EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1619312
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 1619312_10-K_2021_0001829126-21-001648.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS:
General Description of Business
Structure
Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (’‘Lightstone Income Trust’’), is a Maryland corporation, formed on September 9, 2014, which elected to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes beginning with the taxable year ending December 31, 2016.
Lightstone Income Trust, together with its subsidiaries is collectively referred to as the “Company” and the use of “we,” “our,” “us” or similar pronouns refers to Lightstone Income Trust or the Company as required by the context in which any such pronoun is used.
We have and intend to continue to seek opportunities to invest in real estate and real estate-related investments. Our real estate-related investment may include mezzanine loans, mortgage loans, bridge loans and preferred equity interests, with a focus on development-related investments, including investments intended to finance development or redevelopment opportunities. We may also invest in debt and derivative securities related to real estate assets. A portion of our investments by value may be secured by or related to properties or entities advised by, or wholly or partially, directly or indirectly owned by The Lightstone Group, LLC (the “Sponsor”), its affiliates or other sponsored real estate investment programs it sponsors. Although we expect that most of our investments will be of these various types, we may also invest in whatever types of investments that we believe are in our best interests.
We currently have one operating segment. As of December 31, 2020, we wholly owned and consolidated the operating results of one development project, the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel, and held an unconsolidated approximate 33.3% membership interest in 40 East End Ave. Pref Member LLC (the “40 East End Ave. Joint Venture”). We account for our unconsolidated membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture in accordance with the equity method of accounting.
Our advisor is Lightstone Real Estate Income LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the ’‘Advisor’’), which is majority owned by David Lichtenstein. On September 12, 2014, the Advisor contributed $200,000 to Lightstone Income Trust in exchange for 20,000 shares of common stock (“Common Shares”), or $10.00 per share. Mr. Lichtenstein also is a majority owner of the equity interests of The Lightstone Group, LLC. The Lightstone Group, LLC served as our Sponsor during our initial public offering (the “Offering”) which terminated on March 31, 2017. Mr. Lichtenstein owns 222,222 Common Shares which were issued on June 15, 2015 for $2.0 million, or $9.00 per share. Subject to the oversight of our board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) and pursuant to the terms of an advisory agreement, the Advisor has the primary responsibility for making investment decisions on our behalf and managing our day-to-day operations. Mr. Lichtenstein also acts as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. As a result, he exerts influence over but does not control Lightstone Income Trust.
We do not have any employees. The Advisor receives compensation and fees for services related to the investment and management of our assets. The Advisor has certain affiliates which may manage the properties we acquire. However, we may also contract with other unaffiliated third-party property managers.
Our Common Shares are not currently listed on a national securities exchange. We may seek to list our Common Shares for trading on a national securities exchange only if a majority of our independent directors believe listing would be in the best interest of our stockholders. We do not intend to list our Common Shares at this time. We do not anticipate that there would be any market for our Common Shares until they are listed for trading. In the event we do not begin the process of achieving a liquidity event prior to March 31, 2022, which is the fifth anniversary of the termination of our Offering, our charter requires either (a) an amendment to our charter to extend the deadline to begin the process of achieving a liquidity event, or (b) the holding of a stockholders meeting to vote on a proposal for an orderly liquidation of our portfolio.
Related Parties
On March 18, 2016, we and the Sponsor entered into a subordinated unsecured loan agreement (the “Subordinated Agreement”) pursuant to which the Sponsor made aggregate principal advances of $12.6 million to us through March 31, 2017 (the termination date of the Offering). The outstanding principal advances bear interest at a rate of 1.48%, but no interest or principal is due and payable to the Sponsor until holders of our Common Shares have received liquidation distributions equal to their respective net investments (defined as $10.00 per Common Share) plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% on their respective net investments.
Distributions in connection with a liquidation of the Company initially will be made to holders of our Common Shares until holders of our Common Shares have received liquidation distributions equal to their respective net investments plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% on their respective net investments. Thereafter, only if additional liquidating distributions are available, we will be obligated to repay the outstanding principal advances and related accrued interest to the Sponsor. In the event that additional liquidation distributions are available after we repay our holders of common stock their respective net investments plus their 8% return on investment and then the outstanding principal advances and related accrued interest to the Sponsor, such additional distributions will be paid to holders of our Common Shares and the Sponsor as follows: 85.0% of the aggregate amount will be payable to holders of our Common Shares and the remaining 15.0% will be payable to the Sponsor.
The principal advances and the related interest are subordinate to all of our obligations as well as to the holders of our Common Shares in an amount equal to the shareholder’s net investment plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% and only potentially payable in the event of a liquidation of the Company.
In connection with the termination of the Offering on March 31, 2017, we and the Sponsor simultaneously terminated the Subordinated Agreement and as a result, the Sponsor is no longer obligated to make any additional principal advances to us. Interest will continue to accrue on the outstanding principal advances and repayment, if any, of the principal advances and related accrued interest will still be made according to the terms of the Subordinated Agreement disclosed above.
As of December 31, 2020, $13.5 million of principal advances and related accrued interest were outstanding.
Our Advisor and its affiliates are related parties. Certain of these entities are entitled to compensation and fees for services related to the investment of our assets during our acquisition, development, operational and liquidation stages. The compensation levels during our acquisition and operational stages are based on percentages of the cost of acquired properties or other investments and the annual revenue earned from such properties or other investments, and other such fees and expense reimbursement outlined in each of the respective agreements.
Primary Investment Objectives
Our primary investment objectives are:
● to pay periodic distributions to our stockholders as required to maintain our qualification as a REIT; and
● to preserve and protect our shareholders’ capital contribution.
Acquisition and Investment Policies
We have and intend to continue to seek opportunities to invest in real estate and real estate-related investments. Our real estate-related investments may include mezzanine loans, mortgage loans, bridge loans and preferred equity interests, with a focus on development-related investments, including those intended to finance development or redevelopment opportunities. We may also invest in debt and derivative securities related to real estate assets. A portion of our investments by value may be secured by or related to properties or entities advised by, or wholly or partially, directly or indirectly, owned by, our Sponsor, its affiliates or other real estate investment programs sponsored by it. Although we expect that most of our investments will be of these various types, we may make other investments. In fact, we may invest in whatever types of investments that we believe are in our best interests.
We have and expect to continue to focus our origination and acquisition activity on real estate-related investments secured by or related to properties located in the United States, including related-party investments. We sometimes refer to the foregoing types of investments as our targeted investments. We expect to target investments that generally will offer predictable current cash flow and/or attractive risk-adjusted returns based on the underwriting criteria established and employed by our advisor, which may include the anticipated leverage point, market and economic conditions, the location and quality of the underlying collateral and the borrower’s exit or refinancing plan. Our ability to continue to execute our investment strategy may be enhanced through access to our Sponsor’s extensive experience in financing real estate projects it has sponsored, as opposed to a strategy that relies solely on buying assets in the open market from third-party originators. We have and will continue to seek to build a portfolio that includes some of or all the following investment characteristics: (a) provides current income; (b) is secured by high-quality commercial real estate; (c) includes subordinate capital investments by strong sponsors that support its investments and provide downside protection; and (d) possesses strong structural features that maximize repayment potential, such as a clear exit or refinancing plan by the borrower.
We have and intend to continue to invest in real estate-related loans and debt securities both by directly originating them and by purchasing them from third-party sellers. Although we generally prefer the benefits of direct origination, situations may arise to purchase real estate-related loans and debt securities, possibly at discounts to par, which compensate for the lack of control or structural enhancements typically associated with directly structured investments.
Financing Strategy and Policies
There is no limitation on the amount we may invest or borrow for the purchase or origination of any single property or investment. Our charter allows us to incur leverage up to 300% of our total “net assets” (as defined in our charter) as of the date of any borrowing, which is generally expected to be approximately 75% of the cost of our investments. We may only exceed this 300% limit if a majority of our independent directors approves each borrowing in excess of this limit and we disclose such borrowing to our stockholders in our next quarterly report along with a justification for the excess borrowing. In all events, we expect that our secured and unsecured borrowings will be reasonable in relation to the net value of our assets and will be reviewed by our Board of Directors at least quarterly.
We do not currently intend to exceed the leverage limit in our charter. We believe that careful use of debt helps us to achieve our diversification goals because we may have more funds available for investment. However, high levels of debt could cause us to incur higher interest charges and higher debt service payments, which would decrease the amount of cash available for distributions, if any, to our investors.
Distributions and Distributions Declared	
Our Board of Directors commenced declaring and we began paying distributions on our Common Shares at the pro rata equivalent of an annual distribution of $0.80 per share, or an annualized rate of 8.0% assuming a purchase price of $10.00 per share, beginning with the period from June 22, 2015 through November 30, 2015 and monthly thereafter beginning with the month ending December 31, 2015 through the month ending June 30, 2019. Beginning with the month ending July 31, 2019, our Board of Directors decreased the regular monthly distributions on our Common Shares to the pro rata equivalent of an annual distribution of $0.40 per share, or an annualized rate of 4.0% assuming a purchase price of $10.00 per share. Distributions are payable to stockholders of record at the close of business on the last day of the month-end. All distributions were paid on or about the 15th day of the month following the month-end.
On January 15, 2020, February 15, 2020, March 15, 2020 and April 29, 2020, we paid distributions to our stockholders for the months ended December 31, 2019, January 31, 2020, February 29, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively, totaling $1.1 million. These distributions were all paid in cash.
On March 25, 2020, the Board of Directors determined to suspend regular monthly distributions.
Special Distribution
On December 21, 2020, the Board of Directors authorized a special distribution of $0.37 per share of common stock payable to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2020. The total special distribution of $3.2 million, which represents a portion of the proceeds generated from asset sales, was paid on or about January 15, 2021.
Total distributions declared during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $4.0 million and $5.1 million, respectively.
Future distributions, if any, declared will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors based on their analysis of our performance over the previous periods and expectations of performance for future periods. The Board of Directors will consider various factors in its determination, including but not limited to, the sources and availability of capital, operating and interest expenses, our ability to refinance near-term debt, as well as the IRS’s annual distribution requirement that REITs distribute no less than 90% of their taxable income. We cannot assure that any future distributions will be made or that we will maintain any particular level of distributions that we have previously established or may establish.
Share Repurchase Program
Our share repurchase program may provide our stockholders with limited, interim liquidity by enabling them to sell their Common Shares back to us, subject to restrictions. For the period from January 1 through March 24, 2020, we repurchased 57,800 shares of common stock pursuant to our share repurchase program at an average price of $9.53 per share. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we repurchased 70,038 Common Shares at an average price per share of $9.76 per share.
On March 25, 2020, the Board of Directors amended the share repurchase program to remove stockholder notice requirements and also approved the suspension of all redemptions effective immediately.
Tax Status
We elected to qualify and be taxed as a REIT commencing with the taxable year ended December 31, 2016. As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our net taxable income that we distribute currently to our stockholders. To maintain our REIT qualification under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”), we must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that we annually distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (which does not equal net income, as calculated in accordance with US GAAP), determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gain. If we fail to remain qualified for taxation as a REIT in any subsequent year and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, our income for that year will be taxed at the regular corporate rate, and we may be precluded from qualifying for treatment as a REIT for the four-year period following our failure to qualify as a REIT. Such an event could materially adversely affect our net income and net cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
To qualify or maintain our qualification as a REIT, we engage in certain activities through a wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”). As such, we are subject to U.S. federal and state income and franchise taxes from these activities, if any.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, we had no material uncertain income tax positions. Additionally, even if we qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we may still be subject to some U.S. federal, state and local taxes on our income and property and to U.S. federal income taxes and excise taxes on our undistributed income, if any.
Market Overview and Opportunity
We believe that the market for investment in real estate and/or real estate-related investments secured by or related to real estate located primarily in the United States continues to be compelling from a risk-return perspective. We have and intend primarily to continue to focus on investing in development or redevelopment opportunities because of increased demand for development and/or redevelopment projects; funding sources to fund such projects have not kept pace with demand; and traditional lenders have tightened lending standards, making it more difficult for some developers to obtain traditional financing.
We favor a strategy weighted toward targeting debt investments that balance current income with significant subordinate capital and downside structural protections. We believe that our investment strategy, combined with the experience and expertise of our Advisor’s management team, provides opportunities to: (a) originate loans with attractive current returns and strong structural features directly with borrowers, thereby taking advantage of market conditions in order to seek the best risk-return dynamic for our stockholders; and (b) purchase real estate-related investments from third parties, in some instances at discounts to their face amounts (or par value). We believe the combination of these strategies and the application of prudent leverage to our investments may also allow us to (i) realize appreciation opportunities in the portfolio and (ii) diversify our capital and enhance returns.
COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic leading many countries, including the United States, particularly at the individual state level, to subsequently impose various degrees of restrictions and other measures, including, but not limited to, mandatory temporary closures, quarantine guidelines, limitations on travel, and “shelter in place” rules in an effort to reduce its duration and the severity of its spread. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to evolve, most of these previously imposed restrictions and other measures have now been reduced and/or lifted. However, the COVID-19 pandemic remains highly unpredictable and dynamic and its duration and extent is likely dependent on numerous developments such as the regulatory approval, mass production, administration and ultimate effectiveness of vaccines, as well as the timeline to achieve a level of sufficient herd immunity amongst the general population. Accordingly, the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to have negative effects on the overall health of the U.S. economy for the foreseeable future.
To-date, the COVID-19 pandemic has not had any significant impact on our Williamsburg Moxy Hotel development project. Our other investment is our approximately 33.3% membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, which owns a luxury residential condominium project (the “40 East End Avenue Project”) located at the corner of 81st Street and East End Avenue in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City. The 40 East End Avenue Project received its final temporary certificates of occupancy, or TCO, in March 2020 and through December 31, 2020, six of the condominium units had been sold. The 40 East End Joint Venture has an outstanding loan on the 40 East End Project (the “Condo Loan”) which is currently scheduled to mature on December 19, 2021. Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pace of condominium unit sales, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture is engaged in discussions with the lender to extend the maturity date of the Condo Loan. However, there can be no assurance that the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture will be successful in such endeavors.
The extent to which our business may be affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will largely depend on both current and future developments, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be reasonably predicted.
If our Williamsburg Moxy Hotel development project and/or investment in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture are negatively impacted for an extended period because development activities and/or sales of condominium units are delayed, our business and financial results could be materially and adversely impacted.
Environmental
As an owner of real estate, we are subject to various environmental laws of U.S. federal, state and local governments. Compliance with existing laws has not had a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations, and management does not believe it will have such an impact in the future. However, we cannot predict the impact of unforeseen environmental contingencies or new or changed laws or regulations on properties in which we hold an interest, or on properties that may be acquired directly or indirectly in the future.
Employees
We do not have employees. We entered into an advisory agreement with our Advisor pursuant to which our Advisor supervises and manages our day-to-day operations and selects our real estate and real estate related investments, subject to oversight by our Board of Directors. We pay our Advisor fees for services related to the investment and management of our assets, and we reimburse our Advisor for certain expenses incurred on our behalf.
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. Stockholders may obtain copies of our filings with the SEC, free of charge, from the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F. Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our office is located at 1985 Cedar Bridge Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701. Our telephone number is (732) 367-0129. Our website is www.lightstonecapitalmarkets.com.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS:
	None applicable.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES:
On July 17, 2019 we acquired four adjacent parcels of land located at 353-361 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York on which we intend to develop and construct the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel, a 210-room branded hotel. As of December 31, 2020, the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel, which we wholly own and consolidate, was under development.
As of December 31, 2020, we held an unconsolidated approximate 33.3% membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, an affiliated real estate entity which owns the 40 East End Project, a luxury residential condominium project consisting of 29 condominium units located at the corner of 81st Street and East End Avenue in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City. We account for our unconsolidated membership interests in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture in accordance with the equity method of accounting.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS:
From time to time in the ordinary course of business, we may become subject to legal proceedings, claims or disputes.
As of the date hereof, we are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings of which the outcome is probable or reasonably possible to have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition, which would require accrual or disclosure of the contingency and possible range of loss.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II.

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES:
Shareholder Information
As of March 15, 2021, we had approximately 8.5 million shares of common stock outstanding, held by a total of 2,046 stockholders. The number of stockholders is based on the records of DST Systems Inc., which serves as our registrar and transfer agent.
Market Information
Our Common Shares are not currently listed on a national securities exchange. We may seek to list our Common Shares for trading on a national securities exchange only if a majority of our independent directors believe listing would be in the best interest of our stockholders. We do not intend to list our Common Shares at this time. We do not anticipate that there would be any active market for our Common Shares until they are listed for trading. In the event we do not begin the process of achieving a liquidity event prior to March 31, 2022, which is the fifth anniversary of the termination of our Offering, our charter requires either (a) an amendment to our charter to extend the deadline to begin the process of achieving a liquidity event, or (b) the holding of a stockholders meeting to vote on a proposal for an orderly liquidation of our portfolio.
Estimated Net Asset Value (“NAV”) and NAV per Share of Common Stock (“NAV per Share”)
On March 15, 2021, our Board of Directors determined and approved our estimated NAV of approximately $72.6 million and resulting estimated NAV per Share of $8.50, both as of December 31, 2020 and after the addition of principal advances made by our Sponsor under the Subordinated Agreement. In connection with our Offering, which terminated on March 31, 2017, our Sponsor funded an aggregate of approximately $12.6 million of principal advances. In the calculation of our estimated NAV as of December 31, 2020, no allocation of value was made to Subordinated advances - related party because the estimated NAV per Share did not exceed an aggregate $10.00 price per share plus a cumulative, pre-tax non-compounded annual return of 8.0% as of that date.
The estimated NAV of our shares was calculated as of a particular point in time. The estimated NAV of our shares will fluctuate over time in response to developments related to individual assets in the portfolio and the management of those assets and in response to the real estate and finance markets. There is no assurance of the extent to which the current estimated valuation should be relied upon for any purpose after its effective date regardless that it may be published on any statement issued by us or otherwise.
Process and Methodology
Our Advisor, along with any necessary material assistance or confirmation of a third-party valuation expert or service, is responsible for calculating our NAV, which we currently expect will be done on at least an annual basis unless our Common Shares are approved for listing on a national securities exchange. Our Board of Directors will review each estimate of NAV and approve the resulting NAV per Share.
Our estimated NAV per Share as of December 31, 2020 was calculated with the assistance of both our Advisor and Marshall & Steven’s Incorporated (“M&S”), an independent third-party valuation firm engaged by us to assist with the valuation of our assets, liabilities and any allocations of value to the Sponsor’s subordinated advances. Our Advisor recommended and our Board of Directors established the estimated NAV per Share as of December 31, 2020 based upon the analyses and reports provided by our Advisor and M&S. The process for estimating the value of our assets, liabilities and allocations of value to our Sponsor’s subordinated advances is performed in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Program Association (the “IPA”) Practice Guideline 2013-01, “Valuations of Publicly Registered Non-Listed REITs,” issued April 29, 2013. We believe that our valuations were developed in a manner reasonably designed to ensure their reliability.
