EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1735184
Filing Year: 2022
Filename: 1735184_10-K_2022_0001564590-22-006922.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1.
BUSINESS
General Development and Narrative Description of Business
Retail Value Inc. is an Ohio corporation (the “Company” or “RVI”) formed in December 2017 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SITE Centers Corp. (“SITE Centers”). On July 1, 2018, the date of the Company’s spin-off from SITE Centers into a separate publicly traded company, the Company owned 48 properties and had two reportable segments: continental U.S. and Puerto Rico. As a result of the sale of the Company’s remaining Puerto Rico properties in August 2021, the Company no longer reports financial results for the Puerto Rico segment and instead reports the financial results of the Puerto Rico segment as discontinued operations for all periods presented. At December 31, 2021, RVI owned one retail shopping center in Gulfport, Mississippi comprising 0.6 million square feet of Company-owned gross leasable area (“GLA”) which was 91.2% occupied. The Company refers to this property, Crossroads Center, as its “remaining property,” its “remaining real estate investment” or its “remaining real estate asset.” The Company’s interest in this property is subject to a ground lease which has an expiration date in November 2033 and one, 25-year renewal option.
The Company remains focused on realizing value through the sale of its remaining property and the collection of its accounts receivable, the proceeds of which are expected to be used to fund a reserve account from which the Company will pay expenses and claims in connection with the winding up of its operations and make distributions to the Company’s common shareholders. The Company is a Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) that is externally managed and advised by one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of SITE Centers (collectively with such wholly-owned subsidiaries, the “Manager”). Prior to January 1, 2022, the Company, its subsidiaries and the Manager were parties to property management agreements pursuant to which the Manager provided property management and leasing services (the “Property Management Agreements”) and a corporate management agreement (the “External Management Agreement”) pursuant to which the Manager provided corporate management services to the Company. The Company, its subsidiaries and the Manager have entered into a new External Management Agreement, effective January 1, 2022 (the “New Management Agreement”), which provides for property management, leasing services and disposition efforts for the Company’s remaining property and for corporate services in connection with the anticipated wind-up of the Company’s business.
Recent Developments
See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in Item 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data in Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, for information on certain recent developments of the Company, which is incorporated herein by reference to such information.
COVID-19 Pandemic
In March 2020, the World Health Organization categorized COVID-19 as a pandemic, and it continues to spread throughout the United States and other countries across the world. Beginning in mid-March 2020, federal, state and local governments took various actions to limit the spread of COVID-19, including ordering the temporary closure of non-essential businesses (which included many of the Company’s tenants) and imposing significant social distancing guidelines and restrictions on the continued operations of essential businesses and the reopening of non-essential businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Company’s collection of rents and the pace of its disposition activity from April 2020 through December 2020. During the second half of 2020 and early 2021, the Manager worked with tenants to maximize the collection of unpaid 2020 rents by offering rent deferment on a case-by-case basis often in exchange for concessions, including tenant extensions of lease terms.
The level of tenant rent collections and the pace of disposition activity improved significantly in 2021 and the Company was able to complete the sale of 21 properties in 2021, including the entirety of its Puerto Rico portfolio, for an aggregate sales price of $933.6 million. The Company continues to focus on collecting its accounts receivable, selling its remaining property, making distributions of available cash to shareholders and winding up its operations, though these efforts remain subject to general economic conditions and other developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of February 18, 2022, disruptions caused by the Omicron variant had not had an adverse impact on the Company’s remaining operations, though the Company recognizes that plans to sell its remaining property, collect accounts receivable and wind up its business could be negatively impacted by additional surges in COVID-19 contagion, the emergence of new COVID-19 variants which are more infectious or resistant to existing vaccines, decreases in the effectiveness of such vaccines and any implementation of additional restrictions on tenant businesses as a result thereof. For a further discussion of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and “Disposition Outlook” included in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Competition
Numerous real estate companies and developers, private and public, compete with the Company for leasing space in shopping centers to tenants. The Company competes with other real estate companies and developers in terms of rental rate, property location, availability of other space and maintenance.
Insurance
The Company has comprehensive liability, casualty, flood, terrorism and rental loss insurance policies on its remaining property. The Company believes the policy specifications and insured limits are appropriate and adequate for the property given the relative risk of loss, the cost of the coverage and industry practice; however, the Company’s insurance coverage may not be sufficient to fully cover its losses. For additional information, see “Risks Related to the Company’s Business Operations and Its Remaining Property-The Location of the Company’s Remaining Property Makes It Vulnerable to Natural Disasters, Extreme Weather Conditions and Climate Change. An Uninsured Loss or a Loss That Exceeds the Limits of the Company’s Insurance Policies Could Subject the Company to a Loss of Capital and Revenue” included in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Governmental Regulations
The Company’s business is subject to numerous governmental regulations, including regulations relating to the ownership of real estate, environmental law, regulations governing REITs and others. For additional information, see “Risks Related to the Company’s Business Operations and Its Remaining Property-The Company’s Current or Former Real Estate Investments May Entail Environmental Risks That Could Adversely Affect Its Results of Operations and Disposition Prospects” and “Risks Related to the Company’s Taxation as a REIT-If the Company Does Not Qualify as a REIT in Any Taxable Year, It Will Be Subject to U.S. Federal Income Tax as a Regular Corporation and Could Have Significant Tax Liability, Which May Have a Significant Adverse Consequence to the Value of the Company’s Common Shares” included in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Compliance with Environmental Laws
As an owner of real estate, the Company is subject to various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations. See the detailed discussion of these and other risks related to environmental matters in “Risks Related to the Company’s Business Operations and its Remaining Property-The Company’s Current or Former Real Estate Investments May Entail Environmental Risks That Could Adversely Affect Its Results of Operations and Disposition Prospects” included in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Qualification as a Real Estate Investment Trust
As of December 31, 2021, the Company met the qualification requirements of a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a result, the Company will not be subject to federal income tax to the extent it meets certain requirements of the Code. The Company may elect to surrender its REIT status for future taxable years in connection with the anticipated wind-up of its business in the event the Company determines that the anticipated benefits to the Company and its shareholders of maintaining REIT qualification do not exceed the related compliance costs or if the nature of the Company’s remaining operations makes compliance with REIT requirements impracticable.
Employees
The Company is managed by the Manager pursuant to the New Management Agreement. All of the Company’s executive officers are employees of the Manager or its affiliates. The Company does not have any employees.
Corporate Information
The Company is an Ohio corporation incorporated in 2017. The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 3300 Enterprise Parkway, Beachwood, Ohio, 44122, and its telephone number is (216) 755-5500. The Company’s website is www.retailvalueinc.com. The Company uses the Investors section of its website as a channel for routine distribution of important information, including press releases and financial information. The information the Company posts to its website may be deemed to be material, and investors and others interested in the Company are encouraged to routinely monitor and review the information that the Company posts on its website in addition to following the Company’s press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings and public conference calls and webcasts. The Company posts filings made with the SEC to its website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC, including the Company’s annual, quarterly and current reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, respectively, the Company’s proxy statements and any amendments to those reports or statements. All such postings and filings are available on the Company’s website free of charge. In addition, this website allows investors and other interested persons to sign up to automatically receive e-mail alerts when the Company posts news releases and financial information on its website. The SEC also maintains a website (https://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The content on, or accessible through, any website referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, is not incorporated by reference into, and shall not be deemed part of, this Annual Report on Form 10-K unless expressly noted.
Information About the Company’s Executive Officers
The section below provides information regarding the Company’s executive officers as of February 18, 2022:
David R. Lukes, age 52, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since February 2018, as a Director of the Company since April 2018, and as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of SITE Centers since March 2017. Prior to joining SITE Centers, Mr. Lukes served as Chief Executive Officer of Equity One, Inc., an owner, developer and operator of shopping centers, from June 2014 until March 2017 and served as its Executive Vice President from May 2014 to June 2014. Prior to joining Equity One, Mr. Lukes also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sears Holding Corporation affiliate Seritage Realty Trust, a real estate company, from 2012 through April 2014 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Olshan Properties, a privately owned real estate firm specializing in commercial real estate, from 2010 through 2012. From 2002 to 2010, Mr. Lukes served in various senior management positions at Kimco Realty Corporation, including serving as its Chief Operating Officer from 2008 to 2010. Mr. Lukes has also served as an Independent Director of Citycon Oyj, an owner and manager of shopping centers in the Nordic region listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki, since 2017. Mr. Lukes holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Miami University, a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in real estate development from Columbia University.
Christa A. Vesy, age 51, has served as a Director of the Company since May 2021, as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer of the Company since November 2019, and as Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company from February 2018 to November 2019. Ms. Vesy has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of SITE Centers since March 2012. From July 2016 to March 2017, Ms. Vesy also served as Interim Chief Financial Officer of SITE Centers. In these roles, Ms. Vesy oversees the property and corporate accounting, tax and financial reporting functions for SITE Centers. Previously Ms. Vesy served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of SITE Centers from November 2006. Prior to joining SITE Centers, Ms. Vesy worked for The Lubrizol Corporation, where she served as manager of external financial reporting and then as controller for the lubricant additives business segment. Prior to joining Lubrizol, from 1993 to September 2004, Ms. Vesy held various positions with the Assurance and Business Advisory Services group of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a registered public accounting firm, including Senior Manager from 1999 to September 2004. Ms. Vesy graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Miami University. Ms. Vesy is a certified public accountant (CPA) and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
Conor M. Fennerty, age 36, has served as Executive Vice President of the Company since November 2020, and as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of SITE Centers since November 2019. From April 2017 to November 2019, Mr. Fennerty served as SITE Centers’ Senior Vice President of Capital Markets. Prior to joining SITE Centers, Mr. Fennerty served as a Vice President and Senior Analyst at BlackRock, Inc., a global funds manager, from July 2014 to April 2017, an Analyst at Cohen & Steers Capital Management, a specialist asset manager focused on real assets, from May 2012 to July 2014, and prior to that, a member of the global investment research division of Goldman Sachs from May 2010 to May 2012. Mr. Fennerty earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a major in finance from Georgetown University.
The Company’s Manager
The Company is externally managed and advised by the Manager pursuant to the New Management Agreement. The Company does not have any employees. Instead, pursuant to the terms of the New Management Agreement, the Manager provides the Company with its management team, including a chief executive officer, along with appropriate support personnel, in order to provide the
management services to be provided by the Manager to the Company. Accordingly, each of the Company’s executive officers is an executive of SITE Centers.
SITE Centers, however, is not obligated to dedicate any of its executives or other personnel exclusively to the Company. In addition, neither SITE Centers nor its executives or other personnel, including its executive officers supplied to the Company, are obligated to dedicate any specific portion of its or their time to the Company. The New Management Agreement requires only that members of the Company’s management team devote such time as is necessary and appropriate, commensurate with the level of the Company’s activity. Nevertheless, the Company believes it benefits from the personnel, relationships and experience of SITE Centers’ executive team.
The Manager is at all times subject to the supervision and oversight of the Board of Directors and has only such functions, responsibilities and authority as are specified in the New Management Agreement.
For more information, see “Risk Related to the Company’s Relationship with SITE Centers and the Manager” included in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and “Executive Summary-Manager” included in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A.
RISK FACTORS
Summary of Risk Factors
The following is a summary of material risks that could affect the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, cash flows and results of operations. The risks summarized below are discussed in greater detail in the risk factors that follow and are not the only risks the Company faces. The Company’s business operations could also be affected by additional factors that are not presently known to it or that the Company currently considers to be immaterial to its operations. Investors should carefully consider each of the following risks and all of the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Some of these risks relate principally to the Company’s relationship with SITE Centers, while others relate principally to the Company’s strategy and the industry in which it operates or to the securities markets generally and ownership of the Company’s common shares. If any of the following risks actually occur, the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected.
Risks Related to the Company’s Strategy
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The Company may have difficulty selling its remaining real estate investment at an attractive price or at all.
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The Company’s remaining real estate asset may be subject to impairment charges.
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The Company expects to establish a reserve fund with proceeds of its final asset sales in order to satisfy claims.
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The Company may adopt a plan of liquidation, which may have adverse tax and other consequences.
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The Company’s Board of Directors and management may change the Company’s strategy without shareholder approval.
Risks Related to the Company’s Business Operations and Its Remaining Property
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The economic performance and value of the Company’s remaining property depend on many factors, including the economic climate and local conditions, each of which could have an adverse impact on the ultimate level of distributions to shareholders.
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E-commerce may continue to have an adverse impact on the Company’s tenants and business.
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The COVID-19 pandemic had, and could continue to have, a significant impact on the Company, the execution of its strategy and its tenants’ businesses.
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The Company relies on major tenants, making it vulnerable to changes in the business and financial condition of, or demand for its space by, such tenants.
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The Company’s dependence on rental income may adversely affect its ability to make distributions to shareholders.
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The Company’s expenses may remain constant or increase even if income from the Company’s remaining property decreases.
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The location of the Company’s remaining property makes it vulnerable to natural disasters, extreme weather conditions and climate change. An uninsured loss or a loss that exceeds the limits of the Company’s insurance policies could subject the Company to a loss of capital and revenue.
