Gyrodyne, LLC - Annual Report: 2019 (Form 10-K)

PART I

Introduction:

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 herein to our Annual Report are to this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. References to “common shares” in this report refer to Gyrodyne, LLC’s common shares representing limited liability company interests. References to the “Board” in this report refer to the Board of Directors of Gyrodyne, LLC.

All references to 2019 and 2018 refer to our fiscal years ended or the dates, as the context requires, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

Item 1. Business.

Description of the Company's Business

Gyrodyne, LLC (including its subsidiaries, “Gyrodyne”, the “Company” or the “Registrant”) is a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of New York whose primary business is the management of a portfolio of medical office and industrial properties and the pursuit of entitlement on such properties located in Suffolk and Westchester Counties, 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.

Gyrodyne’s corporate strategy is to enhance the value of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor by pursuing entitlement opportunities and enhancing the value of its leases. The Board believes the aforementioned strategy will improve the chances of increasing the values for such properties. The value of the real estate reported in the consolidated statement of net assets as of December 31, 2019 (predicated on current asset values) includes some, but not all of the 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 pursuit of joint venture relationships, entitlements, 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 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 Company’s 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 Item 3 – Legal Proceedings) and settle and pay our remaining liabilities and obligations. Under Gyrodyne’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “LLC Agreement”), dissolution of the Company 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.

We remain committed on (1) enhancing the net value of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor to maximize the returns for our shareholders, (2) completing the disposition of our assets, (3) making timely distributions to our shareholders, (4) managing capital and liquidity, (5) mitigating risks relating to interest rates and real estate cycles and (6) completing the liquidation of the Company.

After giving effect to the Company’s dispositions of real property through December 31, 2019, the Company owns the following properties:

Each of the medical office park in Cortlandt Manor and the Flowerfield Industrial Park (including its undeveloped portion) is individually owned in a single asset limited liability company wholly owned by the Company.

Properties Sold

Port Jefferson Professional Park.  During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company sold its remaining building (approximately 4,000 square feet) located at 11 Medical Drive, in the Port Jefferson Professional Park for $800,000 Following this sale, the Company no longer owns any buildings in the Port Jefferson Professional Park

Properties Under Contract

Flowerfield. On August 27, 2019, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary GSD Flowerfield, LLC entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “BSL Agreement”) for the sale of an approximately 9.0 acre parcel of vacant land in the Flowerfield complex in Smithtown, New York for $16,800,000 to BSL St. James LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“BSL”).

Under the BSL Agreement: (i) BSL will have the right to terminate the BSL Agreement during an investigation period by written notice to GSD if BSL is not fully satisfied, in its sole discretion, as to the status of title, suitability of the Premises and all factors concerning same, in which case BSL will have the right to receive a refund of its earnest money deposit; (ii) if BSL does not terminate the BSL Agreement on or prior to the end of the investigation period, BSL will be obligated to deliver an additional earnest money deposit to the escrow agent, which together with the initial earnest money deposit will be applied toward the purchase price at closing; (iii) unless BSL terminates the BSL Agreement on or prior to the end of the investigation period, the closing will occur on the 30th day following the earlier of (y) the Town of Smithtown’s granting of the Site Plan Approval (as defined in the BSL Agreement and as described below); or (z) BSL’s waiver of the Site Plan Approval.

The BSL Agreement is also contingent on the receipt of Subdivision Approval (as defined in the BSL Agreement and as described below). The Subdivision Approval condition requires that GSD obtain a subdivision of the Gyrodyne/Flowerfield complex into separate parcels to create the Property (as generally depicted in the BSL Agreement) within a specified time (the “Subdivision Approval Period”) following the last day of the investigation period. If the Subdivision Approval is not obtained within the Subdivision Approval Period, each of GSD and BSL have the right to terminate the BSL Agreement. BSL will also have a limited right to terminate the BSL Agreement in the event the Subdivision Approval contains requirements specified in the BSL Agreement. If Subdivision Approval has not been denied by the Town of Smithtown at or prior to the last day of the Subdivision Approval Period, GSD shall have the right to extend its time to obtain the Subdivision Approval for a specified period of time. If Subdivision Approval is not obtained within such additional time, each of GSD and BSL have the right to terminate the BSL Agreement.

 The Site Plan Approval is specifically delineated in the BSL Agreement. If BSL fails to obtain the Site Plan Approval prior to the end of the site plan approval period, BSL may cancel the BSL Agreement, waive the Site Plan Approval contingency, or extend the site plan period for a specified period upon the payment of an extension fee. If, after such extension, BSL fails to obtain the Site Plan Approval, BSL may cancel the BSL Agreement, waive the Site Plan Approval contingency, or extend the site plan period for an additional specified period with a second non-refundable extension fee. 

The BSL Agreement also contains additional customary covenants, conditions, representations and warranties.

Cortlandt Manor. Gyrodyne, LLC, a New York limited liability company (the “Company”), has announced the execution by its subsidiaries GSD Cortlandt, LLC, a New York limited liability company (“GSD”), and Buttonwood Acquisition, LLC (“Buttonwood” and together with GSD, the “Cortlandt Subsidiaries”), of a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Agreement”) effective as of December 7, 2019 (the “Effective Date”) for the sale of  approximately 4.5 acres of its real property located in Cortlandt Manor, New York, together with the improvements thereon (the “Property”), to Sound Cortlandt, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SC LLC”), for a purchase price of $5,720,000. 

The Town of Cortlandt (the “Town”) is processing a proposed zoning initiative to create a Medical Oriented District (“MOD”) that would include the entire Cortlandt property (owned by the Cortlandt Subsidiaries) within its boundaries.  Included in the Town’s initiative is the Company’s site plan to subdivide the entire property into three parcels for the development of (i) a medical office building with retail, (ii) a multi-family residential housing project and (iii) an open space, passive recreation parcel. The Property that is the subject of the Agreement consists of the medical office building with ancillary retail space and does not include the multi-family residential housing parcel or the open space, passive recreation parcel. 

The Agreement requires: (i) an inspection period that will expire after a set period, during which time SC LLC will have the right to terminate the Agreement by written notice to GSD if SC LLC will not be fully satisfied, in SC LLC’s sole discretion, as to the status of title, suitability of the Property and all factors concerning same, prior to the expiration of the inspection period, in which case SC LLC will have the right to receive a refund of its earnest money deposit; (ii) if SC LLC does not terminate the Agreement on or prior to the end of the inspection period, SC LLC will be obligated to deliver an additional earnest money deposit to the escrow agent, which together with the initial earnest money deposit will be applied toward the purchase price at closing; (iii) unless SC LLC terminates the Agreement on or prior to the end of the inspection period, the closing will occur on the 60th day following the earlier of (y) the applicable governmental authorities granting of the Final Project Approvals (as defined in the Agreement and as described below); or (z) SC LLC’s waiver of the Final Project Approvals.

The Final Project Approvals are also contingent on the receipt of Subdivision Approval and Site Plan Approval (each as defined in the Agreement and as described below). The Subdivision Approval condition requires that the Cortlandt Subsidiaries obtain approval as and to the extent necessary to allow for the conveyance of the  medical office building parcel to SC LLC and the conveyance of the recreation parcel  to the owner’s association within a specified time following the last day of the inspection period. If such Subdivision Approval is not obtained within such specified time following the last day of the inspection period, SC LLC has the right to terminate the Agreement. The Agreement provides SC LLC with a limited right to terminate the Agreement in the event the Subdivision Approval contains requirements specified in the Agreement. In the event the Subdivision Approval has not been denied by the Town at or prior to the last day of the specified period, SC LLC shall have the right to extend the time to obtain the Subdivision Approval for a specified period of time.  If such Subdivision Approval is not obtained within such additional time, SC LLC has the right to terminate the Agreement.

The Site Plan Approval is specifically delineated in the Agreement. If SC LLC fails to obtain the Site Plan Approval prior to the closing date (expected to be May 4, 2021), SC LLC may cancel the Agreement, waive the Site Plan Approval contingency, or extend the closing date.

The Agreement also contains additional customary covenants, conditions, representations and warranties.

Strategic Plan to Enhance Property Values, Liquidate and Dissolve

Our corporate strategy is to pursue entitlement opportunities intended to increase the values of our two remaining properties so that they can be sold to one or more developers at higher prices (than those achievable under their current entitlements) that will maximize value during the liquidation process. 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. We are unable to predict the precise nature, amount or timing of such distributions. To accomplish this, the Company’s plan consists of:

Gyrodyne’s dual strategy is to enhance the value of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor by pursuing entitlement opportunities while simultaneously enhancing the value of its leases. The Board believes the aforementioned dual strategy will improve the chances of increasing the values for such properties. The value of the real estate reported in the consolidated statement of net assets as of December 31, 2019 (predicated on current asset values) includes some but not all of the 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 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 pursuit of joint ventures, if any, to adversely affect the timing of the distributions to our shareholders.

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. However, in the event of the sale of individual properties, that do not constitute substantially all of the Company’s assets, it is not required or anticipated that any shareholder votes will be solicited. The prices at which the various assets may be sold depend largely on factors beyond our control, including, without limitation, the condition of financial and real estate 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 is completed by December 31, 2021 and giving effect to the estimated cash flows from the operation of our existing properties, we expect that Gyrodyne will have a cash balance at December 31, 2021 of approximately $31.4 million, prior to any future special 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 distributions of $21.16 per share based on Gyrodyne having 1,482,680 common shares outstanding. These estimated distributions are based on values at December 31, 2019 and include some but not all of the potential value that may be derived from the entitlement efforts to maximize the value of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor. While the real estate market is dynamic and the economy is volatile, the Company believes that the increase in estimated distributions resulting from these enhancement efforts will exceed the remaining estimated $1.8 million investment in those efforts, although there can be no assurance of such excess or whether any appreciation at all will be realized.

The Consolidated Statements of Net Assets is based on certain estimates. Uncertainties as to the precise value of our non-cash assets, which include some but not all of the estimated potential additional value from the costs incurred to pursue the maximum value on Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor through the entitlement efforts (including the pursuit of special permits) 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 (including amounts available under our credit facilities) 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 would be eliminated. In the event our shareholders receive distributions from Gyrodyne and there are insufficient funds to pay any creditors who seek payment of claims against Gyrodyne, shareholders could be held liable for payments made to them and could be required to return all or a part of the distributions made to them.

Property Value Enhancement

The Company is pursuing entitlements to maximize the value of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor.  During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company incurred approximately $1,422,000 of land entitlement costs, consisting predominantly of engineering costs to support the Company’s respective entitlement efforts.  We estimate that the Company may incur approximately $1.8 million in additional land entitlement costs (an aggregate of approximately $556,000 which Company vendors have agreed to defer until the first post subdivision property lot is sold) through December 31, 2021 in pursuit of entitlements (approximately $600,000 in Cortlandt Manor and $1.2 million 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 values we believe may be reasonably achievable through completing the entitlement process ourselves. While the real estate market is dynamic, the economy is uncertain and there can be no assurances, we anticipate that these expenditures will result in higher sale prices of the properties and larger liquidating distributions to our shareholders than could otherwise be achievable.

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. The purpose of the proposed Medical Oriented District (“MOD”) is to expand the Town’s existing medical infrastructure and encourage economic development, including capital investment, job creation and housing options. The MOD would allow 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, retail and a wide range of housing.

The Company’s existing 33,871 square foot Cortlandt Medical Center and its approximate 13.8 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 approximately four years 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 March 31, 2017, The Company filed an application with the Town to develop the Cortlandt Manor property, as follows:

The Company has been working with Town officials on entitlement complexity, environmental impact studies, traffic mitigation, effluent mitigation, financial impact and other variables to conform our application with the Town’s vision on the MOD.

The entitlement costs for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 associated with the ownership and development of this property were $425,699 and $414,982, respectively. 

As a property owner with eligible parcels in this district, Gyrodyne submitted an Environmental Assessment Form to the Town of Cortlandt Planning Department in December 2017 to support its application to receive a MOD campus designation. Once designated, the parcels would be governed by the use, dimensional and other provisions of the MOD zoning regulations and MOD zoning would replace the existing zoning. While the MOD zoning has not been formally adopted, Gyrodyne is proposing medical office and residential use with limited retail and has designed the site to function as part of a future "hamlet center” with mixed use, streetscape improvements, a hamlet green and public plaza, and significant open space around Orchard Lake.

The Town of Cortlandt Planning Department hosted two public hearing community outreach meetings in June and August 2018 where the Company presented its development plan for the Cortlandt Manor property. As anticipated, on August 7, 2018, the Town Planning Board formally issued a “positive declaration” under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), i.e., a declaration that the project may result in one or more significant environmental impacts and will require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”), the scope of which was also adopted. On August 28, 2018, the Town filed the Scope for a Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (“DGEIS”) with input from Gyrodyne for both the MOD zoning and the proposed uses so that upon adoption, minimal further SEQRA review should be required to develop the property. On September 17, 2019 the Town of Cortlandt Town Board as Lead Agency under SEQRA adopted a resolution accepting the DGEIS as complete for public review.  The first public hearing on the DGEIS was held on November 19, 2019.  A second public hearing on the DGEIS was held on January 14, 2020. The Town of Cortlandt Planning Board extended the public comment period 90 days with the next public hearing scheduled for April 14, 2020.  Subsequent to DGEIS public hearings and public comment period, a Final Generic EIS will be prepared and is anticipated to be accepted by the Town Board with SEQRA completed in the third quarter of 2020.  Subdivision and site plan public hearings will occur simultaneous with the Town Planning Board during the third and fourth quarters of 2020.  The Town Board is anticipated to adopt a MOD designation for the property in the fourth quarter of 2020 with subdivision and site plan approval granted by the Town Planning Board occurring in early 2021. The Company does not plan on developing the property but rather positioning the property to be sold with all entitlements necessary to achieve maximum pre-construction value for the Company in the shortest period of time with the least amount of risk to the Company.

Flowerfield. Following 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 which the Town of Smithtown has determined must be processed as a nine-lot subdivision in response to certain comments received from the planning department. 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. 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 for the application at the Town of Smithtown’s Planning Board is a simple majority.

On November 15, 2017, the Town of Smithtown Planning Board conducted a public hearing where the Company presented its subdivision plan of the Flowerfield property. On April 11, 2018, the Planning Board determined that the subdivision plan may result in one or more significant environmental impacts which will require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”). As a result, at the April 11, 2018 Planning Board meeting, the Planning Board issued a SEQRA Positive Declaration, which was rescinded and re-issued by Planning Board Resolution dated May 9, 2018 to include a public scoping process. The then current Town Planning Board Chairman communicated that a Positive Declaration would require up to one year to complete the SEQRA process. The Town issued the Final Scope on July 7, 2018. On August 15, 2018, the Company submitted the EIS to the Town of Smithtown Planning Department prior to the public hearing. The Company received comments on its EIS at the end of the third quarter of 2018 and submitted its response to the Town of Smithtown Planning Department on February 15, 2019. In May 2019 the Company received additional comments on its EIS and submitted its responses to the Town on June 4, 2019. On July 3, 2019, the Company received additional comments on its EIS and submitted its response to the Town of Smithtown Planning Department on August 28, 2019. On September 24, 2019 the company received additional comments on its EIS and submitted its response to the Town of Smithtown Planning Department on September 25, 2019. The Town of Smithtown Planning Board as Lead Agency under SEQRA adopted a resolution accepting the DEIS as complete for public review on December 11, 2019 and announced a public comment period that closed on January 24, 2020. Furthermore, the Town Planning Board held and closed the public hearing for the DEIS on January 8, 2020. Following the closing of the public comment period, the Company received a copy of the public comments in February 2020, accordingly. The company is reviewing the public comments and will respond by submitting a Final EIS (“FEIS”). The FEIS is anticipated to be accepted by the Planning Board with SEQRA completed in the second quarter or early third quarter of 2020.     

The entitlement costs for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 associated with the ownership and development of this property consisted of architectural and engineering costs, legal expenses, economic analysis, soil management and surveys were $996,493 and $846,066, respectively. The Company owns and is actively marketing for sale 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 a manner that we believe will result in maximum pre-construction values in the shortest amount of time and limited risk.

Flowerfield Industrial Park Value Enhancement Strategy. The Company’s strategy is to: a) pursue entitlements to maximize the pre-construction value of Flowerfield and b) enhance the value of the Flowerfield Industrial Park’s current buildings even further by expanding our relationship with our largest tenant, Stony Brook University and institutions affiliated with it.