The engagement of M&S with respect to our NAV per Share as of December 31, 2020 was approved by our Board of Directors, including all of our independent directors. M&S has extensive experience in conducting asset valuations, included valuations of commercial real estate, debt, properties and real estate-related investments.
With respect to our NAV per Share as of December 31, 2020, M&S prepared appraisal reports (the “M&S Appraisal Reports”) summarizing key inputs and assumptions on the two properties (collectively, the “M&S Appraised Properties”) in which we held ownership interests as of December 31, 2020.
M&S also prepared a NAV report (the “December 2020 NAV Report”) which estimated the NAV per Share as of December 31, 2020. The December 2020 NAV Report relied upon (i) M&S’s Appraisal Reports for the M&S Appraised Properties and (ii) our Advisor’s estimate of the value of cash and cash equivalents, other assets, mortgage payable, distributions payable and other liabilities to calculate our estimated NAV and NAV per Share as of December 31, 2020.
The table below sets forth the calculation of our estimated NAV and resulting estimated NAV per Share as of December 31, 2020 as well as the comparable calculation as of December 31, 2019:
As of December 31,
As of December 31,
Value Per Share Value Per Share
Net Assets:
Real Estate Assets:
Construction in progress $ 45,800,000
$ 38,500,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities 15,582,758
41,092,779
Total real estate assets 61,382,758 $ 7.19 79,592,779 $ 9.26
Non-Real Estate Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 31,406,204
13,730,832
Other assets 116,419
4,774,055
Total non-real estate assets 31,522,623 3.69 18,504,887 2.15
Total Assets 92,905,381 10.88 98,097666 11.41
Liabilities:
Mortgage payable, net (16,000,000 )
(15,656,241 )
Distributions payable (3,151,447 )
(285,841 )
Other liabilities (1,178,674 )
(536,668 )
Total liabilities (20,330,121 ) (2.38 ) (16,478,750 ) (1.91 )
Adjusted NAV after giving effect to principal advances from Sponsor under Subordinated Agreement
$ 72,575,260 $ 8.50 $ 81,618,916 $ 9.50
Shares of Common Stock Outstanding 8,537,424
8,595,224
Use of an Independent Valuation Firm
As discussed above, our Advisor is responsible for calculating our NAV. In connection with determining our NAV, our Advisor may rely on the material assistance or confirmation of a third-party valuation expert or service. In this regard, M&S was selected by our Board of Directors to assist our Advisor in the calculation of our estimated NAV and resulting estimated NAV per Share as of December 31, 2020. M&S services included appraising the M&S Appraised Properties and preparing the December 2020 NAV Report. M&S is engaged in the business of appraising commercial real estate properties and is not affiliated with us or the Advisor. The compensation we paid to M&S was based on the scope of work and not on the appraised values of our real estate properties. The appraisals were performed in accordance with the Code of Ethics and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, or USPAP, the real estate appraisal industry standards created by The Appraisal Foundation. The M&S Appraisal Reports were reviewed, approved, and signed by an individual with the professional designation of MAI licensed in the state where each real property is located. The use of the reports is subject to the requirements of the Appraisal Institute relating to review by its duly authorized representatives. In preparing its reports, M&S did not, and was not requested to; solicit third-party indications of interest for our common stock in connection with possible purchases thereof or the acquisition of all or any part of us. In preparing its reports, M&S did not, and was not requested to solicit third-party indications of interest for our common stock in connection with possible purchases thereof or the acquisition of all or any part of us.
M&S collected reasonably available material information that it deemed relevant in appraising these real estate properties. M&S relied in part on property-level information provided by our Advisor, including (i) property historical and projected operating revenues and expenses; and/or (ii) information regarding recent or planned capital expenditures.
In conducting their investigation and analyses, M&S took into account customary and accepted financial and commercial procedures and considerations as they deemed relevant. Although M&S reviewed information supplied or otherwise made available by us or the Advisor for reasonableness, they assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all such information and of all information supplied or otherwise made available to them by any other party and did not independently verify any such information. M&S assumed that any operating or financial forecasts and other information and data provided to or otherwise reviewed by or discussed with M&S were reasonably prepared in good faith on bases reflecting the then best currently available estimates and judgments of our management, our Board of Directors, and/or the Advisor. M&S relied on us to advise them promptly if any information previously provided became inaccurate or was required to be updated during the period of their review.
In performing its analyses, M&S made numerous other assumptions as of various points in time with respect to industry performance, general business, economic, and regulatory conditions, and other matters, many of which are beyond their control and our control. M&S also made assumptions with respect to certain factual matters. For example, unless specifically informed to the contrary, M&S assumed that our joint ventures have clear and marketable title to each real estate property appraised, that no title defects exist, that any improvements were made in accordance with law, that no hazardous materials are present or were present previously, that no significant deed restrictions exist, and that no changes to zoning ordinances or regulations governing use, density, or shape are pending or being considered. Furthermore, M&S’s analyses, opinions, and conclusions were necessarily based upon market, economic, financial, and other circumstances and conditions existing as of or prior to the date of the M&S Appraisal Reports, and any material change in such circumstances and conditions may affect M&S’s analyses and conclusions. The M&S Appraisal Reports contain other assumptions, qualifications, and limitations that qualify the analyses, opinions, and conclusions set forth therein. Furthermore, the prices at which the real estate properties may actually be sold could differ from M&S’s analyses.
M&S is actively engaged in the business of appraising commercial real estate properties and real estate related-investments similar to those owned or invested by us in connection with public security offerings, private placements, business combinations, and similar transactions. We do not believe that there are any material conflicts of interest between M&S, on the one hand, and us, the Sponsor, the Advisor, and our affiliates, on the other hand. Our Advisor engaged M&S on behalf of our Board of Directors to deliver their reports to assist in the NAV calculation as of December 31, 2020 and M&S received compensation for those efforts. In addition, we agreed to indemnify M&S against certain liabilities arising out of this engagement. M&S has previously assisted in our prior NAV calculations and has also been engaged by us for certain valuation services with respect to our investments. M&S may from time to time in the future perform other services for us and our Sponsor or other affiliates of the Sponsor, so long as such other services do not adversely affect the independence of M&S as certified in the M&S Appraisal Reports. During the past two years M&S has also been engaged to provide appraisal services to another non-traded REIT sponsored by our Sponsor for which it was paid usual and customary fees.
Although M&S considered any comments received from us and the Advisor relating to their reports, the final estimated fair values for the M&S Appraised Properties were determined by M&S. The reports were addressed to our Board of Directors to assist our Board of Directors in calculating an estimated NAV per Share as of December 31, 2020. The reports were not addressed to the public, may not be relied upon by any other person to establish an estimated NAV per Share, and do not constitute a recommendation to any person to purchase or sell any shares of our common stock.
Our goal in calculating our estimated NAV is to arrive at values that are reasonable and supportable using what we deem to be appropriate valuation methodologies and assumptions. The reports, including the analysis, opinions, and conclusions set forth in such reports, are qualified by the assumptions, qualifications, and limitations set forth in the respective reports. The following is a summary of our valuation methodologies used to value our assets and liabilities by key component:
Real Estate Assets
As of December 31, 2020, our real estate assets consist of (i) one wholly owned and consolidated development property (the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel) and (ii) one unconsolidated development property (the “40 East End Project”), held through our approximate 33.3% membership interest in a joint venture (the 40 East End Ave Joint Venture (collectively, the “Real Estate Assets”).
As described above, we engaged M&S to provide an appraisal of the M&S Appraised Properties as of December 31, 2020 consisting of the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel and the 40 East End Ave. Project.
In preparing their appraisal reports, M&S, among other things:
● Performed a site visit of each property in connection with this assignment or other assignments;
● Interviewed our officers or our Advisor’s personnel to obtain information relating to the physical condition of each appraised property, including known environmental conditions, status of ongoing or planned property additions and reconfigurations, and other factors for such properties;
● Reviewed lease agreements for any properties subject to a long-term lease and discussed with us or the Advisor certain lease provisions and factors on each property; and
● Reviewed the acquisition criteria and parameters used by real estate investors for properties similar to the subject properties, including a search of real estate data sources and publications concerning real estate buyer’s criteria, discussions with sources deemed appropriate, and a review of transaction data for similar properties.
M&S employed the income approach and/or the sales comparison approach to estimate the value of the appraised properties. The income approach involves an economic analysis of the property based on its potential to provide future net annual income. As part of the valuation, a discounted cash flow analysis (“DCF Analysis”) and/or direct capitalization analysis was used in the income approach to determine the value of our interest in the portfolio. The indicated value by the income approach represents the amount an investor may pay for the expectation of receiving the net cash flow from the property.
The direct capitalization analysis is based upon the net operating income of the property capitalized at an appropriate capitalization rate for the property based upon property characteristics and competitive position and market conditions at the date of the appraisal.
In applying the DCF Analysis, pro forma statements of operations for the property including revenues and expenses are analyzed and projected over a multi-year period or the expected “sell out” period for a condominium project. If applicable, the property is assumed to be sold at the end of the multi-year holding period. If applicable, the reversion value of the property which can be realized upon sale at the end of the holding period is calculated based on the capitalization of the estimated net operating income of the property in the year of sale, utilizing a capitalization rate deemed appropriate in light of the age, anticipated functional and economic obsolescence and competitive position of the property at the time of sale. Net proceeds to owners are determined by deducting appropriate costs of sale. The discount rate selected for the DCF Analysis is based upon estimated target rates of return for buyers of similar properties.
The sales comparison approach utilizes indices of value derived from actual or proposed sales of comparable properties to estimate the value of the subject property. The appraiser analyzed such comparable sale data as was available to develop a market value conclusion for the subject property.
M&S prepared the M&S Appraisal Reports summarizing key inputs and assumptions, for each of the appraised properties using financial information provided by us and our Advisor. From such review, M&S selected the appropriate cash flow discount rate, residual discount rate, and terminal capitalization rate in the DCF Analysis, if applicable, the appropriate capitalization rate in the direct capitalization analysis and the appropriate price per unit in the sales comparison analysis. As for those properties consolidated on our financials, and for which we do not own 100% of the ownership interest, the property value was adjusted to reflect our ownership interest in such property after consideration of the distribution priorities associated with such property.
The estimated values for our investments in real estate may or may not represent current market values and do not equal the book values of our real estate investments in accordance with US GAAP. Our consolidated investment in real estate is currently carried in our consolidated financial statements at its amortized cost basis, adjusted for any loss impairments and bargain purchase gains recognized to date.
The following summarizes the valuation approaches used for our Real Estate Assets:
Construction in progress:
On July 17, 2019, we acquired four adjacent parcels of land located at 353-361 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York (collectively, the “Williamsburg Land”), from unaffiliated third parties, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $30.4 million, excluding closing and other acquisition related costs, on which we are developing and constructing a 216-room branded hotel (the “Williamsburg Moxy Hotel”).
As of December 31, 2020, the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel was under development and M&S deemed it appropriate to determine its fair value of approximately $45.8 million as of such date based on the estimated fair value of the Williamsburg Land of $35.7 million (using a sales comparison approach) plus other development costs incurred of $10.1 million.
The estimated fair value of the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel of $45.8 million compared to our carrying value of $40.5 million, both as of December 31, 2020, equates to an increase in value of 13.1%.
Investment in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity:
We have an approximate 33.3% membership interest in 40 East End Ave. Pref Member LLC (the “40 East End Ave. Joint Venture”), an affiliated real estate entity, which we account for in accordance with the equity method of accounting.
The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture owns the 40 East End Avenue Project, a luxury residential 29-unit condominium project located at the corner of 81st Street and East End Avenue in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City. The 40 East End Avenue Project received its final temporary certificates of occupancy, or TCO, in March 2020 and through December 31, 2020, six of the condominium units have been sold.
M&S deemed it appropriate to determine the estimated fair value of the 40 East End Project as December 31, 2020 of approximately $138.9 million based on a DCF Analysis of estimated net sales proceeds and timing of sales for the remaining 23 unsold condominium units as well as the remaining estimated construction and carrying costs. M&S used a discount rate of 5.5% in the DCF Analysis.
While we believe that the assumptions utilized in the DCF Analysis are reasonable, any changes in these assumptions would affect the calculation of the estimated fair value of the 40 East End Project as of December 31, 2020. Although any of the assumptions could change, assuming only a 25-basis point increase and decrease in the discount rate to provide a hypothetical illustration of the possible result with all other factors remaining constant, the estimated fair value of the 40 East End Project would have decreased by $0.3 million and increased by $0.3 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020.
As of December 31, 2020, the estimated fair value of our approximate 33.3% ownership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture of approximately $15.6 million was calculated based on the appraised value of the 40 East End Project of $138.9 million plus all other non-real estate assets of $3.7 million; less (i) the estimated fair value of its outstanding mortgage indebtedness of $89.9 million and (ii) the preferred member’s equity interest of $6.0 million. The estimated fair value of our approximate 33.3% ownership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture of $15.6 million compared to our carrying value of $11.0 million, both as of December 31, 2020, equates to an increase in value of 41.8%.
Cash and cash equivalents: The estimated value of our cash and cash equivalents equals its carrying value.
Restricted cash: The estimated value of our restricted cash equals its carrying value.
Other assets: Our other assets consist of deposits, due from related parties, prepaid expenses and other assets. The estimated values of these items approximate their carrying values due to their short maturities.
Mortgage payable: We have mortgage payable that bears interest at a variable rate. The estimated value of our variable-rate mortgage loan were deemed to approximate its carrying value because its interest rate moves in conjunction with changes to market interest rates.
Distributions payable: On December 21, 2020, the Board of Directors authorized a special distribution of $0.37 per Common Share payable to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2020. The total special distribution of $3.2 million, which represents a portion of the proceeds generated from asset sales, was paid on or about January 15, 2021. Due to its short maturity, the estimated fair value of our distribution payable approximates its carrying value.
Other liabilities: Our other liabilities consist of our accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying values of these items were considered to equal their fair value due to their short maturities.
Subordinated advances - related party: Our Subordinated advances -related party, consisting of approximately $12.6 million of principal advances made by our Sponsor under the Subordinated Agreement and the related accrued interest, are classified as a liability on our consolidated balance sheets. However, for purposes of our NAV, we do not estimate their fair value in accordance with US GAAP. Rather, the IPA’s Practice Guideline 2013-01provides for adjustments to the NAV for preferred securities, special interests and incentive fees based on the aggregate NAV of the company and payable to the Sponsor in a hypothetical liquidation of the company as of the valuation date in accordance with the provisions of the partnership or Advisory agreements and the terms of the preferred securities. Because our Subordinated advances - related party are only payable to our Sponsor in a liquidation event, we believe they should be valued for our NAV in accordance with these provisions.
Accordingly, no allocations of value are made to our Subordinated advances - related party unless the estimated NAV per Share would have exceeded $10.00 per share plus a cumulative, pre-tax non-compounded annual return of 8.0% as of the indicated valuation date. In connection with our Offering, which terminated on March 31, 2017, our Sponsor funded an aggregate of approximately $12.6 million of principal advances under the Subordinated Agreement. In the calculation of our estimated NAV as of December 31, 2020, no allocation of value was made to our Subordinated advances - related party, because the estimated NAV per Share did not exceed an aggregate $10.00 price per share plus a cumulative, pre-tax non-compounded annual return of 8.0% as of that date.
Historical Estimated NAV and NAV per Share
Additional information on our historical reported estimated NAV and NAV per Share as of December 31, 2019 may be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed on March 30, 2020.
Limitations and Risks
As with any valuation methodology, the methodology used to determine our estimated NAV and resulting estimated NAV per Share is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that may prove later not to be accurate or complete. Further, different market participants with different property-specific and general real estate and capital market assumptions, estimates, judgments and standards could derive different estimated NAVs per share, which could be significantly different from the estimated NAV per Share approved by our Board of directors. The estimated NAV per Share approved by our Board of Directors does not represent the fair value of our assets less liabilities in accordance US GAAP, and such estimated NAV per Share is not a representation, warranty or guarantee that:
● a stockholder would be able to resell his or her shares of common stock at the estimated NAV per Share;
● a stockholder would ultimately realize distributions per share of common stock equal to the estimated NAV per Share upon liquidation of our assets and settlement of our liabilities or a sale of the company;
● our shares of common stock would trade at the estimated NAV per Share on a national securities exchange;
● an independent third-party appraiser or other third-party valuation firm would agree with the estimated NAV per Share; or
● the methodology used to estimate our NAV per Share would be acceptable to FINRA or under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act with respect to their respective requirements.
The Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor do not provide any guidance on the methodology an issuer must use to determine its estimated NAV per Share.
FINRA guidance provides that NAV valuations be derived from a methodology that conforms to industry practice.
As with any valuation methodology, our methodology is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that may not be accurate or complete. Different parties with different assumptions and estimates could derive different estimated NAVs per share, and these differences could be significant. The estimated NAV per Share is not audited and does not represent the fair value of our assets less our liabilities in accordance with US GAAP, nor do they represent an actual liquidation value of our assets and liabilities or the price that shares of our common stock would trade at on a national securities exchange. As of the date of this filing, although we have not sought stockholder approval to adopt a plan of liquidation of the Company, certain distributions may be payable to our Sponsor in connection with a liquidation event. Accordingly, our estimated NAV per Share reflects any allocation of value to the Sponsor’s subordinated advances representing the amount that would be payable to the sponsor in connection with a liquidation event pursuant to the guidelines for estimating NAV contained in IPA Practice Guideline 2013-01, “Valuation of Publicly Registered Non-Listed REITs”. Our estimated NAV per Share is based on the estimated value of our assets less the estimated value of our liabilities less any allocations of value to the Sponsor’s subordinated advances divided by the number of our diluted shares of common stock outstanding, all as of the date indicated. Our estimated NAV per Share does not reflect a discount for the fact we are externally managed, nor does it reflect a real estate portfolio premium/discount versus the sum of the individual property values. Our estimated NAV per Share does not take into account estimated disposition costs or fees or penalties, if any, that may apply upon the prepayment of certain of our debt obligations or the impact of restrictions on the assumption of certain debt. Our NAV per Share will fluctuate over time as a result of, among other things, future acquisitions or dispositions of assets, developments related to individual assets and the management of those assets and changes in the real estate and capital markets. Different parties using different assumptions and estimates could derive different NAVs and resulting estimated NAVs per share, and these differences could be significant. Markets for real estate and real estate-related investments can fluctuate and values are expected to change in the future. We currently expect that our Advisor will estimate our NAV on at least an annual basis. Our Board of Directors will review and approve each estimate of NAV.
