VEREIT Office Assets, Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2023 | |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Note 1 – Organization
Organization
Orion Office REIT Inc. (the “Company”, “Orion”, “we” or “us”) is an internally managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”) engaged in the ownership, acquisition, and management of a diversified portfolio of office buildings located in high-quality suburban markets across the U.S. and leased primarily on a single-tenant net lease basis to creditworthy tenants. Our portfolio is comprised of traditional office buildings, as well as governmental office, medical office, office/laboratory, office/research and office/flex properties.
The Company was initially formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Realty Income Corporation (“Realty Income”). Following completion of the merger transaction involving Realty Income and VEREIT, Inc. (“VEREIT”) on November 1, 2021, Realty Income contributed the combined business comprising certain office real properties and related assets previously owned by subsidiaries of Realty Income, and certain office real properties and related assets previously owned by subsidiaries of VEREIT (the “Separation”), to the Company and its operating partnership, Orion Office REIT LP (“Orion OP”), and on November 12, 2021, effected a special distribution to its stockholders of all the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Distribution”).
Following the Distribution, the Company became independent and publicly traded and its common stock, par value $0.001 per share, trades on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “ONL” and has elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with its initial taxable year ended December 31, 2021.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned and operated 75 office properties with an aggregate of 8.7 million leasable square feet located in 29 states. In addition, the Company owns an equity interest in OAP/VER Venture, LLC (the “Arch Street Joint Venture”), an unconsolidated joint venture with an affiliate of Arch Street Capital Partners, LLC (“Arch Street Capital Partners”). As of December 31, 2023, the Arch Street Joint Venture owned a portfolio consisting of six office properties totaling approximately 1.0 million leasable square feet located within six states.
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| VEREIT Office Assets | |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Organization
On April 29, 2021, Realty Income Corporation (“Realty Income”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”) with VEREIT, Inc. (“VEREIT”), its operating partnership, VEREIT Operating Partnership, L.P. (“VEREIT OP”), Rams MD Subsidiary I, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Realty Income (“Merger Sub 1”), and Rams Acquisition Sub II, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Realty Income (“Merger Sub 2”). On November 1, 2021, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub 2 merged with and into VEREIT OP, with VEREIT OP continuing as the surviving partnership, and immediately thereafter, VEREIT merged with and into Merger Sub 1, with Merger Sub 1 continuing as the surviving corporation (together, the “Mergers”, and such effective time of the Mergers, the “Merger Effective Time”). Upon the Merger Effective Time, as part of the Mergers, Realty Income acquired certain office real properties and related assets previously owned by subsidiaries of VEREIT (collectively, “VEREIT Office Assets”). Following the Merger Effective Time, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, Realty Income contributed the portion of the combined business which comprised certain office real properties and related assets previously owned by subsidiaries of Realty Income (collectively, “Realty Income Office Assets”) and the VEREIT Office Assets (the “Separation”) to Orion Office REIT Inc. (the “Company”) and its operating partnership, Orion Office REIT LP (“Orion OP”). On November 12, 2021, following the Separation, in accordance with the Merger Agreement and that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement dated as of November 11, 2021, by and among Realty Income, the Company and Orion OP, Realty Income effected a special distribution to its stockholders (including the former holders of VEREIT common stock and certain former VEREIT OP common unitholders prior to the Mergers) of all of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Distribution”). VEREIT Office Assets included the combined accounts related to certain of the office properties of VEREIT, historically operated through subsidiaries of VEREIT, and contained certain corporate costs.
As of October 31, 2021, VEREIT Office Assets had one reportable segment which owned 52 properties, which included one property owned by a consolidated joint venture, totaling approximately 7.6 million leasable square feet located in 25 states in the United States and Puerto Rico, and an investment in one unconsolidated joint venture that owned five office properties totaling approximately 0.8 million leasable square feet located within five states. As of October 31, 2021, VEREIT Office Assets had not conducted any business as a separate legal entity and had no other material assets or liabilities.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Combination and Basis of Accounting and Presentation
The accompanying combined and consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of VEREIT Office Assets on a combined and consolidated basis as the ownership interests were under common control and ownership of VEREIT, including a consolidated joint venture. Any applicable intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation and combination. The portion of the consolidated joint venture not previously owned by VEREIT, is presented as non-controlling interest in VEREIT Office Assets’ combined and consolidated statement of operations. The results of operations for the ten months ended October 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year.