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The Company’s current or former real estate investments may entail environmental risks that could adversely affect its results of operations and disposition prospects.
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Violent crime, including terrorism and mass shootings, or civil unrest may adversely impact the value of the Company’s remaining property.
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A disruption failure, or breach of the Company’s networks or systems, including as a result of cyber-attacks, could harm its business.
Risks Related to the Company’s Relationship with SITE Centers and the Manager
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The Company is dependent on the Manager, SITE Centers and its key personnel who provide services to the Company, and the Company may not find a suitable replacement for the Manager if the New Management Agreement is terminated, or for key personnel if they leave SITE Centers or otherwise become unavailable to the Company.
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The Company may have conflicts of interest with SITE Centers and the Manager.
Risks Related to the Company’s Common Shares
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If an active trading market for the Company’s common shares is not sustained because the Company’s common shares are de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) or otherwise, shareholders’ ability to sell shares when desired and the prices obtained will be adversely affected.
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The Company cannot assure investors of the timing or amount of future distributions to shareholders.
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The Company is an “Emerging Growth Company,” and it cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to Emerging Growth Companies make its securities less attractive to investors.
Risks Related to the Company’s Organization and Structure
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The Company has significant shareholders who may exert influence on the Company as a result of their considerable beneficial ownership of the Company’s common shares, and their interests may differ from the interests of other shareholders.
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Substantially all of the Company’s assets are owned by subsidiaries, and the creditors of these subsidiaries are entitled to amounts payable to them by the subsidiaries before the subsidiaries may pay any dividends or other distributions to the Company.
Risks Related to the Company’s Taxation as a REIT
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If the Company does not qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as a regular corporation and could have significant tax liability, which may have a significant adverse consequence to the value of the Company’s common shares.
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Dividends paid by REITs generally do not qualify for reduced tax rates.
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Certain foreign shareholders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain recognized on a disposition of the Company’s common shares if the Company does not qualify as a “domestically controlled” REIT.
General Risks Relating to Investments in the Company’s Securities
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Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect the Company’s business.
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The Company may be subject to litigation that could adversely affect its financial condition and amounts available for distribution to shareholders.
The risk factors summarized above are discussed in greater detail below.
Risks Related to the Company’s Strategy
The Company May Have Difficulty Selling Its Remaining Real Estate Investment at an Attractive Price or at All.
A key component of the Company’s business strategy is the sale of its remaining property and using the proceeds thereof to pay operating expenses and make distributions to shareholders. Real estate investments are relatively illiquid and, as a result, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to sell its remaining property on favorable terms or at all. Moreover, real estate sales prices constantly fluctuate with changes in interest rates, supply and demand dynamics, occupancy percentages, lease rates, the availability of suitable buyers and financing, the perceived quality and dependability of income flows from tenants and a number of other factors, both local and national.
The Company’s interest in its remaining property, Crossroads Center, is subject to a ground lease which expires in November 2033 and has one, 25-year renewal option at the conclusion of its term. As a result of the ground lease, the level of interest in the property, and purchasers’ ability to finance such acquisition, may be extremely limited, and the property’s sale price may be adversely impacted (if the Company is able to sell the property at all). In addition, certain businesses remain particularly vulnerable to the
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including movie theaters, restaurants and entertainment uses. Approximately 27% of the annualized base rent at Crossroads Center is owed by movie theater and restaurant tenants, which may further limit potential investors’ interest in the property. The sale price of the Company’s remaining property may differ materially from the Company’s book value and from appraised values previously obtained for the asset and the Company may recognize a loss on such sale.
Given the unique nature of the Company’s remaining property, prices and capitalization rates obtained for properties previously sold by the Company may not be representative of the price and capitalization rate obtained in connection with the disposition of the Company’s remaining property, and it is possible that the Company’s remaining property will be sold at a cap rate significantly higher than what the Company achieved for the properties it has sold to date.
The Company cannot assure shareholders of the timing of the sale of the Company’s remaining property, the actual amount they will receive in distributions from the Company’s ongoing disposition strategy or when such distributions will be paid. The Board of Directors has discretion as to the timing of distributions of net sales proceeds and expects to retain a portion of proceeds from the sale of the Company’s remaining property in order to provide for known and unknown expenses and claims arising during the anticipated wind-up of the Company’s business. For more information see “Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financing Activities” included in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Company’s Remaining Real Estate Asset May Be Subject to Impairment Charges.
On a periodic basis, the Company assesses whether there are any indicators that the value of its remaining property may be impaired. A property’s value is impaired only if the estimate of the aggregate future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) to be generated by the property are less than the carrying value of the property. In the Company’s estimate of projected cash flows, it considers factors such as expected future operating income, trends and prospects, the effects of demand, competition and other factors. As the Company evaluates the potential sale of its remaining property, the undiscounted future cash flow considerations include the most likely course of action at the balance sheet date based on current plans, the intended hold period and available market information. The Company is required to make subjective assessments as to whether there are impairments in the value of its remaining real estate asset. These assessments have a direct impact on the Company’s earnings because recording an impairment charge results in an immediate negative adjustment to earnings. There can be no assurance that the Company will not take significant impairment charges in the future. Any future impairment would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations in the period in which the charge is taken.
The Company Expects to Establish a Reserve Fund with Proceeds of Its Final Asset Sales in Order to Satisfy Claims.
The Company will likely seek to file articles of dissolution with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio sometime following the sale of the Company’s remaining property or at such time as it transfers its remaining assets, subject to its liabilities, into a liquidating entity. Pursuant to Ohio law, the Company would continue to exist for a period of five years following the filing of the articles of dissolution for the purpose of paying, satisfying and discharging any debts or obligations, collecting and distributing its assets, and doing all other acts required to liquidate and wind up its business and affairs. Under Ohio law, if the Company makes distributions to its shareholders without making adequate provisions for payment of creditors’ claims, the Company’s shareholders could be liable to creditors to the extent of any payments due to creditors (up to the aggregate amount previously received by the shareholder from the Company). The Company does not expect to have access to third-party sources of capital during the course of the wind-up period in order to satisfy liabilities. Therefore, the Company will likely establish a reserve fund with a portion of the proceeds from its final property sales in order to satisfy and discharge any unknown or contingent claims, debts or obligations which might arise during the five-year wind-up period subsequent to the filing of the articles of dissolution. Such obligations include fees owing to the Manager under the New Management Agreement, professional fees (including fees of accountants and law firms), insurance premiums and potential deductibles (including with respect to a tail insurance policy for directors and officers), vendor expenses, costs to resolve and streamline the Company’s subsidiaries and corporate structure and any claims arising under sale agreements for recently completed dispositions. As a result, it is likely that the Company would not distribute all proceeds from the sale of its final property until these known and contingent claims are satisfied or fail to materialize, which could be several years following the date of any final sale. For more information see “Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financing Activities” included in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Company May Adopt a Plan of Liquidation, Which May Have Adverse Tax and Other Consequences.
The Company’s Board of Directors may elect to adopt a formal plan of liquidation in the future to sell the Company’s remaining asset and to liquidate and dissolve the Company. The REIT provisions of the Code generally require that the Company distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income each year (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding net capital gain) as a dividend to its shareholders. Liquidating distributions made pursuant to any plan of liquidation are expected to qualify for the dividends paid deduction, provided that they are made within 24 months of the adoption of such plan. In the event a plan of
liquidation is adopted, conditions may arise that might prevent the Company from being able to liquidate within such 24-month period. For instance, it may not be possible to sell the Company’s remaining property during such period. In such event, rather than retain the property and risk losing its status as a REIT, the Company could elect, for tax purposes, to transfer its remaining assets and liabilities to a liquidating trust or, subject to the approval of its shareholders, convert to a limited liability company in order to meet the 24-month requirement.
Any shareholders who have not sold their common shares prior to such a transfer or conversion would receive beneficial interests in the liquidating trust or membership interests in the limited liability company equivalent to their ownership interests in the Company, as represented by the Company’s common shares that they held prior to the transfer or conversion. Beneficial interests in the liquidating trust and membership interests in the limited liability company would generally be non-transferable except by will, intestate succession or operation of law. Because of the illiquid nature of these interests, there could be no assurance as to how long any holder thereof may be required to hold them.
Furthermore, such a transfer or conversion would be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a distribution of the Company’s remaining assets and liabilities to its shareholders, immediately followed by a contribution of the assets and liabilities to the liquidating trust or limited liability company. As a result, shareholders would recognize gain (or loss) in the tax year of such transfer or conversion equal to the difference between (x) the shareholder’s share of the cash and the fair market value of any assets received by the liquidating trust or limited liability company, less any liabilities assumed by the liquidating trust or limited liability company and (y) the shareholder’s tax basis in his or her common shares (reduced by the amount of all prior liquidating distributions paid to the shareholder during the liquidation period), prior to the sale of such assets and the distribution of the net cash proceeds, if any. Furthermore, for purposes of computing gain (or loss), the fair market value of any remaining assets (net of liabilities) may not necessarily correspond with the Company’s share price. Such transfer or conversion also may have adverse tax consequences for tax-exempt and non-U.S. shareholders, including with respect to the ongoing activity of the liquidating trust or limited liability company.
In addition, it is possible that the fair market value of the assets received by the liquidating trust or limited liability company, as estimated for purposes of determining the extent of a shareholder’s gain at the time interests in the liquidating trust or limited liability company are received by the shareholders, will exceed the cash and fair market value of property ultimately received by the liquidating trust or limited liability company on a sale of the assets. In this case, the shareholder would recognize a loss in a taxable year subsequent to the taxable year in which the gain was recognized. The ability of shareholders to claim this loss may be limited.
The Company’s Board of Directors and Management May Change the Company’s Strategy Without Shareholder Approval.
The Company’s Board of Directors and management may change the Company’s strategy to dispose of its remaining property, distribute available proceeds (less amounts held in reserve to satisfy known and contingent claims) to shareholders and wind up the Company’s operations. The Board of Directors and management may establish new strategies as deemed appropriate without a vote by the shareholders, and the Company may become a long-term real estate holder and begin to make acquisitions, particularly if it is unable to sell its remaining property on reasonable terms. The results of decisions made by the Board of Directors and management could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition or results of operations, including its ability to distribute cash to shareholders or qualify as a REIT.
Risks Relating to the Company’s Business Operations and Its Remaining Property
The Economic Performance and Value of the Company’s Remaining Property Depend on Many Factors, Including the Economic Climate and Local Conditions, Each of Which Could Have an Adverse Impact on the Ultimate Level of Distributions to Shareholders.
The economic performance and value of the Company’s remaining real estate investment can be affected by many factors, including the following:
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Changes in the national, regional, local and international economic climate, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
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Local conditions, such as an oversupply of space or a reduction in demand for real estate in the area and population, demographic and employment trends;
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The attractiveness of the property to tenants;
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The increase in consumer purchases through the internet;
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The Company’s ability to secure adequate management services to maintain its remaining property;
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Increased operating costs, if these costs cannot be passed through to tenants and
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The expense of periodically renovating, repairing and re-letting spaces.
Because the Company’s remaining investment consists of retail real estate, the Company’s performance is linked to general economic conditions in the retail market, including conditions that affect consumers’ purchasing behaviors and disposable income. The market for retail space has been and may continue to be adversely affected by the adverse financial condition of some large retailing companies, the ongoing consolidation in the retail sector, increases in consumer internet purchases, the amount of available retail space in the local market and any weakness in the national, regional or local economies. The Company’s performance is affected by its tenants’ results of operations, which are impacted by consumer preferences and macroeconomic factors that affect consumers’ ability to purchase goods and services. If the price of the goods and services offered by its tenants materially increases, including as a result of increases in taxes or tariffs resulting from, among other things, potential changes in the Code, the operating results and the financial condition of the Company’s tenants and demand for retail space could be adversely affected. To the extent that any of these conditions occur, they are likely to affect market rents for retail space. In addition, the Company may face challenges in the management and maintenance of its remaining property or incur increased operating costs, such as real estate taxes, insurance and utilities, that may make its remaining property unattractive to tenants. In addition, the Company’s remaining property competes with numerous shopping venues, including regional malls, outlet centers, other shopping centers and e-commerce, in attracting and retaining retailers. For those leases that renew, rental rates upon renewal may be lower than current rates. For those leases that do not renew, the Company may not be able to promptly re-lease the space on favorable terms or with reasonable capital investments. Such events may adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and operating results, its ability to sell its remaining property on attractive terms or at all and the ultimate level of distributions to be made to shareholders.
E-commerce May Continue to Have an Adverse Impact on the Company’s Tenants and Business.