The following factors may cause a stockholder not to ultimately realize distributions per share of common stock equal to the estimated NAV per Share upon liquidation:
● The methodology used to determine estimated NAV per Share includes a number of estimates and assumptions that may not prove to be accurate or complete as compared to the actual amounts received in the liquidation;
● In a liquidation, certain assets may not be liquidated at their estimated values because of transfer fees and disposition fees, which are not reflected in the estimated NAV calculation;
● In a liquidation, debt obligations may have to be prepaid and the costs of any prepayment penalties may reduce the liquidation amounts. Prepayment penalties are not included in determining the estimated value of liabilities in determining estimated NAV;
● In a liquidation, the real estate assets may derive a portfolio premium which premium is not considered in determining estimated NAV;
● In a liquidation, the potential buyers of the assets may use different estimates and assumptions than those used in determining estimated NAV;
● If the liquidation occurs through a listing of the common stock on a national securities exchange, the capital markets may value the Company’s net assets at a different amount than the estimated NAV. Such valuation would likely be based upon customary REIT valuation methodology including funds from operation, or FFO, multiples of other comparable REITs, FFO coverage of dividends and adjusted FFO payout of the Company’s anticipated dividend; and
● If the liquidation occurs through a merger of the Company with another REIT, the amount realized for the common stock may not equal the estimated NAV per Share because of many factors including the aggregate consideration received, the make-up of the consideration (e.g., cash, stock or both), the performance of any stock received as part of the consideration during the merger process and thereafter, the reception of the merger in the market and whether the market believes the pricing of the merger was fair to both parties.
Share Repurchase Program
Our share repurchase program may provide eligible stockholders with limited, interim liquidity by enabling them to sell Common Shares back to us, subject to restrictions and applicable law. A selling stockholder must be unaffiliated with us, and must have beneficially held the Common Shares for at least one year prior to offering the Common Shares for sale to us through the share repurchase program. Subject to certain limitations, we may also redeem Common Shares upon the request of the estate, heir or beneficiary of a deceased stockholder.
The prices at which stockholders who have held Common Shares for the required one-year period may sell Common Shares back to us are as follows:
● in the case of the death of a stockholder: our current estimated value per Common Share;
● the below percentages, except for in the case of the death of a stockholder, our estimated value per Common Share:
● 92.5% for stockholders who have continuously held their Common Shares for at least one year;
● 95% for stockholders who have continuously held their Common Shares for at least two years;
● 97.5% for stockholders who have continuously held their Common Shares for at least three years; and
● 100% for stockholders who have continuously held their Common Shares for at least four years.
Pursuant to the terms of our share repurchase program and subject to our Board of Director’s approval, we will make repurchases, if requested, at least on a quarterly basis provided such repurchases do not impair our capital or operations. Each stockholder whose repurchase request is granted will receive the repurchase amount approximately 30 days after the fiscal quarter in which we grant the repurchase request. Subject to certain limitations, we may also repurchase Common Shares upon the request of the estate, heir or beneficiary of a deceased stockholder. We will limit the number of Common Shares repurchased pursuant to our share repurchase program as follows: during any 12-month period, we will not make repurchases of Common Shares in excess of 5.0% of the weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding during the prior calendar year; provided, however, that Common Shares repurchased in the case of the death of a stockholder will not count against this 5.0% limit.
For the period from January 1 through March 24, 2020, we repurchased 57,800 shares of common stock pursuant to our share repurchase program at an average price of $9.53 per share. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we repurchased 70,038 Common Shares at an average price per share of $9.76 per share.
On March 25, 2020, the Board of Directors amended the share repurchase program to remove stockholder notice requirements and also approved the suspension of all redemptions effective immediately.
Distributions
Distributions and Distributions Declared
Our Board of Directors commenced declaring and we began paying distributions on our Common Shares at the pro rata equivalent of an annual distribution of $0.80 per share, or an annualized rate of 8.0% assuming a purchase price of $10.00 per share, beginning with the period from June 22, 2015 through November 30, 2015 and monthly thereafter beginning with the month ending December 31, 2015 through the month ending June 30, 2019. Beginning with the month ending July 31, 2019, our Board of Directors decreased the regular monthly distributions on our Common Shares to the pro rata equivalent of an annual distribution of $0.40 per share, or an annualized rate of 4.0% assuming a purchase price of $10.00 per share. Distributions are payable to stockholders of record at the close of business on the last day of the month-end. All distributions were paid on or about the 15th day of the month following the month-end.
On January 15, 2020, February 15, 2020, March 15, 2020 and April 29, 2020, we paid distributions to our stockholders for the months ended December 31, 2019, January 31, 2020, February 29, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively, totaling $1.1 million. These distributions were all paid in cash.
On March 25, 2020, the Board of Directors determined to suspend regular monthly distributions.
Special Distribution
On December 21, 2020, the Board of Directors authorized a special distribution of $0.37 per share of common stock payable to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2020. The total special distribution of $3.2 million, which represents a portion of the proceeds generated from asset sales, was paid on or about January 15, 2021.
Total distributions declared during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $4.0 million and $5.1 million, respectively.
Future distributions, if any, declared will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors based on their analysis of our performance over the previous periods and expectations of performance for future periods. The Board of Directors will consider various factors in its determination, including but not limited to, the sources and availability of capital, operating and interest expenses, our ability to refinance near-term debt, as well as the IRS’s annual distribution requirement that REITs distribute no less than 90% of their taxable income. We cannot assure that any future distributions will be made or that we will maintain any particular level of distributions that we have previously established or may establish.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During the period covered by this Form 10-K, we did not sell any equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:
You should read the following discussion and analysis together with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following information contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Please see “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” above for a description of these risks and uncertainties. Dollar amounts are presented in whole numbers, except per share data and where indicated in millions.
Overview
Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (’‘Lightstone Income Trust’’), is a Maryland corporation, formed on September 9, 2014, which elected to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes beginning with the taxable year ending December 31, 2016.
Lightstone Income Trust, together with its subsidiaries is collectively referred to as the “Company” and the use of “we,” “our,” “us” or similar pronouns refers to Lightstone Income Trust or the Company as required by the context in which any such pronoun is used.
We currently have one operating segment. As of December 31, 2020, we wholly owned and consolidated the operating results of one development project, the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel and held an unconsolidated approximate 33.3% membership interest in 40 East End Ave. Pref Member LLC (the “40 East End Ave. Joint Venture”). We account for our unconsolidated membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture in accordance with the equity method of accounting.
On July 17, 2019 we acquired four adjacent parcels of land located at 353-361 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York on which we are developing and constructing the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel, a 210-room branded hotel. As of December 31, 2020, the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel, which we wholly own and consolidate, was under development.
With respect to our unconsolidated property as of December 31, 2020, we held an approximate 33.3% membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, an affiliated real estate entity which owns the 40 East End Project, a substantially complete luxury residential development project consisting of 29 condominium units on a parcel of land located at the corner of 81st Street and East End Avenue in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City.
We have and will continue to seek to originate, acquire and manage a diverse portfolio of real estate and/or real estate-related investments, including investments in mezzanine loans, first lien mortgage loans, second lien mortgage loans, bridge loans and/or preferred equity interests, with a focus on development investments and investments intended to finance development or redevelopment opportunities. We may also invest in debt and derivative securities related to real estate assets. A substantial portion of our investments may be secured by or related to properties or entities advised by, or wholly or partially, directly or indirectly owned by, the Sponsor, its affiliates or its other sponsored real estate investment programs.
We do not have employees. We entered into an advisory agreement with Lightstone Real Estate Income LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which we refer to as the “Advisor,” pursuant to which the Advisor supervises and manages our day-to-day operations and selects our real estate and real estate related investments, subject to oversight by our Board of Directors. We pay the Advisor fees for services related to the investment and management of our assets, and we reimburse the Advisor for certain expenses incurred on our behalf.
On March 18, 2016, we and the Sponsor entered into a subordinated unsecured loan agreement (the “Subordinated Agreement”) pursuant to which the Sponsor made aggregate principal advances of $12.6 million to us through March 31, 2017 (the termination date of the Offering). The outstanding principal advances bear interest at a rate of 1.48%, but no interest or principal is due and payable to the Sponsor until holders of our Common Shares have received liquidation distributions equal to their respective net investments (defined as $10.00 per Common Share) plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% on their respective net investments.
Distributions in connection with a liquidation of the Company initially will be made to holders of our Common Shares until holders of our Common Shares have received liquidation distributions equal to their respective net investments plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% on their respective net investments. Thereafter, only if additional liquidating distributions are available, we will be obligated to repay the outstanding principal advances and related accrued interest to the Sponsor. In the event that additional liquidation distributions are available after the we repay our holders of common stock their respective net investments plus their 8% return on investment and then the outstanding principal advances and related accrued interest to the Sponsor, such additional distributions will be paid to holders of our Common Shares and the Sponsor as follows: 85.0% of the aggregate amount will be payable to holders of our Common Shares and the remaining 15.0% will be payable to the Sponsor.
The principal advances and the related interest are subordinate to all of our obligations as well as to the holders of our Common Shares in an amount equal to the shareholder’s net investment plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% and only potentially payable in the event of a liquidation of the Company.
In connection with the termination of the Offering on March 31, 2017, we and the Sponsor simultaneously terminated the Subordinated Agreement and as a result, the Sponsor is no longer obligated to make any additional principal advances to us. Interest will continue to accrue on the outstanding principal advances and repayment, if any, of the principal advances and related accrued interest will still be made according to the terms of the Subordinated Agreement disclosed above.
As of December 31, 2020, $13.5 million of principal advances and related accrued interest were outstanding.
To qualify or maintain our qualification as a REIT, we engage in certain activities through a wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”). As such, we are subject to U.S. federal and state income and franchise taxes from these activities, if any.
Acquisitions and Investment Strategy
Our strategy is to originate, acquire and manage a diverse portfolio of real estate or real estate-related investments located primarily in the United States. A substantial portion of our investments currently are related-party investments located in relatively large metropolitan areas. We generally have sought to create a portfolio of investments that either generate or are expected to generate attractive cash flow for distributions. Additionally, a focus on investing in debt instruments aligns with our primary investment objectives. However, we have and still may target capital appreciation from our investments.
We have not established any limits on the percentage of our portfolio that may be comprised of various categories of assets which present differing levels of risk. The allocation of our assets under management is dependent, in part, upon the then-current commercial real estate market, the investment opportunities it presents and available financing, if any, as well as other micro and macro market conditions.
We have and expect to continue to seek to originate, acquire and manage a diverse portfolio of real estate and/or real estate-related investments, including mezzanine loans, first lien mortgage loans, second lien mortgage loans, bridge loans and preferred equity interests with a focus on development investments and investments intended to finance development or redevelopment opportunities. We may also invest in debt and derivative securities related to real estate assets, such as commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”); collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”); debt securities issued by real estate companies; and credit default swaps. We have and expect to continue to focus our origination and acquisition activity on real estate-related investments secured by or related to properties located in the United States, and primarily related-party investments. We sometimes refer to the foregoing types of investments as our targeted investments. We have and will continue to target investments that generally offer predictable current cash flow and/or attractive risk-adjusted returns based on the underwriting criteria established and employed by our Advisor, which includes the anticipated leverage point, market and economic conditions, the location and quality of the underlying collateral and the borrower’s exit or refinancing plan. We believe our ability to continue to execute our investment strategy may be enhanced through access to our Sponsor’s extensive experience in financing real estate projects it has sponsored, as opposed to a strategy that relies solely on buying assets in the open market from third-party originators. We have and will continue to seek to build a portfolio that includes some of or all the following investment characteristics: (a) provides current income; (b) is secured by high-quality commercial real estate; (c) includes subordinate capital investments by strong sponsors that support our investments and provide downside protection; and (d) possesses strong structural features that maximize repayment potential, such as a clear exit or refinancing plan by the borrower.
We have and may continue to invest in real estate-related loans and debt securities both by directly originating them and by purchasing them from third-party sellers. Although we generally prefer the benefits of direct origination, situations may arise to purchase real estate-related loans and debt securities, possibly at discounts to par, which compensate for the lack of control or structural enhancements typically associated with directly structured investments.
Although we expect that most of our investments will be of these types, we may invest in whatever types of real estate-related investments that we believe are in our best interests.
Current Environment
Our operating results are substantially impacted by the overall health of local, U.S. national and global economies and may be influenced by market and other challenges. Additionally, our business and financial performance may be adversely affected by current and future economic and other conditions; including, but not limited to, availability or terms of financings, financial markets volatility, political upheaval or uncertainty, natural and man-made disasters, terrorism and acts of war, unfavorable changes in laws and regulations, outbreaks of contagious diseases, cybercrime, loss of key relationships, and recession.
With respect to contagious diseases, the extent to which our business may be affected by the current outbreak of the Coronavirus will largely depend on both current and future developments, including its duration, spread and treatment, and related travel advisories and restrictions, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be reasonably predicted.
If our investments are negatively impacted for an extended period, our business and financial results could be materially and adversely impacted. While we believe there are certain cost reduction strategies we can implement, there can be no assurance that they would fully mitigate the adverse impact of any lost revenue and income.
These and other market and economic challenges could materially affect (i) the value and performance of our investments, (ii) our ability to pay future distributions, if any, (iii) the availability or terms of financings, (iv) our ability to make scheduled principal and interest payments, and (v) our ability to refinance any outstanding debt when contractually due.
COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic leading many countries, including the United States, particularly at the individual state level, to subsequently impose various degrees of restrictions and other measures, including, but not limited to, mandatory temporary closures, quarantine guidelines, limitations on travel, and “shelter in place” rules in an effort to reduce its duration and the severity of its spread. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to evolve, most of these previously imposed restrictions and other measures have now been reduced and/or lifted. However, the COVID-19 pandemic remains highly unpredictable and dynamic and its duration and extent is likely dependent on numerous developments such as the regulatory approval, mass production, administration and ultimate effectiveness of vaccines, as well as the timeline to achieve a level of sufficient herd immunity amongst the general population. Accordingly, the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to have negative effects on the overall health of the U.S. economy for the foreseeable future.
To-date, the COVID-19 pandemic has not had any significant impact on our Williamsburg Moxy Hotel development project. Our other investment is our approximately 33.3% membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, which owns a luxury residential condominium project (the “40 East End Avenue Project”) located at the corner of 81st Street and East End Avenue in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City. The 40 East End Avenue Project received its final temporary certificates of occupancy, or TCO, in March 2020 and through December 31, 2020, six of the condominium units had been sold. The 40 East End Joint Venture has an outstanding loan on the 40 East End Project (the “Condo Loan”) which is currently scheduled to mature on December 19, 2021. Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pace of condominium unit sales, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture is engaged in discussions with the lender to extend the maturity date of the Condo Loan. However, there can be no assurance that the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture will be successful in such endeavors.
The extent to which our business may be affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will largely depend on both current and future developments, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be reasonably predicted.
If our Williamsburg Moxy Hotel development project and/or investment in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture are negatively impacted for an extended period because development activities and/or sales of condominium units are delayed, our business and financial results could be materially and adversely impacted.
We are not currently aware of any other material trends or uncertainties, favorable or unfavorable, that may be reasonably anticipated to have a material impact on either capital resources or the revenues or income to be derived from our operations, other than those referred to above or throughout this Form 10-K. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during a reporting period.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies
General.
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with US GAAP. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments about the effects of matters or future events that are inherently uncertain. These estimates and judgments may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.
On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including contingencies and litigation. We base these estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable in the circumstances. These estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
To assist in understanding our results of operations and financial position, we have identified our critical accounting policies and discussed them below. These accounting policies are most important to the portrayal of our results and financial position, either because of the significance of the financial statement items to which they relate or because they require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.
Accounting for Development Projects
We incur a variety of costs in the development of a property. The costs of land and building under development include specifically identifiable costs. The capitalized costs include, but are not limited to, pre-construction costs essential to the development of the property, development costs, construction costs, interest costs, real estate taxes and other costs incurred during the period of development. We cease capitalization when the development project is substantially complete and placed in service, which may occur in phases. Determination of when a development project is substantially complete and capitalization must cease involves a degree of judgment.
Once the development project is placed in service, which may occur in phases or for an entire building or project, the costs capitalized to construction in progress are transferred to land and improvements, buildings and improvements, and furniture and fixtures on our consolidated balance sheets at the historical cost of the property.
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
We evaluate our investments in other entities for consolidation. We consider our percentage interest in the joint venture, evaluation of control and whether a variable interest entity exists when determining if the investment qualifies for consolidation or if it should be accounted for as an unconsolidated investment under the equity method of accounting.
If an investment qualifies for the equity method of accounting, our investment is recorded initially at cost, and subsequently adjusted for equity in net income (loss) and cash contributions and distributions. The net income or loss of an unconsolidated investment is allocated to its investors in accordance with the provisions of the operating agreement of the entity. The allocation provisions in these agreements may differ from the ownership interest held by each investor. Differences, if any, between the carrying amount of our investment in the respective joint venture and our share of the underlying equity of such unconsolidated entity are amortized over the respective lives of the underlying assets as applicable. These items are reported as a single line item in the consolidated statements of operations as income or loss from investments in unconsolidated affiliated entities.
We review investments for impairment in value whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such investment may not be recoverable. An investment is impaired only if management’s estimate of the fair value of the investment is less than the carrying value of the investment, and such decline in value is deemed to be other than temporary. The ultimate realization of our investment in partially owned entities is dependent on a number of factors including the performance of that entity and market conditions. If we determine that a decline in the value of a partially owned entity is other than temporary, we will record an impairment charge.
Treatment of Management Compensation and Expense Reimbursements
Management of our operations is outsourced to our Advisor and certain other affiliates of our Sponsor. Fees related to each of these services are accounted for based on the nature of such service and the relevant accounting literature. Such fees include acquisition fees associated with the purchase of interests in real estate entities; and asset management fees paid to our Advisor. These fees are expensed or capitalized to the basis of acquired assets, as appropriate.
Income Taxes
We elected to qualify and be taxed as a REIT commencing with the taxable year ended December 31, 2016. As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our net taxable income that we distribute currently to our stockholders. To maintain our REIT qualification under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”), we must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that we annually distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (which does not equal net income, as calculated in accordance with US GAAP), determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gain. If we fail to remain qualified for taxation as a REIT in any subsequent year and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, our income for that year will be taxed at the regular corporate rate, and we may be precluded from qualifying for treatment as a REIT for the four-year period following our failure to qualify as a REIT. Such an event could materially adversely affect our net income and net cash available for distribution to our stockholders.
To qualify or maintain our qualification as a REIT, we engage in certain activities through a wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”). As such, we are subject to U.S. federal and state income and franchise taxes from these activities, if any.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, we had no material uncertain income tax positions. Additionally, even if we qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we may still be subject to some U.S. federal, state and local taxes on our income and property and to U.S. federal income taxes and excise taxes on our undistributed income, if any.
Results of Operations
Investments
Through December 31, 2020, we have made the following real estate and real estate-related investments:
105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment
We previously entered into an agreement, as amended, with various related party entities that provided for us to make aggregate preferred equity contributions (the “105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment”) of up to $37.0 million in an affiliate of our Sponsor (the “Moxy Developer”), which owns a parcel of land located at 105-109 W. 28thStreet, New York, New York, on which it constructed a 343-room Marriott Moxy hotel, which opened during February 2019. The 105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment was made pursuant to an instrument that entitled us to monthly preferred distributions at a rate of 12% per annum.
