EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1953366
Filing Year: 2025
Filename: 1953366_10-K_2025_0001558370-25-001097.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business
Explanatory Note for Purposes of the "Safe Harbor Provisions" of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Certain statements in this report, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Forward-looking statements are included with respect to, among other things, Star Holdings (“we,” “our” and/or the “Company”) current business strategy, portfolio management, prospects and liquidity. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that the Company believes might cause such differences are discussed in the section entitled, "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K or otherwise accompany the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In assessing all forward-looking statements, readers are urged to read carefully all cautionary statements contained in this Form 10-K.
Company Background
Star Holdings was formed to succeed to the legacy non-ground lease real estate assets of iStar Inc. (“iStar”). On March 31, 2023, iStar completed its transition to a ground lease focused business through the merger of iStar and Safehold Inc., a ground lease company previously founded by iStar (the “Merger”). iStar continued as the surviving corporation in the Merger and changed its name to “Safehold Inc.” (“Safe”).
Immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, iStar completed a series of reorganization and separation transactions (collectively, the “Spin-Off”) in accordance with the terms of a Separation and Distribution Agreement (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”), dated as of March 31, 2023, by and between iStar and us. To effectuate the Spin-Off: (i) iStar contributed its remaining legacy non-ground lease assets, 13,522,651 shares of common stock of Safehold Inc. previously owned by iStar (the "Safe Shares") and certain other assets to us; and (ii) iStar distributed 100% of our common shares of beneficial interest to holders of common stock of iStar by way of a pro rata distribution of 0.153 common shares of the Company for each outstanding share of iStar common stock held on the record date of the distribution.
Following the Spin-Off, we became an independent, publicly traded company. Our common shares commenced regular-way trading on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbol “STHO” on March 31, 2023. We are externally managed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Safe (the “Manager”).
In connection with the Spin-Off, the Company entered into the Separation and Distribution Agreement, a management agreement with the Manager (the "Management Agreement"), a governance agreement with Safe (the "Governance Agreement") and a registration rights agreement with Safe (the "Registration Rights Agreement"). We also entered into a credit facility with Safe (the "Safe Credit Facility") and a margin loan facility with a third-party lender (the "Margin Loan Facility").
The Company operates its business as one segment that focuses on realizing value for shareholders primarily by generating cash flows through active asset management and sales of its existing loans, operating properties and land and development properties.
Company Portfolio
Our real estate portfolio is comprised of legacy assets from iStar’s historical real estate finance, operating properties and land and development businesses and the Safe Shares. Since the date of the Spin-Off, certain of the legacy real estate assets have been sold or repaid. Additional information on our portfolio as of December 31, 2024 is set forth below.
Our Development Portfolio
Asbury Park Waterfront
We are the managing member in Asbury Partners, LLC, which is the joint venture that owns the Asbury Park Waterfront investment. The aggregate carrying value of the Asbury Park Waterfront investment was approximately $131.3 million as of December 31, 2024.
The Asbury Park Waterfront investment includes the following:
● Asbury Ocean Club Surfside Resort and Residences: a 16-story mixed use project featuring 130 residential condominium units, a 54-key luxury boutique hotel, 24,000 square feet of retail space, 410 structured parking spaces and a 15,000 square foot gym and spa amenity area. The property was completed in 2019. The hotel is managed by a third party. As of December 31, 2024, all residential condominium units have been sold.
● The Asbury: a 110-key independent boutique hotel with indoor and outdoor event spaces, and a rooftop bar. The hotel was completed in 2016 and is managed by a third party.
● Asbury Lanes: a 12,000 square foot music and entertainment venue. The venue was completed in 2018, is connected to The Asbury, and is managed by a third party.
Our current strategy for the Asbury Park Waterfront investment is to actively asset manage our operating assets, and strategically monetize the remaining development sites and our operating assets through sales to third party developers and operators while meeting our obligations under the redevelopment agreement with the city of Asbury Park.
Magnolia Green
Magnolia Green is an approximately 1,900 acre multi-generational master planned residential community that is entitled for 3,550 single and multifamily dwelling units and approximately 193 acres of land for commercial development. The community is located 19 miles southwest of Richmond, Virginia and offers distinct phases designed for people in different life stages, from first home buyers to empty nesters in single family and townhomes built by the area’s top homebuilders. The project is anchored by the Magnolia Green Golf Club, a semi-private 18-hole Nicklaus Design championship golf course with full-service clubhouse and driving range. There are also numerous community amenities, including the Aquatic Center, featuring multiple pools and a snack bar, Arbor Walk, featuring a junior Olympic competition pool, water slide and sports courts, the Tennis Center, featuring tennis and pickleball courts and a pro shop, and miles of paved trails. The aggregate carrying value of our Magnolia Green assets as of December 31, 2024 was $47.9 million.
As of December 31, 2024, 2,108 residential lots have been sold to homebuilders. We anticipate selling our remaining residential lots to homebuilders either upon completion of horizontal lot development or in bulk as unimproved lots over the next two years and it could take substantially longer. We anticipate selling the golf course operations to a third party upon completion of residential lot sellout. There can be no assurance, however, that these sales will be completed.
Our Monetizing Portfolio
As of December 31, 2024, we owned assets that we expect to monetize primarily through asset sales, loan repayments or active asset management. These assets had an aggregate carrying value of approximately
$120.3 million and were comprised primarily of loans, operating properties, land and other assets. Summarized information regarding these assets is set forth below.
Loans and other lending investments. The loans and other lending investments included in our monetizing portfolio as of December 31, 2024 include three loans with an aggregate carrying value of $34.9 million and seven available-for-sale debt securities with an aggregate carrying value of $15.4 million.
Land. The land assets included in our portfolio as of December 31, 2024 include two assets with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $15.0 million. Our general strategy is to seek to sell the land assets to third party developers. In addition, another land asset at Asbury Park with a carrying value of $51.8 million is held by a venture to which we have provided a loan and certain credit support (refer to Note 5 to the combined and consolidated financial statements).
Other. The remainder of the monetizing assets primarily consist of two short term leases that we have subleased to third parties, which had an aggregate carrying value of $3.2 million as of December 31, 2024, and a group of loans and equity interests that are recorded as having no carrying value in our financial statements. Our general strategy is to seek to sell the leased assets, although we may hold one or both leases until they expire. For the assets with no carrying value, we may seek to sell these assets but can give no assurance that we will recover any value from them.
Investment in Safe. In addition to the assets described above, we also own the Safe Shares which had a fair value of $249.9 million based on the closing price of $18.48 as of December 31, 2024.
Our Margin Loan Facility is collateralized by the Safe Shares as of the date of this filing. The net proceeds from the sale of any Safe Shares must be applied in accordance with the terms of the Margin Loan Facility.
Declines in the market value of the Safe Shares could require us to make prepayments of some or all of the outstanding borrowings under the Margin Loan Facility or post additional cash collateral. Accessing incremental borrowings under the Safe Credit Facility will increase our interest expense because the interest rate on all borrowings increases to 10.0% per annum while incremental borrowings remain outstanding. Subsequent to December 31, 2024, we paid down $5.0 million of the outstanding balance of the Margin Loan Facility to a principal balance of $84.2 million.
Investment Strategy
We expect to focus on realizing value for shareholders primarily by maximizing cash flows through active asset management and asset sales. We expect to make certain investments to complete development at Asbury and Magnolia Green, but we do not otherwise currently expect to make material new investments or acquire material new assets.
Financing Strategy
As of December 31, 2024, our principal financing sources are the Safe Credit Facility and the Margin Loan Facility (refer to Note 9 to the combined and consolidated financial statements).
While we do not currently expect to incur material new indebtedness, our governing documents do not limit the amount of debt that we may incur and we may consider future refinancing and new financing opportunities, depending upon our liquidity and capital needs, the availability and costs of financing, economic conditions and other factors.
Competition
We face competition from numerous real estate and lodging companies and other owners of real properties, both private and public, in attracting guests to our hotel properties, buyers of our residential home sites, tenants for our space available for lease and buyers of our assets. We compete with our competitors in terms of the quality of our assets, sale prices, rental rates, location, availability of alternative space and maintenance.
Regulation
General
Our properties are subject to various covenants, laws, ordinances and regulations, including regulations relating to common areas and fire and safety requirements. We believe that each of the properties in our portfolio have the necessary permits and approvals to operate its business. For more information, see “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Properties and Business.”
Investment Company Act
We intend to operate our business and manage our assets so that we will not be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. For more information, see “Risk Factors - The Loss of our Investment Company Act exemption would materially adversely affect us.”
Environmental Matters
Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, current and former owners and operators of real estate are liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances on such real estate. These laws often impose such liability without regard to whether the owner knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. The costs of remediation or removal of such substances may be substantial and the presence of such substances, or the failure to promptly remediate such substances, may adversely affect an owner’s ability to sell such real estate or to borrow using such real estate as collateral. In connection with our ownership and operation of our properties, we may be potentially liable for such costs. The operations of current and former customers at our properties have involved, or may have involved, the use of hazardous materials or generated hazardous wastes. The release of such hazardous materials and wastes could result in the incurrence of liabilities to remediate any resulting contamination if the responsible party is unable or unwilling to do so. In addition, some of our properties are located in urban areas, and are therefore exposed to the risk of contamination originating from third-party sources. While a property owner may not be held responsible for remediating contamination that has migrated onsite from an offsite source, the contaminant’s presence can have material adverse effects on our business, operations and the redevelopment of our properties. For more information, see “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Properties and Business.”
Emerging Growth Company Status
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and, as such, are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
In addition, the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. As a result, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. However, we have chosen to “opt out” of this extended transition period, and as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for all public companies that are not emerging growth companies. Our decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year during which our total annual revenue equals or exceeds $1.235 billion (subject to adjustment for inflation), (ii) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the Spin-Off, (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Exchange Act.
Code of Conduct
The Company has adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that sets forth the principles of conduct and ethics to be followed by our trustees, officers and asset level consultants (the "Code of Ethics"). The purpose of the Code of Ethics is to promote honest and ethical conduct, full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure, compliance with applicable governmental rules and regulations, full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in periodic reports, prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code of Ethics and a culture of honesty and accountability. A copy of the Code of Ethics has been provided to each of our trustees, officers and asset level consultants, who are required to acknowledge that they have received and will comply with the Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.starholdingsco.com. The Company will post on its website all disclosures that are required under the Exchange Act or Nasdaq listing standards concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Ethics.
Employees and Human Capital Resources
We have no employees and primarily rely on our Manager for our human capital resources. Our Management Agreement requires that our Manager provide us with an executive management team and other appropriate support personnel to manage our business in accordance with the agreement. Our Manager is responsible for directly compensating and providing benefits to its employees who provide services to us. We reimburse our Manager for the salaries and other compensation of two accounting personnel who are fully dedicated to providing accounting services to us. Our Manager has advised us that it had 74 employees as of December 31, 2024, substantially all of whom are full time employees. We also rely on the personnel of a local property manager for certain services at our Asbury and Magnolia Green properties.
Our Manager has reported that in its recruiting efforts, it generally strives to draw from the largest feasible pool of candidates to consider for roles. In addition, our Manager has reported that it maintains a variety of development, health and wellness and charitable programs for its personnel, including those who provide services to us.
Additional Information
We maintain a website at www.starholdingsco.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this report, and our web address is included only as an inactive textual reference. In addition to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company files quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Through the Company’s corporate website, www.starholdingsco.com, the Company makes available free of charge its annual proxy statement, annual reports to shareholders, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. These documents also may be accessed through the SEC’s electronic data gathering, analysis and retrieval system via electronic means, including on the SEC’s homepage, which can be found at www.sec.gov.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors
In addition to the other information in this report, you should carefully consider the following risk factors in evaluating an investment in the Company’s securities. Any of these risks or the occurrence of any one or more of the uncertainties described below could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to service our indebtedness, ability to pay distributions and the market price of the Company’s common stock. The risks set forth below speak only as of the date of this report and the Company disclaims any duty to update them except as required by law. For purposes of these risk factors, the terms "our Company," "we," "our" and "us" refer to Star Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Risks Related to Our Properties and Business
If global or local market and economic conditions deteriorate, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Weak economic conditions generally or locally, sustained uncertainty about global or local economic conditions, inflation, rising and sustained higher interest rates, a tightening of credit markets, business layoffs, downsizing, industry slowdowns, international hostilities, tariffs and other similar factors could negatively impact commercial real estate fundamentals and result in lower occupancy, lower demand for homes, lower demand for lodging, lower rental rates, lower activity, lower availability of financing and declining values in our real estate portfolio, and make it more difficult to complete the development of our development properties and to sell our properties at attractive prices or at all. They may also adversely affect the market value of our Safe Shares. Additionally, these factors and conditions could have an impact on our customers, tenants, lenders and purchasers of our properties. No assurances can be given regarding such macroeconomic factors or conditions, and our ability to sell assets and generate cash flows from our properties may be negatively impacted, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our performance is subject to risks inherent in owning real estate investments.
We are generally subject to risks related to the ownership of real estate. These risks include:
● changes in supply of or demand for properties in our market or sub-markets;
● higher interest rates that affect the cost and availability of mortgage financing and, in turn, demand for real properties;
● competition for homebuyers, hotel guests, tenants and users and purchasers of properties in our market or sub-markets;
● the ongoing need for capital improvements at our significant development properties;
● increased operating costs, which may not necessarily be offset by increased revenues, including insurance premiums, utilities and real estate taxes, due to inflation and other factors;
● changes in tax, real estate and zoning laws;
● changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies;
● inability of potential purchasers of our properties to obtain financing;
● competition from other assets in our markets or sub-markets and the quality of competition, such as the attractiveness of our properties as compared to other properties available for hotel stays, sale or rent based on considerations such as quality of property, convenience of location, rental rates, amenities and safety record; and
● civil unrest, acts of war, terrorism, acts of God, including earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters (which may result in uninsured losses), the imposition of tariffs and other factors beyond our control.
Should any of the foregoing occur, it may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We will be materially dependent on sales of assets to generate cash flows.
Our primary strategy is to generate cash flows and realize value through active asset management and asset sales. Asset sales are unpredictable and highly affected by economic conditions in the markets where the assets are located, the cost and availability of mortgage financing and competition from other properties available on the market. Our ability to sell Safe Shares will be affected by conditions in the capital markets, market prices of the shares and demand for the shares. Our ability to sell assets may therefore be limited and could take longer than we anticipate. If we must sell an asset, we cannot provide assurances that we will be able to dispose of the asset in the time period we desire or that the sales price of the asset will recoup or exceed our cost for the asset. If we are unable to sell assets at anticipated times or prices, we may not have sufficient cash to pay the management fee to our manager or repay our debt, we may be unable to pay distributions
to our shareholders and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Our portfolio is concentrated in certain assets and, as a result, any adverse changes impacting any of these assets may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Two of our assets, Asbury Park Waterfront and Magnolia Green, accounted for 63% of the carrying value of the legacy portfolio on a consolidated basis at December 31, 2024, and our Safe Shares are also a material asset. We would be materially and adversely affected by adverse developments at either of these properties or in the market price of Safe’s common stock. The properties may experience adverse developments such as slowing business conditions, rising interest rates, material damage or delays in completion or increased competition. The value of our Safe Shares may be adversely affected by a slowdown in the growth of Safe’s portfolio, declines in Safe’s earnings growth, rising interest rates, declines in Safe’s dividend rate and other adverse developments. The occurrence of any of these or other adverse developments could weaken our financial condition. The significance of these properties and our Safe Shares to our portfolio means that any adverse change in any of these assets may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If either of these properties or Safe suffers adverse business conditions, if either of them or our Safe Shares declines in value, if we experience material cost overruns in completing the development of either property or if we are unable to sell either property or our Safe Shares at an attractive price or at all, we could be materially and adversely affected.
The residential market has experienced significant downturns that could recur and adversely affect us.
Certain of our properties, including Magnolia Green and Asbury Park Waterfront, are residential development properties and we may make future direct or indirect investments in residential mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities. The housing market in the United States has previously been affected by weakness in the economy, high unemployment levels, rising interest rates, inflation and low consumer confidence. Interest rates have been rising recently, resulting in increases in the costs of obtaining and refinancing a mortgage. It is possible another downturn could occur again in the near future and adversely impact our residential properties and the residential properties underlying investments we may make in the future, and accordingly our financial performance. Rising interest rates tend to negatively impact the residential mortgage market, which in turn may adversely affect the value of and demand for our land assets including our residential development projects, and the value of residential real estate-related investments we may make in the future.
We may be unable to complete the development of our properties successfully, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations due to unexpected costs, delays and other contingencies.
Our Asbury Park Waterfront and Magnolia Green assets are still under development and may take several years to complete. Development assets expose us to additional risks, including, without limitation:
● delays in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, necessary zoning, land-use, building, occupancy and other required governmental permits and authorizations, which could result in completion delays and increased development costs;
● incurrence of development costs for a property that exceed original estimates due to increased materials, labor or other costs, changes in development plans or unforeseen environmental conditions, which could make completion of the property more costly or uneconomical;
● abandonment of contemplated development projects or projects in which we have started development, and the failure to recover expenses and costs incurred through the time of abandonment which could result in significant expenses;
● risk of loss of periodic progress payments or advances to builders prior to completion;
● termination of leases by customers due to completion delays;
● failure to achieve expected occupancy levels, as the lease-up of space at our development projects may be slower than estimated;
● other risks related to the lease-up of newly constructed properties;
● costs to carry these assets and complete them, which requires additional liquidity and results in additional expenses that could exceed our original estimates and impact our operating results;
● costs overruns on development, which could be material; and
● uncertainty associated with rezoning, obtaining governmental permits and approvals, concerns of community associations, reliance on third party contractors, increasing commodity costs and threatened or pending litigation may materially delay our completion of rehabilitation and development activities and materially increase their cost to us.
Demand for homes and apartment rentals may be adversely affected by a variety of macroeconomic factors beyond our control.
Demand for homes and apartment rentals is dependent on a variety of macroeconomic factors, such as employment levels, interest rates, changes in stock market valuations, consumer confidence, housing demand, availability of mortgage financing, availability and prices of new homes compared to existing inventory, and demographic trends. Slowing residential demand would likely adversely affect, among other things, demand and pricing for lots at Magnolia Green and apartment rentals at Asbury Park’s multifamily assets. These factors affecting demand, in particular consumer confidence, can be significantly adversely affected by a variety of factors beyond our control.
A downturn in the residential market could adversely affect our ability to sell our assets.
The homebuilding industry has experienced periods of strength and weakness in recent years. The prior economic downturn in 2007-2010 severely affected demand for homes and pricing of homes for more than two years. In recent years, demand for homes has been affected by tightened monetary policy and increased mortgage rates. It is possible that an economic downturn resulting from concerns about a potential economic recession, rising interest rates, corporate layoffs, geopolitical instability, tariff policy, pandemic other factors would result in a decline in demand for new homes and apartment rentals which would negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to the risk of our manager losing key personnel, and we may be unable to retain key asset-level consultants.
Safe personnel who are knowledgeable about our assets are employees of our manager or asset-level consultants to us. None of such individuals will be exclusively dedicated to us. Such individuals may depart and to the extent they are replaced their replacements will not have similar experience with, or knowledge of, our assets.
Future sales of parcels at Asbury Park Waterfront and Magnolia Green will be subject to receipt of approvals from local municipalities.