E-commerce has been broadly embraced by the public, including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and growth in the e-commerce share of overall consumer sales is likely to continue in the future. Many of the Company’s tenants have been negatively impacted by increasing competition from internet retailers, and this trend could affect the way current and future tenants lease space. For example, the migration toward e-commerce has led many omni-channel retailers to reduce the number and size of their traditional “brick and mortar” locations, use such locations for curbside pickup of items ordered online and increasingly rely on e-commerce and alternative distribution channels. The COVID-19 pandemic has likely accelerated many of these trends. The Company cannot predict with certainty how growth in e-commerce will impact the demand for space at its remaining property or how much revenue will be generated at traditional store locations in the future. If the Company is unable to anticipate and respond promptly to trends in retailer and consumer behavior, or if demand for traditional retail space significantly decreases, the occupancy level and operating results at the Company’s remaining property could be materially and adversely affected.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Had, and Could Continue to Have, a Significant Impact on the Company, the Execution of Its Strategy and Its Tenants’ Businesses.
The Company’s business and the businesses of its tenants were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the public perception of and reaction to the related risks. Beginning in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the closure of many tenant businesses and substantially reduced foot traffic at open tenant businesses as a result of social distancing restrictions. Beginning in April 2020, a significant number of tenants failed to pay some or all of their monthly rent obligations, and the Company agreed to defer a significant portion of these unpaid tenant rent obligations until 2021 and beyond. The majority of deferred amounts have been repaid by tenants as of December 31, 2021. Subject to the terms of the specific sale agreements, the Company continues to pursue and collect unpaid rents from tenants at several properties sold in recent years.
The Company is unable to forecast the duration of the disruption to tenant and Company operations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the level and pace of tenant collections (including the payment of deferred rents) exceeded management’s expectations during 2021, the pandemic continues to pose risks to the Company and tenant operations. If new surges in contagion occur, or if new COVID-19 variants emerge that are more infectious or resistant to existing vaccines, or if there are decreases in the effectiveness of existing vaccines, the Company’s recent success in the collection of deferred rents and unresolved amounts could be adversely impacted and such developments could lead to new restrictions on tenant operations, nonpayment of contractual and previously deferred rents, additional tenant requests for rent relief and additional tenant closures and bankruptcies, all of which could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations and ability to sell its remaining property. Certain tenant categories remain especially vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including movie theaters, restaurants and entertainment.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could also exacerbate the other risks described herein. Any of the foregoing risks, or related risks that the Company is unable to predict due to changing circumstances relating to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company Relies on Major Tenants, Making It Vulnerable to Changes in the Business and Financial Condition of, or Demand for Its Space by, Such Tenants.
The retail shopping sector has been affected by economic conditions, including increases in consumer internet purchases, as well as the competitive nature of the retail business and the competition for market share where stronger retailers have out-positioned some of the weaker retailers. In many cases, these shifts have resulted in weaker retailers losing market share and, in some cases, declaring bankruptcy and/or closing stores. In some cases, major tenants may declare bankruptcy or might take advantage of early termination of leases in connection with a plan to close stores. Bankruptcies, store closures and reduced expansion plans by conventional department stores and national chains in recent years have resulted in a smaller overall number of tenants requiring large store formats. The COVID-19 pandemic also accelerated some of these trends and certain businesses remain especially vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including movie theaters and restaurants.
As information becomes available regarding the status of the Company’s leases with tenants in financial distress or as the future plans for their spaces change, the Company may be required to write off and/or accelerate depreciation and amortization expense associated with a significant portion of the tenant-related deferred charges in future periods. The Company’s income and ability to meet its financial obligations could also be adversely affected in the event of the bankruptcy, insolvency or significant downturn in the business of one of these tenants or any of the Company’s other major tenants. In addition, the Company’s results could be adversely affected if any of these tenants do not renew their leases as they expire on terms favorable to the Company or at all.
The Company’s Dependence on Rental Income May Adversely Affect Its Ability to Make Distributions to Shareholders.
Substantially all of the Company’s operating income is derived from rental income at the Company’s remaining property. As a result, the Company’s operating performance depends on its ability to collect rent from tenants. The Company’s ability to sell its remaining property and the funds ultimately available for distribution to shareholders would be negatively affected if a significant number of its tenants, or any of its major tenants, were to do the following:
•
Experience a downturn in their business that significantly weakens their ability to meet their obligations to the Company;
•
Delay lease commencements;
•
Decline to extend or renew leases upon expiration;
•
Fail to make rental payments when due or
•
Close stores or declare bankruptcy.
Any of these actions could result in the termination of tenants’ leases and the loss of rental income attributable to the terminated leases. Lease terminations by an anchor tenant or a failure by that anchor tenant to occupy the premises may also permit other tenants in the same shopping centers to terminate their leases or reduce the amount of rent they pay pursuant to the terms of their leases, which could decrease the price at which the Company is able to sell its remaining property (if it can sell it at all). In addition, the Company cannot be certain that any tenant whose lease expires will renew that lease or that the Company will be able to re-lease space on economically advantageous terms. The loss of rental revenues from major tenants and the inability to replace such tenants may adversely affect the Company’s profitability and its ability to sell its remaining property on attractive terms (or at all) and make distributions to shareholders.
The Company’s Expenses May Remain Constant or Increase Even if Income from the Company’s Remaining Property Decreases.
Costs associated with the Company’s business, such as common area expenses, utilities, insurance, real estate taxes and corporate expenses, are relatively inflexible and generally do not decrease in the event that a property is not fully occupied, rental rates decrease, a tenant fails to pay rent or other circumstances cause the Company’s revenues to decrease. In addition, inflation could result in higher operating costs. If the Company is unable to lower its operating costs when revenues decline and/or is unable to pass along cost increases to tenants, the Company’s cash flows, profitability and ability to make distributions to shareholders could be adversely impacted and potential purchasers of the Company’s remaining property may find it less attractive.
The Location of the Company’s Remaining Property Makes It Vulnerable to Natural Disasters, Extreme Weather Conditions and Climate Change. An Uninsured Loss or a Loss That Exceeds the Limits of the Company’s Insurance Policies Could Subject the Company to a Loss of Capital and Revenue.
The Company’s remaining property, Crossroads Center in Gulfport, Mississippi, an area that is susceptible to tropical storms, hurricanes, sea-level rise and other natural disasters. Extreme weather events and natural disasters in recent years have adversely impacted the insurance marketplace. The Company’s insurance premiums have increased in recent years and the potential increase in
the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, extreme weather-related events and climate change in the future may further limit the types of coverage and the coverage limits the Company is able to obtain on commercially reasonable terms. These natural disasters and extreme weather conditions may also disrupt the business of the Company’s tenants, which may affect the ability of some tenants to pay rent and may reduce the willingness of tenants to remain in or expand into areas affected by these conditions. The process of repairing and restoring properties impacted by these events may also hinder or delay the Company’s ability to sell its remaining property even if the Company is adequately insured with respect to the damage.
The Company maintains (i) all-risk property insurance for Crossroads Center with limits of $150 million per occurrence and (ii) general liability insurance with limits of $105 million, per occurrence, in each case subject to various conditions, exclusions, deductibles and sub-limits for certain perils such as flood and earthquake. Coverage for a named windstorm and hail and/or tornado is subject to a deductible of 2% of the total insured value of the property. The Company also carries insurance for acts of terrorism up to $100 million per occurrence. Should a loss occur that is uninsured or is in an amount exceeding the applicable policy limit, or in the event of a loss that is subject to a substantial deductible under an insurance policy, the Company could lose all or part of its capital invested in, and anticipated revenue from its property.
The Company’s Current or Former Real Estate Investments May Entail Environmental Risks That Could Adversely Affect Its Results of Operations and Disposition Prospects.
Conditions at properties currently or formerly owned by the Company may subject the Company to liabilities, including environmental liabilities. The Company’s operating expenses could be higher than anticipated due to the cost of complying with existing or future environmental laws and regulations. In addition, under various federal, state, territorial and local laws, ordinances and regulations, the Company may be considered an owner or operator of real property or to have arranged for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances. As a result, the Company may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous substances released on or in its properties, including properties which the Company has sold in the past. The Company may also be liable for other potential costs that could relate to hazardous or toxic substances (including governmental fines and injuries to persons and property). The Company may incur such liability whether or not it knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. Such liability could be of substantial magnitude and divert management’s attention from other aspects of the Company’s business and, as a result, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operating results and financial condition, as well as its ability to make distributions to shareholders. If an environmental condition were to arise or be detected at the Company’s remaining property, it could also limit the number of potential buyers for the property and decrease the price at which the property can be sold (if it can be sold at all).
Violent Crime, Including Terrorism and Mass Shootings, or Civil Unrest May Adversely Impact the Value of the Company’s Remaining Property.
Any kind of violent criminal acts, including terrorist acts against public institutions or buildings or modes of public transportation (including airlines, trains or buses), mass shootings or civil unrest could alter shopping habits, deter customers from visiting the Company’s shopping center or result in damage to the property, which would have a negative effect on the Company’s business, the operations of its tenants and the value of its remaining property.
A Disruption, Failure or Breach of the Company’s Networks or Systems, Including as a Result of Cyber-Attacks, Could Harm Its Business.
The Company relies extensively on computer systems to manage its business. While the Manager maintains some of its own critical information technology systems, it also depends on third parties to provide important information technology services relating to several of the Company’s key business functions, such as electronic communications and certain finance functions. These systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, facility damage, computer or telecommunications failures, computer viruses, security breaches, vandalism, natural disasters, catastrophic events, human error and potential cyber threats, including malicious codes, worms, phishing attacks, ransomware and other sophisticated cyber-attacks. Although the Company believes that the Manager and such third parties employ a number of protective measures to prevent, detect and mitigate cyber threats, including password protection, firewalls, backup servers, threat monitoring and periodic penetration testing, the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access change frequently, and there is no guarantee that such prevention efforts will be successful. Should they occur, these threats could compromise the confidential information of the Company’s tenants and third-party vendors, disrupt the Company’s business operations and the availability and integrity of data in the Company’s systems and result in litigation, violation of applicable privacy and other laws, investigations, actions, fines or penalties. In the event of damage or disruption to the Company’s business due to these occurrences, the Company may not be able to successfully and quickly recover all of its critical business functions, assets and data.
Risks Related to the Company’s Relationship with SITE Centers and the Manager
The Company Is Dependent on the Manager, SITE Centers and Its Key Personnel Who Provide Services to the Company, and the Company May Not Find a Suitable Replacement for the Manager if the New Management Agreement Is Terminated, or for Key Personnel if They Leave SITE Centers or Otherwise Become Unavailable to the Company.
The Company has no separate management and is reliant on the Manager. The Manager has significant discretion as to the implementation of the Company’s operating policies and strategy, although the Manager is subject to supervision by the Company’s Board of Directors. All of the Company’s executive officers are executives of SITE Centers. Accordingly, the Company believes that its success in effectuating its strategy (including the sale of its remaining property) will depend to a significant extent upon the efforts, experience, diligence, skill and continued service of the officers and key personnel of SITE Centers. The departure of any of the officers or key personnel of SITE Centers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s performance and its ability to consummate its strategy.
The Company offers no assurance that the Manager will remain the Company’s manager or that the Company will continue to have access to SITE Centers’ officers and key personnel. SITE Centers is not obligated to dedicate any specific personnel exclusively to the Company, nor is SITE Centers obligated to dedicate any specific portion of time to the Company’s business, and none of SITE Centers’ employees are contractually dedicated to the Company under the New Management Agreement with the Manager. The officers and employees of SITE Centers have significant responsibilities associated with SITE Centers and, as a result, these individuals may not always be willing or able to devote sufficient time to the management of the Company’s business.
The New Management Agreement is currently scheduled to expire on the fifth anniversary of the date on which the Company files articles of dissolution, subject to the right of the Company or the Manager to terminate the New Management Agreement on a voluntary basis upon delivery of at least 90 days’ advance written notice. If the New Management Agreement is terminated by SITE Centers, the Company may incur expenses and disruptions in transitioning to a replacement manager, and if no suitable replacement manager is found to manage the Company and its remaining property, the Company likely would not be able to execute its business plan. Given the scale of the Company’s current operations and the difficulty of identifying a replacement manager, the fees charged by any replacement manager could exceed the level of fees currently paid by the Company to SITE Centers.
The Company May Have Conflicts of Interest with SITE Centers and the Manager.
The Company is subject to conflicts of interest arising out of its relationships with SITE Centers and the Manager. Specifically, all of the Company’s executive officers and two of the Company’s six directors are executives of SITE Centers. In the event the Company is able to sell its remaining property and de-list from the NYSE, several or all of the Company’s independent directors may resign from the Company’s Board of Directors, thereby leaving the Board of Directors composed solely of SITE Centers executives during the wind-up of the Company’s operations. SITE Centers and the Company’s executive officers may have conflicts between their duties to the Company and their duties to, and interests in, SITE Centers. Conflicts with the Company’s business and interests are most likely to arise from any amendment of the New Management Agreement, involvement in activities related to the allocation of SITE Centers’ management’s time and services between the Company and SITE Centers, the terms and timing of sale of the Company’s remaining property and the lease of vacant space or renewal of existing leases at the Company’s remaining property, which may be located near and compete with properties owned or managed by affiliates of SITE Centers.