The Company’s strategy to maximize the value of the Flowerfield Industrial Park includes repositioning the park’s industrial buildings to service Stony Brook University and institutions affiliated with it, inclusive of Stony Brook University Hospital, while also making it a cultural destination (arts, health and wellness center) for the community. The Company believes this strategy will enhance the value of the entitlements while also increasing the cashflow and market value of the industrial buildings.

Our business relationship with Stony Brook University and institutions affiliated with it has expanded from approximately 16,000 square feet in the third quarter of 2017 (the beginning of the repositioning strategy) to approximately 27,000 square feet. The annual lease commitments (as of December 31, 2019) to service Stony Brook University and institutions affiliated with it, inclusive of Stony Brook University Hospital is $628,440 (most of which is not up for renewal until 2025).

Health Care Industry 

Our tenants in our Cortlandt Manor property are healthcare service providers. Furthermore, the Company has expanded its leasing relationship with Stony Brook University, Stony Brook University Hospital and affiliates of Stony Brook University Hospital at our Flowerfield property which may increase its exposure to the healthcare industry. 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 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (the “ACA”) impacted the healthcare marketplace by decreasing the number of uninsured individuals in the United States through the establishment of health insurance exchanges to facilitate the purchase of health insurance, expanded Medicaid eligibility, subsidized insurance premiums and included requirements and incentives for businesses to provide healthcare benefits. The ACA remains subject to continuing and increasing legislative and administrative scrutiny, including current efforts by Congress and the current presidential administration to repeal, alter and replace the ACA in total or in part. In 2017, Congress unsuccessfully sought to replace substantial parts of the ACA with different mechanisms for facilitating insurance coverage in the commercial and Medicaid markets, but was able to enact legislation eliminating the tax penalty for individuals who do not purchase insurance. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) discontinued providing cost-sharing reduction subsidies to insurance providers, which is expected to have the result of increasing the cost of insurance premiums. Further, CMS has begun approving waivers permitting states to alter state Medicaid programs by, among other things, requiring individuals to meet certain requirements, such as work requirements, in order to maintain eligibility for Medicaid. These and other actions may impact the insurance markets and reduce the number of individuals purchasing insurance or qualifying for Medicaid and may negatively impact the operations and financial condition of our medical office tenants, which in turn may adversely impact us. Congress may revisit ACA or Medicaid reform legislation in 2020 or shortly thereafter. If the ACA is repealed or further substantially modified, or if implementation of certain aspects of the ACA are suspended, such actions could negatively impact the operations and financial condition of our medical office tenants, which in turn may adversely impact us.

Our tenants 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’ 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 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.

Real Estate

The Company owns properties in St. James and Cortlandt Manor, New York.

St. James, New York.  In St. James, New York, the Company owns a 68-acre site called Flowerfield, primarily zoned for light industry, which is located approximately 50 miles east of New York City on the North Shore of Long Island in the Town of Smithtown. Approximately 5 acres of the 68 acres at Flowerfield, are non-contiguous to the Flowerfield industrial park and zoned residential. The Company is actively marketing the 5-acre lot for sale.  Flowerfield's location places it in Hydrogeologic Zone VIII, one of the most liberal with respect to effluent discharge rates. As of December 31, 2019, there were 30 tenants, including two tenants under month-to-month commitments, comprising 36 leases.  The annual base rent at Flowerfield based on the rates in effect as of December 2019 is approximately $1,430,000 which included month-to-month annualized base rent of approximately $20,000 on 3,666 square feet.  The occupancy rate was 83% as of December 31, 2019.    

Cortlandt Manor, New York. In Cortlandt Manor, New York, the Company owns 13.8 acres inclusive of the 33,871 square foot Cortlandt Medical Center.  The property is located directly opposite New York Presbyterian’s Hudson Valley Hospital Center and within the boundaries of the MOD.  The property consists of six office buildings. As of December 31, 2019, there were 6 tenants, comprising 7 leases. The annual base rent based on the rates in effect as of December 2019, is approximately $773,000. The property was 81% occupied as of December 31, 2019.  The Company is actively repositioning the Cortlandt Manor property toward short-term leases to allow for a more timely and efficient transition into a development property.  During early 2019, the Company terminated a long-term lease for 3,943 square feet and annual revenue of $115,380.  The Company is negotiating agreements with all of its Cortlandt Manor tenants granting the landlord an early termination option to allow buyers of the property maximum flexibility to begin development following receipt of site approvals.

Tax Status

Gyrodyne is a limited liability company. As a limited liability company, Gyrodyne is not subject to an entity level income tax but rather is treated as a partnership for tax purposes, with its items of income, gain, deduction, loss and credit being reported on the Company’s information return, on Form 1065, and allocated annually on Schedule K-1 to its members pro rata.

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (the “2015 Act”) changed this procedure for partnership tax audits and audit adjustments for partnership returns of large partnerships for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2017. Pursuant to the 2015 Act, if any audit by the IRS of our income tax returns for any fiscal year beginning after December 31, 2017 results in any adjustments, the IRS may collect any resulting taxes, including any applicable penalties and interest, directly from Gyrodyne. IRS tax audit assessments on tax years beginning January 1, 2018 will require Gyrodyne to a) bear any tax liability resulting from such audit, or b) elect to push out the tax audit adjustments to the respective shareholders once it has been calculated at the company level.

Competition

Our properties are located in St. James and Cortlandt Manor, New York. The Company competes in the leasing of medical, professional and general office space and engineering, manufacturing and warehouse space with a considerable number of other real estate companies, some of which may have greater marketing and financial resources than the Company and may generally be able to accept more risk than we can prudently manage, including risk with respect to creditworthiness of tenants. These entities and others may be prospective buyers, as well as competitors, with respect to both properties when we expect to sell such properties, which would be following the receipt of entitlements. Principal factors of competition in the Company’s rental property business are the quality of properties, leasing terms (including rent and other charges and allowances for tenant improvements), attractiveness and convenience of location, financial strength of its competitors, the quality and breadth of tenant services provided and reputation as an owner and operator of quality office properties in its relevant market. Additionally, the Company’s ability to compete depends upon, among other factors, trends in the national and local economies, investment alternatives, financial condition and operating results of current and prospective tenants, availability and cost of capital, construction and renovation costs, taxes, governmental regulations, legislation and population trends.

In pursuit of its business plan, and the sale of properties, the Company competes with other real estate investors, including pension funds, insurance companies, foreign investors, real estate partnerships, public and private real estate investment trusts, private individuals and other domestic real estate companies, many of which have greater financial and other resources than the Company. With respect to properties presently owned by the Company, it competes with other owners of like properties for tenants.                       

Internal Growth and Effective Asset Management

Tenant Relations and Lease Compliance. We strive to maintain strong contacts with our tenants in order to understand their current and future real estate rental and development needs. We directly monitor each of our rental properties to ensure they are properly maintained and meet the needs of our tenants.

Extending Lease Maturities. We seek to extend leases at the Flowerfield Industrial Park in advance of expirations to achieve high occupancy levels. Additionally, our strategy includes expanding our leasing relationship with Stony Brook University and institutions affiliated with it, inclusive of Stony Brook University Hospital, which we believe will enhance the value of the existing buildings as well as the entitlements being pursued.

We are seeking to covert the Cortlandt Manor leases to predominantly short-term leases to allow prospective buyers the maximum flexibility to begin development following receipt of site approvals. The entitlements being pursued, if secured, would allow for a 100,000 square foot medical building and a 200-unit multitenant residential building.

Financing Strategy

The Company believes it is currently capitalized with adequate cash levels and adequate access to its credit facilities to operate our business and complete our strategic plan of positioning our remaining properties for sale at enhanced values and making liquidating distributions to our shareholders. The Company focuses its available capital to operate the Company and pursue the entitlements strategy. 

To finance the capital improvements, most of which relate to leasing activity, the Company secured a non-revolving credit line for up to $3,000,000 (the “Original Line”) with a bank, which closed on March 21, 2018. There was an interest only phase for the first eight months of the loan (“Interest-Only Phase”) after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on November 30, 2025 (84 months after conversion to a permanent loan) (the “Permanent Phase”).

On January 24, 2019, the Company amended and extended the Original Line which included extending the maturity date of the interest only phase to the earlier of January 20, 2020 or upon drawing down a total of $3,000,000 after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on the earlier of January 20, 2027 or 84 months after conversion to a permanent loan (the “Permanent Phase”).  The Company amended and extended the Original Line which included extending the maturity date of the Interest-Only Phase to the earlier of April 30, 2020 or upon drawing down a total of $3,000,000 after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on the earlier of April 30, 2027 or 84 months after conversion to a permanent loan (the “Permanent Phase”).  The interest rate during the Interest-Only Phase shall be a variable rate equal to the daily highest prime rate published by the Wall Street Journal plus 100 basis points (1% rounded up to the nearest 1/8 percent), but in no event less than the initial interest rate in effect on the closing date (6.5%).  During the Permanent Phase, the Company will pay interest at a fixed rate based on the Federal Home Loan Bank rate for a 7-year maturity as made available by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York plus a margin of 200 basis points (2%) rounded up to the nearest 1/8 percent, plus principal based on a 20-year amortization period.  The Permanent Phase interest rate currently would be 3.25%. 

The first advance, drawn in March 2018, of $1.1 million was used to finance the work required for the lease amendment with Stony Brook University Hospital (“SBU Hospital”). An additional advance of $1.1 million was drawn on March 29, 2019 to finance the buildouts on leases signed through December 31, 2018. The balance of the loan can be drawn upon for improvements to be completed by the Company, as landlord, pursuant to future leases with the State University of New York or institutions affiliated with it (or other tenants subject to the bank’s approval) anytime during the Interest-Only Phase.

To secure access to additional working capital, if needed, through the final sale date of the Flowerfield industrial buildings, the Company secured a second loan evidenced by a secured non-revolving business line of credit agreement and promissory note with a bank for up to $3,000,000, which closed on January 24, 2019. There is an interest only phase for the first twenty-four months of the loan (“Interest-Only Phase”) after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on January 20, 2028 (84 months after conversion to a permanent loan) (the “Permanent Phase”). The interest rate during the Interest-Only Phase shall be a variable rate equal to the daily highest prime rate published by the Wall Street Journal plus 100 basis points (1% rounded up to the nearest 1/8 percent), but in no event less than the initial interest rate in effect on the closing date (6.5%). During the Permanent Phase, the Company will pay interest at a fixed rate based on the Federal Home Loan Bank rate for a 7-year maturity as made available by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York plus a margin of 200 basis points (2%) rounded up to the nearest 1/8 percent, plus principal based on a 20-year amortization period. The Permanent Phase interest rate currently would be 3.25%. Two advances of $1,000,000 and $500,000 were drawn on September 30 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The balance of $1,419,932, net of closing costs of $80,068, is available to be drawn down.

Both are secured by approximately 31.8 acres of the Flowerfield Industrial Park including the related buildings and leases. The only significant financial covenant associated with the loan is a debt service ratio on GSD Flowerfield, LLC of 1.35 to 1. The Company is in compliance with the loan covenants. The Company anticipates modifying the terms of the loan following the completion of its subdivision.   

To secure access to additional working capital through the final sale date of the Cortlandt Property lots (“Lots”),  the Company, through its subsidiary GSD Cortlandt, LLC (“GSD Cortlandt”) signed a commitment letter for a third loan evidenced by a non-revolving business line of credit agreement and promissory note with the Original Line bank for up to $2,500,000, which is scheduled to close in the second quarter of 2020.  The term is 24 months, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months.  The interest rate is a variable rate equal to the daily highest prime rate published by the Wall Street Journal plus 100 basis points (1%), rounded up to the nearest 1/8 percent), but in no event less than four and three quarters percent (4.75%).  The ability to draw upon the line is limited to certain amounts, contingent upon whether GSD Cortlandt delivered signed contracts for one or both Lots.

The line is secured by the Cortlandt property (approximately 14 acres) and cross collateralized by approximately 31.8 acres of the Flowerfield Industrial Park including the related buildings and leases. The Company anticipates modifying the terms of the loans following the completion of the subdivision so that the loans remain cross collateralized by the subdivided industrial park lot only.

Effective February 27, 2020, the Company entered into an engagement letter with a national real estate finance firm (the “Firm”) pursuant to which the Firm agreed to assist the Company secure financing with prospective lenders, and the Company agreed to pay the Firm an origination fee equal to one percent (1%) of any loan secured by the Company with any lender introduced to the Company by the Firm other than designated excluded lenders with whom the Company has a preexisting relationship. The intended use of this facility is to finance tenant improvements on new leases, if any, and a reserve for additional working capital.

Environmental Matters

Based on our ongoing review of each of our properties, as of the date of this report, we are not aware of any environmental condition with respect to any of the properties which we believe would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and/or results of operations. There can be no assurance that (i) changes in law, (ii) the conduct of tenants, (iii) activities related to properties in the surrounding area, (iv) contamination through the water table due to the low elevation and immediate proximity of the industrial park to the Long Island Sound or (v) the discovery of environmental conditions the extent or severity of which were unknown, will not expose us to material liability in the future.

The Company believes that each of its properties is in compliance, in all material respects, with federal, state and local regulations regarding hazardous waste and other environmental matters and is not aware of any environmental contamination at any of its properties that would require any material capital expenditure for the remediation thereof. No assurance can be given, however, that environmental regulations will not in the future have a materially adverse effect on the properties.

Insurance

The Company carries comprehensive liability, property, terrorism and umbrella insurance coverage which includes fire, flood, earthquakes and business interruption insurance on all our properties. The Company annually reviews its policies with regard to both risk management and the underlying premiums and believes the policy specifications, insurance limits and deductibles are appropriate given the relative risk of loss, the cost of the coverage and industry practice and, in the opinion of the Company’s management, all its properties are adequately insured.

Major Tenants

For the year ended December 31, 2019, rental income from the Company’s three largest tenants represented approximately 23%, 20% and 7%, respectively, of total rental income.

The three largest tenants by revenue as of December 31, 2019, consist of Stony Brook University Hospital, located in the industrial park, a medical tenant in the Cortlandt Manor Medical Center and a tenant in the industrial park that recently expanded its space.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, pro forma rental income (excluding revenue related to assets sold on or prior to December 31, 2018) from the three largest tenants represented approximately 21%, 21% and 6% of total rental income.

The three largest tenants by revenue as of December 31, 2018, consist of Stony Brook University Hospital, located in the industrial park and two medical tenants in the Cortlandt Manor Medical Center.

The current economic challenges facing state and local budgets impacted most of the Company’s largest tenants. In addition, the current economic challenges stemming from the coronavirus are disproportionately impacting small businesses which comprise 39% of our expected 2020 rental revenue. There can be no assurance that the Company’s leases will renew for the same square footage, at favorable rates net of tenant improvements, if at all.

Fiscal Year 2019 Transaction Summary

The following summarizes our significant transactions and other activity during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Disposition Activity.

Flowerfield - On August 27, 2019, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary GSD Flowerfield, LLC entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “BSL Agreement”) for the sale of an approximately 9.0 acre parcel of vacant land in the Flowerfield complex in Smithtown, New York for $16,800,000 to BSL St. James LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“BSL”).  See, “Business--Properties Under Contract--Flowerfield”, above, for more detailed disclosure.

Cortlandt Manor - Gyrodyne, LLC, a New York limited liability company (the “Company”), has announced the execution by its subsidiaries GSD Cortlandt, LLC, a New York limited liability company (“GSD”), and Buttonwood Acquisition, LLC (“Buttonwood” and together with GSD, the “Cortlandt Subsidiaries”), of a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Agreement”) effective as of December 7, 2019 (the “Effective Date”) for the sale of  approximately 4.5 acres of its real property located in Cortlandt Manor, New York, together with the improvements thereon (the “Property”), to Sound Cortlandt, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SC LLC”), for a purchase price of $5,720,000.  See, “Business--Properties Under Contract—Cortlandt Manor”, above, for more detailed disclosure.

Leasing Activity.

During 2019, the Company signed five new leases comprising 4,606 square feet, annual base rent of approximately $51,500 and total lease commitments of approximately $128,000, excluding tenant reimbursements, at an average rate per square foot of $11.18, which were offset by seven terminations comprising 8,981 square feet, approximately $187,000 in annual revenue, excluding tenant reimbursements at an average rate per square foot of $20.85. The net impact was a decrease in annual lease commitments and rented square footage of approximately $135,500 and 4,375 square feet, respectively.  A total of ten lease renewals were signed during 2019 comprising approximately 17,600 square feet, $,332,200 in annual revenue and $375,900 in total commitments.  In addition, there were a total of two expansion/downsizing signed in 2019 with no change in square footage and a net increase of approximately $2,700 in annual revenue and $4,700 in total commitments.  There were no incentives or lease concessions in the form of rent abatements during the year ended 2019.  The Company paid commissions of approximately $10,900.

