-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, DSAjPv1Spl0NUleOiGlYZuy9CvMxi+r9omRVAV8LytOyr5NrvRsKGHmBBROdCa+7 16uJgFxln+Xb118YA5tv3A== 0001104659-07-014974.txt : 20070228 0001104659-07-014974.hdr.sgml : 20070228 20070228165030 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-07-014974 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 7 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20061231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20070228 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070228 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GRAMERCY CAPITAL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001287701 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 061722127 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-32248 FILM NUMBER: 07658593 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 420 LEXINGTON AVE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10170 BUSINESS PHONE: 2125942700 10-K 1 a07-5398_110k.htm 10-K

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006

or

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)|OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from          to

Commission File No. 1-32248

GRAMERCY CAPITAL CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland

 

06-1722127

(State or other jurisdiction
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer of
Identification No.)

420 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10170

(Address of principal executive offices - zip code)

(212) 297-1000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, $.001 Par Value

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No x.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o.

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer” and “non-accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer o Accelerated Filer x Non-accelerated filer o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x.

As of February 28, 2007, there were 26,034,056 shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding. The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (18,529,560 shares) at June 30, 2006, was $479,915,604. The aggregate market value was calculated by using the closing price of the common stock as of that date on the New York Stock Exchange, which was $25.90 per share.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting to be held May 24, 2007 and to be filed within 120 days after the close of the Registrant’s fiscal year are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 




GRAMERCY CAPITAL CORP.
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS

10-K PART AND ITEM NO.

PART I

 

Page

1.

 

Business

 

 

1

 

1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

 

18

 

1B.

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

 

 

42

 

2.

 

Properties

 

 

42

 

3.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

 

42

 

4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

 

42

 

PART II

 

 

 

 

5.

 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholders Matters

 

 

43

 

6.

 

Selected Financial Data

 

 

44

 

7.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

 

47

 

7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

 

71

 

8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplemental Data

 

 

75

 

9.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

 

117

 

9A.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

 

117

 

9B.

 

Other Information

 

 

117

 

PART III

 

 

 

 

10.

 

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance of the Registrant

 

 

118

 

11.

 

Executive Compensation

 

 

118

 

12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters   

 

 

118

 

13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

 

 

118

 

14.

 

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

 

 

118

 

PART IV

 

 

 

 

15.

 

Exhibits, Financial Statements, Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

 

 

119

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

123

 

 




PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

General

Gramercy Capital Corp. (the “Company” or “Gramercy”) is a commercial real estate specialty finance company that focuses on the direct origination and acquisition of whole loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, and net lease investments involving commercial properties throughout the United States. When evaluating transactions, we assess our risk-adjusted return and target transactions with yields that seek to provide excess returns for the risks being taken. We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code and generally will not be subject to federal income taxes to the extent we distribute our income to our stockholders.

Gramercy was formed in April 2004 as a Maryland corporation and we completed our initial public offering in August 2004. Substantially all of Gramercy’s operations are conducted through GKK Capital LP, a Delaware limited partnership, or our Operating Partnership. Gramercy, as the sole general partner of, and currently the  holder of 100% of the common units of, our Operating Partnership, has responsibility and discretion in the management and control of our Operating Partnership, and the limited partners of our Operating Partnership, in such capacity, have no authority to transact business for, or participate in the management activities of, our Operating Partnership. Accordingly, we consolidate the accounts of our Operating Partnership.

We are externally managed and advised by GKK Manager LLC, or our Manager, a majority-owned subsidiary of SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG), or SL Green. At December 31, 2006, SL Green also owned approximately 25% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.

As of December 31, 2006, we held loans and other lending investments of approximately $2.2 billion net of fees, discounts, and unfunded commitments with an average spread to LIBOR of 384 basis points for our floating rate investments, and an average yield of 10.04% for our fixed rate investments. As of December 31, 2006, we also held interests in four credit tenant lease, or CTL, investments comprised of a 49.75% tenancy-in-common, or TIC, interest in 55 Corporate Drive in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and three joint venture investments.

Our corporate offices are located in midtown Manhattan at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10170. We do not currently have any employees, nor do we anticipate hiring any employees in the near term. Our executive officers are all employed by our Manager or SL Green. We can be contacted at (212) 297-1000. We maintain a website at www.gramercycapitalcorp.com. On our website, you can obtain, free of charge, a copy of our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as practicable after we file such material electronically with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. We have also made available on our website our audit committee charter, compensation committee charter, nominating and corporate governance committee charter, code of business conduct and ethics and corporate governance principles.

Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to “we,” “our,” and “us” in this annual report means Gramercy Capital Corp., a Maryland corporation, and one or more of its subsidiaries, including GKK Capital LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

Corporate Structure

Substantially all of our assets are held by, and all of our operations are conducted through, our Operating Partnership. We are the sole general partner and sole owner of the Class A limited partner interests of our Operating Partnership. At December 31, 2006, the majority of the Class B limited partnership interests were owned by our Manager and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. Interests

1




were also held by certain officers and employees of SL Green Realty Corp., including some of whom are our executive officers, which interests are subject to performance thresholds. To provide an incentive to enhance the value of our common stock, the holders of the Class B limited partner interests of our Operating Partnership are entitled to an incentive return equal to 25% of the amount by which funds from operations, or FFO, plus certain accounting gains and losses (as defined in the partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership which was amended and restated in April 2006) exceed the product of our weighted average stockholders equity (as defined in the amended and restated partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership) multiplied by 9.5% (divided by 4 to adjust for quarterly calculations).

As of December 31, 2006, the majority of the interests in our Manager were held by SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. Interests were also held by certain officers and employees of SL Green Realty Corp., some of whom are our executive officers, which interests are subject to performance thresholds. We pay to our Manager a base management fee equal to one and three-quarters of one percent (1.75%) of our stockholders’ equity (as defined in the amended and restated management agreement with our Manager) inclusive of the trust preferred securities issued in May 2005, August 2005 and January 2006. In addition, we are obligated to reimburse our Manager for its costs incurred under an asset servicing agreement between our Manager and an affiliate of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. and a separate outsourcing agreement between our Manager and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. The asset servicing agreement, which was amended and restated in April 2006, provides for an annual fee payable to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. by us of 0.05% of the book value of all credit tenant lease assets and non-investment grade bonds and 0.15% of the book value of all other assets. The asset servicing fee is reduced by SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. for fees paid directly to outside servicers by us. The outsourcing agreement currently provides for an annual fee payable by us, which fee is currently $1.3 million per year, increasing 3% annually over the prior year on the anniversary date of the outsourcing agreement in August of each year. The asset servicing and outsourcing agreements allow us to leverage the experience, resources and relationships SL Green has established.

Our collateralized debt obligations, or CDOs, were closed in July 2005 and August 2006. The CDO that closed in 2005 was issued through two indirect subsidiaries, Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1 Ltd., or the 2005 Issuer, and Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1 LLC, or the 2005 Co-Issuer. The CDO that closed in 2006 was also issued through two indirect subsidiaries, Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2006-1 Ltd., or the 2006 Issuer, and Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2006-1 LLC, or the 2006 Co-Issuer. The 2005 Issuer, 2006 Issuer, 2005 Co-Issuer and 2006 Co-Issuer are subsidiaries of our private REIT, Gramercy Investment Trust. Our Operating Partnership holds all shares of common stock and controls all of the management and operations of the private REIT. At December 31, 2006, the private REIT and all subsidiaries of the private REIT were consolidated into our financial results.

In connection with the closing of our first CDO in July 2005, the Issuer, Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1 Ltd., entered into a collateral management agreement with our Manager. Pursuant to the collateral management agreement, our Manager has agreed to provide certain advisory and administrative services in relation to the collateral debt securities and other eligible investments securing the CDO notes. The collateral management agreement provides for a senior collateral management fee, payable quarterly in accordance with the priority of payments as set forth in the indenture, equal to 0.15% per annum of the net outstanding portfolio balance, and a subordinate collateral management fee, payable quarterly in accordance with the priority of payments as set forth in the indenture, equal to 0.25% per annum of the net outstanding portfolio balance. Net outstanding portfolio balance is the sum of the (i) aggregate principal balance of the collateral debt securities, excluding defaulted securities, (ii) aggregate principal balance of all principal proceeds held as cash and eligible investments in certain accounts, and (iii) with respect to the defaulted securities, the calculation amount of such defaulted securities. As compensation for the performance of its obligations as collateral manager under the first CDO, our Board of Directors has allocated to our Manager the subordinate collateral management fee paid on securities not held by us. At

2




December 31, 2006, we owned all of the non-investment grade bonds, preferred equity and equity in both CDOs. The senior collateral management fee and balance of the subordinate collateral management fee is allocated to us.

Collateral manager fees paid on our CDO that closed in August 2006 are governed by the amended and restated management agreement as a “transitional managed” CDO, as defined in the amended and restated management agreement, consisting primarily of debt investments secured by non-stabilized real estate. The amended and restated management agreement provides that in connection with formations of collateralized debt obligations or other securitization vehicles after the execution of the amended and restated management agreement, if a collateral manager is retained, our Manager or an affiliate will be the collateral manager and will receive the following fees:  (i) 0.25% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for “transitional managed” CDOs, (ii) 0.15% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for “non-transitional managed” CDOs, (iii) 0.10% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for static CDOs that own primarily non-investment grade bonds, and (iv) 0.05% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for static CDOs that own primarily investment grade bonds; limited in each instance by the fees that are paid to the collateral manager. The balance of the fees paid by the CDOs for collateral management services are paid to us.

Business and Growth Strategies

We invest in a diversified portfolio of real estate loans and securities, including permanent loans, bridge loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans, distressed debt, mortgage-backed securities, or MBS, preferred equity, and net lease investments involving commercial properties throughout the United States. When evaluating transactions, we assess our risk-adjusted return and target transactions with yields that seek to provide excess returns for the risks being taken.

We generate income principally from the spread between the yields on our assets and the cost of our borrowing and hedging activities. We leverage our investments to enhance returns to stockholders equity. We finance, or may finance in the future, assets through a variety of techniques, including repurchase agreements, secured and unsecured credit facilities, CDOs, unsecured junior subordinated corporate debt, issuances of commercial mortgage-backed securities, or CMBS, and other structured financings. In addition, we match fund interest rates with like-kind debt (i.e., fixed-rate assets are financed with fixed-rate debt, and floating rate assets are financed with floating rate debt), through the use of hedges such as interest rate swaps, caps, or through a combination of these strategies. This allows us to reduce the impact of changing interest rates on our cash flow and earnings. We actively manage our positions, using our credit, structuring and asset management skills to enhance returns. We intend to grow our business using prudent levels of debt financing, syndication of loan interests and structured financing when feasible, rather than relying solely on equity capital, in order to increase earnings per share.

Our ability to manage the real estate risk underwritten by our Manager is a critical component of our success. We actively manage and maintain the credit quality of our portfolio by using our management team’s expertise in structuring and repositioning investments to improve the quality and yield on managed investments. When investing in higher leverage transactions, we use guidelines and standards developed and employed by senior management of our Manager and SL Green, including rigorous underwriting of collateral performance and valuation, a review of the creditworthiness of the equity investors, additional forms of collateral and strategies to effect repayment. If defaults occur, we will employ SL Green’s strong asset management skills to mitigate the severity of any losses and seek to optimize the recovery from assets in the event that we foreclose upon them. In New York, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere as appropriate, SL Green will manage these assets and has the right to purchase properties in metropolitan New York and Washington, D.C. that we acquire in foreclosure. In other geographic markets, we often use long-standing relationships of senior management or SL Green with local operators or investors to enhance our ability to underwrite transactions or mitigate defaults when making or managing investments.

3




We seek to control the negotiation and structure of the debt transactions in which we invest, which enhances our ability to mitigate our losses, to control the negotiation and drafting of loan documents that afford us appropriate rights and control over our collateral, and to have the right to control the debt that is senior to our position. We believe that this level of control allows us to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns within a real estate debt capital structure. We generally avoid investments where we cannot secure adequate control rights, unless we believe the default risk is very low. Our flexibility to invest in all or any part of a debt capital structure enables us to participate in many transactions and to retain only the investments that meet our investment parameters.

We believe that our ability to provide a wide range of financing products and our ability to customize financing structures to meet borrowers’ needs differentiates us from our competitors. We can provide real estate financing solutions throughout the entire capital structure from the most senior capital positions through subordinate interests to equity participations. Our senior management team has substantial experience in responding to unique borrower needs by crafting financial products that are tailored to meet the business plan of a property owner.

We focus on certain types of investments where we believe we have a competitive advantage and that offer appropriate risk adjusted returns. For properties that we believe have stable values or where we have specific asset management capabilities to mitigate losses, we will target higher leverage investments. If we conclude that a property to be financed will have more volatile values or cash flows under a variety of market conditions, we target a less leveraged investment. In such transactions we may seek a second-loss position. We also target the origination of larger financings, including whole loans, to afford us the opportunity to syndicate and securitize our investments, create retained instruments with above-market returns, and realize gains on the sale of these positions. We originate investments in direct transactions with borrowers, we co-originate with or acquire existing assets from third parties, primarily financial institutions, and we occasionally co-invest with SL Green and its affiliates.

Our targeted investments include the following:

Permanent Loans—We originate fixed-rate permanent whole loans with terms of up to 15 years.  We may separate certain of these loans into tranches, which can be securitized and resold. When we do so, we occasionally retain that component of the permanent loan that we believe has the most advantageous risk-adjusted returns. The retained interest can be the senior interest, a subordinate interest, a mezzanine loan or a preferred equity interest created in connection with such permanent loan origination. We expect the stated maturity of our permanent loan investments to range from five years to 15 years. We may sell these investments prior to maturity.

Bridge Loans—We offer floating rate bridge whole loans to borrowers who are seeking debt capital with a final term to maturity of not more than five years to be used in the acquisition, construction or redevelopment of a property. Typically, the borrower has identified a property in a favorable market that it believes to be poorly managed or undervalued. Bridge financing enables the borrower to employ short-term financing while improving the operating performance and physical aspects of the property and avoid burdening it with restrictive long-term debt. The bridge loans we originate are predominantly secured by first mortgage liens on the property and are expected to provide interest rates ranging from 125 to 400 basis points over applicable index rate indexes. We expect the stated maturity of our bridge loans to range from two years to five years, and we frequently hold these investments to maturity.

We believe our bridge loans will lead to additional financing opportunities in the future, as bridge facilities are often a first step toward permanent financing or a sale of the underlying real estate. We generally view securitization as a financing rather than a trading activity. We have, and will continue to, pool together smaller bridge loans and retain the resulting non-investment grade interests (and interest-only certificates, if any) resulting from these securitizations, which to-date have taken the

4




form of CDOs. To increase our volume, enhance financing efficiencies, and expand our national presence, we may seek joint ventures, mergers or other arrangements with regional or product-specific loan originators.

Subordinate Interests in Whole Loans—We purchase from third parties, and may retain from whole loans we originate and co-originate and securitize or sell, subordinate interests in whole loans. Subordinate interests are participation interests in mortgage notes or loans secured by a lien subordinated to a senior interest in the same loan. The subordination is generally evidenced by a co-lender or participation agreement between the holders of the related senior interest and the subordinate interest. In some instances, the subordinate interest lender may additionally require a security interest in the stock or partnership interests of the borrower as part of the transaction. When we originate whole loans, we may divide them, frequently securitizing or selling the senior interest and keeping a subordinate interest for investment. We believe the subordinate interest market will continue to grow with the expansion of the commercial mortgage securitization market.

Subordinate interests in whole loans typically bear interest at a rate of 200 to 600 basis points over the applicable interest rate index and have loan-to-value ratios between 65% and 85%. Subordinate interest lenders have the same obligations, collateral and borrower as the senior interest lender, but typically are subordinated in recovery upon a default. Subordinate interests in whole loans share certain credit characteristics with second mortgages, in that both are subject to greater credit risk with respect to the underlying mortgage collateral than the corresponding senior interest.

Subordinate interests created from bridge loans generally will have terms matching those of the whole loan of which they are a part, typically two to five years. Subordinate interests created from whole loans generally will have terms of five years to fifteen years. We expect to hold subordinate interests in whole loans to their maturity.

When we acquire subordinate interests in whole loans from third parties, we may earn income on the investment, in addition to the interest payable on the subordinate piece, in the form of fees charged to the borrower under that note (currently approximately 0.25% to 1% of the note amount) or by receiving principal payments in excess of the discounted price (below par value) we paid to acquire the note. When we originate subordinate interests out of whole loans and then sell the senior interest, we allocate our basis in the whole loan among the two (or more) components to reflect the fair market value of the new instruments. We may realize a profit on sale if our allocated value is below the sale price. Our ownership of a subordinate interest with controlling class rights, which typically means we have the ability to determine when, and in what manner, to exercise the rights and remedies afforded the holder of the senior interest, may, in the event the financing fails to perform according to its terms, cause us to elect to pursue our remedies as owner of the subordinate interest, which may include foreclosure on, or modification of, the note. In some cases, usually restricted to situations where the appraised value of the collateral for the debt falls below agreed levels relative to the total outstanding debt, the owner of the senior interest may be able to foreclose or modify the note against our wishes as holder of the subordinate interest. As a result, our economic and business interests may diverge from the interests of the holders of the senior interest. These divergent interests among the holders of each investment may result in conflicts of interest.