We received aggregate repayments of $26.5 million during March 2019 and subsequently received the remaining outstanding balance of $10.5 million on August 26, 2019 and as a result, have fully redeemed the 105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment.
The Cove Joint Venture
On January 31, 2017, we along with LSG Cove LLC, an affiliate of our Sponsor, our Sponsor’s other public program, Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc. (“Lightstone III”) and Maximus Cove Investor LLC (“Maximus”), an unrelated third party acquired the membership interests in RP Maximus Cove L.L.C. (the “Cove Joint Venture”) from an unrelated third party. We, LSG Cove LLC, Lightstone III and Maximus had 22.5%, 45.0%, 22.5% and 10.0% membership interests in the Cove Joint Venture, respectively. The Cove Joint Venture owned and operated The Cove at Tiburon (the “Cove”), a multi-family complex consisting of 281-units, or 289,690 square feet, contained within 32 apartment buildings over 20.1 acres, located in Tiburon, California from January 31, 2017 through February 12, 2020 (see below).
We accounted for our 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture in accordance with the equity method of accounting.
On February 12, 2020, we, LSG Cove LLC and Lightstone III subsequently redeemed our respective membership interests in the Cove Joint Venture for an aggregate redemption price of $87.6 million. In connection, with the redemption of our 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture, we received proceeds of $21.9 million which resulted in the recognition of a gain on the disposition of unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity of $8.2 million during the first quarter of 2020.
As a result of the redemption of our 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture on February 12, 2020, we no longer have an ownership interest in the Cove Joint Venture. During August 2020, we received $0.1 million of additional proceeds related to the redemption of our membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture and recognized a gain on the disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity of $0.1 million during the third quarter of 2020. As a result, we have recognized an aggregate gain on the disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity of $8.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2020.
East End Ave. Joint Venture
On March 31, 2017, we entered into a joint venture agreement (the “40 East End Ave. Transaction”) with SAYT Master Holdco LLC, an entity majority-owned and controlled by David Lichtenstein, who also majority owns and controls the Sponsor, and a related party, (the “40 East End Seller”), providing for us to acquire an approximate 33.3% of the 40 East End Seller’s approximate 100% membership interest in 40 East End Ave. Pref Member LLC (the “40 East End Ave. Joint Venture”).
The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, through affiliates, owns the 40 East End Avenue Project, a luxury residential 29-unit condominium project located at the corner of 81st Street and East End Avenue in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City. The 40 East End Avenue Project received its final TCO in March 2020 and through December 31, 2020, six of the condominium units have been sold.
We account for our approximate 33.3% membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture in accordance with the equity method of accounting.
Williamsburg Moxy Hotel
On July 17, 2019, we acquired four adjacent parcels of land located at 353-361 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York (collectively, the “Williamsburg Land”) on which we are developing and constructing a 210-room branded hotel (the “Williamsburg Moxy Hotel”). As of December 31, 2020, the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel was under development.
The operating results of our investments are reflected in our consolidated statements of operations commencing from their respective dates of acquisition.
See the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our investments.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 vs. December 31, 2019
Investment income
Our investment income during the year ended December 31, 2020 consisted solely of interest income on our cash and cash equivalents and the Israeli Bonds. Our investment income during the year ended December 31, 2019 consisted of (i) preferred distributions related to our 105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment and (ii) interest income earned on our cash and cash equivalents and the Israeli Bonds.
Our investment income decreased by $2.2 million to $0.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $2.4 million for the same period in 2019. The decrease reflects lower preferred distributions on our 105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment of $1.6 million during the 2020 period resulting from the full redemption of the 105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment during 2019 and by an aggregate decrease of $0.6 million of interest income earned on our cash and cash equivalents and the Israeli Bonds during the 2020 period.
Loss from investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities
Our loss from investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $2.8 million compared to $4.4 million for the same period in 2019. Our loss from investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities is attributable to our ownership interests in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture and the Cove Joint Venture through the date of redemption of our membership interest on February 12, 2020. We account for our investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities in accordance with the equity method of accounting. See Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses were $0.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $1.3 million for the same period in 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower asset management fees during the 2020 period due to the redemption of our 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture on February 12, 2020.
Foreign currency transaction loss
We previously maintained funds in a bank account that was denominated in ILS and was re-measured into U.S. Dollars at the current exchange rate at the end of each reporting period. As of December 31, 2019, we maintained 4,455 ILS in a bank account, which was re-measured to $1,291, and was included in cash and cash equivalents on our consolidated balance sheet. During the first quarter of 2020, we converted all of our ILS to U.S. Dollars and as a result, no longer have any ILS in the bank account. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, our foreign currency transaction loss was $47,648 and $55,549, respectively.
Interest expense
Interest expense, which is attributable to the outstanding principal advances of $12.6 million included in Subordinated Advances - Related Party, was $186,954 for both the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements for additional information with to the outstanding principal advances and accrued interest thereon.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview:
For the year ended December 31, 2020, our primary source of funds were aggregate proceeds received in connection with the redemption of our membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture of $22.0 million and proceeds from the disposition of marketable securities (Israeli Bonds) of $4.1 million. As of December 31, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $31.4 million.
We currently believe that our current available cash on hand will be sufficient to satisfy our expected cash requirements primarily consisting of our anticipated operating expenses, scheduled debt service, and any necessary capital contributions for our investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities and distributions to our shareholders, if any, required to maintain our qualification as a REIT, and our development activities and certain construction costs associated with the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel for the foreseeable future, and we do not anticipate a need to raise funds from other than these sources within the next 12 months. However, we ultimately expect to obtain financing to fund a substantial portion of our construction costs for the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel. However, there can be no assurance we will be successful in obtaining construction financing at favorable terms, if at all.
We intend to limit our aggregate long-term permanent borrowings to 75% of the aggregate fair market value of all properties unless any excess borrowing is approved by a majority of the independent directors and is disclosed to our stockholders. Market conditions will dictate our overall leverage limit; as such our aggregate long-term permanent borrowings may be less than 75% of aggregate fair market value of all properties. We may also incur short-term indebtedness, having a maturity of two years or less.
Our charter provides that the aggregate amount of our borrowing, both secured and unsecured, may not exceed 300% of net assets in the absence of a satisfactory showing that a higher level is appropriate, the approval of our Board of Directors and disclosure to stockholders. Net assets means our total assets, other than intangibles, at cost before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves less our total liabilities, calculated at least quarterly on a basis consistently applied. Any excess in borrowing over such 300% of net assets level must be approved by a majority of our independent directors and disclosed to our stockholders in our next quarterly report to stockholders, along with justification for such excess. Market conditions will dictate our overall leverage limit; as such our aggregate borrowings may be less than 300% of net assets.
Our future borrowings may consist of single-property mortgages as well as mortgages cross-collateralized by a pool of properties. Such mortgages may be put in place either at the time we acquire a property or subsequent to our purchasing a property for cash. In addition, we may acquire properties that are subject to existing indebtedness where we choose to assume the existing mortgages. Generally, though not exclusively, we intend to seek to encumber our properties with non-recourse debt. This means that a lender’s rights on default will generally be limited to foreclosing on the property. However, we may, at our discretion, secure recourse financing or provide a guarantee to lenders if we believe this may result in more favorable terms. When we give a guaranty for a property owning entity, we will be responsible to the lender for the satisfaction of the indebtedness if it is not paid by the property owning entity.
In general the type of future financing executed by us to a large extent will be dictated by the nature of the investment and current market conditions. For long-term real estate investments, it is our intent to finance future acquisitions using long-term fixed rate debt. However there may be certain types of investments and market circumstances which may result in variable rate debt being the more appropriate choice of financing. To the extent floating rate debt is used to finance the purchase of real estate, management will evaluate a number of protections against significant increases in interest rates, including the purchase of interest rate cap instruments.
We may also obtain lines of credit to be used to acquire real estate and/or real estate related investments. If obtained, these lines of credit will be at prevailing market terms and will be repaid proceeds from the sale or refinancing of real estate and/or real estate related investments, working capital and/or permanent financing. Our Sponsor and/or its affiliates may guarantee our lines of credit although they are not obligated to do so. We expect that such properties may be purchased by our Sponsor’s affiliates on our behalf, in our name, in order to minimize the imposition of a transfer tax upon a transfer of such properties to us.
In addition to making investments in accordance with our investment objectives, we expect to use our capital resources to make certain payments to our Advisor. We have agreements with the Advisor to pay certain fees, in exchange for services performed by the Advisor and/or its affiliated entities.
The following table represents the fees incurred associated with the payments to the Advisor for the period indicated:
For the Years Ended
December 31,
Acquisition fee (1) $ - $ 304,195
Development cost reimbursement (2) 304,366 129,299
Asset management fees (general and administrative costs) 77,313 685,678
Total $ 381,679 $ 1,119,172
(1) Acquisition fees are capitalized and are included in the carrying value of our investment in the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel which is classified as construction in progress on the consolidated balance sheets.
(2) Development costs that the we reimburse our Advisor for are capitalized and are included in the carrying value of our investment in the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel which is classified as construction in progress on the consolidated balance sheets.
The advisory agreement has a one-year term and is renewable for an unlimited number of successive one-year periods upon the mutual consent of our Advisor and our independent directors. During our acquisition and development stage, payments include asset acquisition fees and financing coordination fees, and the reimbursement of acquisition-related expenses to our Advisor. During our operational stage, we pay our Advisor an asset management fee or asset management participation or construction management fees. We also reimburse our Advisor and its affiliates for actual expenses it incurs for administrative and other services provided for us. Upon the liquidation of assets, we may pay our Advisor or its affiliates a real estate disposition commission.
Summary of Cash Flows
The following summary discussion of our cash flows is based on the consolidated statements of cash flows and is not meant to be an all-inclusive discussion of the changes in our cash flows for the periods presented below:
Year Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
Net cash flows (used in)/provided by operating activities $ (730,702 ) $ 637,774
Net cash flows provided by investing activities 19,694,626 3,731
Net cash flows (used in)/provided financing activities (1,688,632 ) 9,326,330
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (47,648 ) (55,549 )
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 17,227,644 9,912,286
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of the year 14,263,182 4,350,896
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of the period $ 31,490,826 $ 14,263,182
Our principal sources of cash flow were derived from the disposition of our membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture and the sales of all of our Israeli Bonds. We believe our cash available on hand will provide us with sufficient resources to fund our operating expenses, our development activities and certain construction costs associated with the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel, expected debt service, any necessary capital contributions to our investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities and distributions, if any, required to maintain our qualification as a REIT.
Operating activities
The net cash used in operating activities of $0.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 consisted of our net income of $4.8 million, a loss from our investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities of $2.8 million and net changes in operating assets and liabilities of $0.2 million offset by an aggregate gain of $8.3 million on the disposition of our membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture and a gain of $0.3 million on the sale of our marketable securities.
Investing activities
The net cash provided by investing activities of $19.7 million during the 2020 period consisted of aggregate proceeds received in connection with the redemption of our membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture of $22.0 million and proceeds from the disposition of marketable securities of $4.1 million offset by development costs of $5.3 million associated with the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel and contributions to the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture of $1.1 million.
Financing activities
The net cash used in financing activities of $1.7 million during the 2020 period consisted of distributions of $1.1 million to our common stockholders and redemptions and cancellation of shares of our common stock of $0.6 million.
Williamsburg Moxy Hotel
On July 17, 2019, we, through a subsidiary, acquired the Williamsburg Land, from unaffiliated third parties, for an aggregate purchase price of $30.4 million, excluding closing and other acquisition related costs, on which we are developing and constructing the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand ($14.4 million) and proceeds from a mortgage loan ($16.0 million).
In connection with the closing of the acquisition of the Williamsburg Land, we simultaneously entered into a nonrecourse mortgage loan collateralized by the Williamsburg Land (the “Williamsburg Mortgage”) for $16.0 million. The Williamsburg Mortgage matures on August 9, 2021, bears interest at Libor plus 2.50% (2.64% as of December 31, 2020) and requires monthly interest-only payments through maturity with the principal balance due in full at maturity. As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding principal balance of the Williamsburg Mortgage was $16.0 million, which is presented on the consolidated balance sheet and is classified as Mortgage Payable, Net. Our totaled scheduled interest payments for 2021 through the maturity date of August 9, 2021 is $286,000.
We currently intend to seek to obtain construction financing on or before the maturity date of the Williamsburg Mortgage. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining construction financing or that it will be obtained at satisfactory terms. If we are unable to obtain construction financing prior to the maturity date of the Williamsburg Mortgage, we intend to refinance or repay the then outstanding balance with available cash on hand on or before its maturity date. We have no other maturities of mortgage debt over the next 12 months.
As of December 31, 2020, we incurred and capitalized to construction in progress an aggregate of $40.5 million consisting of acquisition and other costs attributable to development of the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel.
East End Ave. Joint Venture
On March 31, 2017, we entered into a joint venture agreement (the “40 East End Ave. Transaction”) with SAYT Master Holdco LLC, an entity majority-owned and controlled by David Lichtenstein, who also majority owns and controls our Sponsor, and a related party, (the “40 East End Seller”), providing for us to acquire approximately 33.3% of the 40 East End Seller’s approximate 100% membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture for aggregate consideration of $10.3 million.
Our ownership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture is a non-managing interest. Because we exert significant influence over but do not control the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, we account for our ownership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture in accordance with the equity method of accounting. All contributions to and distributions of earnings from the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture are made on a pro rata basis in proportion to each member’s equity interest percentage. Any distributions in excess of earnings from the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture are made to the members pursuant to the terms of its operating agreement. We commenced recording our allocated portion of earnings and cash distributions, if any, from the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture beginning as of March 31, 2017 with respect to our membership interest of approximately 33.3% in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture. Additionally, Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (“Lightstone I”), a real estate investment trust also sponsored by our Sponsor, made $30.0 million of preferred equity contributions (the “Preferred Contributions”) to a subsidiary of the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, pursuant to an instrument that entitles Lightstone I to monthly preferred distributions at a rate of 12% per annum. No distributions may be paid to the members until the Preferred Contributions are redeemed in full.
The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, through affiliates, owns the 40 East End Avenue Project, a luxury residential 29-unit condominium project located at the corner of 81st Street and East End Avenue in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City. The 40 East End Avenue Project received its final TCO in March 2020 and through December 31, 2020, six of the condominium units have been sold.
On March 21, 2017, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture obtained financing from a financial institution of up to $85.3 million (the “40 East End Ave. Mortgage”) for the land acquisition and construction of the 40 East End Ave. Project. On December 19, 2019, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture refinanced the 40 East End Ave. Mortgage with a loan (the “Condo Loan”) from another financial institution of $95.2 million, of which $90.2 million was initially funded at closing and the remaining $5.0 million was subsequently advanced in April 2020. The Condo Loan matures on December 19, 2021, bears interest at LIBOR plus 2.45%, which is payable monthly, and requires principal payments to be made at certain prescribed amounts from proceeds from the sales of condominium units.
During 2020, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture made aggregate principal payments of $5.3 million on the Condo Loan reducing its outstanding principal balance to $90.7 million ($89.9 million, net of deferred financing costs) as of December 31, 2020. These principal payments were made with proceeds from the sales of condominium units totaling $3.3 million and a balloon payment of $2.0 million, of which our proportionate share was $0.7 million.
Pursuant to the terms of the Condo Loan, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture was required to make a principal paydown on December 19, 2020 if the then outstanding principal balance of the Condo Loan had not been paid down to at least $81.0 million as of that date. However, in lieu of a required principal paydown of $11.7. million, the lender agreed to accept an immediate principal paydown of $2.0 million, which was paid on December 18, 2020, and allow for the remaining required principal paydown of $9.7 million to be paid during the first quarter of 2021, which was paid in March 2021. The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture used proceeds from the sales of condominium units which closed in the first quarter of 2021 to make the remaining required principal paydown. The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture will be required to make another principal paydown on June 19, 2021 if principal paydowns from additional condominium sales proceeds do not reduce the outstanding principal balance of the Condo Loan to at least $73.0 million as of that date.
In connection with the closing of the Condo Loan , the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture used a portion of the initial loan proceeds to (i) fully repay the then outstanding principal balance of $80.3 million plus accrued and unpaid interest of $0.2 million for the 40 East End Ave. Mortgage and (ii) redeem $9.5 million of Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions. Additionally, in connection with the refinancing, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture recognized a loss on the early extinguishment of debt of $0.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2019, of which our proportionate share was $0.3 million.
The Condo Loan is scheduled to mature on December 19, 2021. Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pace of condominium unit sales, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture is engaged in discussions with the lender to extend the maturity date of the Condo Loan. However, there can be no assurance that the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture will be successful in such endeavors.
Our Sponsor and its affiliates (collectively, the “40 East End Guarantors”) have provided certain guarantees with respect to the Condo Loan and the members have agreed to reimburse the 40 East End Guarantors for any balance that may become due under the guarantees (the “40 East End Guarantee”), of which our share is approximately 33.3%. We have determined that the fair value of our share of the 40 East End Guarantee is immaterial.
On December 26, 2019, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture redeemed an additional $3.5 million of Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions. As a result, Lightstone I’s outstanding Preferred Contributions were $17.0 million as of December 31, 2019. An additional $11.0 million of Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions were redeemed on February 13, 2020 reducing Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions to $6.0 million, which remains outstanding as of December 31, 2020.
Subsequent to our acquisition through December 31, 2020, we have made an aggregate of $5.7 million (including $1.1 million and $0.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively) of additional capital contributions to the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture.
Other than our proportionate share of any required balloon payments that may become due under the Condo Loan, we do not expect to make any significant capital contributions to the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture over the next 12 months. Additionally, we do not expect to receive any distributions from the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture over the next 12 months as substantially all of proceeds from any sales of condominium units must first be used to pay-down the Condo Loan and thereafter to redeem Lightstone I’s remaining Preferred Contributions.
Distributions and Distributions Declared
Our Board of Directors commenced declaring and we began paying distributions on our Common Shares at the pro rata equivalent of an annual distribution of $0.80 per share, or an annualized rate of 8.0% assuming a purchase price of $10.00 per share, beginning with the period from June 22, 2015 through November 30, 2015 and monthly thereafter beginning with the month ending December 31, 2015 through the month ending June 30, 2019. Beginning with the month ending July 31, 2019, our Board of Directors decreased the regular monthly distributions on our Common Shares to the pro rata equivalent of an annual distribution of $0.40 per share, or an annualized rate of 4.0% assuming a purchase price of $10.00 per share. Distributions are payable to stockholders of record at the close of business on the last day of the month-end. All distributions were paid on or about the 15th day of the month following the month-end.
On January 15, 2020, February 15, 2020, March 15, 2020 and April 29, 2020, we paid distributions to our stockholders for the months ended December 31, 2019, January 31, 2020, February 29, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively, totaling $1.1 million. These distributions were all paid in cash.