For legal entities being evaluated for consolidation, VEREIT Office Assets must have first determined whether the interests that it held and fees it received qualified as variable interests in the entity. A variable interest is an investment or other interest that would absorb portions of an entity’s expected losses or receive portions of the entity’s expected residual returns. VEREIT Office Assets’ evaluation included consideration of fees paid to VEREIT Office Assets where VEREIT’s management, on behalf of VEREIT Office Assets, acted as a decision maker or service provider to the entity being evaluated. If VEREIT Office Assets determined that it held a variable interest in an entity, it evaluated whether that entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”). VIEs are entities where investors lack sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or where equity investors, as a group, lack one of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, (b) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or (c) the right to receive the expected returns of the entity. VEREIT Office Assets consolidated entities that are not VIEs if it had a majority voting interest or other rights that resulted in effectively controlling the entity.
VEREIT Office Assets then qualitatively assessed whether it is (or is not) the primary beneficiary of a VIE, which is generally defined as the party who has a controlling financial interest in the VIE. Consideration of various factors included, but were not limited to, VEREIT Office Assets’ ability to direct the activities that most significantly impacted the entity’s economic performance and its obligation to absorb losses from or right to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant
to the VIE. VEREIT Office Assets consolidated any VIEs when the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE and the difference between consolidating the VIE and accounting for it using the equity method could be material to VEREIT Office Assets’ combined and consolidated financial statements. VEREIT Office Assets continually evaluated the need to consolidate these VIEs based on standards set forth in U.S. GAAP.
These combined and consolidated financial statements were derived from the books and records of VEREIT and were carved out from VEREIT at a carrying value reflective of historical cost in such VEREIT records. VEREIT Office Assets’ historical financial results reflect charges for certain corporate costs and we believe such charges are reasonable. Costs of the services that were charged to VEREIT Office Assets were based on either actual costs incurred or a proportion of costs estimated to be applicable to this entity, based on VEREIT Office Assets’ pro rata share of VEREIT’s annualized rental income. Annualized rental income is rental revenue on a straight-line basis, which includes the effect of rent escalations and any tenant concessions, such as free rent, and excludes any adjustments to rental income due to changes in the collectability assessment, contingent rent, such as percentage rent, and operating expense reimbursements. The historical combined and consolidated financial information presented may therefore not be indicative of the results of operations or cash flows that would have been obtained if there had been an independent, stand-alone public company during the periods presented or of the Company’s future performance as an independent, stand-alone company.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Real Estate Investments
Real estate and related assets acquired were recorded at cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization were assessed based on the period of future benefit of the asset. Depreciation and amortization were computed using a straight-line method over the estimated useful life of 40 years for buildings and building improvements, 15 years for land improvements and the remaining lease term for tenant improvements and intangible lease assets.
VEREIT management performed quarterly impairment review procedures, primarily through continuous monitoring of events and changes in circumstances that could have indicated the carrying value of its real estate assets may not be recoverable. Impairment indicators that VEREIT management considered included, but were not limited to, decrease in operating income, bankruptcy or other credit concerns of a property’s major tenant or tenants or a significant decrease in a property’s revenues due to lease terminations, vacancies or reduced lease rates.
When impairment indicators were identified or if a property was considered to have a more likely than not probability of being disposed of within the next 12 to 24 months, VEREIT management assessed the recoverability of the assets by determining whether the carrying value of the assets would be recovered through the undiscounted future cash flows expected from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. U.S. GAAP required VEREIT Office Assets to utilize the expected holding period of its properties when assessing recoverability. In the event that such expected undiscounted future cash flows did not exceed the carrying value, the real estate assets were adjusted to their respective fair values and an impairment loss was recognized. There were inherent uncertainties in making estimates of expected future cash flows such as market conditions and performance and sustainability of the tenants.