Mezzanine Loans—We originate mezzanine loans that are senior to the borrower’s equity in, and subordinate to a mortgage loan on, a property. These loans are secured by pledges of ownership interests, typically in whole but occasionally in part (but usually with effective sole control over all the ownership interests), in entities that directly or indirectly own the real property. In addition, we may require other collateral to secure mezzanine loans, including letters of credit, personal guarantees, or collateral unrelated to the property.

5




We typically structure our mezzanine loans to receive a stated coupon (benchmarked usually against LIBOR, or occasionally against a Treasury index or a swap index). We may in certain, select instances structure our mezzanine loans to receive a stated coupon plus a percentage of gross revenues and a percentage of the increase in the fair market value of the property securing the loan, payable upon maturity, refinancing or sale of the property.

These investments typically have terms from two to ten years and typically bear interest at a rate of 400 to 800 basis points over the applicable interest rate index. Some transactions entail the issuance of more than one tranche or class of mezzanine debt. Mezzanine loans usually have loan-to-value ratios between 65% and 90%. Mezzanine loans frequently have maturities that match the maturity of the related mortgage loan but may have shorter or longer terms. We expect to hold these investments to maturity.

Distressed Debt—We may also invest in distressed debt, most often sub- and non-performing real estate loans acquired from financial institutions. We make these investments when we believe our underwriting, credit, financing and asset management experience enable us to generate above-average risk-adjusted returns by resolving these distressed loans expeditiously through refinancings, negotiated repayments with borrowers or foreclosure and subsequent sale of the underlying property. A sub-performing loan is a loan with a very high loan-to-value ratio, with a low debt service coverage ratio, and which is likely to default at maturity because the property securing the loan cannot support a refinancing of the loan’s entire unpaid principal balance. A non-performing loan is a loan that is in default of its covenants, is past due in interest payments, or is past its final maturity date and has not been repaid. Sub- and non-performing loans are typically purchased at a discount to the note balance. Our investment return results from a combination of current cash flow from the note or underlying property, plus any eventual recovery of loan principal.

We expect the maturity of our distressed debt investments to range from several months to up to ten years. Such investments will usually be held until resolution, which may entail a bankruptcy and foreclosure process, which can require months or years to complete.

Mortgage-Backed Securities—We occasionally acquire mortgage MBS that are created when commercial or residential loans are pooled and securitized. These securities may be issued by government sponsored agencies or other entities, and may or may not be rated investment grade by rating agencies. We may also originate MBS from pools of commercial loans we assemble, in which event we expect to retain the more junior interests.

CMBS are secured by or evidenced by ownership interests in a single commercial mortgage loan or a pool of mortgage loans secured by commercial properties. Residential mortgage-backed securities, or RMBS, are backed by pools of home mortgages. We expect a majority of our mortgage-backed securities investments to be rated by at least one rating agency.

CMBS are generally pass-through certificates that represent beneficial ownership interests in common law trusts whose assets consist of defined portfolios of one or more commercial mortgage loans. They are typically issued in multiple tranches whereby the more senior classes are entitled to priority distributions from the trust’s income to make specified interest and principal payments on such tranches. Losses and other shortfalls from expected amounts to be received on the mortgage pool are borne by the most subordinate classes, which receive payments only after the more senior classes have received all principal and/or interest to which they are entitled.

6




The credit quality of MBS depends on the credit quality of the underlying mortgage loans, which is a function of factors such as:

·                 the principal amount of loans relative to the value of the related properties;

·                 the mortgage loan terms (e.g. amortization);

·                 market assessment and geographic location;

·                 construction quality and economic utility of the property; and

·                 the creditworthiness of the borrowers.

To date, we have focused not on new issues but on “Story Securities” available in the secondary market where we are able to analyze and underwrite the underlying assets. “Story Securities” are seasoned securities with identifiable credit risks (such as large defaulted or sub-performing loans or a negative development with respect to the sponsor of a large loan) that we believe may require complex financial analysis to fully understand the issues and which fixed income money managers cannot efficiently underwrite, or which make them unattractive to a significant number of fixed income investors. We seek capital appreciation, in addition to interest income, by buying these securities at yields that are greater than securities with comparable risk and selling them when the credit risk improves.

We expect the stated maturity of our MBS investments to range from several months to up to 15 years for CMBS, and up to 40 years for RMBS. Such securities do not have stated maturities but rather receive principal payments from the underlying investments. We expect to hold CMBS to maturity and may sell RMBS prior to maturity.

Preferred Equity—We originate preferred equity investments in entities that directly or indirectly own commercial real estate. Preferred equity is not secured, but holders have priority relative to common equity holders on cash flow distributions and proceeds from capital events. In addition, preferred holders can often enhance their position and protect their equity position with covenants that limit the entity’s activities and grant us the exclusive right to control the property after an event of default. Occasionally, the first mortgage on a property prohibits additional liens and a preferred equity structure provides an attractive financing alternative. With preferred equity investments, we may become a special limited partner or member in the ownership entity and may be entitled to take certain actions, or cause a liquidation, upon a default. Preferred equity typically is more highly leveraged, with loan-to-value ratios of 85% to more than 90%. We expect our preferred equity to have mandatory redemption dates (that is, maturity dates) that range from three years to five years, and we expect to hold these investments to maturity.

Other Real Estate-Related Investments—We may also make investments in other types of commercial or multi-family real estate assets. These may include acquisitions of real property and debt issued by REITs or other real estate companies. We have authority to issue our common stock or other equity or debt securities in exchange for assets. Subject to gross income and asset tests necessary for REIT qualification, we may also invest in securities of other REITs, or other entities engaged in real estate activities or securities of other issuers, including for the purpose of exercising control over such entities.

Some of these investments may be equity interests in properties with no stated maturity or redemption date, or long-term leasehold interests with expiration dates as long as 40 years beyond the date of our investment. We expect to hold these investments for between several months and up to ten years, depending upon the risk profile of the investment and our investment rationale. The timing of our sale of these investments, or of their repayment, will frequently be tied to certain events involving the underlying property, such as leases to new tenants or a refinancing on superior terms.

7




The aggregate carrying values, allocated by product type and weighted average coupons of our loans and other lending investments as of December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floating Rate:

 

 

 

Carrying Value(1)

 

Allocation by
Investment Type

 

Fixed Rate:
Average Yield

 

Average Spread over
LIBOR(2)

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whole loans, floating rate

 

$

1,372,316

 

$

561,388

 

 

63

%

 

 

46

%

 

 

 

327 bps

 

325 bps

 

Whole loans, fixed rate

 

42,376

 

94,448

 

 

2

%

 

 

8

%

 

11.69

%

10.67

%

 

 

Subordinate interests in whole loans, floating rate

 

236,308

 

362,983

 

 

11

%

 

 

30

%

 

 

 

445 bps

 

443 bps

 

Subordinate interests in whole loans, fixed rate

 

48,769

 

37,104

 

 

2

%

 

 

3

%

 

8.54

%

8.80

%

 

 

Mezzanine loans, floating rate

 

226,675

 

82,793

 

 

10

%

 

 

7

%

 

 

 

665 bps

 

858 bps

 

Mezzanine loans, fixed rate

 

216,216

 

43,352

 

 

10

%

 

 

4

%

 

9.92

%

8.51

%

 

 

Preferred equity, floating rate

 

 

11,795

 

 

 

 

 

1

%

 

 

 

900 bps

 

900 bps

 

Preferred equity, fixed rate

 

44,224

 

11,882

 

 

2

%

 

 

1

%

 

10.68

%

10.27

%

 

 

Total / Weighted average

 

$

2,186,884

 

$

1,205,745

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

10.04

%

9.78

%

384 bps

 

417 bps

 


(1)    Debt investments are presented after scheduled amortization payments and prepayments, and are net of unamortized fees, discounts, asset sales and unfunded commitments.

(2)    Spreads over an index other than LIBOR have been adjusted to a LIBOR based equivalent.

We monitor our portfolio periodically and prior to each acquisition to confirm that we continue to qualify for the exemption from registration provided by Section 3(c)(5)(C) and 3(c)(6) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act. Qualifying for the Section 3(c)(5)(C) exemption requires that at least 55% of our portfolio be comprised of “qualifying assets,” and a total of at least 80% of our portfolio be comprised of “real estate-related assets,” a category that includes qualifying assets.

We generally expect mortgage loans, whole pool MBS, our CTLs and certain distressed debt securities to be qualifying assets. The treatment of distressed debt securities as qualifying assets is based on the characteristics of the particular type of loan, including its foreclosure rights. Junior (first loss) interests in MBS pools may constitute qualifying assets under Section 3(c)(5)(C), provided that we have the unilateral right to foreclose, directly or indirectly, on the mortgages in the pool and that we may act as the controlling class or directing holder of the pool. Similarly, subordinate interests in whole loans may constitute qualifying assets under Section 3(c)(5)(C), provided that we have the unilateral right to foreclose, directly or indirectly, on the mortgage and that we may act as the controlling class or directing holder of the note. We generally do not treat mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments as qualifying assets. In addition to making investments in qualifying assets, we also make investments so that at least 80% of our portfolio is comprised of real estate-related assets. We expect that all of these classes of investments will be considered real estate-related assets under the Investment Company Act for purposes of the 80% investment threshold. Qualification for the 3(c)(5)(C) and 3(c)(6) exemptions will limit our ability to make certain investments. To the extent that the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, provides more specific guidance regarding the treatment of assets as qualifying assets or real estate-related assets, we may be required to adjust our investment strategy accordingly. Any additional guidance from the staff of the SEC could provide additional flexibility to us, or it could further inhibit our ability to pursue the investment strategy we have chosen.

On occasion, we utilize a special servicer, which in some instances may be an affiliate of us or may be the rated special servicer affiliate of SL Green, to manage, modify and resolve loans and other investments that fail to perform under the terms of the loan agreement, note, indenture, or other governing documents.

8




We will typically negotiate for the right to appoint a special servicer as part of the origination or purchase of an investment. Special servicers are most frequently employed in connection with whole loans, subordinate interests in whole loans and first-loss classes of CMBS. The rights of the special servicer, which are typically subject to a servicing standard that requires the special servicer to pursue remedies that maximize the recovery of investment principal, typically include, among other things, the right to foreclose upon the loan collateral after an event of default.

Our rights, including foreclosure rights we hold, are found in the agreements among the lenders or holders of notes, such as intercreditor or participation agreements. Where we hold unilateral foreclosure rights, those rights generally become exercisable upon the occurrence of an event of default, such as nonpayment of the debt. In certain circumstances we may lose our foreclosure rights. For example, where the appraised value of the collateral for the debt falls below agreed levels relative to the total outstanding debt, we may lose our foreclosure rights, which are then exercisable by the holder of more senior debt. Generally, we do not expect SL Green or its affiliates to hold these types of senior debt where we hold a more junior instrument. If we were to lose our foreclosure rights, the Investment Company Act status of the particular investment could change.

While we intend to hold our investments to maturity, we may sell an investment prior to its stated maturity for reasons of risk management, liquidity, changing investment objectives, or regulatory requirements.

Financing Strategy

We use debt financing in various forms in an effort to increase the size of our portfolio and potential returns to our stockholders. Access to low-cost capital is crucial to our business, since we earn income based on the spread between the yield on our investments and the cost of our borrowings.

Our financing strategy focuses on the use of match-funded financing structures. This means that we seek to match the maturities of our financial obligations with the maturities of our investments to minimize the risk that we have to refinance our liabilities prior to the maturities of our assets, and to reduce the impact of changing interest rates on our cash flow and earnings. In addition, we match fund interest rates with like-kind debt (i.e., fixed-rate assets are financed with fixed-rate debt, and floating rate assets are financed with floating rate debt), through the use of hedges such as interest rate swaps, caps, or through a combination of these strategies. This allows us to reduce the impact on our cash flow and earnings of changing interest rates. At December 31, 2006, approximately 84% of our investments, when measured by carrying value, were floating rate instruments based on LIBOR. The remaining 16% of our investments carried fixed rates of interest, although we have entered into swap contracts that convert substantially all of the floating rate financing expenses against these assets to fixed rate expenses to eliminate basis risk. Our investments had a weighted average remaining term to initial maturity of 2.1 years.

We use short-term financing in the form of our repurchase agreements, unsecured revolving credit facilities and bridge financings in conjunction with or prior to the implementation of longer-term match-funded financing. At December 31, 2006, we had approximately $277.4 million outstanding under our repurchase facilities with Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, or Wachovia, and Goldman Sachs Mortgage Company, or Goldman. An event of default can be triggered on our repurchase facilities if, among other things, GKK Manager LLC is terminated as our Manager.

For longer-term funding, we utilize securitization structures, including CDOs, as well as other match-funded financing structures. CDOs are multiple class debt securities, or bonds, secured by pools of assets, such as MBS, bridge loans, permanent loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans and REIT debt. In a CDO the assets are pledged to a trustee for the benefit of the holders of the bonds. The bonds may be rated by one or more rating agencies. One or more classes of the bonds are marketed to a wide variety of fixed income investors, which enables the CDO sponsor to achieve a relatively low cost of

9




long-term financing. We believe that CDOs are a suitable long-term financing vehicle for our investments because they will enable us to maintain our strategy of funding substantially all of our assets and related liabilities using the same, or similar, LIBOR benchmark, lock-in a long-term cost of funds tied to LIBOR, and reduce the risk that we have to refinance our liabilities prior to the maturities of our investments. On July 14, 2005, we issued $1.0 billion of CDOs, and on August 24, 2006 we issued an additional $1.0 billion of CDOs. The CDO issued in 2005 consists of $810.5 million of investment grade notes, $84.5 million of non-investment grade notes, and $105 million of preferred shares. The CDO issued in 2006 consists of $903.75 million of investment grade notes, $38.75 million of non-investment grade notes, and $57.5 million of preferred shares. We retained all non-investment grade securities, the preferred shares and the common shares in the 2005 Issuer and the 2006 Issuer.

We use different levels of leverage depending on the specific risk-return characteristics of each investment type. Usually, the level of financial leverage employed varies inversely with the loan-to-value ratio of the underlying debt investment being financed. For example, we generally use more leverage with whole loans than mezzanine loans. We anticipate our overall leverage will be 70% to 85% of the carrying value of our assets; but our actual leverage depends on our mix of assets. As of December 31, 2006, our leverage as a percentage of total balance sheet assets was 76%, excluding the trust preferred securities, which are discussed in more detail below. The average advance rate against investment assets pledged under our repurchase facilities with Wachovia and Goldman was 70%.

Our charter and bylaws do not limit the amount of indebtedness we can incur. Our current policy is to leverage up to 80% of the carrying value of our assets. Our board of directors has discretion to deviate from or change our indebtedness policy at any time. However, we seek to maintain an adequate capital base to protect against various business environments in which our financing and hedging costs might exceed the interest income from our investments. These conditions could occur, for example, due to credit losses or when, due to interest rate fluctuations, interest income on our investment lags behind interest rate increases on our borrowings, which are predominantly variable rate. We use leverage for the sole purpose of financing our portfolio and not for the purpose of speculating on changes in interest rates.

In addition, we continuously evaluate other sources of long-term debt and hybrid debt/equity capital, including perpetual preferred equity and trust preferred equity, which may be available to us on competitive market pricing and terms.

Origination, Underwriting and Asset Management

Our Manager and SL Green provide all of our critical investment selection, asset management, servicing and portfolio management and reporting functions from loan origination to disposition. Our origination and underwriting is based on careful review and preparation, and generally proceeds as follows:

·       All investments are analyzed for consistency with investment parameters developed by our Manager and adopted by our board of directors;

·       All transactions considered for funding are presented at a weekly pipeline meeting attended by our Manager’s senior executive officers; and

·       All financing applications, conditional commitments and submissions to the credit committee must be approved by a managing director of our Manager.

The affirmative vote of all members of a credit committee consisting of all senior officers of our Manager plus our chief executive officer is necessary to approve all transactions over $3 million. Our chief investment officer may approve investments of less than $3 million. The investment committee of our board of directors must unanimously approve all transactions involving investments of (i) $35 million or more with respect to whole loans, (ii) $30 million or more with respect to subordinate interests in whole loans, and (iii) $20 million or over with respect to mezzanine loans, preferred equity, and CTLs. The full

10




board of directors must approve investments (i) over $75 million with respect to whole loans, (ii) over $65 million with respect to subordinate interests in whole loans, (iii) over $55 million with respect to mezzanine loans, and (iv) over $50 million with respect to preferred equity and CTLs. Our Manager will have full discretion to make investments on our behalf under (i) $35 million with respect to whole loans, (ii) $30 million with respect to subordinate interests in whole loans, and (iii) $20 million with respect to mezzanine loans, preferred equity and CTLs. Approval limits are based on the investment amount less any origination fees, discounts or other up-front fees we receive in connection with the investment.

The stages of the investment process are described in more detail below.