Certain future sales of additional development parcels at Asbury Park Waterfront and Magnolia Green will be subject to receipt of approvals from relevant local municipalities. The requirements we will need to fulfill to obtain such approvals are subject to change. We may not receive such approvals in a timely manner or at all.
We may experience losses if the creditworthiness of our tenants deteriorates and they are unable to meet their lease obligations.
We own or lease properties leased or subleased to tenants and receive rents from tenants during the contracted term of such leases. A tenant’s ability to pay rent is determined by its creditworthiness, among other factors. If a tenant’s credit deteriorates, the tenant may default on its obligations under our lease and may also become bankrupt. The bankruptcy or insolvency of our tenants or other failure to pay is likely to adversely affect the income produced by our real estate assets. If a tenant defaults, we may experience delays and incur substantial costs in enforcing our rights as landlord. If a tenant files for bankruptcy, we may not be able to evict the tenant solely because of such bankruptcy or failure to pay. A court, however, may authorize a tenant to reject and terminate its lease with us. In such a case, our claim against the tenant for unpaid, future rent would be subject to a statutory cap that might be substantially less than the remaining rent owed under the lease. In addition, certain amounts paid to us within 90 days prior to the tenant’s bankruptcy filing could be
required to be returned to the tenant’s bankruptcy estate. In any event, it is highly unlikely that a bankrupt or insolvent tenant would pay in full amounts it owes us under a lease that it intends to reject. In other circumstances, where a tenant’s financial condition has become impaired, we may agree to partially or wholly terminate the lease in advance of the termination date in consideration for a lease termination fee that is likely less than the total contractual rental amount. Without regard to the manner in which the lease termination occurs, we are likely to incur additional costs in the form of tenant improvements and leasing commissions in our efforts to lease the space to a new tenant. In addition, the value of our properties may be negatively impacted and the proceeds from the sale of our properties may be reduced in the event of a deterioration in our tenants’ credit. In any of the foregoing circumstances, our financial performance could be materially adversely affected.
Lease and sublease expirations, defaults and terminations may adversely affect our revenue.
Lease and sublease expirations and terminations may result in reduced revenues if the rental payments received from replacement tenants are less than the rental payments received from the expiring or terminating tenants and subtenants. In addition, lease and sublease defaults or terminations by one or more significant tenants and subtenants or the failure of tenants and subtenants under expiring leases and subleases to elect to renew their leases and subleases could cause us to experience long periods of vacancy with no revenue from a facility and to incur substantial capital expenditures and/or concessions in order to obtain replacement tenants. Leases and subleases representing approximately 100% of our in-place operating lease income are scheduled to expire during the next five years.
Our expenses may remain constant or increase, even if our revenues decrease, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Costs associated with our business, such as real estate taxes, insurance premiums and maintenance costs, are relatively inelastic and generally do not decrease, and may increase, when a property is not fully occupied, occupancy rates decrease, a customer fails to pay rent, or other costs, or other circumstances cause a reduction in property revenues. Additionally, the annual management fee we pay to our Manager is fixed for the initial four years of the Management Agreement. As a result, if revenues drop, we will not be able to reduce our expenses accordingly, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our property taxes could increase due to a change in property tax rates or a reassessment, which could impact our cash flows.
We are required to pay state and local taxes on our properties. The real property taxes on our properties may increase as property tax rates change or as our properties are assessed or reassessed by taxing authorities. Therefore, the amount of property taxes we pay in the future may increase substantially. If the property taxes we pay increase, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, trading price of our common shares and our ability to satisfy our principal and interest obligations and to pay dividends to our shareholders could be adversely affected, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Some of our assets are held in joint ventures with third parties. Joint venture investments could be adversely affected by the capital markets, lack of sole decision-making authority, changes in priorities or approvals by government agencies, reliance on joint venture partners’ financial condition and any disputes that may arise between us and our joint venture partners.
We co-invest with third parties in certain of our assets, including the Asbury Park Waterfront assets. Some of these investments are noncontrolling interests, and in others we share responsibility for managing the affairs of the venture. Investments in joint ventures may, under certain circumstances, involve risks not present when a third party is not involved, including potential deadlocks in making major decisions, restrictions on our ability to exit the joint venture, reliance on joint venture partners and the possibility that a joint venture partner might become bankrupt or fail to fund its share of required capital contributions, thus exposing us to liabilities in excess of our share of the joint venture. The funding of our capital contributions to such joint ventures may be dependent on proceeds from asset sales, credit facility advances or sales of equity securities. Joint venture partners may have business interests or goals that are inconsistent with our business interests or goals and may be in a position to take actions contrary to our policies or objectives. We may, in specific circumstances, be liable for the actions of our joint venture partners. The joint venture may be impacted by the changes in
the priorities, approvals, funding, zoning or other actions by government agencies. In addition, any disputes that may arise between us and joint venture partners may result in litigation or arbitration that would increase our expenses. Any of the foregoing may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The lodging industry is highly sensitive to trends in business and personal travel.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, 19% of our total revenues were generated by our hotel assets. The performance of the lodging industry has historically been closely linked to the performance of the general economy and, specifically, growth in U.S. gross domestic product. The lodging industry is also sensitive to business and personal discretionary spending levels. The COVID-19 pandemic materially and adversely affected corporate budgets and consumer demand for travel and lodging and corporate travel demand remains below pre-pandemic levels. Significant increases in fuel prices and geopolitical instability may also adversely affect business and personal travel demand. A continuing significant reduction in occupancy and/or room rates would continue to adversely impact our revenues and have a negative effect on our profitability.
We are subject to various operating risks common to the lodging industry.
Our hotel properties and lodging facilities are subject to various operating risks common to the lodging industry, many of which are beyond our control, including the following:
● competition from other hotel properties or lodging facilities in our markets;
● adverse effects of international, national, regional and local economic and market conditions;
● unforeseen events beyond our control, such as terrorist attacks, travel related health concerns (including pandemics and epidemics such as COVID-19), political instability, governmental restrictions on travel, regional hostilities, imposition of taxes or surcharges by regulatory authorities, travel related accidents, climate change and unusual weather patterns (including natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis or earthquakes);
● adverse effects of a downturn in the global or local lodging industry;
● the seasonal nature of resort properties, which may cause fluctuations in our quarterly results; and
● risks generally associated with the ownership of hotel properties and real estate, as discussed in other risk factors.
These risks could reduce our net operating profits and the value of any assets classified as held for sale, which in turn could adversely affect our ability to meet our obligations and make distributions to our shareholders.
The cyclical nature of the lodging industry may cause fluctuations in our operating performance.
The lodging industry is highly cyclical in nature. Fluctuations in operating performance are caused largely by general economic and local market conditions, which affect business and leisure travel levels. In addition to general economic conditions, new hotel room supply is an important factor that can affect the lodging industry’s performance, and over-building has the potential to further exacerbate the negative impact of an economic recession. Room rates and occupancy, and thus revenue per available room, or “RevPAR”, tend to increase when demand growth exceeds supply growth. A decline in lodging demand, a substantial growth in lodging supply or a deterioration in the improvement of lodging fundamentals as forecast by industry analysts could result in returns that are substantially below expectations, or result in losses, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, the value of assets and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.
We are subject to general risks associated with the employment of hotel personnel, including competition for labor.
While third-party hotel managers are responsible for hiring and maintaining the labor force at each of our hotels, we are subject to many of the costs and risks generally associated with the hotel labor force. Increased labor costs due to tightened labor market conditions, collective bargaining activity, minimum wage initiatives and additional taxes or requirements to incur additional employee benefits costs may adversely impact our operating costs. We may also incur increased legal costs and indirect labor costs as a result of contract disputes or other events. Hotels where our managers
have collective bargaining agreements with employees could be affected more significantly by labor force activities and additional hotels or groups of employees may become subject to additional collective bargaining agreements in the future. Increased labor organizational efforts or changes in labor laws could lead to disruptions in our operations, increase our labor costs, or interfere with the ability of our management to focus on executing our business strategies (e.g., by consuming management’s time and attention, limiting the ability of hotel managers to reduce workforces during economic downturns, etc.). In addition, from time to time, strikes, lockouts, boycotts, public demonstrations or other negative actions and publicity may disrupt hotel operations at any of our hotels, negatively impact our reputation or the reputation of our brands, cause us to lose guests, or harm relationships with the labor forces at our hotels.
We depend on the ability of the independent hotel operators to operate and manage our hotels.
We contract with independent hotel operators that manage the day-to-day operations of our properties. We may be limited in our ability to direct the actions of the independent hotel operators, particularly with respect to daily operations. Thus, even if we believe that our lodging properties are being operated in an unsatisfactory manner, we may not have sufficient rights under a particular property operating agreement to force the property operator to change its method of operation. Our results of operations, financial position, cash flows and ability to service debt and to make distributions to shareholders are, therefore, substantially dependent on the ability of the property operators to successfully operate our hotels. Some of our operating agreements may have lengthy terms, may not be terminable by us before the agreement’s expiration and may require the payment of substantial termination fees. Replacing a property operator may also result in significant disruptions at the affected hotels.
Our hotel management agreements limit operating flexibility.
We have entered into management or license agreements for our hotels. These management agreements contain specific standards for, and restrictions and limitations on, the operation and maintenance of our properties and our ability to make property improvements. The managers may also periodically inspect our properties to ensure that we maintain the standards specified in the management agreement. A manager could also require us to make capital expenditures, even if we do not believe the improvements are necessary or desirable. A breach of the standards or other terms and conditions of the management agreements could result in the termination of a management agreement. In addition, when terminating or changing the manager of a property, we may be required to incur significant expenses or capital expenditures.
The loss of a manager could have a material adverse effect upon the operations or the underlying value of the property and could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows, including our ability to service debt and make distributions to our shareholders.
We are subject to certain risks associated with potential liabilities under environmental laws and risks of loss from weather conditions, man-made or natural disasters, climate change and terrorism.
Under various U.S. federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner of real estate (including, in certain circumstances, a secured lender that succeeds to ownership or control of a property) may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances at, on, under or in its property. Those laws typically impose clean-up responsibility and liability without regard to whether the owner or control party knew of or was responsible for the release or presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. The costs of investigation, remediation or removal of those substances may be substantial. The owner or control party of a site may be subject to common law claims by third parties based on damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from a site. Certain environmental laws also impose liability in connection with the handling of or exposure to asbestos-containing materials, pursuant to which third parties may seek recovery from owners of real properties for personal injuries associated with asbestos-containing materials.
Weather conditions and man-made or natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, droughts, fires and other environmental conditions can damage properties we own. Additionally, the value of our properties will potentially be subject to the risks associated with long-term effects of climate change. Certain of our properties are located in major urban areas which, in recent years, have been high risk geographical areas for terrorism and threats of terrorism. Certain forms of terrorism including, but not limited to, nuclear, biological and chemical terrorism, political
risks, environmental hazards and/or Acts of God may be deemed to fall completely outside the general coverage limits of our insurance policies or may be uninsurable or cost prohibitive to justify insuring against. Furthermore, if the U.S. Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act is repealed or not extended or renewed upon its expiration, the cost for terrorism insurance coverage may increase and/or the terms, conditions, exclusions, retentions, limits and sublimits of such insurance may be materially amended and may effectively decrease the scope and availability of such insurance to the point where it is effectively unavailable. Future weather conditions, man-made or natural disasters, effects of climate change or acts of terrorism could adversely impact the demand for, and value of, our assets and could also directly impact the value of our assets through damage, destruction or loss, and could thereafter materially impact the availability or cost of insurance to protect against these events. Although we believe our owned real estate are adequately covered by insurance, we cannot predict at this time if we or our borrowers will be able to obtain appropriate coverage at a reasonable cost in the future, or if we will be able to continue to pass along all of the costs of insurance to our tenants. Any weather conditions, man-made or natural disasters, terrorist attack or effect of climate change, whether or not insured, could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance, liquidity and the market price of our common shares. In addition, there is a risk that one or more of our property insurers may not be able to fulfil their obligations with respect to claims payments due to a deterioration in its financial condition.
Compliance or failure to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act could result in substantial costs.
Our properties must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (the “ADA”), and any equivalent state or local laws, to the extent that our properties are public accommodations as defined under such laws. Under the ADA, all public accommodations must meet federal requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. If one or more of our properties is not in compliance with the ADA or any equivalent state or local laws, we may be required to incur additional costs to bring such property into compliance with the ADA or similar state or local laws. Noncompliance with the ADA or similar state and local laws could also result in the imposition of fines or an award of damages to private litigants. We cannot predict the ultimate amount of the cost of compliance with the ADA or any equivalent state or local laws. If we incur substantial costs to comply with the ADA or any equivalent state or local laws, it may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our assets may be subject to impairment charges.
We regularly review our real estate and securities assets for impairment, and based on these reviews, we may record impairment losses that have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Negative or uncertain market and economic conditions, as well as market volatility, increase the likelihood of incurring impairment losses. Such impairment losses may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be subject to litigation, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
We may be subject to litigation, including claims related to our assets and operations that are otherwise in the ordinary course of business. Some of these claims may result in significant defense costs and potentially significant judgments against us, some of which we may not be insured against. While we generally intend to vigorously defend ourselves against such claims, we cannot be certain of the ultimate outcomes of claims that may be asserted against us. Unfavorable resolution of such litigation may result in our having to pay significant fines, judgments, or settlements, which, if uninsured - or if the fines, judgments and settlements exceed insured levels - would adversely impact our earnings and cash flows, thereby negatively impacting our ability to service debt and pay dividends to our shareholders, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Certain litigation, or the resolution of certain litigation, may affect the availability or cost of some of our insurance coverage, expose us to increased risks that would be uninsured, or adversely impact our ability to attract officers and trustees, each of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Security breaches and other disruptions could compromise our information and expose us to liability, which would cause our business and reputation to suffer.
In the ordinary course of our business, our Manager and the local operators of our properties collect and store sensitive data relating to our business and assets, including intellectual property, our proprietary business and asset
information and personally identifiable information of our tenants, buyers of residential lots, personnel and other parties involved with our properties. Our Manager and local property operators also rely on information technology networks and systems to manage or support a variety of business processes, including financial transactions and records, asset sales, reservations, billing and other transactions occurring at the corporate and property levels. Our Manager and the local property operators purchase certain information technology from third-party vendors.
The secure processing, maintenance and transmission of our data and the proper functioning of the systems and processes utilized in our business activities are critical to our operations and business strategy. Despite security measures implemented by our Manager, our local property operators and third-party providers, the information technology and infrastructure on which we and they rely may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached and/or may experience shutdowns due to employee error, malfeasance or other disruptions. Any breach could compromise the networks within such infrastructure, and the information stored there on our behalf could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen. Any failure to maintain proper function, security and availability of information systems could interrupt operations at our properties.
Improper access, disclosure or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings against us, liability to us under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, disrupt operations at our properties and damage our reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The loss of our Investment Company Act exemption would materially adversely affect us.
We believe that we currently are not, and we intend to operate our company so that we will not be, regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We believe we are not an investment company under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act because we do not engage primarily, or hold ourselves out as being engaged primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. We are primarily engaged in the non-investment company businesses of owning, developing, asset managing and monetizing the legacy real estate portfolio contributed to us by iStar. We also own the Safe Shares, which iStar contributed to us in the Spin-Off, all of which collateralize the Margin Loan Facility. Our corporate strategy is to monetize or otherwise dispose of all of our assets over time. While we expect to make certain investments to complete developments at Asbury and Magnolia Green, we do not otherwise currently expect to make material new investments or acquire material new assets.
Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the Investment Company Act defines as an investment company any issuer that is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of the issuer’s total assets (exclusive of government securities (as defined in the Investment Company Act) and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis (the “40% Test”). We will need to monitor our assets to ensure that we continue to satisfy the 40% Test. There can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to satisfy the 40% Test in the future.
Our ability to satisfy the 40% Test will depend on several factors, including the values of our real estate assets and the market value of the Safe Shares, the timing of sales of our real estate assets and sales of Safe Shares and the balance of the Margin Loan Facility or any other indebtedness secured by Safe Shares. Some of these factors are unpredictable or outside our control. Maintaining our exemption from the Investment Company Act might require us to take certain actions that are not part of our intended corporate strategy, such as using cash to acquire additional real estate assets, including mortgage-backed securities, or selling Safe Shares at times and at prices that may not be advantageous to our shareholders. If we find that we temporarily breach the 40% Test due to the timing of asset sales and fluctuations in the value of the Safe Shares or other factors, we may seek to rely on the one-year safe harbor provided by Rule 3a-2 under the Investment Company Act as we transition back to our non-investment company businesses, provided we meet the conditions of the rule. The conditions include the adoption of a resolution by our board of trustees that confirms our bona fide intent to be engaged primarily in our non-investment company businesses as soon as is reasonably possible and in any event by the end of the one-year period, and our taking of actions to achieve this result. No issuer may rely on the safe harbor provided by Rule 3a-2 more frequently than once during any three-year period.
If it were established that we were an unregistered investment company, there would be a risk that we would be subject to monetary penalties and injunctive relief in an action brought by the SEC, that we would be unable to enforce contracts with third parties, or that third parties could seek to obtain rescission of transactions. In addition, we would be subject to limitations on corporate leverage and affiliate transactions that would have a material adverse impact on us and our relationship with our Manager. These effects would have a material adverse effect on our financial performance and the market price of our securities.
If we are unable to satisfy the regulatory requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or if our disclosure controls or internal control over financial reporting is not effective, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could adversely affect the perception of our business and the trading price of our common shares.
As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and will be required to prepare our financial statements in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC. The design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting may not prevent all errors, misstatements or misrepresentations. Although management will continue to review the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting, there can be no guarantee that our internal controls over financial reporting will be effective in accomplishing all of our control objectives. If we are not able to comply with these and other requirements in a timely manner, or if we or our independent registered public accounting firm identify deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the market price of our common shares could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the stock exchange, the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We have a significant amount of indebtedness, some of which matures in 2026. Our governing documents do not limit the amount of indebtedness we may incur and we may become more highly leveraged.
As of December 31, 2024, we have in place the Safe Credit Facility and the Margin Loan Facility. Our governing documents do not prohibit us from incurring additional indebtedness. The significant amount of our indebtedness could have material adverse consequences for us, including:
● hindering our ability to adjust to changing market, industry or economic conditions;
● limiting the amount of free cash flow available for future dividends or other uses;
● requiring us to sell Safe Shares to satisfy margin calls;
● making us more vulnerable to economic, market or industry downturns, including interest rate increases; and
● limiting our ability to refinance maturing debt on favorable terms.
The Margin Loan Facility matures on March 31, 2026 and the Safe Credit Facility matures on March 31, 2027. Our ability to refinance maturing indebtedness and to arrange additional financing will depend on, among other factors, our financial position and performance, as well as prevailing market conditions and other factors beyond our control.
We are subject to risks associated with secured debt.
The Margin Loan Facility is secured by our Safe Shares as of the date of this filing. Under the terms of the margin loan, if the market value of our Safe Shares drops below specified levels, we will have to post additional collateral with the lender. Furthermore, if the closing price of our Safe Shares falls below $10, we will have to repay the outstanding margin loan amount as well as all accrued and unpaid interest, and a make whole amount, if applicable. If we fail to satisfy any collateral calls, the lender may foreclose on our Safe Shares. The Safe Credit Facility is secured by the equity interests in our subsidiaries, subject to the restrictions in the Margin Loan Facility. If an event of default occurs under the Safe Credit Facility, Safe could declare all outstanding amounts to be moderately due payable and could seek to foreclose on the collateral securing the facility. The Margin Loan Facility matures on March 31, 2026 and the Safe Credit Facility matures on March 31, 2027, and each is subject to mandatory prepayment upon the occurrence of certain events, including a change of control or merger. Any foreclosure on the assets securing our secured debt or any acceleration or mandatory
prepayment of amounts due under such debt could materially and adversely affect our assets, our liquidity and financial position and the market price of our securities.
