

(viii)

 

(i)

As of June 30, 2017 the Company had a cash and cash equivalent balance of $7.3.

 

(ii)

The Company estimates interest income will be offset by the settlement of its working capital accounts resulting in a balance of $(0.9).

 

(iii)

The Company estimates the cash proceeds from rental operations net of commissions and rental costs, inclusive of expenditures to maintain the properties at its current estimated market value will total $1.3.

 

(iv)

The General and Administrative expenses are estimated to be $3.8. The costs represent all costs to liquidate the company excluding rental operating costs and non-operating costs (D&O tail and severance).

 

(v)

The Company is considering various options to maximize total distributions to our shareholders during the liquidation process. The Company estimates that it will incur approximately $2.3 million in costs over the 18-months ending December 31, 2018 to obtain entitlements, inclusive of zone changes and special permits that it believes will result in maximizing the values in the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties. The Company does not intend to develop the properties but rather to commit resources to position the properties for sale in a timely manner with all entitlements necessary to achieve maximum pre-construction values. During the process of pursuing such entitlements, the Company may entertain offers from potential buyers who may be willing to pay premiums for the properties that the Company finds more acceptable from a timing or value perspective than completing the entitlement processes.

 

(vi)

The gross real estate proceeds do not include any value impact that may result from the estimated land entitlement costs. As a result, fair value as reported does not exceed the minimum value under the retention bonus plan (the appraisal of the real estate in late 2013 plus the estimated entitlement costs) and accordingly the Company has not included any estimated bonuses on the sale of the Cortlandt Manor or Flowerfield properties. However, if the Company concludes in future periodic filings that the value of the real estate to the extent actual net proceeds from the ultimate disposition of the properties exceed the value of the real estate reported in the Statement of Net Assets as of June 30, 2017, and such net proceeds exceeds the minimum value required to pay bonuses under the retention bonus plan (whether due to appreciation of the underlying real estate and/or a reduction in estimated land entitlement costs), then the Company will report the updated estimated real estate value and the estimated bonuses related to such value of the Cortlandt Manor and/or Flowerfield properties in accordance with the provisions of the retention bonus plan.

 

(vii)

On June 16, 2017, the Company declared a special cash distribution on the Company’s common shares of limited liability company interests of $1.00 per share, or $1,482,680 in the aggregate, payable July 7, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 27, 2017. The special distribution consists of proceeds from the sale of 9 Medical Drive and 5380 Nesconset Highway in the Port Jefferson Professional Park.

 

(viii)

The net assets in liquidation at June 30, 2017 would result in liquidating distributions of approximately $17.87 per Common Share ($26.5 million with 1,482,680 shares outstanding), excluding any additional sales proceeds, that may result directly or indirectly from the remaining $2.27 million in land entitlement costs. The Company believes the land entitlement costs will enhance estimated distributions per share through the improved values from the sales of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties. This estimate of liquidating distributions includes projections of costs and expenses to be incurred during the period required to complete the liquidation process. There is inherent uncertainty with these projections, and they could change materially based on the timing of the sales, favorable or unfavorable changes in the land entitlement costs, the performance of the underlying assets and any changes in the underlying assumptions of the projected cash flows.

  

 
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Discussion of Changes in Net Assets

 

Gyrodyne’s strategy is to enhance the value of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor, by pursuing various zoning or entitlement opportunities, which the Gyrodyne Board believes will improve the chances of obtaining better values for such properties. The pursuit of the highest and best use of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor may involve the acquisition of properties, pursuit of joint venture relationships and other investments and or other strategies to maximize the returns for our shareholders. Gyrodyne intends to dissolve after it has completed the disposition of all of its real property assets, has applied the proceeds of such dispositions first to settle any claims, pending or otherwise, against Gyrodyne, and then has made liquidating distributions to holders of Gyrodyne common shares. Therefore, the Company includes in its financial statements the Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the six-months ended June 30, 2017 which is discussed below:

 

Net assets in liquidation at January 1, 2017

  $ 28,111,612  

Changes in net assets in liquidation for the three months ended June 30, 2017:

       

Changes in market value of securities

    25,918  

Remeasurement of assets and liabilities in liquidation

    (204,855 )

Change in liquidation value of real estate

    50,000  

Net increase in net assets in liquidation

    (128,937 )
Liquidating distribution to shareholders     (1,482,680 )(a)

Total change in net assets in liquidation

    (1,611,617 )

Net assets in liquidation at June 30, 2017

  $ 26,499,995  

(a)

On June 16, 2017, the Company declared a special cash distribution on the Company’s common shares of limited liability company interests of $1.00 per share, or $1,482,680 in the aggregate, payable July 7, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 27, 2017. The special distribution consists of proceeds from the sale of 9 Medical Drive and 5380 Nesconset Highway in the Port Jefferson Professional Park.

  

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 

 

Cash Flows: As we pursue our plan to sell our properties opportunistically, including certain enhancement efforts, we believe that a main focus of management is to effectively manage our statement of net assets in liquidation through cash flow management of our tenant leases, maintaining or improving occupancy, and enhance the value of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties via the pursuit of the associated Change in zone/entitlements.

 

As the Company executes on the sale of assets, it will no less than annually, review its capital needs and declare and distribute dividends of any excess cash, accordingly. Upon completion of these activities, if successful, Gyrodyne will distribute the remaining cash to its shareholders and then proceed to complete the dissolution of the Company, delist its shares from NASDAQ and terminate its registration and reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended (the “Exchange Act”). Gyrodyne is required to make adequate provisions to satisfy its known and unknown liabilities which could substantially delay or limit its ability to make future distributions to shareholders. The process of accounting for liabilities, including those that are currently unknown or whose amounts are uncertain may involve difficult valuation decisions which could adversely impact the amount or timing of any future distributions.

 

We generally finance our operations and acquisitions through cash on hand.

 

As of June 30, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents totaling approximately $7.3 million. The Company anticipates that its current cash and cash equivalent balance will be adequate to fund its liquidation process and dissolution over the next twelve months. The $7.3 million of cash will be partially used to fund the pursuit of the highest and best use of its Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties while simultaneously pursuing the opportunistic sale of our properties. The pursuit of the highest and best use of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor may involve the acquisition of properties, pursuit of joint venture relationships and other investments and or other strategies to maximize the returns for our shareholders. The Company estimated and reported in the Statement of Net Assets total gross cash proceeds from the sale of its assets of approximately $29.1 million. Based on the Company’s current cash balance and the above forecast, the Company estimates distributable cash stemming from the liquidation of the Company of approximately $26.5 million.    

 

The Company’s primary sources of funds which are limited and expected to narrow as we liquidate properties and make distributions are as follows:

 

 

current cash and cash equivalents;

 

rents and tenant reimbursements received on our remaining real estate operating assets; and

 

sale of assets.

 

Excluding gross proceeds from the sale of assets, the Company’s gross rents and tenant reimbursements net of rental expenses is less than the combined total annual general and administrative costs, capital expenditures and land entitlement costs creating a net use of cash on an annual basis through the liquidation process. The Company believes the cash and cash equivalents plus the proceeds from the sale of assets will exceed the costs to complete the liquidation of the Company. In addition, the Company has and will continue to review operating activities for possible cost reductions throughout the liquidation process.

 

 
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The Company’s primary non-operating cashflows for the six months ended June 30, 2017 were as follows:

 

 

$1,857,978 in net proceeds from the sale of 9 Medical Drive and 5380 Nesconset Highway in the Port Jefferson Professional Park.

 

$3,983,562 in net proceeds from the sale of 100% of the Company’s investment in mortgage backed securities.

 

$129,587 in principal repayments on the investment in mortgage backed securities.

 

Our primary non-operating uses of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2017 were as follows:

 

 

$567,470 of costs incurred in the pursuit of entitlements for the Cortlandt Manor property inclusive of the residential lot purchase of $343,000 (inclusive of selling costs).

 

$568,938 of costs incurred in the pursuit of entitlements for the Flowerfield property.