Origination

Our Manager is primarily responsible for originating all of our assets. Our Manager utilizes an extensive national network of relationships with property owners, developers, mortgage loan brokers, commercial and investment banks and institutional investors. This network has been developed by the senior managers of our Manager and senior executives of SL Green over almost 20 years. We originate investments in direct transactions with borrowers, we co-originate with or acquire existing assets from third parties, primarily financial institutions, and we may occasionally co-invest with SL Green and its affiliates. We continue to grow our national platform through the creation of strategic partnerships, expansion of our origination teams, and our offices in New York, New York and Los Angeles, California. Once potential investment opportunities have been identified, our Manager determines which financing products best meet the borrower’s needs. Our Manager works to optimize pricing and structure and create a favorable transaction for us while meeting our borrower’s needs. After identifying a suitable structure, our Manager works with the borrower to prepare a loan application and an initial review of the investment before committing underwriting resources. Once a loan is identified as suitable, it is underwritten by our Manager’s team of experienced underwriters.

Underwriting

Once a potential investment has been identified, our Manager’s underwriters perform comprehensive financial, structural, operational and legal due diligence to assess the risks of the investment. Our Manager’s underwriters analyze the loan application package and conduct follow-up due diligence on each borrower as part of the underwriting process. Our Manager’s underwriters generally review the following criteria as part of the underwriting process:

·       the historic, in-place and projected property revenues and expenses;

·       the potential for near-term revenue growth and opportunity for expense reduction and increased operating efficiencies;

·       on higher leverage loans secured by leased properties, accountants may be engaged to audit operating expense recovery income;

·       the property’s location and its attributes;

·       the valuation of the property based upon financial projections prepared by our Manager’s underwriters and confirmed by an independent “as is” and/or “as stabilized” appraisal;

·       market assessment, including, review of tenant lease files, surveys of property sales and leasing comparables based on conversations with local property owners, leasing brokers, investment sales brokers and other local market participants, and an analysis of area economic and demographic trends, and a review of an acceptable mortgagee’s title policy;

·       market rents, and in the case of certain high-leverage loans, leasing projections for major vacant spaces and near-term vacancies, frequently prepared by commercial leasing brokers with local

11




knowledge, and confirmed by discussion with other owners (often our borrowers) of competitive commercial properties in the same sub-market;

·       structural and environmental review of the property, including review of engineering and environmental reports and a site inspection, to determine future maintenance and capital expenditure requirements;

·       the requirements for any reserves, including those for immediate repairs or rehabilitation, replacement reserves, tenant improvement and leasing commission costs, real estate taxes and property, casualty and liability insurance;

·       the “Underwritten Net Cash Flow” for a property, which is a set of calculations and adjustments prepared for the underwriting process to assist in evaluating a property’s cash flows. The Underwritten Net Cash Flow is generally the estimated stabilized annual revenue derived from the use and operation of the property (consisting primarily of rental income and reimbursement of expenses where applicable) after an allowance for vacancies, concessions and credit losses, less estimated stabilized annual expenses;

·       credit quality of the borrower through background checks and review of financial strength and real estate operating experience; and

·       the loan documents, to ensure that we have the necessary protections, rights and remedies.

Key factors that are considered in credit decisions include, but are not limited to, debt service coverage, loan-to-value ratios and property and financial operating performance. Consideration is also given to other factors such as the experience, financial strength, reputation, and investment track record of the borrower, additional forms of collateral and identified likely strategies to effect repayment. Our Manager will continue to refine its underwriting criteria based upon actual loan portfolio experience and as market conditions and investor requirements evolve. Once diligence is completed and our Manager has reviewed the Underwritten Net Cash Flow, sponsorship and the deal structure, our Manager determines the level in the capital structure at which an investment will be made, the pricing for such an investment, and the required legal and structural protections.

Servicing and Asset Management

SL Green services substantially all of our assets through a sub-contract with our Manager. The loan servicing platform is designed to provide timely, responsive customer service as well as accurate and timely information for account follow-up, financial reporting, collateral and portfolio risk management and management review. In addition, the servicing operations include enforcement of the loan documents and standard asset management functions, including monitoring of property performance and condition and market analysis. The asset management group monitors the investments to identify any potential underperformance of the asset and work with the borrower to remedy the situation in an expeditious manner in order to mitigate any effects of underperformance. The asset manager is responsible for understanding the borrower’s business plan with respect to each collateral property and monitoring performance measured against that plan. We differentiate ourselves by leveraging our Manager’s real estate knowledge and proactive approach to asset management by providing approvals and processing requests on a timely and efficient basis. We believe that asset management is a vital component of the borrower-lender relationship because it enables us to be responsive, timely, anticipate changes to a borrower’s financing requirements, and generally develop a strong relationship that leads to repeat business.

12




Operating Policies

Investment and Borrowing Guidelines

We operate pursuant to the following general guidelines for our investments and borrowings:

·       no investments are made that would cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT;

·       no investments are made that would cause us to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act;

·       substantially all assets are financed through securitization, syndication and secured borrowings, and assets intended for inclusion in traditional securitization transactions will be hedged against movements in the applicable swap yield through customary techniques;

·       hedging is generally done through the bank providing the related repurchase facility on market terms, or through other dealers. We engage an outside advisory firm to assist in executing and monitoring hedges, advising management on the appropriateness of such hedges, and establishing the appropriate tax and accounting treatment of our hedges; and

·       we will not co-invest with SL Green or any of its affiliates unless the terms of such transaction are approved by a majority of our independent directors.

These investment guidelines may be changed by our board of directors without the approval of our stockholders.

Origination Agreement

We have an origination agreement with SL Green pursuant to which SL Green and any of its subsidiairies will not originate, acquire or participate in fixed income investments in the United States, subject to certain conditions and exclusions described below. Fixed income investments include debt obligations or interests in debt obligations bearing a fixed-rate of return and collateralized by real property or interests in real property. SL Green has also agreed not to acquire, originate or participate in preferred equity investments which bear a fixed rate of return related primarily to real proeprty or interests in real property in the United States, unless we have determined not to pursue that opportunity.

Under the agreement, SL Green has the following rights:

(a)          to retain any fixed income investments and/or preferred equity investments it owned or committed to own as of April 19, 2006 and any fixed income investments and/or preferred equity investments owned or committed to be owned, as of the date of a business combination, change of control or other similar transaction, by companies that are acquired by SL Green or with the respect to which SL Green engages in such a transaction, provided, however, that SL Green shall not acquire companies or businesses engaged primarily in Gramercy’s primary business activities;

(b)         to originate, acquire or participate in fixed income investments and/or preferred equity investments in connection with the sale, recapitalization or restructuring (however characterized) of any fixed income investment, preferred equity investment or interest in real property which SL Green owns at any given time;

(c)          to originate, acquire or participate in fixed income and/or preferred equity investments that provide a rate of return tied to the or measured by cash flow, appreciation or both of the underlying real property or interests in real property;

(d)         to originate, acquire or participate in any distressed debt, where there is a payment default, an acceleration, bankruptcy or foreclosure, when a default is highly likely because the loan-to-value

13




ratio is over 100% or when the debt service exceeds the available cash flow from the underlying collateral or of the borrower both on a current and projected basis; and

(e)   to modify, amend, supplement, extend, refinance or restructure any portion of the investments in item (a), (b), (c) or (d) above including, but not limited to, changes in principal, additional investment, rate of return, maturity or redemption date, lien priority, collateral, return priority, guarantor and/or borrower.

We have agreed that we will not:

·       acquire real property or interests in real property located in metropolitan New York and Washington, D.C. (except by foreclosure or similar conveyance resulting from a fixed income investment);

·       originate, acquire or participate in any investments described in (c) above or distressed debt, in each case where more than 75% of the value of the underlying collateral is real property or interests in real property located in metropolitan New York or Washington, D.C.; and

·       originate, acquire or participate in any investments described in item (b) or (e) above.

We have also agreed that, when we acquire direct or indirect ownership interests in property in metropolitan New York or Washington D.C. by foreclosure or similar conveyance, SL Green will have the right to purchase the property at a price equal to our unpaid asset balance on the date we foreclosed or acquired the asset, plus unpaid interest at the last stated contract (non-default) rate and, to the extent payable by the borrower under the initial documentation evidencing the property, legal costs incurred by us directly related to the conveyance and the fee, if any, due upon the repayment or prepayment of the investment which is commonly referred to as an “exit fee” (but not including default interest, late charges, prepayment penalties, extension fees or other premiums of any kind) through the date of SL Green’s purchase. We refer to this amount as “Par Value.” If we seek to sell the asset and receive a bona fide third party offer to acquire the asset for cash that we desire to accept, SL Green may purchase the asset at the lower of the Par Value or the third party’s offer price. If the asset is not sold within one year, SL Green has the right to purchase the property at its appraised value. The appraised value will be determined as follows: we will select an appraiser and SL Green will select an appraiser, who will each appraise the property. These two appraisers jointly will select a third appraiser, who will then choose one of the two appraisals as the final appraised value. These rights may make it more difficult to sell such assets because third parties may not want to incur the expense and effort to bid on assets when they perceive that SL Green may acquire them at the lower of the same terms proposed by the third party or Par Value. As a result, we may not receive the same value on the sale of such assets as we might receive from an independent third party submitting an offer through a competitive bidding process.

SL Green has a right of first offer to acquire any distressed debt which we decide to sell.

If any time SL Green plans to sell to a third party any fixed income investment or preferred equity investment, we will have the right to purchase the offered investment within 10 business days on the terms and conditions offered by the third party. If SL Green is required to obtain any other party’s consent in connection with the sale of any investment, our right of first offer will be subject to such consent. If we choose not to exercise our right to purchase the offered investment, SL Green has the right to sell it to a third party within 6 months at not less than 99% of the price offered to us. If the investment is not sold within 6 months, it will again be subject to our right of first offer.

In the event the Management Agreement is terminated for cause by us or if neither SL Green nor any of its affiliates shall be the managing member of our Manager, then the non-compete provisions in the origination agreement will survive such termination for a period of one year with respect only to potential investments by us as to which our Manager has commenced due diligence.

14




Hedging Activities

We use derivative instruments, including forwards, futures, swaps and options, in our risk management strategy to limit the effects of changes in interest rates on our operations. Our primary hedging strategy consists of entering into interest rate swap contracts. Additionally, we may in certain select instances choose to hedge our exposure to fluctuations in CMBS credit spreads by purchasing swaps written against a broad-based CMBS index. The value of our forwards, futures and swaps may fluctuate over time in response to changing market conditions, and will tend to change inversely with the value of the risk in our liabilities that we intend to hedge. Hedges are sometimes ineffective because the correlation between changes in value of the underlying investment and the derivative instrument is less than was expected when the hedging transaction was undertaken. Since most of our hedging activity covers the period between origination or purchase of loans and their eventual sale or securitization, unmatched losses in our hedging program will tend to occur when the planned securitization fails to occur, or if the hedge proves to be ineffective. We continuously monitor the effectiveness of our hedging strategies and adjust our strategies as appropriate. These transactions may include interest rate swaps, the purchase or sale of interest rate collars, caps or floors, options, other hedging instruments and such other hedging instruments as may be developed in the future and which we determine are suitable to achieve our hedging objectives.

We have retained the services of an outside financial services firm with expertise in the use of derivative instruments to advise us on our overall hedging strategy, to effect hedging trades, and to provide the appropriate designation and accounting of all hedging activities from a GAAP and tax accounting and reporting perspective.

These instruments are used to hedge as much of the interest rate risk as our Manager determines is in the best interest of our stockholders, given the cost of such hedges and the need to maintain our status as a REIT. To the extent that we enter into a hedging contract to reduce interest rate risk on indebtedness incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets, any income that we derive from the contract is qualifying income for purposes of the REIT 95% gross income test, but not for the 75% gross income test. Our Manager can elect to have us bear a level of interest rate risk that could otherwise be hedged when it believes, based on all relevant facts, that bearing such risk is advisable.

Disposition Policies

Our Manager evaluates our assets on a regular basis to determine if they continue to satisfy our investment criteria. Subject to certain restrictions applicable to REITs, our Manager may cause us to sell our investments opportunistically and use the proceeds of any such sale for debt reduction, additional acquisitions or working capital purposes.

Equity Capital Policies

Subject to applicable law, our board of directors has the authority, without further stockholder approval, to issue additional authorized common stock and preferred stock or otherwise raise capital, including through the issuance of senior securities, in any manner and on the terms and for the consideration it deems appropriate.

We may, under certain circumstances, repurchase our common stock in private transactions with our stockholders if those purchases are approved by our board of directors. Our board of directors has no present intention of causing us to repurchase any shares, and any action would only be taken in conformity with applicable federal and state laws and the applicable requirements for qualifying as a REIT, for so long as our board of directors concludes that we should remain a REIT.

15




Other Policies

We operate in a manner that will not subject us to regulation under the Investment Company Act. We may invest in the securities of other issuers for the purpose of exercising control over such issuers. We do not underwrite the securities of other issuers.

Future Revisions in Policies and Strategies

Our board of directors has the power to modify or waive our investment guidelines, policies and strategies. Among other factors, developments in the market that either affect the policies and strategies mentioned herein or that change our assessment of the market may cause our board of directors to revise our investment guidelines, policies and strategies. However, if such modification or waiver involves the relationship of, or any transaction between, us and our Manager or any affiliate of our Manager, the approval of a majority of our independent directors is also required. We may not, however, amend our charter to change the requirement that a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors or the requirement that a majority of our independent directors approve related party transactions without the approval of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by our stockholders.

Competition

Our net income depends, in large part, on our ability to originate investments with spreads over our borrowing cost. In originating these investments, we compete with other mortgage REITs, specialty finance companies, savings and loan associations, banks, mortgage bankers, insurance companies, mutual funds, institutional investors, investment banking firms, other lenders, governmental bodies and other entities, which may have greater financial resources and lower costs of capital available to them than we have. In addition, there are numerous mortgage REITs with asset acquisition objectives similar to ours, and others may be organized in the future, which may increase competition for the available investments suitable for us. Competitive variables include market presence and visibility, size of loans offered and underwriting standards.

To the extent that a competitor is willing to risk larger amounts of capital in a particular transaction or to employ more liberal underwriting standards when evaluating potential loans than we are, our origination volume and profit margins for our investment portfolio could be adversely affected. Our competitors may also be willing to accept lower returns on their investments and may succeed in originating or acquiring the assets that we have targeted for origination or acquisition. Although we believe that we are well positioned to compete effectively in each facet of our business, there is considerable competition in our market sector and there can be no assurance that we will compete effectively or that we will not encounter further increased competition in the future that could limit our ability to conduct our business effectively.

Industry Segments

Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 131, or “SFAS No. 131,” establishes standards for the way that public entities report information about operating segments in their annual financial statements. We are a REIT focused primarily on originating and acquiring loans and securities related to real estate and currently operate in only one segment.

Employees

We do not currently have any employees, nor do we anticipate hiring any employees in the near term. Our executive officers and other staff are all employed by our Manager or SL Green and leased by us pursuant to the management agreement with our Manager and the outsourcing agreement with SL Green.

16




Environmental Matters

Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner of real estate (including, in certain circumstances, a secured lender that succeeds to ownership or control of a property) may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances at, on, under or in its property. Those laws typically impose cleanup responsibility and liability without regard to whether the owner or control party knew of or was responsible for the release or presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. The costs of investigation, remediation or removal of those substances may be substantial. The owner or control party of a site may be subject to common law claims by third parties based on damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from a site. Certain environmental laws also impose liability in connection with the handling of or exposure to asbestos-containing materials, pursuant to which third parties may seek recovery from owners of real properties for personal injuries associated with asbestos-containing materials. Absent succeeding to ownership or control of real property, a secured lender is not likely to be subject to any of these forms of environmental liability. We are not currently aware of any environmental issues which could materially affect the Company.

17




ITEM 1A.        RISK FACTORS

Risks Related to Our Management and Our Relationship with SL Green

We are dependent on our Manager and its key employees and may not find a suitable replacement if our Manager terminates the management agreement or the key personnel are no longer available to us.

We have no direct employees. We are completely reliant on our Manager, which has significant discretion as to the implementation of our operating policies and strategies. We have entered into a management agreement with our Manager that terminates in December 2009, subject to automatic, one-year renewals. We are subject to the risk that our Manager will terminate the management agreement and that no suitable replacement will be found to manage us. We believe that our success depends to a significant extent upon the experience of our Manager’s executive officers, whose continued service is not guaranteed. If our Manager terminates the management agreement, we may not be able to execute our business plan.

There are conflicts of interest in our relationship with our Manager, which could result in decisions that are not in the best interest of holders of our securities.

We are subject to potential conflicts of interest arising out of our relationship with SL Green and our Manager. Several of SL Green’s executive officers are also directors and executive officers of our Manager and us. Specifically, our chairman and each of our executive officers also serve as officers of our Manager or SL Green. As a result, the management agreement was not negotiated at arm’s-length and its terms, including fees payable, may not be as favorable to us as if it had been negotiated with an unaffiliated third party.

In addition, our Manager and our executives may have conflicts between their duties to us and their duties to, and interests in, SL Green and/or our Manager. Our Manager is not required to devote a specific amount of time to our operations. There may also be conflicts in allocating investments which are suitable both for us and SL Green. SL Green has agreed generally that it will not acquire fixed income or preferred equity investments during the term of the management agreement. However, there are several exceptions, including debt instruments with equity characteristics, distressed debt and refinancings of existing SL Green debt investments. As a result, SL Green may compete with us with respect to certain investments which we may want to acquire, and as a result we may either not be presented with the opportunity or have to compete with SL Green to acquire these investments. Our Manager and our executive officers may choose to allocate favorable investments to SL Green instead of to us.