On March 25, 2020, the Board of Directors determined to suspend regular monthly distributions for months ending after March 2020.
Special Distribution
On December 21, 2020, the Board of Directors authorized a special distribution of $0.37 per share of common stock payable to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2020. The total special distribution of $3.2 million, which represents a portion of the proceeds generated from asset sales, was paid on or about January 15, 2021.
Total distributions declared during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $4.0 million and $5.1 million, respectively.
Future distributions, if any, declared will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors based on their analysis of our performance over the previous periods and expectations of performance for future periods. The Board of Directors will consider various factors in its determination, including but not limited to, the sources and availability of capital, operating and interest expenses, our ability to refinance near-term debt, as well as the IRS’s annual distribution requirement that REITs distribute no less than 90% of their taxable income. We cannot assure that any future distributions will be made or that we will maintain any particular level of distributions that we have previously established or may establish.
Share Repurchase Program
Our share repurchase program may provide our stockholders with limited, interim liquidity by enabling them to sell their Common Shares back to us, subject to restrictions. For the period from January 1 through March 24, 2020, we repurchased 57,800 shares of common stock pursuant to our share repurchase program at an average price of $9.53 per share. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we repurchased 70,038 Common Shares at an average price per share of $9.76 per share.
On March 25, 2020, the Board of Directors amended the share repurchase program to remove stockholder notice requirements and also approved the suspension of all redemptions effective immediately.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information concerning accounting standards that we have not yet been required to adopt and may be applicable to our future operations.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. and Subsidiaries
(a Maryland corporation)
Index
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s 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 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 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 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 financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ EisnerAmper LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2014.
EISNERAMPER LLP
Iselin, New Jersey
March 19, 2021
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
December 31,
Assets
Investment property:
Construction in progress $ 40,479,640 $ 34,217,619
Investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities 10,988,023 26,397,804
Cash and cash equivalents 31,406,204 13,730,832
Marketable securities, available for sale - 4,161,781
Restricted cash and other assets 116,419 612,275
Total Assets $ 82,990,286 $ 79,120,311
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Mortgage payable, net $ 16,000,000 $ 15,656,241
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses 1,178,674 536,668
Distributions payable 3,151,447 285,841
Subordinated advances - related party 13,451,692 13,264,738
Total Liabilities 33,781,813 29,743,488
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 50.0 million shares authorized, none issued and outstanding - -
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 200.0 million shares authorized, 8.5 million and 8.6 million shares issued and outstanding, respectively 85,374 85,952
Additional paid-in-capital 71,665,213 72,215,685
Accumulated other comprehensive income - 400,089
Accumulated deficit (22,542,114 ) (23,324,903 )
Total Stockholders’ Equity 49,208,473 49,376,823
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 82,990,286 $ 79,120,311
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Years Ended December 31,
Income/(Loss):
Investment income $ 166,119 $ 2,410,030
Gain from disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity 8,300,837 -
Gain on sale of marketable securities 264,589 -
Loss from investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities (2,840,359 ) (4,415,918 )
Total income/(loss) 5,891,186 (2,005,888 )
Expenses:
General and administrative costs 870,606 1,292,776
Interest expense 186,954 186,954
Foreign currency transaction loss 47,648 55,549
Total expenses 1,105,208 1,535,279
Net income/(loss) $ 4,785,978 $ (3,541,167 )
Net income/(loss) per common share, basic and diluted $ 0.56 $ (0.41 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted 8,542,162 8,616,619
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Years Ended December 31,
Net income/(loss) $ 4,785,978 $ (3,541,167 )
Other comprehensive income:
Holding (loss)/gain on marketable securities, available for sale (135,500 ) 400,089
Reclassification adjustment for gain included in net income (264,589 ) -
Other comprehensive (loss)/income (400,089 ) 400,089
Comprehensive income/(loss) $ 4,385,889 $ (3,141,078 )
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Additional Accumulated Other
Common Paid-In Comprehensive Accumulated Total
Shares Amount Capital Income Deficit Equity
BALANCE, December 31, 2018 8,665,262 $ 86,653 $ 72,898,310 $ - $ (14,653,270 ) $ 58,331,693
Net loss - - - - (3,541,167 ) (3,541,167 )
Distributions declared (a) - - - - (5,130,466 ) (5,130,466 )
Other comprehensive income - - - 400,089 - 400,089
Redemption and cancellation of shares (70,038 ) (701 ) (682,625 ) - - (683,326 )
BALANCE, December 31, 2019 8,595,224 $ 85,952 $ 72,215,685 $ 400,089 $ (23,324,903 ) $ 49,376,823
Net income - - - - 4,785,978 4,785,978
Distributions declared (b) - - - - (4,003,189 ) (4,003,189 )
Other comprehensive loss - - - (400,089 ) - (400,089 )
Redemption and cancellation of shares (57,800 ) (578 ) (550,472 ) - - (551,050 )
BALANCE, December 31, 2020 8,537,424 $ 85,374 $ 71,665,213 $ - $ (22,542,114 ) $ 49,208,473
(a) Dividends per share were $0.60.
(b) Dividends per share were $0.47.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Year Ended December 31,
For the Year Ended
December 31,
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income/(loss) $ 4,785,978 $ (3,541,167 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities:
Loss from investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities 2,840,359 4,415,918
Gain from disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity (8,300,837 )
Gain on sale of marketable securities (264,589 )
Amortization of discount on debt securities (30,196 ) (309,658 )
Foreign currency transaction loss 47,648 55,549
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Increase in other assets (36,678 ) (69,343 )
Increase in accrued interest on marketable securities - (27,595 )
Decrease in due from related parties -
Increase/(decrease) in accounts payable and other accrued expenses 40,573 (14,901 )
Increase in accrued interest on subordinated advances - related party 186,954 186,954
Decrease in due to related parties - (57,983 )
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities (730,702 ) 637,774
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of investment property (5,316,829 ) (33,541,962 )
Purchase of marketable securities - (4,654,015 )
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities 4,141,195 1,229,576
Proceeds from disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity 21,989,574 -
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities - 932,104
Proceeds from preferred investment in related party - 37,000,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities (1,119,314 ) (961,972 )
Net cash provided by investing activities 19,694,626 3,731
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from mortgage financing - 16,000,000
Payment of loan fees and expenses - (558,312 )
Redemption and cancellation of common stock (551,050 ) (683,326 )
Distributions paid to Company’s common stockholders (1,137,582 ) (5,432,032 )
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities (1,688,632 ) 9,326,330
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (47,648 ) (55,549 )
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash 17,227,644 9,912,286
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year 14,263,182 4,350,896
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year $ 31,490,826 $ 14,263,182
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Holding loss/gain on marketable securities, available for sale $ - $ 400,089
Distributions declared, but not paid $ 3,151,447 $ 285,841
Non-cash purchase of investment property $ 980,649 $ 461,104
Amortization of deferred financing costs included in construction in progress $ 343,759 $ 214,553
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
1. Structure
Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (’‘Lightstone Income Trust’’), is a Maryland corporation, formed on September 9, 2014, which elected to qualify as a real estate investment trust (’‘REIT’’) for U.S. federal income tax purposes beginning with the taxable year ended December 31, 2016.
Lightstone Income Trust, together with its subsidiaries is collectively referred to as the ’‘Company’’ and the use of ’‘we,’’ ’‘our,’’ ’‘us’’ or similar pronouns refers to Lightstone Income Trust or the Company as required by the context in which any such pronoun is used.
The Company has and intends to continue to seek opportunities to invest in real estate and real estate-related investments. The Company’s real estate-related investment may include mezzanine loans, mortgage loans, bridge loans and preferred equity interests, with a focus on development-related investments, including investments intended to finance development or redevelopment opportunities. The Company may also invest in debt and derivative securities related to real estate assets. A portion of the Company’s investments by value may be secured by or related to properties or entities advised by, or wholly or partially, directly or indirectly owned by, The Lightstone Group, LLC (the “Sponsor”), its affiliates or other real estate investment programs it sponsors. Although the Company expects that most of its investments will be of these various types, it may also make other investments. In fact, it may invest in whatever types of investments that it believes are in its best interests.
The Company currently has one operating segment. As of December 31, 2020, it wholly owned and consolidated the operating results of one development project, the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel and held an unconsolidated approximate 33.3% membership interest in 40 East End Ave. Pref Member LLC (the “40 East End Ave. Joint Venture”). The Company accounts for its unconsolidated membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture in accordance with the equity method of accounting.
The Company’s advisor is Lightstone Real Estate Income LLC (the “Advisor”), which is majority owned by David Lichtenstein. On September 12, 2014, the Advisor contributed $200,000 for 20,000 shares of common stock (“Common Shares”), or $10.00 per share of the Lightstone Income Trust. Mr. Lichtenstein also is a majority owner of the equity interests of The Lightstone Group, LLC. The Lightstone Group, LLC served as the Company’s Sponsor during its initial public offering (the “Offering”) which terminated on March 31, 2017. Mr. Lichtenstein owns 222,222 Common Shares which were issued on June 15, 2015 for $2.0 million, or $9.00 per share. Subject to the oversight of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) and pursuant to the terms of an advisory agreement, the Advisor has the primary responsibility for making investment decisions on behalf of the Company and managing its day-to-day operations. Mr. Lichtenstein also acts as the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. As a result, he exerts influence over but does not control Lightstone Income Trust.
The Company does not have any employees. The Advisor receives compensation and fees for services related to the investment and management of the Company’s assets. The Advisor has certain affiliates which may manage the properties the Company acquires. However, the Company may also contract with other unaffiliated third-party property managers.
The Company’s Common Shares are not currently listed on a national securities exchange. The Company may seek to list its Common Shares for trading on a national securities exchange only if a majority of its independent directors believe listing would be in the best interest of its stockholders. The Company does not intend to list its Common Shares at this time. The Company does not anticipate that there would be any market for its Common Shares until they are listed for trading. In the event the Company does not begin the process of achieving a liquidity event prior to March 31, 2022, which is the fifth anniversary of the termination of its Offering, its charter requires either (a) an amendment to our charter to extend the deadline to begin the process of achieving a liquidity event, or (b) the holding of a stockholders meeting to vote on a proposal for an orderly liquidation of its portfolio.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Lightstone Income Trust and its subsidiaries (over which it exercises financial and operating control). All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during a reporting period. The most significant assumptions and estimates relate to the valuation of real estate and investments in other real estate entities. Application of these assumptions requires the exercise of judgment as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Investments in other real estate entities where the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not exercise financial and operating control, and is not considered to be the primary beneficiary are accounted for using the equity method.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit accounts, which, at times, may exceed U.S. federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. The Company believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on its cash and cash equivalents.
If required by the Company’s lenders, restricted cash is held in escrow accounts for anticipated capital expenditures, real estate taxes, and/or other reserves for certain of our consolidated properties. Capital reserves are typically utilized for non-operating expenses such as major capital expenditures. Alternatively, a lender may require its own formula for an escrow of capital reserves.
The following is a summary of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash total as presented in our statements of cash flows for the periods presented:
December 31,
Cash and cash equivalents $ 31,406,204 $ 13,730,832
Restricted cash 84,622 532,350
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 31,490,826 $ 14,263,182
Investments in Real Estate
Accounting for Asset Acquisitions
When the Company makes an investment in real estate assets, the cost of real estate assets acquired in an asset acquisition are allocated to the acquired tangible assets, consisting of land, building and improvements, furniture and fixtures and identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above-market and below-market leases, acquired in-place leases, and the value of tenant relationships, based in each case on their relative fair values, at the date of acquisition, based on evaluation of information including independent appraisals that may be obtained in connection with the acquisition or financing of the respective property and other relevant market data. Fees incurred related to asset acquisitions are capitalized as part of the cost of the investment.
Accounting for Development Projects
The Company incurs a variety of costs in the development of a property. The costs of land and building under development include specifically identifiable costs. The capitalized costs include, but are not limited to, pre-construction costs essential to the development of the property, development costs, construction costs, interest costs, real estate taxes and other costs incurred during the period of development. The Company ceases capitalization when the development project is substantially complete and placed in service, which may occur in phases. Determination of when a development project is substantially complete and capitalization must cease involves a degree of judgment.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Once the development project is placed in service, which may occur in phases or for an entire building or project, the costs capitalized to construction in progress are transferred to land and improvements, buildings and improvements, and furniture and fixtures on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at the historical cost of the property.
Accounting for Business Combinations
Upon the acquisition of real estate operating properties that meet the definition of a business, the Company estimates the fair value of acquired tangible assets and identified intangible assets and liabilities and certain liabilities such as assumed debt and contingent liabilities, at the date of acquisition, based on evaluation of information and estimates available at that date, including independent appraisals that may be obtained in connection with the acquisition or financing of the respective property and other relevant market data. Based on these estimates, the Company evaluates the existence of goodwill or a gain from a bargain purchase and allocates the initial purchase price to the applicable assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests, if any. As final information regarding fair value of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and noncontrolling interests is received and estimates are refined, appropriate adjustments are made to the purchase price allocation. The allocations are finalized as soon as all the information necessary is available and in no case later than within twelve months from the acquisition date. Fees incurred related to the acquisition of real estate operating properties that meet the definition of a business are expensed as incurred within general and administrative costs within the consolidated statements of operations.
Carrying Value of Assets
The amounts to be capitalized as a result of periodic improvements and additions to real estate property, when applicable, and the periods over which the assets are depreciated or amortized, are determined based on the application of accounting standards that may require estimates as to fair value and the allocation of various costs to the individual assets. Differences in the amount attributed to the assets may be significant based upon the assumptions made in calculating these estimates.
Impairment Evaluation
Management evaluates the recoverability of its investments in real estate assets at the lowest identifiable level, the individual property level. Long-lived assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized only if the carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value.
The Company evaluates the long-lived assets for potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable and records an impairment charge when the undiscounted projected cash flows are less than the carrying amount for a particular property. The estimated cash flows used for the impairment analysis and the determination of estimated fair value is based on the Company’s plans for the respective assets and the Company’s views of market and economic conditions. The estimates consider matters such as future operating income, market and other applicable trends and residual value, as well as the effects of demand, competition, and recent sales data for comparable properties. Changes in estimated future cash flows due to changes in the Company’s plans or views of market and economic conditions could result in recognition of impairment losses, which, under the applicable accounting guidance, may be substantial.
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
The Company evaluates its investments in other entities for consolidation. It considers its percentage interest in the joint venture, evaluation of control and whether a variable interest entity exists when determining whether or not the investment qualifies for consolidation or if it should be accounted for as an unconsolidated investment under either the equity method of accounting.
If an investment qualifies for the equity method of accounting, the Company’s investment is recorded initially at cost, and subsequently adjusted for equity in net income (loss) and cash contributions and distributions. The net income or loss of an unconsolidated investment is allocated to its investors in accordance with the provisions of the operating agreement of the entity. The allocation provisions in these agreements may differ from the ownership interest held by each investor. Differences, if any, between the carrying amount of our investment in the respective joint venture and the Company’s share of the underlying equity of such unconsolidated entity are amortized over the respective lives of the underlying assets as applicable. These items are reported as a single line item in the statements of operations as income or loss from investments in unconsolidated affiliated entities.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
We review investments for impairment in value whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such investment may not be recoverable. An investment is impaired only if management’s estimate of the fair value of the investment is less than the carrying value of the investment, and such decline in value is deemed to be other than temporary. The ultimate realization of the Company’s investment in partially owned entities is dependent on a number of factors including the performance of that entity and market conditions. If the Company determines that a decline in the value of a partially owned entity is other than temporary, it will record an impairment charge.
Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs are recorded at cost and consist of loan fees and other direct costs incurred in issuing debt. Amortization of deferred financing costs is computed using a method that approximates the effective interest method over the term of the related debt and is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations. Unamortized deferred financing costs are included as a direct deduction from the related debt in the consolidated balance sheets.
Income Taxes
The Company elected to qualify and be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with the taxable year ended December 31, 2016. As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its net taxable income that it distributes currently to its stockholders. To maintain its REIT qualification under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, the Company must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that it annually distribute to its stockholders at least 90% of its REIT taxable income (which does not equal net income, as calculated in accordance with GAAP), determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gain. If the Company fails to remain qualified for taxation as a REIT in any subsequent year and does not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, its income for that year will be taxed at the regular corporate rate, and it may be precluded from qualifying for treatment as a REIT for the four-year period following its failure to qualify as a REIT. Such an event could materially adversely affect the Company’s net income and net cash available for distribution to stockholders.
The Company engages in certain activities through taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”). As such, the Company is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes and franchise taxes from these activities.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had no material uncertain income tax positions. Additionally, even if the Company continues to qualify as a REIT, it may still be subject to some U.S. federal, state and local taxes on our income and property and to U.S. federal income taxes and excise taxes on its undistributed income.
Marketable Securities
Marketable securities may consist of equity and debt securities that are designated as available-for-sale. Marketable debt securities are recorded at fair value and unrealized holding gains or losses are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Marketable equity securities are recorded at fair value and unrealized holding gains and losses are recognized on the consolidated statements of operations.
Realized gains or losses resulting from the sale of these marketable securities are determined based on the specific identification of the securities sold. An impairment charge is recognized when the decline in the fair value of a debt security below the amortized cost basis is determined to be other-than-temporary. The Company considers various factors in determining whether to recognize an impairment charge, including the duration and severity of any decline in fair value below our amortized cost basis, any adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuers and our intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Foreign Currency Transactions
The Company previously maintained funds in a bank account that was denominated in New Israeli Shekel (“ILS”) and was re-measured into U.S. Dollars at the current exchange rate at the end of each reporting period. As of December 31, 2019, we maintained approximately 4,455 ILS in a bank account, which was re-measured to $1,291, and was included in cash and cash equivalents on our consolidated balance sheet. During the first quarter of 2020, we converted all of our ILS to U.S. Dollars and as a result, no longer have any ILS in the bank account. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded foreign currency transaction losses of $47,648 and $55,549, respectively, to reflect both the exchange rate at the end of the reporting period and the effect of exchange rate changes on the amount of functional currency paid or received while settling transactions during the periods.
Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and other assets, mortgage payable, accounts payable and other accrued expenses and due to related parties approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments.
Net Earnings per Common Share
Net earnings per Common Share on a basic and fully diluted basis is earnings divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. The Company does not have any potentially dilutive securities.
COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic leading many countries, including the United States, particularly at the individual state level, to subsequently impose various degrees of restrictions and other measures, including, but not limited to, mandatory temporary closures, quarantine guidelines, limitations on travel, and “shelter in place” rules in an effort to reduce its duration and the severity of its spread. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to evolve, most of these previously imposed restrictions and other measures have now been reduced and/or lifted. However, the COVID-19 pandemic remains highly unpredictable and dynamic and its duration and extent is likely dependent on numerous developments such as the regulatory approval, mass production, administration and ultimate effectiveness of vaccines, as well as the timeline to achieve a level of sufficient herd immunity amongst the general population. Accordingly, the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to have negative effects on the overall health of the U.S. economy for the foreseeable future.