Financial covenants could materially adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.
The Safe Credit Facility contains restrictions on the amount of debt we may incur, our ability to pay dividends and distributions and other restrictions and requirements on our operations. The Safe Credit Facility also contains (i) negative covenants relating to investments, indebtedness and liens, fundamental changes, asset dispositions, repayments, distributions and affiliate transactions, and (ii) customary events of default, including payment defaults, failure to perform covenants, cross-default and cross acceleration to other indebtedness, impairment of security interests and change of control. The facility also contains a quarterly cash sweep that requires us to apply unrestricted cash above specified amounts to prepay the facility. These restrictions, as well as any additional restrictions to which we may become subject in connection with additional financings or refinancings, could restrict our ability to effect certain transactions or take other actions that may otherwise be beneficial to us, which could adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, violations of these covenants could cause declarations of default under, and acceleration of, other indebtedness, which would result in adverse consequences to our financial condition. The Safe Credit Facility contains cross-default provisions that give Safe the right to declare a default if we are in default resulting in (or permitting the) acceleration of such other debt in excess of certain amounts. In the event of a default, we may be required to repay such debt with capital from other sources, which may not be available to us on attractive terms, or at all, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may change our business strategy and business policies without shareholder approval.
Our strategy is to generate cash flows from asset management and asset sales. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our board of trustees may change our business strategy or any of our financing strategy, leverage policies, distributions plans and other policies and strategies at any time without the consent of our shareholders, which could result in an investment portfolio with a different risk profile. Such a change in our strategy may increase our exposure to interest rate risk, default risk and real estate market fluctuations, among other risks. These changes could adversely affect our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders and may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may sell all or substantially all of our assets and dissolve without shareholder approval.
Our declaration of trust provides that our board of trustees may sell all or substantially all of our assets and dissolve without having to obtain the approval of our shareholders. This is consistent with our business strategy to seek to generate cash flows through asset management and asset sales. Our board is empowered to sell all of our assets, wind up our business and dissolve and our shareholders are not empowered to change this strategy through an approval right.
Risks Related to Our Relationship with Our Manager and its Affiliates
Termination of the Management Agreement would be costly.
Termination of the Management Agreement without cause by us would be costly. The Management Agreement may be terminated without cause upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of our independent trustees on six months' prior notice, subject to the payment of a termination fee if the termination occurs before March 31, 2027. In the ordinary course, the termination fee would be equal to $50.0 million minus the aggregate amount of management fees actually paid to the Manager prior to the termination date. The Management Agreement provides for an alternative termination fee if we have liquidated our assets on or before the termination date. The cost to us of terminating the Management Agreement may adversely affect our ability to terminate it without cause and may inhibit change of control transactions that may be in the interests of our shareholders.
The loss of our Manager or its key personnel could threaten our ability to operate successfully.
Our future success depends, to a significant extent, upon the continued services of our Manager and its management team. In particular, certain members of the management team have significant historical experience with our legacy real estate assets and have developed relationships with local governments, developers, brokers and others that are
important to the success of our asset management and disposition strategy. The loss of services of our Manager or one or more members of our Manager’s management team, whether as a result of their departure from Safe, a change of control of Safe or Safe’s unilateral decision to no longer make them available to our Manager, could threaten our ability to operate our business successfully. The Management Agreement does not require our Manager to devote all of its resources or for its personnel to devote all of their business time to managing our affairs or for Safe to allocate any specific officers or employees to our Manager for our benefit.
Our Manager’s liability is limited under the management agreement, and we could experience poor performance or losses for which our Manager would not be liable.
Our Manager does not assume any responsibility under the Management Agreement other than to render the services called for and is not responsible for any action of our board of trustees in following or declining to follow its advice or recommendations. Additionally, our Manager and its affiliates, personnel, shareholders and others are not liable for acts or omissions performed in accordance with and pursuant to the management agreement, except because of acts constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of their duties under the Management Agreement. We have agreed to indemnify our Manager and its affiliates, personnel, shareholders and others with respect to all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims arising from acts of our Manager not constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties, performed in accordance with and pursuant to the management agreement.
There are various potential conflicts of interest in our relationship with our Manager and its affiliates, which could result in decisions that are not in the best interest of our shareholders.
Conflicts of interest may exist or could arise in the future with our Manager and its affiliates, including our executive officers who are also officers, and in some cases directors, of Safe. Conflicts may include, without limitation:
● conflicts arising from the enforcement of agreements between us and our Manager and its affiliates, including the Management Agreement, the Governance Agreement, the Safe Credit Facility, the Separation and Distribution Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement;
● conflicts in the amount of time that officers and employees of Safe will spend on our affairs versus Safe’s other affairs;
● conflicts arising from the fact that each of our trustees is a former director or officer of iStar and continues to own shares of Safe common stock;
● conflicts in decisions regarding the sale of our Safe Shares which, as of December 31,2024, represented approximately 18.9% of Safe’s outstanding common stock; and
● conflicts in taking actions that could adversely affect our or Safe's interests under the Safe Credit Facility.
Transactions between Safe and us, including amendments, waivers, extensions and similar matters regarding the Safe Credit Facility, would be subject to the approval of a majority of our independent trustees, and our independent trustees retain all authority over whether and when to sell Safe Shares; however, there can be no assurance that such approval and retention of authority will be successful in achieving terms and conditions as favorable to us as would be available from a third party. In addition, our board of trustees has adopted a policy restricting disclosure by our Manager and its personnel, including personnel who provide services to us, of material non-public information regarding Safe and its securities to us and our trustees. Therefore, our officers may be aware of information regarding Safe that could affect the value of our Safe Shares that they are restricted from disclosing to us under the board policy. Furthermore, each of our trustees previously served as an officer or director of iStar. Additionally, the fiduciary duties of our executive officers who are also directors and/or officers of Safe to Safe and us may come in conflict from time to time.
The management fee payable to our Manager may not provide sufficient incentive to our Manager to maximize cashflows from assets.
The management fee payable to our Manager is fixed for the first four annual terms of the Management Agreement, regardless of our performance. Significant management fees could be payable to our Manager despite the fact
that we could experience losses. Our Manager’s entitlement to such significant nonperformance-based compensation may not provide sufficient incentive to our Manager to devote its time and effort to maximize cash flows from our assets.
Our board of trustees will not approve each decision made by our Manager with regard to our legacy real estate assets, which may result in our Manager making riskier decisions on our behalf than would be specifically approved by our board of trustees.
Our trustees do not review all of the proposed sales of our legacy real estate assets, nor do they review all operating and asset management decisions made with respect to these assets, which may result in our Manager making riskier decisions on our behalf than would be specifically approved by our board of trustees. Our Manager has great latitude with regard to our legacy real estate assets, which could result in returns that are substantially below expectations or that result in losses. Decisions made by our Manager may not fully reflect your best interests.
Safe may fail to perform under various transaction agreements that were executed as part of the Spin-Off, or we may fail to have necessary systems and services in place when certain of the transaction agreements expire.
We are party to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Management Agreement, the Governance Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Safe Credit Facility with Safe. Certain of these agreements provide for the performance of services by each company for the benefit of the other for a period of time after the Spin-Off. We will rely on Safe to satisfy its performance and payment obligations under such agreements. If Safe is unable to satisfy such obligations, including its indemnification obligations, we could incur operational difficulties or losses, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we do not have in place similar agreements with other providers of these services when the transaction agreements terminate and we are not able to provide these services internally, we may not be able to operate our business effectively and our profitability may decline, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Potential indemnification liabilities owed to Safe (formerly iStar) pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Separation and Distribution Agreement provides for indemnification obligations designed to make us financially responsible for substantially all liabilities that may exist related to our assets and activities, whether incurred prior to or after the Spin-Off, as well as certain obligations of Safe that we assumed pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement. If we are required to indemnify Safe under the circumstances set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement, we may be subject to substantial liabilities, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Spin-Off may expose us to potential liabilities arising out of state and federal fraudulent conveyance laws.
If Safe files for insolvency or bankruptcy within certain timeframes following the Spin-Off, a court could deem the Spin-Off or certain internal restructuring transactions undertaken by iStar in connection therewith to be a fraudulent conveyance or transfer. Fraudulent conveyances or transfers are defined to include transfers made or obligations incurred with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud current or future creditors or transfers made or obligations incurred for less than reasonably equivalent value when the debtor was insolvent, or that rendered the debtor insolvent, inadequately capitalized or unable to pay its debts as they become due. In such circumstances, a court could void the transactions that occurred between iStar and us, which could adversely affect our financial condition and our results of operations. Whether a transaction is a fraudulent conveyance or transfer will vary depending upon the jurisdiction whose law is being applied.
Our agreements with iStar and Safe in connection with the Spin-Off involved conflicts of interest, and we may have received better terms from unaffiliated third parties than the terms we received in these agreements.
We entered into certain agreements to provide a framework for our relationship with Safe following the Spin-Off, including the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Management Agreement, the Governance Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Safe Credit Facility. The terms of these agreements were agreed while portions of
our business were still owned by iStar (now Safe) and were negotiated by persons who were employees, officers or directors of iStar or their respective subsidiaries, and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest. For example, during the period in which the terms of these agreements were negotiated, a majority of our board of trustees was not independent of iStar. As a result, the terms of those agreements may not reflect terms that would have resulted from arm’s-length negotiations between unaffiliated third parties, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Safe (formerly iStar) indemnified us for certain pre-Spin-Off liabilities and liabilities related to Safe’s assets. However, there can be no assurance that these indemnities will be sufficient to insure us against the full amount of such liabilities, or that Safe’s ability to satisfy its indemnification obligation will not be impaired in the future.
Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Safe (formerly iStar) indemnified us for certain liabilities. However, third parties could seek to hold us responsible for any of the liabilities that Safe retains, and there can be no assurance that Safe will be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations to us. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from Safe any amounts for which we were held liable by such third parties, any indemnification received may be insufficient to fully offset the financial impact of such liabilities or we may be temporarily required to bear these losses while seeking recovery from Safe, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to an Investment in Our Common Shares
An active trading market for our common shares may not be sustained.
An active trading market for our common shares may not be sustained. The trading volume for our common shares may be limited and sporadic due to a number of factors, including the fact that we are a relatively small company, the ultimate resolution of our assets is uncertain and we are concentrated in certain assets. As a consequence, there may be periods when trading activity in our common shares is minimal, as compared to a seasoned issuer that has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. We cannot give any assurance that an active public trading market for our common shares will be sustained. In addition if the market price of our common shares drops below certain levels, our shares may be delisted from NASDAQ, or we may choose to delist our shares as well sell down our portfolio.
We are taxed as a corporation and have not elected to qualify as a real estate investment trust.
We are treated as a C corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and unlike iStar have not elected to qualify as a real estate investment trust. As a general matter, Star Holdings will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the same manner as other U.S. corporations at corporate rates (currently 21%), plus additional state and local taxes. Our shareholders generally will be subject to tax on dividends paid by us, if any, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. Moreover, to the extent that we sell Safe Shares, it will be a taxable event for us and could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows, including our ability to service debt and make distributions to our shareholders.
Our organizational documents have certain provisions that could inhibit changes in control, which may discourage third parties from conducting a tender offer or seeking other change of control transactions that could involve a premium price for our common shares or that our shareholders otherwise believe to be in their best interest.
Through provisions in our declaration of trust and bylaws, we (1) require a two-thirds vote for the removal of any trustee from the board, which removal will be allowed only for cause, (2) vest in the board the exclusive power to fix the number of trusteeships, subject to limitations set forth in our declaration of trust and bylaws, (3) require that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining trustees in office, even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum, and for the remainder of the full term of class of trusteeship in which such vacancy occurred, and (4) require, unless called by the lead trustee of our board of trustees, our chief executive officer or our board of trustees, the request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on a matter at such meeting to call a special meeting to consider and vote on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of
shareholders and containing the information required in our bylaws. These provisions may have the effect of limiting or precluding a third party from making an unsolicited acquisition proposal or of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us under circumstances that otherwise could provide our shareholders with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then current market price.
Certain provisions of our organizational documents limit shareholder recourse and access to judicial fora.
Our declaration of trust limits the liability of our trustees and officers to our shareholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted under Maryland law. Additionally, our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for: (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, other than actions arising under federal securities laws; (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any of our trustees, executive officers or other employees to us or our shareholders; (c) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our trustees or executive officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the Maryland Statutory Trust Act or our declaration of trust or bylaws; or (d) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our trustees, executive officers or other employee that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division. These provisions of our organizational documents may limit shareholder recourse for actions of our trustees and executive officers and limit their ability to obtain a judicial forum that they find favorable for disputes with us or our trustees, officers, employees, if any, or other shareholders.
We do not expect to pay regular dividends.
We have paid no dividends since the Spin-Off and we do not expect to pay regular dividends in the future. Future dividends will be declared and paid at the discretion of our board of trustees, and the amount and timing of dividends will primarily depend upon cash generated by operating activities and asset sales. We expect to make distributions of cash to the extent we generate excess cash from asset sales that are not needed for expenses, debt repayment, reserves, corporate and other purposes. Our board of trustees may change our dividend policy at any time, and there can be no assurance as to the manner in which future dividends will be paid. Our failure to pay dividends may cause investors to seek alternative investments, which would result in selling pressure on, and a decrease in the market price of, our common shares. As a result, the price of our common shares may decrease, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we continue to qualify as an “emerging growth company,” we will not be required to comply with certain reporting requirements, including those relating to accounting standards and disclosure about our executive compensation, that apply to other public companies.
The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for “emerging growth companies,” including certain requirements relating to accounting standards and compensation disclosure. We currently qualify as an emerging growth company. For as long as we are an emerging growth company, which may be up to five full fiscal years, we are not required to (1) provide an auditor’s attestation report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (2) comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards applicable to public companies until such standards are also applicable to private companies under Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act, (3) comply with any new requirements adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”), requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report in which the auditor would be required to provide additional information about the audit and the financial statements of the issuer, (4) comply with any new audit rules adopted by the PCAOB after April 5, 2012 unless the SEC determines otherwise, (5) provide certain disclosure regarding executive compensation required of larger public companies or (6) hold shareholder advisory votes on executive compensation. We cannot predict if investors will find our common shares less attractive if we choose to rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common shares less attractive as a result of any choices to reduce future disclosure, there may be a less active trading market for our common shares and our share price may be more volatile.
As noted above, under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We do not intend to take advantage of such extended transition period.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties
Our principal executive offices are located at 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10036. See Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data-Schedule III for a listing of properties held by us for investment purposes.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries is party to various pending litigation matters that are considered ordinary routine litigation incidental to the Company’s businesses of owning, developing and asset managing real estate. The Company believes it is not a party to, nor are any of its properties the subject of, any pending legal proceeding that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s combined and consolidated financial statements.

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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 Equity, Related Stock Matters and Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities
The Company’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "STHO." The Company had 934 holders of record of common stock as of February 13, 2025. This figure does not represent the actual number of beneficial owners of our common stock because shares of our common stock are frequently held in “street name” by securities dealers and others for the benefit of beneficial owners who may vote the shares and who would report dividends paid by us in their taxable income.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
We did not purchase any shares of our common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2024.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. RESERVED

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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
Please read the following discussion of our consolidated operating results, financial condition and liquidity together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our discussion related to the results of operations and changes in financial condition for 2023 compared to 2022 is included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our historical results may not be indicative of our future performance. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified in our consolidated financial statements and the related notes to conform to the current period presentation.
Executive Overview
During 2024, we continued to develop our properties at Asbury Park and Magnolia Green while also monetizing certain development sites at Asbury Park and residential lots at Magnolia Green. We also continued to sell residential condominium units at Asbury Ocean Cub and all units had been sold as of December 31, 2024. We also continued to monetize our land and development assets. As of December 31, 2024, we also owned assets that we expect to monetize primarily through asset sales, loan repayments or active asset management. These assets included in our portfolio as of December 31, 2024 had an aggregate carrying value of approximately $120.3 million and were comprised primarily of land, loans and other assets. We used the proceeds from asset sales in 2024 primarily to fund our operations.
Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2024 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2023
For the Year Ended December 31,
$ Change
(in thousands)
Operating lease income
$
6,900
$
6,738
$
Interest income
2,344
2,135
Other income
44,091
41,745
2,346
Land development revenue
59,962
72,435
(12,473)
Total revenue
113,297
123,053
(9,756)
Interest expense
7,002
16,672
(9,670)
Interest expense - related party
8,750
6,300
2,450
Real estate expense
48,263
47,753
Land development cost of sales
48,674
62,657
(13,983)
Depreciation and amortization
4,328
4,572
(244)
General and administrative
21,123
36,199
(15,076)
Provision for loan losses
1,740
(1,119)
Other expense
(727)
Total costs and expenses
138,825
176,684
(37,859)
Unrealized gains (losses) on equity investments
(66,531)
(171,394)
104,863
Income from sales of real estate
3,699
-
3,699
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net
-
(2,090)
2,090
Earnings from equity method investments
-
30,825
(30,825)
Income tax expense
(2)
-
(2)
Net income (loss)
$
(88,362)
$
(196,290)
$
107,928
Revenue-Operating lease income, which primarily includes income from commercial operating properties, increased to $6.9 million in 2024 from $6.7 million in 2023.
Interest income increased to $2.3 million in 2024 from $2.1 million in 2023. The increase in interest income was due primarily to an increase in the average balance of our performing loans and other lending investments due to loan originations and the acquisition of available for sale securities.
Other income increased to $44.1 million in 2024 from $41.7 million in 2023. Other income consists primarily of dividend income from our investment in Safe, income from our loan portfolio, hotel properties and other operating properties, including Asbury Lanes and the Magnolia Green Golf Club. The increase was due primarily to an additional $2.4 million of dividend income from Safe for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the same period in 2023.
Land development revenue and cost of sales-In 2024, we had bulk sales and sold residential lots and recognized land development revenue of $60.0 million which had associated cost of sales of $48.7 million. In 2023, we sold residential lots and units and recognized land development revenue of $72.4 million which had associated cost of sales of $62.7 million. The decrease in land development revenue in 2024 was due primarily to a decrease in revenues from bulk sales and condominium sales at our Asbury properties and a decrease in lot sales at our Magnolia Green property, which was partially offset by a bulk sale at our Coney Island property and the sale of a land parcel to a third party (refer to Note 5 to the combined and consolidated financial statements). As we execute future sales and have fewer remaining residential and development assets, we expect our land development revenue will decline. The timing and amount of such sales cannot be predicted with certainty.
Costs and expenses-Prior to the Spin-Off, interest expense represented an allocation to us from iStar. Interest expense was allocated to us by calculating our average net assets by property type as a percentage of the average net assets of iStar's segments and multiplying that percentage by the interest expense allocated to each of iStar's segments (refer to Note 2 to the combined and consolidated financial statements). Subsequent to the Spin-Off, interest expense represents the interest cost on our Margin Loan Facility. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we incurred $6.9 million and $6.2 million, respectively, of interest expense from our Margin Loan Facility, net of amounts capitalized. We elected to pay interest in kind ("PIK") on the Margin Loan Facility in respect of interest payments payable for each quarter of 2024. These amounts were added to the principal balance of the loan. The applicable margin on the Margin Loan Facility increases by 25 basis points for the entirety of the interest period immediately succeeding any interest period with respect to which we make a PIK election. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we were allocated $8.0 million of interest expense and interest expense also included amounts payable to iStar prior to the Spin-Off.