Financing Activity.

To finance capital improvements, most of which relate to leasing activity, the Company secured a non-revolving credit line for up to $3,000,000 (the “Original Line”) with a bank, which closed on March 21, 2018. There was an interest only phase for the first eight months of the loan (“Interest-Only Phase”) after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on November 30, 2025 (84 months after conversion to a permanent loan) (the “Permanent Phase”).

On January 24, 2019, the Company amended and extended the Original Line which included extending the maturity date of the interest only phase to the earlier of January 20, 2020 (which has since been extended to April 30,2020) or upon drawing down a total of $3,000,000 after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on the earlier of January 20, 2027 or 84 months after conversion to a permanent loan. See, “Business—Financing Strategy”, above, for more detailed disclosure.

Retention Bonus Plan

In May 2014, the Board of Directors approved a retention bonus plan (as amended, the “Plan”)  designed to recognize the nature and scope of the responsibilities of our directors, executives and employees related to the Company’s strategic plan to enhance the property values, liquidate and dissolve, 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 term of such plan.  The 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 summary appearing below reflects the terms set forth in the Plan as modified by three amendments.  There were no further amendments to the terms of the Plan during the current reporting period.  See, “Item 1., Executive Compensation—Retention Bonus Plan” below for more detailed disclosure.

Deferred Compensation Plan

On December 6, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved the Gyrodyne, LLC Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees and Directors (the “DCP”) effective as of January 1, 2020. The plan is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained for officers and directors of the Company.  Under the DCP, officers and directors may elect to defer a portion of their compensation to the DCP and receive interest on such deferred payments at a fixed rate of 5%.  All DCP benefits will be paid in a single lump sum cash payment on December 15, 2026, unless a plan of liquidation is established for Gyrodyne before the distribution date in which case all benefits will be paid in a single lump sum cash payment after execution of an amendment to terminate the DCP. The foregoing description of the DCP does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the DCP, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.12.  Each of the Directors elected (under the DCP) to defer 100% of their director fees for 2020.

Subsequent Business Events

Leasing Activity. Subsequent to December 31, 2019, the Company signed one new lease and four lease extensions comprising approximately 8,200 square feet, $156,000 in annual revenue and $206,000 in total lease commitments.    

Subsequent to December 31, 2019, the Company experienced one lease termination comprising approximately 1,300 square feet and $34,000 in annual revenue. No rental income from this lease was included in the estimated liquidation and operating costs net of receipts in the consolidated statement of net assets for December 31, 2019.

The net increase in annual rent from subsequent leasing activity is approximately $122,000.

Credit Facility. The Company amended and extended the Original Line which included extending the maturity date of the Interest-Only Phase to the earlier of April 30, 2020 or upon drawing down a total of $3,000,000 after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on the earlier of April 30, 2027 or 84 months after conversion to a permanent loan (the “Permanent Phase”).

To secure access to additional working capital through the final sale date of the Cortlandt Property lots (“Lots”),  the Company, through its subsidiary GSD Cortlandt, LLC (“GSD Cortlandt”) signed a commitment letter for a third loan evidenced by a non-revolving business line of credit agreement and promissory note with the Original Line bank for up to $2,500,000, which is scheduled to close in the second quarter of 2020.  The term is 24 months, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months.  The interest rate is a variable rate equal to the daily highest prime rate published by the Wall Street Journal plus 100 basis points (1%), rounded up to the nearest 1/8 percent), but in no event less than four and three quarters percent (4.75%).  The ability to draw upon the line is limited to certain amounts, contingent upon whether GSD Cortlandt delivered signed contracts for one or both Lots.

The line is secured by the Cortlandt property (approximately 14 acres) and cross collateralized by approximately 31.8 acres of the Flowerfield Industrial Park including the related buildings and leases. The Company anticipates modifying the terms of the loans following the completion of the subdivision so that the loans remain cross collateralized by the subdivided industrial park lot only.

Effective February 27, 2020, the Company entered into an engagement letter with a national real estate finance firm (the “Firm”) pursuant to which the Firm agreed to assist the Company secure financing with prospective lenders, and the Company agreed to pay the Firm an origination fee equal to one percent (1%) of any loan secured by the Company with any lender introduced to the Company by the Firm other than designated excluded lenders with whom the Company has a preexisting relationship. The intended use of this facility is to finance tenant improvements on new leases, if any, and a reserve for additional working capital.

Coronavirus/COVID-19 Pandemic.  In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, Hubei province, China In the first several months of 2020, the virus, SARS-CoV-2, and resulting disease, COVID-19, spread to the United States, including New York State, the geographic location in which the Company operates. In February and March 2020, some of our tenants began to experience decreasing demand for their products and services which may impact their ability to timely meet their lease obligations.  On March 21, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an Executive Order entitled “New York State on PAUSE” (Policy that Assures Uniform Safety for Everyone) (the “Order”), pursuant to which all non-essential employees (as defined by the State) must stay at home starting March 22, 2020 through April 19, 2020.  The Order also includes a 90-day moratorium on any residential or commercial evictions.  Although it is difficult to estimate the duration and full extent of this disruption, the impact of COVID-19 on our future results could be significant and will largely depend on future developments.  We are actively working with our tenants to manage and mitigate the impact to COVID-19 on the Company’s operations, liquidity and resulting Net Asset Value. The COVID-19 public health crisis may also adversely impact our efforts to secure entitlements and the sale of our real estate.  State and local governments are prioritizing COVID-19 crisis management and, to the extent possible, re-allocating resources accordingly which may adversely impact the timeline of our entitlements and technical approvals.  Furthermore, the real estate market is also expected to be adversely affected which could further negatively impact the timing of sales and the resulting value of our real estate.  See, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations”, for more detailed disclosure.

Employees

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018 we had 4 employees.

Industry Segments

We operate in one segment; the ownership and management of industrial and medical office buildings.

Available Information

We electronically file annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports, and proxy statements, with the SEC. You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, or you may obtain information by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an internet address at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and information statements, and other information, which you may obtain free of charge. In addition, copies of our filings with the SEC may be obtained from our website located at www.gyrodyne.com. We make available, free of charge, on or through the Investor Relations section of our website, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as prospectuses and Proxy Statements, as soon as reasonably practicable following the electronic filing of such material with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Also available on our website is our Audit Committee Charter and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics governing our directors, officers and employees. In addition, our web site includes information with respect to purchases and sales of securities by our officers, directors as well as any non-GAAP financial disclosures (defined by SEC’s Regulation G) that we may make public orally, or in writing. We are not incorporating our website or any information from the website into this Form 10-K.

Our Investor Relations department can be contacted at One Flowerfield, Suite 24, St. James, New York 11780, ATTN: Investor Relations or by Telephone: 631-584-5400.

Principal Executive Offices – Our principal executive office is located at One Flowerfield, Suite 24, St James, New York 11780. Our telephone number is 631-584-5400.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Gyrodyne’s business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidating distribution potential are subject to risks customary for real property owners, as well as additional risks associated with Gyrodyne’s strategic plan of positioning our remaining properties for sale at enhanced values and making liquidating distributions to our shareholders. In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this Report, the following risks and uncertainties could materially harm the value of our properties and the magnitude of distributions to our shareholders, including causing Gyrodyne’s actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. The following summary of significant risk factors is not all-inclusive or necessarily in order of importance. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to Gyrodyne or that Gyrodyne currently deems immaterial also may materially adversely affect us in future periods. For more information about forward-looking statements, see the section of this report entitled “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information” below.

Illiquidity of real estate and lack of diversification may make it difficult for us to sell properties or achieve satisfactory returns in one or more properties within projected timelines.

Our assets consist substantially of real properties which are relatively illiquid assets. We may encounter difficulty in disposing of properties when tenants vacate either at the expiration of the applicable lease or otherwise. When we decide to sell a particular property, our ability to do so and the prices we receive on their sale may be affected by many factors, including the number of potential buyers, the number of competing properties on the market and other market conditions, as well as whether the property is leased and if it is leased, the terms of the lease. As a result, we may be unable to sell our properties for an extended period of time at the values disclosed in our Consolidated Statement of Net Assets, which would adversely affect our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition. We expect to complete our process of pre-development enhancement and liquidation of all our properties by December 31, 2021.  However, the illiquid nature of real estate and the short timeframe that we have chosen to complete the pre-development value enhancement and liquidation process could adversely impact the prospects for achieving our value enhancement and sale objectives and may ultimately result in an extension of the timeline and or additional costs for achieving our pre-development property value enhancement and liquidation objectives.

If our land entitlement and liquidation costs or unpaid liabilities are greater than we expect, our liquidating distributions to our shareholders may be delayed or reduced.

In order to obtain certain entitlements, permits and approvals, we may be required to prepare and present additional data to governmental authorities pertaining to the potential adverse impact that any proposed activities may have on the environment, individually or in the aggregate. Certain approval procedures may require preparation of studies to assess the environmental impact of new sites or the expansion of existing sites. Compliance with these regulatory requirements is expensive and significantly lengthens the time needed to develop a site.

The liquidation basis of accounting requires us to accrue all costs associated with implementing and completing our plan of liquidation. Total liability for estimated costs in excess of estimated receipts during liquidation, inclusive of the costs listed above plus costs associated with the sale of real estate, payments made under the retention bonus plan and liquidating costs, total $14,348,681. The total amount of land entitlement costs, transaction fees and all operating and administrative costs in the liquidation is not yet known and, therefore, we have used estimates of these costs in calculating the amounts of our projected liquidating distributions to our shareholders. To the extent that we have underestimated these costs in calculating our projections or we incur unforeseen additional costs, our actual liquidating distributions may be lower than our estimated net assets in liquidation. In addition, if the claims of our creditors are greater than we have anticipated, or we decide to acquire one or more insurance policies covering unknown or contingent claims against us, our liquidating distributions may be delayed or reduced. Further, if a reserve fund is established, payment of liquidating distributions to our holders of common shares may be delayed or reduced.

Stipulation of Settlement prohibits us from selling our remaining properties at prices below December 2014 appraised values.

On July 3, 2014, a purported shareholder of the Company filed a putative class action lawsuit against the Company, Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. (the “Corporation”), Gyrodyne Special Distribution, LLC (“GSD”) and members of our Board of Directors (the "Action"). The complaint alleged, among other things, that (i) our directors 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 directors 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 a Stipulation of Settlement (the "Settlement") providing for the settlement of the Action, subject to the court's approval.  Under the Settlement, Gyrodyne amended its proxy statement relating to the Merger with certain supplemental disclosures and agreed that any sales of its properties would be effected only in arm's-length transactions at prices at or above their appraised values as of 2014.

The 2014 aggregate appraised value for our properties was approximately $100,000 higher than the 2013 aggregate appraised value for such properties. As of December 31, 2019, the aggregate appraised value of our remaining unsold properties exceeded the respective 2014 aggregate appraised value for such properties.

The requirement in the Settlement that the Company sell its remaining properties at prices above the December 2014 appraised values could limit the options available to the Company. The Company believes that it is in the best interests of the shareholders to pursue certain pre-development enhancements to its remaining properties prior to seeking their ultimate disposition to a developer or other purchaser because doing so will result in higher estimated distributions as compared with selling the properties with their current zoning and entitlements. The Company may also entertain offers from potential buyers who may be willing to pay prices for the properties in their current entitlement and zoning status that the Company finds more attractive from a timing or value perspective than might be achievable through completing an entitlement process. If the Company receives an offer prior to the completion of the entitlement process that it believes is in the best interests of the shareholders, it may nevertheless be prevented from consummating such transaction because of the price floor set in the Settlement. In addition, a severe downturn in the general economy or in the real estate market, or other negative factors beyond our control, may drive down the values of commercial real estate properties, or otherwise result in the values of our remaining properties being reduced to levels below the 2014 appraised values, in which case we may be prohibited under the Settlement from selling such properties. Such limitation on the options available to the Company may make it more difficult to accomplish our stated objective of completing the liquidation process by December 31, 2021.

Furthermore, the Stipulation’s price floor provision does not factor in land entitlement costs that may be incurred in enhancing the value of any particular property. Although the Company intends only to engage in value enhancement efforts and incur land entitlement costs if it reasonably believes that property values will increase more than the amount of such costs, and the Retention Bonus Plan as amended properly incentivizes the Company to do so by calculating the bonus pool as a percentage of the excess of gross sales proceeds from the sale of each property over the designated appraised value as adjusted by land entitlement costs, the price floor provision may nevertheless create a perverse incentive for the Company to incur certain land entitlement costs to increase the value of a property beyond its stipulated price floor even if the land entitlement costs incurred exceed the amount of the increase.

Risks incidental to real estate ownership and management.

Because our business plan is to pursue the opportunistic disposition of our properties, we do not expect to make any further investments other than to enhance the values of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties which may include acquisitions of land and/or executing land swaps. Accordingly, an investment in Gyrodyne depends upon the financial performance and the value of our current portfolio of properties, which properties are subject to the risks normally associated with the ownership and management of rental properties and real estate in general. The risks associated with ownership and management of rental properties include the non-performance of lease obligations by tenants, leasehold improvements that will be costly or difficult to remove should it become necessary to re-rent the leased space for other uses, covenants in certain retail leases that limit the types of tenants to which available space can be rented (which may limit demand or reduce the rents realized on re-renting), rights of termination of leases due to events of casualty or condemnation affecting the leased space or the property or due to interruption of the tenant's quiet enjoyment of the leased premises, and obligations of a landlord to restore the leased premises or the property following events of casualty or condemnation. The risks associated with ownership and management of real estate in general include:

There are risks associated with seeking to enhance the value of certain properties.

Gyrodyne is currently exploring enhancements of the value of our Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties by pursuing various entitlement opportunities. The Board believes that the cost of doing so will be exceeded by the resulting increase in value in such properties. Our efforts to seek enhancements of such properties are subject to various risks, including the following:

For these and other reasons, we cannot assure you that we will realize growth in the value of our Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties that exceeds our land entitlement costs or any at all, and as a result our ability to make distributions to our shareholders could be adversely affected.

Community opposition could adversely impact our efforts to obtain entitlements and enhance the value of our properties.

The process of seeking required entitlements, permits and approvals is sometimes delayed or prevented due to community opposition and adverse publicity from neighboring property owners, members of the general public or non-governmental organizations, or other third parties and other factors beyond our control. The Company’s efforts to seek entitlements, permits or other approvals has been the subject of recent protests by civic groups asserting environmental, traffic and congestion issues as well as adverse impact to the historic nature of the area. Such community opposition could lead to the denial of entitlements, permits or other approvals essential to our efforts to increase the value of our properties or the imposition of restrictive conditions with which it is not practicable or feasible to comply could impact our ability to enhance the value of our properties.

We cannot assure you of the exact timing and amount of any further distributions to our shareholders.

Our estimate of net assets in liquidation at December 31, 2019 is $31.4 million or $21.16 per common share. These estimated amounts are based on a number of assumptions and factors outside of our control. The process of disposing of our real property assets in an orderly manner designed to obtain the best value reasonably available for such assets may fail to create value or may result in lower than expected value and may result in lower than expected proceeds, or in no proceeds, for distribution to our shareholders. The actual nature, amount and timing of all distributions will be determined by Gyrodyne in our sole discretion, and will depend on, and could be delayed by, among other things, sales of our real estate assets, claim settlements with creditors, resolution of outstanding litigation matters, payment of incentive bonuses to those employees and directors who are vested under the Retention Bonus Plan and unanticipated or greater-than-expected expenses. Examples of uncertainties that could reduce the value of or eliminate distributions to our shareholders include unanticipated costs relating to:

As a result, we cannot determine with certainty the amount or timing of distributions to our shareholders.

If we are unable to find buyers for our properties at our expected sales prices, distributions may be delayed or reduced.

