Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

v3.24.0.1
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Temporary Equity Disclosure [Abstract]  
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
Rockpoint Transactions
2023 Transactions
On April 5, 2023, Veris Residential Trust (“VRT”), the Company’s subsidiary through which the Company conducts its multifamily residential real estate operations, exercised its right to purchase and redeem direct and indirect interests (the “Put/Call Interests”) in preferred units of limited partnership interests in VRLP (the "Preferred Units") from certain affiliates of Rockpoint Group, L.L.C. (Rockpoint Group, L.L.C. and its affiliates, collectively, “Rockpoint”). On April 6, 2023, Rockpoint exercised its right under the Veris Residential Partners, L.P. (“VRLP”) Partnership Agreement to defer the closing of VRT’s purchase and redemption of the Put/Call Interests for one year. The exercise of the call right caused Rockpoint's interests to be reclassified as mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests under the accounting guidance, and included within the Total liabilities on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The impact of subsequent change in redemption value at each period end is recorded as interest cost. The carrying amount is not reduced below the initial measurement amount.
On July 25, 2023, VRT and the Operating Partnership entered into the Rockpoint Purchase Agreement with Rockpoint pursuant to which VRT and the Operating Partnership acquired from Rockpoint all of the Preferred Units that constituted the Put/Call Interests for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $520 million. Under the terms of the Rockpoint Purchase Agreement, the Original Investment Agreement and the Add On Investment Agreement have been terminated and are of no further force and effect (other than certain tax and related indemnification rights and obligations), Rockpoint ceased to be, direct or indirect, as applicable, members of VRLP, and all obligations of VRT and VRLP and all rights, title
and interest of Rockpoint in and pursuant to the VRLP Partnership Agreement (except for certain tax, confidentiality and indemnification rights and obligations) and all other agreements by and between the General Partner, the Operating Partnership, VRT, VRLP and Rockpoint were terminated, including without limitation all provisions relating to the valuation and repurchase of the Put/Call Interests. As a result of the redemption, the Company recorded the change in redemption value of approximately $34.8 million as Interest cost of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Transactions prior to 2023
Previously, on February 27, 2017, the Company, VRT, VRLP, the operating partnership through which VRT conducts all of its operations, and certain other affiliates of the Company entered into a preferred equity investment agreement (the “Original Investment Agreement”) with Rockpoint. Under the Original Investment Agreement, VRT contributed property to VRLP in exchange for common units of limited partnership interests in VRLP (the “Common Units”) and for multiple equity investments by Rockpoint in VRLP for an aggregate of $300 million of Preferred Units. In addition, certain contributions of property to VRLP by VRT subsequent to the execution of the Original Investment Agreement resulted in VRT being issued approximately $46 million of Preferred Units and Common Units in VRLP prior to June 26, 2019. On June 28, 2019, pursuant to the Add On Investment Agreement, Rockpoint invested an additional $100 million in Preferred Units and the Company and VRT agreed to contribute to VRLP two additional properties located in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Under the terms set forth in the Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of VRLP, dated as of June 28, 2019 (the “VRLP Partnership Agreement”), the cash flow from operations of VRLP will be distributable to Rockpoint and VRT as follows:
first, to provide a 6% annual return to Rockpoint and VRT on their capital invested in Preferred Units (the “Preferred Base Return”);
second, 95.36% to VRT and 4.64% to Rockpoint until VRT has received a 6% annual return (the “VRT Base Return”) on the equity value of the properties contributed by it to VRLP in exchange for Common Units (previously 95% and 5%, respectively, under the Original Investment Agreement), subject to adjustment in the event VRT contributes additional property to VRLP in the future; and
third, pro rata to Rockpoint and VRT based on total respective capital invested in and contributed equity value of Preferred Units and Common Units (based on Rockpoint’s $400 million of invested capital at December 31, 2023, this pro rata distribution would be approximately 21.89% to Rockpoint in respect of Preferred Units, 2.65% to VRT in respect of Preferred Units and 75.46% to VRT in respect of Common Units).