Interest expense -related party represents the interest cost on our Safe Credit Facility, net of amounts capitalized.
Real estate expense increased to $48.3 million in 2024 from $47.8 million in 2023. Real estate expense primarily represents expenses at our hotel and retail operating properties and land properties. The increase in 2024 was due primarily to an increase in expenses at certain properties in our monetizing portfolio, which was partially offset by a decrease in expenses at our Asbury Park properties.
Depreciation and amortization was $4.3 million in 2024 and $4.6 million in 2023 and relates primarily to our operating properties portfolio.
Prior to the Spin-Off, general and administrative expense represented an allocation of costs, including performance-based compensation, to us from iStar. General and administrative expenses, including stock-based compensation, represented a pro rata allocation of costs from iStar's real estate finance, operating properties, land and development and corporate business segments based on our average net assets for those property types as a percentage of iStar's average net assets for those segments (refer to Note 2 to the combined and consolidated financial statements). Subsequent to the Spin-Off, general and administrative expense includes management fees to our Manager and other costs of operating as a public company. During the year ended December 31, 2024, we incurred $21.1 million of general and administrative expense, primarily resulting from $18.0 million of management fees to Safe and director fees. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we incurred $36.2 million of general and administrative expense, primarily resulting from management fees to Safe, audit and legal fees and a $14.1 million allocation from iStar. The annual management fee payable to our Manager under the Management Agreement declined from $25.0 million to $15.0 million for the second annual term of the Management Agreement which began on March 31, 2024.
The provision for loan losses was $0.6 million in 2024 as compared to a provision for loan losses of $1.7 million in 2023. The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2024 resulted primarily from the addition to a loan during the year and a new loan origination (refer to Note 5 to the combined and consolidated financial statements). The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2023 resulted primarily from the sale of a non-performing loan, which was partially offset by a reversal of loss allowances on loans that repaid in full during 2023.
Other expense decreased to $0.1 million in 2024 from $0.8 million in 2023. The decrease in 2024 was due primarily to professional fees incurred in 2023 in connection with the Spin-Off.
Unrealized gains (losses) on equity investments-Unrealized gain (loss) on equity investments represents the unrealized gain or loss on our Safe Shares. Subsequent to the Spin-Off, we account for our Safe Shares as an equity investment under ASC 321, which requires that we adjust our investment in the Safe Shares to fair value through income at each reporting period. The unrealized loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 represents the difference between the fair value of our investment in the Safe Shares as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The unrealized loss for the year ended December 31, 2023 represents the difference between the fair value of our investment in the Safe Shares as of December 31, 2023 and iStar’s historical carrying amount of the Safe Shares at the time of the Spin-Off.
Income from sales of real estate-During the year ended December 31, 2024, we sold residential condominiums and recognized income from sales of real estate of $3.7 million.
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net-During the year ended December 31, 2023, we incurred losses on early extinguishment of debt from partial repayments of our Margin Loan Facility (refer to Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements).
Earnings from equity method investments-Earnings from equity method investments was $30.8 million in 2023. In 2023, we recognized $1.1 million of income from our historical equity method investment in Safe and $29.7 million of net aggregate income from our remaining equity method investments due to asset sales at the ventures.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity is a measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including to pay interest and repay borrowings, develop our assets and maintain our operations, make distributions to our shareholders and meet other general business needs. We were formed in 2023 and we have not paid any dividends. We do not expect to pay regular dividends. We intend to make distributions of available cash from time to time, primarily dependent upon our ability to sell assets and the prices at which we sell our assets.
Our sources of cash will be largely dependent on asset sales, which are difficult to predict in terms of timing and amount. While we may be able to anticipate and plan for certain liquidity needs, there may be unexpected increases in uses of cash that are beyond our control and which would affect our financial position, liquidity and results of operations, such as prepayments on the Margin Loan Facility resulting from declines in the market value of the Safe Shares. Even if there are no material changes to our anticipated liquidity requirements, our sources of liquidity may be fewer than, and the funds available from such sources may be less than, anticipated or needed. Our primary sources of liquidity will generally consist of our cash on hand and proceeds from asset sales.
The Margin Loan Facility matures in March 2026 and the Safe Credit Facility matures in March 2027. As of December 31, 2024, the outstanding balance on the Margin Loan Facility was $89.2 million and the outstanding balance on the Safe Credit Facility was $115.0 million.
We expect our short-term and long-term liquidity requirements to include:
● capital expenditures on our Asbury Park Waterfront and Magnolia Green development projects;
● debt service on the Safe Credit Facility and the Margin Loan Facility (refer to Note 9 to the combined and consolidated financial statements), and any other indebtedness including any repurchase agreements;
● repayment or refinancing of the Margin Loan Facility and the Safe Credit Facility at their respective maturities;
● management fees and expense reimbursements payable to our Manager (refer to Note 7 to the combined and consolidated financial statements);
● operating expenses; and
● distributions to shareholders if we have any excess cash on hand from asset sales after the repayment of our debt obligations.
We expect to meet our short-term liquidity requirements through any cash flows from operations, proceeds from asset sales, borrowings on the incremental facility under the Safe Credit Facility and our unrestricted cash. We expect to meet our long-term liquidity requirements through any cash flows from operations and proceeds from asset sales and possibly through refinancing maturing debt.
Our future cash sources will be largely dependent on proceeds from asset sales. The amount and timing of asset sales, including the sale of Safe Shares, could be adversely affected by a number of factors, some of which are outside of our control, including the macroeconomic factors discussed below. We cannot predict with certainty the specific transactions we will undertake to generate sufficient liquidity to meet our obligations as they come due. We will adjust our plans as appropriate in response to changes in our expectations and changes in market conditions. The uncertainty related to macroeconomic factors such as inflation, interest rate increases, market volatility, disruptions in the banking sector, tariff policy, geopolitical uncertainty and the availability of financing, and the effects of these factors on the economy generally and on the commercial real estate markets in which we operate, make it impossible for us to predict or to quantify the impact of these or other trends on our financial results or liquidity.
The following table outlines our cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities and cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 ($ in thousands):
For the Year Ended December 31,
Cash flows used in operating activities
$
(31,289)
$
(18,719)
Cash flows provided by investing activities
186,020
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities
15,815
(114,061)
The increase in cash flows used in operating activities during 2024 was due primarily to a decrease in distributions from other investments. The decrease in cash flows provided by investing activities during 2024 was due primarily to a decrease in proceeds from the repayment and sale of loans receivable, a decrease in distributions from other investments and a decrease in proceeds from the sale of land and development assets. Cash flows provided by financing activities during 2024 represents borrowings from a construction loan and cash flows used in financing activities during 2023 was due primarily to distributions to iStar in 2023 prior to the Spin-Off, which was partially offset by net borrowings from debt obligations in 2023.
Debt Covenants-The Margin Loan Facility requires that we comply with various covenants, including, without limitation, covenants restricting, subject to certain exceptions, indebtedness, liens, investments and the payment of dividends. Additionally, the Margin Loan Facility includes customary representations and warranties, events of default and other creditor protections for this type of facility. Upon the occurrence of certain events which are customary for this type of facility, we may be required to prepay all amounts due under the Margin Loan Facility or post additional collateral in accordance with the Margin Loan Facility and related agreements. In October 2023, we entered into an amendment to the Margin Loan Facility primarily to reduce the floor price at which the market price of the Safe Shares would trigger a mandatory prepayment of outstanding borrowings under the facility.
The Safe Credit Facility requires that we comply with various covenants, including, without limitation, covenants restricting, subject to certain exceptions, indebtedness, liens, investments, mergers, asset sales and the payment of certain dividends. Additionally, the Safe Credit Facility includes customary representations and warranties as well as customary events of default, the occurrence of which, following any applicable grace period, would permit Safe to, among other things, declare the principal, accrued interest and other obligations of ours under the Safe Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable and foreclose on the collateral securing the Safe Credit Facility. In October 2023, we entered into an amendment to the Safe Credit Facility primarily to enable us to access the $25.0 million incremental facility to replenish funds that we use to make voluntary prepayments under the Margin Loan Facility.
A subsidiary of ours provided a completion and carry guaranty on the Loan (refer to Note 9 to the combined and consolidated financial statements) and is required to maintain a minimum net worth and a minimum liquidity amount both
prior to and after the completion of the Project (refer to Note 5 to the combined and consolidated financial statements) while the Loan is outstanding.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported as assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. We have established detailed policies and control procedures intended to ensure that valuation methods, including any judgments made as part of such methods, are well controlled, reviewed and applied consistently from period to period. We base our estimates on historical corporate and industry experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be appropriate under the circumstances. For all of these estimates, we caution that future events rarely develop exactly as forecasted, and, therefore, routinely require adjustment.
During 2024, management reviewed and evaluated these critical accounting estimates and believes they are appropriate. Our significant accounting policies are described in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplemental Data-Note 3." The following is a summary of accounting policies that require more significant management estimates and judgments:
Allowance for loan losses-We perform a quarterly comprehensive analysis of our loan portfolio and assign risk ratings that incorporate management’s current judgments about credit quality based on all known and relevant internal and external factors that may affect collectability. We consider, among other things, payment status, lien position, borrower or tenant financial resources and investment collateral, collateral type, project economics and geographical location as well as national and regional economic factors. This methodology results in loans being risk rated, with ratings ranging from “1” to “5” with “1” representing the lowest risk of loss and “5” representing the highest risk of loss.
We have procedures to estimate our expected loss (“Expected Loss”) on our loans (including unfunded loan commitments) and held-to-maturity debt securities based on relevant information including historical realized loss rates, current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of our investments. The estimate of our Expected Loss requires significant judgment and we analyze our loan portfolio based upon our different categories of financial assets, which includes: (i) loans and held-to-maturity debt securities and (ii) construction loans.
For our loans, held-to-maturity debt securities and construction loans, we analyzed our historical realized loss experience to estimate our Expected Loss. We adjusted our Expected Loss through the use of third-party market data that provided current and future economic conditions that may impact the performance of the commercial real estate assets securing our investments.
We consider a loan to be non-performing and place it on non-accrual status at such time as: (1) interest payments become 90 days delinquent; (2) it has a maturity default; or (3) management determines it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan. Non-accrual loans are returned to accrual status when they have become contractually current and management believes all amounts contractually owed will be received. We will record a specific allowance on a non-performing loan if we determine that the collateral fair value less costs to sell is less than the carrying value of the collateral-dependent asset. The specific allowance is increased (decreased) through “Provision for (recovery of) loan losses” in our combined and consolidated statements of operations and is decreased by charge-offs. During delinquency and the foreclosure process, there are typically numerous points of negotiation with the borrower or tenant as we work toward a settlement or other alternative resolution, which can impact the potential for repayment or receipt of collateral. Our policy is to charge off a loan when we determine, based on a variety of factors, that all commercially reasonable means of recovering the loan balance have been exhausted. This may occur at different times, including when we receive cash or other assets in a pre-foreclosure sale or take control of the underlying collateral in full satisfaction of the loan upon foreclosure or deed-in-lieu, or when we have otherwise ceased significant collection efforts. We consider circumstances such as the foregoing to be indicators that the final steps in the loan collection process have occurred and that a loan is uncollectible. At this point, a loss is confirmed and the loan and related allowance will be charged off.
The provision for (recovery of) loan losses for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were $0.6 million, $1.7 million and $45.0 million, respectively.
Impairment or disposal of long-lived assets- We periodically review real estate to be held for use and land and development assets for impairment in value whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The asset’s value is impaired only if management’s estimate of the aggregate future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) to be generated by the asset (taking into account the anticipated holding period of the asset) is less than the carrying value. Such estimate of cash flows considers factors such as expected future operating income, trends and prospects, as well as the effects of demand, competition and other economic factors. To the extent impairment has occurred, the loss will be measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the property over the fair value of the asset and reflected as an adjustment to the basis of the asset. Impairments of real estate and land and development assets, when applicable, are recorded in "Impairment of assets" in our combined and consolidated statements of operations. Estimating future cash flows and fair values is highly subjective and such estimates could differ materially from actual results.
Real estate assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of their carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell and are included in "Real estate available and held for sale" on our consolidated balance sheets. The difference between the estimated fair value less costs to sell and the carrying value will be recorded as an impairment charge. Once the asset is classified as held for sale, depreciation expense is no longer recorded. We classify our real estate assets as held for sale in the period in which all of the following conditions are met: (i) we commit to a plan and have the authority to sell the asset; (ii) the asset is available for sale in its current condition; (iii) we have initiated an active marketing plan to locate a buyer for the asset; (iv) the sale of the asset is both probable and expected to qualify for full sales recognition within a period of 12 months; (v) the asset is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reflective of its current fair value; and (vi) we do not anticipate changes to its plan to sell the asset. Assets held for sale may qualify as a discontinued operation if certain conditions exist.
We did not record any impairments during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recognized an impairment of $12.7 million on a land property and a $1.8 million impairment on an operating property.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market Risks
Market risk is the exposure to loss resulting from changes in interest rates, commodity prices and equity prices. In pursuing our business plan, the primary market risk to which we are exposed is interest rate risk. Our operating results will depend in part on the difference between the interest and related income earned on our assets and the interest expense incurred in connection with our interest-bearing liabilities. Changes in the general level of interest rates prevailing in the financial markets will affect our floating liabilities. Any significant increase in interest rates on our interest-bearing liabilities could have a material adverse effect on us. There can be no assurance that our profitability will not be materially adversely affected during any period as a result of changing interest rates.
In the event of a significant rising interest rate environment or economic downturn, defaults could increase and cause us to incur additional credit losses which would adversely affect our liquidity and operating results. Such delinquencies or defaults would likely have a material adverse effect on the spreads between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. In addition, an increase in interest rates could, among other things, reduce the value of our fixed-rate interest-bearing assets and our ability to realize gains from the sale of such assets.
Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary and tax policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions, and other factors beyond our control. We monitor the spreads between our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and may implement hedging strategies to limit the effects of changes in interest rates on our operations, including engaging in interest rate swaps, interest rate caps and other interest rate-related derivative contracts. Such strategies are designed to reduce our exposure, on specific transactions or on a portfolio basis, to changes in cash flows as a result of interest rate movements in the market. We do not enter into derivative contracts for speculative purposes or as a hedge against changes in our credit risk or the credit risk of our borrowers.
The following table quantifies the potential changes in annual net income, assuming no change in our interest earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities, should interest rates decrease or increase by 10, 50 or 100 basis points, assuming no change in the shape of the yield curve (i.e., relative interest rates). Actual results could differ significantly from those estimated in the table.
Estimated Change In Net Income
($ in thousands)
Change in Interest Rates
Net Income(1)
-100 Basis Points
$
-50 Basis Points
-10 Basis Points
Base Interest Rate
-
+10 Basis Points
(44)
+50 Basis Points
(218)
+100 Basis Points
(436)
(1) As of December 31, 2024, we had $105.0 million principal amount of floating-rate debt obligations outstanding and $45.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 34)
Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023
Combined and Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
Combined and Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
Combined and Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
Combined and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Financial Statement Schedules:
Schedule III-Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation as of December 31, 2024 with reconciliations for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
Schedule IV-Mortgage Loans on Real Estate as of December 31, 2024 with reconciliations for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Star Holdings
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Star Holdings and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related combined and consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes and the schedules listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, 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.
We tested the accuracy and completeness of quantitative data used by management to estimate the current and future economic conditions.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
February 18, 2025
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2022.
Star Holdings
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except per share data)(1)
As of
December 31,
December 31,
ASSETS
Real estate
Real estate, at cost
$
98,118
$
97,481
Less: accumulated depreciation
(25,273)
(22,075)
Real estate, net
72,845
75,406
Land and development, net
176,444
181,394
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net ($1,118 and $497 of allowances as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively)
50,324
20,898
Other investments
249,899
316,451
Cash and cash equivalents
34,957
50,663
Accrued interest and operating lease income receivable, net
1,115
Deferred operating lease income receivable, net
Deferred expenses and other assets, net
22,401
22,459
Total assets
$
608,655
$
669,197
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities:
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities(2)
$
46,310
$
42,462
Debt obligations, net
217,349
192,895
Total liabilities
263,659
235,357
Commitments and contingencies (refer to Note 10)
Equity:
Star Holdings shareholders' equity:
Common Stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000 shares authorized, 13,320 and 13,320 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
607,623
607,623
Accumulated deficit
(283,196)
(196,441)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(104)
Star Holdings shareholders' equity
324,336
411,554
Noncontrolling interests
20,660
22,286
Total equity
344,996
433,840
Total liabilities and equity
$
608,655
$
669,197
(1) Refer to Note 2 for details on the Company’s combined and consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”).
(2) As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, includes $4.8 million and $7.2 million, respectively, of management fees and other payables due to Safe (refer to Note 1).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the combined and consolidated financial statements.
Star Holdings
Combined and Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the Years Ended December 31,
Revenues:
Operating lease income
$
6,900
$
6,738
$
12,859
Interest income
2,344
2,135
12,340
Other income(1)
44,091
41,745
37,125
Land development revenue
59,962
72,435
61,753
Total revenues
113,297
123,053
124,077
Costs and expenses:
Interest expense
7,002
16,672
42,042
Interest expense - related party
8,750
6,300
-
Real estate expense
48,263
47,753
49,902
Land development cost of sales
48,674
62,657
63,441
Depreciation and amortization
4,328
4,572
4,910
General and administrative(2)
21,123
36,199
10,937
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses
1,740
44,998
Impairment of assets
-
-
14,476
Other expense
Total costs and expenses
138,825
176,684
231,200
Unrealized gains (losses) on equity investments
(66,531)
(171,394)
-
Income from sales of real estate
3,699
-
25,186
Income (loss) from operations before earnings from equity method investments and other items
(88,360)
(225,025)
(81,937)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net
-
(2,090)
-
Earnings from equity method investments
-
30,825
45,626
Net income (loss) from operations before income taxes
(88,360)
(196,290)
(36,311)
Income tax expense
(2)
-
-
Net income (loss)
(88,362)
(196,290)
(36,311)
Net (income) loss from operations attributable to noncontrolling interests
1,607
(66)
(37)
Net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders
$
(86,755)
$
(196,356)
$
(36,348)
Per common share data:
Net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders
Basic and diluted
$
(6.51)
$
(14.74)
$
(2.73)
Weighted average number of common shares:
Basic and diluted
13,320
13,320
13,320
(1) During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, includes $22.0 million, $22.0 million and $21.5 million, respectively, of revenues from hotel properties.
(2) For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, includes $17.5 million and $19.7 million, respectively, of management fees incurred to related parties.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the combined and consolidated financial statements.
Star Holdings
Combined and Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(In thousands)
For the Years Ended December 31,
Net income (loss)
$
(88,362)
$
(196,290)
$
(36,311)
Other comprehensive income:
Reclassification of losses on cash flow hedges into earnings upon realization(1)
-
-
Reclassification of losses on available-for-sale securities
-
-
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
(463)
(4,623)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges
-
-
9,802
Other comprehensive income (loss)
(463)
6,436
Comprehensive income (loss)
(88,825)
(195,931)
(29,875)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
1,607
(66)
(37)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
$
(87,218)
$
(195,997)
$
(29,912)
(1) Reclassified to “Earnings from equity method investments” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations for the Company’ impact of designated cash flow hedges at Safe (refer to Note 7).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the combined and consolidated financial statements.