In calculating our estimated net assets in liquidation, we assume that we will be able to find buyers for all our properties at our estimated amounts. However, we may have overestimated the sales prices that we will be able to obtain for these properties or underestimated the costs associated with such sales. If we are not able to find buyers for these properties in a reasonably timely manner or if we have overestimated the sales prices we will receive, distributions payable to holders of our common shares would be delayed or reduced. Furthermore, our estimated net assets in liquidation are based on current market conditions, but real estate market values are constantly changing and tend to fluctuate with changes in interest rates, supply and demand dynamics, occupancy percentages, lease rates, the availability of suitable buyers, the perceived quality and dependability of income flows from tenancies and a number of other factors, both local and national. In addition, transactional fees and expenses, environmental contamination at our properties or unknown liabilities, if any, may adversely impact the net liquidation proceeds from those properties.

Distributions to shareholders may be delayed or reduced as a result of sale agreement provisions that allow purchasers to terminate agreements and/or result in purchaser defaults.

Purchase and sale agreements that we have entered into with respect to properties we previously sold contained provisions that gave the purchaser the right to terminate the agreement, for any reason or no reason, prior to the expiration of an evaluation period, and receive a refund of earnest money deposits, and it can be anticipated that agreements for future property sales will have similar provisions. The consummation of property sales for which we will enter into sale agreements in the future will also be subject to satisfaction of standard closing conditions. If any property sale contemplated by future sale agreements does not close because a purchaser exercises its termination right or defaults, or because of a failure of a closing condition or for any other reason, we will need to locate a new buyer for the property, which we may be unable to do promptly or at a price or on terms that are as favorable as contained in the original sale agreement. Many of the costs incurred due to a sale that fails to close are sunk costs with no future value and we will also incur additional costs involved in negotiating a new sale agreement for such property. These additional costs are not included in our projections. In the event that we incur these additional costs, distributions to our shareholders would be delayed or reduced.

Our shareholders may be liable to our creditors for an amount up to the amount distributed by us if our reserves for payments to creditors are inadequate.

In the event our shareholders receive distributions from Gyrodyne and there are insufficient funds to pay any creditors who seek payment of claims against Gyrodyne, shareholders could be held liable under New York State’s fraudulent conveyance laws for payments made to them and could be required to return all or a part of distributions made to them.  Under the New York Uniform Voidable Transactions Act signed into law on December 6, 2019, the reach-back period for voidable transaction claims other than claims based on fraud is reduced from six years to four years with respect to distributions made on or after April 4, 2020.

Our properties may subject us to known and unknown liabilities.

Our existing properties may have known and unknown liabilities for which we would have no recourse, or only limited recourse, to the former owners of such properties. As a result, if a liability were successfully asserted against us based upon ownership of an acquired property, we might be required to pay significant sums to settle it, which could adversely affect our financial results, cash flow and proceeds available for distribution. Unknown liabilities relating to properties could include:

If we are unable to maintain the occupancy rates of currently leased space and/or to lease currently available space, if tenants default under their leases or other obligations to us or if our cash flow is otherwise less than we expect, distributions to our shareholders may be delayed or reduced.

The sales proceeds that could be generated from opportunistic dispositions of our real properties depend in large part on occupancy and rental rates, our success in renting currently available space and the existence of any significant tenant defaults that were not subsequently cured. In calculating the estimated liquidating distributions, it was assumed that we would maintain the occupancy rates of currently leased space, that we would be able to rent currently available space in the ordinary course and that we would not experience any significant tenant defaults during the liquidation process that were not subsequently cured. Negative trends in one or more of these factors may adversely affect the resale value of the properties, which would reduce our distributions. Disposition proceeds and related distributions will be reduced to the extent that we receive less rental income than we expect. We may also decide in the event of a tenant default to restructure the lease, which could require us to substantially reduce the rent payable to us under the lease or make other modifications that are unfavorable to us.

We are subject to risks associated with the financial condition of our tenants.

Our tenants may experience a downturn in their business resulting in their inability to make rental payments when due. In addition, a tenant may seek the protection of bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws, which could result in the rejection and termination of such tenant’s lease and cause a reduction in our cash flow.  We cannot evict a tenant solely because of its filing for bankruptcy. A bankruptcy court, however, may authorize a tenant to reject and terminate its lease. In such a case, our claim against the tenant for past due rent and unpaid future rent would be subject to a statutory cap that might be substantially less than the remaining rent owed under the lease. In any event, it is unlikely that a bankrupt tenant will pay the entire amount it owes us under a lease. The loss of rental payments from tenants would likely reduce proceeds from real property dispositions and distributions from such proceeds.

The Coronavirus pandemic has affected and will likely for the foreseeable future affect the markets in which our tenants operate and otherwise impact our facilities, which will adversely impact the businesses of our tenants and, in turn, our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to pay distributions. Small businesses and not-for-profit corporations, which account for approximately 39% ($834,000) of the Company’s projected annual rental revenues for 2020, are expected to be adversely affected disproportionately by the economic ramifications of COVID-19.  Furthermore, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order mandating that all non-essential employees stay at home starting March 22, 2020 through April 19, 2020 also includes a 90-day moratorium on any residential or commercial evictions.

The loss of a major tenant could adversely affect our financial condition.

We are and expect that we will continue to be subject to a degree of tenant concentration at certain of our operating properties. As indicated above, we are subject to risks associated with the financial condition of our tenants. In the event that a tenant occupying a significant portion of one or more of our properties or whose rental income represents a significant portion of the rental revenue at such property or properties were to experience financial weakness, default on its lease, elect not to renew its lease or file bankruptcy it would negatively impact our financial condition and, as a result, our distributions. Our existing leases with Stony Brook University Hospital and affiliates comprise approximately 21% of our total rentable square feet and the annual rent is expected to represent approximately 30% of our annual rental revenue for 2020.

The largest medical tenant in the Cortlandt Manor Medical Center represents 10% of our total rentable square feet as of December 31, 2019. The annual rent from such tenant is expected to represent approximately 22%, of our annual rental revenue for 2020.

We may experience increased operating costs, which might reduce our estimated net assets in liquidation and the sales prices received for our properties.

Our properties are subject to increases in operating expenses such as for cleaning, electricity, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, administrative costs and other costs associated with security, landscaping and repairs and maintenance of our properties. In general, under our leases with tenants, we pass through all or a portion of these costs to them. There can be no assurance that tenants will actually bear the full burden of these higher costs, or that such increased costs will not lead them, or other prospective tenants, to seek space elsewhere. If operating expenses increase, the availability of other comparable space in the geographic markets of our properties might limit our ability to increase rents; if operating expenses increase without a corresponding increase in revenues, our profitability could diminish thereby reducing our estimated proceeds on disposition of real properties and limit the amount and likely delay the timing of our distributions.

Some of our potential losses may not be covered by insurance.

We use our discretion in determining amounts, coverage limits and deductibility provisions of insurance, with a view to maintaining appropriate insurance coverage on our properties at a reasonable cost and on suitable terms. This may result in insurance coverage that, in the event of a substantial loss, would not be sufficient to pay the full current market value or current replacement cost of the property and also may result in certain losses being totally uninsured. Inflation, changes in building codes, zoning or other land use ordinances, environmental considerations or other factors might not make it feasible to use insurance proceeds to replace a building after such building has been damaged or destroyed. Under such circumstances, the insurance proceeds, if any, received by us might not be adequate to restore our economic position with respect to such property. 

We may incur costs to comply with environmental laws.

The obligation to pay for the cost of complying with existing environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, as well as the cost of complying with future legislation, may increase our operating costs. Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on or under the property. Environmental laws often impose liability whether or not the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances and whether or not such substances originated from the property.  Insurance that we maintain related to potential environmental issues on our properties may not be adequate to cover all possible contingencies. 

Our business, operations and timelines for pursuing entitlements, property sales and distributions of proceeds could be adversely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Coronavirus pandemic has affected and will likely for the foreseeable future affect the markets in which our tenants operate and otherwise impact our facilities, which in turn will adversely impact the businesses of our tenants and, in turn, our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to pay distributions. 

Small businesses and not-for-profit corporations, which account for approximately 39% ($834,000) of the Company’s projected annual rental revenues for 2020, are expected to be adversely affected disproportionately by the economic ramifications of COVID-19.  Although, the duration and full extent of this disruption, the impact of COVID-19 on our future results could be significant and will largely depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the coronavirus, the success of actions taken to contain or treat the coronavirus and reactions by consumers, companies, governmental entities and capital markets.  We are actively working with our tenants to manage and mitigate the impact to COVID-19 on the Company’s operations, liquidity and resulting Net Asset Value.

The COVID-19 public health crisis may also adversely impact our efforts to secure entitlements and the sale of our real estate.  State and local government is prioritizing COVID-19 crisis management and, to the extent possible, re-allocating resources accordingly which may adversely impact the timeline of our entitlements and technical approvals. 

Furthermore, the real estate market is expected also to be adversely affected which could further negatively impact the timing of sales and the resulting value of our real estate.

The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's operational and financial performance and ultimately its Net Asset Value, will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and related governmental or other regulatory actions.  The Company has four employees.  As a result, the Company’s ability to operate seamlessly and limit any adverse impact on its forecasted Net Asset Value will also depend, in part, on whether any of its key employees are infected by the Coronavirus and become ill from COVID-19. 

Our common shares are thinly traded and there may not be an active, liquid trading market for our common shares.

Our common shares are thinly traded and have substantially less liquidity than the average trading market for many other publicly traded companies.  Thinly traded stocks can be more volatile than stock trading in an active public market.  Our stock price has been volatile in the past and several factors could cause the price to fluctuate substantially in the future. These factors include but are not limited to our announcement of developments related to our plan to sell our properties opportunistically (some of which are or may be the subject of enhancement efforts), stock performance of other companies deemed to be peers, news reports of issues related to REITs or other real property owners and the real estate market and market forces generally.  Over the past several years, the stock market has experienced a high level of price and volume volatility, and market prices for the stock of many companies, including those in the real estate sector, have experienced wide price fluctuations that have not necessarily been related to operating performance.  Our stock price may fluctuate significantly in the future, and these fluctuations may be unrelated to our performance.  General market declines or market volatility in the future, especially in the real estate sector of the economy, could adversely affect the price of our common shares, and the current market price may not be indicative of future market prices.  There is no guarantee that an active trading market for our common shares will be maintained on Nasdaq, or that the volume of trading will be sufficient to allow for timely trades.  Investors may not be able to sell their shares quickly or at the latest market price if trading in our stock is not active or if trading volume is limited.  In addition, if trading volume in our common shares is limited, trades of relatively small numbers of shares may have a disproportionate effect on the market price of our common shares.  Therefore, our shareholders may not be able to sell their shares at the volume, prices or times that they desire.

If our common shares are delisted from Nasdaq, shareholders may find it difficult to dispose of their shares.

We believe we are currently in compliance with all of our Nasdaq listing requirements. Nevertheless, there are no assurances that we will be able to sustain long-term compliance with Nasdaq’s stockholders’ equity requirement or minimum bid price requirement for continued listing, particularly as we reduce our overall assets through the distribution of sales proceeds to our shareholders. If we fail to maintain compliance with applicable Nasdaq listing requirements, our common shares may be delisted by Nasdaq involuntarily. In addition, even if we are successful in maintaining compliance with applicable Nasdaq listing requirements, our board of directors may decide that the costs of compliance and the demands of management time and Company resources required to maintain our Nasdaq listing are greater than the benefits received by the Company and its shareholders from being a listed company and that, accordingly, consistent with other cash management and cost reduction measures that we have implemented, we should voluntarily delist from the Nasdaq Capital Market. If our common shares were delisted from Nasdaq voluntarily or involuntarily, trading of our common shares most likely will be conducted in the over-the-counter market on an electronic bulletin Board established for unlisted securities such as OTCQX, OTCBX or OTC Pink which will reduce the market liquidity of our common shares. Delisting may result in lower levels of ownership and trading by institutional shareholders, who are generally guided by quantitative and qualitative investment standards such as market capitalization, minimum share price and liquidity, which in turn often produces lower trading volumes and reduced liquidity. As a result, an investor would find it more difficult to dispose of, or obtain accurate quotations for the price of, our common shares. Also, many brokers will not allow customers to hold non-listed securities in managed accounts or place restrictions which inhibit holding or trading, and it is generally understood that brokers will not recommend non-listed securities to retail clients, perhaps not as official policy but rather as a practical reality. We cannot assure you that our common shares, if delisted from Nasdaq voluntarily, or if they would be delisted involuntarily by Nasdaq, will be listed on another national securities exchange or quoted on an over-the counter quotation system.

We do not anticipate making distributions other than distributions from property dispositions or of liquidation proceeds.

We have not paid any dividends other than the following special dividends/distributions:

We have a history of operating losses and we anticipate operating losses in the future. There can be no guarantee that we will have income to distribute other than proceeds from the sale of properties or of the Company, and we may not make any dividends or distributions in the future other than distributions of proceeds on the sale of the Company or any of our assets.

The value of our medical office park may be affected by factors in the healthcare industry.

Approximately 34,000 square feet of our rentable space and approximately 34% of our gross revenues for 2019 was attributable to our medical office property. The medical office property is subject to various operating risks common to the healthcare industry, many of which are beyond our control, including the following:

Investment in medical parks is capital intensive.

Our medical properties require periodic capital expenditures and renovation to remain competitive. Maintaining our occupancy upon renewals or locating new tenants may require rent concessions, tenant improvements or a combination of both. Additionally, the recent federal healthcare legislation has caused some medical professionals to increase their space requirements. Our ability to relocate our tenants into more suitable space within our medical parks may be limited due to the size of the suites currently vacant and the willingness of tenants to relocate within the building.  Our ability to fund capital expenditures may be limited.

Federal health care legislation has affected medical office real estate.

Our tenants in our Cortlandt Manor property 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 medical office properties. The recent U.S. presidential election, coupled with a Republican-controlled Congress, makes the repeal and replacement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “Affordable Care Act”) a possibility. In 2017, Congress unsuccessfully sought to replace substantial parts of the Affordable Care Act with different mechanisms for facilitating insurance coverage in the commercial and Medicaid markets, but was able to enact legislation eliminating the tax penalty for individuals who do not purchase insurance. 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 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’ 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 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.

Illiquidity of real estate investments could significantly impede our ability to respond to adverse changes in the performance of our properties and harm our financial condition.

Because real estate investments are relatively illiquid, our ability to promptly sell one or more properties in the portfolio in response to changing economic, financial and investment conditions is limited.

The real estate market is affected by many factors that are beyond our control, including:

We are subject to risks stemming from the New York State budgets. 

Our industrial park borders Stony Brook University and the University’s leases, including leases with the University’s affiliates, with us represent over 21% of our overall rentable space.  The New York State budget puts additional pressure on Stony Brook University, part of the State University of New York system, to cut costs.  Many of our tenants service the local area and may be adversely affected by a reduction in business from Stony Brook University. Stony Brook University and its affiliates currently have three leases with Gyrodyne.

Geographic concentration of our properties will make our business vulnerable to economic downturns in the New York metropolitan area.

All our remaining properties are located in the New York metropolitan area, specifically Northern Westchester and eastern Long Island. Economic conditions in these locations will significantly affect our revenues and the value of our properties. Business layoffs or downsizing, industry slowdowns, changing demographics, the COVID-19 pandemic and other similar factors may adversely affect the economic climate in these areas. Any resulting oversupply or reduced demand for space in the New York metropolitan area would therefore have a disproportionate negative impact on our revenues.

We are subject to risks associated with renovations and capital improvements.

Our properties have an ongoing need for renovations and other capital improvements, including replacement of HVAC systems, parking lots, and other structural items.  Tenants often require us to make periodic capital improvements as a condition of renewing leases.  For the year ended December 31, 2019 we spent approximately $616,000 on capital improvements to our real estate portfolio (of which approximately $500,000 were tenant improvements for long term tenants). Capital improvements and renovation projects may give rise to the following risks:

The costs associated with capital improvements on our properties could adversely affect our financial condition.

Cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents may adversely affect our business by causing a disruption to our operations, a compromise or corruption of our confidential information, and/or damage to our tenant and other business relationships, all of which could negatively impact our financial condition.

A cyber incident is considered to be any adverse event that threatens the confidentiality, integrity or availability of our information resources. These incidents may be an intentional attack or an unintentional event and could involve gaining unauthorized access to our information systems for purposes of misappropriating assets, stealing confidential information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. The result of these incidents may include disrupted operations, misstated or unreliable financial data, liability for stolen assets or information, increased cybersecurity protection and insurance costs, litigation and damage to our tenant and investor relationships. As our reliance on technology has increased, so have the risks posed to our information systems, both internal and those we have outsourced. There is no guarantee that any processes, procedures and internal controls we have implemented or will implement will prevent cyber intrusions, which could have a negative impact on our financial condition, operations, tenant and other business relationships or confidential information.