VRLP’s cash flow from capital events will generally be distributable by VRLP to Rockpoint and VRT as follows:
first, to Rockpoint and VRT to the extent there is any unpaid, accrued Preferred Base Return;
second, as a return of capital to Rockpoint and to VRT in respect of Preferred Units;
third, 95.36% to VRT and 4.64% to Rockpoint until VRT has received the VRT Base Return in respect of Common Units (previously 95% and 5%, respectively, under the Original Investment Agreement), subject to adjustment in the event VRT contributes additional property to VRLP in the future;
fourth, 95.36% to VRT and 4.64% to Rockpoint until VRT has received a return of capital based on the equity value of the properties contributed by it to VRLP in exchange for Common Units (previously 95% and 5%, respectively, under the Original Investment Agreement), subject to adjustment in the event VRT contributes additional property to the capital of VRLP in the future;
fifth, pro rata to Rockpoint and VRT based on respective total capital invested in and contributed equity value of Preferred and Common Units until Rockpoint has received an 11% internal rate of return (based on Rockpoint’s $400 million of invested capital at December 31, 2023, this pro rata distribution would be approximately 21.89% to Rockpoint in respect of Preferred Units, 2.65% to VRT in respect of Preferred Units and 75.46% to VRT in respect of Common Units); and
sixth, to Rockpoint and VRT in respect of their Preferred Units based on 50% of their pro rata shares described in “fifth” above and the balance to VRT in respect of its Common Units (based on Rockpoint’s $400 million of invested capital at December 31, 2023, this pro rata distribution would be approximately 10.947% to Rockpoint in respect of Preferred Units, 1.325% to VRT in respect of Preferred Units and 87.728% to VRT in respect of Common Units).
During the period commencing on June 28, 2019 and ended on March 1, 2023 (the “Lockout Period”), Rockpoint’s interest in the Preferred Units cannot be redeemed or repurchased, except for certain conditions stated in the VRLP Partnership Agreement. After the Lockout Period, either VRT may acquire from Rockpoint, or Rockpoint may sell to VRT, all, but not less than all, of Rockpoint’s interest in the Preferred Units (each, a “Put/Call Event”) for a purchase price equal to the Purchase Payments determined based on the VRLP Partnership Agreement. Upon a Put/Call Event, other than in the event
of a sale of VRLP, Rockpoint may elect to convert all, but not less than all, of its Preferred Units to Common Units in VRLP. An acquisition of Rockpoint’s interest in the Preferred Units pursuant to a Put/Call Event is generally required to be structured as a purchase of the common equity in the applicable Rockpoint entities holding direct or indirect interests in the Preferred Units (the “Put/Call Interests”). Subject to certain exceptions, Rockpoint also has a right of first offer and a participation right with respect to other common equity interests of VRLP or any subsidiary of VRLP that may be offered for sale by VRLP or its subsidiaries from time to time. Upon a Put/Call Event, other than in the event of a sale of VRLP, Rockpoint may elect to convert all, but not less than all, of its Preferred Units to Common Units in VRLP.As such, the Preferred Units contained a substantive redemption feature that was outside of the Company’s control and accordingly, the Preferred Units were previously classified in mezzanine equity measured based on the estimated future redemption value before the redemption right was exercised.
The Company determined the redemption value of these interests by hypothetically liquidating the estimated NAV of the VRT real estate portfolio including debt principal through the applicable waterfall provisions of the transaction with Rockpoint. The estimation of NAV included unobservable inputs that consider assumptions of market participants in pricing the underlying assets of VRLP. For properties under development, the Company applied a discount rate to the estimated future cash flows allocable to the Company during the period under construction and then applies a direct capitalization method to the estimated stabilized cash flows. For operating properties, the direct capitalization method was used by applying a capitalization rate to the projected net operating income. For developable land holdings, an estimated per-unit market value assumption was considered based on development rights or plans for the land. Estimated future cash flows used in such analyses were based on the Company’s business plan for each respective property including capital expenditures, management’s views of market and economic conditions, and considered items such as current and future rental rates, occupancies and market transactions for comparable properties. The estimated future redemption value of the Preferred Units, including current preferred return payments of $2.0 million, was approximately $487.6 million before the redemption occurred on July 25, 2023.