Star Holdings
Combined and Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(In thousands)
Common
Additional
Accumulated
Stock
Paid-In
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
Net Parent
Noncontrolling
Total
At Par
Capital
Deficit
Income (Loss)
Investment
Interests
Equity
Balance as of December 31, 2021
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
1,223,695
$
$
1,224,384
Net income (loss)
-
-
-
-
(36,348)
(36,311)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
-
-
-
-
6,436
-
6,436
Stock-based compensation
-
-
-
-
(11,806)
-
(11,806)
Net transactions with iStar Inc.
-
-
-
-
(210,434)
-
(210,434)
Balance as of December 31, 2022
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
971,543
$
$
972,269
Net income (loss)
-
-
(196,441)
-
(196,290)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
-
-
-
(989)
-
(630)
Common shares issued in conjunction with Spin-Off (refer to Note 1)
607,623
-
-
(607,636)
-
-
Stock-based compensation
-
-
-
-
1,778
-
1,778
Net transactions with iStar Inc.
-
-
-
-
(364,781)
-
(364,781)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
-
-
-
-
-
(2,542)
(2,542)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests upon consolidation of venture (refer to Note 5)
-
-
-
-
-
20,961
20,961
Contributions from noncontrolling interests
-
-
-
-
-
3,098
3,098
Change in noncontrolling interests
-
-
-
-
-
(23)
(23)
Balance as of December 31, 2023
$
$
607,623
$
(196,441)
$
$
-
$
22,286
$
433,840
Net income (loss)
-
-
(86,755)
-
-
(1,607)
(88,362)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
-
-
-
(463)
-
-
(463)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
-
-
-
-
-
(41)
(41)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests
-
-
-
-
-
Change in noncontrolling interests
-
-
-
-
-
(5)
(5)
Balance as of December 31, 2024
$
$
607,623
$
(283,196)
$
(104)
$
-
$
20,660
$
344,996
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the combined and consolidated financial statements.
Star Holdings
Combined and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
For the Years Ended December 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)
$
(88,362)
$
(196,290)
$
(36,311)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows from operating activities:
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses
1,740
44,998
Impairment of assets
-
-
14,476
Depreciation and amortization
4,328
4,572
4,910
Stock-based compensation
-
1,778
(11,806)
Amortization of discounts/premiums and deferred interest on loans, net
(1,001)
(959)
(6,859)
Deferred interest on loans received
-
4,517
8,725
Amortization of premium, discount and deferred financing costs and paid-in-kind interest on debt obligations, net
7,878
2,271
-
Earnings from equity method investments
-
(30,825)
(45,626)
Distributions from operations of other investments
-
21,793
26,317
Deferred operating lease income
Unrealized (gains) losses on equity investments
66,531
171,394
-
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
-
2,090
-
Income from sales of real estate
(3,699)
-
(25,186)
Land development revenue (in excess of) cost of sales
(11,288)
(9,778)
1,688
Other operating activities, net
(315)
(2,492)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Changes in accrued interest and operating lease income receivable
(378)
Changes in deferred expenses and other assets, net
(247)
(2,103)
2,506
Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(5,528)
9,772
(3,620)
Cash flows used in operating activities
(31,289)
(18,719)
(27,358)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Originations and fundings of loans receivable and other lending investments, net
(11,260)
(6,388)
(6,740)
Capital expenditures on real estate assets
(682)
(997)
(676)
Capital expenditures on land and development assets
(35,253)
(13,057)
(21,807)
Repayments of and principal collections on loans receivable and other lending investments, net
-
31,757
129,109
Net proceeds from sales of loans receivable
-
37,650
75,921
Net proceeds from sales of other investments
-
-
12,819
Net proceeds from sales of real estate
5,445
-
39,567
Net proceeds from sales of land and development assets
42,199
68,964
59,946
Distributions from other investments
-
47,286
10,217
Contributions to and acquisition of interest in other investments
-
-
(81,737)
Cash, cash equivalents & restricted cash acquired upon consolidation of venture (refer to Note 5)
-
20,961
-
Other investing activities, net
(143)
(156)
19,444
Cash flows provided by investing activities
186,020
236,063
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net transactions with iStar Inc.
-
(290,077)
(218,280)
Borrowings from debt obligations
15,815
253,070
-
Repayments of debt obligations
-
(69,787)
-
Payment of deferred financing costs
-
(3,543)
-
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
-
(2,542)
-
Payments for debt prepayment or extinguishment costs
-
(1,182)
-
Other financing activities, net
-
-
(25)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities
15,815
(114,061)
(218,305)
Changes in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(15,168)
53,240
(9,600)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
60,714
7,474
17,074
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
45,546
$
60,714
$
7,474
Star Holdings
Combined and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
For the Years Ended December 31,
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash presented on the combined and consolidated statements of cash flows
Cash and cash equivalents
$
34,957
$
50,663
$
4,227
Restricted cash included in deferred expenses and other assets, net
10,589
10,051
3,247
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
45,546
$
60,714
$
7,474
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest
$
9,666
$
20,235
$
42,042
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activity:
Increase (decrease) in other investments and other assets upon contribution from iStar Inc.
$
-
$
(74,704)
$
7,846
Settlement of debt obligations
-
115,000
-
Assumption of debt obligations from iStar Inc.
-
125,000
-
Origination of loans receivable (refer to Note 5)
18,250
2,550
-
Paid-in-kind interest on debt obligations
7,261
1,701
-
Transfer of loan receivable to loan receivable held for sale
-
-
37,650
Accounts payable for capital expenditures on land and development and real estate assets
9,984
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the combined and consolidated financial statements.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1-Business and Organization
On March 31, 2023, Star Holdings, a Maryland statutory trust (the "Company," "Star Holdings," "we" or "us") completed a series of reorganization and separation transactions (collectively, the “Spin-Off”) in accordance with the terms of a Separation and Distribution Agreement (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”), dated as of March 31, 2023, by and between iStar Inc., a Maryland corporation ("iStar"), and Star Holdings. To effectuate the Spin-Off: (i) iStar contributed its remaining legacy non-ground lease assets, 13,522,651 shares of common stock of Safehold Inc. (the “Safe Shares”) and certain other assets (“iStar Included Assets”) to Star Holdings; and (ii) iStar distributed 100% of the common shares of beneficial interest in Star Holdings to holders of common stock of iStar ("iStar Common Stock") by way of a pro rata distribution of 0.153 common shares of Star Holdings for each outstanding share of iStar Common Stock held on the record date of the distribution.
The Spin-Off became effective at 12:02 a.m., Eastern Time, on March 31, 2023 (the “Spin-Off Effective Time”). Following the Spin-Off, Star Holdings became an independent, publicly traded company. Star Holdings' common shares commenced regular-way trading on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbol “STHO” on March 31, 2023. Shortly after the Spin-Off, iStar completed its previously-announced merger (the "Merger") with Safehold Inc., a Maryland corporation. iStar continued as the surviving corporation in the Merger and changed its name to “Safehold Inc.” ("Safe").
The Company operates its business as one segment (refer to Note 15) that focuses on realizing value for shareholders primarily by generating cash flows through active asset management and sales of its existing loans, operating properties and land and development properties. The Company’s short-term and long-term liquidity requirements include capital expenditures on its development projects, debt service, management fees and expense reimbursements payable to its Manager (refer to Note 7) and operating expenses, among others. The Company expects to meet its short-term liquidity requirements through any cash flows from operations, proceeds from asset sales, borrowings on the incremental facility under the Safe Credit Facility (refer to Note 9) and unrestricted cash. The Company expects to meet its long-term liquidity requirements through any cash flows from operations and proceeds from asset sales and possibly through refinancing maturing debt.
The combined and consolidated financial statements of the Company include loans and other lending investments, operating properties and land and development assets that represent the assets, liabilities and operations from the assets included in the Spin-Off. References to "iStar" in the notes to the Company's financial statements refer to iStar prior to the closing of the Merger and the Spin-Off.
Note 2-Basis of Presentation and Principles of Combination and Consolidation
Basis of Presentation-The accompanying combined and consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The combined and consolidated financial statements of the Company prior to the Spin-off on March 31, 2023 represented a combination of entities under common control that have been “carved out” from iStar’s consolidated financial statements. Historically, financial statements of the Company have not been prepared as it was not operated separately from iStar. These combined and consolidated financial statements reflect the revenues and expenses of the Company and include certain assets and liabilities that were included in the Spin-Off, which were initially reflected at iStar’s historical basis. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The combined and consolidated financial statements may not be indicative of the Company’s future performance and do not necessarily reflect what the results of operations and cash flows would have been had the Company operated as a standalone company during the periods presented.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
These combined and consolidated financial statements include an allocation of general and administrative expenses and interest expense to the Company from iStar through the date of the Spin-Off. General and administrative expenses include certain iStar corporate functions, including executive oversight, treasury, finance, human resources, tax compliance and planning, internal audit, financial reporting, information technology and investor relations. General and administrative expenses, including stock-based compensation, represent a pro rata allocation of costs from iStar’s real estate finance, operating properties, land and development and corporate business segments based on the Company’s average net assets for those segments as a percentage of iStar’s average net assets for those segments. Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, was allocated to the Company by calculating the Company’s average net assets as a percentage of the average net assets in iStar’s segments and multiplying that percentage by the interest expense allocated to iStar’s segments. The Company believes the allocation methodology for general and administrative expenses and interest expense is reasonable. Accordingly, the general and administrative expense and interest expense allocations presented in our combined and consolidated statements of operations for historical periods does not necessarily reflect what our general and administrative expenses and interest expense will be as a standalone public company. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company was allocated $14.1 million and $10.9 million, respectively, of general and administrative expense and $8.0 million and $42.0 million, respectively, of interest expense. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the general and administrative expense allocation includes $1.8 million and ($11.8) million, respectively, of stock-based compensation (refer to Note 3). Subsequent to the Spin-Off, the Company has its own general and administrative expense and interest expense as a stand-alone public company.
Prior to the Spin-Off, certain of the entities included in the Company’s financial statements did not have bank accounts for the periods presented, and certain cash transactions for the Company were transacted through bank accounts owned by iStar. The combined and consolidated statements of cash flows for the periods presented were prepared as if operating, investing and financing transactions for the Company had been transacted through its own bank accounts.
Principles of Combination and Consolidation-The combined and consolidated financial statements include on a carve-out basis the historical balance sheets and statements of operations and cash flows of assets, liabilities and operations included in the Spin-Off. For periods prior to March 31, 2023, the Company was allocated a number of shares of Safe common stock based on estimates driven by the total value of stock that iStar expected to contribute to the Company and the price per share of Safe common stock (refer to Note 7). Information for the periods subsequent to March 31, 2023 reflect the actual number of Safe Shares contributed to the Company.
Consolidated VIEs-The Company consolidates VIEs for which it is considered the primary beneficiary. The liabilities of these VIEs are non-recourse to the Company and can only be satisfied from each VIE’s respective assets. The Company did not have any unfunded commitments related to consolidated VIEs as of December 31, 2024. The following table presents the assets and liabilities of the Company’s consolidated VIEs included in the Company’s combined and consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 ($ in thousands):
As of
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Real estate
Real estate, at cost
$
95,318
$
94,682
Less: accumulated depreciation
(24,372)
(21,349)
Real estate, net
70,946
73,333
Land and development, net
115,201
108,284
Cash and cash equivalents
8,324
31,479
Accrued interest and operating lease income receivable, net
-
Deferred expenses and other assets, net
7,727
8,758
Total assets
$
202,198
$
221,878
LIABILITIES
Total liabilities
$
47,751
$
23,600
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 3-Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Real estate and land and development-Real estate and land and development assets are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization, as follows:
Capitalization and depreciation -Certain improvements and replacements are capitalized when they extend the useful life of the asset. For real estate projects, the Company begins to capitalize qualifying development and construction costs, including interest, real estate taxes, compensation and certain other carrying costs incurred which are specifically identifiable to a development project once activities necessary to get the asset ready for its intended use have commenced. If specific allocation of costs is not practicable, the Company will allocate costs based on relative fair value prior to construction or relative sales value, relative size or other methods as appropriate during construction. The Company’s policy for interest capitalization on qualifying real estate assets is to use the average amount of accumulated expenditures during the period the asset is being prepared for its intended use, which is typically when physical construction commences, and a capitalization rate which is derived from specific borrowings on the qualifying asset or the Company’s corporate borrowing rate in the absence of specific borrowings. The Company ceases capitalization on the portions substantially completed and ready for their intended use. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method of cost recovery over the estimated useful life, which is generally 40 years for facilities, five years for furniture and equipment, the shorter of the remaining lease term or expected life for tenant improvements and the remaining useful life of the facility for facility improvements.
Impairments - The Company reviews real estate assets to be held for use and land and development assets, for impairment in value whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The value of a long-lived asset held for use and land and development assets are impaired only if management’s estimate of the aggregate future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) to be generated by the asset (taking into account the anticipated holding period of the asset) is less than the carrying value. Such estimate of cash flows considers factors such as expected future operating income trends, as well as the effects of demand, competition and other economic factors. To the extent impairment has occurred, the loss will be measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the property over the estimated fair value of the asset and reflected as an adjustment to the basis of the asset. Impairments of real estate assets and land and development assets, when applicable, are recorded in “Impairment of assets” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations.
Real estate available and held for sale -The Company reports real estate assets to be sold at the lower of their carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell and classifies them as “Real estate available and held for sale” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. If the estimated fair value less costs to sell is less than the carrying value, the difference will be recorded as an impairment charge. Impairment for real estate assets disposed of or classified as held for sale are included in “Impairment of assets” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations. Once a real estate asset is classified as held for sale, depreciation expense is no longer recorded.
The Company classifies its real estate assets as held for sale in the period in which all of the following conditions are met: (i) the Company commits to a plan and has the authority to sell the asset; (ii) the asset is available for sale in its current condition; (iii) the Company has initiated an active marketing plan to locate a buyer for the asset; (iv) the sale of the asset is both probable and expected to qualify for full sales recognition within a period of 12 months; (v) the asset is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reflective of its current fair value; and (vi) the Company does not anticipate changes to its plan to sell the asset. Assets held for sale may qualify as a discontinued operation if certain conditions exist.
If circumstances arise that were previously considered unlikely and, as a result the Company decides not to sell a property previously classified as held for sale, the property is reclassified as held and used and included in “Real estate, net” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company measures and records a property that is reclassified as held and used at the lower of: (i) its carrying amount before the property was classified as held
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
for sale, adjusted for any depreciation expense that would have been recognized had the property been continuously classified as held and used; or (ii) the estimated fair value at the date of the subsequent decision not to sell.
Dispositions - Gains or losses on the sale of real estate assets, including residential property, are recognized in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 610-20, Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets. The Company primarily uses specific identification and the relative sales value method to allocate costs. Gains on sales of real estate are included in “Income from sales of real estate” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations.
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net-Loans receivable and other lending investments, net includes both senior mortgages and subordinate mortgages and debt securities. Management considers nearly all of its loans to be held-for-investment, although certain investments may be classified as held-for-sale or available-for-sale.
Loans receivable classified as held-for-investment are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balance net of any unamortized acquisition premiums or discounts and unamortized deferred loan costs or fees. These loans could also include accrued and paid-in-kind interest and accrued exit fees that the Company determines are probable of being collected. Debt securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Realized gains on the sale of available-for-sale securities are recorded in “Other income” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations.
Loans receivable and other lending investments designated for sale are classified as held-for-sale and are carried at lower of amortized cost or estimated fair value. The amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value is recorded as a valuation allowance. Subsequent changes in the valuation allowance are included in the determination of net income (loss) in the period in which the change occurs.
The Company may acquire properties through foreclosure or by deed-in-lieu of foreclosure in full or partial satisfaction of non-performing loans. Based on the Company’s strategic plan to realize the maximum value from the collateral received, property is classified as “Land and development, net,” “Real estate, net” or “Real estate available and held for sale,” when the appropriate held for sale criteria are met, at its estimated fair value when title to the property is obtained. Any excess of the carrying value of the loan over the estimated fair value of the property (less costs to sell for assets held for sale) is charged-off against the allowance for loan losses as of the date of foreclosure.
Equity investments-Equity interests are accounted for pursuant to the equity method of accounting if the Company can significantly influence the operating and financial policies of an investee. The Company’s periodic share of earnings and losses in equity method investees is included in “Earnings from equity method investments” in the combined and consolidated statements of operations. Equity method investments are included in “Other investments” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company also has equity interests that are not accounted for pursuant to the equity method of accounting. These equity interests are carried at cost, plus or minus any changes in value identified through observable comparable price changes in transactions in identical or similar investments of the same entity. These investments are included in “Other investments” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and the changes in fair value for these investments are included in “Unrealized gains (losses) on equity investments” in the combined and consolidated statements of operations.
The Company periodically reviews equity method investments for impairment in value whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such investments may not be recoverable. The Company will record an impairment charge to the extent that the estimated fair value of an investment is less than its carrying value and the Company determines the impairment is other-than-temporary. Impairment charges are recorded in “Earnings from equity method investments” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Cash and cash equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in bank accounts. Prior to the Spin-Off, certain of the entities included in the Company’s combined and consolidated financial statements did not have bank accounts for the periods presented, and certain cash transactions for the Company were transacted through bank accounts owned by iStar. Cash and cash equivalents presented on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets represents cash held in bank accounts directly attributable to the Company or cash held in bank accounts attributable to consolidated ventures (refer to Note 5).
Restricted cash - Restricted cash represents amounts required to be maintained for certain of the Company’s loans, real estate and land and development properties and also includes restricted cash attributable to consolidated ventures (refer to Note 5). Restricted cash is included in “Deferred expenses and other assets, net” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Variable interest entities-The Company evaluates its investments and other contractual arrangements to determine if they constitute variable interests in a VIE. A VIE is an entity where a controlling financial interest is achieved through means other than voting rights. A VIE is consolidated by the primary beneficiary, which is the party that has the power to direct matters that most significantly impact the activities of the VIE and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. This overall consolidation assessment includes a review of, among other factors, which interests create or absorb variability, contractual terms, the key decision making powers, their impact on the VIE’s economic performance, and related party relationships. Where qualitative assessment is not conclusive, the Company performs a quantitative analysis. The Company reassesses its evaluation of the primary beneficiary of a VIE on an ongoing basis and assesses its evaluation of an entity as a VIE upon certain reconsideration events.
Deferred expenses and other assets / Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities-Deferred expenses and other assets include right-of-use operating lease assets, restricted cash, prepaid expenses, certain non-tenant receivables and leasing costs. Leasing costs that include brokerage, legal and other costs are amortized over the life of the respective leases and presented as an operating activity in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of cash flows. Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities primarily includes unearned revenue, accrued expenses and operating lease liabilities.
The Company, as lessee, records right-of-use operating lease assets in “Deferred expenses and other assets” and operating lease liabilities in “Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities,” both initially measured at the present value of the fixed and determinable lease payments. Some of the Company’s lease agreements include extension options, which are not included in the lease payments unless the extensions are reasonably certain to be exercised. For operating leases, the Company recognizes a single lease cost for ground leases in “Real estate expense” in the combined and consolidated statements of operations, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated generally on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, and classifies all cash payments within operating activities in the combined and consolidated statements of cash flows.