Our mortgage indebtedness could adversely impact the value of our shareholders’ investment if the value of the property securing the debt falls or if we are forced to refinance the debt during adverse economic conditions.

On March 21, 2018, our wholly owned subsidiary, GSD Flowerfield, LLC, closed on a non-revolving credit line with a bank for up to $3,000,000 (the “Original Line”), secured by approximately 31.8 acres of the Flowerfield Industrial Park including the respective buildings and related leases and guaranteed by the Company.

On January 24, 2019, the Company amended and extended the Original Line which included extending the maturity date of the interest only phase to the earlier of January 20, 2020 or upon drawing down a total of $3,000,000 after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on the earlier of January 20, 2027 or 84 months after conversion to a permanent loan (the “Permanent Phase”). The Company amended and extended the Original Line which included extending the maturity date of the Interest-Only Phase to the earlier of April 30, 2020 or upon drawing down a total of $3,000,000 after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on the earlier of April 30, 2027 or 84 months after conversion to a permanent loan (the “Permanent Phase”).  The Permanent Phase interest rate currently would be 3.25%.

On January 24, 2019, the wholly owned subsidiary, GSD Flowerfield LLC closed on a working capital non-revolving line of credit of $3,000,000 secured by approximately 31.8 acres of the Flowerfield Industrial Park including the related buildings and leases and guaranteed by the Company. There is an interest only phase for the first twenty-four months of the loan (“Interest-Only Phase”) after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on January 20, 2028 (84 months after conversion to a permanent loan) (the “Permanent Phase”). The Permanent Phase interest rate currently would be 3.25%.

To secure access to additional working capital through the final sale date of the Cortlandt Property lots (“Lots”),  the Company, through its subsidiary GSD Cortlandt, LLC (“GSD Cortlandt”) signed a commitment letter for a third loan evidenced by a non-revolving business line of credit agreement and promissory note with the Original Line bank for up to $2,500,000, which is scheduled to close in the second quarter of 2020.  The term is 24 months, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months.  The interest rate is a variable rate equal to the daily highest prime rate published by the Wall Street Journal plus 100 basis points (1%), rounded up to the nearest 1/8 percent), but in no event less than four and three quarters percent (4.75%).  The ability to draw upon the line is limited to certain amounts, contingent upon whether GSD Cortlandt delivered signed contracts for one or both Lots.

The line is secured by the Cortlandt property (approximately 14 acres) and cross collateralized by approximately 31.8 acres of the Flowerfield Industrial Park including the related buildings and leases. The Company anticipates modifying the terms of the loans following the completion of the subdivision so that the loans remain cross collateralized by the subdivided industrial park lot only.

Effective February 27, 2020, the Company entered into an engagement letter with a national real estate finance firm (the “Firm”) pursuant to which the Firm agreed to assist the Company secure financing with prospective lenders, and the Company agreed to pay the Firm an origination fee equal to one percent (1%) of any loan secured by the Company with any lender introduced to the Company by the Firm other than designated excluded lenders with whom the Company has a preexisting relationship. The intended use of this facility is to finance tenant improvements on new leases, if any, and a reserve for additional working capital.

If there is a shortfall between the cash flow from the mortgaged property and the cash flow needed to service mortgage debt on that property, then the amount available for distributions to shareholders may be reduced. In addition, incurring mortgage debt generally increases the risk of loss since defaults on indebtedness secured by a property may result in lenders initiating foreclosure actions. In that case, we could lose the property securing the loan that is in default and our ability to pay cash distributions to our shareholders will be adversely affected.

Increases in interest rates could increase the amount of our debt payments and adversely affect our ability to pay distributions to our shareholders.

As of March 21, 2018, we had a non-revolving credit line for up to $3,000,000 (the “Original Line”) with a bank. The credit line provides for an interest only phase for the first eight months of the loan (“Interest-Only Phase”) after which it will automatically convert to a permanent loan maturing on November 30, 2025 (84 months after conversion to a permanent loan) (the “Permanent Phase”). The interest rate during the Interest-Only Phase will be a variable rate equal to the daily highest prime rate published by the Wall Street Journal plus 100 basis points (1% rounded up to the nearest 1/8 percent). During the Permanent Phase, the Company will pay interest at a fixed rate. Increases in interest rates during the Interest-Only Phase would increase our interest costs, which could reduce our cash flows and our ability to pay distributions to shareholders.

On January 24, 2019, the Company amended and extended the Original Line which included extending the maturity date of the interest only phase to the earlier of January 20, 2020 (which has since been extended to April 30, 2020) or upon drawing down a total of $3,000,000 after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing the earlier of January 20, 2027 or 84 months after conversion to a permanent loan (the “Permanent Phase”). The Company amended and extended the Original Line which included extending the maturity date of the Interest-Only Phase to the earlier of April 30, 2020 or upon drawing down a total of $3,000,000 after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on the earlier of April 30, 2027 or 84 months after conversion to a permanent loan. See “Business—Financing Strategy”, above, for more detailed disclosure.

Effective February 27, 2020, the Company entered into an engagement letter with a national real estate finance firm (the “Firm”) pursuant to which the Firm agreed to assist the Company secure financing with prospective lenders, and the Company agreed to pay the Firm an origination fee equal to one percent (1%) of any loan secured by the Company with any lender introduced to the Company by the Firm other than designated excluded lenders with whom the Company has a preexisting relationship.  The intended use of this facility is to finance tenant improvements on new leases, if any, and a reserve for additional working capital.

Changes in federal tax law could adversely affect the tax treatment of distributions to our shareholders.

Legislative, regulatory or administrative changes could be enacted or promulgated at any time, either prospectively or with retroactive effect, and may adversely affect the Company and our shareholders. Gyrodyne is not subject to an entity level income tax but rather is treated as a partnership for tax purposes, with its items of income, gain, deduction, loss and credit being reported on the Company’s information return, on Form 1065, and allocated annually on Schedule K-1 to our shareholders pro rata. Tax legislation informally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”) was signed into law on December 22, 2017, generally effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018. In addition to modifying income tax rates for individuals and corporations, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made certain changes to the tax treatment for pass-through entities, such as Gyrodyne. Shareholders are urged to consult a tax advisor regarding the implications of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on their shares in Gyrodyne.

Loss of key management personnel.

Our success depends to a significant extent upon the continuing efforts of Gary Fitlin, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and Peter Pitsiokos, our Chief Operating Officer. We have programs in place that have been designed to motivate, reward and retain such executive officers, including employment agreements and our Retention Bonus Plan.  Nevertheless, the loss or unavailability of either of our executive officers due to retirement, resignation or otherwise could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations in general, and our efforts to position our properties to maximize values and distributions to shareholders in particular, if we are unable to retain our executive officers.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None

Item 2. Properties.

The executive office of the Company is located at 1 Flowerfield, Suite 24, St. James, New York and consists of approximately 3,256 square feet.

Real Estate Investments

The Company owns a 68-acre property located in St. James, in the Town of Smithtown on the North Shore of Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. The property currently has 127,481 square feet of rental space and is approximately 83% occupied by 30 tenants. In addition, the Company owns a medical office park which consists of seven buildings located in Cortlandt Manor, New York, just outside the city of Peekskill, New York. The property has 33,871 square feet of rental space and is currently 81% occupied by 6 tenants.

During 2019 and 2018, land entitlement costs incurred were approximately $1,422,000 and $1,261,000, respectively. The Company continues to believe the pursuit of entitlements will maximize the value of our properties and the estimated liquidating distributions.

Following the Merger, effective September 1, 2015, the Company adopted the liquidation basis of accounting and therefore reports the land and buildings on the Consolidated Statement of Net Assets at net realizable value. The net realizable value at December 31, 2019 is estimated to be $31,369,637. This value includes some but not all of the increase in value the Company believes is achievable from enhancement efforts in Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor.

The average age of the buildings on our properties is approximately 60 years at Flowerfield and 30 years at Cortlandt Manor. All facilities continually undergo maintenance repair cycles for roofs, paved areas, and building exteriors. The general condition of internal infrastructure, HVAC, electrical and plumbing is considered average for facilities of this age. The grounds feature landscaping, are neatly groomed and well maintained.

Approximately 5 acres of the 68 acres at Flowerfield, are non-contiguous to the Flowerfield industrial park and zoned residential. The Company is actively marketing the 5-acre lot for sale.

There are four buildings in the Flowerfield Industrial Park with rental unit sizes ranging from 130 to 26,573 square feet. Given the location and size of rental units, the Flowerfield Industrial Park attracts tenants ranging in size from Stony Brook University and the Stony Brook University Hospital to many smaller companies that are not dependent on extensive material or product handling. In the five buildings located in the Cortlandt Medical Center, the rental size units range from 1,200 to 3,943 square feet and consist primarily of medical professionals.

The Company maintains a liability umbrella policy and has insured certain buildings and rent receipts predicated on an analysis of risk, exposure and loss history. It is management's opinion that the premises are adequately insured.

The following table sets forth scheduled lease expirations on the properties as of December 31, 2019:

The properties are located in St. James and Cortlandt Manor, both of which are in New York State. In June 2017, the Company filed a subdivision application for the Flowerfield property along with the previously sold catering facility totaling approximately 74 acres with the Town of Smithtown. The Company has an additional 5.2 acres bordering the industrial park that is currently zoned residential and is not part of the application. Additionally, the Company filed an application with the Town of Cortlandt Manor on the development of that property on March 31, 2017 (see, “—Property Value Enhancement”, above).

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

Putative Class Action Lawsuit

On July 3, 2014, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a putative class action lawsuit against Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc. (the “Corporation”) and members of its Board of Directors (the "Individual Defendants"), and against Gyrodyne Special Distribution, LLC (“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, Gyrodyne amended its Proxy Statement on August 17, 2015 with certain supplemental disclosures and agreed that any sales of its properties would be effected only in arm's-length transactions at prices at or above their appraised values as of December 2014.  The plaintiff, on behalf of itself and the members of the putative class it represents, 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.

The 2014 aggregate appraised value of Gyrodyne’s properties was approximately $100,000 higher than the 2013 aggregate appraised values for such properties. As of December 31, 2019, the aggregate appraised value of our remaining unsold properties exceeded the respective 2014 appraised values for such properties. See, “Risk Factors – Stipulation of Settlement prohibits us from selling our remaining properties at prices below the December 2014 appraised values”.

General

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

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Market information

The Company’s common shares began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “GYRO” beginning September 1, 2015. Prior to the Merger, the Corporation’s common shares (symbol: "GYRO") were traded in the Nasdaq Capital Market, the principal market from June 10, 1948. The Company believes it is currently in compliance with all of its Nasdaq listing requirements. See, “Risk Factors -- If our common shares are delisted from Nasdaq, shareholders may find it difficult to dispose of their shares”.

Approximate number of equity security holders of record (not including beneficial owners holding shares in street name).

The Company’s strategy has been to pursue entitlement opportunities intended to increase the values of our two remaining properties so that they can be sold to one or more developers at higher prices than otherwise possible, thereby maximizing distributions to our shareholders during the liquidation process and then dissolving the Company. The value of the real estate reported in the Statement of Net Assets as of December 31, 2019 (predicated on current asset values), includes some but not all of the potential value impact that may result, if any, 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. 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.

Future special distribution declarations are at the discretion of the Board. The magnitude and timing of any special distributions will depend on our actual cash flow, proceeds generated from strategic sales of properties, our financial condition, capital requirements and such other factors as the Board deems relevant. The actual cash flow available to pay special distributions will depend on a number of factors including, among others, the factors discussed under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report.

The Company does not have an equity compensation plan for its employees, officers or directors.

Sale of Unregistered Securities

None.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

As of December 31, 2019, there were no equity compensation plans under which securities of the Company were authorized for issuance.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

  None.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

Not applicable.

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Cautionary Statements Concerning Forward–Looking Statements. The statements made in this Form 10-K, other materials the Company has filed or may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in each case that are not historical facts, contain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “projects,” “estimates,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” or “continue,” the negative thereof, and other variations or comparable terminology as well as statements regarding the evaluation of strategic alternatives and liquidation contingencies.  These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements.  Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to our efforts to enhance the values of our remaining properties and seek the orderly, strategic sale and liquidation of such properties as soon as reasonably practicable, 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 obtain additional capital in order to enhance the value of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties, the potential effects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic on our business, operations and timelines for seeking entitlements and pursuing the sale of our properties and distributions to our shareholders, risks and uncertainties associated with any litigation that may develop in connection with our efforts to sell our properties strategically, including related enhancement efforts, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports. These and other matters the Company discusses in this Report, or in the documents it incorporates by reference into this Report, may cause actual results to differ from those the Company describes. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Overview

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. We operate as a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate company focused on pursuing entitlements, owning, leasing and managing medical, commercial and industrial real estate. Our tenants include unrelated diversified entities with a recent emphasis on medical office parks and properties. Our properties are located in Suffolk and Westchester counties in New York, which are characterized by strong real estate markets.

As of December 31, 2019, the consolidated portfolio consisted of two developed properties, consisting of 10 buildings with an aggregate of 161,352 rentable square feet. The Company also owns undeveloped land parcels adjacent to developed properties for which alternative entitlement plans are currently being considered in order to enhance the value of the relevant primary property.

Factors Which May Influence Future Operations

Our operating focus is on maximizing cashflows and market value of our operating properties while we are securing entitlements with the objective of enhancing the value of our remaining properties and maximizing liquidating distributions to our shareholders as soon as reasonably practicable. As of December 31, 2019, our properties were 82% leased to 36 tenants. As of December 31, 2018, our properties were 85% leased to 40 tenants.

Our leasing strategy for 2020 includes focusing on leasing vacant space, negotiating early renewals for leases scheduled to expire through 2020 and identifying new tenants or existing tenants seeking additional space. A core part of our leasing strategy is to expand our leasing relationship with Stony Brook University (“SBU”) which borders the Flowerfield Industrial Park. We believe expanding the leasing relationship with SBU will maximize the current value of the developed portion of the Flowerfield Industrial Park and ultimately the value of Flowerfield as a whole.

The Company is actively repositioning the Cortlandt Manor property toward short-term leases to allow for a more timely and efficient transition into a development property. The Company is converting all of its Cortlandt Manor tenants upon lease expiration to short term-leases to allow prospective buyers the maximum flexibility to begin development following receipt of site approvals.

Lease Expirations

The following is a summary of lease expirations and related revenues of leases in place at December 31, 2019. This table assumes that none of the tenants exercise renewal options or early termination rights, if any, at or prior to the scheduled expirations:

The success of our leasing strategy will be dependent upon the general economic conditions and more specifically real estate market conditions and trends in the United States and in our target markets of Suffolk and Westchester Counties in New York. We cannot give any assurance that leases will be renewed or that available space will be re-leased at rental rates equal to or above the current contractual rental rates.

We actively manage the renewal process. Historically, this has resulted in a very low turnover rate with our tenants. As a result, the Company continues to actively manage lease termination dates and often approaches tenants up to one year in advance to gauge renewal interest and negotiate related leases. Where a termination is likely, the Company begins marketing the property prior to termination to timely identify the market rent for the specific space, expected vacancy period and market demanded tenant concessions and incentives.

The Company may offer tenant concessions in the form of rent abatements rather than tenant improvements to maximize its working capital position. However, tenant improvement incentives may be offered in certain cases where concessions are not effective in meeting the demands of the existing or prospective tenant.

During 2019, the Company incurred approximately $17,000 in leasing fees and commissions in exchange for revenue commitments of approximately $488,000 with leases ranging from 1 year to 3 years. The leasing fees reflect a renewal cost rate of 3.5% of the related revenue commitments. The Company has approximately 36% of its annual leasing revenue up for renewal in 2020, which compares unfavorably to 29% of leases up for renewal in 2019. General economic conditions, coupled with rental markets in which we operate, will dictate how rental rates on new leases and renewals will compare, favorably or unfavorably, to those leases that were signed in 2019.