 

$258,699 of capital expenditures on the real estate portfolio excluding those costs incurred under the land entitlement effort.

 

Acquisitions:

 

On April 20, 2017, the Company closed on the purchase and sale agreement dated March 13, 2017, on a 1,950-square foot house (0.3-acre lot), in Cortlandt Manor, for $319,512. The property may provide additional vehicular access to the site from Buttonwood Drive and State Route 202 and additional parking which the Company believes will further increase yield in a manner that is cost effective.

 

Dispositions:

 

Port Jefferson Professional Park 

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company entered into two Purchase and Sale Agreements as follows:

 

On March 30, 2017, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary GSD Port Jefferson, LLC entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement to sell the two buildings located at 9 Medical Drive and 5380 Nesconset Highway, respectively, in the Port Jefferson Professional Park for $2,000,000, in the aggregate subject to an evaluation period that would have expired thirty days following signing (with an optional extension period of ten days which the purchaser had exercised), during which time the purchaser had the right to terminate the agreement by written notice to GSD Port Jefferson, for any reason or no reason, in which case the purchaser would had the right to receive a refund of its $100,000 deposit. The Company closed on this transaction on June 15, 2017.

 

On May 23, 2017, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary GSD Port Jefferson, LLC entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement to sell the real property known as 1 Medical Drive, Port Jefferson Station, New York for $800,000 , subject to an evaluation period that expired sixty days following signing (with an optional extension period of fifteen days which the purchaser had exercised), during which time the purchaser shall have the right to terminate the agreement by written notice to GSD Port Jefferson, for any reason or no reason, in which case the purchaser would have had the right to receive a refund of its $40,000 deposit. The Company closed on this transaction on August 4, 2017.

 

The Company has one remaining building (comprising approximately 3,500 square feet) within the same medical park which is being actively marketed for sale.

  

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT 

 

The Company has a 10.12% limited partnership interest in Callery-Judge Grove, L.P. (the “Grove”), which is in the process of liquidation. The proceeds, if any, that the Company may receive effectively reflect an illiquid receivable and therefore there is no net realizable value included in the Company’s Statements of Net Assets from this investment.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. Certain financial instruments could potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, such as cash equivalents and longer-term investments. The Company maintains bank account balances, which exceed FDIC insurance limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes that it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash. Management does not believe significant credit risk exists at June 30, 2017.

 

 
27

 

  

The Company believes there have been no significant changes in market risk from that disclosed in the Company's Report on Form 10-K for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2017.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

The Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)/ Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, our management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at a reasonable assurance level, as of the Evaluation Date, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management in a manner that allows timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s procedures and internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2016. In making this assessment, the Company used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework of 2013 (the “2013 COSO Framework”). Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management concluded that the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting were effective as of June 30, 2017.

 

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting identified with our evaluation that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2017, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

Putative Class Action Lawsuit

 

On July 3, 2014, a purported stockholder of Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. (the “Corporation”) filed a putative class action lawsuit against the Corporation and members of its Board of Directors (the "Individual Defendants"), and against GSD and the Company (collectively, the "Defendants"), in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Suffolk (the "Court"), captioned Cashstream Fund v. Paul L. Lamb, et al., Index No. 065134/2014 (the "Action").  The complaint alleged, among other things, that (i) the Individual Defendants breached their fiduciary duties or aided and abetted the breach of those duties in connection with the merger of the Corporation and GSD into the Company (the “Merger”) and (ii) the Corporation and the Individual Defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to disclose material information in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Merger.

 

On August 14, 2015, the parties to the Action entered into a Stipulation of Settlement (the "Settlement") providing for the settlement of the Action, subject to the Court's approval.  Under the Settlement, the Corporation and the Company amended the proxy statement/prospectus on August 17, 2015 with certain supplemental disclosures, and agreed that any sales of its properties would be effected only in arms’-length transactions at prices at or above their appraised values as of December 2014.  The plaintiff, on behalf of itself and the members of the putative class it represented, agreed to release and dismiss with prejudice all claims that had or could have been asserted in the Action or in any other forum against the Defendants and their affiliates and agents arising out of or relating to the Merger and the other transactions alleged by plaintiff in its complaint, as supplemented.  On April 8, 2016, the Court entered a Final Order and Judgment approving the Settlement. By order of the same date, the Court also granted plaintiff’s application for an award of attorney’s fees and reimbursement of expenses in the amount of $650,000 which was paid in full in April 2016.