The Company will pay the Manager fees regardless of the performance of the Company’s remaining property or the price at which the remaining property is sold. The Manager’s entitlement to a management fee, which is not based upon performance metrics or goals, might reduce its incentive to devote its time and effort to seeking strategies that maximize total returns to the Company’s shareholders. The Manager may also be motivated to increase or earn additional fees by taking or recommending certain leasing and disposition actions which may not be consistent with actions desired by the Company’s shareholders. This, in turn, could hurt the Company’s ability to make distributions to its shareholders, the value of the Company’s remaining property and the market price of the Company’s common shares.
Pursuant to the New Management Agreement, the Manager will not assume any responsibility other than to render the services called for thereunder and will not be responsible for any action of the Board of Directors in following or declining to follow its advice or recommendations. The Manager maintains a contractual as opposed to a fiduciary relationship with the Company. Under the terms of the New Management Agreement, the Company will indemnify the Manager and its affiliates, as well as their respective officers (and persons serving as officers of the Company at the request of SITE Centers or the Company’s Board of Directors), directors, equity holders, members, partners and employees, for all liability, claims, damages and losses arising out of the performance of their duties under the New Management Agreement, and related expenses, except to the extent arising from any act or omission on their part that is determined to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Risks Related to the Company’s Common Shares
If an Active Trading Market for the Company’s Common Shares Is Not Sustained Because the Company’s Common Shares Are De-listed from the NYSE or Otherwise, Shareholders’ Ability to Sell Shares When Desired and the Prices Obtained Will Be Adversely Affected.
The Company’s common shares are currently listed on the NYSE under the trading symbol “RVI.” However, there can be no assurance that the Company’s common shares will continue to be listed on the NYSE or that an active trading market for the Company’s common shares will be maintained, especially as the Company executes on its strategy to sell its remaining property and make distributions to shareholders, which is expected to negatively impact the price of the Company’s common shares and market capitalization. As the Company distributes property sale proceeds to shareholders, the price of its common shares and market capitalization could fall below the NYSE’s minimum requirements, and the Company’s common shares could be de-listed. Additionally, the NYSE has discretionary authority to de-list the shares of companies which do not own operating assets. As a result, the Company expects that the NYSE would immediately de-list the Company’s common shares upon the sale of its remaining property, though the Company may choose to de-list from the NYSE on a voluntary basis prior to such date. Similarly, the NYSE has discretionary authority to de-list the Company’s common shares in the event it adopts a plan of liquidation. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the ability of the Company’s shareholders to sell their common shares or the price that shareholders may obtain for their common shares, particularly after the Company’s common shares cease to be listed on the NYSE.
Some of the factors that could negatively affect the market price of the Company’s common shares include:
•
Changes in the valuation and capitalization rate applicable to the Company’s remaining property;
•
The Company’s ability to sell its remaining property on a timely basis and on attractive terms;
•
Increases in market interest rates, which may have a negative impact on the number of potential buyers for the Company’s remaining property and the price such buyers are willing to pay;
•
The Company’s actual or projected operating results, financial condition, cash flows and liquidity, or changes in business strategy or prospects;
•
The market’s perception of the amount and timing of the Company’s potential future cash distributions;
•
Natural disasters and environmental hazards affecting the area in which the Company’s remaining property is located;
•
Actual or perceived conflicts of interest with SITE Centers and individuals, including the Company’s executives, or any termination of the New Management Agreement;
•
Share sales by the Company’s significant shareholders, or the perception that such sales may occur;
•
The publication of research reports about the Company or the real estate industry;
•
Additions to or departures of SITE Centers’ key personnel or members of the Company’s Board of Directors;
•
Speculation in the press or investment community;
•
The extent of institutional investor interest in the Company;
•
Ability to pay distributions to the Company’s shareholders pursuant to its operating and disposition strategy;
•
The Company’s continued qualification as a REIT;
•
The reputation of REITs generally and the reputation of REITs with similar strategies;
•
Price and volume fluctuations in the stock market generally and
•
General market and economic conditions, including the current state of the credit and capital markets and the market for sales and investments in properties similar to the remaining property owned by the Company.
Additionally, in order to curtail expenses through any winding-up, the Company eventually expects to seek relief from the SEC from the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). If such relief is granted, the Company may no longer be required to file annual, quarterly or other reports or proxy materials with the SEC. If the Company is no
longer required to file some or all of these reports and other materials with the SEC, shareholders will have access to substantially limited public information about the Company, which may affect the trading and liquidity of the Company’s common shares, as well as shareholders’ ability to make investment decisions with respect to the Company.
The Company Cannot Assure Investors of the Timing or Amount of Future Distributions to Shareholders.
Any distributions the Company makes to its shareholders will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s liquidity, which will be affected by various factors, including the income and sale proceeds from its remaining property, the collection of amounts owed to the Company by tenants and third parties, the Company’s operating expenses (including management fees and other obligations owing to the Manager), and the amount of claims made against the Company during the winding up of its operations (including with respect to agreements governing the recent sales of the Company’s properties). Distributions will also be impacted by the timing and success of the Company’s efforts to sell its remaining property. As a result, no assurance can be given regarding the level or timing of any distributions the Company may make in the future. For more information see “Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financing Activities” in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Company Is an “Emerging Growth Company,” and It Cannot Be Certain if the Reduced Disclosure Requirements Applicable to Emerging Growth Companies Make Its Securities Less Attractive to Investors.
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (“the JOBS Act”). For so long as the Company remains an emerging growth company, the Company is not required to comply with, among other things, the auditor attestation requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“the Sarbanes-Oxley Act”). Emerging growth companies are also exempt from the “say on pay” provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“the Dodd-Frank Act”) and are permitted to omit the detailed compensation discussion and analysis and other compensation-related disclosures from proxy statements and reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Investors may find the Company’s common shares less attractive because the Company relies on these provisions. If investors find the Company’s common shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for the Company’s shares, and the Company’s share price may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. However, the Company has chosen to “opt out” of such extended transition period, and, as a result, the Company will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. The Company’s decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.
Risks Related to the Company’s Organization and Structure
The Company Has Significant Shareholders Who May Exert Influence on the Company as a Result of Their Considerable Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s Common Shares, and Their Interests May Differ from the Interests of Other Shareholders.
Ms. Katharina Otto-Bernstein is in a position to exert significant influence over the Company because of her considerable beneficial ownership of the Company’s common shares. As of February 18, 2022, the reported ownership of Ms. Otto-Bernstein was 17.7% of the Company’s common shares and, therefore, Ms. Otto-Bernstein may exert influence with respect to matters that are brought to a vote of the holders of the Company’s common shares. Among others, these matters include the election of directors, certain corporate transactions and amendments to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations. Furthermore, if the Company’s significant shareholders sell substantial amounts of the Company’s common shares in the public market to enhance the shareholders’ liquidity positions, fund alternative investments or for other reasons, the trading price of the Company’s common shares could decline significantly, and other shareholders may be unable to sell their common shares at favorable prices. The Company cannot predict or control how the Company’s significant shareholders may use the influence they will have as a result of their common share holdings.
Substantially All of the Company’s Assets Are Owned by Subsidiaries, and the Creditors of These Subsidiaries Are Entitled to Amounts Payable to Them by the Subsidiaries Before the Subsidiaries May Pay Any Dividends or Other Distributions to the Company.
The Company’s remaining property and many of its other assets are held through wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company depends on cash distributions from its subsidiaries for most of its cash flow. The creditors of each of the Company’s subsidiaries are entitled to payment of that subsidiary’s obligations to them when due and payable before that subsidiary may make distributions or dividends to the Company. Thus, the Company’s ability to make any distributions to its shareholders depends on the Company’s
subsidiaries’ ability to first satisfy their obligations to their creditors and the Company’s ability to satisfy its obligations, if any, to its creditors.
In addition, the Company’s participation in any distribution of the assets of any of its subsidiaries upon the liquidation, reorganization or insolvency of the subsidiary is only after the claims of the creditors, if any, of the applicable direct or indirect subsidiaries are satisfied.
Risks Related to the Company’s Taxation as a REIT
If the Company Does Not Qualify as a REIT in Any Taxable Year, It Will Be Subject to U.S. Federal Income Tax as a Regular Corporation and Could Have Significant Tax Liability, Which May Have a Significant Adverse Consequence to the Value of the Company’s Common Shares.
The Company currently seeks to operate in a manner that allows it to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, REIT qualification requires that the Company satisfy numerous requirements (some on an annual or quarterly basis) established under highly technical and complex provisions of the Code, for which there are a limited number of judicial or administrative interpretations. The Company’s status as a REIT requires an analysis of various factual matters and circumstances that are not entirely within its control. Accordingly, the Company’s ability to qualify and remain qualified as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not certain. Even a technical or inadvertent violation of the REIT requirements could jeopardize the Company’s REIT qualification. Furthermore, Congress or the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) might change the tax laws or regulations and the courts could issue new rulings, in each case potentially having a retroactive effect that could make it more difficult or impossible for the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT. In addition, the Company may elect to surrender its REIT status in connection with the anticipated wind-up of its operations in the event the Company determines that the anticipated benefits to the Company and its shareholders of maintaining REIT qualification do not exceed the related compliance costs or if the nature of the Company’s remaining operations makes compliance with REIT requirements impracticable.
If the Company does not qualify as a REIT in any tax year, the following would result:
•
The Company would be taxed as a regular domestic corporation, which, among other things, means that it would be unable to deduct distributions to its shareholders in computing its taxable income and would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income at regular corporate rates;
•
Any resulting tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to shareholders and could force the Company to liquidate assets or take other actions that could have a detrimental effect on its operating results and
•
Unless the Company were entitled to relief under applicable statutory provisions, it would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which the Company lost its qualification, and its cash available for debt service obligations and distribution to its shareholders, therefore, would be reduced for each of the years in which the Company does not qualify as a REIT.
Even if the Company maintains its qualification as a REIT, it may face other tax liabilities that reduce its cash flow. The Company may also be subject to certain federal, state and local taxes on its income and property either directly or at the level of its subsidiaries. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for distribution to the Company’s shareholders.
Dividends Paid by REITs Generally Do Not Qualify for Reduced Tax Rates.
In general, the maximum U.S. federal income tax rate for dividends paid to individual U.S. shareholders is 20%. Due to its REIT status, the Company’s distributions to individual shareholders generally are not eligible for the reduced rates. However, U.S. shareholders that are individuals, trusts and estates generally may deduct up to 20% of the ordinary dividends (e.g., REIT dividends that are not designated as capital gain dividends or qualified dividend income) received from a REIT for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. Although this deduction reduces the effective tax rate applicable to certain dividends paid by REITs (generally to 29.6%, assuming the shareholder is subject to the 37% maximum rate), such tax rate is still higher than the tax rate applicable to corporate dividends that constitute qualified dividend income. Accordingly, investors who are individuals, trusts and estates may perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could materially and adversely affect the value of the shares of REITs, including the per share trading price of the Company’s common shares.
Certain Foreign Shareholders May Be Subject to U.S. Federal Income Tax on Gain Recognized on a Disposition of the Company’s Common Shares if the Company Does Not Qualify as a “Domestically Controlled” REIT.
A foreign person disposing of a U.S. real property interest, including shares of a U.S. corporation whose assets consist principally of U.S. real property interests, is generally subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain recognized on the disposition. This tax does not apply, however, to the disposition of stock in a REIT if the REIT is “domestically controlled.” In general, the Company will be a domestically controlled REIT if at all times during the five-year period ending on the applicable stockholder’s disposition of the Company’s stock, less than 50% in value of the stock was held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. persons. If the Company were to fail to qualify as a domestically controlled REIT, gain recognized by a foreign stockholder on a disposition of the Company’s common shares would be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless the common shares were traded on an established securities market and the foreign stockholder did not at any time during a specified testing period directly or indirectly own more than 10% of the outstanding common stock.
General Risks Relating to Investments in Company Securities
Changes in Accounting Standards Issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or Other Standard-Setting Bodies May Adversely Affect the Company’s Business.
The Company’s financial statements are subject to the application of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which are periodically revised and/or expanded. From time to time, the Company is required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB and the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is possible that accounting standards the Company is required to adopt may require changes to the current accounting treatment that it applies to its consolidated financial statements and may require it to make significant changes to its systems. Changes in accounting standards could result in a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company May Be Subject to Litigation That Could Adversely Affect Its Financial Condition and Amounts Available for Distribution to Shareholders.
The Company may be a defendant from time to time in lawsuits and regulatory proceedings relating to its business, including lawsuits relating to the sales of its properties. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation and regulatory proceedings, the Company cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of any such litigation or proceedings. An unfavorable outcome could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and the amount available for distribution to shareholders. Any such litigation could also lead to increased volatility of the trading price of the Company’s common shares.

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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
At December 31, 2021, the Company owned one retail shopping center, Crossroads Center in Gulfport, Mississippi, which is subject to a ground lease which has an expiration date in November 2033 and one, 25-year renewal option. The remaining property consists of 0.6 million square feet of Company-owned GLA and at December 31, 2021 had total annualized base rent of $6.1 million and average base rent of $13.47 per square foot (calculated as total annualized base rent divided by Company-owned rent commencement GLA as of December 31, 2021) and was 91.2% occupied. Anchor tenants greater than 20,000 square feet were: Academy Sports, Barnes & Noble, Belk, Burke’s Outlet, Cinemark, Michaels, Ross Dress for Less and T.J. Maxx.