Identified intangible assets and liabilities-Upon the acquisition of a business or an asset, the Company records intangible assets or liabilities acquired at their relative fair values and determines whether such intangible assets or liabilities have finite or indefinite lives. As of December 31, 2024, all such intangible assets and liabilities acquired by the Company have finite lives. Intangible assets are included in “Deferred expenses and other assets, net” and intangible liabilities are included in “Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company amortizes finite lived intangible assets and liabilities based on the period over which the assets are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the future cash flows of the business acquired. The Company reviews finite lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the Company determines the carrying value of an intangible asset is not recoverable it will record an impairment charge to the extent its carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value. Impairments of intangible assets, when applicable, are recorded in “Impairment of assets” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Revenue recognition-The Company’s revenue recognition policies are as follows:
Operating lease income: For the Company’s leases classified as operating leases, operating lease income is recognized on the straight-line method of accounting generally from the later of the date the lessee takes possession of the space or the space is ready for its intended use. If the Company acquires a facility subject to an existing operating lease, the Company will recognize operating lease income on the straight-line method beginning on the date of acquisition. Accordingly, contractual lease payment increases are recognized evenly over the term of the lease. The periodic difference between lease revenue recognized under this method and contractual lease payment terms is recorded as "Deferred operating lease income receivable, net" on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
The Company also recognizes revenue from certain tenant leases for reimbursements of all or a portion of operating expenses, including common area costs, insurance, utilities and real estate taxes of the respective property. This revenue is accrued in the same periods as the expense is incurred and is recorded as “Operating lease income” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations. Revenue is also recorded from certain tenant leases that is contingent upon tenant sales exceeding defined thresholds. These rents are recognized only after the defined threshold has been met for the period.
The Company moves to cash basis operating lease income recognition in the period in which collectability of all lease payments is no longer considered probable. At such time, any operating lease receivable or deferred operating lease income receivable balance will be written off. If and when lease payments that were previously not considered probable of collection become probable, the Company will move back to the straight-line method of income recognition and record an adjustment to operating lease income in that period as if the lease was always on the straight-line method of income recognition.
Interest Income: Interest income on loans receivable is recognized on an accrual basis using the interest method.
On occasion, the Company may acquire loans at premiums or discounts. These discounts and premiums in addition to any deferred costs or fees, are typically amortized over the contractual term of the loan using the interest method. Exit fees are also recognized over the lives of the related loans as a yield adjustment, if management believes it is probable that such amounts will be received. If loans with premiums, discounts, loan origination or exit fees are prepaid by borrowers, the Company immediately recognizes the unamortized portion, which is included in “Other income” or “Other expense” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations.
The Company considers a loan to be non-performing and places it on non-accrual status at such time as: (1) interest payments become 90 days delinquent; (2) it has a maturity default; or (3) management determines it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan. While on non-accrual status, based on the Company’s judgment as to collectability of principal, loans are either accounted for on a cash basis, where interest income is recognized only upon actual receipt of cash, or on a cost-recovery basis, where all cash receipts reduce a loan’s carrying value. Non-accrual loans are returned to accrual status when a loan has become contractually current and management believes all amounts contractually owed will be received.
Certain of the Company’s loans contractually provide for accrual of interest at specified rates that differ from current payment terms. Interest is recognized on such loans at the accrual rate subject to management’s determination that accrued interest and outstanding principal are ultimately collectible, based on the underlying collateral and operations of the borrower.
Certain of the Company’s loan investments provide for additional interest based on the borrower’s operating cash flow or appreciation of the underlying collateral. Such amounts are considered contingent interest and are reflected as interest income only upon receipt of cash.
Other income: Other income includes dividend income from our investment in Safe (refer to Note 7), ancillary income from our operating properties, land and development projects and loan portfolio, revenues from golf course operations and hotel operations, which are recognized when rooms are occupied, and the related services are provided. Hotel revenues include room sales, food and beverage sales, parking, telephone, spa services and gift
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
shop sales. Other ancillary income could include gains from sales of loans, loan prepayment fees, yield maintenance payments, lease termination fees and other ancillary income.
Land development revenue and cost of sales: Land development revenue includes lot, unit and parcel sales from wholly-owned properties and is recognized for full profit recognition upon closing of the sale transactions, when the profit is determinable, the earnings process is virtually complete, the parties are bound by the terms of the contract, all consideration has been exchanged, any permanent financing for which the seller is responsible has been arranged and all conditions for closing have been performed. The Company primarily uses specific identification and the relative sales value method to allocate costs.
Allowance for loan losses-The Company performs quarterly a comprehensive analysis of its loan portfolio and assigns risk ratings that incorporate management’s current judgments about credit quality based on all known and relevant internal and external factors that may affect collectability. The Company considers, among other things, payment status, lien position, borrower or tenant financial resources and investment collateral, collateral type, project economics and geographical location as well as national and regional economic factors. This methodology results in loans being risk rated, with ratings ranging from “1” to “5” with “1” representing the lowest risk of loss and “5” representing the highest risk of loss.
Upon adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13 - Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments on January 1, 2020, the Company implemented procedures to estimate its expected loss (“Expected Loss”) on its loans (including unfunded loan commitments) and held-to-maturity debt securities based on relevant information including historical realized loss rates, current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of its investments. The estimate of the Company’s Expected Loss requires significant judgment and the Company analyzes its loan portfolio based upon its different categories of financial assets, which includes: (i) loans and held-to-maturity debt securities; and (ii) construction loans.
For the Company’s loans, held-to-maturity debt securities and construction loans, the Company analyzed its historical realized loss experience to estimate its Expected Loss. The Company adjusts its Expected Loss through the use of third-party market data that provided current and future economic conditions that may impact the performance of the commercial real estate assets securing its investments.
The Company considers a loan to be non-performing and places it on non-accrual status at such time as: (1) interest payments become 90 days delinquent; (2) it has a maturity default; or (3) management determines it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan. Non-accrual loans are returned to accrual status when they have become contractually current and management believes all amounts contractually owed will be received. The Company will record a specific allowance on a non-performing loan if the Company determines that the collateral fair value less costs to sell is less than the carrying value of the collateral-dependent asset. The specific allowance is increased (decreased) through “Provision for (recovery of) loan losses” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations and is decreased by charge-offs. During delinquency and the foreclosure process, there are typically numerous points of negotiation with the borrower or tenant as the Company works toward a settlement or other alternative resolution, which can impact the potential for repayment or receipt of collateral. The Company’s policy is to charge off a loan when it determines, based on a variety of factors, that all commercially reasonable means of recovering the loan balance have been exhausted. This may occur at different times, including when the Company receives cash or other assets in a pre-foreclosure sale or takes control of the underlying collateral in full satisfaction of the loan upon foreclosure or deed-in-lieu, or when the Company has otherwise ceased significant collection efforts. The Company considers circumstances such as the foregoing to be indicators that the final steps in the loan collection process have occurred and that a loan is uncollectible. At this point, a loss is confirmed and the loan and related allowance will be charged off.
The Company made the accounting policy election to record accrued interest on its loan portfolio separate from its loans receivable and other lending investments and to exclude accrued interest from its amortized cost basis disclosures (refer to Note 6). As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, accrued interest was $0.9 million and $0.2 million, respectively,
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
and is recorded in "Accrued interest and operating lease income receivable, net" on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company reverses any accrued interest as a reduction to interest income or recognizes a credit loss expense when a loan is placed on non-accrual status. As such, the Company elected the practical expedient to not record an allowance against accrued interest receivable. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not reverse any accrued interest on its loan portfolio.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company did not have any non-performing loans. Loans receivable held for sale, if any, are carried at the lower of amortized cost or estimated fair value. The Company generally uses the income approach through internally developed valuation models to estimate the fair value of the collateral for such loans. In some cases, the Company obtains external “as is” appraisals for loan collateral, generally when third party participations exist. Valuations are performed or obtained at the time a loan is determined to be impaired or designated non-performing, and they are updated if circumstances indicate that a significant change in value has occurred. In limited cases, appraised values may be discounted when real estate markets rapidly deteriorate.
Management evaluates available-for-sale debt securities held in “Loans receivable and other lending investments, net” for impairment if the security’s fair value is less than its amortized cost. If the Company has an impaired security, it will then determine if: (1) the Company has the intent to sell the security; (2) it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery; or (3) it does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. If the Company does not intend to sell the security, it is more likely than not that the entity will not be required to sell the security or it does not expect to recover its amortized cost, the Company will record an allowance for credit losses. The credit loss component of the allowance will be recorded (or reversed, if necessary), when applicable, as a “Provision for loan losses” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations, and the remainder of the allowance will be recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Stock-based compensation- The Company does not have any stock-based compensation plans; however, prior to the Spin-Off, the Company has been allocated stock-based compensation expense from iStar, related to awards made to employees of iStar under its 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (refer to Note 2).
iStar’s compensation cost for stock-based awards was measured on the grant date and adjusted over the period of the employees’ services to reflect: (i) estimated or actual forfeitures; and (ii) the outcome of awards with performance or service conditions through the requisite service period. iStar’s compensation cost for market-based awards was determined using a Monte Carlo model to simulate a range of possible future stock prices for iStar’s common stock, which is reflected in the grant date fair value. All compensation cost for market-based awards in which the service conditions are met is recognized regardless of whether the market-condition is satisfied. Compensation costs are recognized ratably over the applicable vesting/service period.
Income taxes-The Company is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxation at corporate rates on its net taxable income. The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the carrying amounts in accordance with GAAP and the tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. Deferred income taxes could also reflect the impact of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded a deferred income tax benefit in the amount of $24.8 million related to a current net operating loss and unrealized losses on the Company’s equity investments. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company also recorded an offsetting income tax expense of $24.8 million to increase the valuation allowance to reflect the Company's deferred tax assets at their more likely than not net realizable value, which is zero as of December 31, 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a deferred income tax expense in the amount of $2.5 million related primarily to the net effect of net operating losses associated with a predecessor entity that did not carryover and unrealized losses on the Company’s equity investments and impairments. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company also recorded an offsetting income tax benefit of $2.5 million to decrease the valuation allowance to reflect the Company's deferred tax assets at their more likely than
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
not net realizable value, which is zero as of December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company did not record a provision for income taxes because the benefit of operating losses incurred was offset by an increase in the valuation allowance. During the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company paid $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, in taxes.
The Company’s reconciliation of the income tax expense (benefit) if computed at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the Company’s reported income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 is as follows ($ in thousands):
Years Ended December 31,
Net income (loss) from operations before income taxes
$
(88,360)
$
(196,290)
$
(36,311)
Statutory federal tax rate
21%
21%
21%
Income tax expense (benefit) at statutory rates
(18,556)
(41,221)
(7,625)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
(5,755)
(12,825)
(1,718)
Return to provision
(1,218)
-
-
Income eliminated for financial reporting
-
-
Tax effect of net losses reported on predecessor entities
-
22,631
-
State net operating loss limitations
-
1,137
(1,047)
Equity adjustments
-
(3,266)
Noncontrolling interests
(25)
(18)
(10)
Deferred intercompany transactions
-
-
Basis adjustments
-
32,370
-
Miscellaneous
-
-
State franchise and minimum taxes
-
-
Valuation allowance
24,769
(2,482)
13,666
Income tax (benefit) expense
$
$
-
$
-
The Company evaluates whether its deferred tax assets are realizable and recognizes a valuation allowance if, based on the available evidence, both positive and negative, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of its deferred tax assets will not be realized. When evaluating whether its deferred tax assets are realizable, the Company considers, among other matters, estimates of expected future taxable income, nature of current and cumulative losses, existing and projected book/tax differences, tax planning strategies available, and the general and industry specific economic outlook. This analysis is inherently subjective, and requires the Company to forecast its business and general economic environment in future periods. Changes in estimates of our valuation allowance, if any, are included in “Income tax (expense) benefit” in the combined and consolidated statements of operations. The Company recognizes interest expense and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, if any, as “Income tax (expense) benefit” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations.
The Company had the following deferred tax assets (liabilities) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 ($ in thousands):
As of December 31,
Basis differences
$
26,620
$
31,838
Deferred expense
Depreciation
1,101
Net operating loss carryforwards(1)
21,541
9,832
Mark-to-market cost method investments
33,369
16,926
Capitalized expenses
7,803
5,044
Valuation allowance
(90,459)
(65,690)
Deferred tax asset, net
$
-
$
-
(1) The net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards can generally be used to offset both ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income in future years and are carried forward indefinitely. The deduction for NOL’s is limited to 80% of taxable income when utilized.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Earnings per share-Basic earnings per share ("Basic EPS") for the Company’s common stock is computed by dividing net income allocable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period, respectively. Diluted earnings per share ("Diluted EPS") is calculated similarly, however, it reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock, where such exercise or conversion would result in a lower earnings per share amount. For all periods presented, the Company did not have any securities or other contracts that could be exercised or converted into common stock. For all periods presented prior to the Spin-Off, the weighted average shares outstanding for the Basic EPS calculation assumes the pro rata distribution of 0.153 common shares of the Company’s common stock for each outstanding share of iStar Common Stock on the record date of the distribution were issued and outstanding.
New Accounting Pronouncements-In August 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2023-05, Business Combinations - Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement (“ASU 2023-05”). ASU 2023-05 requires a joint venture to initially measure all contributions received upon its formation at fair value and is effective for all joint venture entities with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025. ASU 2023-05 is to be applied on a prospective basis, while retrospective application can be elected for joint ventures formed before the effective date. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2023-05 but does not expect this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 requires greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation, income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction and certain other amendments to improve income tax disclosures. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2023-09 but does not expect this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Note 4-Real Estate
The Company’s real estate assets were comprised of the following ($ in thousands):
As of
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Land, at cost
$
5,570
$
5,570
Buildings and improvements, at cost
92,548
91,911
Less: accumulated depreciation
(25,273)
(22,075)
Real estate, net
$
72,845
$
75,406
Dispositions -During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company sold residential condominiums with a carrying value of $1.7 million that were transferred from land and development to real estate available and held for sale. The Company did not sell any real estate during the year ended December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company sold an operating property with a carrying value of $14.4 million and recognized gains of $25.2 million in “Income from sales of real estate” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations.
Impairments-The Company did not record any impairments during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized an aggregate impairment of $1.8 million on an operating property based on the expected cash flows to be received.
Tenant Reimbursements-The Company receives reimbursements from tenants for certain facility operating expenses including common area costs, insurance, utilities and real estate taxes and are included in “Operating lease income” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations. Tenant reimbursements were $1.7 million, $1.8 million and $3.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts-As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the allowance for doubtful accounts related to real estate tenant receivables was $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. These amounts are included in “Accrued interest and operating lease income receivable, net” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Future Minimum Operating Lease Payments-Future minimum operating lease payments to be collected under non-cancelable operating leases, excluding tenant reimbursements of expenses, in effect as of December 31, 2024, are as follows by year ($ in thousands):
Year
Amount
$
4,157
4,070
1,349
-
-
Thereafter
-
Note 5-Land and Development
The Company’s land and development assets were comprised of the following ($ in thousands):
As of
December 31,
December 31,
Land and land development, at cost
$
186,271
$
193,360
Less: accumulated depreciation
(9,827)
(11,966)
Total land and development, net
$
176,444
$
181,394
Dispositions-During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company sold land parcels and residential lots and units and recognized land development revenue of $60.0 million, $72.4 million and $61.8 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized land development cost of sales of $48.7 million, $62.7 million and $63.4 million, respectively, from its land and development portfolio.
In September 2023, the Company sold land to a third-party and provided the buyer with a loan to finance the acquisition. The buyer had the option to prepay the loan in full on or before a specified date to receive a discounted purchase price. At origination, the Company recorded the loan based on the discounted purchase price since collection of the discounted portion of the sale was undetermined. The buyer elected to not prepay the loan and receive the discounted purchase price and, as such, the Company recorded additional land development revenue during the year ended December 31, 2024. The loan to the buyer is included in “Loans receivable and other lending investments, net” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
In December 2023, the Company transferred the ownership interests in a subsidiary land owner to a third-party venture (the “Venture”) for its development and construction of a multifamily project in Asbury Park, NJ (the “Project”). In connection with this transfer, the Company (i) provided the Venture with a $10.6 million mezzanine loan that was fully funded at closing, is secured by the ownership interests in the subsidiary land owner and matures in June 2033; and (ii) provided a completion and carry guaranty on the Venture’s $80.0 million senior construction mortgage loan (refer to Note 9) with a third-party lender in return for a fee. The Company is a non-member manager of the Venture and is entitled to certain fees, but otherwise has no expected member-related economics. Until the mezzanine loan is repaid and the guaranties are released, the Company controls all decision-making of the Venture. The Venture is responsible for the funding and performance of all development and construction activities and the Company is not obligated to provide any capital contributions to the Venture. At closing, the third-party members provided $21.0 million in cash capital contributions to the Venture, exclusive of a $3.0 million deferred profits interest, which combined represent the total equity capitalization. The Company determined that the Venture (and its consolidated subsidiaries developing the Project) is a VIE for which the Company is the primary beneficiary and thus consolidated it under ASC 810. As a result, for accounting purposes, the Project will be recorded on the Company’s combined and consolidated financial statements and the mezzanine loan eliminates in consolidation. The $21.0 million in third-party cash capital contributions to the Venture
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
represents noncontrolling interests in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The Company expects this consolidation treatment to continue until the mezzanine loan is paid in full by the Venture and the Company’s senior loan guaranties are released by the lender.
In October 2024, the Company sold a land parcel to a third-party and provided the buyer with a loan to finance the acquisition. The loan has an initial maturity date of one year from the date of closing and has a one-year extension option at the borrower’s discretion, subject to certain conditions. The loan to the buyer is included in “Loans receivable and other lending investments, net” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Impairments-During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded an impairment of $12.7 million on a land and development asset due to a change in business strategy.
Note 6-Loans Receivable and Other Lending Investments, net
The following is a summary of the Company’s loans receivable and other lending investments by class ($ in thousands):
As of
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Loans
Senior mortgages
$
20,800
$
2,550
Subordinate mortgages
15,266
14,266
Subtotal - gross carrying value of loans
36,066
16,816
Other lending investments
Available-for-sale debt securities
15,376
4,579
Subtotal - other lending investments
15,376
4,579
Total gross carrying value of loans receivable and other lending investments
51,442
21,395
Allowance for loan losses
(1,118)
(497)
Total loans receivable and other lending investments, net
$
50,324
$
20,898
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Allowance for Loan Losses-Changes in the Company’s allowance for loan losses were as follows for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 ($ in thousands):
General Allowance
Held to
Construction
Maturity Debt
Specific
Year Ended December 31, 2024
Loans
Loans
Securities
Allowance
Total
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period
$
-
$
$
-
$
-
$
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses(1)
-
-
-
Allowance for loan losses at end of period
$
-
$
1,118
$
-
$
-
$
1,118
Year Ended December 31, 2023
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period
$
$
$
-
$
$
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses(1)
(92)
-
(396)
(428)
Allowance for loan losses at end of period
$
-
$
$
-
$
-
$
Year Ended December 31, 2022
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period
$
1,213
$
$
2,304
$
$
4,769
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses(1)
(725)
(239)
-
46,034
45,070
Transfers
(396)
-
(2,304)
2,700
-
Charge-offs(1)
-
-
-
(48,914)
(48,914)
Allowance for loan losses at end of period
$
$
$
-
$
$
(1) During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $0.6 million, which was due primarily to the origination of a loan in October 2024 (refer to Note 5). During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $1.7 million in its combined and consolidated statements of operations. The provision in 2023 was due primarily to a $2.2 million provision on the sale of a loan held for sale, which was partially offset by a recovery of loan losses due to the repayment of loans during the year ended December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $45.0 million in its combined and consolidated statements of operations. The provision in 2022 was due primarily to a $22.2 million specific provision on the Company’s held-to-maturity debt security, which was recorded at its repayment proceeds and a provision of $23.8 million on one loan prior to it being transferred to held for sale.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
The Company’s investment in loans and other lending investments and the associated allowance for loan losses were as follows ($ in thousands):
As of December 31, 2024
Loans
$
36,066
Less: Allowance for loan losses
(1,118)
Total
$
34,948
As of December 31, 2023
Loans
$
16,816
Less: Allowance for loan losses
(497)
Total
$
16,319
Credit Characteristics-As part of the Company’s process for monitoring the credit quality of its loans, it performs a quarterly loan portfolio assessment and assigns risk ratings to each of its performing loans. Risk ratings, which range from 1 (lower risk) to 5 (higher risk), are based on judgments which are inherently uncertain and there can be no assurance that actual performance will be similar to current expectation.