To-date, the COVID-19 pandemic has not had any significant impact on the Company’s Williamsburg Moxy Hotel development project. The Company’s other investment is its approximately 33.3% membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, which owns a luxury residential condominium project (the “40 East End Avenue Project”) located at the corner of 81st Street and East End Avenue in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City. The 40 East End Avenue Project received its final temporary certificates of occupancy, or TCO, in March 2020 and through December 31, 2020, six of the condominium units had been sold. The 40 East End Joint Venture has an outstanding loan on the 40 East End Project (the “Condo Loan”) which is currently scheduled to mature on December 19, 2021. Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pace of condominium unit sales, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture is engaged in discussions with the lender to extend the maturity date of the Condo Loan. However, there can be no assurance that the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture will be successful in such endeavors. See Note 6 for additional information.
The extent to which the Company’s business may be affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will largely depend on both current and future developments, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be reasonably predicted.
If the Company’s Williamsburg Moxy Hotel development project and/or investment in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture are negatively impacted for an extended period because development activities and/or sales of condominium units are delayed, the Company’s business and financial results could be materially and adversely impacted.
New Accounting Pronouncements
The Company has reviewed and determined that recently issued accounting pronouncements will not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows, or do not apply to its current operations.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
3. Williamsburg Moxy Hotel
On July 17, 2019, the Company acquired four adjacent parcels of land located at 353-361 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York (collectively, the “Williamsburg Land”), from unaffiliated third parties, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $30.4 million, excluding closing and other acquisition related costs, on which it is developing and constructing a 210-room branded hotel (the “Williamsburg Moxy Hotel”).
In connection with the acquisition of the Williamsburg Land, the Advisor earned an acquisition fee equal to 1.00% of the gross aggregate contractual purchase price, which was approximately $0.3 million.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company incurred and capitalized to construction in progress an aggregate of $40.5 million consisting of acquisition and other costs attributable to the development of the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company capitalized interest of approximately $1.0 million and $0.5 million, respectively, in connection with the development of the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel.
Williamsburg Mortgage
In connection with the closing of the acquisition of the Williamsburg Land, the Company simultaneously entered into a nonrecourse mortgage loan collateralized by the Williamsburg Land (the “Williamsburg Mortgage”) for $16.0 million. The Williamsburg Mortgage matures on August 9, 2021, bears interest at Libor plus 2.50% (2.64% as of December 31, 2020) and requires monthly interest-only payments through maturity with the principal balance due in full at maturity. As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding principal balance of the Williamsburg Mortgage was $16.0 million, which is presented on the consolidated balance sheet and is classified as Mortgage Payable, Net..
The Company currently intends to seek to obtain construction financing on or before the maturity date of the Williamsburg Mortgage. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining construction financing or that it will be obtained at satisfactory terms. If the Company is unable to obtain construction financing prior to the maturity date of the Williamsburg Mortgage, it intends to refinance or repay the then outstanding balance with available cash on hand on or before its maturity date. The Company has no other maturities of mortgage debt over the next 12 months.
4. Marketable Securities and Fair Value Measurements
Marketable Securities
During 2019, the Company acquired unsecured corporate bonds that are publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (the “Israeli Bonds”) and are denominated in new Israeli Shekels, or ILS. The fair value of the Israeli Bonds was translated using period-end exchange rates. Gains and losses resulting from the changes in exchange rates and market prices from period to period were reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. As of December 31, 2019, the Company did not recognize any impairment charges. The fair value of the Company’s investments in debt securities were measured using quoted prices in markets that were not active. As of December 31, 2019, all of the Company’s debt securities were classified as Level 2 assets and there were no transfers between the level classifications during the year ended December 31, 2019. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company sold all of the Israeli Bonds and recognized a gain on the sale of marketable securities of $0.3 million. As a result, the Company does not have any remaining marketable securities at December 31, 2020.
The following is a summary of the Company’s available for sale securities as of December 31, 2019:
Adjusted Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Fair Value
Debt securities:
Israeli Bonds $ 3,761,692 $ 400,089 $ - $ 4,161,781
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
5. Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred Stock
The Company’s charter authorizes the Company’s board of directors to designate and issue one or more classes or series of preferred stock without approval of the holders of Common Shares. On February 11, 2015, the Company amended and restated its charter to authorize the issuance of 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Prior to the issuance of shares of each class or series, the board of directors will be required by Maryland law and by the charter to set, subject to the charter restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock, the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of each class or series of preferred stock so issued, which may be more beneficial than the rights, preferences and privileges attributable to Common Shares. The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had not issued any shares of preferred stock.
Common Shares
On February 11, 2015, the Company amended and restated its charter to authorize the issuance of 200,000,000 Common Shares. Under the charter, the Company will not be able to make certain material changes to its business form or operations without the approval of stockholders holding at least a majority of the Common Shares entitled to vote on the matter.
Subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock contained in the Company’s charter and except as may otherwise be specified in the charter, the holders of Common Shares are entitled to one vote per Common Share on all matters submitted to a stockholder vote, including the election of the Company’s directors. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors. Therefore, the holders of a majority of outstanding Common Shares are able to elect the Company’s entire Board of Directors. Except as the Company’s charter may provide with respect to any series of preferred stock that the Company may issue in the future, the holders of Common Shares possess exclusive voting power.
Holders of the Company’s Common Shares are entitled to receive distributions as authorized from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors and declared out of legally available funds, subject to any preferential rights of any preferred stock that the Company issues in the future. In any liquidation, each outstanding Common Share will entitle its holder to share (based on the percentage of Common Shares held) in the assets that remain after the Company pays its liabilities and any preferential distributions owed to preferred stockholders. Holders of Common Shares do not have preemptive rights, which means that there is no automatic option to purchase any new Common Shares that the Company issues, nor do holders of Common Shares have any preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or redemption rights. Holders of Common Shares do not have appraisal rights unless the Board of Directors determines that appraisal rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of stock, to a particular transaction or all transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such Common Shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise appraisal rights. Common Shares are nonassessable by the Company upon its receipt of the consideration for which the Board of Directors authorized their issuance.
Distributions and Distributions Declared
The Company’s Board of Directors commenced declaring and it began paying distributions on its Common Shares at the pro rata equivalent of an annual distribution of $0.80 per share, or an annualized rate of 8.0% assuming a purchase price of $10.00 per share, beginning with the period from June 22, 2015 through November 30, 2015 and monthly thereafter beginning with the month ending December 31, 2015 through the month ending June 30, 2019. Beginning with the month ending July 31, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors decreased the regular monthly distributions on our Common Shares to the pro rata equivalent of an annual distribution of $0.40 per share, or an annualized rate of 4.0% assuming a purchase price of $10.00 per share. Distributions are payable to stockholders of record at the close of business on the last day of the month-end. All distributions were paid on or about the 15th day of the month following the month-end.
On March 25, 2020, the Board of Directors determined to suspend regular monthly distributions.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Special Distribution
On December 21, 2020, the Board of Directors authorized a special distribution of $0.37 per share of common stock payable to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2020. The total special distribution of $3.2 million, which represents a portion of the proceeds generated from asset sales, was paid on or about January 15, 2021.
Total distributions declared during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $4.0 million and $5.1 million, respectively.
Future distributions, if any, declared will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors based on their analysis of the Company’s performance over the previous periods and expectations of performance for future periods. The Board of Directors will consider various factors in its determination, including but not limited to, the sources and availability of capital, operating and interest expenses, the Company’s ability to refinance near-term debt, as well as the IRS’s annual distribution requirement that REITs distribute no less than 90% of their taxable income. The Company cannot assure that any future distributions will be made or that it will maintain any particular level of distributions that it has previously established or may establish.
Share Repurchase Program
The Company’s share repurchase program may provide its stockholders with limited, interim liquidity by enabling them to sell their Common Shares back to the Company, subject to restrictions. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company repurchased 70,038 Common Shares at an average price per share of $9.76 per share. For the period from January 1 through March 24, 2020, the Company repurchased 57,800 Common Shares pursuant to its share repurchase program at an average price of $9.53 per share.
On March 25, 2020, the Board of Directors amended the share repurchase program to remove stockholder notice requirements and also approved the suspension of all redemptions effective immediately.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
6. Related Party Transactions and Other Arrangements
The Company has agreements with the Advisor and its affiliates to pay certain fees, as follows, in exchange for services performed by these entities and other related party entities. The Company’s ability to secure financing and acquire real estate and real estate-related investments are dependent upon its Advisor and affiliates to perform such services as provided in these agreements.
Operational Stage
Fees
Amount
Acquisition Fee
The Company pays to the Advisor or its affiliates 1% of the amount funded by us to originate or acquire an investment (including the Company’s pro rata share (direct or indirect) of debt incurred in respect of such investment, but excluding acquisition fees and acquisition expenses). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not pay any acquisition fee to the Advisor or any of its affiliates with respect to any transaction between the Company and the Sponsor, any of its affiliates or any program sponsored by it.
Acquisition Expenses
The Company reimburses the Advisor for expenses actually incurred related to selecting, originating or acquiring investments on the Company’s behalf, regardless of whether or not the Company acquires the related investments. In addition, the Company pays third parties, or reimburses the Advisor or its affiliates, for any investment-related expenses due to third parties, including, but not limited to, legal fees and expenses, travel and communications expenses, accounting fees and expenses and other closing costs and miscellaneous expenses, regardless of whether or not the Company acquires the related investments. In no event will the total of all acquisition fees and acquisition expenses (including those paid to third parties, as described above) with respect to a particular investment be unreasonable or, except in limited circumstances, exceed 5% of the amount funded by us to originate or acquire an investment (including the Company’s pro rata share (direct or indirect) of debt attributable to such investment, but exclusive of acquisition fees and acquisition expenses).
Asset Management Fee
The Company pays the Advisor or its assignees a monthly asset management fee equal to one-twelfth (1⁄12) of 1% of the cost of the Company’s assets. The cost of the Company’s assets means the amount funded by the Company for investments, including expenses and any financing attributable to such investments, less any principal received on such investments.
Operating Expenses
The Company reimburses the Advisor’s costs of providing administrative services, subject to the limitation that the Company generally will not reimburse the Advisor for any amount by which the total operating expenses at the end of the four preceding fiscal quarters exceeds the greater of (i) 2% of average invested assets (as defined in the advisory agreement), and (ii) 25% of net income other than any additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debt or other similar non-cash reserves and excluding any gain from the sale of investments for that period. After the end of any fiscal quarter for which the Company’s total operating expenses exceed this 2%/25% limitation for the four fiscal quarters then ended, if the Company’s independent directors exercise their right to conclude that this excess was justified, this fact will be disclosed in writing to the holders of Common Shares within 60 days. If the Company’s independent directors do not determine such excess expenses are justified, the Advisor is required to reimburse the Company, at the end of the four preceding fiscal quarters, by the amount that the Company’s aggregate annual total operating expenses paid or incurred exceed this 2%/25% limitation.
Additionally, the Company reimburses the Advisor for personnel costs in connection with other services; however, the Company does not reimburse the Advisor for (a) services for which the Advisor or its affiliates are entitled to compensation in the form of a separate fee, or (b) the salaries and benefits of the Company’s named executive officers.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Liquidation/Listing Stage
Fees
Amount
Disposition Fee
For substantial assistance in connection with the sale of investments and based on the services provided, as determined by the Company’s independent directors, the Company will pay to the Advisor or any of its affiliates a disposition fee equal to up to 1% of the contractual sales price of each investment sold. The Company will not pay a disposition fee upon the maturity, prepayment, workout, modification or extension of a debt instrument unless there is a corresponding fee paid by the borrower, in which case the disposition fee will be the lesser of: (a) 1% of the principal amount of the debt prior to such transaction; and (b) the amount of the fee paid by the borrower in connection with such transaction. If the Company takes ownership of a property as a result of a workout or foreclosure of debt, the Company will pay a disposition fee upon the sale of such property.
Annual Subordinated Performance Fee
The Company will pay the Advisor an annual subordinated performance fee calculated on the basis of the annual return to holders of Common Shares, payable annually in arrears. Specifically, in any year in which holders of Common Shares receive payment of an 8% annual cumulative, pre-tax, non- compounded return on the aggregate capital contributed by them, the Advisor will be entitled to 15% of the amount in excess of the 8% per annum return; provided, that the annual subordinated performance fee will not exceed 10% of the aggregate return paid to the holders of Common Shares for the applicable year, and provided, further, that the annual subordinated performance fee will not be paid unless and until holders of Common Shares receive a return of the aggregate capital contributed by them. This fee will be payable only from net sales proceeds, which results in, or is deemed to result in, the return on the aggregate capital contributed by holders of Common Shares plus 8% per annum thereon.
Subordinated Participation in Net Sales Proceeds (payable only if the Company is not listed on an exchange and the advisory agreement is not terminated or non-renewed)
The Advisor will receive from time to time, when available, including in connection with a merger, consolidation or sale, or other disposition of all or substantially all the Company’s assets, 15% of remaining “net sales proceeds” (as defined in the Company’s charter) after return of capital contributions plus payment to holders of Common Shares of an 8% annual cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded return on the aggregate capital contributed by them.
Subordinated Incentive Listing Fee (payable only if the Company is listed on an exchange)
Upon the listing of the Common Shares on a national securities exchange, including a listing in connection with a merger or other business combination, the Advisor will receive a fee equal to 15% of the amount by which the sum of the Company’s market value (determined after listing) plus distributions attributable to net sales proceeds paid to the holders of Common Shares exceeds the sum of the aggregate capital contributed by them plus an amount equal to an 8% annual cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded return.
The following table represents the fees incurred associated with the payments to the Company’s Advisor for the period indicated:
For the Years Ended December 31,
Acquisition fee (1) $ - $ 304,195
Development cost reimbursement (2) 304,366 129,299
Asset management fees (general and administrative costs) 77,313 685,678
Total $ 381,679 $ 1,119,172
(1) Acquisition fees are capitalized and are included in the carrying value of our investment in the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel which is classified as construction in progress on the consolidated balance sheets.
(2) Development costs that we reimburse our Advisor for are capitalized and are included in the carrying value of our investment in the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel which is classified as construction in progress on the consolidated balance sheets.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliated Real Estate Entities
The entities listed below are or were partially owned by the Company. The Company accounts for these investments under the equity method of accounting as the Company exercises significant influence, but does not exercise financial and operating control over these entities. A summary of the Company’s investments in the unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities is as follows:
As of
Entity Date Acquired Ownership % December 31,
December 31,
RP Maximus Cove, L.L.C. (the “Cove Joint Venture”) January 31, 2017 22.50 % $ - $ 13,846,410
40 East End Ave. Pref Member LLC ( “40 East End Ave. Joint Venture”) March 31, 2017 33.30 % 10,988,023 12,551,394
Total investments in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entities
$ 10,988,023 $ 26,397,804
The Cove Joint Venture
On January 31, 2017, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, REIT IV COVE LLC along with LSG Cove LLC, an affiliate of the Sponsor and a related party, REIT III COVE LLC, a subsidiary of the operating partnership of Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc., a real estate investment trust also sponsored by the Company’s Sponsor and a related party and Maximus Cove Investor LLC (“Maximus”), an unrelated third party, completed the acquisition of all of RP Cove, L.L.C’s membership interest in RP Maximus Cove, L.L.C. (the “Cove Joint Venture”) for aggregate consideration of approximately $255.0 million (the “Cove Transaction”). The Cove Joint Venture owns and operates The Cove at Tiburon (the “Cove”), a 281-unit, luxury waterfront multifamily residential property located in Tiburon, California from January 31, 2017 through February 12, 2020 (see below). Prior to entering into the Cove Transaction, Maximus previously owned a separate noncontrolling interest in the Cove Joint Venture.
The Company paid approximately $20.0 million for a 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture. The Company’s ownership interest in the Cove Joint Venture was a non-managing interest. The Company determined that the Cove Joint Venture was a variable interest entity but the Company was not the primary beneficiary. The Company accounted for its ownership interest in the Cove Joint Venture in accordance with the equity method of accounting because it exerted significant influence over but did not control the Cove Joint Venture. The Company commenced recording its allocated portion of profit/loss and cash distributions beginning as of January 31, 2017 with respect to its 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture.
Subsequent to the Company’s acquisition of its 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture, it made an aggregate of $2.6 million of additional capital contributions and received aggregate distributions of $0.9 million. All of these additional capital contributions were made and distributions received in periods prior to 2020.
On December 17, 2019, REIT IV Cove LLC, REIT III Cove LLC, LSG Cove LLC (collectively, the “Redeemers”), Maximus and the Cove Joint Venture entered into a redemption agreement (the “Redemption Agreement”), pursuant to which the Cove Joint Venture would redeem the membership interests of the Redeemers for an aggregate redemption price of approximately $87.6 million.
On February 12, 2020, the Cove Joint Venture completed the redemption of the Redeemers’ membership interests in the Cove Joint Venture pursuant to the terms of the Redemption Agreement for an aggregate redemption price of approximately $87.6 million. In connection, with the redemption of its 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture, the Company received proceeds of approximately $21.9 million which resulted in a gain on the disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity of approximately $8.2 million during the first quarter of 2020. As a result of the redemption of its 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture on February 12, 2020, the Company no longer has an ownership interest in the Cove Joint Venture.
During August 2020, the Company received $0.1 million of additional proceeds related to the redemption of its membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture and recognized a gain on the disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity of $0.1 million during the third quarter of 2020. As a result, the Company has recognized an aggregate gain on the disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity of approximately $8.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2020.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
The Cove Joint Venture Financial Information
The Company’s carrying value of its interest in the Cove Joint Venture differed from its share of member’s equity reported in the condensed balance sheet of the Cove Joint Venture because the Company’s basis of its investment was in excess of the historical net book value of the Cove Joint Venture. The Company’s additional basis was allocated to depreciable assets was recognized on a straight-line basis over the lives of the appropriate assets.
The following table represents the condensed income statements for the Cove Joint Venture:
(amounts in thousands) For the Period January 1 through February 12,
For the Year Ended December 31,
Revenues $ 1,375 $ 16,129
Property operating expenses 5,057
General and administrative costs
Depreciation and amortization 11,498
Operating loss (28 ) (545 )
Loss on debt extinguishment - (1,521 )
Interest expense and other, net (652 ) (9,424 )
Net loss $ (680 ) $ (11,490 )
Company’s share of net loss (22.5%) $ (153 ) $ (2,585 )
Adjustment to depreciation and amortization expense (1) (5 ) (40 )
Company’s loss from investment $ (158 ) $ (2,625 )
The following table represents the condensed balance sheets for the Cove Joint Venture:
As of
(amounts in thousands) December 31,
Real estate, at cost (net) $ 138,045
Cash and restricted cash 1,491
Other assets 1,141
Total assets $ 140,677
Mortgage payable, net $ 178,353
Other liabilities 1,339
Members’ deficit (1) (39,015 )
Total liabilities and members’ deficit $ 140,677
(1) The adjustment to depreciation and amortization expense related to the difference between the Company’s basis in the Cove Joint Venture and the amount of the underlying equity in net assets of the Cove Joint Venture.