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Venture
During the ten months ended October 31, 2021, VEREIT Office Assets owned a 20% ownership interest in an unconsolidated joint venture, the Arch Street Joint Venture, that owned five properties.
VEREIT Office Assets accounted for its investment in the Arch Street Joint Venture using the equity method of accounting as VEREIT Office Assets had the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over operating and financing policies of the joint venture. VEREIT Office Assets recorded its proportionate share of net income (loss) from the Arch Street Joint Venture in equity in income of unconsolidated joint venture in the combined and consolidated statement of operations.
VEREIT Office Assets was required to determine whether an event or change in circumstances had occurred that may have had a significant adverse effect on the fair value of its investment in the Arch Street Joint Venture. If an event or change in circumstance had occurred, VEREIT Office Assets’ management was required to evaluate its investment in the Arch Street Joint Venture for potential impairment and determine if the carrying value of its investment exceeded its fair value. An
impairment charge was recorded when an impairment was deemed to be other-than-temporary. To determine whether an impairment was other-than-temporary, VEREIT Office Assets’ management considered whether it had the ability and intent to hold the investment until the carrying value was fully recovered. The evaluation of an investment in an unconsolidated joint venture for potential impairment required VEREIT Office Assets’ management to exercise significant judgment and to make certain assumptions. The use of different judgments and assumptions could have resulted in different conclusions. No impairments of the investment in the Arch Street Joint Venture were identified during the ten months ended October 31, 2021.
Goodwill Impairment
VEREIT evaluated goodwill for impairment annually or more frequently when an event occurred or circumstances changed that indicated the carrying value may not be recoverable. To determine whether it was necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test, VEREIT first assessed qualitative factors, including macro-economic conditions such as deterioration in the entity’s operating environment or industry or market considerations; entity-specific events such as increasing costs, declining financial performance, or loss of key personnel; or other events such as an expectation that a reporting unit would be sold or sustained decrease in VEREIT’s stock price on either an absolute basis or relative to peers. If VEREIT believed, as a result of its qualitative assessment, that it was more-likely-than-not (i.e., greater than 50% chance) that the fair value of a reporting unit was less than its carrying value, the quantitative impairment test was required. Otherwise, no quantitative testing was required. If VEREIT determined, as a result of the qualitative assessment, that it was more-likely-than-not that the fair value was less than the carrying value, the provisions of guidance required that the fair value be compared to the carrying value. Goodwill was considered impaired if the carrying value exceeds the fair value. No impairments of VEREIT’s goodwill were recorded during the ten months ended October 31, 2021. The results of the VEREIT impairment tests carried over to VEREIT Office Assets, therefore no impairments were recorded in the accompanying combined and consolidated statement of operations.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
VEREIT Office Assets considered all highly liquid instruments with maturities when purchased of three months or less to be cash equivalents. VEREIT Office Assets considered investments in highly liquid money market accounts to be cash equivalents.
Restricted Cash
As of October 31, 2021, restricted cash included $8,000 in lender reserves.
Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs represented commitment fees, legal fees and other costs associated with obtaining commitments for financing. These costs were amortized to interest expense over the terms of the respective financing agreements and used the straight-line method, which approximated the effective interest method. Unamortized deferred financing costs were written off when the associated debt was refinanced or repaid before maturity. Costs incurred in connection with potential financing transactions that were not completed were expensed in the period in which it is determined the financing would not be completed.
Leases - Lessor
At the inception of a new lease arrangement, including new leases that arise from amendments, the terms and conditions were assessed to determine the proper lease classification. When the terms of a lease effectively transferred control of the underlying asset, the lease was classified as a sales-type lease. When a lease did not effectively transfer control of the underlying asset to the lessee, but a guarantee was obtained for the value of the asset from a third party, the lease was classified as a direct financing lease. All other leases were classified as operating leases. As of October 31, 2021, VEREIT Office Assets did not classify any leases as sales-type or direct financing leases.
For operating leases with minimum scheduled rent increases, rental revenue was recognized on a straight-line basis, including the effect of any free rent periods, over the lease term when collectability of lease payments was probable. Variable lease payments were recognized as rental revenue in the period when the changes in facts and circumstances on which the variable lease payments were based occur.