Tenant Lease Expirations and Renewals
The following table shows the impact of tenant lease expirations through 2031 for Crossroads Center (Gulfport, Mississippi), assuming that none of the tenants exercise any of their renewal options as of December 31, 2021:
Expiration
Year
Approximate GLA
in Square Feet
(Thousands)
Annualized
Base Rent
Under Expiring Leases
(Thousands)
$
2,546
2,155
Thereafter
Vacant
-
Total
$
6,136
The rental payments under certain of these leases will remain constant until the expiration of their base terms, regardless of inflationary increases. There can be no assurance that any of these leases will be renewed or that any replacement tenants will be obtained if not renewed.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various legal proceedings, which, taken together, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company is also subject to a variety of legal actions for personal injury or property damage arising in the ordinary course of its business, most of which are covered by insurance. While the resolution of all matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the final outcome of such legal proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, financial position or results of operations.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not Applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Holders, Dividends and Market Information
The Company’s common shares are currently listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “RVI.” As of February 11, 2022, there were 2,402 record holders. This total excludes beneficial or non-registered holders that held their shares through various brokerage firms. This figure does not represent the actual number of beneficial owners of the Company’s common shares because common shares are frequently held in “street name” by securities dealers and others for the benefit of beneficial owners who may vote the shares. The Company expects to de-list its common shares from the NYSE in connection with the sale of its remaining property.
The Company currently operates in a manner that allows it to qualify as a REIT and generally not be subject to U.S. federal income and excise tax. U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income. In October 2021, the Company declared a dividend of $22.04 per common share, which was paid to shareholders on October 28, 2021. In December 2021, the Company declared a dividend of $3.27 per common share, which was paid to shareholders on January 18, 2022. The Company may elect to surrender its REIT status in connection with the anticipated wind-up of its operations in the event the Company determines that the anticipated benefits to the Company and its shareholders of maintaining REIT qualification do not exceed the related compliance costs or if the nature of the Company’s remaining operations makes compliance with REIT requirements impracticable.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
Performance Graph
The graph below presents the Company's cumulative total shareholder returns relative to the performance of the Russell 2000 Index and FTSE NAREIT Equity REITs Total Return Index. The graph assumes $100 invested at the closing price of the Company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange and each index on July 2, 2018 (the first day of RVI trading) and assumes the reinvestment of all dividends. The stock price performance shown on this graph may not be indicative of future price performance. On October 1, 2021, the Company declared a dividend of $22.04 per common share primarily from the disposition of assets. The graph takes into account this distribution to shareholders.
Cumulative Total Shareholder Return Index
06/29/18
12/31/18
12/31/19
12/31/20
12/31/21
Retail Value Inc.
$100.00
$81.89
$117.76
$57.03
$111.32
Russell 2000 Index
$100.00
$82.65
$103.75
$124.46
$142.90
FTSE NAREIT Equity REITs Total Return Index
$100.00
$94.75
$121.91
$115.67
$163.44

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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
The Company was formed in December 2017 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SITE Centers. On July 1, 2018, the date of the Company’s spin-off from SITE Centers into a separate publicly traded company, the Company owned 48 properties and had two reportable segments: continental U.S. and Puerto Rico. As a result of the sale of the Company’s remaining Puerto Rico properties in August 2021, the Company no longer reports financial results for the Puerto Rico segment and instead reports the financial results of the Puerto Rico segment as discontinued operations for all periods presented. At December 31, 2021, RVI owned one retail shopping center in Gulfport, Mississippi comprising 0.6 million square feet of Company-owned GLA which was 91.2% occupied. The Company refers to this property, Crossroads Center, as its “remaining property” or its “remaining real estate asset.” The Company’s interest in its remaining property is subject to a ground lease which has an expiration date in November 2033 and one, 25-year renewal option.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Company remains focused on realizing value through the sale of its remaining property and the collection of its accounts receivable, the proceeds of which are expected to be used to fund a reserve account from which the Company will pay expenses and claims in connection with the winding up of its operations and make distributions to the Company’s common shareholders. See discussion below under “Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financing Activities - Winding up and Dissolution.”
COVID-19
In March 2020, the World Health Organization categorized COVID-19 as a pandemic, and it continues to spread throughout the United States and other countries across the world. Beginning in mid-March 2020, federal, state and local governments took various actions to limit the spread of COVID-19, including ordering the temporary closure of non-essential businesses (which included many of the Company’s tenants) and imposing significant social distancing guidelines and restrictions on the continued operations of essential businesses and the reopening of non-essential businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Company’s collection of rents during the remainder of 2020, and the Company entered into rent deferral arrangements (and, in a small number of cases, rent abatements) and other lease modifications with a significant number of tenants. Rent collections improved dramatically during 2021. Results for the year ended December 31, 2021 included $5.1 million of net revenue primarily related to contractual rents paid from cash basis tenants (including deferred rents), that were contractually due in 2020. These amounts also include reductions in contractual rental payments due from tenants as compared to pre-modification payments related to the impact of lease modifications, with a partial increase in straight-line rent to offset a portion of the impact on net income. At December 31, 2021, the Company had $0.5 million outstanding under deferral arrangements for tenants that are not accounted for on the cash basis.
The pandemic also had a significant impact on transaction markets and the level of the Company’s disposition activity during the remainder of 2020. Although the level and pace of tenant collections and dispositions improved significantly during 2021, the Company’s ability to sell its remaining property and collect rents and collection of all of its other accounts receivable may be negatively impacted by additional surges in COVID-19 contagion, the emergence of new COVID-19 variants which are more infectious or resistant to existing vaccines, decreases in the effectiveness of such vaccines and any implementation of additional restrictions on tenant business as a result thereof. As of February 18, 2022, disruptions caused by the Omicron variant had not had an adverse impact on the Company’s remaining operations. For a further discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, see “Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financing Activities” and “Disposition Outlook” included in this section and Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Transaction Highlights
During 2021, the Company completed the following transactions:
•
Sold 10 continental U.S. properties for an aggregate sales price of $358.7 million, which included a five-property portfolio transaction in October 2021 for $264.0 million.
•
Sold the Company’s remaining interests in all 11 Puerto Rico properties for $574.9 million, which included a nine-property portfolio transaction for $550.0 million in August 2021 (all Puerto Rico operating results reflected as “discontinued operations” on a retrospective basis).
•
Repaid the outstanding balance on its mortgage loan, which resulted in the release of all restricted cash balances to the Company by the loan’s servicer, as well as the termination of the Revolving Credit Agreement.
•
In October 2021, made a distribution on the Company’s Series A Preferred Shares (the “RVI Preferred Shares”) in the aggregate amount of $190.0 million, and in December 2021 the Company repurchased all of the outstanding RVI Preferred Shares from SITE Centers for an aggregate purchase price of $1.00.
•
In October 2021, paid a cash dividend of $22.04 per common share, and in January 2022 paid a cash dividend of $3.27 per common share.
From its formation in December 2017 through December 31, 2021, the Company sold the following properties (in thousands):
Date Sold
Property Name
City, State
Total Owned GLA
Gross
Sales Price
04/17/18
Silver Spring Square
Mechanicsburg, PA
$
80,810
(1)
06/27/18
The Walk at Highwoods Preserve
Tampa, FL
25,025
(1)
07/06/18
Tequesta Shoppes
Tequesta, FL
14,333
07/10/18
Lake Walden Square
Plant City, FL
29,000
08/01/18
East Lloyd Commons
Evansville, IN
23,000
08/13/18
Grandville Marketplace
Grandville, MI
16,700
08/29/18
Brandon Blvd Shoppes
Valrico, FL
14,650
09/14/18
Gresham Station
Gresham, OR
64,500
10/18/18
Palm Valley Pavilions West
Goodyear, AZ
44,800
11/13/18
International Drive Value Center
Orlando, FL
26,157
11/20/18
Douglasville Pavilion
Atlanta, GA
35,120
12/14/18
Kyle Crossing
Kyle, TX
27,600
02/08/19
Millenia Plaza
Orlando, FL
56,400
02/27/19
Homestead Pavilion (TD Bank)
Homestead, FL
4,091
03/01/19
West Allis Center (Chick-Fil-A)
Milwaukee, WI
2,211
03/04/19
Lowe's Home Improvement
Hendersonville, TN
16,058
03/26/19
Midway Marketplace
St. Paul, MN
31,210
04/05/19
Mariner Square
Spring Hill, FL
17,000
05/23/19
Shoppers World of Brookfield
Brookfield, WI
19,450
05/31/19
Homestead Pavilion
Homestead, FL
62,250
06/13/19
Beaver Creek Crossings
Apex, NC
52,750
08/07/19
Harbison Court
Columbia, SC
36,500
08/09/19
West Allis Center
West Allis, WI
18,100
12/19/19
Marketplace at Towne Centre
Mesquite, TX
19,150
01/15/20
Newnan Crossing (Except Lowe's Parcel)
Newnan, GA
11,600
02/19/20
Hamilton Commons
Mays Landing, NJ
60,000
02/26/20
Tucson Spectrum Shopping Center
Tucson, AZ
84,000
06/30/20
Big Oaks Crossing
Tupelo, MS
21,000
07/27/20
Newnan Crossing (Lowe's Parcel)
Newnan, GA
15,550
09/24/20
Riverdale Village
Coon Rapids, MN
70,000
12/21/20
Peach Street Marketplace
(Longhorn Steakhouse Parcel)
Erie, PA
2,075
12/22/20
Plaza Palma Real
Humacao, PR
50,000
04/09/21
Marketplace of Brown Deer
Brown Deer, WI
10,250
04/13/21
Noble Town Center
Jenkintown, PA
14,000
04/14/21
Plaza Vega Baja
Vega Baja, PR
4,500
04/21/21
Uptown Solon
Solon, OH
10,100
06/03/21
Señorial Plaza
Rio Piedras, PR
20,350
08/27/21
Puerto Rico Portfolio (9 properties)
Puerto Rico
3,538
550,000
10/01/21
Continental U.S. Portfolio (5 properties)
Various
2,623
264,000
12/06/21
Green Ridge Square
Grand Rapids, MI
23,250
12/15/21
Willowbrook Plaza
Houston, TX
37,100
15,857
$
1,984,640
Asset sales (Post Spin-Off)
15,376
$
1,878,805
(1)
Sold prior to the spin-off which occurred on July 1, 2018.
Manager
The Company does not have any employees. In connection with the Company’s separation from SITE Centers on July 1, 2018, the Company entered into the External Management Agreement and Property Management Agreements which governed the fees, terms and conditions pursuant to which SITE Centers served as the Company’s manager until December 31, 2021. On December 15, 2021, the Company and certain subsidiaries of SITE Centers entered into the New Management Agreement which took effect on
January 1, 2022 and provides for property management and leasing services for the Company’s remaining property and for corporate services in connection with the anticipated wind-up of the Company’s business.
Pursuant to the External Management Agreement, prior to January 1, 2022, the Company paid SITE Centers and certain of its subsidiaries a monthly asset management fee in an aggregate amount of 0.5% per annum of the gross asset value of the Company’s properties (determined on the immediately preceding June 30 or December 31 and calculated in accordance with the terms of the External Management Agreement). The External Management Agreement also provided for the reimbursement of certain expenses incurred by SITE Centers in connection with the services it provided to the Company along with the payment of transaction-based fees to SITE Centers in the event of any debt financings or change of control transactions.
Pursuant to the Property Management Agreements, prior to January 1, 2022, the Company paid SITE Centers and certain of its subsidiaries a monthly property management fee in an aggregate amount of 3.5% and 5.5% of the average gross monthly property revenue collected during the most recent second or fourth quarter. In order to address the impact of the pandemic on the level of effort required to manage the portfolio and property management fees paid in the first half of 2021, the Company agreed to pay an affiliate of SITE Centers a supplemental monthly fee during the six-month period ended June 30, 2021. (See Note 11 “Transactions with SITE Centers” of the Company’s consolidated financial statements included herein.) The Property Management Agreements also provided for the payment to SITE Centers of certain leasing commissions and a disposition fee of 1% of the gross sales price of each asset sold by the Company.
Effective January 1, 2022, pursuant to the terms of the New Management Agreement, the Company will pay the Manager an asset management fee for services rendered in connection with corporate management of the Company in an aggregate amount of (i) $500,000 for calendar year 2022, (ii) $300,000 per annum commencing on January 1, 2023 until the end of the calendar quarter in which the Company’s shares are deregistered under the Exchange Act and/or the Company’s reporting obligations under the Exchange Act are suspended or terminated, and (iii) $100,000 per annum, commencing from the calendar quarter immediately following the calendar quarter in which the Company’s shares are deregistered under the Exchange Act and/or the Company’s reporting obligations under the Exchange Act are suspended or terminated until the expiry of the scheduled term of the New Management Agreement (which is the fifth anniversary of the date on which the Company files articles of dissolution with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio) or the earlier termination thereof. In addition, until the consummation of the sale of the Company’s remaining property, Crossroads Center, the Company will pay the Manager a monthly property management fee equal to $22,000 per month. With respect to Crossroads Center, the New Management Agreement also provides for payments to the Manager of: leasing commissions of $4.00 per square foot for the initial lease term and $2.00 per square foot in connection with each negotiated renewal or extension; 1.0% of the gross sale price in connection with any sale; and costs and expenses incurred by the Manager in connection with construction and tenant coordination services. The New Management Agreement also provides that the Company may, in its sole discretion, make an additional incentive payment to the Manager in an amount not to exceed $500,000 upon the completion of the sale of Crossroads Center.