We pay our Manager substantial base management fees regardless of the performance of our portfolio. SL Green, our Manager and certain other parties, including certain of our officers, also own Class B limited partner interests in our operating partnership, which entitles them to receive quarterly distributions based on financial performance. In evaluating investments and other management strategies, this may lead our Manager to place emphasis on the maximization of revenues at the  expense of other criteria, such as preservation of capital. Investments with higher yield potential are generally riskier or more speculative. This could result in increased risk to the value of our invested portfolio.

Termination of or failure to renew the management agreement without cause requires us to pay substantial amounts of termination fees and redeem the Class B limited partner interests. If the management agreement is terminated or not renewed other than for cause, we will be required to pay a termination fee equal to two times the higher of the total annual fees paid in either of the two calendar years prior to the termination, unless we become self-managed, in which event this amount will be reduced by 50%. We are also required to redeem the Class B limited partner interests upon termination of the management agreement. These provisions may increase the effective cost to us of terminating or failing to

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renew the management agreement, thereby adversely affecting our ability to terminate or not renew the management agreement without cause.

Our assets that we acquire by foreclosure or similar conveyance may be subject to purchase rights or rights of first offer in favor of SL Green, which could reduce their marketability or value.

Pursuant to our origination agreement with SL Green, we have granted SL Green purchase rights with respect to certain of our assets. When we acquire a direct or indirect ownership interest in real property or interests in real property located in metropolitan New York or Washington, D.C. by foreclosure or similar conveyance or transfer, SL Green has the right to purchase such ownership interest at a price equal to the sum of (i) our unpaid principal balance on the date we foreclosed on or acquired the asset, (ii) unpaid interest through the date of SL Green’s purchase and (iii) legal costs incurred by us directly related to the conveyance of the property and the exit fee due upon prepayment or repayment, both to the extent payable by the borrower under the initial loan documentation. We refer to this amount as the “par value”. If we seek to sell the asset and receive a bona fide offer to acquire the asset for cash that we desire to accept, SL Green may purchase the asset at the lower of the par value and the third party’s offer price.

Similarly, our agreements with SL Green in connection with our investments in the South Building located at One Madison Avenue and 55 Corporate Drive contain a buy-sell provision that can be triggered by us in the event we and SL Green are unable to agree upon a major decision that would materially impair the value of the assets. Such major decisions involve the sale or refinancing of the assets, any extensions or modifications to the net leases with the tenant therein or any material capital expenditures.

These rights may make it more difficult to sell such assets because third parties may not want to incur the expense and effort to bid on assets when they perceive that SL Green may acquire them at the lower of the same terms proposed by the third party or par value. As a result, we may not receive the same value on the sale of such assets as we might receive from an independent third party submitting an offer through a competitive bidding process.

Our financial condition and results of operations depend on our ability to manage future growth effectively.

Our ability to achieve our investment objective depends on our ability to grow, which depends, in turn, on our Manager’s ability to identify and invest in debt investments or other securities that meet our investment criteria. Accomplishing this result on a cost-effective basis is largely a function of our Manager’s structuring of the investment process, its ability to provide competent, attentive and efficient services to us and our access to financing on acceptable terms. The senior management team of our Manager has substantial responsibilities under the management agreement. We can offer no assurance that the senior management team of our Manager or any of the other employees of our Manager will contribute to our growth. Any failure to manage our future growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our board of directors has approved very broad investment guidelines for our Manager and does not approve each investment decision made by our Manager.

Our Manager is authorized to follow very broad investment guidelines. Our directors review our investment guidelines and our investment portfolio annually and as often as they deem necessary. However, our board of directors does not review each proposed investment. The investment committee of our board of directors must unanimously approve all transactions involving investments of (i) $35 million or more with respect to whole loans, (ii) $30 million or more with respect to subordinate interests in whole loans, and (iii) $20 million or over with respect to mezzanine loans, preferred equity, and CTLs. The full board of directors must approve investments (i) over $75 million with respect to whole loans, (ii) over $65 million with respect to subordinate interests in whole loans, (iii) over $55 million with respect to

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mezzanine loans, and (iv) over $50 million with respect to preferred equity and CTLs. Our Manager will have full discretion to make investments on our behalf under (i) $35 million with respect to whole loans, (ii) $30 million with respect to subordinate interests in whole loans, and (iii) $20 million with respect to mezzanine loans, preferred equity and CTLs. Our chief investment officer may approve investments of less than $3 million. Approval limits are based on the investment amount less any origination fees, discounts or other up-front fees we receive in connection with the investment. In addition, in conducting periodic reviews, the directors rely primarily on information provided to them by our Manager. Our Manager has great latitude within the broad parameters of our investment guidelines in determining the types of assets it may decide are proper investments for us. Decisions made and investments entered into by our Manager may not fully reflect the stockholder’s best interests.

We may change our investment and operational policies without stockholder consent.

We may change our investment and operational policies, including our policies with respect to investments, acquisitions, growth, operations, indebtedness, capitalization and distributions, at any time without the consent of our stockholders, which could result in our making investments that are different from, and possibly riskier than, the types of investments described in this filing. A change in our investment strategy may increase our exposure to interest rate risk, default risk and real estate market fluctuations, all of which could adversely affect our ability to make distributions.

Risks Related to Our Business

Maintenance of our Investment Company Act exemption imposes limits on our operations.

We have conducted our operations and intend to continue to conduct our operations so as not to become regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We believe that there are a number of exemptions under the Investment Company Act that may be applicable to us. For example, Section 3(c)(5)(C) exempts from the definition of “investment company” any person who is “primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate.” Additionally, Section 3(c)(6) exempts from the definition of “investment company” any company primarily engaged, directly or through majority-owned subsidiaries, in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate. Further, Rule 3a-1 under the Investment Company Act exempts from the definition of “investment company” a company if no more than 45% of the value of its assets (exclusive of U.S. Government securities and cash items) consists of, and no more than 45% of its net income after taxes for the past four quarters is derived from, securities other than U.S. Government securities, securities issued by employees’ securities companies, securities issued by certain majority-owned subsidiaries of such company and securities issued by certain companies that are controlled primarily by such company, provided, that certain other requirements are met. The assets that we have acquired and may acquire in the future, therefore, are limited by the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the exemptions on which we rely. In addition, we could, among other things, be required either (a) to change the manner in which we conduct our operations to avoid being required to register as an investment company or (b) to register as an investment company, either of which could have an adverse effect on our business and our ability to pay dividends.

To maintain our qualification for an exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act pursuant to Section 3(c)(5)(C) and 3(c)(6) at least 55% of our portfolio, or the assets of our majority-owned subsidiaries, must be comprised of qualifying assets under Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act, and 80% of our portfolio, or the assets of our majority-owned subsidiaries, must be comprised of qualifying assets and real estate-related assets under Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act. In addition, we may not issue redeemable securities. To comply with these regulations, we may from time to time buy RMBS and other qualifying assets. We generally expect that mortgage loans,

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whole pool MBS, CTLs and certain distressed debt securities to be qualifying assets under the Section 3(c)(5)(C) and 3(c)(6) exemptions from the Investment Company Act. The treatment of distressed debt securities as qualifying assets is, and will be, based on the characteristics of the particular type of loan, including its foreclosure rights. Junior (first loss) interests in MBS pools may constitute qualifying assets under Section 3(c)(5)(C) provided that we have the unilateral right to foreclose, directly or indirectly, on the mortgages in the pool and that we may act as the controlling class or directing holder of the pool. Similarly, subordinate interests in whole loans may constitute qualifying assets under Section 3(c)(5)(C) provided that we have the unilateral right to foreclose, directly or indirectly, on the mortgage and that we may act as the controlling class or directing holder of the note. We generally do not treat mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments as qualifying assets. Although we monitor our portfolio periodically and prior to each origination or acquisition of a new asset or disposition of an existing asset, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain this exemption from registration. Further, we may not be able to invest in sufficient qualifying and/or real estate-related assets and future revisions or interpretations of the Investment Company Act may cause us to lose our exemption or force us to re-evaluate our portfolio and our business strategy. Such changes may prevent us from operating our business successfully. To the extent that the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, provides more specific guidance regarding the treatment of assets as qualifying assets or real estate-related assets, we may be required to adjust our investment strategy accordingly. Any additional guidance from the staff of the SEC could provide additional flexibility to us, or it could further inhibit our ability to pursue the investment strategy we have chosen.

As part of its duties under the management agreement, our Manager periodically evaluates our assets, and also evaluates prior to an acquisition or origination the structure of each prospective investment, to determine whether our Manager believes the investment will be a qualifying asset for purposes of maintaining our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act, and we consult with counsel to verify such determination. If we are obligated to register as an investment company, we would have to comply with a variety of substantive requirements under the Investment Company Act, including limitations on capital structure, restrictions on specified investments; prohibitions on transactions with affiliates, changes in the composition of the board of directors and compliance with reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy disclosure and other rules and regulations that would significantly change our operations. In addition, the terms of our management agreement would need to be substantially revised or such agreement would need to be terminated. If the management agreement is terminated, we will, among other things, be in default under our repurchase facilities and financial institutions will have the right to terminate those facilities and their obligation to advance funds to us to finance our future investments. In addition, we may not be able to identify a replacement manager on favorable terms or at all.

We utilize a significant amount of debt to finance our portfolio, which may subject us to an increased risk of loss, adversely affecting the return on our investments and reducing cash available for distribution.

We utilize a significant amount of debt to finance our operations, which can compound losses and reduce the cash available for distributions to our stockholders. We generally leverage our portfolio through the use of bank credit facilities, repurchase agreements, securitizations, including the issuance of CDOs and other borrowings. The leverage we employ varies depending on our ability to obtain financing, the loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratios of our assets, the yield on our assets, the targeted leveraged return we expect from our portfolio and our ability to meet ongoing covenants related to our asset mix and financial performance. Substantially all of our assets are pledged, or subject to a negative pledge, as collateral for our secured borrowings or to support our unsecured borrowings. Our return on our investments and cash available for distribution to our stockholders may be reduced to the extent that changes in market conditions cause the cost of our financing to increase relative to the income that we can derive from the assets we acquire. For example, we have purchased and expect to purchase in the future, subordinate classes of bonds in our CDOs, which represent leveraged investments in the collateral debt

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securities and other underlying assets. The use of leverage through such CDOs create the risk for the holders of the subordinate classes of bonds of increased exposure to losses on a leveraged basis as a result of defaults with respect to such collateral debt securities. As a result, the occurrence of defaults with respect to only a small portion of the collateral debt securities could result in the complete loss of the investment of the holders of the subordinate classes of bonds.

Our debt service payments, including payments in connection with any CDOs, reduce the net income available for distributions. Moreover, we may not be able to meet our debt service obligations and, to the extent that we cannot, we risk the loss of some or all of our assets to foreclosure or sale to satisfy our debt obligations. Under our repurchase agreements, our lenders take title to our assets and may have an ability to liquidate our assets through an expedited process. Currently, neither our charter nor our bylaws impose any limitations on the extent to which we may leverage our assets.

If GKK Manager LLC ceases to be our manager pursuant to the management agreement,  financial institutions providing our repurchase facilities may not provide future financing to us.

The financial institutions that finance our investments pursuant to our repurchase agreements require that GKK Manager LLC remain our Manager pursuant to the management agreement. If GKK Manager LLC ceases to be our Manager, it is an event of default and the financial institutions under these facilities have the right to terminate the facilities and their obligation to advance funds to us to finance our future investments. If GKK Manager LLC ceases to be our Manager for any reason and we are unable to obtain financing under these or replacement credit and repurchase facilities, our growth may be limited.

Our repurchase agreements and our CDO financing agreements may limit our ability to make investments.

In order to borrow money to make investments under our repurchase agreements, our lenders, Wachovia and Goldman have the right to review the potential investment for which we are seeking financing. We may be unable to obtain the consent of our lenders to make investments that we believe are favorable to our company. In the event that Wachovia or Goldman do not consent to the inclusion of the potential asset in the repurchase facility, we may be unable to obtain alternate financing for that investment. Our lender’s consent rights with respect to our repurchase agreements may limit our ability to execute our business plan.

Each CDO financing that we engage in will contain certain eligibility criteria with respect to the collateral that we seek to acquire and sell to the CDO issuer. If the collateral does not meet the eligibility criteria for eligible collateral as set forth in the transaction documents of such CDO transaction, we may not be able to acquire and sell such collateral to the CDO issuer. The inability of the collateral to meet eligibility requirements with respect to our CDOs may limit our ability to execute our business plan.

We may not be able to issue CDO securities on attractive terms, which may require us to seek more costly financing for our investments or to liquidate assets.

Conditions in the capital markets may make the issuance of a CDO less attractive to us even in instances when we have a sufficient pool of eligible collateral. If we are unable to issue a CDO to finance these assets, or if doing so is not economical, we may be required to seek other forms of potentially less attractive financing or otherwise to liquidate the collateral.

We may not be able to access financing sources on favorable terms, or at all, which could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan and our ability to distribute dividends.

We finance our assets over the long-term through a variety of means, including repurchase agreements, credit facilities, CDOs and other structured financings. We have also financed our investments through the issuance of $150 million of trust preferred securities. Our ability to execute this strategy

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depends on various conditions in the markets for financing in this manner which are beyond our control, including lack of liquidity and wider credit spreads. We cannot assure the stockholders that these markets will remain an efficient source of long-term financing for our assets. If our strategy is not viable, we will have to find alternative forms of long-term financing for our assets, as secured revolving credit facilities and repurchase facilities may not accommodate long-term financing. This could subject us to more recourse indebtedness and the risk that debt service on less efficient forms of financing would require a larger portion of our cash flows, thereby reducing cash available for distribution to our stockholders, funds available for operations as well as for future business opportunities.

In addition, we depend upon the availability of adequate financing sources and capital for our operations. As a REIT, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain, to our stockholders and are therefore not able to retain our earnings for new investments. However, our taxable REIT subsidiaries are able to retain (and likely will retain) earnings for investment in new capital, subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT. We cannot assure the stockholders that any, or sufficient, funding or capital will be available to us in the future on terms that are acceptable to us.

Furthermore, if the minimum dividend distribution required to maintain our REIT qualification becomes large relative to our cash flow due to our taxable income exceeding our cash flow from operations, then we could be forced to borrow funds, sell assets or raise capital on unfavorable terms, if we are able to at all, in order to maintain our REIT qualification. In the event that we cannot obtain sufficient funding on acceptable terms, there may be a negative impact on the market price of our common shares and our ability to distribute dividends.

Lack of diversification in number of investments increases our dependence on individual investments.

If we acquire larger loans or property interests, our portfolio will be concentrated in a smaller number of assets, increasing the risk of loss to stockholders if a default or other problem arises.

Interest rate fluctuations could reduce our ability to generate income on our investments.

The yield on our investments in real estate securities and loans is sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates and changes in prepayment rates. Changes in interest rates can affect our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning investments and the interest expense we incur in financing these investments. We tend to price loans at a spread to either United States Treasury obligations, swaps or LIBOR. A decrease in these indexes will lower the yield on our investments. Conversely, if these indexes rise materially, borrowers may be unable to borrow the higher-leverage loans that we target.

In a period of rising interest rates, our interest expense could increase while the interest we earn on our fixed-rate assets would not change, which would adversely affect our profitability.

Our operating results depend in large part on differences between the income from our assets, net of credit losses, and financing costs. In most cases, for any period during which our assets are not match-funded, the income from such assets will respond more slowly to interest rate fluctuations than the cost of our borrowings. Consequently, changes in interest rates, particularly short-term interest rates, may significantly influence our net income. Increases in these rates will tend to decrease our net income and market value of our assets. Interest rate fluctuations resulting in our interest expense exceeding our interest income would result in operating losses for us and may limit or eliminate our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

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If credit spreads widen before we obtain long-term financing for our assets, the value of our assets may suffer.

We price our assets based on our assumptions about future credit spreads for financing of those assets. We have obtained, and will obtain in the future, longer term financing for our assets using structured financing techniques. Such issuances entail interest rates set at a spread over a certain benchmark, such as the yield on United States Treasury obligations, swaps or LIBOR. If the spread that investors are paying on our current structured finance vehicle and will pay on future structured finance vehicles we may engage in over the benchmark widens and the rates we are charging or will charge on our securitized assets are not increased accordingly, this may reduce our income or cause losses.

The repurchase agreements and credit facilities that we use to finance our investments may require us to provide additional collateral.

We use credit facilities and repurchase agreements to finance some of our debt investments, primarily on an interim basis. If the market value of the loans pledged or sold by us to a funding source decline in value, we may be required by the lending institution to provide additional collateral or pay down a portion of the funds advanced. We may not have the funds available to pay down our debt, which could result in defaults. Posting additional collateral to support our repurchase and credit facilities will reduce our liquidity and limit our ability to leverage our assets. In the event we do not have sufficient liquidity to meet such requirements, lending institutions can accelerate our indebtedness, increase interest rates and terminate our ability to borrow. Such a situation would likely result in a rapid deterioration of our financial condition and possibly necessitate a filing for protection under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

Further, facility providers may require us to maintain a certain amount of cash uninvested or set aside unlevered assets sufficient to maintain a specified liquidity position which would allow us to satisfy our collateral obligations. As a result, we may not be able to leverage our assets as fully as we would choose, which could reduce our return on assets. In the event that we are unable to meet these collateral obligations, our financial condition could deteriorate rapidly.