Critical Accounting Policies

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. 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 the LLC Agreement, the Board may elect, in its sole discretion and without any separate approval by 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 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 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 and consolidated statements of operations, equity, comprehensive income and cash flows are no longer presented. The consolidated statements of net assets and changes in net assets 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 (predicated on current values).  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.  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 December 31, 2021.  The Company is in the process of pursuing entitlements and density, and our ability to obtain required permits and authorizations is subject to factors beyond our control, including environmental concerns of governmental entities, community groups and purchasers (Purchase and Sale Agreement entered but not yet closed/prospective purchasers). 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 or purchaser, and will continue up until such time as entitlement and density decisions are made by the relevant government entities. We hope to secure favorable decisions on entitlements, and density so that we can then seek the sale of our remaining properties at higher prices (than those achievable under their current entitlements) and then proceed with the liquidation and dissolution of the Company. The Company expects the process of pursuing entitlements and density could take through December 31, 2021 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 and or purchasers.  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.

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, capital expenditures, 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 December 31, 2021. 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 respective information 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.

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 and the related timeline to complete the liquidation.

Cash equivalents - The Company considers all certificates of deposits, money market funds, treasury securities and other highly liquid debt instruments purchased with short-term maturities to be cash equivalents. 

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.

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.

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.  

New accounting pronouncements - Management has evaluated the impact of newly issued accounting pronouncements, whether effective or not as of December 31, 2019, 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 Statement of Net Assets

Net assets in liquidation at December 31, 2019 would result in estimated liquidating distributions of approximately $21.16 per common share. This is an increase of $3.05 from the December 31, 2018 net assets in liquidation of $18.11 per common share. The increase in net assets in liquidation results from an increase in the real estate value of $12.1 million ($8.14 per share) of the properties that are the subject of purchase and sale agreements with BSL St. James LLC and Sound Cortlandt, LLC, respectively, and other adjustments to the remaining properties, and partially offset by an increase in the expense reserve (the estimated costs in excess of receipts) per share by $7.5 million ($5.09 per share). The increase in the expense reserve is mainly the result of an extension in the estimated liquidation timeline of 18 months attributable to the pursuit of entitlements (and the associated costs), entitlement costs and an increase to the retention bonus payments and selling costs as a result of the increase in real estate value.

The cash balance at the end of the liquidation period (currently estimated to be December 31, 2021, although the estimated completion of the liquidation period may change), excluding any interim distributions, is estimated based on the December 31, 2019 cash balance of $2.2 million plus adjustments for the following items which are estimated through December 31, 2021:

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 as defined under FASB ASC Topic No. 820, Fair Value Measurement. 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 common area and 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 underestimates forecasted cash outflows (tenant improvements, lease commissions and operating costs) or overestimates 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 value during the liquidation process so that we can maximize distributions to our shareholders.  The Company estimates that it will incur approximately $1.8 million (included in the statements of net assets as part of the estimated liquidation and operating costs net of receipts) in land entitlement costs from January 2020 through the end of the liquidation period, currently estimated to conclude on or about December 31, 2021, in an effort to obtain entitlements, including 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 year ended December 31, 2019, the Company incurred approximately $1.4 million of land entitlement costs, consisting primarily of engineering fees.  The Company believes the remaining balance of $1.8 million (an aggregate of approximately $556,000 which Company vendors have agreed to defer until the first post subdivision property lot is sold) will be incurred from January 2020 through the end of the liquidation period. 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 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 statement of net assets as of December 31, 2019 (predicated on current asset values) includes some but not all of the potential value impact that may result from the land entitlement 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 net assets in liquidation at December 31, 2019 ($31,369,637) and 2018 ($26,846,670) results in estimated liquidating distributions of approximately $21.16 and $18.11, respectively, per common share (based on 1,482,680 shares outstanding), based on estimates and other indications of sales value (predicated on current assets values including the purchase prices set forth in the purchase and sale agreements with BSL St. James LLC and Sound Cortlandt LLC, respectively, for the properties that are the subject of such agreements) which includes some but not all of the potential sales proceeds that may result directly or indirectly from our land entitlement efforts. Some of the additional value that may be derived from the land entitlement efforts is not included in the estimated liquidating distributions as of December 31, 2019 because the amount of such additional value that may result from such efforts are too difficult to predict with sufficient certainty. The Company believes the land entitlement efforts will enhance estimated distributions per share through the improved values (a large amount of which has already been included in the reported value for real estate held for sale) from the sales of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties net of the costs to achieve the improved values and other expenses. 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, change in values of the Cortlandt Manor and/or Flowerfield properties (whether market driven or 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.

The following table summarizes the estimates to arrive at the Net Assets in Liquidation as of December 31, 2019 (dollars are in millions).

Discussion of Changes in Net Assets

Gyrodyne’s strategy is to enhance the value of Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor, by pursuing various 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 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 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. Therefore, the Company includes in its financial statements the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, all of which is discussed below:

^(a)The re-measurement of the assets and liabilities in liquidation during 2018 of ($3,775,285) is mainly driven by the increased retention bonus due to the increase in real estate values, capital improvements and the additional general and administrative and rental expenses required due to the changed timeline necessary to complete the related entitlement efforts from the end of the 2019 to June 30, 2020, offset by income from operations. The increase in net assets in liquidation during 2019 was the result of an increase of $12.1 million ($8.14 per share) in the value of the properties that are the subject of the purchase and sale agreements with BSL St. James LLC and Sound Cortlandt, LLC, respectively (see note 5), and other adjustments to the remaining properties, and partially offset by the increase in the expense reserve (the estimated costs in excess of receipts) per share by $7.5 million ($5.09 per share). The increase in the expense reserve is mainly the result of an extension in the estimated liquidation timeline of 18 months attributable to the pursuit of entitlements (and the associated costs), entitlement costs and an increase to the retention bonus payments and selling costs as a result of the increase in real estate value.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flows:

As we pursue our plan to sell our properties strategically, including certain enhancement efforts, we believe that a main focus of management is to effectively manage our net assets 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 entitlements.

As the Company executes on the sale of assets, it will no less than annually, review its capital needs and make prudent distribution decisions regarding any excess cash. Upon completion of these activities, Gyrodyne will distribute the remaining cash to its shareholders and then proceed to complete the dissolution of the Company, delist its shares from Nasdaq or other exchange platform 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 through cash on hand, supplemented by cash available under the Company’s credit facilities. We entered into a credit facility on March 21, 2018 which was amended and extended that will provide up to $3.0 million in financing for tenant improvements (the “Original Line”). The Company has drawn down approximately $2.2 million for tenant and associated common area improvements. The balance of the loan can be drawn upon to finance tenant improvements if required in the event, the Company signs additional leases or lease expansions with Stony Brook University or its affiliates (or other improvements subject to the bank’s approval) anytime during the Interest-Only Phase.

On January 24, 2019, the Company secured a second loan evidenced by a secured non-revolving business line of credit and promissory note with the Original Line bank for up to $3,000,000 to provide access to additional working capital to fund entitlements and operations through final liquidation. Two advances totaling $1,500,000 was drawn during 2019 to fund working capital. The balance of $1,419,932 net of closing costs of $80,068 and the aforementioned advances, is available to be drawn down.

To secure access to additional working capital through the final sale date of the Cortlandt Property lots (“Lots”),  the Company, through its subsidiary GSD Cortlandt, LLC (“GSD Cortlandt”) signed a commitment letter for a third loan evidenced by a non-revolving business line of credit agreement and promissory note with the Original Line bank for up to $2,500,000, which is scheduled to close in the second quarter of 2020.  The term is 24 months, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months.  The interest rate is a variable rate equal to the daily highest prime rate published by the Wall Street Journal plus 100 basis points (1%), rounded up to the nearest 1/8 percent), but in no event less than four and three quarters percent (4.75%).  The ability to draw upon the line is limited to certain amounts, contingent upon whether GSD Cortlandt delivered signed contracts for one or both Lots.

Effective February 27, 2020, the Company entered into an engagement letter with a national real estate finance firm (the “Firm”) pursuant to which the Firm agreed to assist the Company secure financing with prospective lenders, and the Company agreed to pay the Firm an origination fee equal to one percent (1%) of any loan secured by the Company with any lender introduced to the Company by the Firm other than designated excluded lenders with whom the Company has a preexisting relationship.  The intended use of this facility is to finance tenant improvements on new leases, if any, and a reserve for additional working capital.

We believe leveraging our capital improvements will allow us to continue focusing our cash on funding the pursuit of entitlements and our operations. The Company believes the combination of the investments in tenant improvements related to strategically important leases and the pursuit of entitlements will enable the Company to maximize the ultimate real estate value and the distributions per share.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had cash and cash equivalents totaling approximately $2.2 million. The Company anticipates that its current cash and cash equivalent balance and access to its respective credit facilities will be adequate to fund its liquidation process and dissolution. The $2.2 million of cash will be partially used to fund our efforts to generate the highest values for the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties while simultaneously pursuing the strategic sale of these properties. The pursuit of the highest values for Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor may involve other investments and or other strategies to maximize the returns for our shareholders. The Company is estimating and reporting in the consolidated statements of net assets total gross cash proceeds from the sale of its assets of approximately $48.3 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 $31.4 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:

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 and funds available through its credit facilities 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.

Major elements of the Company’s cashflows for the year ended December 31, 2019 were as follows:

Operating Cashflows: 

Nonoperating Cashflows:

Our primary sources of non-operating cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2018 consisted of the following:

Our primary non-operating uses of cash for the year ended December 31, 2018 were as follows:

Dispositions:

Flowerfield - On August 27, 2019, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary GSD Flowerfield, LLC entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “BSL Agreement”) for the sale of an approximately 9.0 acre parcel of vacant land in the Flowerfield complex in Smithtown, New York for $16,800,000 to BSL St. James LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“BSL”).

Under the BSL Agreement: (i) BSL will have the right to terminate the BSL Agreement, during an investigation period, by written notice to GSD if BSL is not fully satisfied, in its sole discretion, as to the status of title, suitability of the Premises and all factors concerning same, in which case BSL will have the right to receive a refund of its earnest money deposit; (ii) if BSL does not terminate the BSL Agreement on or prior to the end of the investigation period, BSL will be obligated to deliver an additional earnest money deposit to the escrow agent, which together with the initial earnest money deposit will be applied toward the purchase price at closing; (iii) unless BSL terminates the BSL Agreement on or prior to the end of the investigation period, the closing will occur on the 30th day following the earlier of (y) the Town of Smithtown’s granting of the Site Plan Approval (as defined in the BSL Agreement and as described below); or (z) BSL’s waiver of the Site Plan Approval.

The BSL Agreement is also contingent on the receipt of Subdivision Approval (as defined in the BSL Agreement and as described below). The Subdivision Approval condition requires that GSD obtain a subdivision of the Gyrodyne/Flowerfield complex into separate parcels to create the Property (as generally depicted in the BSL Agreement) within a specified time (the “Subdivision Approval Period”) following the last day of the investigation period. If the Subdivision Approval is not obtained within the Subdivision Approval Period, each of GSD and BSL have the right to terminate the BSL Agreement. BSL will also have a limited right to terminate the BSL Agreement in the event the Subdivision Approval contains requirements specified in the BSL Agreement. If Subdivision Approval has not been denied by the Town of Smithtown at or prior to the last day of the Subdivision Approval Period, GSD shall have the right to extend its time to obtain the Subdivision Approval for a specified period of time. If Subdivision Approval is not obtained within such additional time, each of GSD and BSL have the right to terminate the BSL Agreement.

 The Site Plan Approval is specifically delineated in the BSL Agreement. If BSL fails to obtain the Site Plan Approval prior to the end of the site plan approval period, BSL may cancel the BSL Agreement, waive the Site Plan Approval contingency, or extend the site plan period for a specified period upon the payment of an extension fee. If, after such extension, BSL fails to obtain the Site Plan Approval, BSL may cancel the BSL Agreement, waive the Site Plan Approval contingency, or extend the site plan period for an additional specified period with a second non-refundable extension fee. 

The BSL Agreement also contains additional customary covenants, conditions, representations and warranties.

Cortlandt Manor - Gyrodyne, LLC, a New York limited liability company (the “Company”), has announced the execution by its subsidiaries GSD Cortlandt, LLC, a New York limited liability company (“GSD”), and Buttonwood Acquisition, LLC (“Buttonwood” and together with GSD, the “Cortlandt Subsidiaries”), of a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Agreement”) effective as of December 7, 2019 (the “Effective Date”) for the sale of  approximately 4.5 acres of its real property located in Cortlandt Manor, New York, together with the improvements thereon (the “Property”), to Sound Cortlandt, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SC LLC”), for a purchase price of $5,720,000. 

The Town of Cortlandt (the “Town”) is processing a proposed zoning initiative to create a Medical Oriented District (“MOD”) that would include the entire Cortlandt property (owned by the Cortlandt Subsidiaries) within its boundaries.  Included in the Town’s initiative is the Company’s site plan to subdivide the entire property into three parcels for the development of (i) a medical office building with retail, (ii) a multi-family residential housing project and (iii) an open space, passive recreation parcel. The Property that is the subject of the Agreement consists of the medical office building with ancillary retail space and does not include the multi-family residential housing parcel or the open space, passive recreation parcel. 

The Agreement requires: (i) an inspection period that will expire after a set period, during which time SC LLC will have the right to terminate the Agreement by written notice to GSD if SC LLC will not be fully satisfied, in SC LLC’s sole discretion, as to the status of title, suitability of the Property and all factors concerning same, prior to the expiration of the inspection period, in which case SC LLC will have the right to receive a refund of its earnest money deposit; (ii) if SC LLC does not terminate the Agreement on or prior to the end of the inspection period, SC LLC will be obligated to deliver an additional earnest money deposit to the escrow agent, which together with the initial earnest money deposit will be applied toward the purchase price at closing; (iii) unless SC LLC terminates the Agreement on or prior to the end of the inspection period, the closing will occur on the 60th day following the earlier of (y) the applicable governmental authorities granting of the Final Project Approvals (as defined in the Agreement and as described below); or (z) SC LLC’s waiver of the Final Project Approvals.

The Final Project Approvals are also contingent on the receipt of Subdivision Approval and Site Plan Approval (each as defined in the Agreement and as described below). The Subdivision Approval condition requires that the Cortlandt Subsidiaries obtain approval as and to the extent necessary to allow for the conveyance of the  medical office building parcel to SC LLC and the conveyance of the recreation parcel  to the owner’s association within a specified time following the last day of the inspection period. If such Subdivision Approval is not obtained within such specified time following the last day of the inspection period, SC LLC has the right to terminate the Agreement. The Agreement provides SC LLC with a limited right to terminate the Agreement in the event the Subdivision Approval contains requirements specified in the Agreement. In the event the Subdivision Approval has not been denied by the Town at or prior to the last day of the specified period, SC LLC shall have the right to extend the time to obtain the Subdivision Approval for a specified period of time.  If such Subdivision Approval is not obtained within such additional time, SC LLC has the right to terminate the Agreement.

The Site Plan Approval is specifically delineated in the Agreement. If SC LLC fails to obtain the Site Plan Approval prior to the closing date (expected to be May 4, 2021), SC LLC may cancel the Agreement, waive the Site Plan Approval contingency, or extend the closing date.

The Agreement also contains additional customary covenants, conditions, representations and warranties.

Since the commencement of our liquidation process, the Company has completed the sale of eleven properties for gross aggregate proceeds of over $22.6 million. Although we have not released or disclosed the appraised values of our individual real estate holdings so as not to put the Company in a negotiating disadvantage, the gross proceeds achieved in each such sale have been in excess of the appraised value of the respective property.

Under the terms of the Stipulation of Settlement (the "Settlement") relating to the class action litigation against the Company, Gyrodyne agreed that any sales of its properties would be effected only in arm's-length transactions at prices at or above their December 2014 appraised values. As of December 31, 2019, the value of each of the remaining unsold properties was above the respective 2014 appraised value. See, “Risk Factors -- Stipulation of Settlement prohibits us from selling our remaining properties at prices below the December 2014 appraised values”.

Port Jefferson Professional Park – In August 2018, the Company sold its final building (11 Medical Drive) in the Port Jefferson Professional Park for $800,000.