The New Management Agreement also obligates the Company to pay or reimburse the Manager for all commercially reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred in the performance of its duties under the New Management Agreement, including, but not limited to, all fees and expenses paid to outside advisors (including legal and accounting fees), consultants, architects, engineers and other professionals reasonably required for the performance of the Manager’s duties.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of the Company and all subsidiaries where the Company has financial or operating control. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes. In preparing these financial statements, management has used available information, including the Company’s and SITE Centers’ history, industry standards and the current economic environment, among other factors, in forming its estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. It is possible that the ultimate outcome as anticipated by management in formulating its estimates inherent in these financial statements might not materialize. Application of the critical accounting estimates described below involves the exercise of judgment and the use of assumptions as to future uncertainties. Accordingly, actual results could differ from these estimates. In addition, other companies may use different estimates that may affect the comparability of the Company’s results of operations to those companies in similar businesses.
Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable
Rental income has been reduced for the elimination of unpaid contractual lease payments for tenants that are on the cash basis of accounting due to collectability concerns. When a tenant comes off the cash basis, there could be a reinstatement of the straight-line rent receivable that would result in additional recognition of straight-line income.
The Company makes estimates of the collectability of its accounts receivable related to base rents, including straight-line rentals, expense reimbursements and other revenue or income. The Company analyzes tenant credit worthiness, as well as both current economic and tenant-specific sector trends when evaluating the probability of collection of accounts receivable. In evaluating tenant credit worthiness, the Company’s assessment may include a review of payment history, tenant sales performance and financial position. For larger national tenants, the Company also evaluates projected liquidity, as well as the tenant’s access to capital and the overall health of the particular sector. In addition, with respect to tenants in bankruptcy, the Company makes estimates of the expected recovery of pre-petition and post-petition claims in assessing the probability of collection of the related receivable. The time to resolve these claims may exceed one year. These estimates have a direct impact on the Company’s earnings because once the amount is not considered probable of being collected earnings are reduced by a corresponding amount until the receivable is collected.
Real Estate and Long-Lived Assets
On a periodic basis, management assesses whether there are any indicators that the value of the Company’s remaining real estate asset, including construction in progress, and intangibles may be impaired. Impairment indicators are primarily related to significant decreases in projected cash flows, including estimated fair value or changes in estimated hold periods; however, other impairment indicators could occur. A property’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 property are less than the carrying value of the property. The determination of undiscounted cash flows requires significant estimates by management. In management’s estimate of projected cash flows, it considers factors such as expected future operating income (loss), trends and prospects, the effects of demand, competition and other factors. As the Company is evaluating the sale of its remaining property, the undiscounted future cash flows analysis is probability-weighted based upon management’s best estimate of the likelihood of the alternative courses of action. Subsequent changes in estimated undiscounted cash flows arising from changes in anticipated actions could affect the determination of whether an impairment exists and whether the effects could have a material impact on the Company’s net income. To the extent an 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 property. The Company is required to make subjective assessments as to whether there are impairments in the value of its real estate properties. These assessments have a direct impact on the Company’s net income because recording an impairment charge results in an immediate negative adjustment to net income. If the Company’s estimates of the projected future cash flows, anticipated holding periods or market conditions change, its evaluation of the impairment charges may be different, and such differences could be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Measurement of Fair Value-Real Estate
The Company is required to assess the value of its real estate assets. The fair value of real estate investments used in the Company’s impairment calculations is estimated based on the price that would be received from the sale of an asset in an orderly transaction between marketplace participants at the measurement date. The availability of observable transaction data and inputs can make it more difficult and/or subjective to determine the fair value of such assets. As a result, the amount ultimately realized by the Company from the remaining property to be sold may differ from the fair values presented, and the differences could be material.
The valuation of impaired real estate assets is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques, including the income capitalization approach or discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each asset considering prevailing market capitalization rates, analysis of recent comparable sales transactions, actual sales negotiations, bona fide purchase offers received from third parties and/or consideration of the amount that currently would be required to replace the asset, as adjusted for obsolescence. In general, the Company utilized a valuation technique which is based on the characteristics of the specific asset when measuring fair value of a real estate investment. However, when bona fide purchase offers from third parties are not available, a single valuation is generally used for the Company’s property type.
For the remaining real estate asset, the significant assumptions include the capitalization rate used in the income capitalization valuation, as well as the projected property net operating income. Valuation of real estate assets is calculated based on market conditions and assumptions made by management at the measurement date, which may differ materially from actual results if market conditions or the underlying assumptions change.
COMPARISON OF 2021 AND 2020 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The discussion of the Company’s 2021 performance compared to 2020 appears below. The discussion of the Company’s 2020 performance compared to 2019 performance is set forth in “Comparison of 2020 and 2019 Results of Operations.” Included in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
Revenues from Operations (in thousands)
$ Change
Rental income(A)
$
55,603
$
80,692
$
(25,089
)
Other income
Total revenues(B)
$
55,658
$
80,737
$
(25,079
)
(A)
The following table summarizes the key components of 2021 rental income as compared to 2020 (in thousands):
Contractual Lease Payments
$ Change
Base and percentage rental income(1)
$
37,555
$
63,423
$
(25,868
)
Recoveries from tenants
13,601
22,535
(8,934
)
Uncollectible revenue(2)
3,711
(6,631
)
10,342
Ancillary rental income
(192
)
Lease termination fees
(437
)
Total contractual lease payments
$
55,603
$
80,692
$
(25,089
)
(1)
The decrease is a result of property dispositions. The following table presents the statistics for the Company’s continental U.S. portfolio affecting base and percentage rental revenues reflected as continuing operations for the periods presented:
Continental U.S.
December 31,
Centers owned
Aggregate occupancy rate
91.2
%
88.0
%
Average annualized base rent per occupied square foot
$
13.47
$
33.35
(2)
Primarily relates to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rent collections, including the impact of lease modification accounting and tenants on the cash basis of accounting due to collectability concerns in 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the net amount reported was income primarily due to rental income paid in 2021 from tenants on the cash basis of accounting, which related to amounts contractually owed in 2020.
(B)
Continental U.S. properties sold prior to December 31, 2021 accounted for $25.8 million of the decrease in Total Revenues.
Expenses from Operations (in thousands)
$ Change
Operating and maintenance(A)
$
7,286
$
11,460
$
(4,174
)
Real estate taxes(A)
8,966
15,957
(6,991
)
Property and asset management fees
5,906
8,529
(2,623
)
Impairment charges(B)
1,573
54,370
(52,797
)
General and administrative(C)
3,577
3,612
(35
)
Depreciation and amortization(D)
17,217
28,395
(11,178
)
$
44,525
$
122,323
$
(77,798
)
(A)
Change is due to the sale of the continental U.S. properties.
(B)
The Company recorded impairment charges primarily related to shopping centers marketed for sale. These impairments primarily were triggered by indicative bids received, held for sale assets and changes in market assumptions due to the disposition process, as well as changes in projected cash flows. Impairment charges are presented in Note 9, “Impairment Charges,” to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included herein.
(C)
Primarily represents legal, audit, tax and compliance services and director compensation.
(D)
Continental U.S. properties sold prior to December 31, 2021 accounted for $10.9 million of the decrease in Depreciation Expense.
Other Income and Expenses (in thousands)
$ Change
Interest expense, net(A)
$
(7,899
)
$
(18,334
)
$
10,435
Debt extinguishment costs(B)
(6,307
)
(5,873
)
(434
)
Gain on disposition of real estate, net(C)
29,596
23,710
5,886
Tax expense
(148
)
(858
)
Loss from discontinued operations(D)
(44,074
)
(50,613
)
6,539
$
(28,832
)
$
(51,968
)
$
23,136
(A)
The decrease in interest expense primarily was due to repayments of the mortgage loan with asset sale proceeds with the mortgage loan being fully repaid in August 2021. At December 31, 2020, the interest rate of the Company’s mortgage loan was 4.1% per annum.
(B)
Debt extinguishment costs (primarily related to the non-cash write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs) were incurred in both years in connection with the prepayment of the mortgage loan with asset sale proceeds.
(C)
Related to the sale of ten properties for the year ended December 31, 2021, and five properties and one outparcel for the year ended December 31, 2020.
(D)
Related to the sale of the Puerto Rico segment presented in Note 10, “Discontinued Operations,” to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included herein. Includes impairment charges in 2021 and 2020 of $81.1 million and $61.2 million, respectively.
Net Loss (in thousands)
$ Change
Net loss
$
(17,699
)
$
(93,554
)
$
75,855
The decrease in net loss primarily was attributable to lower impairment charges and higher gain on disposition of real estate both related to the asset sales in 2021 compared to 2020.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Funds from Operations and Operating Funds from Operations
Definition and Basis of Presentation
The Company believes that Funds from Operations, or FFO, and Operating FFO, both non-GAAP financial measures, provide additional and useful means to assess the financial performance of REITs. FFO and Operating FFO are frequently used by the real estate industry, as well as securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, to evaluate the performance of REITs. The Company also believes that FFO and Operating FFO more appropriately measure the core operations of the Company and provide benchmarks to its peer group.
FFO excludes GAAP historical cost depreciation and amortization of real estate and real estate investments, which assume that the value of real estate assets diminishes ratably over time. Historically, however, real estate values have risen or fallen with market conditions, and many companies use different depreciable lives and methods. Because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization unique to real estate and gains and losses from property dispositions, it can provide a performance measure that, when compared year over year, reflects the impact on operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs, interest costs and acquisition, disposition and development activities. This provides a perspective of the Company’s financial performance not immediately apparent from net income determined in accordance with GAAP.
FFO is generally defined and calculated by the Company as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), adjusted to exclude (i) gains and losses from disposition of real estate property and related investments, which are presented net of taxes, if any, (ii) impairment charges on real estate property and related investments and (iii) certain non-cash items. These non-cash items principally include real property depreciation and amortization of intangibles. The Company’s calculation of FFO is consistent with the definition of FFO provided by NAREIT.
The Company believes that certain charges and income recorded in its operating results are not comparable or reflective of its core operating performance. Operating FFO is useful to investors as the Company removes non-comparable charges and income to analyze the results of its operations and assess performance of the core operating real estate portfolio. As a result, the Company also
computes Operating FFO and discusses it with the users of its financial statements, in addition to other measures such as net income (loss) determined in accordance with GAAP and FFO. Operating FFO is generally defined and calculated by the Company as FFO excluding certain charges and gains that management believes are not comparable and indicative of the results of the Company’s operating real estate portfolio. Such adjustments include gains/losses on the early extinguishment of debt, net hurricane-related activity, transaction costs and other restructuring type costs. The disclosure of these charges and income is generally requested by users of the Company’s financial statements.
The adjustment for these charges and income may not be comparable to how other REITs or real estate companies calculate their results of operations, and the Company’s calculation of Operating FFO differs from NAREIT’s definition of FFO. Additionally, the Company provides no assurances that these charges and income are non-recurring. These charges and income could be reasonably expected to recur in future results of operations.
These measures of performance are used by the Company for several business purposes and by other REITs. The Company uses FFO and/or Operating FFO in part (i) as a disclosure to improve the understanding of the Company’s operating results among the investing public, (ii) as a measure of a real estate asset’s performance and (iii) to compare the Company’s performance to that of other publicly traded shopping center REITs.
For the reasons described above, management believes that FFO and Operating FFO provide the Company and investors with an important indicator of the Company’s operating performance. They provide recognized measures of performance other than GAAP net income, which may include non-cash items (often significant). Other real estate companies may calculate FFO and Operating FFO in a different manner.
The Company’s management recognizes the limitations of FFO and Operating FFO when compared to GAAP’s net income. FFO and Operating FFO do not represent amounts available for dividends, capital replacement or expansion, debt service obligations or other commitments and uncertainties. The Company’s management does not use FFO or Operating FFO as an indicator of the Company’s cash obligations and funding requirements for future commitments or redevelopment activities. Neither FFO nor Operating FFO represents cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, and neither is necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs. Neither FFO nor Operating FFO should be considered an alternative to net income (computed in accordance with GAAP) or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. FFO and Operating FFO are simply used as additional indicators of the Company’s operating performance. The Company believes that to further understand its performance, FFO and Operating FFO should be compared with the Company’s reported net income (loss) and considered in addition to cash flows determined in accordance with GAAP, as presented in its consolidated financial statements. Reconciliations of these measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measure of net income (loss) have been provided below.