East End Ave. Joint Venture
On March 31, 2017, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement (the “40 East End Ave. Transaction”) with SAYT Master Holdco LLC, an entity majority-owned and controlled by David Lichtenstein, who also majority owns and controls the Company’s Sponsor, and a related party, (the “40 East End Seller”), providing for the Company to acquire approximately 33.3% of the 40 East End Seller’s approximate 100% membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture for aggregate consideration of approximately $10.3 million.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
The Company’s ownership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture is a non-managing interest. Because the Company exerts significant influence over but does not control the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, it accounts for its ownership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture in accordance with the equity method of accounting. All contributions to and distributions of earnings from the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture are made on a pro rata basis in proportion to each member’s equity interest percentage. Any distributions in excess of earnings from the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture are made to the members pursuant to the terms of its operating agreement. The Company commenced recording its allocated portion of earnings and cash distributions, if any, from the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture beginning as of March 31, 2017 with respect to its membership interest of approximately 33.3% in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture. Additionally, Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (“Lightstone I”), a real estate investment trust also sponsored by the Company’s Sponsor, made $30.0 million of preferred equity contributions (the “Preferred Contributions”) to a subsidiary of the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, pursuant to an instrument that entitles Lightstone I to monthly preferred distributions at a rate of 12% per annum. No distributions may be paid to the members until the Preferred Contributions are redeemed in full.
The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, through affiliates, owns the 40 East End Avenue Project, a luxury residential 29-unit condominium project located at the corner of 81st Street and East End Avenue in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City. The 40 East End Avenue Project received its final TCO in March 2020 and through December 31, 2020, six of the condominium units have been sold.
On March 21, 2017, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture obtained financing from a financial institution of up to $85.3 million (the “40 East End Ave. Mortgage”) for the land acquisition and construction of the 40 East End Ave. Project. On December 19, 2019, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture refinanced the 40 East End Ave. Mortgage with a loan (the “Condo Loan”) from another financial institution of $95.2 million, of which $90.2 million was initially funded at closing and the remaining $5.0 million was subsequently advanced in April 2020. The Condo Loan matures on December 19, 2021, bears interest at LIBOR plus 2.45%, which is payable monthly, and requires principal payments to be made at certain prescribed amounts from proceeds from the sales of condominium units.
During 2020, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture made aggregate principal payments of $5.3 million on the Condo Loan reducing its outstanding principal balance to $90.7 million ($89.9 million, net of deferred financing costs) as of December 31, 2020. These principal payments were made with proceeds from the sales of condominium units totaling $3.3 million and a balloon payment of $2.0 million, of which the Company’s proportionate share was approximately $0.7 million.
Pursuant to the terms of the Condo Loan, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture was required to make a principal paydown on December 19, 2020 if the then outstanding principal balance of the Condo Loan had not been paid down to at least $81.0 million as of that date. However, in lieu of a required principal paydown of $11.7 million, the lender agreed to accept an immediate principal paydown of $2.0 million, which was paid on December 18, 2020, and allow for the remaining required principal paydown of $9.7 million to be paid during the first quarter of 2021, all of which was paid in March 2021. The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture used proceeds from the sales of condominium units which closed in the first quarter of 2021 to make the remaining required principal paydown. The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture will be required to make another principal paydown on June 19, 2021 if principal paydowns from additional condominium sales proceeds do not reduce the outstanding principal balance of the Condo Loan to at least $73.0 million as of that date.
In connection with the closing of the Condo Loan , the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture used a portion of the initial loan proceeds to (i) fully repay the then outstanding principal balance of $80.3 million plus accrued and unpaid interest of $0.2 million for the 40 East End Ave. Mortgage and (ii) redeem $9.5 million of Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions. Additionally, in connection with the refinancing, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture recognized a loss on the early extinguishment of debt of $0.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2019, of which the Company’s proportionate share was approximately $0.3 million.
The Condo Loan is scheduled to mature on December 19, 2021. Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pace of condominium unit sales, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture is engaged in discussions with the lender to extend the maturity date of the Condo Loan. However, there can be no assurance that the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture will be successful in such endeavors.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
The Company’s Sponsor and its affiliates (collectively, the “40 East End Guarantors”) have provided certain guarantees with respect to the Condo Loan and the members have agreed to reimburse the 40 East End Guarantors for any balance that may become due under the guarantees (the “40 East End Guarantee”), of which the Company’s share is approximately 33.3%. The Company has determined that the fair value of its share of the 40 East End Guarantee is immaterial.
On December 26, 2019, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture redeemed an additional $3.5 million of Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions. As a result, Lightstone I’s outstanding Preferred Contributions were $17.0 million as of December 31, 2019. An additional $11.0 million of Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions were redeemed on February 13, 2020 reducing Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions to $6.0 million, which remains outstanding as of December 31, 2020.
Subsequent to the Company’s acquisition through December 31, 2020, it has made an aggregate of $5.7 million (including $1.1 million and $0.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively) of additional capital contributions to the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture.
The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture Financial Information
The following table represents the condensed income statements for the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture:
(amounts in thousands) For the Year Ended
December 31,
For the Year Ended
December 31,
Revenues $ 15,448 $ 13,578
Cost of goods sold 14,347 12,593
Other expenses 2,630 2,120
Impairment of real estate inventory 2,288 -
Depreciation and amortization -
Operating loss (3,817 ) (1,669 )
Interest expense and other, net (4,239 ) (2,872 )
Loss on debt extinguishment - (836 )
Net loss $ (8,056 ) $ (5,377 )
Company’s share of net loss (33.3%) $ (2,683 ) $ (1,791 )
The following table represents the condensed balance sheets for the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture:
As of As of
(amounts in thousands) December 31,
December 31,
Real estate inventory $ 125,086 $ 139,170
Cash and restricted cash 4,446 7,739
Other assets
Total assets $ 130,119 $ 147,546
Mortgage payable, net $ 89,876 $ 89,102
Other liabilities 1,309 2,404
Members’ capital 38,934 56,040
Total liabilities and members’ capital $ 130,119 $ 147,546
Investment in Related Party
105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment
The Company previously entered into an agreement, as amended, with various related party entities pursuant to which it made aggregate preferred equity contributions (the “105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment”) of $37.0 million in an affiliate of the Company’s Sponsor (the “Moxy Developer”), which owns a parcel of land located at 105-109 W. 28th Street, New York, New York, on which it constructed a 343-room Marriott Moxy hotel, which opened during February 2019. The 105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment was made pursuant to an instrument that entitled the Company to monthly preferred distributions at a rate of 12% per annum.
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
The Company received aggregate repayments of $26.5 million during March 2019 and subsequently received the remaining outstanding balance of $10.5 million on August 26, 2019 and as a result, has fully redeemed the 105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment.
Subordinated Advances - Related Party
On March 18, 2016, the Company and its Sponsor entered into the Subordinated Agreement, a subordinated unsecured loan agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor made aggregate principal advances of $12.6 million through March 31, 2017 (the termination date of the Offering). The outstanding principal advances bear interest at a rate of 1.48%, but no interest or principal is due or payable to the Sponsor until holders of the Company’s Common Shares have received liquidation distributions equal to their respective net investments (defined as $10.00 per Common Share) plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% on their respective net investments.
Distributions in connection with a liquidation of the Company initially will be made to holders of its Common Shares until holders of its Common Shares have received liquidation distributions equal to their respective net investments plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% on their respective net investments. Thereafter, only if additional liquidating distributions are available, the Company will be obligated to repay the outstanding principal advances and related accrued interest to the Sponsor, as described in the Subordinated Agreement. In the event that additional liquidation distributions are available after the Company repays its holders of common stock their respective net investments plus their 8% return on investment and then the outstanding principal advances under the Subordinated Agreement and accrued interest to its Sponsor, such additional distributions will be paid to holders of its Common Shares and its Sponsor: 85.0% of the aggregate amount will be payable to holders of the Company’s Common Shares and the remaining 15.0% will be payable to the Sponsor.
The principal advances and the related interest are subordinate to all of the Company’s obligations as well as to the holders of its Common Shares in an amount equal to the shareholder’s net investment plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% and only potentially payable in the event of a liquidation of the Company.
In connection with the termination of the Offering, on March 31, 2017, the Company and the Sponsor simultaneously terminated the Subordinated Agreement. As a result of the termination, the Sponsor is no longer obligated to make any additional principal advances to the Company. Interest will continue to accrue on the outstanding principal advances and repayment, if any, of the principal advances and related accrued interest will be made according to the terms of the Subordinated Agreement disclosed above.
As of both December 31, 2020 and 2019, an aggregate of approximately $12.6 million of principal advances have been funded, which along with the related accrued interest of $819,679 and $632,725, respectively, are classified as Subordinated Advances - Related Party, a liability on the consolidated balance sheets. December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are classified as Subordinated Advances - related party, a liability, on the consolidated balance sheets. During both of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company accrued $186,954 of interest expense, on the principal advances.
7. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
From time to time in the ordinary course of business, the Company may become subject to legal proceedings, claims or disputes.
As of the date hereof, we are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings of which the outcome is probable or reasonably possible to have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition, which would require accrual or disclosure of the contingency and possible range of loss.
PART II. CONTINUED:

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE:
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures. As of December 31, 2020, we conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Advisor’s management, including our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded as of December 31, 2020 that our disclosure controls and procedures were adequate and effective.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Our internal control system is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that:
● pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and disposition of assets;
● provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorization of our management and directors; and
● provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
Because of 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.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020. In making this assessment, they used the control criteria framework of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission published in its report entitled Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on this evaluation, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION:
None.
PART III.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OF THE REGISTRANT
Directors
The following table presents certain information as of March 15, 2021 concerning each of our directors serving in such capacity:
Name Age Principal Occupation and Positions Held Year Term of Office Will Expire Served as a Director Since
David Lichtenstein Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Edwin J. Glickman Director
Steven Spinola Director
David Lichtenstein is our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our board of directors. Mr. Lichtenstein founded both American Shelter Corporation and The Lightstone Group. From 1988 to the present, Mr. Lichtenstein has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of The Lightstone Group, directing all aspects of the acquisition, financing and management of a diverse portfolio of multifamily, lodging, retail and industrial properties located in 20 states and Puerto Rico. From June 2004 to the present, Mr. Lichtenstein has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (“Lightstone I”) and Chief Executive Officer of Lightstone Value Plus REIT LLC, its advisor. From April 2008 to the present, Mr. Lichtenstein has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Offer of Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust II, Inc. (“Lightstone II”) and Lightstone Value Plus REIT II LLC, its advisor. From September 2014 to the present, Mr. Lichtenstein has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc. (“Lightstone III”), and as Chief Executive Officer of Lightstone Value Plus REIT II ILLC, its advisor. From October 2014 to the present, Mr. Lichtenstein has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Lightstone Enterprises Limited (“Lightstone Enterprises”). Mr. Lichtenstein was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust V, Inc. (“Lightstone V”) and is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the its advisor. From July 2015 to the present, Mr. Lichtenstein has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Lichtenstein is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc., an industry trade group, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of Touro College and New York Medical College. Mr. Lichtenstein has been selected to serve as a director due to his experience and networking relationships in the real estate industry, along with his experience in acquiring and financing real estate properties.
Edwin J. Glickman is one of our independent directors and the chairman of our audit committee. From April 2008 to the present, Mr. Glickman has served as a member of the board of directors of Lightstone II and from September 2014 to the present has served as a member of the board of directors of Lightstone III. From December 2004 through January 2015, Mr. Glickman previously served as a member of the board of directors of Lightstone I. In January 1995, Mr. Glickman co-founded Capital Lease Funding, a leading mortgage lender for properties net leased to investment grade tenants, where he remained as Executive Vice President until May 2003 when he retired. Mr. Glickman was previously a trustee of publicly traded RPS Realty Trust from October 1980 through May 1996 and Atlantic Realty Trust from May 1996 to March 2006. Mr. Glickman graduated from Dartmouth College. Mr. Glickman has been selected to serve as an independent director due to his experience in mortgage lending and finance.
Stephen Spinola is one of our independent directors and is a member of our audit committee. Since 1986, Mr. Spinola has been the President of the Real Estate Board of New York (“REBNY”), and as of July 1, 2015 serves as President Emeritus. Prior to becoming REBNY’s President, Mr. Spinola served as President of the New York City Public Development Corporation (now known as the New York City Economic Development Corporation). Mr. Spinola holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the City College of New York with a concentration in political science and government. Mr. Spinola has been selected to serve as an independent director due to his extensive experience in the real estate industry.
Executive Officers:
The following table presents certain information as of March 15, 2021 concerning each of our executive officers serving in such capacities:
Name
Age
Principal Occupation and Positions Held
David Lichtenstein
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mitchell Hochberg
President and Chief Operating Officer
Joseph Teichman
General Counsel and Secretary
Seth Molod
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
David Lichtenstein for biographical information about Mr. Lichtenstein, see ’‘Management - Directors.”
Mitchell Hochberg is our President and Chief Operating Officer and also serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Lightstone I, Lightstone II and Lightstone III and their respective advisors. Mr. Hochberg also serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer of our sponsor and our advisor. From October 2014 to the present, Mr. Hochberg has served as President of Lightstone Enterprises. Mr. Hochberg was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Behringer Harvard Opportunity REIT I, Inc. (“BH OPP I”) and Lightstone V effective as of September 28, 2017. Prior to joining The Lightstone Group in August 2012, Mr. Hochberg served as principal of Madden Real Estate Ventures from 2007 to August 2012 when it combined with our sponsor. Mr. Hochberg held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of Ian Schrager Company, a developer and manager of innovative luxury hotels and residential projects in the United States from early 2006 to early 2007 and prior to that Mr. Hochberg founded Spectrum Communities, a developer of luxury neighborhoods in the northeast of the United States, in 1985 where for 20 years he served as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hochberg served on the board of directors of Belmond Ltd from 2009 to April 2019. Additionally, through October 2014, Mr. Hochberg served on the board of directors and as Chairman of the board of directors of Orleans Homebuilders, Inc. Mr. Hochberg received his law degree as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar from Columbia University School of Law and graduated magna cum laude from New York University College of Business and Public Administration with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance.
Joseph E. Teichman is our General Counsel and Secretary and also serves as General Counsel of Lightstone I, Lightstone II and Lightstone III and their respective advisors. Mr. Teichman also serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of our sponsor and as General Counsel of our advisor. From October 2014 to the present, Mr. Teichman has served as Secretary and a Director of Lightstone Enterprises. Prior to joining The Lightstone Group in January 2007, Mr. Teichman practiced law at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York, NY from September 2001 to January 2007. Mr. Teichman earned a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a B.A. from Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood, New Jersey. Mr. Teichman is licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey. Mr. Teichman is also a member of the Board of Directors of Yeshiva Orchos Chaim, Lakewood, New Jersey and was appointed to the Ocean County College Board of Trustees in February 2016.
Seth Molod is our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and also serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Lightstone I, Lightstone II, Lightstone III and Lightstone V. Mr. Molod also serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of our Sponsor and as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of our Advisor and the advisors of Lightstone I, Lightstone II, Lightstone III and Lightstone V. Prior to joining the Company in August 2018, Mr. Molod served as an Audit Partner, Chair of Real Estate Services and on the Executive Committee of Berdon LLP, a full service accounting, tax, financial and management advisory firm (“Berdon”). Mr. Molod joined Berdon in 1989. He has extensive experience advising some of the nation’s most prominent real estate owners, developers, managers, and investors in both commercial and residential projects. Mr. Molod has worked with many privately held real estate companies as well as institutional investors, REITs, and other public companies. Mr. Molod is a licensed certified public accountant in New Jersey and New York and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Molod holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Muhlenberg College.
Section 16 (a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires each director, officer and individual beneficially owning more than 10% of our common stock to file initial statements of beneficial ownership (Form 3) and statements of changes in beneficial ownership (Forms 4 and 5) of our common stock with the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules to furnish us with copies of all such forms they file. Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to us during and with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, or written representations that no additional forms were required, we believe that all of our officers and directors and persons that beneficially own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock complied with these filing requirements in 2020.
Information Regarding Audit Committee
Our Board established an audit committee in September 2014. The charter of audit committee is available at www.lightstonecapitalmarkets.com/sec-filings or in print to any stockholder who requests it c/o Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc., 1985 Cedar Bridge Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701. Our audit committee consists of Messrs. Edwin J. Glickman and Steven Spinola each of whom is “independent” within the meaning of the NYSE listing standards. The Board determined that Mr. Glickman is qualified as an audit committee financial expert as defined in Item 401 (h) of Regulation S-K. For more information regarding the relevant professional experience of Messrs. Glickman and Spinola see “Directors.”
Code of Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our executive officers and directors, including but not limited to, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer. Our Code of Conduct and Ethics can be found at www.lightstonecapitalmarkets.com/sec-filings

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation of Executive Officers
Our officers will not receive any cash compensation from us for their services as our officers. Additionally, our officers are officers of one or more of our related parties and are compensated by those entities (including our sponsor), in part, for their services rendered to us. From our inception through December 31, 2020, the Company has not compensated the officers.
Compensation of Board of Directors
We pay our independent directors an annual fee of $40,000 and are responsible for reimbursement of their out-of-pocket expenses, as incurred.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Executive Officers:
The following table presents certain information as of March 15, 2021 concerning each of our directors and executive officers serving in such capacities:
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner Number of Shares of Common Stock of the Lightstone Income Trust Beneficially Owned Percent of All Common Shares of the Lightstone Income Trust
David Lichtenstein (1) 242,222 2.8 %
Edwin J. Glickman - -
Steven Spinola - -
Mitchell Hochberg - -
Seth Molod - -
Joseph Teichman - -
Our directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons) 242,222 2.8 %
(1) Includes 20,000 shares owned by our Advisor and 222,222 shares owned by an entity 100% owned by David Lichtenstein. Our Advisor is majority owned and controlled by David Lichtenstein. The beneficial owner’s business address is 1985 Cedar Bridge Avenue, Lakewood, New Jersey 08701.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
David Lichtenstein serves as the Chairman of our Board of Directors and our Chief Executive Officer. Our Advisor is majority owned and controlled by Mr. Lichtenstein. We have entered into agreements with our Advisor and Property Managers to pay certain fees, as described below, in exchange for services performed by these and other affiliated entities. As a majority owner of those entities, Mr. Lichtenstein benefits from fees and other compensation that they receive pursuant to these agreements.
Advisor
We pay our Advisor an acquisition fee equal to 1.0% of the gross contractual purchase price (including any mortgage assumed) of each property purchased and reimburse our Advisor for expenses that it incurs in connection with the purchase of a property. Acquisition fees and expenses are capped at 5% of the gross contract purchase price of a property.