Interest Rates:

In December 2018, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Federal Reserve”) increased its benchmark interest rate for the fifth consecutive quarter culminating with another quarter point raise in the benchmark federal funds rate to a range between 2.25% and 2.50%.  Furthermore, at that time the Federal Reserve continued signaling that rates could continue to rise in 2019.  However, at its January 2019 Open Market Committee meeting, the Federal Reserve left the target range unchanged and indicated that it would be “patient” as it determines future adjustments to the target range. In March 2019, following its Open Market Committee meeting, the Federal Reserve announced that it was keeping the benchmark federal funds rate unchanged at a range between 2.25% and 2.50% and forecasted no interest rate hikes in 2019.  In addition, the Federal Reserve announced that it will stop shrinking its bond portfolio in September which may help hold down long-term interest rates. The favorable change in the interest rate environment could increase the amount potential purchasers are willing to pay for our properties or alternatively reduce the impact on prices from an economic slowdown.  Little in the U.S. macroeconomic data suggests that the economy is growing too rapidly, the primary symptom of trouble ahead for a business cycle. However, recent changes to tax policy, government spending and trade policy has created economic uncertainty as to whether these factors, in culmination, could adversely effect the current economic cycle. On March 3, 2020, the Federal Reserve decreased the benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to between 1% and 1.25%.  The Federal reserve stated that the US economy remains strong, however, the coronavirus poses evolving risks to economic activity. Further stating that the Federal Reserve will use its tools and act as appropriate to support the economy. On March 15^th, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced a full percentage point cut in interest rates to a range of 0 percent to 0.25 percent.  The Federal Reserve also announced it will buy at least $500 billion in Treasury securities and $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities over the coming months under the quantitative easing program.  The Federal Reserve warned that US economic growth will likely be weak in the second quarter but said central bank policymakers will not use negative interest rates to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On March 23, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced that its quantitative easing program is now open ended with no acquisition limit to the amount of Treasury securities, government backed debt, mortgage backed securities and corporate debt. 

The uncertainty about the economic correction, it’s duration, and the temporary restrictions on businesses and individuals stemming from COVID-19 has impacted, and may continue to impact, our tenants’ businesses. For example, tenants may be reluctant to make long-term lease commitments or renew at all. In the current economic climate, we continue to follow a disciplined approach to managing our operations. In certain cases, the Company has addressed these challenges through various tenant incentives which resulted in the Company’s current market rents and related occupancy rates. 

COVID-19:

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. In the first several months of 2020, the virus, SARS-CoV-2, and resulting disease, COVID-19, spread to the United States, including New York State, the geographic location in which the Company operates. The Company's evaluation of the effects of these events is ongoing; however, in February and March 2020, some of our tenants began to experience decreasing demand for their products and services which may impact their ability to timely meet their lease obligations.  Furthermore, on March 21, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an Executive Order entitled “New York State on PAUSE” (Policy that Assures Uniform Safety for Everyone) (the “Order”), pursuant to which, all non-essential employees (as defined by the State) must stay at home starting March 22, 2020 through April 19, 2020.  The Order also includes a 90-day moratorium on any residential or commercial evictions.

Beginning March 16, 2020, prior to the Order, the Company’s employees began temporarily working remotely to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees and their families. The Company’s technology infrastructure, for some time, has been set up to handle offsite seamless operations to address alternative disaster recovery disruption.  As a result, all employees will continue to work remotely unless they report needing sick leave or family leave pursuant to regulated benefits.

Small businesses and not-for-profit corporations, which account for approximately 39% ($834,000) of the Company’s projected annual rental revenues for 2020, are expected to be adversely affected disproportionately by the economic ramifications of COVID-19. Although it is difficult to estimate the duration and full extent of this disruption, the impact of COVID-19 on our future results could be significant and will largely depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the coronavirus, the success of actions taken to contain or treat the coronavirus and reactions by consumers, companies, governmental entities and capital markets. We are actively working with our tenants to manage and mitigate the impact to COVID-19 on the Company’s operations, liquidity and resulting Net Asset Value.

The COVID-19 public health crisis may also adversely impact our efforts to secure entitlements and the sale of our real estate. State and local governments are prioritizing COVID-19 crisis management and, to the extent possible, re-allocating resources accordingly which may adversely impact the timeline of our entitlements and technical approvals. 

Furthermore, the real estate market is also expected to be adversely affected which could further negatively impact the timing of sales and the resulting value of our real estate.

The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's operational and financial performance and ultimately its Net Asset Value, will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and related governmental or other regulatory actions.  The Company has four employees.  As a result, the Company’s ability to operate seamlessly and limit any adverse impact on its forecasted net asset value will also depend, in part, on whether any of its key employees are infected by the Coronavirus and become ill from COVID-19.

Healthcare:

Our tenants in our Cortlandt Manor property are healthcare service providers. Furthermore, the Company is repositioning the industrial buildings, in the Flowerfield Industrial Park, to expand and support Stony Brook University and Stony Brook University Hospital. 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 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (the “ACA”) impacted the healthcare marketplace by decreasing the number of uninsured individuals in the United States through the establishment of health insurance exchanges to facilitate the purchase of health insurance, expanded Medicaid eligibility, subsidized insurance premiums and included requirements and incentives for businesses to provide healthcare benefits. The ACA remains subject to continuing and increasing legislative and administrative scrutiny, including current efforts by Congress and the current presidential administration to repeal, alter and replace the ACA in total or in part. In 2017, Congress unsuccessfully sought to replace substantial parts of the ACA with different mechanisms for facilitating insurance coverage in the commercial and Medicaid markets, but was able to enact legislation eliminating the tax penalty for individuals who do not purchase insurance. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) discontinued providing cost-sharing reduction subsidies to insurance providers, which is expected to have the result of increasing the cost of insurance premiums. Further, CMS has begun approving waivers permitting states to alter state Medicaid programs by, among other things, requiring individuals to meet certain requirements, such as work requirements, in order to maintain eligibility for Medicaid. These and other actions may impact the insurance markets and reduce the number of individuals purchasing insurance or qualifying for Medicaid and may negatively impact the operations and financial condition of our medical office tenants and/or the potential value of certain entitlements being pursued in Cortlandt and Flowerfield, which in turn may adversely impact us. Congress may revisit ACA or Medicaid reform legislation in 2020. If the ACA is repealed or further substantially modified, or if implementation of certain aspects of the ACA are suspended, such actions could negatively impact the operations and financial condition of our medical office tenants, which in turn may adversely impact us.

Our tenants 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’ 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 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.

The Company is pursuing entitlements on the Cortlandt Manor and Flowerfield properties, the value of which may be adversely affected by the aforementioned factors.

Property Value Enhancement

See, “Business—Property Value Enhancement—Cortlandt Manor” and “—Flowerfield”, above, for more detailed disclosure. 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Material Risk.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

See Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements commencing on the Contents page followed by Page F-1.

Consolidated Financial Statements include:

(1) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

(2) Consolidated Statements of Net Assets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 (liquidation basis)

(3) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 (liquidation basis)

(4) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(5) Schedules

All other information required by the following schedules has been included in the consolidated financial statements, is not applicable, or not required:

Schedule I, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII and XIII.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2019 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting as defined in rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of its system of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019. In making this assessment, management used the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in 2013. Based on the Company’s assessment and the criteria set forth by COSO, management believes that the Company did maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019.

The COSO methodology used in determining effective control over financial reporting follows the concepts in the 2013 Internal Control – Integrated Framework. The guidance demonstrates the applicability of those concepts to help smaller public companies design and implement internal controls to support the achievement of financial reporting objectives. It highlights 5 integrated components (control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication and monitoring activities) and 17 key principles of the 2013 framework, providing a principles-based approach to internal control.

Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company, as a smaller reporting company, to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report. As such, this Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified with our evaluation that occurred during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information.

Subsequent Events

COVID-19.  In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. In the first several months of 2020, the virus, SARS-CoV-2, and resulting disease, COVID-19, spread to the United States, including New York State, the geographic location in which the Company operates. The Company's evaluation of the effects of these events is ongoing; however, in February and March 2020, some of our tenants began to experience decreasing demand for their products and services which may impact their ability to timely meet their lease obligations.  Furthermore, on March 21^, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an Executive Order entitled “New York State on PAUSE” (Policy that Assures Uniform Safety for Everyone) (the “Order”), pursuant to which, all non-essential employees (as defined by the State) must stay at home starting March 22, 2020 through April 19, 2020.  The Order also includes a 90-day moratorium on any residential or commercial evictions.

Beginning March 16, 2020, prior to the Order, the Company’s employees began temporarily working remotely to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees and their families.  The Company’s technology infrastructure, for some time, has been set up to handle offsite seamless operations to address alternative disaster recovery disruption.  As a result, all employees will continue to work remotely unless they report needing sick leave or family leave pursuant to regulated benefits.

Small businesses and not-for-profit corporations, which account for approximately 39% ($834,000) of the Company’s projected annual rental revenues for 2020, are expected to be adversely affected disproportionately by the economic ramifications of COVID-19.  Although it is difficult to estimate the duration and full extent of this disruption, the impact of COVID-19 on our future results could be significant and will largely depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the coronavirus, the success of actions taken to contain or treat the coronavirus and reactions by consumers, companies, governmental entities and capital markets.  We are actively working with our tenants to manage and mitigate the impact to COVID-19 on the Company’s operations, liquidity and resulting Net Asset Value.

The COVID-19 public health crisis may also adversely impact our efforts to secure entitlements and the sale of our real estate.  State and local governments are prioritizing COVID-19 crisis management and, to the extent possible, re-allocating resources accordingly which may adversely impact the timeline of our entitlements and technical approvals. 

Furthermore, the real estate market is also expected to be adversely affected which could further negatively impact the timing of sales and the resulting value of our real estate.

The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's operational and financial performance and ultimately its Net Asset Value, will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and related governmental or other regulatory actions.  The Company has four employees.  As a result, the Company’s ability to operate seamlessly and limit any adverse impact on its forecasted net asset value will also depend, in part, on whether any of its key employees are infected by the Coronavirus and become ill from COVID-19. 

Credit Facility. The Company amended and extended the Original Line which included extending the maturity date of the Interest-Only Phase to the earlier of April 30, 2020 or upon drawing down a total of $3,000,000 after which it automatically converts to a permanent loan maturing on the earlier of April 30, 2027 or 84 months after conversion to a permanent loan (the “Permanent Phase”). 

To secure access to additional working capital through the final sale date of the Cortlandt Property lots (“Lots”),  the Company, through its subsidiary GSD Cortlandt, LLC (“GSD Cortlandt”) signed a commitment letter for a third loan evidenced by a non-revolving business line of credit agreement and promissory note with the Original Line bank for up to $2,500,000, which is scheduled to close in the second quarter of 2020.  The term is 24 months, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months.  The interest rate is a variable rate equal to the daily highest prime rate published by the Wall Street Journal plus 100 basis points (1%), rounded up to the nearest 1/8 percent), but in no event less than four and three quarters percent (4.75%).  The ability to draw upon the line is limited to certain amounts, contingent upon whether GSD Cortlandt delivered signed contracts for one or both Lots.

The line is secured by the Cortlandt property (approximately 14 acres) and cross collateralized by approximately 31.8 acres of the Flowerfield Industrial Park including the related buildings and leases. The Company anticipates modifying the terms of the loans following the completion of the subdivision so that the loans remain cross collateralized by the subdivided industrial park lot only.

Effective February 27, 2020, the Company entered into an engagement letter with a national real estate finance firm (the “Firm”) pursuant to which the Firm agreed to assist the Company secure financing with prospective lenders, and the Company agreed to pay the Firm an origination fee equal to one percent (1%) of any loan secured by the Company with any lender introduced to the Company by the Firm other than designated excluded lenders with whom the Company has a preexisting relationship.  The intended use of this facility is to finance tenant improvements on new leases, if any, and a reserve for additional working capital.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Gary J. Fitlin, age 54, joined the Company in October 2009 as its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. From August 2012 through February 24, 2013, Mr. Fitlin served as interim President and Chief Executive Officer following the resignation of Stephen V. Maroney in August 2012. Following the separation of Frederick C Braun III, (President and Chief Executive Officer from February 2013 through April 2017), from the Company, the Board of Directors appointed Gary Fitlin as President and Chief Executive Officer effective May 1, 2017. Prior to joining the Company, he was Director of Accounting Implementation for Lexington Realty Trust, a publicly traded real estate investment trust on the NYSE, from July 2006 to March 2008, where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions. Prior to that, Mr. Fitlin served as Vice President and Corporate Controller for Source Media (f/k/a Thomson Media), a publisher and software solution provider, from June 2005 to July 2006, where he was responsible for global accounting, management reporting, tax compliance and planning, financial systems, risk management and contract administration. Prior to that, he served as a senior financial officer for various publicly traded companies where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions, global accounting, management reporting, tax compliance and planning, financial systems, risk management and contract administration. Mr. Fitlin also serves as Chairman of the CEO Leadership Committee for Stony Brook University. He is a Certified Public Accountant, an alumnus of Arthur Andersen & Co., and holds a BS degree in Accounting and Economics from the State University of New York at Oswego.

Paul L. Lamb, age 74, has been a director since 1997 and became Chairman of the Board on March 14, 1999. He is a founding partner in the law firm of Lamb & Barnosky, LLP, where he has practiced law since 1984; a past President of the Suffolk County Bar Association; and a Dean of the Suffolk Academy of Law. He holds a B.A. from Tulane University, a J.D. from the University of Kentucky and an LL.M. from the University of London, England. The Board concluded that Mr. Lamb should serve as a director of the Company because he is an experienced attorney in all phases of finance and real estate development, which skill set brings extraordinary value in light of the Company’s business and structure.

Elliot H. Levine, age 66, was appointed to the Board in October 2004. Mr. Levine is a founding member of the accounting firm Levine & Seltzer, LLP Certified Public Accountants, and a graduate (1975) of Queens College, City University of New York. He became a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in February 1978. Mr. Levine’s work experience includes five years at Arthur Young, eleven and a half years as partner and director of taxes of Leslie Sufrin & Co. P.C., one-year tenure as senior tax manager at Margolin, Winer & Evans CPAs and over 28 years as senior member of Levine & Seltzer. The Board concluded that Mr. Levine should serve as a director of the Company because of his 39 years of experience as a certified public accountant and in the real estate industry and field of taxation.

Ronald J. Macklin, age 57, was appointed to the Board in June 2003. Mr. Macklin served through April 2019 as Senior Vice President and U.S. General Counsel for National Grid and formerly Key Span Corporate Services, where he has held various positions within the Office of General Counsel since 1991. Previously, he was associated with the law firms of Rosenman & Colin and Cullen & Dykman. He received a B.A. degree from Stony Brook University and his Juris Doctorate from Union University’s Albany Law School. The Board concluded that Mr. Macklin should serve as a director of the Company because of his legal expertise, which includes his legal experience in corporate transactions, real estate matters, litigation, compliance and business ethics.

Philip F. Palmedo, age 85, was appointed to the Board in July 1996.  Mr. Palmedo has been President of the management consulting firm Palmedo Associates since 1980 and from 1988 to 1991 was Managing Director and President of Kepler Financial Management.  From 1978 to 2000, he was Chairman of International Resources Group, an international professional services firm, and from 1992 to 1997 was President of the Long Island Research Institute.  He was a founder of all four companies. In addition, Mr. Palmedo has been a director of Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. since 2005. Mr. Palmedo has shepherded numerous fledgling businesses in financial and technological markets and completed several financing agreements.  He also served as a trustee for the Stony Brook Foundation and is currently on the Planning Board for the Village of Head of the Harbor. Mr. Palmedo received his B.A degree from Williams College and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from M.I.T. The Board concluded that Mr. Palmedo should serve as a director of the Company because of his extensive background in successfully guiding a number of entities from initial formation to value recognition.

Peter Pitsiokos, age 60, joined the Company in July 1992 as its Assistant Secretary and served as its General Counsel from 1992-2004. He has been the Company’s Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer since 2004. He has also been Secretary of the Company for over 17 years. Mr. Pitsiokos was formerly the Executive Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County, New York. He also served as the Assistant Director of Economic Development and the Director of Water Resources in the Town of Brookhaven. He is a former trustee of the Three Village Central School District in Setauket, New York. Mr. Pitsiokos also maintained a private law practice in which he represented several national and local owners, managers and developers of real estate. He holds a law degree from Villanova University and a BA degree from Stony Brook University. Mr. Pitsiokos is also a Counselor of Real Estate.

Nader G.M. Salour, age 61, was appointed to the Board in October 2006 and then elected by the shareholders at the Company’s annual meeting in December 2006. Mr. Salour has been a Principal of Cypress Realty of Florida since 2000. He served as President of Abacoa Development Company from June 1996 to June 2006 and has served as a Director of Abacoa Partnership for Community since December 1997 and as a Director of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County since 2004. The Board concluded that Mr. Salour should serve as a director of the Company because of his extensive experience in the real estate industry, including development, construction, project analysis and financing.