Reconciliation Presentation
FFO and Operating FFO were as follows (in thousands):
For the Year Ended December 31,
$ Change
FFO
$
44,067
$
56,157
$
(12,090
)
Operating FFO
52,128
61,828
(9,700
)
The decrease in FFO primarily was due to the impact of property sales, as well as the related decrease in interest expense due to the repayments of mortgage debt with sale proceeds. The change in Operating FFO primarily was due to the same factors impacting FFO.
The Company’s reconciliation of net loss to FFO and Operating FFO is as follows (in thousands). The Company provides no assurances that these charges and income adjusted in the calculation of Operating FFO are non-recurring. These charges and income could reasonably be expected to recur in future results of operations.
For the Year Ended December 31,
Net loss
$
(17,699
)
$
(93,554
)
Depreciation and amortization of real estate investments
33,675
56,986
Impairment of real estate assets
82,633
115,525
Gain on disposition of real estate
(54,542
)
(22,800
)
FFO
44,067
56,157
Debt extinguishment and other expenses
8,061
5,671
Operating FFO
$
52,128
$
61,828
LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL RESOURCES AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
The Company requires capital to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditures, as well as to establish a reserve fund to satisfy projected expenses and known and unknown claims which might arise during the anticipated winding up and dissolution process. The Company’s capital sources include unrestricted cash on the balance sheet related to retained asset sale proceeds, future cash flow from operations and potential sale proceeds related to Crossroads Center. Although the Company experienced significant improvement in rent collections and transaction market activity during the year ended December 31, 2021, and believes that it has sufficient liquidity and capital resources to operate its business for at least the next twelve months, the timing and amount of proceeds from the sale of its remaining property remains uncertain. At December 31, 2021, the Company had an unrestricted cash balance of $110.5 million. In December 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a cash dividend of $3.27 per common share ($69.1 million in the aggregate), which the Company paid on January 18, 2022. The Company has one long-term ground lease in which it is the lessee (Crossroads Center in Gulfport, Mississippi) with an obligation of approximately $0.2 million in 2022. The Company does not anticipate any material capital projects or development spending during the next 12 months and beyond related to its remaining property. For a further discussion of the Company’s cash requirements in the next 12 months and beyond and the anticipated sources of funds needed to satisfy such cash requirements, see “-Winding Up and Dissolution” below.
Mortgage Indebtedness Repayment and Credit Agreement Termination
In connection with the sale of the Company’s remaining Puerto Rico properties in August 2021, the Company fully repaid the entire outstanding balance of its mortgage loan and the lender released all remaining collateral balances.
The Company had a Credit Agreement (as amended, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC”) that provided for borrowings of up to $30.0 million and had a scheduled termination date of February 9, 2022. The Company’s obligations under the Revolving Credit Agreement were guaranteed by SITE Centers in favor of PNC. In August 2021, as a result of the repayment of the Company’s mortgage loan, the commitments of the lenders under the Revolving Credit Agreement were terminated in accordance with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement. At the time of its termination, there were no amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
Series A Preferred Stock
In connection with the Company’s separation from SITE Centers in July 2018, the Company issued the RVI Preferred Shares to SITE Centers which were noncumulative and had no mandatory dividend rate. The RVI Preferred Shares ranked, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, senior in preference and priority to the Company’s common shares and any other class or series of the Company’s capital stock. The RVI Preferred Shares were entitled to a dividend preference for all dividends declared on the Company’s capital stock at any time up to a “preference amount” equal to $190 million in the aggregate, which amount could have increased by up to an additional $10 million if the aggregate gross proceeds from asset sales subsequent to July 1, 2018 exceeded $2.06 billion. In October 2021, the Company made a distribution on the RVI Preferred Shares in the aggregate amount of $190.0 million, and in December 2021 the Company repurchased all of the outstanding RVI Preferred Shares from SITE Centers for an aggregate purchase price of $1.00. As a result, the RVI Preferred Shares are no longer outstanding.
Common Share Dividends
On October 1, 2021, the Company declared a cash dividend of $22.04 per common share, which was paid on October 28, 2021, and funded primarily with asset sale proceeds. Additionally, on December 15, 2021, the Company declared a cash dividend of $3.27 per common share, which was paid on January 18, 2022, also funded primarily with asset sale proceeds.
Distributions of Puerto Rico-sourced net taxable income to Company shareholders are subject to a 10% Puerto Rico withholding tax. In 2018, the Company entered into a closing agreement with the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury which provided that the Company will be exempt from Puerto Rico income taxes so long as it qualifies as a REIT in the U.S. and distributes at least 90% of its Puerto Rico net taxable income to its shareholders every year. As such, in 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend on its common shares on account of taxable income generated in Puerto Rico, which dividend was paid, subject to a 10% withholding tax, in January 2021. The October and December 2021 common share dividends were on account of transactional activity and not taxable income generated in Puerto Rico and, therefore, those dividends were not subject to the Puerto Rico withholding tax of 10%.
The amount of the 2021 dividends is expected to exceed the amount of REIT taxable income generated by the Company in 2021. Accordingly, federal income taxes were not incurred by the REIT in 2021.
Dividend Distributions
The Company currently operates in a manner that allows it to qualify as a REIT and generally not be subject to U.S. federal income and excise tax. U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually to holders of its capital stock at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income. Any distributions the Company makes to its shareholders will be at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s actual and anticipated results of operations and liquidity, which will be affected by various factors, including the income from its operations, its operating expenses (including management fees and other obligations owing to SITE Centers), projected expenses and contingencies relating to the Company’s anticipated wind-up, as well as the timing and success of the sale of the Company’s remaining property. The Company may elect to surrender its REIT status in connection with the anticipated wind-up of its operations in the event the Company determines that the anticipated benefits to the Company and its shareholders of maintaining REIT qualification do not exceed the related compliance costs or if the nature of the Company’s remaining operations makes compliance with REIT requirements impracticable.
Winding Up and Dissolution
There are many factors that may affect the timing and amount of additional distributions to shareholders, including, among other things, the timing and amount received from the disposition of the Company’s remaining real estate asset, the Company’s ability to collect amounts currently owed to it by third parties and the amount of current cash balances and sale proceeds utilized to establish a reserve fund to satisfy projected expenses and known and unknown claims which might arise during the anticipated winding-up and dissolution process.
In the event the Company is able to sell its remaining property, the Company will likely seek to file articles of dissolution with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio sometime following the sale’s closing. Pursuant to Ohio law, the Company would continue to exist for a period of five years following the filing of the articles of dissolution for the purpose of paying, satisfying and discharging any unknown or contingent claims or any debts or other obligations, collecting and distributing its assets, and doing all other acts required to liquidate and wind-up its business and affairs. Under Ohio law, if the Company makes distributions to its shareholders without making adequate provisions for payment of creditors’ claims, the Company’s shareholders could be liable to creditors to the extent of any payments due to creditors (up to the aggregate amount previously received by the shareholder from the Company). Therefore, the Company will likely establish a reserve fund with a portion of the proceeds from its final asset sales in order to satisfy and discharge expenses projected to be incurred, and any unknown or contingent claims, debts or obligations which might arise, during the five-year wind-up period subsequent to the filing of the articles of dissolution. It is likely that the Company would not make a final distribution of reserve funds until such expenses and contingent claims are paid, resolved or fail to materialize, which could be several years following the date of its final property sale. It is also possible that the Company may make one or more interim distributions to shareholders from the reserve fund during the five-year dissolution period as specific expenses and contingent claims are satisfied, resolved or fail to materialize.
For example, contracts governing property dispositions typically allow the purchaser to true-up common area maintenance charges with the seller at the end of the year in which the disposition occurred and to make claims for breaches of representations and other provisions under the sale agreement for a period of nine to 12 months following the disposition, subject to a cap, which is typically 2% to 3% of the gross sales price. Potential liability for most representations included in the sale agreements governing the Puerto Rico portfolio and the five-property continental U.S. portfolio expires on May 24, 2022 and June 28, 2022, respectively, and is capped at $15 million and $4 million, respectively. As of February 18, 2022, potential liability for breaches of representations included in the sale agreements governing other recent asset sales is approximately $1.9 million in the aggregate. The Company will also need to reserve amounts from sale proceeds to pay, among other items, fees to SITE Centers under the New Management Agreement, professional fees (accountants and law firms), insurance premiums and potential deductibles (including with respect to a tail insurance policy for directors and officers), vendor expenses and costs to resolve and streamline the Company’s subsidiaries and corporate structure. The Company estimates that after all properties are sold, such wind-up costs (excluding the payment of any claims for breaches of representations under sale agreements) could approximate between $7 million and $13 million. See “Risks Related to the Company’s Strategy-The Company Expects to Establish a Reserve Fund with Proceeds of Its Final Asset Sales in Order to Satisfy Claims” included in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In addition, the Company expects to de-list its common shares from the NYSE in connection with the sale of its remaining property in an effort to reduce its operating expenses and maximize its liquidating distributions. The NYSE also has discretionary authority to de-list the Company’s common shares on an involuntary basis if the Company sells its remaining property or proceeds with a plan of dissolution, termination and liquidation. In addition, the NYSE may also commence de-listing proceedings against the Company if (i) the average closing price of the Company’s common shares falls below $1.00 per share over a 30-consecutive-day trading period, (ii) the Company’s average market capitalization falls below $15 million over a 30-consecutive-day trading period or (iii) the Company loses or terminates its REIT qualification. If the common shares are de-listed, shareholders may have difficulty trading their common shares on the secondary market. De-listing would also eliminate the requirement that the Company’s Board of
Directors be composed of a majority of independent directors. See “Risks Related to the Company’s Common Shares-If an Active Trading Market for the Company’s Common Shares Is Not Sustained Because the Company’s Common Shares Are De-listed from the NYSE or Otherwise, Shareholders’ Ability to Sell Shares When Desired and the Prices Obtained Will Be Adversely Affected” included in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Through any winding up and dissolution, the Company will be required to continue to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, even if compliance with these reporting requirements is economically burdensome. In order to curtail expenses, the Company eventually expects to seek relief from the SEC from the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act. If such relief is granted, shareholders will have access to substantially limited public information about the Company. The Company will continue to incur professional fees in connection with such de-listing and deregistration processes, which will also affect the amounts available for distribution to shareholders in connection with the winding up of the Company’s business and affairs.
Dispositions
In August 2021, the Company sold all of its interests in the limited liability companies that owned all of the Company’s remaining properties located in Puerto Rico (comprising approximately 3.5 million square feet of Company-owned GLA) for a gross sales price of $550.0 million. The sale also included all of the Company’s interests in a consolidated joint venture that owned an undeveloped parcel of land adjacent to Plaza Isabela. Net proceeds received at closing were approximately $539.0 million of which $214.5 million was used to fully repay the outstanding balance of the Company’s mortgage loan. The sale did not include any cash or restricted cash held by or on behalf of the limited liability companies at closing, and the Company retained the right to pursue and collect amounts from tenants relating to pre-closing periods (including amounts relating to pre-closing periods that were deferred and are to be repaid by tenants sometime after the closing date). The gain recorded on the Puerto Rico disposition was $25.2 million.
In October 2021, the Company also sold all of its interests in Great Northern Plazas (North Olmsted, Ohio), Maple Grove Crossing (Maple Grove, Minnesota), Peach Street Marketplace (Erie, Pennsylvania), Seabrook Commons (Seabrook, New Hampshire) and Wrangleboro Consumer Square (Mays Landing, New Jersey) in one transaction for $264.0 million. The Company retained the right to pursue and collect amounts from tenants relating to pre-closing periods (including amounts relating to pre-closing periods that were deferred and are to be repaid by tenants sometime after the closing date). Net proceeds received at closing were approximately $245.8 million. The Company continues to pursue leasing activity in order to recover a $1.1 million escrow established at closing by the deadline set forth in the sale agreements. The Company recorded a gain of approximately $9.3 million in connection with the sale of these properties.
In addition to the two portfolio transactions discussed above, for the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company sold five continental U.S. properties and two Puerto Rico properties, all in separate transactions, aggregating 1.7 million square feet, for an aggregate sales price of $119.6 million.
Cash Flow Activity
The Company’s cash flow activities are summarized as follows (in thousands):
For the Year Ended December 31,
Cash flow provided by operating activities
$
61,741
$
51,658
Cash flow provided by investing activities
892,013
268,935
Cash flow used for financing activities
(1,014,079
)
(331,098
)
Changes in cash flow compared to the prior year are described as follows:
Operating Activities: Cash provided by operating activities increased $10.1 million primarily due to the following:
•
Timing and increase in cash collected from tenants;
•
Reduction of interest payments and
•
Decrease in operating income due to asset sales.
Investing Activities: Cash provided by investing activities increased $623.1 million primarily due to the following:
•
Increase in proceeds from dispositions of real estate of $610.9 million and
•
Decrease in payments for real estate improvements of $12.2 million.