Lenders may require us to enter into restrictive covenants relating to our operations.

When we obtain financing, lenders impose restrictions on us that affect our ability to incur additional debt, our capability to make distributions to stockholders and our flexibility to determine our operating policies. Loan documents we execute contain negative covenants that limit, among other things, our ability to repurchase stock, distribute more than a certain amount of our funds from operations, and employ leverage beyond certain amounts.

The use of CDO financings with coverage tests may have a negative impact on our operating results and cash flows.

We have purchased, and expect to purchase in the future, subordinate classes of bonds issued by certain of our subsidiaries in our CDO financings. The terms of the CDO securities issued by us include and will include coverage tests, including over-collateralization tests, used primarily to determine whether and to what extent principal and interest proceeds on the underlying collateral debt securities and other assets may be used to pay principal of and interest on the subordinate classes of bonds in the CDO. In the event the coverage tests are not satisfied, interest and principal that would otherwise be payable on the subordinate classes may be re-directed to pay principal on the senior bond classes. Therefore, failure to satisfy the coverage tests could adversely affect our operating results and cash flows. Although these coverage tests are currently being met, we cannot assure you that the coverage tests will continue to be satisfied in the future.

Certain coverage tests (based on delinquency levels or other criteria) may also restrict our ability to receive net income from assets pledged to secure the CDOs. We cannot assure you, in advance of

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completing negotiations with the rating agencies or other key transaction parties on any future CDOs, the actual terms of the delinquency tests, over-collateralization terms, cash flow release mechanisms or other significant factors regarding the calculation of net income to us. Failure to obtain favorable terms with regard to these matters may materially and adversely affect the availability of net income to us. If our assets fail to perform as anticipated, our over-collateralization or other credit enhancement expense associated with our CDOs will increase.

If we issue senior securities we will be exposed to additional restrictive covenants and limitations on our operating flexibility, which could adversely affect our ability to pay dividends.

If we decide to issue senior securities in the future, it is likely that they will be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Holders of senior securities may be granted specific rights, including but not limited to: the right to hold a perfected security interest in certain of our assets, the right to accelerate payments due under the indenture, rights to restrict dividend payments, and rights to require approval to sell assets. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock. We, and indirectly our stockholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities.

We may not be able to renew the total return swaps that we enter into, which could adversely impact our leveraging strategy.

Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, we leverage certain of our investments through the use of total return swaps. We may wish to renew many of the swaps, which are for specified terms, as they mature. However, there is a limited number of providers of such swaps, and there is no assurance the initial swap providers will choose to renew the swaps, and—if they do not renew—that we would be able to obtain suitable replacement providers. Providers may choose not to renew our total return swaps for a number of reasons, including:

·       increases in the provider’s cost of funding;

·       insufficient volume of business with a particular provider;

·       a desire by our company to invest in a type of swap that the provider does not view as economically attractive due to changes in interest rates or other market factors; or

·       the inability of our company and a provider to agree on terms.

Furthermore, our ability to invest in total return swaps, other than through a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, may be severely limited by the REIT qualification requirements because total return swaps are not qualifying assets and do not produce qualifying income for purposes of the REIT asset and income tests.

We may be required to repurchase loans that we have sold or to indemnify holders of our CDOs.

If any of the loans we originate or acquire and sell or securitize do not comply with representations and warranties that we make about certain characteristics of the loans, the borrowers and the underlying properties, we may be required to repurchase those loans (including from a trust vehicle used to facilitate a structured financing of the assets through CDOs) or replace them with substitute loans. In addition, in the case of loans that we have sold instead of retained, we may be required to indemnify persons for losses or expenses incurred as a result of a breach of a representation or warranty. Repurchased loans typically require a significant allocation of working capital to carry on our books, and our ability to borrow against such assets is limited. Any significant repurchases or indemnification payments could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.

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Our hedging transactions may limit our gains or result in losses.

Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, we use derivative instruments, including forwards, futures, swaps and options, in our risk management strategy to limit the effects of changes in interest rates on our operations. Our primary hedging strategy consists of entering into interest rate swap contracts. Additionally, we, in certain select instances choose to hedge our exposure to fluctuations in CMBS credit spreads by purchasing swaps written against a broad-based CMBS index. The value of our forwards, futures and swaps may fluctuate over time in response to changing market conditions, and will tend to change inversely with the value of the risk in our liabilities that we intend to hedge. Hedges are sometimes ineffective because the correlation between changes in value of the underlying investment and the derivative instrument is less than was expected when the hedging transaction was undertaken. Since a portion of our hedging activity is intended to cover the period between origination or purchase of loans and their eventual sale or securitization, unmatched losses in our hedging program can occur when the planned securitization fails to occur, or if the hedge proves to be ineffective.

Our hedging transactions, which are intended to limit losses, may actually limit gains and increase our exposure to losses. The use of derivatives to hedge our liabilities carries certain risks, including the risk that losses on a hedge position will reduce the cash available for distribution to stockholders and that these losses may exceed the amount invested in such instruments. A hedge may not be effective in eliminating all of the risks inherent in any particular position and could result in higher interest rates than we would otherwise have. In addition, there will be many market risks against which we may not be able to hedge effectively. Moreover, no hedging activity can completely insulate us from the risks associated with changes in interest rates, and our qualification as a REIT may limit our ability to effectively hedge our interest rate exposure. Our profitability may be adversely affected during any period as a result of the use of derivatives.

We are subject to significant competition and we may not compete successfully.

We have significant competition with respect to our acquisition and origination of assets with many other companies, including other REITs, insurance companies, commercial banks, private investment funds, hedge funds, specialty finance companies and other investors. Some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. We cannot assure you that the competitive pressures we face will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, as a result of this competition, we may not be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities from time to time, and we can offer no assurance that we will be able to identify and make investments that are consistent with our investment objective.

Rapid changes in the values of our MBS and other real estate related investments may make it more difficult for us to maintain our qualification as a REIT or exemption from the Investment Company Act.

If the market value or income potential of our MBS and other real estate-related investments declines as a result of increased interest rates, prepayment rates or other factors, we may need to increase our real estate investments and income and/or liquidate our non-qualifying assets in order to maintain our REIT qualification or exemption from the Investment Company Act. If the decline in real estate asset values and/or income occurs quickly, this may be especially difficult to accomplish. This difficulty may be exacerbated by the illiquid nature of many of our non-real estate assets. We may have to make investment decisions that we otherwise would not make absent the REIT and Investment Company Act considerations.

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If we fail to achieve adequate operating cash flow, our ability to make distributions will be adversely affected.

As a REIT, we must distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income to our stockholders, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain. Our ability to make and sustain cash distributions is based on many factors, including the return on our investments, operating expense levels and certain restrictions imposed by Maryland law. Some of the factors are beyond our control and a change in any such factor could affect our ability to pay future dividends. No assurance can be given as to our ability to pay distributions.

Terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war may affect the market for our common stock, the industry in which we conduct our operations and our profitability.

Terrorist attacks may harm our results of operations and the stockholder’s investment. We cannot assure the stockholders that there will not be further terrorist attacks against the U.S. or U.S. businesses. These attacks or armed conflicts may directly impact the property underlying our asset-based securities or the securities markets in general. Losses resulting from these types of events are uninsurable.

More generally, any of these events could cause consumer confidence and spending to decrease or result in increased volatility in the U.S. and worldwide financial markets and economy. Adverse economic conditions could harm the value of the property underlying our asset-backed securities or the securities markets in general which could harm our operating results and revenues and may result in the volatility of the value of our securities.

We are highly dependent on information systems and third parties, and systems failures could significantly disrupt our business, which may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

Our business is highly dependent on communications and information systems. Any failure or interruption of our systems could cause delays or other problems in our securities trading activities, including mortgage-backed securities trading activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay dividends.

Risks Related to Our Investments

Some of our portfolio investments may be recorded at fair value as determined in good faith by our Manager and, as a result, there will be uncertainty as to the value of these investments.

Some of our portfolio investments may be in the form of securities that are not publicly traded. The fair value of securities and other investments that are not publicly traded may not be readily determinable. We value these investments quarterly at fair value as determined in good faith by our Manager. Because such valuations are inherently uncertain, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates, our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these securities existed. The value of our common stock could be adversely affected if our determinations regarding the fair value of these investments were materially higher than the values that we ultimately realize upon their disposal. At December 31, 2006, we held no such investments.

We may not realize gains or income from our investments.

We seek to generate both current income and capital appreciation. However, the securities we invest in may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value, and the debt securities we invest in may default on interest and/or principal payments. Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains or income from our investments. Any gains that we do realize may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience. Any income that we realize may not be sufficient to offset our expenses.

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A prolonged economic slowdown, a lengthy or severe recession, or declining real estate values could harm our operations.

We believe the risks associated with our business is more severe during periods of economic slowdown or recession if these periods are accompanied by declining real estate values. Declining real estate values will likely reduce our level of new mortgage loan originations, since borrowers often use increases in the value of their existing properties to support the purchase or investment in additional properties. Borrowers may also be less able to pay principal and interest on our loans if the real estate economy weakens. Further, declining real estate values significantly increase the likelihood that we will incur losses on our loans in the event of default because the value of our collateral may be insufficient to cover our cost on the loan. Any sustained period of increased payment delinquencies, foreclosures or losses could adversely affect both our net interest income from loans in our portfolio as well as our ability to originate, sell and securitize loans, which would significantly harm our revenues, results of operations, financial condition, business prospects and our ability to make distributions to the stockholders.

We may be adversely affected by unfavorable economic changes in geographic areas where our properties are concentrated.

Adverse conditions in the areas where the properties underlying our investments are located (including business layoffs or downsizing, industry slowdowns, changing demographics and other factors) and local real estate conditions (such as oversupply of, or reduced demand for, office and industrial properties) may have an adverse effect on the value of our properties. A material decline in the demand or the ability of tenants to pay rent for office and industrial space in these geographic areas may result in a material decline in our cash available for distribution.

Joint investments could be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority and reliance upon a co-venturer’s financial condition.

We co-invest with third parties through partnerships, joint ventures, co-tenancies or other entities, acquiring non-controlling interests in, or sharing responsibility for managing the affairs of, a property, partnership, joint venture, co-tenancy or other entity. Therefore, we will not be in a position to exercise sole decision-making authority regarding that property, partnership, joint venture or other entity. Investments in partnerships, joint ventures, or other entities may involve risks not present were a third party not involved, including the possibility that our partners, co-tenants or co-venturers might become bankrupt or otherwise fail to fund their share of required capital contributions. Additionally, our partners or co-venturers might at any time have economic or other business interests or goals which are inconsistent with our business interests or goals. These investments may also have the potential risk of impasses on decisions such as a sale, because neither we nor the partner, co-tenant or co-venturer would have full control over the partnership or joint venture. Consequently, actions by such partner, co-tenant or co-venturer might result in subjecting properties owned by the partnership or joint venture to additional risk. In addition, we may in specific circumstances be liable for the actions of our third-party partners, co-tenants or co-venturers.

We may in the future enter into joint venture agreements that contain terms in favor of our partners that may have an adverse effect on the value of our investments in the joint ventures. For example, we may be entitled under a particular joint venture agreement to an economic share in the profits of the joint venture that is smaller than our ownership percentage in the joint venture, our partner may be entitled to a specified portion of the profits of the joint venture before we are entitled to any portion of such profits and our partner may have rights to buy our interest in the joint venture, to force us to buy the partner’s interest in the joint venture or to compel the sale of the property owned by such joint venture. These rights may permit our partner in a particular joint venture to obtain a greater benefit from the value or profits of the

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joint venture than us, which may have an adverse effect on the value of our investment in the joint venture and on our financial condition and results of operations.

Liability relating to environmental matters may impact the value of the properties that we may acquire or underlying our investments.

Under various U.S. federal, state and local laws, an owner or operator of real property may become liable for the costs of removal of certain hazardous substances released on its property. These laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or, was responsible for, the release of such hazardous substances.

If we acquire properties directly, there may be environmental problems associated with the property which we were unaware of at the time of acquisition. The presence of hazardous substances may adversely affect an owner’s ability to sell real estate or borrow using real estate as collateral. To the extent that an owner of a property underlying one of our debt investments becomes liable for removal costs, the ability of the owner to make debt payments to us may be reduced. This, in turn, may adversely affect the value of the relevant mortgage asset held by us and our ability to make distributions to stockholders.

If we acquire any properties, the presence of hazardous substances on a property may adversely affect our ability to sell the property and we may incur substantial remediation costs, thus harming our financial condition. In addition, although our leases, if any, will generally require our tenants to operate in compliance with all applicable laws and to indemnify us against any environmental liabilities arising from a tenant’s activities on the property, we nonetheless would be subject to strict liability by virtue of our ownership interest for environmental liabilities created by such tenants, and we cannot ensure the stockholders that any tenants we might have would satisfy their indemnification obligations under the applicable sales agreement or lease. The discovery of material environmental liabilities attached to such properties could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

Hedging instruments often are not traded on regulated exchanges, guaranteed by an exchange or its clearing house, or regulated by any U.S. or foreign governmental authorities and involve risks and costs.

The cost of using hedging instruments increases as the period covered by the instrument increases and during periods of rising and volatile interest rates. We may increase our hedging activity and thus increase our hedging costs during periods when interest rates are volatile or rising and hedging costs have increased.

In addition, hedging instruments involve risk since they often are not traded on regulated exchanges, guaranteed by an exchange or its clearing house, or regulated by any U.S. or foreign governmental authorities. Consequently, there are no requirements with respect to record keeping, financial responsibility or segregation of customer funds and positions. Furthermore, the enforceability of agreements underlying derivative transactions may depend on compliance with applicable statutory and commodity and other regulatory requirements and, depending on the identity of the counterparty, applicable international requirements. The business failure of a hedging counterparty with whom we enter into a hedging transaction will most likely result in a default. Default by a party with whom we enter into a hedging transaction may result in the loss of unrealized profits and force us to cover our resale commitments, if any, at the then current market price. Although generally we will seek to reserve the right to terminate our hedging positions, it may not always be possible to dispose of or close out a hedging position without the consent of the hedging counterparty, and we may not be able to enter into an offsetting contract in order to cover our risk. We cannot be assured that a liquid secondary market will exist for hedging instruments purchased or sold, and we may be required to maintain a position until exercise or expiration, which could result in losses.

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Prepayments can adversely affect the yields on our investments.

The yield of our assets may be affected by the rate of prepayments differing from our projections. Prepayments on debt instruments, where permitted under the debt documents, are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic and other factors beyond our control, and consequently, such prepayment rates cannot be predicted with certainty. In periods of declining interest rates, prepayments on mortgage at similar yields, and loans generally increase. If we are unable to invest the proceeds of such prepayments received, the yield on our portfolio will decline. In addition, we may acquire assets at a discount or premium and if the asset does not repay when expected, our anticipated yield may be impacted. Under certain interest rate and prepayment scenarios we may fail to recoup fully our cost of acquisition of certain investments.

The loans we invest in and the commercial mortgage loans underlying the CMBS we invest in are subject to risks of delinquency and foreclosure.

Commercial mortgage loans are secured by commercial or multi-family property and are subject to risks of delinquency and foreclosure. These risks of loss are greater than similar risks associated with loans made on the security of single-family residential property. The ability of a borrower to pay principal and interest on a loan secured by an income-producing property typically is dependent primarily upon the successful operation of the property rather than upon the existence of independent income or assets of the borrower. If the net operating income of the property is reduced, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Net operating income of an income-producing property can be affected by a number of conditions beyond our control, including:

·       tenant mix;

·       success of tenant businesses;

·       property management decisions;

·       property location and condition;

·       competition from comparable types of properties;

·       changes in laws that increase operating expense or limit rents that may be charged;

·       any need to address environmental contamination at the property;

·       the occurrence of any uninsured casualty at the property;

·       changes in national, regional or local economic conditions and/or specific industry segments;

·       declines in regional or local real estate values;

·       declines in regional or local rental or occupancy rates;

·       increases in interest rates, real estate tax rates and other operating expenses; and

·       changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies, including environmental legislation, acts of God, terrorism, social unrest and civil disturbances.

Any of these factors could have an adverse affect on the ability of the borrower to make payments of principal and interest in a timely fashion, or at all, on the mortgage loans in which we invest and could adversely affect the cash flows we intend to receive from these investments.

In the event of any default under a mortgage loan held directly by us, we will bear the risk of loss of principal to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the collateral and the principal and accrued interest on the mortgage loan, which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow from operations

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and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. In the event of the bankruptcy of a mortgage loan borrower, the mortgage loan to the borrower will be deemed to be secured only to the extent of the value of the underlying collateral at the time of bankruptcy (as determined by the bankruptcy court), and the lien securing the mortgage loan will be subject to the avoidance powers of the bankruptcy trustee or debtor-in-possession to the extent the lien is unenforceable under state law. Foreclosure of a mortgage loan can be an expensive and lengthy process which could have a substantial negative effect on our anticipated return on the foreclosed mortgage loan.