Richard B. Smith, age 65, was appointed to the Board in November 2002. Mr. Smith was Vice President in the Commercial Banking Division of the First National Bank of Long Island from February 2006 through his retirement in December 2018. He previously served as Senior Vice President for Private Banking at Suffolk County National Bank from May 2000 to February 2005. Previously, he worked for 10 years at Key Bank (Dime Savings Bank) and for three years at L.I. Trust/Apple Bank. He received an MBA in Finance from SUNY Albany in 1983. Mr. Smith serves as the Mayor of the Incorporated Village of Nissequogue. Mr. Smith served as a Trustee of the Smithtown Historical Society for 27 years prior to retiring. He is also a former Trustee for St. Catherine’s Medical Center in Smithtown, New York. The Board concluded that Mr. Smith should serve as a director of the Company because of his background in both the Long Island financial sector and his role in, and experience with, local government issues and zoning matters.

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that the Company’s directors, executive officers, and any person holding more than ten percent (“10% Holder”) of our common shares, file with the SEC reports of ownership changes, and that such individuals furnish the Company with copies of the reports.

Based solely on the Company’s review of copies of Forms 3 and 4 and amendments thereto received by it during fiscal 2019 and Forms 5 and amendments thereto received by the Company with respect to fiscal 2019 and any written representations from certain reporting persons that no Form 5 is required, Gyrodyne believes that none of the Company’s executive officers, directors or 10% Holders failed to file on a timely basis reports required by section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during fiscal 2018.

(d)     Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Board has an Audit Committee established in accordance with section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, which currently consists of Messrs. Smith, Levine, and Macklin. All members are “financially literate” and have been determined to be “independent” within the meaning of SEC regulations and Nasdaq rules. The Board has determined that at least one member, Mr. Levine, a CPA, qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as a result of relevant experience as a member in the accounting firm of Levine & Seltzer, LLP for over 28 years. In addition, Mr. Levine has 11.5 years of accounting experience as a partner and director of taxes at Leslie Sufrin & Co. P.C. as well as several other years of experience in the field of public accounting.     

(e)     Code of Ethics

The Company has adopted a written Code of Ethics that applies to all its directors, officers and employees, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. It is available on the Company’s website at www.gyrodyne.com and any person may obtain without charge a paper copy by writing to the Secretary at the address set forth on page 1. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding any amendment to, or waiver from, the provision of our Code of Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and that relates to any element of our Code of Ethics by posting such information on our website at www.gyrodyne.com within four business days of such amendment or waiver. The Company is not including the information contained on its website as part of, or incorporating it by reference to, this Report.   

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

(a)     Executive Compensation

The following table sets forth the total compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to each of the Company’s executive officers for services rendered during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

(A) Consists of retention bonus payments vested and paid pursuant to the Retention Bonus Plan upon the sale of each of the real estate transactions closed during 2019 and 2018.

The Registrant has concluded that aggregate amounts of perquisites and other personal benefits, securities or property to any of the current executives does not exceed $10,000 and that the information set forth in tabular form above is not rendered materially misleading by virtue of the omission of such personal benefits.

(a)     Employment Agreements

On May 17, 2013, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Gary J. Fitlin (the “Employment Agreement”) dated May 15, 2013 and effective April 1, 2013, pursuant to which Mr. Fitlin continued to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer and as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Fitlin earns a base salary at the rate of $250,000 per year plus a discretionary bonus, as determined and approved by the Board based upon the profitability and/or performance of Gyrodyne. Additionally, Mr. Fitlin is entitled to a bonus equal to $125,000 if he is employed by the Company as of the effective date of a change-in control (the “Change-in-Control Bonus”). The Employment Agreement defines a change-in-control as the first to occur of a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, as each such term is defined under Section 409A of the Code. Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, there is no required minimum period of employment, and either the Company or Mr. Fitlin may terminate at any time, with or without cause. If Mr. Fitlin is terminated without cause, the Company must provide him with at least 60 days’ prior written notice of termination and must pay him (i) the pro rata share of his base salary through those 60 days, (ii) the Change-in-Control Bonus, and (iii) severance pay equal to six months’ base salary from the date of termination. If Mr. Fitlin is terminated for cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement), he will be paid the pro rata share of his base salary through the date of termination. Mr. Fitlin may also terminate upon 60 days’ prior written notice. The foregoing description of the Employment Agreement is only a summary of its material terms, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to that agreement. A copy of the Employment Agreement was filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

On May 8, 2014, Gyrodyne entered into a new employment agreement with Peter Pitsiokos effective May 15, 2014, pursuant to which Mr. Pitsiokos continues to serve as Executive Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Pitsiokos earns a base salary at the rate of $200,000 per year plus a discretionary bonus, as determined and approved by the Board based upon the profitability and/or performance of Gyrodyne. There is no required minimum period of employment, and either Gyrodyne or Mr. Pitsiokos may terminate at any time, with or without cause. If Mr. Pitsiokos is terminated without cause, Gyrodyne must provide him with at least 60 days’ prior written notice of termination and must pay him the pro rata share of his base salary through those 60 days and severance pay equal to six months’ base salary from the date of termination. On January 25, 2018, Gyrodyne entered into an amendment to the employment agreement with Mr. Pitsiokos effective January 25, 2018, to define with greater specificity Mr. Pitsiokos’ duties and responsibilities with respect to the Company’s properties.

(b)     Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

As of the year ended December 31, 2019, there were no unexercised options and/or stock that has not vested or equity incentive plan awards held by any of the Company’s named executive officers.

(c)     Severance and Change-in-Control Benefits

Pursuant to the Employment Agreement with Mr. Fitlin, Mr. Fitlin earns a bonus equal to $125,000 if he is employed by the Company as of the effective date of a change-in-control (the “Change-in-Control Bonus”). The Employment Agreement defines a change-in-control as the first to occur of a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, as each such term is defined under Section 409A of the Code. Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreements, there is no required minimum period of employment, and either the Company or the executive may terminate at any time, with or without cause. If the executive is terminated without cause, the Company must provide him with at least 60 days’ prior written notice of termination and must pay him (i) the pro rata share of his base salary through those 60 days, (ii) the Change-in-Control Bonus, and (iii) severance pay equal to six months’ base salary from the date of termination. If the executive is terminated for cause (as defined in the Employment Agreements), he will be paid the pro rata share of his base salary through the date of termination. Each of the executives may also terminate upon 60 days’ prior written notice.

Pursuant to the employment agreement with Mr. Pitsiokos, Mr. Pitsiokos may be terminated at any time, with or without cause. If Mr. Pitsiokos is terminated without cause, Gyrodyne must provide him with at least 60 days’ prior written notice of termination and must pay him the pro rata share of his base salary through those 60 days and severance pay equal to six months’ base salary from the date of termination.

(d)      Retention Bonus Plan

In May 2014, the Board of Directors approved a retention bonus plan (as amended, the “Plan”) designed to recognize the nature and scope of the responsibilities of our directors, executives and employees related to the Company’s strategic plan to enhance the property values, liquidate and dissolve, 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 term of such plan. The Plan provides for bonuses to directors and to officers and employees determined by the gross sales proceeds from the sale of each property and the date of sale. The foregoing description reflects the terms set forth in in the plan as modified by three amendments. The summary appearing below reflects the terms set forth in the Plan as modified by three amendments. There were no further amendments to the terms of the Plan during the current reporting period.

The Plan provides 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 at least equal to its 2013 appraised value as designated in the bonus plan. Additional funding of the bonus pool will occur on a property-by-property basis only if the gross sales price of a property exceeds the Adjusted Appraised Value defined as the sum of (i) its 2013 appraised value, in which case additional funding will occur and (ii) land development costs incurred on a property since the date of the 2013 appraisal, as follows: 10% on the first 10% of appreciation, 15% on the next 10% of appreciation and 20% on appreciation greater than 20%.

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:

Such shares of the bonus pool are earned only upon the completion of the sale of a property at a gross selling price equal to or greater than its Adjusted Appraised Value and is paid to the named beneficiaries of the 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.

The Plan provides that no benefits are to be paid to participants from the sale of any individual post-subdivided lot from either of the Company’s Flowerfield or Cortlandt Manor properties until aggregate sale proceeds from all sales of post-subdivided lots from such property exceed a designated aggregate floor for such property. The aggregate floor for each of the Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties is defined in Amendment No. 3 to the Plan as the 2013 appraisal of such property plus land development costs incurred for such property since such appraisal.

The Plan provides for vesting of benefits upon the sale of each individual post-subdivision lot at Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor. It also provides for entitlement to a future benefit in the event of death, voluntary termination following substantial reduction in compensation or board fees, mutually agreed separation to right-size the board or involuntary termination without cause, except that a participant will only be eligible to receive a benefit to the extent that a property is sold within three years following the separation event and the sale produces an internal rate of return equal to at least four percent of the property’s value as of December 31 immediately preceding such event and that the sale exceeded the Adjusted Appraised Value.

The payments made during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 under the Plan relate to the settlement of the master lease from the Sale of the Virginia Health Care Center and the sale of one building in the Port Jefferson Professional Park, respectively, were as follows:

2019 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table shows the compensation earned by or paid in cash to each of the Company’s non-officer directors for the year ended December 31, 2019:

Deferred Compensation Plan.  On December 6, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the Gyrodyne, LLC Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees and Directors (the “DCP”) effective as of January 1, 2020. The plan is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained for officers and directors of the Company. Under the DCP, officers and directors may elect to defer a portion of their compensation to the DCP and receive interest on such deferred payments at a fixed rate of 5%. All DCP benefits will be paid in a single lump sum cash payment on December 15, 2026, unless a plan of liquidation is established for Gyrodyne before the distribution date in which case all benefits will be paid in a single lump sum cash payment after execution of an amendment to terminate the DCP. The foregoing description of the DCP does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the DCP, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.12. Each of the Directors elected (under the DCP) to defer 100% of their director fees for 2020.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

(1) Except as otherwise indicated, the beneficial owner has sole voting and investment power. Except as indicated, the beneficial owner has not pledged as security, or has any rights to acquire beneficial ownership of, any securities of the Company.

(2) On December 30, 2015, Poplar Point Capital Management, LLC filed a Schedule 13G with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that each reporting person has shared power to vote or direct the vote and has shared power to dispose of or direct the disposition of 179,904 common shares. The Schedule 13G was jointly filed by Poplar Point Capital Management LLC, Poplar Point Capital Partners L.P., Poplar Point Capital GP LLC and Mr. Jad Fakhry, collectively, the reporting persons.

(3) On July 9, 2018, Gamco Investors Inc. filed a Schedule 13D with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that GAMCO, a group of investment funds, beneficially owns an aggregate of 138,892 common shares. Power to dispose of and vote securities resides with Mario Gabelli, Douglas Jamieson and Kevin Handwerker. Each reporting person has the shared power to vote or direct the vote and has shared power to dispose of or direct the disposition of 138,892 common shares. The Schedule 13D was filed by Mario Gabelli, David Goldman, Douglas Jamieson and Kevin Handwerker.

(4) On January 23, 2018, Neil Subin filed a Schedule 13G with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that he has the power to vote or direct the vote and has power to dispose of or direct the disposition of 117,151 common shares.

(5) On February 13, 2019, Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC filed a Schedule 13G with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that it has the power to vote or direct the vote, and the power to dispose of or direct the disposition of 113,088 common shares. The Schedule 13G was filed by Gregory Pottle.

(6) On January 8, 2020, Towerview LLC filed a Schedule 13G with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that each reporting person has shared power to vote or direct the vote and has shared power to dispose of or direct the disposition of 101,500 common shares. The Schedule 13G was filed by Daniel R. Tisch.

(7) On February 14, 2019, MFP Investors LLC filed a Schedule 13G/A with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that each reporting person has shared power to vote or direct the vote and has shared power to dispose of or direct the disposition of 80,850 common shares. The Schedule 13G/A was filed by Michael Price.

(8) Includes 4,368 shares held by Lamb & Barnosky, LLP Profit Sharing Trust and 32,981 shares in an Individual Retirement Account. Mr. Lamb is a trustee of the Profit-Sharing Trust.   

(9) Does not include his wife’s ownership of 4,125 shares, or 400 shares in a trust for two relatives for which he is the Trustee, in which he denies any beneficial interest.

(10) The percent of class is calculated on the basis of the number of shares outstanding, which is 1,482,680 as of March 25, 2020.

Ownership Limitation

Under Gyrodyne, LLC’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, shareholders of Gyrodyne may not hold common shares representing in excess of 20% of the outstanding common shares at any time. If a shareholder of Gyrodyne exceeds 20% ownership, at any time for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to additional contributions by shareholders, purchases or other acquisitions by shareholders, mergers, consolidations, acquisitions, or other business combinations involving the shareholder, then common shares in excess of such 20% ownership limit shall be transferred by such shareholder to an irrevocable trust formed and administered by Gyrodyne and of which such shareholder shall be the beneficiary. Such LLC Shares held in trust shall have no voting rights when held in the trust and shall be disregarded in computing any required votes under the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Gyrodyne.

At the end of each fiscal quarter, or at such other earlier date as determined by the Board, the Company, on behalf of the trust, shall have the option to purchase such common shares from the trust at a price determined by an independent appraiser or to offer such common shares to third parties, including to other shareholder of Gyrodyne in proportion to their relative ownership percentage, or to other persons at the appraised price. However, in the event such a shareholder’s ownership percentage including common shares held beneficially in the trust on behalf of such shareholder, at any time becomes less than the 20% ownership limit due to the sale of common shares by such shareholder or due to additional issuances of common shares by Gyrodyne, then the trust (to the extent such shareholder’s common shares have not been sold pursuant) has an obligation to return such common shares up to the 20% ownership limit.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence.

The Company has entered into various leasing arrangements with a not-for-profit organization of which the Company’s Chairman, Paul Lamb, serves as Chairman and a director but receives no compensation or any other financial benefit. A summary of the leasing arrangements is as follows:

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, the Company received rental revenue of $34,720 and $47,146, respectively.

The independent members of the Board of the Company approved all of the leasing transaction described above.

The Chairman is also a partner of the firm Lamb & Barnosky, LLP that provided pro bono legal representation to the aforementioned not-for-profit corporation on the lease.

The members of the Board are independent directors as defined by the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market. Such independent directors are Messrs. Lamb, Levine, Macklin, Palmedo, Salour and Smith. The Company has compensation, nominating, investment and audit committees, the members of which are also independent as defined by the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

The following is a summary of the fees billed to the Company by Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, its independent registered principal accountants, for professional services rendered for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:

(1) Audit Fees consist of aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements, review of the interim financial statements included in quarterly reports, and services that are normally provided by the principal accountants in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

(2) Audit-Related Fees consist of aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements and are not reported under "Audit Fees." Such services include review of the Company’s strategic plan analysis, Form 8-K filings, proxy filings and research into various accounting issues.

(3) Tax Fees consist of aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the Company’s principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. The amounts disclosed consist of fees paid for the preparation of federal and state income tax returns.

The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of the principal accountants and approves in advance any services to be performed by the principal accountants, whether audit-related or not. The Audit Committee reviews each proposed engagement to determine whether the provision of services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the principal accountant’s independent auditors. The Audit Committee has determined not to adopt any blanket pre-approval policies or procedures. All of the fees shown above were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)              Financial Statements:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Statement of Net Assets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 (liquidation basis)

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, (liquidation basis)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

    Schedules

                     All other information required by the following schedules has been included in the consolidated financial statements, is not applicable, or not required:

Schedule I, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII and XIII.

(b)              Exhibits: The following exhibits are either filed as part of this report or are incorporated herein by reference as indicated:

101.INS** XBRL Instance 

101.SCH**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema 

101.CAL**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation 

101.DEF**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition 

101.LAB**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels 

101.PRE**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation 

** XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) 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.

********************

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Exhibit Index

101.INS** XBRL Instance 

101.SCH**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema 

101.CAL**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation 

101.DEF**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition 

101.LAB**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels 

101.PRE**XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation 

** XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

GYRODYNE, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

REPORT ON AUDITS OF CONSOLIDATED

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

GYRODYNE, LLC

AND SUBSIDIARIES

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Gyrodyne, LLC:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of net assets (liquidation basis) of Gyrodyne, LLC and Subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the related consolidated statements of changes in net assets (liquidation basis) for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated statements of net assets (liquidation basis) of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the related consolidated statements of changes in net assets (liquidation basis) for years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

Melville, New York

We have served as the Company's auditor since 1990.

March 26, 2020