Preferred Units
The Operating Partnership has issued two classes of Preferred Limited Partnership Units of the Operating Partnership (the “Preferred Units”). The key terms of the Preferred Units are summarized as follows:
Series A Preferred Units Series A-1 Preferred Units
Issuance date February 2017 February and April, 2017
Number of units issued  42,800  9,213
Stated value per unit $1,000 $1,000
Annual dividend rate paid quarterly 3.50  % (a)
Conversion rate 28.15 27.936
Conversion value per unit $35.52 $35.80
Maximum common unit conversion  1,204,820  257,375
(a)Series A-1 Preferred Units pay dividends quarterly at an annual rate equal to the greater of (x) 3.50 percent, or (y) the then-effective annual dividend yield on the General Partner’s common stock.
The Series A-1 Preferred Units are pari passu with the 3.5% Series A Units issued on February 3, 2017. The Preferred Units have a liquidation and dividend preference senior to the common units and include customary anti-dilution protections for stock splits and similar events. The Preferred Units are convertible into common units of limited partnership interests of the Operating Partnership beginning generally five years from the date of issuance. In addition, the Preferred Units are redeemable for cash at their stated value beginning five years from the date of issuance at the option of the holder.
During the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, 15,100 and 12,000 Series A Units were redeemed for cash at the stated value, respectively.
In February 2024, a unit holder redeemed 5,700 Series A Units for cash at the stated value. Additionally, during February 2024, the Company received notice from a unit holder electing to have 10,000 Series A Units redeemed for cash at the stated value, which the Company expects to settle in March 2024.
Summary of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
The following tables set forth the changes in Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests for the year ended December 31, 2023 (dollars in thousands):
Rockpoint
Interests
in VRT
Balance at April 5, 2023 $
Reclassification from Redeemable Non-controlling Interests 479,977
Income Attributed to Noncontrolling Interests 7,365
Distributions (9,371)
Redemption Value Adjustment 42,417
Redemption (520,388)
Balance at December 31, 2023 $
The following tables set forth the changes in Redeemable noncontrolling interests within the mezzanine equity section for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (dollars in thousands):
Series A and
A-1 Preferred
Units
In VRLP
Rockpoint
Interests
in VRT
Total
Redeemable
Noncontrolling
Interests
Balance at January 1, 2023 $ 40,231  $ 475,000  $ 515,231 
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests Redemption (15,100) —  (15,100)
Net 25,131  475,000  500,131 
Income Attributed to Noncontrolling Interests 1,336  6,282  7,618 
Distributions (1,468) (6,282) (7,750)
Redemption Value Adjustment —  4,977  4,977 
Reclassification to Mandatorily Redeemable Non-controlling Interests —  (479,977) (479,977)
Balance at December 31, 2023 $ 24,999  $ —  $ 24,999 
Series A and
A-1 Preferred
Units
In VRLP
Rockpoint
Interests
in VRT
Total
Redeemable
Noncontrolling
Interests
Balance at January 1, 2022 $ 52,324  $ 468,989  $ 521,313 
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests Redemption (12,000) —  (12,000)
Net 40,324  468,989  509,313 
Income Attributed to Noncontrolling Interests 1,471  24,063  25,534 
Distributions (1,564) (24,063) (25,627)
Redemption Value Adjustment —  6,011  6,011 
Balance at December 31, 2022 $ 40,231  $ 475,000  $ 515,231