The Company’s amortized cost basis in performing senior mortgages and subordinate mortgages, presented by year of origination and by credit quality, as indicated by risk rating, was as follows as of December 31, 2024 ($ in thousands):
Year of Origination
Prior to 2020
Total
Senior mortgages
Risk rating
1.0
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
1.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3.0
17,750
3,050
-
-
-
-
20,800
3.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Subtotal
$
17,750
$
3,050
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
20,800
Subordinate mortgages
Risk rating
1.0
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
1.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3.0
-
-
-
-
-
15,266
15,266
3.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Subtotal
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
15,266
$
15,266
Total
$
17,750
$
3,050
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
15,266
$
36,066
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
The Company’s amortized cost basis in performing senior mortgages and subordinate mortgages, presented by year of origination and by credit quality, as indicated by risk rating, was as follows as of December 31, 2023 ($ in thousands):
Year of Origination
Prior to 2019
Total
Senior mortgages
Risk rating
1.0
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
1.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3.0
2,550
-
-
-
-
-
2,550
3.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Subtotal(1)
$
2,550
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
2,550
Subordinate mortgages
Risk rating
1.0
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
1.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3.0
-
-
-
-
-
14,266
14,266
3.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4.5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Subtotal
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
14,266
$
14,266
Total
$
2,550
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
14,266
$
16,816
The Company’s amortized cost basis in loans, aged by payment status and presented by class, was as follows ($ in thousands):
Less Than
Greater
or Equal
Than
Total
Current
to 90 Days
90 Days
Past Due
Total
As of December 31, 2024
Senior mortgages
$
20,800
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
20,800
Subordinate mortgages
15,266
-
-
-
15,266
Total
$
36,066
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
36,066
As of December 31, 2023
Senior mortgages
$
2,550
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
2,550
Subordinate mortgages
14,266
-
-
-
14,266
Total
$
16,816
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
16,816
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Other lending investments-Other lending investments includes the following securities ($ in thousands):
Net
Net
Amortized
Unrealized
Estimated
Carrying
Face Value
Cost Basis
Gain (Loss)
Fair Value
Value
As of December 31, 2024
Available-for-sale securities
Municipal debt securities(1)
$
15,480
$
15,480
$
(104)
$
15,376
$
15,376
Total
$
15,480
$
15,480
$
(104)
$
15,376
$
15,376
As of December 31, 2023
Available-for-Sale Securities
Municipal debt securities(1)
$
4,220
$
4,220
$
$
4,579
$
4,579
Total
$
4,220
$
4,220
$
$
4,579
$
4,579
(1) In September 2023, the Company acquired two securities for $4.2 million. In February 2024, the Company acquired one security for $0.8 million. In May 2024, the Company acquired three securities for $8.2 million. In October 2024, the Company acquired one security for $2.3 million. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company sold available-for-sale securities and recognized a gain of $2.9 million, which is recorded in “Other income” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company received $75.0 million of repayments and recorded a $22.2 million provision in ‘Provision for (recovery of) loan losses” in its combined and consolidated statements of operations on a debt security.
As of December 31, 2024, the contractual maturities of the Company’s securities were as follows ($ in thousands):
Amortized
Estimated
Cost Basis
Fair Value
Maturities
Within one year
$
-
$
-
After one year through 5 years
-
-
After 5 years through 10 years
-
-
After 10 years
15,480
15,376
Total
$
15,480
$
15,376
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 7-Other Investments
The Company’s other investments and its proportionate share of earnings (losses) from equity investments were as follows ($ in thousands):
Earnings from
Carrying Value
Equity Method Investments
as of
For the Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
Safehold Inc. ("Safe")(1)
$
249,899
$
316,430
$
-
$
1,089
$
33,261
Other real estate and strategic equity investments(2)
-
-
29,736
12,365
Total
$
249,899
$
316,451
$
-
$
30,825
$
45,626
(1) As of December 31, 2024, the Company owned 13.5 million shares of Safe common stock which, based on the closing price of $18.48 on December 31, 2024, had a market value of $249.9 million. The Company does not have significant influence over Safe and accounts for its investment in Safe as an equity investment under ASC 321 - Investments - Equity Securities (“ASC 321”), which requires that the Company adjust its investment in Safe to fair value through income at each reporting period. As such, the Company recognized an unrealized gain (loss) on equity investments of ($66.5) million and ($171.4) million, respectively, in its combined and consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Prior to the Spin-Off, iStar accounted for its investment in Safe as an equity method investment under ASC 323 - Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323”) due to its ability to exercise significant influence. Pursuant to ASC 323-10-40-1, an equity method investor shall account for a share issuance by an investee as if the investor had sold a proportionate share of its investment. Any gain or loss to the investor resulting from an investee’s share issuance shall be recognized in earnings. For the year ended December 31, 2022, equity in earnings includes $0.3 million of dilution gains resulting from Safe equity offerings. As of December 31, 2022, the Company was allocated ownership of approximately 15.2 million shares of Safe common stock from iStar. The allocation was adjusted based upon the final terms of the Spin-Off on March 31, 2023, and the Company’s investment basis was reduced by approximately 1.8 million shares with a carrying value of approximately $65.6 million, which was adjusted against additional paid-in capital within equity.
(2) During the year ended December 31, 2023, earnings from equity method investments was primarily from asset sales at the ventures. During the year ended December 31, 2022, one of the Company’s real estate equity investments closed on the sale of a multifamily property. The Company received a distribution of $15.9 million from the sale and recognized a gain of $11.5 million in “Earnings from equity method investments” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations. In April 2022, the Company exchanged its 50% equity interest with a carrying value of $4.4 million in a venture that owned a hotel property for land underlying the property with an in-place Ground Lease valued at $9.0 million and recorded a gain of $4.6 million in “Earnings from equity method investments” in the combined and consolidated statements of operations. Subsequently, the Company sold the Ground Lease on the land to Safe for $9.0 million and did not recognize any gain or loss on the sale.
Safehold Inc.-Safe is a publicly-traded company that acquires, owns, manages, finances and capitalizes ground leases. Ground leases generally represent ownership of the land underlying commercial real estate projects that is net leased by the fee owner of the land to the owners/operators of the real estate projects built thereon (“Ground Leases”). As of December 31, 2024, the Company owned approximately 13.5 million shares, or 18.9%, of Safe’s outstanding common stock. The Company accounts for its investment in the Safe Shares as an equity investment due to the terms of the governance agreement described below.
On March 31, 2023, the Company entered into the following agreements with Safe:
Separation and Distribution Agreement-The Separation and Distribution Agreement provides for, among other things, the principal corporate transactions required to effect the Spin-Off and provisions governing Star Holdings' relationship with Safe with respect to and following the Spin-Off. The Separation and Distribution Agreement includes provisions allocating assets and liabilities between Star Holdings and Safe and various post-closing covenants relating to, among other things, the treatment of the parties’ insurance policies, information sharing and other operational matters. The Separation and Distribution Agreement includes a mutual release by Star Holdings, on the one hand, and Safe, on the other hand, of the other party from certain specified liabilities, as well as mutual indemnification covenants pursuant to which Star Holdings and Safe have agreed to indemnify each other from certain specified liabilities.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Management Agreement-The Company entered into the Management Agreement with Safehold Management Services Inc. (the “Manager”), a subsidiary of Safe. The Management Agreement requires the manager to manage the Company’s assets and its and its subsidiaries’ day-to-day operations, subject to the supervision of Board of Trustees of the Company (the “Board”). Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the manager is required to provide the Company with a management team, including a chief executive officer, a chief financial officer and a chief compliance officer, along with support personnel, to provide the management services to be provided by the manager to the Company. The Manager does not assume any responsibility other than to render the services called for thereunder and is not responsible for any action of the Board in following or declining to follow its advice or recommendations.
The Management Agreement has an annual term that automatically renews on March 31 of each year. The Company pays a fixed cash management fee and reimburses the Manager for third party expenses incurred in connection with its services. The Company paid the Manager management fees of $25.0 million for the term ended March 31, 2024. The annual fee declines to $15.0 million, $10.0 million and $5.0 million, respectively, in each of the following annual terms, and adjusts to 2.0% of the gross book value of the Company’s assets, excluding the Safe Shares, thereafter. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded $17.5 million and $19.7 million, respectively, of management fees to the Manager.
The Management Agreement may be terminated by the Company without cause by not less than one hundred eighty days’ written notice to the Manager upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Company’s independent trustees, provided, however, that if the date of termination occurs prior to the fourth anniversary of the Spin-Off, the termination will be subject to payment of the applicable termination fee to the Manager. The Company may also terminate the Management Agreement at any time, including during the initial term, with 30 days’ prior written notice from the Company’s board of trustees for “cause,” as defined in the Management Agreement.
In the event of a termination without cause by the Company prior to the fourth anniversary of the Spin-Off, the Company will pay the Manager a termination fee of $50.0 million minus the aggregate amount of management fees actually paid to the Manager prior to the termination date. However, if the Company has completed the liquidation of its assets on or before the termination date, the termination fee will consist of any portion of the annual management fee that remained unpaid for the remainder of the then current annual term plus, if the termination date occurs on or before the third anniversary of the Spin-Off, the amount of the management fee that would have been payable for the next succeeding annual term, or if the termination date occurs after the third anniversary of the Spin-Off, zero.
In the event of a termination by the Manager based on a reduction in the amount of the Company’s combined and consolidated assets below designated thresholds, the Company will pay the Manager a termination fee of $15.0 million if the termination occurs in the second year and $5.0 million if the termination occurs in the third year, in each case, plus the balance of any unpaid portion of the annual management fee for the applicable year.
Governance Agreement-The Company and Safe entered into a governance agreement (the “Governance Agreement”) in order to establish various arrangements and restrictions with respect to the governance of the Company and certain rights and restrictions with respect to the Safe Shares owned by the Company.
Pursuant to the terms of the Governance Agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries were subject to customary restrictions on the transfer of Safe Shares held by the Company for the first nine months of the agreement. Furthermore, the Company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from transferring at any time any the Safe Shares held by the Company or its subsidiaries to any person who is known by the Company or its subsidiaries to be an “Activist” or “Company Competitor” (as such terms are defined in the Governance Agreement), or to any group that, to the knowledge of the Company or its subsidiaries, includes as “Activist” or “Company Competitor,” without first obtaining the Safe’s prior written consent.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
During a “restrictive period” which lasts until the earliest to occur of (i) the effective date on which Safe terminates the Management Agreement; or (ii) the date on which the Company beneficially own less than 7.5% of Safe’s outstanding common stock and Safe is no longer the Company’s external manager; or (iii) a Change of Control of Safe (as defined in the Governance Agreement), the Company and its directly or indirectly wholly owned subsidiaries are required to vote the Safe Shares in accordance with the recommendations of the board of directors of Safe. The Company has irrevocably designated and appointed the board of directors of Safe as its sole and exclusive attorney-in-fact and proxy with full power of substitution and re-substitution to exercise the voting power of its shares of Safe in accordance with these requirements. The Company will also be subject to certain standstill agreements during the restrictive period. The terms of such standstill agreements will restrict the Company from making certain acquisitions of Safe securities, seeking representation on Safe’s board of directors, participating in the solicitation of proxies or written consents of Safe shareholders, and taking other actions which could seek to influence or result in a change of control of Safe or cause or require Safe to make certain public announcements, except as permitted by the governance agreement or with the prior written consent of the independent directors of the board of directors of Safe.
Registration Rights Agreement-Under the Registration Rights Agreement, Safe has agreed to (i) register Star Holdings' shares of Safe common stock and the other registrable securities for resale by filing and maintaining a shelf registration statement; (ii) file a registration statement covering Star Holdings' shares of Safe common stock and other registrable securities pursuant to the demand right and (iii) allow Star Holdings to piggyback on certain other registration statements filed by Safe. Star Holdings may use the registration rights to sell its shares of Safe common stock in underwritten offerings, block trades and other methods of distribution. Star Holdings will be subject to certain suspension and lockup obligations. Star Holdings' registration rights will end, among other times, when it owns less than 2% of Safe's outstanding common stock and is able to sell all of the shares of Safe common stock pursuant to Rule 144(b) without restriction.
Safe Credit Facility-Refer to Note 9 for additional information on the Safe Credit Facility.
Other real estate and strategic equity investments- As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s other real estate equity investments include equity interests of 95% in real estate ventures comprised primarily of investments in two operating properties that have been sold and are in the process of liquidating.
Summarized investee financial information-The following table presents the investee level summarized financial information of the Company’s equity method investments ($ in thousands):
As of December 31,
For the Years Ended December 31,
Balance Sheets
Income Statements
Total assets
$
-
$
Revenues
$
-
$
86,894
$
625,162
Total liabilities
-
Expenses
-
(78,462)
(237,343)
Noncontrolling interests
-
-
Net income (loss) attributable to parent entities
-
47,673
378,557
Total equity (deficit) attributable to parent entities
-
(62)
During the year ended December 31, 2022, Safe represented a significant subsidiary of the Company. For detailed financial information regarding Safe, please refer to its financial statements, which are publicly available on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov under the ticker symbol "SAFE" and are incorporated herein by reference.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 8-Other Assets and Other Liabilities
Deferred expenses and other assets, net, consist of the following items ($ in thousands):(1)
As of
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Other assets(1)
$
8,233
$
8,882
Operating lease right-of-use assets(2)
1,380
Restricted cash
10,589
10,051
Other receivables
2,459
1,865
Leasing costs, net(3)
Intangible assets, net(4)
Deferred expenses and other assets, net
$
22,401
$
22,459
(1) As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, other assets primarily includes prepaid expenses and dividends receivable from Safe.
(2) Right-of use lease assets initially equal the lease liability. For operating leases, rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease and is recorded in “Real estate expense” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $0.5 million, $0.5 million and $0.7 million, respectively, in “Real estate expense” in its combined and consolidated statements of operations relating to operating leases.
(3) Accumulated amortization of leasing costs was $0.2 million and $0.2 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
(4) Intangible assets, net includes above market and in-place lease assets related to the acquisition of real estate assets. Accumulated amortization on intangible assets, net was $0.2 million and $0.2 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The amortization of above market leases decreased operating lease income in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations by $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. These intangible lease assets are amortized over the remaining term of the lease. The amortization expense for in-place leases was $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. These amounts are included in “Depreciation and amortization” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2024, the weighted average remaining amortization period for the Company’s intangible assets was approximately 2.2 years.
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities consist of the following items ($ in thousands):(1)
As of
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Other liabilities(1)
$
33,300
$
35,010
Accrued expenses
11,917
5,914
Operating lease liabilities (see table above)
1,093
1,538
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
$
46,310
$
42,462
(1) As of December 31, 2024, “Other liabilities” includes $20.6 million of deferred income, $4.8 million of management fees due Safe and $5.7 million of other payables related to real estate properties. As of December 31, 2023, "Other liabilities" includes $20.1 million of deferred income, $7.2 million of management fees due Safe and $4.9 million of other payables related to real estate properties.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 9-Debt Obligations, net
The Company’s debt obligations were as follows ($ in thousands):
Carrying Value as of
Stated
Scheduled
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Interest Rates
Maturity Date(1)
Debt obligations:
Safe Credit Facility
$
115,000
$
115,000
8.00
%
March 2027
Margin Loan Facility(2)
89,175
81,914
SOFR plus 3.00
%
March 2026
Senior Construction Mortgage Loan
15,815
-
SOFR plus 6.85
%
December 2027
Total debt obligations
219,990
196,914
Debt discounts and deferred financing costs, net
(2,641)
(4,019)
Total debt obligations, net(3)
$
217,349
$
192,895
(1) Represents the extended maturity date, if applicable.
(2) The Company elected to pay interest in kind (“PIK”) in respect of interest payments payable for each quarter of 2024, all of which was added to the principal balance on the Margin Loan Facility. The applicable margin on the Margin Loan Facility increases by 25 basis points for the entirety of the interest period immediately succeeding any interest period with respect to which the Company makes a PIK election.
(3) During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company capitalized interest expense on qualifying real estate assets of $2.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively.
Future Scheduled Maturities-As of December 31, 2024, future scheduled maturities of outstanding debt obligations are as follows ($ in thousands):
$
-
89,175
130,815
-
-
Thereafter
-
Total principal maturities
219,990
Unamortized discounts and deferred financing costs, net
(2,641)
Total debt obligations, net
$
217,349
Safe Credit Facility-In connection with the Spin-Off, on March 31, 2023, the Company, as borrower, entered into a credit agreement with Safe for a secured term loan with an outstanding principal amount of $115 million, plus up to $25 million in incremental borrowing capacity for specified purposes (as amended from time to time, the "Safe Credit Facility"). The Safe Credit Facility matures on March 31, 2027.
Interest on borrowings under the Safe Credit Facility is payable in cash and accrues interest at a rate of (x) 8.00% per annum or (y) to the extent any loan remains outstanding under an incremental facility available under the Safe Credit Facility at such time, 10.00% per annum, as applicable. Amounts outstanding under the Safe Credit Facility may be prepaid at any time, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty.
The Company paid a $0.6 million commitment fee in connection with the Safe Credit Facility. The Safe Credit Facility is secured by a first priority pledge of the equity interests in certain subsidiaries of the Company.
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company incurred $9.6 million and $7.2 million, respectively, of interest expense gross of amounts capitalized on the Safe Credit Facility, which is included in “Interest expense - related party” in the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations.
Margin Loan Facility-On March 31, 2023, STAR Investment Holdings SPV LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("STAR SPV"), as borrower, entered into a margin loan agreement providing for a three-year, $140.0 million senior secured margin loan facility (as amended from time to time, the "Margin Loan Facility"), with Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
calculation agent, and Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., as initial lender. STAR SPV drew the full amount of the Margin Loan Facility on March 31, 2023 and directed that approximately $88.0 million of the proceeds be applied to redeem iStar’s senior unsecured notes due 2024, 2025 and 2026. The Company repaid $60.0 million principal amount of the Margin Loan Facility through December 31, 2024. The Margin Loan Facility is secured by a first priority pledge of 12.9 million Safe Shares as of December 31, 2024 and has a maturity of March 31, 2026.