VEREIT Office Assets adopted Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842, Leases effective as of January 1, 2019. Two separate lease components were identified as follows: (i) land lease component and (ii) single property lease component
comprised of building, land improvements and tenant improvements. The leases also contained provisions for tenants to reimburse VEREIT Office Assets for real estate taxes and insurance, which are considered noncomponents of the lease, and maintenance and other property operating expenses, which were considered to be non-lease components. VEREIT Office Assets elected the practical expedient to combine lease and non-lease components and the non-lease components were included with the single property lease component as the predominant component.
VEREIT Office Assets continually reviewed receivables related to rent, straight-line rent and property operating expense reimbursements and determined collectability by taking into consideration the tenant’s payment history, the financial condition of the tenant, business conditions in the industry in which the tenant operates and economic conditions in the area in which the property was located. The review included a binary assessment of whether or not substantially all of the amounts due under a tenant’s lease agreement were probable of collection. For leases that were deemed probable of collection, revenue continued to be recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For leases that were deemed not probable of collection, revenue was recorded as cash was received. All changes in the collectability assessment for an operating lease were recognized as an adjustment to rental income.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, there was a global outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus, COVID-19. The global and domestic response to the COVID-19 outbreak continued to evolve during the ten months ended October 31, 2021. Federal, state, and local authorities responded in a variety of ways, including temporary closure of or imposed limitations on the operations of certain non-essential businesses. Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, each of VEREIT Office Assets’ tenants almost entirely continued to meet its payment obligations under its respective lease. In consideration of each tenant’s payment history, among other factors, there were no changes in the collectability assessment for any of VEREIT Office Assets’ operating leases. Though the COVID-19 outbreak did not have a material impact on VEREIT Office Assets’ results of operations, cash flows or financial condition for the ten months ended October 31, 2021, it could negatively impact tenant operations at VEREIT Office Assets’ properties in the future, which could result in a material impact to VEREIT Office Assets’ future results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
Leases - Lessee
To account for leases for which VEREIT Office Assets is the lessee, contracts must have been analyzed upon inception to determine if the arrangement was, or contained, a lease. A lease conveyed the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Lease classification tests and measurement procedures were performed at the lease commencement date.
The lease liability was initially measured as the present value of the lease payments over the lease term, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease, if that rate was readily determinable; otherwise, the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate was used. The incremental borrowing rate was determined based on the estimated rate of interest that the lessee would pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term at an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. The lease term was the noncancelable period of the lease and included any renewal and termination options VEREIT Office Assets was reasonably certain to exercise. The lease liability balance was amortized using the effective interest method. The lease liability was remeasured when the contract was modified, upon the resolution of a contingency such that variable payments became fixed or if the assessment of exercising an extension, termination or purchase option changed.
The operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) asset balance was initially measured as the lease liability amount, adjusted for any lease payments made prior to the commencement date, initial direct costs, estimated costs to dismantle, remove, or restore the underlying asset and incentives received.
Income Taxes
As of October 31, 2021, VEREIT Office Assets was owned by VEREIT, which had elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, commencing with the taxable year ended December 31, 2011. VEREIT believed it was organized and operating in such a manner as to qualify to be taxed as a REIT for the taxable year ended December 31, 2021. As a REIT, VEREIT was generally not subject to federal income tax on taxable income that it distributed to its stockholders so long as it had distributed annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income (computed without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains). Accordingly, no provision was made for federal income taxes in the accompanying combined and consolidated financial statements of VEREIT Office Assets.
During the ten months ended October 31, 2021, VEREIT Office Assets recognized state and local income and franchise tax expense of approximately $0.5 million. Amounts were included in provision for income taxes in the accompanying combined and consolidated statement of operations.
VEREIT Office Assets had no unrecognized tax benefits as of or during the ten months ended October 31, 2021. Any interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were recognized in provision for income taxes in the accompanying combined and consolidated statement of operations. As of October 31, 2021, VEREIT Office Assets had no material uncertain income tax positions.
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