CMBS evidence interests in or are secured by a single commercial mortgage loan or a pool of commercial mortgage loans. Residential MBS evidence interests in or are secured by a pool of single-family residential mortgage loans. Accordingly, multi-property MBS we invest in are subject to all of the risks of the underlying mortgage loans.

The subordinate interests in whole loans in which we invest may be subject to additional risks relating to the privately negotiated structure and terms of the transaction, which may result in losses to us.

A subordinate interest in a whole loan is a mortgage loan typically (i) secured by a whole loan on a single large commercial property or group of related properties and (ii) subordinated to an senior interest secured by the same whole loan on the same collateral. As a result, if a borrower defaults, there may not be sufficient funds remaining for subordinate interest owners after payment to the senior interest owners. Subordinate interests reflect similar credit risks to comparably rated CMBS. However, since each transaction is privately negotiated, subordinate interests can vary in their structural characteristics and risks. For example, the rights of holders of subordinate interests to control the process following a borrower default may be limited in certain investments. We cannot predict the terms of each subordinate investment. Further, subordinate interests typically are secured by a single property, and so reflect the increased risks associated with a single property compared to a pool of properties. Subordinate interests also are less liquid than CMBS, thus we may be unable to dispose of underperforming or non-performing investments. The higher risks associated with our subordinate position in these investments could subject us to increased risk of losses.

Investment in non-conforming and non-investment grade loans may involve increased risk of loss.

We acquire or originate and may continue to acquire or originate in the future certain loans that do not conform to conventional loan criteria applied by traditional lenders and are not rated or are rated as non-investment grade (for example, for investments rated by Moody’s Investors Service, ratings lower than Baa3, and for Standard & Poor’s, BBB- or below). The non-investment grade ratings for these loans typically result from the overall leverage of the loans, the lack of a strong operating history for the properties underlying the loans, the borrowers’ credit history, the properties’ underlying cash flow or other factors. As a result, these loans have a higher risk of default and loss than conventional loans. Any loss we incur may reduce distributions to our stockholders. There are no limits on the percentage of unrated or non-investment grade assets we may hold in our portfolio.

Investments in mezzanine loans involve greater risks of loss than senior loans secured by income producing properties.

Investments in mezzanine loans are secured by a pledge of the ownership interests in the entity that directly or indirectly owns the property. These types of investments involve a higher degree of risk than a senior mortgage loan because the investment may become unsecured as a result of foreclosure by the senior lender. In the event of a bankruptcy of the entity providing the pledge of its ownership interests as security, we may not have full recourse, to the assets of the property owning entity, or the assets of the entity may not be sufficient to satisfy our mezzanine loan. If a borrower defaults on our mezzanine loan or debt senior to our loan, or in the event of a borrower bankruptcy, our mezzanine loan will be satisfied only

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after the senior debt is paid in full. As a result, we may not recover some or all of our investment, which could result in losses. In addition, mezzanine loans may have higher loan to value ratios than conventional mortgage loans, resulting in less equity in the property and increasing the risk of loss of principal.

Bridge loans involve a greater risk of loss than traditional mortgage loans.

We provide bridge loans secured by first lien mortgages on a property to borrowers who are typically seeking short-term capital to be used in an acquisition or renovation of real estate. The borrower has usually identified an undervalued asset that has been under-managed or is located in a recovering market. If the market in which the asset is located fails to recover according to the borrower’s projections, or if the borrower fails to improve the quality of the asset’s management or the value of the asset, the borrower may not receive a sufficient return on the asset to satisfy the bridge loan, and we may not recover some or all of our investment.

In addition, owners usually borrow funds under a conventional mortgage loan to repay a bridge loan. We may therefore be dependent on a borrower’s ability to obtain permanent financing to repay our bridge loan, which could depend on market conditions and other factors. Bridge loans are also subject to risks of borrower defaults, bankruptcies, fraud, losses and special hazard losses that are not covered by standard hazard insurance. In the event of any default under bridge loans held by us, we bear the risk of loss of principal and non-payment of interest and fees to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the mortgage collateral and the principal amount of the bridge loan. To the extent we suffer such losses with respect to our investments in bridge loans, the value of our company and the price of our common stock may be adversely affected.

Preferred equity investments involve a greater risk of loss than traditional debt financing.

Preferred equity investments are subordinate to debt financing and are not secured. Should the issuer default on our investment, we would only be able to proceed against the entity that issued the preferred equity in accordance with the terms of the preferred security, and not any property owned by the entity. Furthermore, in the event of bankruptcy or foreclosure, we would only be able to recoup our investment after any lenders to the entity are paid. As a result, we may not recover some or all of our investment, which could result in losses.

Our investments in subordinate loans and subordinated CMBS are subject to losses.

We acquire subordinated loans and may invest in subordinated CMBS. In the event a borrower defaults on a loan and lacks sufficient assets to satisfy our loan, we may suffer a loss of principal or interest. In the event a borrower declares bankruptcy, we may not have full recourse to the assets of the borrower, or the assets of the borrower may not be sufficient to satisfy the loan. In addition, certain of our loans may be subordinate to other debt of the borrower. If a borrower defaults on our loan or on debt senior to our loan, or in the event of a borrower bankruptcy, our loan will be satisfied only after the senior debt is paid in full. Where debt senior to our loan exists, the presence of intercreditor arrangements may limit our ability to amend our loan documents, assign our loans, accept prepayments, exercise our remedies (through “standstill periods”) and control decisions made in bankruptcy proceedings relating to borrowers.

In general, losses on a mortgage loan included in a securitization will be borne first by the equity holder of the property, then by a cash reserve fund or letter of credit, if any, and then by the “first loss” subordinated security holder. In the event of default and the exhaustion of any equity support, reserve fund, letter of credit and any classes of securities junior to those in which we invest, we will not be able to recover all of our investment in the securities we purchase. Likewise, we may not be able to recover some or all of our investment in certain subordinated loans in which we obtain interests. In addition, if the

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underlying mortgage portfolio has been overvalued by the originator, or if the values subsequently decline and, as a result, less collateral is available to satisfy interest and principal payments due on the related MBS, the securities in which we invest may effectively become the “first loss” position behind the more senior securities, which may result in significant losses to us.

An economic downturn could increase the risk of loss on our investments in subordinated MBS. The prices of lower credit-quality securities, such as the subordinated MBS in which we may invest, are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than more highly rated investments, but are more sensitive to adverse economic downturns or individual property developments. An economic downturn or a projection of an economic downturn could cause a decline in the price of lower credit quality securities because the ability of obligors of mortgages underlying MBS to make principal and interest payments may be impaired. In such event, existing credit support to a securitized structure may be insufficient to protect us against loss of our principal on these securities.

Our investments in debt securities are subject to specific risks relating to the particular issuer of the securities and to the general risks of investing in subordinated real estate securities.

Our investments in debt securities involve special risks. REITs generally are required to invest substantially in real estate or real estate-related assets and are subject to the inherent risks associated with real estate-related investments discussed in this filing. Our investments in debt are subject to the risks described above with respect to mortgage loans and MBS and similar risks, including:

·       risks of delinquency and foreclosure, and risks of loss in the event thereof;

·       the dependence upon the successful operation of and net income from real property;

·       risks generally incident to interests in real property; and

·       risks that may be presented by the type and use of a particular commercial property.

Debt securities may be unsecured and may also be subordinated to other obligations of the issuer. We may also invest in debt securities that are rated below investment grade. As a result, investments in debt securities are also subject to risks of:

·       limited liquidity in the secondary trading market;

·       substantial market price volatility resulting from changes in prevailing interest rates;

·       subordination to the prior claims of banks and other senior lenders to the issuer;

·       the operation of mandatory sinking fund or call/redemption provisions during periods of declining interest rates that could cause the issuer to reinvest premature redemption proceeds in lower yielding assets;

·       the possibility that earnings of the debt security issuer may be insufficient to meet its debt service; and

·       the declining creditworthiness and potential for insolvency of the issuer of such debt securities during periods of rising interest rates and economic downturn.

These risks may adversely affect the value of outstanding debt securities and the ability of the issuers thereof to repay principal and interest.

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Our real estate investments are subject to risks particular to real property.

We own assets secured by real estate and may own real estate directly. Real estate investments are subject to risks particular to real property.

·       acts of God, including earthquakes floods and other natural disasters, which may result in uninsured losses;

·       acts of war or terrorism, including the consequences of terrorist attacks, such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001;

·       adverse changes in national and local economic and market conditions;

·       changes in governmental laws and regulations, fiscal policies and zoning ordinances and the related costs of compliance with laws and regulations, fiscal policies and ordinances;

·       costs of remediation and liabilities associated with environmental conditions such as indoor mold; and

·       the potential for uninsured or under-insured property losses.

If any of these or similar events occur, it may reduce our return from an affected property or investment and reduce or eliminate our ability to make distributions to stockholders.

Our real estate investments may be illiquid, which could restrict our ability to respond rapidly to changes in economic conditions.

The real estate and real estate-related assets in which we invest are generally illiquid. In addition, the instruments that we purchase in connection with privately negotiated transactions are not registered under the relevant securities laws, resulting in a prohibition against their transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition except in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of, or is otherwise in accordance with, those laws. A majority of the MBS and debt instruments that we purchase are purchased in private, unregistered transactions. As a result, the majority of our investments in securities are subject to restrictions on resale or otherwise have no established trading market. As a result, our ability to sell under-performing assets in our portfolio or respond to changes in economic and other conditions may be relatively limited.

Investments in CTL properties may generate losses.

The value of our investments and the income from our investments in CTL properties may be significantly adversely affected by a number of factors, including:

·       national, state and local economic climates;

·       real estate conditions, such as an oversupply of or a reduction in demand for real estate space in the area;

·       the perceptions of tenants and prospective tenants of the convenience, attractiveness and safety of our properties;

·       competition from comparable properties;

·       the occupancy rate of our properties;

·       the ability to collect on a timely basis all rent from tenants;

·       the effects of any bankruptcies or insolvencies of major tenants;

·       the expense of re-leasing space;

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·       changes in interest rates and in the availability, cost and terms of mortgage funding;

·       the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws;

·       cost of compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990;

·       adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies;

·       civil unrest;

·       acts of nature, including earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters (which may result in uninsured losses);

·       acts of terrorism or war;

·       adverse changes in zoning laws; and

·       other factors which are beyond our control.

We may enter into derivative contracts that could expose us to contingent liabilities in the future.

Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, part of our investment strategy involves entering into derivative contracts that could require us to fund cash payments in the future under certain circumstances, e.g., the early termination of the derivative agreement caused by an event of default or other early termination event, or the decision by a counterparty to request margin securities it is contractually owed under the terms of the derivative contract. The amount due would be equal to the unrealized loss of the open swap positions with the respective counterparty and could also include other fees and charges. These economic losses will be reflected in our financial results of operations, and our ability to fund these obligations will depend on the liquidity of our assets and access to capital at the time, and the need to fund these obligations could adversely impact our financial condition.

Our due diligence may not reveal all of a borrower’s liabilities and may not reveal other weaknesses in its business.

Before investing in a company or making a loan to a borrower, we assess the strength and skills of such entity’s management and other factors that we believe are material to the performance of the investment. In making the assessment and otherwise conducting customary due diligence, we rely on the resources available to us and, in some cases, an investigation by third parties. This process is particularly subjective with respect to newly organized entities because there may be little or no information publicly available about the entities. There can be no assurance that our due diligence processes will uncover all relevant facts or that any investment will be successful.

Risks Related to Our Organization and Structure

The concentration of our ownership may adversely affect the ability of investors to influence our policies.

SL Green owns approximately 25% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. In addition, SL Green has the right to purchase 25% of the shares in any future offering of common stock. Accordingly, SL Green has significant influence over us. The ownership level of SL Green may discourage or prevent others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer, including potential acquisitions that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders. This concentration of ownership may result in decisions affecting us that may not serve the best interest of all stockholders.

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Maryland takeover statutes may prevent a change of control of our company, which could depress our stock price.

Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:

·       any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s shares; or

·       an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approves in advance the transaction by which he otherwise would have become an interested stockholder.

After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

·       80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and

·       two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

The business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer, including potential acquisitions that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

We have opted out of these provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or the MGCL, with respect to its business combination provisions and its control share provisions by resolution of our board of directors and a provision in our bylaws, respectively. However, in the future our board of directors may reverse its decision by resolution and elect to opt in to the MGCL’s business combination provisions, or amend our bylaws and elect to opt in to the MGCL’s control share provisions.

Additionally, Title 8, Subtitle 3 of the MGCL permits our board of directors, without stockholder approval and regardless of what is provided in our charter or bylaws, to implement takeover defenses, some of which we do not have. These provisions may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from making us an acquisition proposal or of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control under circumstances that otherwise could provide the stockholders with an opportunity to realize a premium over the then-current market price.

Our authorized but unissued preferred stock may prevent a change in our control which could be in the shareholders’ best interests.

Our charter authorizes us to issue additional authorized but unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock. Any such issuance could dilute our existing stockholders’ interests. In addition, our board of directors may classify or reclassify any unissued shares of preferred stock and may set the preferences, rights and other terms of the classified or reclassified shares. As a result, our board of directors may establish a series of preferred stock that could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might be in the best interest of our stockholders.

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Our staggered board of directors and other provisions of our charter and bylaws may prevent a change in our control.

Our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors. The current terms of the directors expire in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Directors of each class are chosen for three-year terms upon the expiration of their current terms, and each year one class of directors is elected by the stockholders. The staggered terms of our directors may reduce the possibility of a tender offer or an attempt at a change in control, even though a tender offer or change in control might be in the best interest of our stockholders. In addition, our charter and bylaws also contain other provisions that may delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might be in the best interest of our stockholders.

Changes in market conditions could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

As with other publicly traded equity securities, the value of our common stock depends on various market conditions which may change from time to time. Among the market conditions that may affect the value of our common stock are the following:

·       the general reputation of REITs and the attractiveness of our equity securities in comparison to other equity securities, including securities issued by other real estate-based companies;

·       our financial performance; and

·       general stock and bond market conditions.

The market value of our common stock is based primarily upon the market’s perception of our growth potential and our current and potential future earnings and cash dividends. Consequently, our common stock may trade at prices that are higher or lower than our net asset value per share of common stock. If our future earnings or cash dividends are less than expected, it is likely that the market price of our common stock will diminish.

An increase in market interest rates may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

One of the factors that investors may consider in deciding whether to buy or sell shares of our common stock is our distribution rate as a percentage of our share price relative to market interest rates. If the market price of our common stock is based primarily on the earnings and return that we derive from our investments and income with respect to our investments and our related distributions to stockholders, and not from the market value of the investments themselves, then interest rate fluctuations and capital market conditions will likely affect the market price of our common stock. For instance, if market rates rise without an increase in our distribution rate, the market price of our common stock could decrease as potential investors may require a higher distribution yield on our common stock or seek other securities paying higher distributions or interest. In addition, rising interest rates would result in increased interest expense on our variable rate debt, thereby adversely affecting cash flow and our ability to service our indebtedness and pay distributions.

Risks Related to Our Taxation as a REIT

Our failure to qualify as a REIT would result in higher taxes and reduced cash available for stockholders.

We intend to continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our continued qualification as a REIT depends on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution and stockholder ownership requirements on a continuing basis. Our ability to satisfy some of the asset tests depends upon the fair market values of our assets, some of which are not able to be precisely determined and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals. If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, and certain statutory relief provisions were not available, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our

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taxable income at regular corporate rates, and distributions to stockholders would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income. Any such corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution. Unless entitled to relief under certain Internal Revenue Code provisions, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we ceased to qualify as a REIT.

REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our liquidity.

In order to qualify as a REIT, each year we must distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction, and not including any net capital gain. To the extent that we satisfy this distribution requirement, but distribute less than 100% of our net taxable income, we will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our undistributed net taxable income. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that we pay out to our stockholders in a calendar year is less than a minimum amount specified under U.S. federal tax laws.

We intend to continue to make distributions to our stockholders to comply with the REIT distribution requirements and avoid corporate income tax and/or excise tax. However, differences in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash could require us to sell assets or borrow funds on a short-term or long-term basis to meet the 90% distribution requirement or avoid corporate income or excise tax. We may own assets that generate mismatches between taxable income and available cash. These assets may include (a) securities that have been financed through financing structures which require some or all of available cash flows to be used to service borrowings, (b) loans or MBS we hold that have been issued at a discount and require the accrual of taxable economic interest in advance of receipt in cash, and (c) distressed debt on which we may be required to accrue taxable interest income even though the borrower is unable to make current debt service payments in cash. As a result, the requirement to distribute a substantial portion of our net taxable income could cause us to: (a) sell assets in adverse market conditions, (b) borrow on unfavorable terms or (c) distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions, capital expenditures or repayment of debt to comply with REIT requirements.

To maximize the return on our funds, cash generated from operations is expected to be used to temporarily pay down borrowings. When making distributions, we may borrow the required funds by drawing on credit capacity available under our credit or repurchase facilities. If distributions exceed the amount of cash generated from operations, we may be required to borrow additional funds, which, in turn, would reduce the amount of funds available for other purposes.