 

As of June 30, 2017, the aggregate value, based on the 2016 appraisals, of the remaining unsold properties was $550,000 lower than the 2014 appraised values.

  

Other Proceedings

 

In addition to the foregoing, in the normal course of business, the Company is a party to various legal proceedings. After reviewing all actions and proceedings pending against or involving the Company, management considers that any loss resulting from such proceedings individually or in the aggregate will not be material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

 
28

 

  

Items 2 through 5 are not applicable to the Company in the six months ended June 30, 2017.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

 

3.1

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. (1)

     
 

3.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. (2)

     
  3.3 Articles of Organization of Gyrodyne, LLC, dated as of October 3, 2013 (3)
     
  3.4 Form of Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Gyrodyne, LLC (Included as Annex F to the proxy statement/prospectus that is a part of Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 17, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.)
     
  3.5 Amendment No. 1, dated June 26, 2014, to the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Gyrodyne, LLC (4)
     
  10.1 Amended and Restated Retention Bonus Plan (5)
     
  10.2 Separation Agreement between Gyrodyne, LLC and Frederick C. Braun III (6)
     
  31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. (7)
     
  32.1 CEO and CFO Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (8)

 

  101.INS XBRL Instance (7)
   
  101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema (7)
   
  101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation (7)
   
  101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition (7)
   
  101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels (7)
   
  101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation (7)

 

 

(1)

Incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A, filed by Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2001.

     
  (2) Incorporated herein by reference to Form 8-K, filed by Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 18, 2008.
     
  (3) Incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2013 and is incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (4) Incorporated herein by reference to Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 26, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

  (5) Incorporated herein by reference to Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2016.
     
  (6) Incorporated herein by reference to Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2017.
     
  (7) Filed as part of this Report.
     
  (8) Furnished herewith in accordance with Item 601(b)(32) of Regulation S-K, this Exhibit is not deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Such certifications will not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filings under the Securities Act, expect to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.

   

 
29

 

 

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.

 

GYRODYNE, LLC

 

Date: August 10, 2017

/s/ Gary Fitlin

 

By Gary Fitlin

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

3.1

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. (1)

     
  3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws of Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. (2)
     
  3.3 Articles of Organization of Gyrodyne, LLC, dated as of October 3, 2013 (3)
     
  3.4 Form of Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Gyrodyne, LLC (Included as Annex F to the proxy statement/prospectus that is a part of Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 17, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.)
     
  3.5 Amendment No. 1, dated June 26, 2014, to the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Gyrodyne, LLC (4)
     
  10.1 Amended and Restated Retention Bonus Plan (5)
     
  10.2 Separation Agreement between Gyrodyne, LLC and Frederick C. Braun III (6)
     
  31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. (7)
     
  32.1 CEO and CFO Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (8)

 

  101.INS XBRL Instance (7)
   
  101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema (7)
   
  101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation (7)
   
  101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition (7)
   
  101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels (7)
   
  101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation (7)
     
  (1) Incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A, filed by Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2001.
     
  (2) Incorporated herein by reference to Form 8-K, filed by Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 18, 2008.
     
  (3) Incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2013 and is incorporated herein by reference.

  

 
30

 

 

  (4) Incorporated herein by reference to Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 26, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (5) Incorporated herein by reference to Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2016.
     
  (6) Incorporated herein by reference to Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2017.
     
  (7) Filed as part of this Report.
     
  (8) Furnished herewith in accordance with Item 601(b)(32) of Regulation S-K, this Exhibit is not deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Such certifications will not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filings under the Securities Act, expect to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.

 

 

31