Our Advisor is paid an advisor asset management fee of one-twelfth (1/12) of 0.75% of our average invested assets and we reimburse some expenses of the Advisor relating to asset management.
For substantial services in connection with the sale of a property, we will pay to our Advisor a commission in an amount equal to the lesser of (a) one-half of a real estate commission that is reasonable, customary and competitive in light of the size, type and location of the property and (b) 2.0% of the contract sales price of the property. The commission will not exceed the lesser of 6.0% of the gross contractual sales price or commission that is reasonable, customary and competitive in light of the size, type and location of the property.
We will pay our Advisor an annual subordinated performance fee calculated on the basis of our annual return to holders of our Common Shares, payable annually in arrears, such that for any year in which holders of our Common Shares receive payment of a 8.0% annual cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded return on their respective net investments, our Advisor will be entitled to 15.0% of the amount in excess of such 8.0% per annum return, provided, that the amount paid to the Advisor will not exceed 10.0% of the aggregate return for such year, and provided, further, that the annual subordinated performance fee will not be paid unless holders of our Common Shares receive a return of their respective net investments.
The following table represents the fees incurred associated with the payments to the Advisor for the period indicated:
For the Years Ended December 31,
Acquisition fee (1) $ - $ 304,195
Development cost reimbursement (2) 304,366 129,299
Asset management fees (general and administrative costs) 77,313 685,678
Total $ 381,679 $ 1,119,172
(1) Acquisition fees are capitalized and are included in the carrying value of our investment in the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel which is classified as construction in progress on the consolidated balance sheets.
(2) Development costs that we reimburse our Advisor for are capitalized and are included in the carrying value of our investment in the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel which is classified as construction in progress on the consolidated balance sheets.
Sponsor
On March 18, 2016, the Company and the Sponsor entered into a subordinated unsecured loan agreement (the “Subordinated Agreement”) pursuant to which the Sponsor made aggregate principal advances of $12.6 million to the Company through March 31, 2017 (the termination date of the Offering). The outstanding principal advances bear interest at a rate of 1.48%, but no interest or principal is due and payable to the Sponsor until holders of the Company’s Common Shares have received liquidation distributions equal to their respective net investments (defined as $10.00 per Common Share) plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% on their respective net investments.
Distributions in connection with a liquidation of the Company initially will be made to holders of the Company’s Common Shares until holders of its Common Shares have received liquidation distributions equal to their respective net investments plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% on their respective net investments. Thereafter, only if additional liquidating distributions are available, the Company will be obligated to repay the outstanding principal advances and related accrued interest to the Sponsor. In the event that additional liquidation distributions are available after the Company repays its holders of common stock their respective net investments plus their 8% return on investment and then the outstanding principal advances and related accrued interest to the Sponsor, such additional distributions will be paid to holders of the Common Shares and the Sponsor as follows: 85.0% of the aggregate amount will be payable to holders of the Common Shares and the remaining 15.0% will be payable to the Sponsor.
The principal advances and the related interest are subordinate to all of the Company’s obligations as well as to the holders of its Common Shares in an amount equal to the shareholder’s net investment plus a cumulative, pre-tax, non-compounded annual return of 8.0% and only potentially payable in the event of a liquidation of the Company.
In connection with the termination of the Offering on March 31, 2017, the Company and the Sponsor simultaneously terminated the Subordinated Agreement and as a result, the Sponsor is no longer obligated to make any additional principal advances to the Company. Interest will continue to accrue on the outstanding principal advances and repayment, if any, of the principal advances and related accrued interest will still be made according to the terms of the Subordinated Agreement disclosed above.
As of both December 31, 2020 and 2019, approximately $12.6 million of principal advances were outstanding. The outstanding principal advances, together with the related accrued interest of $816,979 and $632,725 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are classified as Subordinated Advances - related party, a liability, on the consolidated balance sheets. During both of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company accrued $186,954 of interest expense on the principal advances.
105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment
We previously entered into an agreement, as amended, with various related party entities pursuant to which we made aggregate preferred equity contributions (the “105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment”) of $37.0 million in an affiliate of our Sponsor (the “Moxy Developer”), which owns a parcel of land located at 105-109 W. 28thStreet, New York, New York, on which it constructed a 343-room Marriott Moxy hotel, which opened during February 2019. The 105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment was made pursuant to an instrument that entitled us to monthly preferred distributions at a rate of 12% per annum.
We received aggregate repayments of $26.5 million during March 2019 and subsequently received the remaining outstanding balance of $10.5 million on August 26, 2019 and as a result, have fully redeemed the 105-109 W. 28th Street Preferred Investment.
The Cove Joint Venture
On January 31, 2017 we along with LSG Cove LLC, an affiliate of our Sponsor, our Sponsor’s other public program, Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc. (“Lightstone III”) and Maximus Cove Investor LLC (“Maximus”), an unrelated third party acquired the membership interests in RP Maximus Cove L.L.C. (the “Cove Joint Venture”) from an unrelated third party. We, LSG Cove LLC, Lightstone III and Maximus had 22.5%, 45.0%, 22.5% and 10.0% membership interests in the Cove Joint Venture, respectively. The Cove Joint Venture owns and operates The Cove at Tiburon (the “Cove”), a multi-family complex consisting of 281-units, or 289,690 square feet, contained within 32 apartment buildings over 20.1 acres, located in Tiburon, California from January 31, 2017 through February 12, 2020 (see below).
We accounted for our 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture in accordance with the equity method of accounting.
On February 12, 2020, we, LSG Cove LLC and Lightstone III subsequently redeemed our respective membership interests in the Cove Joint Venture for an aggregate redemption price of approximately $87.6 million. In connection, with the redemption of our 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture, we received proceeds of approximately $21.9 million which resulted in the recognition of a gain on the disposition of unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity of $8.2 million during the first quarter of 2020. As a result of the redemption of our 22.5% membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture on February 12, 2020, we no longer have an ownership interest in the Cove Joint Venture. During August 2020, we received $0.1 million of additional proceeds related to the redemption of our membership interest in the Cove Joint Venture and recognized a gain on the disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity of $0.1 million during the third quarter of 2020. As a result, we have recognized an aggregate gain on the disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliated real estate entity of approximately $8.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2020.
East End Ave. Joint Venture
On March 31, 2017, we entered into a joint venture agreement (the “40 East End Ave. Transaction”) with SAYT Master Holdco LLC, an entity majority-owned and controlled by David Lichtenstein, who also majority owns and controls our Sponsor, and a related party, (the “40 East End Seller”), providing for us to acquire approximately 33.3% of the 40 East End Seller’s approximate 100% membership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture for aggregate consideration of approximately $10.3 million.
Our ownership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture is a non-managing interest. Because we exert significant influence over but do not control the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, we account for our ownership interest in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture in accordance with the equity method of accounting. All contributions to and distributions of earnings from the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture are made on a pro rata basis in proportion to each member’s equity interest percentage. Any distributions in excess of earnings from the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture are made to the members pursuant to the terms of its operating agreement. We commenced recording our allocated portion of earnings and cash distributions, if any, from the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture beginning as of March 31, 2017 with respect to our membership interest of approximately 33.3% in the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture. Additionally, Lightstone Value Plus Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (“Lightstone I”), a real estate investment trust also sponsored by our Sponsor, made $30.0 million of preferred equity contributions (the “Preferred Contributions”) to a subsidiary of the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, pursuant to an instrument that entitles Lightstone I to monthly preferred distributions at a rate of 12% per annum. No distributions may be paid to the members until the Preferred Contributions are redeemed in full.
The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture, through affiliates, owns the 40 East End Avenue Project, a luxury residential 29-unit condominium project located at the corner of 81st Street and East End Avenue in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City. The 40 East End Avenue Project received its final TCO in March 2020 and through December 31, 2020, six of the condominium units have been sold.
On March 21, 2017, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture obtained financing from a financial institution of up to $85.3 million (the “40 East End Ave. Mortgage”) for the land acquisition and construction of the 40 East End Ave. Project. On December 19, 2019, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture refinanced the 40 East End Ave. Mortgage with a loan (the “Condo Loan”) from another financial institution of $95.2 million, of which $90.2 million was initially funded at closing and the remaining $5.0 million was subsequently advanced in April 2020. The Condo Loan matures on December 19, 2021, bears interest at LIBOR plus 2.45%, which is payable monthly, and requires principal payments to be made at certain prescribed amounts from proceeds from the sales of condominium units.
During 2020, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture made aggregate principal payments of $5.3 million on the Condo Loan reducing its outstanding balance to $90.7 million ($89.9 million, net of deferred financing costs) as of December 31, 2020. These principal payments were made with proceeds from the sales of condominium units totaling $3.3 million and a balloon payment of $2.0 million, of which our proportionate share was approximately $0.7 million.
Pursuant to the terms of the Condo Loan, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture was required to make a principal paydown on December 19, 2020 if the then outstanding principal balance of the Condo Loan had not been paid down to at least $81.0 million as of that date. However, in lieu of a required principal paydown of $12.6 million, the lender agreed to accept an immediate principal paydown of $2.0 million, which was paid on December 18, 2020, and allow for the remaining required principal paydown of $10.6 million, which was made on March 15, 2021, to be made during the first quarter of 2021. The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture expects to use proceeds from the sales of condominium units which are scheduled to close in the first quarter of 2021 to make the remaining required principal paydown. The 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture will be required to make another principal paydown on June 19, 2021 if principal paydowns from additional condominium sales proceeds do not reduce the outstanding principal balance of the Condo Loan to at least $73.0 million as of that date.
In connection with the closing of the Condo Loan , the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture used a portion of the initial loan proceeds to (i) fully repay the then outstanding principal balance of $80.3 million plus accrued and unpaid interest of $0.2 million for the 40 East End Ave. Mortgage and (ii) redeem $9.5 million of Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions. Additionally, in connection with the refinancing, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture recognized a loss on the early extinguishment of debt of $0.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2019, of which our proportionate share was approximately $0.3 million.
The Condo Loan is scheduled to mature on December 19, 2021. Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pace of condominium unit sales, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture currently expects it will need to seek an extension to the maturity date from the lender. However, there can be no assurance that the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture will be successful in such endeavors.
Our Sponsor and its affiliates (collectively, the “40 East End Guarantors”) have provided certain guarantees with respect to the Condo Loan and the members have agreed to reimburse the 40 East End Guarantors for any balance that may become due under the guarantees (the “40 East End Guarantee”), of which our share is approximately 33.3%. We have determined that the fair value of our share of the 40 East End Guarantee is immaterial.
On December 26, 2019, the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture redeemed an additional $3.5 million of Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions. As a result, Lightstone I’s outstanding Preferred Contributions were $17.0 million as of December 31, 2019. An additional $11.0 million of Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions were redeemed on February 13, 2020 reducing Lightstone I’s Preferred Contributions to $6.0 million, which remains outstanding as of December 31, 2020.
Subsequent to our acquisition through December 31, 2020, we have made an aggregate of $5.7 (including $1.1 million and $0.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively) million of additional capital contributions to the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture.
Other than our proportionate share of any required balloon payments that may become due under the Condo Loan, we do not expect to make any significant capital contributions to the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture over the next 12 months . Additionally, we do not expect to receive any distributions from the 40 East End Ave. Joint Venture over the next 12 months as substantially all of proceeds from any sales of condominium units must first be used to pay-down the Condo Loan and thereafter to redeem Lightstone I’s remaining Preferred Contributions.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Principal Accounting Firm Fees
The following table presents the aggregate fees billed to us for the years presented by our principal accounting firm:
Year ended December 31,
Year ended December 31,
Audit Fees (a) $ 128,725 $ 112,875
Tax Fees (b) 28,365 12,480
Total Fees $ 157,090 $ 125,355
(a) Fees for audit services consisted of the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and interim reviews, including services normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and including registration statements and consents.
(b) Fees for tax services.
In considering the nature of the services provided by the independent auditor, the audit committee determined that such services are compatible with the provision of independent audit services. The audit committee discussed these services with the independent auditor and our management to determine that they are permitted under the rules and regulations concerning auditor independence promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission to implement the related requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
To the Directors of Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc.:
We have reviewed and discussed with management Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc.’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020.
We have discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16, “Communication with Audit Committees,” as amended, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
We have received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence and have discussed with the auditors the auditors’ independence.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, we recommend to the board of directors that the financial statements referred to above be included in Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Audit Committee
Edwin J. Glickman
Steven Spinola
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS’ REPORT
To the Stockholders of Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc.:
We have reviewed the Company’s policies and determined that they are in the best interest of the Company’s stockholders. Set forth below is a discussion of the basis for that determination.
General
The Company has and intends to continue to seek opportunities to invest in real estate and real estate-related investments. The Company’s real estate-related investments may include mezzanine loans, mortgage loans, bridge loans and preferred equity interests, with a focus on development-related investments, including those intended to finance development or redevelopment opportunities. The Company may also invest in debt and derivative securities related to real estate assets. A portion of the Company’s investments by value may be secured by or related to properties or entities advised by, or wholly or partially, directly or indirectly, owned by, the Company’s Sponsor, its affiliates or other real estate investment programs sponsored by it. Although the Company expects that most of its investments will be of these various types, it may make other investments. In fact, it may invest in whatever types of investments that it believes are in its best interests.
The Company has and expects to continue to focus its origination and acquisition activity on real estate-related investments secured by or related to properties located in the United States, including related-party investments. The Company sometimes refers to the foregoing types of investments as its targeted investments. The Company expects to target investments that generally will offer predictable current cash flow and/or attractive risk-adjusted returns based on the underwriting criteria established and employed by its advisor, which may include the anticipated leverage point, market and economic conditions, the location and quality of the underlying collateral and the borrower’s exit or refinancing plan. The Company’s ability to continue to execute its investment strategy may be enhanced through access to its Sponsor’s extensive experience in financing real estate projects it has sponsored, as opposed to a strategy that relies solely on buying assets in the open market from third-party originators. The Company has and will continue to seek to build a portfolio that includes some of or all the following investment characteristics: (a) provides current income; (b) is secured by high-quality commercial real estate; (c) includes subordinate capital investments by strong sponsors that support its investments and provide downside protection; and (d) possesses strong structural features that maximize repayment potential, such as a clear exit or refinancing plan by the borrower.
The Company has and intends to continue to invest in real estate-related loans and debt securities both by directly originating them and by purchasing them from third-party sellers. Although the Company generally prefers the benefits of direct origination, situations may arise to purchase real estate-related loans and debt securities, possibly at discounts to par, which compensate for the lack of control or structural enhancements typically associated with directly structured investments.
Financing Policies
There is no limitation on the amount the Company may invest or borrow for the purchase or origination of any single property or investment. The Company’s charter allows it to incur leverage up to 300% of its total “net assets” (as defined in its charter) as of the date of any borrowing, which is generally expected to be approximately 75% of the cost of its investments. The Company may only exceed this 300% limit if a majority of its independent directors approves each borrowing in excess of this limit and the Company discloses such borrowing to its stockholders in its next quarterly report along with a justification for the excess borrowing. In all events, the Company expects that its secured and unsecured borrowings will be reasonable in relation to the net value of its assets and will be reviewed by the Company’s board of directors at least quarterly.
The Company does not currently intend to exceed the leverage limit in its charter. The Company believes that careful use of debt helps the Company to achieve its diversification goals because the Company may have more funds available for investment. However, high levels of debt could cause the Company to incur higher interest charges and higher debt service payments, which would decrease the amount of cash available for distributions, if any, to the Company’s investors.
Policy on Sale or Disposition of Properties
The Company’s board of directors will determine whether a particular property should be sold or otherwise disposed of after considering the relevant factors, including performance or projected performance of the property and market conditions, with a view toward achieving its principal investment objectives.
The Company currently intends to hold each investment it originates or acquires for an extended period of time, generally for periods up to five years from the termination of the Company’s initial public offering, which occurred on March 31, 2017. The determination of whether an investment will be sold or otherwise disposed of will be made after consideration of relevant factors, including prevailing economic conditions, specific real estate market conditions, tax implications for the Company’s stockholders and other factors. The requirements for qualification as a REIT also will put some limits on the Company’s ability to sell investments after short holding periods. However, in accordance with the Company’s investment objective of realizing growth in the value of its investments, the Company may sell a particular investment before or after this anticipated holding period if, in the judgment of its advisor and its board of directors, selling the investment is in the Company’s best interest. The determination of when a particular investment should be sold or otherwise disposed of will be made after consideration of relevant factors, including prevailing and projected economic conditions, whether the value of the investment is anticipated to decline substantially, whether the Company could apply the proceeds from the sale of the investment to make other investments consistent with its investment objectives, whether disposition of the investment would allow the Company to increase cash flow, and whether the sale of the investment would constitute a prohibited transaction under the Code or otherwise impact the Company’s status as a REIT. The Company’s ability to dispose of an investment during the first few years following its acquisition is restricted to a substantial extent as a result of its REIT status. Under applicable provisions of the Code regarding prohibited transactions by REITs, a REIT that sells an asset other than foreclosure property that is deemed to be inventory or property held primarily for sale in the ordinary course of business is deemed a “dealer” and subject to a 100% penalty tax on the net income from any such transaction. As a result, the Company’s board of directors will attempt to structure any disposition of the Company’s investments to avoid this penalty tax through reliance on safe harbors available under the Code for assets held at least two years or through the use of a TRS.
When the Company determines to sell a particular investment, it will seek to achieve a selling price that maximizes the capital appreciation for investors based on then-current market conditions. The Company cannot assure its investors that this objective will be realized.
Independent Directors
Edwin J. Glickman
Steven Spinola
PART IV.

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES:
LIGHTSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
For the fiscal year ended December 31,
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits are included, or incorporated by reference, as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (and are numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K):
EXHIBIT NO.
DESCRIPTION
1.1(4)
Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement by and between Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. and Orchard Securities, LLC
1.2(6)
Form of Soliciting Dealer Agreement
3.1(2)
Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc.
3.2(1)
Bylaws of Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc.
3.3(3)
Articles of Amendment of Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc.
4.1
Distribution Reinvestment Program, included as Appendix C to prospectus
4.2*
Description of Registrant’s Securities
5.1(2)
Opinion of Venable LLP re legality
10.1(5)
Advisory Agreement, dated as of March 4, 2015, by and between Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. and Lightstone Real Estate Income LLC
21*
Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
31.1*
Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*
Certification Pursuant to Rule 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*
Certification Pursuant to Rule 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101*
XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language).The following financial information from Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 19, 2021, formatted in XBRL includes: (1) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (2) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (3) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (4) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (5) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (6) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
* As filed herewith
(1) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (Reg. No. 333-200464) filed with the SEC on November 24, 2014.
(2) Previously filed as an exhibit to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (Reg. No. 333-200464) filed with the SEC on February 12, 2015.
(3) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 15, 2015.
(4) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 12, 2017.
(5) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2016.
(6) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2017.