Further, amounts distributed will not be available to fund investment activities. We expect to fund our investments by raising equity capital and through borrowings from financial institutions. If we fail to obtain debt or equity capital in the future, it could limit our ability to grow, which could have a material adverse effect on the value of our common stock.

Complying with REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge effectively.

The existing REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code may substantially limit our ability to hedge our operations. Except to the extent provided by Treasury regulations, any income from a hedging transaction we enter into in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of interest rate or price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets, which is clearly identified as specified in Treasury regulations before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction, will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test (and will generally constitute non-qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test). To the extent that we enter into other types of hedging

38




transactions, the income from those transactions is likely to be treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of both of the gross income tests. In addition, we must limit our aggregate income from non-qualified hedging transactions, from our provision of services and from other non-qualifying sources, to less than 5% of our annual gross income (determined without regard to gross income from qualified hedging transactions). As a result, we may have to limit our use of certain hedging techniques or implement those hedges through TRSs. This could result in greater risks associated with changes in interest rates than we would otherwise want to incur or could increase the cost of our hedging activities. If we fail to satisfy the 25% or 5% limitations, we could lose our REIT qualification for U.S. federal income tax purposes, unless our failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, and we meet certain other technical requirements. Even if our failure was due to reasonable cause, we might incur a penalty tax.

The stock ownership limit imposed by the Internal Revenue Code for REITs and our charter may inhibit market activity in our stock and may restrict our business combination opportunities.

In order for us to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code to include certain entities) at any time during the last half of each taxable year. Our charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes our directors to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to preserve our qualification as a REIT. Unless exempted by our board of directors, no person may own more than 9.8% of the aggregate value of the outstanding shares of our stock. Our board of directors may not grant such an exemption to any proposed transferee whose ownership of in excess of 9.8% of the value of our outstanding shares would result in the termination of our status as a REIT. Our board of directors has waived this provision in connection with SL Green’s purchase of our shares. We have also granted waivers to two other purchasers in connection with their purchase of our shares in a previous private placement. These ownership limits could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in our control that might be in the best interest of our stockholders.

The tax on prohibited transactions will limit our ability to engage in transactions, including certain methods of securitizing mortgage loans, that would be treated as sales for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

A REIT’s net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, but including mortgage loans, held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. We might be subject to this tax if we were to sell or securitize loans in a manner that was treated as a sale of the loans for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, in order to avoid the prohibited transactions tax, we may choose not to engage in certain sales of loans and may limit the structures we utilize for our securitization transactions even though such sales or structures might otherwise be beneficial for us.

It may be possible to reduce the impact of the prohibited transaction tax by engaging in securitization transactions treated as sales through one or more of our TRSs, subject to certain limitations as described below. To the extent that we engage in such activities through one or more TRSs, the income associated with such activities may be subject to full corporate income tax.

The “taxable mortgage pool” rules may limit the manner in which we effect future securitizations and may subject us to U.S. federal income tax and increase the tax liability of our stockholders.

Certain of our current and future securitizations, such as our CDOs, could be considered to result in the creation of taxable mortgage pools for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, so long as we or another private subsidiary REIT own 100% of the equity interests in a taxable mortgage pool, our qualification as a REIT would not be adversely affected by the characterization of the securitization as a taxable mortgage pool. We would generally be precluded, however, from holding equity interests in such securitizations through our operating partnership (unless held through a private subsidiary REIT), selling

39




to outside investors equity interests in such securitizations or from selling any debt securities issued in connection with such securitizations that might be considered to be equity interests for tax purposes. These limitations will preclude us from using certain techniques to maximize our returns from securitization transactions.

Furthermore, we are taxable at the highest corporate income tax rate on a portion of the income arising from a taxable mortgage pool that is allocable to the percentage of our shares held by “disqualified organizations,” which are generally certain cooperatives, governmental entities and tax-exempt organizations that are exempt from unrelated business taxable income. We expect that disqualified organizations will own our shares from time to time.

In addition, if we realize excess inclusion income and allocate it to stockholders, this income cannot be offset by net operating losses of our stockholders. If the stockholder is a tax-exempt entity and not a disqualified organization, then this income would be fully taxable as unrelated business taxable income under Section 512 of the Internal Revenue Code. If the stockholder is a foreign person, it would be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding on this. Nominees or other broker/dealers who hold our stock on behalf of disqualified organizations are subject to tax at the highest corporate income tax rate on a portion of our excess inclusion income allocable to the stock held on behalf of disqualified organizations. If the stockholder is a REIT, a regulated investment company, or RIC, common trust fund, or other pass-through entity, its allocable share of our excess inclusion income could be considered excess inclusion income of such entity and such entity will be subject to tax at the highest corporate tax rate on any excess inclusion income allocated to their owners that are disqualified organizations. Accordingly, such investors should be aware that a portion of our income may be considered excess inclusion income. Finally, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, our taxable mortgage pool securitizations will be treated as separate taxable corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

We may be unable to generate sufficient revenue from operations to pay our operating expenses and to pay distributions to our stockholders.

As a REIT, we are generally required to distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and not including net capital gains) each year to our stockholders. To qualify for the tax benefits accorded to REITs, we have and intend to continue to pay quarterly distributions and to make distributions to our stockholders in amounts such that we distribute all or substantially all our net taxable income each year, subject to certain adjustments. However, our ability to make distributions may be adversely affected by the risk factors described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the event of a downturn in our operating results and financial performance or unanticipated declines in the value of our asset portfolio, we may be unable to declare or pay quarterly distributions or make distributions to our stockholders. The timing and amount of distributions are in the sole discretion of our board of directors, which considers, among other factors, our earnings, financial condition, debt service obligations and applicable debt covenants, REIT qualification requirements and other tax considerations and capital expenditure requirements as our board may deem relevant from time to time.

Although our use of TRSs may be able to partially mitigate the impact of meeting the requirements necessary to maintain our qualification as a REIT, our ownership of and relationship with our TRSs will be limited and a failure to comply with the limits would jeopardize our REIT qualification and may result in the application of a 100% excise tax.

A REIT may own up to 100% of the stock of one or more TRSs. A TRS generally may hold assets and earn income that would not be qualifying assets or income if held or earned directly by a REIT. Both the subsidiary and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a TRS. A corporation of which a TRS directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the stock will automatically be treated as a TRS. Overall, no more than 20% of the value of a REIT’s assets may consist of stock or

40




securities of one or more TRSs. In addition, the TRS rules limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. The rules also impose a 100% excise tax on certain transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis.

Our TRSs, including GKK Trading Corp. and GIT Trading Corp., will pay U.S. federal, state and local income tax on their taxable income, and their after-tax net income will be available for distribution to us but will not be required to be distributed to us. We anticipate that the aggregate value of TRS securities owned by us will be less than 20% of the value of our total assets (including such TRS securities). Furthermore, we will monitor the value of our respective investments in our TRSs for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the rule that no more than 20% of the value of a REIT’s assets may consist of TRS securities (which is applied at the end of each calendar quarter). In addition, we will scrutinize all of our transactions with our TRSs for the purpose of ensuring that they are entered into on arm’s-length terms in order to avoid incurring the 100% excise tax described above. The value of the securities that we hold in our TRSs may not be subject to precise valuation. Accordingly, there can be no complete assurance that we will be able to comply with the 20% limitation discussed above or avoid application of the 100% excise tax discussed above.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking expressions such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “continue,” or any negative or other variations on such expressions. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations, including any forecasts, projections, plans and objectives for future operations. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations as reflected in or suggested by those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. We have listed below some important risks, uncertainties and contingencies which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the forward-looking statements we make in this report. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, but are not limited to, the following:

·       the success or failure of our efforts to implement our current business strategy;

·       economic conditions generally and in the commercial finance and commercial real estate markets specifically;

·       the performance and financial condition of borrowers and corporate customers;

·       the actions of our competitors and our ability to respond to those actions;

·       the cost of our capital, which depends in part on our asset quality, the nature of our relationships with our lenders and other capital providers, our business prospects and outlook and general market conditions;

·       availability of qualified personnel;

·       availability of investment opportunities on real estate related and other securities;

·       the adequacy of our cash reserves and working capital;

·       unanticipated increases in financing and other costs, including a rise in interest rates;

·       the timing of cash flows , if any, from our investments;

41




·       risks of structured finance investments;

·       GKK Manager LLC remaining as our Manager;

·       environmental and/or safety requirements;

·       continuing threats or terrorist attacks on the national, regional and local economies;

·       competition with other companies;

·       our ability to satisfy complex rules in order for us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and qualify for our exemption under the Investment Company Act, our operating partnership’s ability to satisfy the rules in order for it to qualify as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to qualify as REITs, and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to qualify as taxable REIT subsidiaries for federal income tax purposes, and our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to operate effectively within the limitations imposed by these rules;

·       changes in governmental regulations, tax rates and similar matters; and

·       legislative and regulatory changes (including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs), and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

The risks included here are not exhaustive. Other sections of this report may include additional factors that could adversely affect our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

As of December 31, 2006, we did not have any unresolved comments with the Staff of the SEC.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Our corporate offices are located in midtown Manhattan at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10170. We can be contacted at (212) 297-1000. We maintain a website at www.gramercycapitalcorp.com.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As of December 31, 2006, we were not involved in any material litigation nor, to management’s knowledge, is any material litigation threatened against us or our Manager.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matters were submitted to a vote of our stockholders during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2006.

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PART II

ITEM 5.                MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on August 2, 2004 under the symbol “GKK.” On February 27, 2007, the reported closing sale price per share of common stock on the NYSE was $31.94 and there were approximately 42 holders of record of our common stock. The table below sets forth the quarterly high and low closing sales prices of our common stock on the NYSE since our initial public offering and the distributions paid by us with respect to the periods indicated.

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Quarter Ended

 

High

 

Low

 

Dividends

 

High

 

Low

 

Dividends

 

March 31

 

$

31.15

 

$

24.70

 

 

$

0.50

 

 

$

22.25

 

$

19.23

 

 

$

0.22

 

 

June 30

 

$

27.10

 

$

24.89

 

 

$

0.51

 

 

$

24.98

 

$

18.64

 

 

$

0.35

 

 

September 30

 

$

27.40

 

$

23.61

 

 

$

0.51

 

 

$

26.91

 

$

22.47

 

 

$

0.45

 

 

December 31

 

$

26.80

 

$

23.18

 

 

$

0.56

 

 

$

24.00

 

$

22.41

 

 

$

0.475

 

 

 

If dividends are declared in a quarter, those dividends will be paid during the subsequent quarter. We expect to continue our policy of generally distributing 100% of our taxable income through regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis, although there is no assurance as to future dividends because they depend on future earnings, capital requirements and financial condition. See Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Dividends” for additional information regarding our dividends.

We declared a quarterly dividend of $0.56 per share, payable on January 12, 2007, for stockholders of record of our common stock on December 29, 2006.

The following table summarizes information, as of December 31, 2006, relating to our equity compensation plans pursuant to which shares of our common stock or other equity securities may be granted from time to time.

Plan category

 


(a)
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

 


(b)
Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

 

(c)
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)

 

 

830,001

 

 

 

$

18.02

 

 

 

1,212,840

 

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

Total

 

 

830,001

 

 

 

$

18.02

 

 

 

1,212,840

 

 


(1)          Includes information related to our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan.

SALE OF UNREGISTERED AND REGISTERED SECURITIES; USE OF PROCEEDS FROM REGISTERED SECURITIES

On August 2, 2004, we consummated the initial public offering of our common stock, $0.001 par value per share. The shares of common stock sold in the offering were registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. All 12,500,000 shares of common stock registered under the Registration Statement were sold at a price to the public of $15.00 per share, generating gross proceeds of

43




approximately $187.5 million. We paid underwriting discounts and commissions of $9.8 million in this offering. The net proceeds to us were approximately $172.9 million, which were contributed to our Operating Partnership to make investments in commercial real estate-related loans and securities and for general corporate purposes, including financing and operating expenses and other expenses of our company. All of the shares of common stock were sold by us and there were no selling stockholders in the offering. Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Banc of America LLC and JMP Securities LLC acted as our principal underwriters in this offering.

On December 3, 2004 we sold 5,500,000 shares of common stock, at a price of $17.27 per share, through a private placement exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. We subsequently registered the resale of these shares under the Securities Act in August 2005. A total of 4,225,000 shares were sold to various institutional investors and an additional 1,275,000 were sold to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., an affiliate of SL Green Realty Corp., pursuant to its contractual right to choose to maintain a 25% ownership interest in the outstanding shares of our common stock. On December 31, 2004, 2,000,000 shares sold in the offering were issued. The remaining 3,500,000 shares were issued on January 3, 2005. The net proceeds from the offering (approximately $93.7 million) were used to fund additional investments, repay borrowings and for general corporate purposes. We did not use an underwriter; however, our Manager arranged the transaction and received a fee of $1.0 million.

On September 14, 2005 we sold 3,833,333 shares of common stock, at a price of $25.80 per share, under our $350 million shelf registration statement declared effective in August 2005, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $97.8 million. We paid underwriting discounts and commissions of $0.5 million in this offering. A total of 2,875,000 shares were sold through a public offering and an additional 958,333 shares were sold to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. pursuant to its contractual right to choose to maintain a 25% ownership interest in our outstanding shares of common stock. Net proceeds were used for loan acquisitions and originations, repayment of outstanding principal under one of our repurchase facilities and general corporate purposes. Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC acted as our underwriter in this offering.

On May 16, 2006, we sold 3,000,000 shares of common stock, at a price of $26.75 per share, under our $350 million shelf registration statement declared effective in August 2005, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $80.0 million. We paid underwriting discounts and commissions of $0.2 million in this offering. A total of 2,250,000 shares were sold through a public offering and an additional 750,000 shares were sold to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. pursuant to its contractual right to choose to maintain a 25% ownership interest in our outstanding shares of common stock. Net proceeds were used for loan acquisitions and originations, repayment of outstanding principal under our repurchase facilities and general corporate purposes. Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC acted as our underwriter in this offering.

ITEM 6.                SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following tables set forth our selected financial data and should be read in conjunction with our Financial Statements and notes thereto included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” and Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Form 10-K.

44




Operating Data

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

For the Year
ended
December 31,
2006

 

For the Year
ended
December 31,
2005

 

For the Period
April 12, 2004
(formation)
through
December 31,
2004

 

Total revenues

 

 

$

198,215

 

 

 

$

88,085

 

 

 

$

7,151

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

98,299

 

 

 

33,771

 

 

 

1,463

 

 

Management fees

 

 

16,668

 

 

 

9,600

 

 

 

1,965

 

 

Incentive fee

 

 

7,609

 

 

 

2,276

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

1,582

 

 

 

672

 

 

 

38

 

 

Marketing, general and administrative

 

 

11,957

 

 

 

6,976

 

 

 

1,358

 

 

Provision for loan loss

 

 

1,430

 

 

 

1,030

 

 

 

 

 

Total expenses

 

 

137,545

 

 

 

54,325

 

 

 

4,824

 

 

Income from continuing operations before equity in net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures and taxes

 

 

60,670

 

 

 

33,760

 

 

 

2,327

 

 

Equity in net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

 

(2,960

)

 

 

(1,489

)

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes and GKK formation costs

 

 

57,710

 

 

 

32,271

 

 

 

2,327

 

 

Provision for taxes

 

 

(1,808

)

 

 

(900

)

 

 

 

 

GKK formation costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(275

)

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

 

$

55,902

 

 

 

$

31,371

 

 

 

$

2,052

 

 

Net income per common share—Basic

 

 

$

2.26

 

 

 

$

1.57

 

 

 

$

0.15

 

 

Net income per common share—Diluted

 

 

$

2.15

 

 

 

$

1.51

 

 

 

$

0.15

 

 

Cash dividends declared per common share

 

 

$

2.08

 

 

 

$

1.495

 

 

 

$

0.15

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

24,722

 

 

 

20,027

 

 

 

13,348

 

 

Diluted weighted average common shares and common share equivalents outstanding

 

 

26,009

 

 

 

20,781

 

 

 

13,411

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Data

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Loans and other lending investments, net

 

$

2,144,151

 

$

1,163,745

 

$

395,717

 

Commercial mortgage backed securities, net

 

 

 

10,898

 

Loans held for sale, net

 

42,733

 

42,000

 

 

Commercial real estate, net

 

99,821

 

51,173

 

 

Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures

 

57,567

 

58,040

 

 

Total assets

 

2,766,113

 

1,469,810

 

514,047

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

1,714,250

 

810,500

 

 

Repurchase agreements

 

277,412

 

117,366

 

238,885

 

Credit facilities

 

15,000

 

 

 

Mortgage note payable

 

94,525

 

41,000

 

 

Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures held by trusts that issued trust preferred securities

 

150,000

 

100,000

 

 

Total liabilities

 

2,305,453

 

1,097,406

 

245,088

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

460,660

 

372,404

 

268,959

 

 

45




Other Data


(In thousands)

 


For the year
ended
December 31,
2006

 


For the year
ended
December 31,
2005

 

For the Period
April 12, 2004
(formation)
through
December 31,
2004

 

Funds from operations(1)

 

$

64,027

 

 

$

36,490

 

 

 

$

2,052

 

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities

 

$

154,707

 

 

$

2,160

 

 

 

$

1,145

 

 

Cash flows used in investing activities

 

($1,149,526

)

 

($867,995

)

 

 

($407,056

)

 

Cash flows provided by financing activities

 

$

943,557

 

 

$

897,317

 

 

 

$

444,805

 

 


(1)          We present FFO because we consider it an important supplemental measure of our operating performance and believe that it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of REITS. We also use FFO for the calculation of the incentive fee payable to the holders of Class B limited partner interests in our Operating Partnership and as one of several criteria to determine performance-based incentive compensation for members of our senior management, which may be payable in cash or equity awards. The revised White Paper on FFO approved by the Board of Governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, in April 2002 defines FFO as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from items which are not a recurring part of our business, such as debt restructurings, and sales of properties, plus real estate-related depreciation and amortization and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. We consider gains and losses on the sales of debt investments and real estate investments including tenancy-in-common investments to be a normal part of our recurring operations and therefore include such gains and losses when arriving at FFO. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP), as an indication of our financial performance, or to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it entirely indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions. Our calculation of FFO may be different from the calculation used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited.