Interest on the Margin Loan Facility is payable in cash; provided, that STAR SPV may, at its option, elect that the interest for any future interest period be paid-in-kind. Amounts outstanding under the Margin Loan Facility accrue interest at a rate equal to term SOFR for a three-month tenor plus a spread. Amounts outstanding under the Margin Loan Facility may be prepaid at any time upon prior notice, in whole or in part, subject to the payment of any applicable make-whole amount.
Senior Construction Mortgage Loan-In December 2023, the Venture (refer to Note 5) entered into an $80.0 million senior construction mortgage loan (the “Loan”). The Loan has a 3-year term with one 12-month extension option subject to a 1.0% fee. The Loan is interest only during the term and accrues interest at SOFR + 6.85% (with a SOFR floor of 3.65%) and features a 1.0% origination fee and a 1.85% exit fee, both on the total loan commitment. As of December 31, 2024, the Loan had an outstanding principal balance of $15.8 million.
Other Debt Obligations-During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company assumed a $125.0 million loan payable to iStar. The loan had an interest rate of 8.0%. As a result, the Company recognized $2.5 million of interest expense during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The loan was repaid during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Debt Covenants-The Safe Credit Facility requires that the Company comply with various covenants, including, without limitation, covenants restricting, subject to certain exceptions, indebtedness, liens, investments, mergers, asset sales and the payment of certain dividends. Additionally, the Safe Credit Facility includes customary representations and warranties as well as customary events of default, the occurrence of which, following any applicable grace period, would permit New Safe to, among other things, declare the principal, accrued interest and other obligations of the Company under the Safe Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable and foreclose on the collateral securing the Safe Credit Facility.
The Margin Loan Facility requires that STAR SPV comply with various covenants, including, without limitation, covenants restricting, subject to certain exceptions, indebtedness, liens, investments and the payment of dividends. Additionally, the Margin Loan Facility includes customary representations and warranties, events of default and other creditor protections for this type of facility. Upon the occurrence of certain events which are customary for this type of facility, STAR SPV may be required to prepay all amounts due under the Margin Loan Facility or post additional collateral in accordance with the Margin Loan Facility and related agreements.
A subsidiary of the Company provided a completion and carry guaranty on the Loan and is required to maintain a minimum net worth and a minimum liquidity amount both prior to and after the completion of the Project while the Loan is outstanding.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 10-Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments-Future minimum lease obligations under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2024 are as follows ($ in thousands):
$
-
-
Thereafter
-
Total undiscounted cash flows
1,134
Present value discount(1)
(41)
Lease liabilities
$
1,093
(1) The lease liability equals the present value of the minimum rental payments due under the lease discounted at the rate implicit in the lease or the Company’s incremental secured borrowing rate for similar collateral. For operating leases, lease liabilities were discounted at inception at the Company’s weighted average incremental secured borrowing rate for similar collateral estimated to be 3.0% and the weighted average remaining lease term is 2.3 years.
Legal Proceedings-The Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries is party to various pending litigation matters that are considered ordinary routine litigation incidental to the Company’s business as a finance and investment company focused on the commercial real estate industry, including foreclosure-related proceedings. The Company believes it is not a party to, nor are any of its properties the subject of, any pending legal proceeding that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s combined and consolidated financial statements.
Note 11-Risk Management
Risk management
In the normal course of its on-going business operations, the Company encounters economic risk. There are three main components of economic risk: interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk. The Company is subject to interest rate risk to the degree that its interest-bearing liabilities mature or reprice at different points in time and potentially at different bases, than its interest-earning assets. Credit risk is the risk of default on the Company’s lending investments or leases that result from a borrower’s or tenant’s inability or unwillingness to make contractually required payments. Market risk reflects changes in the value of loans and other lending investments due to changes in interest rates or other market factors, including the rate of prepayments of principal and the value of the collateral underlying loans, the valuation of real estate assets by the Company as well as changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Risk concentrations-Concentrations of credit risks arise when a number of borrowers, tenants or investees related to the Company’s investments are engaged in similar business activities, or activities in the same geographic region, or have similar economic features that would cause their ability to meet contractual obligations, including those to the Company, to be similarly affected by changes in economic conditions.
All of the Company’s real estate and assets collateralizing its loans receivable are located in the United States. As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s portfolio contains concentrations in the following property types: entertainment/leisure, land and development, hotel, retail and the Safe Shares.
The Company underwrites the credit of prospective borrowers and tenants and often requires them to provide some form of credit support such as corporate guarantees, letters of credit and/or cash security deposits. Although the Company’s loans and real estate assets are geographically diverse and the borrowers and tenants operate in a variety of industries, to the extent the Company has a significant concentration of interest or operating lease revenues from any single borrower or tenant, the inability of that borrower or tenant to make its payment could have a material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, declines in the market price of Safe common stock could require the
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Company to post additional collateral or prepay some or all of the outstanding borrowings under the Margin Loan Facility.
Note 12-Equity
Common Stock-On March 31, 2023, in connection with the Spin-Off, iStar distributed 100% of the common shares of beneficial interest in the Company to holders of common stock of iStar ("iStar Common Stock") by way of a pro rata distribution of 0.153 common shares of the Company for each outstanding share of iStar Common Stock held on the record date of the distribution. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has one class of common stock with 13,319,552 shares outstanding.
Net Parent Investment-The Company’s net parent investment represented net contributions from and distributions to iStar through the date of the Spin-Off. Certain of the entities included in the Company’s financial statements did not have bank accounts for the periods presented and most cash transactions for the Company were transacted through bank accounts owned by iStar and are included in the Company’s equity.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)-Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) reflected in the Company’s shareholders’ equity is comprised of the Company’s unrealized gains or losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities. The Company does not have any derivatives as of December 31, 2024.
Note 13-Earnings Per Share
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) used in the basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations ($ in thousands, except for per share data):
For the Years Ended December 31,
Net income (loss)
$
(88,362)
$
(196,290)
$
(36,311)
Net (income) loss from operations attributable to noncontrolling interests
1,607
(66)
(37)
Net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders
$
(86,755)
$
(196,356)
$
(36,348)
For the Years Ended December 31,
Earnings allocable to common shares:
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share:
Net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders
$
(86,755)
$
(196,356)
$
(36,348)
Denominator for basic and diluted earnings per share:(1)
Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic and diluted earnings per common share
13,320
13,320
13,320
Basic and diluted earnings per common share:
Net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders
$
(6.51)
$
(14.74)
$
(2.73)
(1) For all periods presented prior to the Spin-Off, the weighted average shares outstanding for the EPS calculation assumes the pro rata distribution of 0.153 common shares of the Company’s common stock for each outstanding share of iStar Common Stock on the record date of the distribution were issued and outstanding.
Note 14-Fair Values
Fair value represents the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The following fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to be used in valuation techniques to measure fair value:
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).
Certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value either on a recurring or non-recurring basis. Assets required to be marked-to-market and reported at fair value every reporting period are classified as being valued on a recurring basis. Assets not required to be recorded at fair value every period may be recorded at fair value if a specific provision or other impairment is recorded within the period to mark the carrying value of the asset to market as of the reporting date. Such assets are classified as being valued on a non-recurring basis.
The following fair value hierarchy table summarizes the Company’s assets recorded at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis by the above categories ($ in thousands):
Fair Value Using
Quoted
market
Significant
prices in
other
Significant
active
observable
unobservable
markets
inputs
inputs
Total
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
As of December 31, 2024
Recurring basis:
Available-for-sale debt securities(1)
$
15,376
$
-
$
-
$
15,376
Other investments (refer to Note 7)
249,899
249,899
-
-
As of December 31, 2023
Non-recurring basis:
Available-for-sale debt securities(1)
$
4,579
$
-
$
-
$
4,579
Other investments (refer to Note 7)
316,430
316,430
-
-
(1) The fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale debt securities are based upon unadjusted third-party broker quotes and are classified as Level 3.
The following table summarizes changes in Level 3 available-for-sale securities reported at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 ($ in thousands):
Beginning balance
$
4,579
$
-
Purchases
11,260
4,220
Unrealized gain (loss) recorded in other comprehensive income (loss)
(463)
Ending balance
$
15,376
$
4,579
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Fair values of financial instruments-The following table presents the carrying value and fair value for the Company’s financial instruments ($ in millions):
As of December 31, 2024
As of December 31, 2023
Carrying
Fair
Carrying
Fair
Value
Value
Value
Value
Assets
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net(1)
$
$
$
$
Cash and cash equivalents(2)
Restricted cash(2)
Liabilities
Debt obligations, net(1)
(1) The fair value of the Company’s loans receivable and other lending investments, net and debt obligations, net are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.
(2) The Company determined the carrying values of its cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash approximated their fair values. Restricted cash is recorded in “Deferred expenses and other assets, net” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.
Impaired real estate-If the Company determines a real estate asset available and held for sale is impaired, it records an impairment charge to adjust the asset to its estimated fair market value less costs to sell. Due to the nature of individual real estate properties, the Company generally uses a discounted cash flow methodology through internally developed valuation models to estimate the fair value of the assets. This approach requires the Company to make judgments with respect to significant unobservable inputs, which may include discount rates, capitalization rates and the timing and amounts of estimated future cash flows. For income producing properties, cash flows generally include property revenues, operating costs and capital expenditures that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for market rate growth and occupancy levels. For other real estate, cash flows may include lot and unit sales that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for annual market rate growth, operating costs, costs of completion and the inventory sell out pricing and timing. The Company will also consider comparable market transactions, if available. In some cases, the Company obtains external “as is” appraisals for real estate assets and appraised values may be discounted when real estate markets rapidly deteriorate. The Company has determined that significant inputs used in its internal valuation models and appraisals fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Additionally, in certain cases, if the Company is under contract to sell an asset, it will mark the asset to the contracted sales price less costs to sell. The Company considers this to be a Level 3 input under the fair value hierarchy.
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net-The Company estimates the fair value of its performing loans and other lending investments using a discounted cash flow methodology. This method discounts estimated future cash flows using rates management determines best reflect current market interest rates that would be offered for loans with similar characteristics and credit quality. The Company determined that the significant inputs used to value its loans and other lending investments fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. For certain lending investments, the Company uses market quotes, to the extent they are available, that fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy or broker quotes that fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
The Company estimates the fair value of its non-performing loans, if any, using a discounted cash flow methodology through internally developed valuation models to estimate the fair value of the collateral. This approach requires the Company to make judgments in respect to significant unobservable inputs, which may include discount rates, capitalization rates and the timing and amounts of estimated future cash flows. For income producing properties, cash flows generally include property revenues, operating costs and capital expenditures that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for market rate growth and occupancy levels. For other real estate, cash flows may include lot and unit sales that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for annual revenue growth, operating costs, costs of completion and the inventory sell out pricing and timing. The Company will also consider comparable market transactions, if available. In some cases, the Company obtains external “as is” appraisals for loan collateral, generally when third party participations exist, and appraised values may be discounted when real estate markets rapidly deteriorate. The Company has determined that significant inputs used in its internal valuation models and appraisals fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Star Holdings
Notes to Combined and Consolidated Financial Statements
Debt obligations, net-For debt obligations, the Company determines fair value using a discounted cash flow methodology, whereby contractual cash flows are discounted at rates that management determines best reflect current market interest rates that would be charged for debt with similar characteristics and credit quality. The Company has determined that the inputs used to value its debt obligations under the discounted cash flow methodology fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Note 15-Segment Reporting
The Company operates its business through one reportable and operating segment that focuses on realizing value for shareholders primarily by generating cash flows through active asset management and sales of its existing loans, operating properties and land and development properties. The Company’s chief executive officer is the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and uses net income (loss), as reported on the Company’s combined and consolidated statements of operations, to measure segment operating performance and allocate resources. All of the Company’s expenses are included in segment operating performance and are reviewed regularly. The measure of segment assets is reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as total assets.
Note 16-Subsequent Events
Subsequent to December 31, 2024, the Company repaid $5.0 million principal amount of the Margin Loan Facility and pledged an additional 0.6 million Safe Shares as collateral for the Margin Loan Facility (refer to Note 9). As of the date of this filing, all Safe Shares owned by the Company serve as collateral for the Margin Loan Facility.
Star Holdings
Schedule III-Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation
As of December 31, 2024
($ in thousands)
Initial Cost to
Cost
Gross Amount Carried
Company
Capitalized
at Close of Period
Depreciable
Building and
Subsequent to
Building and
Accumulated
Date
Life
Description
Encumbrances
Land
Improvements
Acquisition(1)
Land
Improvements
Total
Depreciation
Acquired
(Years)
LAND:
California
$
-
$
28,464
$
2,836
$
(30,716)
$
$
-
$
$
-
-
New Jersey
-
43,300
-
19,302
62,602
-
62,602
1,336
(2)
-
New Jersey
-
3,992
-
(1,837)
2,155
-
2,155
-
-
New Jersey
-
-
-
42,675
42,675
-
42,675
-
-
New Jersey
-
5,954
3,040
3,151
5,954
9,105
-
-
New York
-
58,900
-
(44,523)
14,377
-
14,377
-
-
Virginia
-
70,001
-
(15,228)
54,773
-
54,773
8,491
(2)
-
Subtotal
-
204,768
8,790
(27,287)
180,317
5,954
186,271
9,827
RETAIL:
Illinois
$
-
$
-
$
$
$
-
$
$
$
40.0
Virginia
-
-
2,137
-
-
2,137
2,137
40.0
Subtotal
-
-
2,473
-
2,799
2,799
HOTEL:
New Jersey
$
-
$
$
18,299
$
4,189
$
$
22,488
$
22,785
$
6,503
40.0
New Jersey
-
6,548
6,582
6,702
40.0
New Jersey
-
3,815
40,194
5,578
3,815
45,772
49,587
13,809
40.0
Subtotal
-
4,232
65,041
9,801
4,232
74,842
79,074
21,223
ENTERTAINMENT:
New Jersey
$
-
$
$
10,670
$
$
$
11,601
$
12,351
$
2,244
40.0
New York
-
3,144
3,307
3,894
40.0
Subtotal
-
1,338
13,814
1,093
1,337
14,908
16,245
3,148
TOTAL (3)
$
-
$
210,338
$
90,118
$
(16,067)
$
185,886
$
98,503
$
284,389
$
35,100
(1) Includes impairments and unit sales.
(2) These properties have land improvements which have depreciable lives of 15 to 20 years.
(3) The aggregate cost for Federal income tax purposes was approximately $0.35 billion at December 31, 2024.
Star Holdings
Schedule III-Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation
As of December 31, 2024
($ in thousands)
The following table reconciles real estate from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024:
Balance at January 1
$
290,841
$
338,320
$
$ 415,963
Improvements and additions
45,901
13,638
21,430
Dispositions
(52,353)
(61,117)
(85,450)
Impairments
-
-
(13,623)
Balance at December 31
$
284,389
$
290,841
$
338,320
The following table reconciles accumulated depreciation from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024:
Balance at January 1
$
(34,041)
$
(29,808)
$
(36,702)
Additions
(4,065)
(4,453)
(4,555)
Dispositions
3,006
11,449
Balance at December 31
$
(35,100)
$
(34,041)
$
(29,808)
Star Holdings
Schedule IV-Mortgage Loans on Real Estate
As of December 31, 2024
($ in thousands)
Face
Carrying
Principal Amount of
Contractual
Effective
Periodic
Amount
Amount
Mortgages Subject to
Underlying
Interest
Maturity
Payment
Prior
of
of
Delinquent Principal
Type of Loan/Borrower
Property Type
Rates
Dates
Terms(1)
Liens
Mortgages
Mortgages(2)
or Interest
Senior Mortgages:
Borrower A
Land
Fixed: 8.00
%
March 2025
IO
-
$
3,050
$
2,955
$
-
Borrower B
Land
Fixed: 11.82
%
October 2026
P&I
-
17,750
17,200
-
Subtotal
20,800
20,155
-
Subordinate Mortgages:
Borrower C
Hotel
Fixed: 6.80
%
September 2057
IO
-
15,266
14,793
-
Subtotal
15,266
14,793
-
Total mortgages
$
36,066
$
34,948
$
-
(1) IO = Interest only. P&I = principal and interest.
(2) The carrying amount of mortgages approximated the federal income tax basis.
Star Holdings
Schedule IV-Mortgage Loans on Real Estate (Continued)
As of December 31, 2024
($ in thousands)
Reconciliation of Mortgage Loans on Real Estate:
The following table reconciles Mortgage Loans on Real Estate from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024:(1)
Balance at January 1
$
16,816
$
86,834
$
211,488
Additions:
New mortgage loans
17,750
2,550
-
Additions under existing mortgage loans
2,167
6,482
Other(2)
1,000
4,233
Deductions(3):
Collections of principal
-
(73,775)
(111,112)
(Provision for) recovery of loan losses(4)
-
(1,771)
(24,237)
Amortization of premium
-
-
(20)
Balance at December 31
$
36,066
$
16,816
$
86,834
(1) Balances represent the carrying value of loans, which are net of asset specific allowances.
(2) Amount includes amortization of discount and deferred interest capitalized.
(3) Amounts are presented net of charge-offs for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
(4) Excludes general allowances.

---

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes and Disagreements with Registered Public Accounting Firm on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures-The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has formed a disclosure committee that is responsible for considering the materiality of information and determining the disclosure obligations of the Company on a timely basis. Both the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer are members of the disclosure committee.
Based upon their evaluation as of December 31, 2024, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) are effective.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting-Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of the disclosure committee and other members of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, management carried out its evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued in 2013 by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
Based on management’s assessment under the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, management has concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024.
Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting-There have been no changes during the last fiscal quarter in the Company’s internal controls identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information
None.

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance of the Registrant
Portions of the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders to be filed within 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year are incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Portions of the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders to be filed within 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year are incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Portions of the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders to be filed within 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year are incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships, Related Transactions and Director Independence
Portions of the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders to be filed within 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year are incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Portions of the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders to be filed within 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year are incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

---

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number
Document Description
2.1
Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2023, by and between iStar Inc. and Star Holdings (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2023)
3.1
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Star Holdings (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2023)
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Star Holdings (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2023)
4.1
Description of Capital Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2024)
10.1
Management Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2023, by and between Star Holdings and Safehold Management Services Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2023)
10.2
Governance Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2023, by and between Safehold Inc. and Star Holdings (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2023)
10.3
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2023, by and between Safehold Inc. and Star Holdings (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2023)
10.4
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2023, by and between Safehold Inc. and Star Holdings (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 11, 2023)
10.5
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 4, 2023, by and between Safehold Inc. and Star Holdings (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 6, 2023)
10.6
Margin Loan Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2023, by and among Star Investment Holdings SPV LLC, Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2023)
10.7
Amendment No. 1 to Margin Loan Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2023, among Star Investment Holdings SPV LLC, Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 6, 2023)
10.8
Amendment No. 2 to Margin Loan Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2024, among Star Investment Holdings SPV LLC, Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2024)
10.9
Amendment No. 3 to Margin Loan Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2025, among Star Investment Holdings SPV LLC, Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
10.10
Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2023)
19.1
Star Holdings Insider Trading Compliance Policy and Procedures
21.1
Subsidiaries of the Company.
31.0
Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
32.0
Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
97.0
Star Holdings Policy for Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97.0 to Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 27, 2024)
101*
Interactive data file
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
*
In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the XBRL related information in Exhibit 101 is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.