Financing Activities: Cash used for financing activities increased by $683.0 million primarily due to the following:
•
Increase in debt repayments of $34.1 million;
•
Dividend paid on redeemable equity of $190.0 million and
•
Increase in common dividends paid of $458.8 million.
CAPITALIZATION
At December 31, 2021, the Company’s capitalization consisted of $135.6 million of market equity (market equity is defined as common shares outstanding multiplied by $6.42, the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the NYSE at December 31, 2021). In October 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized, and the Company made, a distribution on the RVI Preferred Shares in the aggregate amount of $190.0 million and a dividend on the Company’s common shares in the aggregate amount of $465.4 million ($22.04 per common share). In December 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend on the Company’s common shares in the aggregate amount of $69.1 million ($3.27 per common share), which was paid on January 18, 2022.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER COMMITMENTS
In August 2021, the Company repaid the entire balance of its mortgage loan with sale proceeds from the Puerto Rico portfolio transaction. As of February 18, 2022, the Company has one long-term ground lease in which it is the lessee (Crossroads Center in Gulfport, Mississippi) with an expiration date in November 2033. The ground lease includes one, 25-year option to extend the lease term upon its expiration at fair market ground rent (as determined by an independent appraiser at the time of the option’s exercise).
DISPOSITION OUTLOOK
As of February 18, 2022, the Company owns one remaining property, Crossroads Center (Gulfport, Mississippi). The Company’s interest in this property is subject to a ground lease with an expiration date in November 2033. The ground lease includes an option to extend its term to 2058 at fair market value ground rent (as determined by an independent appraiser at the time of the option’s exercise) which is exercisable at the conclusion of the existing lease term. As a result of the limited term remaining on the ground lease, the level of interest in the property, and purchasers’ ability to finance such acquisition, may be extremely limited. In addition, approximately 17.4% of the annualized base rent at Crossroads Center is owed by a movie theater tenant, which may further limit potential investors’ interest in the property. Though the Company is exploring opportunities to sell this property, the Company is unable to predict whether its efforts to sell the property will be successful, the timing of any such sale or the resulting proceeds thereof.
Beginning in March 2020, the retail sector was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The resulting guidelines and operating restrictions had a significant impact on tenant operations, rent collections and the level of the Company’s disposition activity during the remainder of 2020. Although the level and pace of tenant collections and dispositions improved significantly during 2021, the Company’s ability to dispose of its remaining property may be negatively impacted by additional surges in COVID-19 contagion, the emergence of new COVID-19 variants which are more infectious or resistant to existing vaccines, decreases in the effectiveness of such vaccines and any implementation of additional restrictions on tenant businesses as a result thereof.
For additional information regarding risks relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and other relevant business uncertainties, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report. Historical results and percentage relationships set forth in the Company’s consolidated financial statements, including trends that might appear, should not be taken as indicative of future operations. The Company considers portions of this information to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, both as amended, with respect to the Company’s expectations for future periods. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to acquisitions (including any related pro forma financial information) and other business development activities, future capital expenditures, financing sources and availability and the effects of environmental and other regulations. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact should be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “will,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and that could materially affect the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements. For additional factors that could cause the results of the Company to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate the risks discussed therein and herein, any of which could have a material effect on the Company.
Factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
•
The Company may be unable to dispose of its remaining property on favorable terms or at all, especially given the limited term remaining on its ground lease;
•
The Company is subject to general risks affecting the real estate industry, including the need to enter into new leases or renew leases on favorable terms to generate rental revenues, and any economic downturn may adversely affect the ability of the Company’s tenants, or new tenants, to enter into new leases or the ability of the Company’s existing tenants to renew their leases at rates at least as favorable as their current rates;
•
The Company could be adversely affected by changes in the local market where its remaining property is located, as well as by adverse changes in regional or national economic and market conditions;
•
The Company may fail to anticipate the effects on its remaining property of changes in consumer buying practices, including sales over the internet and the resulting retailing practices and space needs of its tenants, or a general downturn in its tenants’ businesses, which may cause tenants to close stores or default in payment of rent;
•
The Company is subject to competition for tenants from other owners of retail properties, and its tenants are subject to competition from other retailers and methods of distribution. The Company is dependent upon the successful operations and financial condition of its tenants, in particular its major tenants. The bankruptcy of major tenants could result in a loss of significant rental income and could give rise to termination or rent abatement by other tenants under the co-tenancy clauses of their leases;
•
The Company relies on major tenants, which makes it vulnerable to changes in the business and financial condition of, or demand for its space by, such tenants;
•
Changes in interest rates could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common shares, its performance and cash flow and its ability to sell its remaining real estate asset and the sales price applicable thereto;
•
The outcome of litigation, including litigation with tenants and purchasers of its properties, may adversely affect amounts available for distribution to shareholders;
•
Property damage, expenses related thereto, and other business and economic consequences (including the potential loss of revenue) resulting from natural disasters and extreme weather conditions impacting the Company’s remaining property;
•
Sufficiency and timing of any insurance recovery payments related to damages from extreme weather conditions;
•
The Company and its tenants could be negatively affected by the impacts of pandemics and other public health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic;
•
The Company is subject to potential environmental liabilities;
•
The Company may incur losses that are uninsured or exceed policy coverage due to its liability for certain injuries to persons, property or the environment occurring on its remaining property;
•
The Company could incur additional expenses to comply with or respond to claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act or otherwise be adversely affected by changes in government regulations, including changes in environmental, zoning, tax and other regulations;
•
Changes in accounting or other standards may adversely affect the Company’s business;
•
The Company’s Board of Directors, which regularly reviews the Company’s business strategy and objectives, may change its strategic plan;
•
A change in the Company’s relationship with SITE Centers and SITE Centers’ ability to retain qualified personnel and adequately manage the Company;
•
Potential conflicts of interest with SITE Centers and the Company’s ability to replace SITE Centers as manager (and the fees to be paid to any replacement manager) in the event the New Management Agreement is terminated and
•
The Company and its vendors, including SITE Centers, could sustain a disruption, failure or breach of their respective networks and systems, including as a result of cyber-attacks, which could disrupt the Company’s business operations, compromise the confidentiality of sensitive information and result in fines and penalties.

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
In 2021, the Company utilized proceeds from asset sales to repay all of its outstanding indebtedness. The Company’s primary market risk exposure was interest rate risk. At December 31, 2020, the Company’s outstanding indebtedness was composed of all variable-rate debt with a carrying value of $344.5 million and fair value of $362.7 million.
The remaining proceeds from asset sales are expected to be used for general corporate purposes, including the establishment of a reserve fund to satisfy claims and expenses related to the winding up of the business and distributions to holders of the Company’s common shares. The Company has not entered, and does not plan to enter, into any derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had no other material exposure to market risk.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The response to this item is included in a separate section at the end of this Annual Report on Form 10-K beginning on page and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

---

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

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), conducted an evaluation, pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b), of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on their evaluation as required, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) were effective as of December 31, 2021, to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and were effective as of December 31, 2021, to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its CEO and CFO, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f). Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on those criteria, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the three months ended December 31, 2021, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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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
The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted the following corporate governance documents:
•
Corporate Governance Guidelines that guide the Board of Directors in the performance of its responsibilities to serve the best interests of the Company and its shareholders;
•
Written charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee;
•
Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers that applies to the Company’s senior financial officers, including the chief executive officer, president and chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, controllers, treasurer and chief internal auditor among others designated by the Company, if any, (amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers will be disclosed on the Company’s website) and
•
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that governs the actions and working relationships of the Manager’s employees, officers and directors with current and potential customers, consumers, competitors, government and self-regulatory agencies, investors, the public, the media and anyone else with whom the Company has or may have contact.
Copies of the Company’s corporate governance documents are available on the Company’s website, www.retailvalueinc.com, under “Investors-Governance.”
Certain other information required by this Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference to the information under the headings “Proposal One: Election of Directors” and “Board Governance” contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Company’s 2022 annual meeting of shareholders to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A (“2022 Proxy Statement”) and the information under the heading “Information About the Company’s Executive Officers” in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information required by this Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the information under the headings “Board Governance-Compensation of Directors” and “-Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Executive Compensation” contained in the 2022 Proxy Statement.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Certain information required by this Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference to the “Board Governance-Security Ownership of Directors and Management” and “Corporate Governance and Other Matters-Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” sections of the 2022 Proxy Statement. The following table sets forth the number of securities issued and outstanding under existing equity compensation plans, as of December 31, 2021:
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
(a)
(b)
(c)
Plan category
Number of Securities
to Be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
Equity compensation plans approved by security
holders(1)
-
-
865,840
(2)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security
holders
-
-
-
Total
-
-
865,840
(1)
Includes the Company’s 2018 Equity-Based Award Plan.
(2)
All of these shares may be issued with respect to award vehicles other than just stock options or shares appreciation rights or other rights to acquire shares.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information required by this Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the “Proposal One: Election of Directors,” “Certain Relationships and Related-Party Transactions” and “Corporate Governance and Other Matters-Policy Regarding Related-Party Transactions” sections of the 2022 Proxy Statement.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Incorporated herein by reference to the “Proposal Four: Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm-Fees Paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP” section of the 2022 Proxy Statement.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
a)
1. Financial Statements
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Financial Statement Schedules
The following financial statement schedules are filed herewith as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the registrant:
Schedule
II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
III - Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation
Schedules not listed above have been omitted because they are not applicable or because the information required to be set forth therein is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
Exhibits - The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this report:
Form
10-K
Exhibit
No.
Description
Filed or Furnished
Herewith or Incorporated
Herein by Reference
2.1
Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated July 1, 2018, by and between DDR Corp. (n/k/a SITE Centers Corp.) and the Company
Current Report on Form 8-K (Filed with the SEC on July 2, 2018; File No. 001-38517)
3.1
Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (Filed with the SEC on August 3, 2021; File No. 001-38517)
3.2
Amended and Restated Code of Regulations of the Company, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Code of Regulations
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (Filed with the SEC on August 3, 2021; File No. 001-38517)
4.1
Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Annual Report on Form 10-K (Filed with the SEC on March 2, 2020; File No. 001-38517)
10.1
External Management Agreement, dated December 16, 2021, by and between the Company, DDR Crossroads Center LLC, DDR Property Management LLC and DDR Asset Management LLC
Current Report on Form 8-K (Filed with the SEC on December 20, 2021; File No. 001-38517)
10.2
Tax Matters Agreement, dated July 1, 2018, by and between DDR Corp. (n/k/a SITE Centers Corp.) and the Company
Current Report on Form 8-K (Filed with the SEC on July 2, 2018; File No. 001-38517)
10.3
Waiver Agreement, dated July 1, 2018, by and between Mr. Alexander Otto and the Company
Current Report on Form 8-K (Filed with the SEC on July 2, 2018; File No. 001-38517)
10.4
Retail Value Inc. 2018 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan*
Registration Statement on Form 10 (Filed with the SEC on June 4, 2018; File No. 001-38517)
10.5
Form of Restricted Share Units Agreement for Directors*
Registration Statement on Form 10 (Filed with the SEC on June 4, 2018; File No. 001-38517)
10.6
Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement*
Current Report on Form 8-K (Filed with the SEC on July 2, 2018; File No. 001-38517)
Form
10-K
Exhibit
No.
Description
Filed or Furnished
Herewith or Incorporated
Herein by Reference
10.7
Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2021, by and among Retail Value Inc. and RVT PR Mezz Borrower 1 LLC, as Sellers, and Kildare Acquisitions US, LLC, as Purchaser
Current Report on Form 8-K (Filed with the SEC on August 31, 2021; File No. 001-38517)
10.8
Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2021, by and among certain subsidiaries of Retail Value Inc., as Sellers, and certain affiliates of Bridge 33 Capital, as Purchasers
Current Report on Form 8-K (Filed with the SEC on October 6, 2021; File No. 001-38517)
10.9
Amended and Restated Sixteenth Section Commercial Lease Contract dated July 28, 1998, by and between Harrison County Board of Education and Gulfport Retail Partners, L.P.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (Filed with the SEC on November 3, 2021; File No. 001-38517)
10.10
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Sixteenth Section Commercial Lease Contract dated November 18, 2002, by and between Harrison County Board of Education and Gulfport Partners, L.P.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (Filed with the SEC on November 3, 2021; File No. 001-38517)
10.11
Assignment and Assumption of Ground Lease dated January 31, 2003, by and between Gulfport Retail Partners, L.P. and DDR Crossroads Center LLC
Quarterly Report on form 10-Q (Filed with the SEC on November 3, 2021; File No. 001-38517)
21.1
List of Subsidiaries
Submitted electronically herewith
31.1
Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Submitted electronically herewith
31.2
Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Submitted electronically herewith
32.1
Certification of chief executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of this report pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Submitted electronically herewith
32.2
Certification of chief financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of this report pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Submitted electronically herewith
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
Submitted electronically herewith
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
Submitted electronically herewith
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
Submitted electronically herewith
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
Submitted electronically herewith
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
Submitted electronically herewith
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
Submitted electronically herewith
The cover page from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 has been formatted in Inline XBRL.
Submitted electronically herewith
*Management contracts and compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 15(b) of Form 10-K.