A reconciliation of FFO to net income computed in accordance with GAAP is provided under the heading of “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Funds From Operations.”

46




ITEM 7.                MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

We are a commercial real estate specialty finance company that focuses on the direct origination and acquisition of whole loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, and net lease investments involving commercial properties throughout the United States. When evaluating transactions, we assess our risk-adjusted return and target transactions with yields that seek to provide excess returns for the risks being taken. We conduct substantially all of our operations through our operating partnership, GKK Capital LP, or our Operating Partnership. We are externally managed and advised by GKK Manager LLC, or our Manager, a majority-owned subsidiary of SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG), or SL Green. We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code and generally will not be subject to federal income taxes to the extent we distribute our income to our stockholders. However, we may establish TRSs to effect various taxable transactions. Those TRSs would incur federal, state and local taxes on the taxable income from their activities. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to “we,” “our” and “us” mean Gramercy Capital Corp.

In each financing transaction we undertake, we seek to control as much of the capital structure as possible in order to be able to identify and retain that portion that provides the best risk adjusted returns. This is generally achieved through the direct origination of whole loans, the ownership of which permits a wide variety of financing, syndication, and securitization executions to achieve excess returns. By providing a single source of financing for developers and sponsors, we streamline the lending process, provide greater certainty for borrowers, and retain the high yield debt instruments that we manufacture. By originating, rather than buying, whole loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine debt and preferred equity, we strive to deliver superior returns to our stockholders.

Since our inception, we have completed transactions in a variety of markets and secured by a variety of property types, and the market for commercial real estate debt has continued to demonstrate low rates of default, high relative returns and inflows of capital. Consequently, the market for debt instruments has evidenced moderately declining yields and more flexible credit standards and loan structures. In particular, “conduit” originators who package whole loans for resale to investors have driven debt yields lower while maintaining substantial liquidity because of the strong demand for the resulting securities. Because of reduced profits in the most liquid sectors of the mortgage finance business, several large institutions have begun originating large bridge loans for the purpose of generating interest income, rather than the typical focus on trading profits. In this environment we have focused on areas where we have comparative advantages rather than competing for product merely on the basis of yield or structure. This has particularly included whole loan origination in markets and transactions where we have an advantage due to (i) knowledge or relationships we have, (ii) knowledge or relationships of our largest stockholder, SL Green, and (iii) where we have an ability to better assess and manage risks over time. When considering investment opportunities in secondary market transactions in tranched debt, we generally avoid first loss risk in larger transactions due to the high current valuation of the underlying real estate relative to historic valuation levels. Because of the significant increase in the value of institutional quality assets relative to historic norms, we typically focus on positions in which a conventional refinancing at loan maturity would provide for a complete return of our investment.

Because of the high relative valuation of debt instruments in the current market and a generally increasing rate environment, we have carefully managed our exposure to interest rate changes that could affect our liquidity. We generally match our assets and liabilities in terms of base interest rate (generally one-month LIBOR) and expected duration. We raised $95,000 of additional equity in December 2004 and January 2005 to reduce our outstanding indebtedness and maintain sufficient liquidity for our investment portfolio. We have sold a total of $150,000 of trust preferred securities in three $50,000 issuances in

47




May and August 2005 and January 2006 through wholly-owned subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership with 30 year terms. The securities issued in May bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.57% for the first ten years ending, the securities issued in August bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.75% for the first ten years and the securities issued in January 2006 bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.65% for the first ten years. After the first ten years, the 2005 issuances bear interest at three-month LIBOR plus 300 basis points while the 2006 issuance bears interest at three-month LIBOR plus 270 basis points. The proceeds from the issuances of the trust preferred securities were used to fund existing and future investment opportunities.  In July 2005 we closed our first $1,000,000 CDO which extended the term of our liabilities and reduced our overall cost of funds with respect to debt investments financed by the CDO and previously financed by our repurchase agreements, to approximately 49 basis points over LIBOR, excluding transaction costs. Our second $1,000,000 CDO was closed in August 2006 at a weighted average interest spread of approximately 37 basis points over LIBOR, excluding transaction costs. The proceeds of the CDOs were used to repay our repurchase facilities and to fund additional investment activities. In September 2005 we sold 3,833,333 shares of common stock resulting in net proceeds of approximately $97,830 and in May 2006 we sold 3,000,000 shares of common stock resulting in net proceeds of approximately $80,000. The proceeds of these offerings were used to fund loan acquisitions and originations, repay outstanding principal amounts under our repurchase facilities and for general corporate purposes. In May 2006 we also closed on a $100,000 unsecured credit facility with an initial term of three years and interest spreads between 1.90% and 2.10%.

As of December 31, 2006, we held loans and other lending investments of $2,186,884 net of fees, discounts, and unfunded commitments with an average spread to LIBOR of 384 basis points for our floating rate investments, and an average yield of 10.04% for our fixed rate investments. As of December 31, 2006, we also held interests in four credit tenant lease, or CTL, investments comprised of a 49.75% tenancy-in-common, or TIC, interest in 55 Corporate Drive in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and three joint venture investments.

The aggregate carrying values, allocated by product type and weighted average coupons of our loans and other lending investments as of December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 were as follows:

 

 

Carrying Value(1)
 ($ in thousands)

 

Allocation by
Investment Type

 

Fixed Rate:
Average Yield

 

Floating Rate:
Average Spread
over LIBOR(2)

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Whole loans, floating rate

 

$

1,372,316

 

$

561,388

 

 

63

%

 

 

46

%

 

 

 

327 bps

 

325 bps

 

Whole loans, fixed rate

 

42,376

 

94,448

 

 

2

%

 

 

8

%

 

11.69

%

10.67

%

 

 

Subordinate interests in whole loans, floating rate 

 

236,308

 

362,983

 

 

11

%

 

 

30

%

 

 

 

445 bps

 

443 bps

 

Subordinate interests in whole loans, fixed
rate

 

48,769

 

37,104

 

 

2

%

 

 

3

%

 

8.54

%

8.80

%

 

 

Mezzanine loans, floating rate

 

226,675

 

82,793

 

 

10

%

 

 

7

%

 

 

 

665 bps

 

858 bps

 

Mezzanine loans, fixed rate

 

216,216

 

43,352

 

 

10

%

 

 

4

%

 

9.92

%

8.51

%

 

 

Preferred equity, floating rate

 

 

11,795

 

 

 

 

 

1

%

 

 

 

900 bps

 

900 bps

 

Preferred equity, fixed rate

 

44,224

 

11,882

 

 

2

%

 

 

1

%

 

10.68

%

10.27

%

 

 

Total / Weighted average

 

$

2,186,884

 

$

1,205,745

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

10.04

%

9.78

%

384 bps

 

417 bps

 


(1)             Debt investments are presented after scheduled amortization payments and prepayments, and are net of unamortized fees, discounts, asset sales and unfunded commitments.

(2)             Spreads over an index other than LIBOR have been adjusted to a LIBOR based equivalent.

The following discussion related to our consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with financial statements appearing in Item 8 of the Annual Report on Form 10K.

48




Critical Accounting Policies

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, known as GAAP. These accounting principles require us to make some complex and subjective decisions and assessments. Our most critical accounting policies involve decisions and assessments, which could significantly affect our reported assets, liabilities and contingencies, as well as our reported revenues and expenses. We believe that all of the decisions and assessments upon which our financial statements are based were reasonable at the time made based upon information available to us at that time. We evaluate these decisions and assessments on an ongoing basis. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We have identified our most critical accounting policies to be the following:

Loans and Investments and Loans Held for Sale

Loans held for investment are intended to be held to maturity and, accordingly, are carried at cost, net of unamortized loan origination fees, discounts, repayments, sales of partial interests in loans, and unfunded commitments unless such loan or investment is deemed to be impaired. Loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or market value using available market information obtained through consultation with dealers or other originators of such investments. We may originate or acquire preferred equity interests that allow us to participate in a percentage of the underlying property’s cash flows from operations and proceeds from a sale or refinancing. Should we make such a preferred equity investment, we must determine whether that investment should be accounted for as a loan, joint venture or as an interest in real estate.

Specific valuation allowances are established for impaired loans based on the fair value of collateral on an individual loan basis. The fair value of the collateral is determined by selecting the most appropriate valuation methodology, or methodologies, among several generally available and accepted  in the commercial real estate industry. The determination of the most appropriate valuation methodology is based on the key characteristics of the collateral type. These methodologies include the evaluation of operating cash flow from the property during the projected holding period, and the estimated sales value of the collateral computed by applying an expected capitalization rate to the stabilized net operating income of the specific property, less selling costs, all of which are discounted at market discount rates.

If upon completion of the valuation, the fair value of the underlying collateral securing the impaired loan is less than the net carrying value of the loan, an allowance is created with a corresponding charge to the provision for loan losses. The allowance for each loan is maintained at a level we believe is adequate to absorb probable losses. We maintained a reserve of $2,460 and $1,030 at December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

Our Manager evaluates our assets on a regular basis to determine if they continue to satisfy our investment criteria. Subject to certain restrictions, our Manager may cause us to sell our investments opportunistically and use the proceeds of any such sale for debt reduction, additional acquisitions or working capital purposes

Classifications of Mortgage-Backed Securities

Mortgage-backed securities, or MBS, are classified as available-for-sale securities. As a result, changes in fair value will be recorded as a balance sheet adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income, which is a component of stockholders equity, rather than through our statement of operations. If available-for-sale securities were classified as trading securities, there could be substantially greater volatility in earnings from period-to-period as these investments would be marked to market and any reduction in the value of the securities versus the previous carrying value would be considered an expense on our statement

49




of operations. We had no investments as of December 31, 2006 that were accounted for as trading securities.

Valuations of Mortgage-Backed Securities

All MBS are carried on the balance sheet at fair value. We determine the fair value of MBS based on the types of securities in which we have invested. For liquid, investment-grade securities, we consult with dealers of such securities to periodically obtain updated market pricing for the same or similar instruments. For non-investment grade securities, we actively monitor the performance of the underlying properties and loans and update our pricing model to reflect changes in projected cash flows. The value of the securities is derived by applying discount rates to such cash flows based on current market yields. The yields employed are obtained from our own experience in the market, advice from dealers and/or information obtained in consultation with other investors in similar instruments. Because fair value estimates may vary to some degree, we must make certain judgments and assumptions about the appropriate price to use to calculate the fair values for financial reporting purposes. Different judgments and assumptions could result in different presentations of value.

When the fair value of an available-for-sale security is less than the amortized cost, we consider whether there is an other-than-temporary impairment in the value of the security (for example, whether the security will be sold prior to the recovery of fair value). If, in our judgment, an other-than-temporary impairment exists, the cost basis of the security is written down to the then-current fair value, and this loss is realized and charged against earnings. The determination of other-than-temporary impairment is a subjective process, and different judgments and assumptions could affect the timing of loss realization.

Credit Tenant Lease Investments

Consolidated CTL investments are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Costs directly related to the acquisition of such investments are capitalized. Certain improvements are capitalized when they are determined to increase the useful life of the building. Capitalized items are depreciated using the straight-line method over the shorter of the useful lives of the capitalized item or 40 years for buildings or facilities, the remaining life of the facility for facility improvements, four to seven years for personal property and equipment, and the shorter of the remaining lease term or the expected life for tenant improvements.

Consolidated depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 were $614 and $324, respectively. We did not have any consolidated CTL investments during the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004.

Results of operations of properties acquired are included in the Statement of Income from the date of acquisition.

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, No. 144, or SFAS 144, “Accounting for the Impairment of Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” a property to be disposed of is reported at the lower of its carrying amount or its estimated fair value, less its cost to sell. Once an asset is held for sale, depreciation expense and straight-line rent adjustments are no longer recorded and historic results are reclassified as Discontinued Operations.

In accordance with FASB No. 141, or SFAS 141, “Business Combinations,” we allocate the purchase price of real estate to land and building and, if determined to be material, intangibles, such as the value of above, below and at-market leases and origination costs associated with the in-place leases. We depreciate the amount allocated to building and other intangible assets over their estimated useful lives, which generally range from three to 40 years. The values of the above and below-market leases are amortized and recorded as either an increase (in the case of below-market leases) or a decrease (in the case of above-

50




market leases) to rental income over the remaining term of the associated lease. The value associated with in-place leases and tenant relationships are amortized over the expected term of the relationship, which includes an estimated probability of the lease renewal, and its estimated term. If a tenant vacates its space prior to the contractual termination of the lease and no rental payments are being made on the lease, any unamortized balance of the related intangible will be written off. The tenant improvements and origination costs are amortized as an expense over the remaining life of the lease (or charged against earnings if the lease is terminated prior to its contractual expiration date). We assess fair value of the leases based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and capitalization rates and available market information. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including the historical operating results, known trends, and market/economic conditions that may affect the property.

Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

We account for our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures under the equity method of accounting since we exercise significant influence, but do not unilaterally control, the entities and are not considered to be the primary beneficiary under FIN 46. In the joint ventures, the rights of the other investor are protective and participating. Unless we are determined to be the primary beneficiary, these rights preclude us from consolidating the investments. The investments are recorded initially at cost as an investment in unconsolidated joint ventures, and subsequently are adjusted for equity in net income (loss) and cash contributions and distributions. Any difference between the carrying amount of the investments on our balance sheet and the underlying equity in net assets is amortized as an adjustment to equity in net income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures over the lesser of the joint venture term or 40 years. None of the joint venture debt is recourse to us. As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, we had investments of $57,567 and $58,040 in unconsolidated joint ventures, respectively.

Revenue Recognition

Interest income on debt investments is recognized over the life of the investment using the effective interest method and recognized on the accrual basis. Fees received in connection with loan commitments are deferred until the loan is funded and are then recognized over the term of the loan using the effective interest method. Anticipated exit fees, whose collection is expected, are also recognized over the term of the loan as an adjustment to yield. Fees on commitments that expire unused are recognized at expiration. Fees received in exchange for the credit enhancement of another lender, either subordinate or senior to us, in the form of a guarantee are recognized over the term of that guarantee using the straight-line method.

Income recognition is generally suspended for debt investments at the earlier of the date at which payments become 90 days past due or when, in our opinion, a full recovery of income and principal becomes doubtful. Income recognition is resumed when the loan becomes contractually current and performance is demonstrated to be resumed.

In some instances we may sell all or a portion of our investments to a third party. To the extent the fair value received for an investment exceeds the amortized cost of that investment and FASB Statement No. 140, or SFAS 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities,” criteria is met, under which control of the asset that is sold is surrendered making it a “true sale,” a gain on the sale will be recorded through earnings as other income. To the extent an investment that is sold has a discount or fees, which were deferred at the time the investment was made and were being recognized over the term of the investment, the unamortized portion of the discount or fees are recognized at the time of sale and recorded as a gain on the sale of the investment through other income. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we recognized $5,349 and $10,474 in net gains from the sale of debt investments or commitments. We did not recognize any such gains for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004.

51




Rental revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The excess of rents recognized over amounts contractually due pursuant to the underlying leases is included in other assets on the accompanying balance sheets. We may establish, on a current basis, an allowance against this account for future potential tenant credit losses, which may occur. The balance reflected on the balance sheet will be net of such allowance.

In addition to base rent, the tenants in our CTL investments also pay all operating costs of owned property including real estate taxes.

Reserve for Possible Loan Losses

The expense for possible loan losses in connection with debt investments is the charge to earnings to increase the allowance for possible loan losses to the level that management estimates to be adequate considering delinquencies, loss experience and collateral quality. Other factors considered relate to geographic trends and project diversification, the size of the portfolio and current economic conditions. Based upon these factors, we may establish the provision for possible loan losses by individual asset or category of asset. When it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts contractually due, the account is considered impaired.

Where impairment is indicated, a valuation write-down or write-off is measured based upon the excess of the recorded investment amount over the net fair value of the collateral, as reduced by selling costs. Any deficiency between the carrying amount of an asset and the net sales price of foreclosed collateral is charged to the allowance for loan losses. We maintained a reserve for possible loan losses of $2,460 against investments with a carrying value of $131,427 as of December 31, 2006, and a reserve for possible loan losses of $1,030 against investments with a carrying value of $68,293 as of December 31, 2005.

Stock Based Compensation Plans

We have a stock-based compensation plan, described more fully in Note 14 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. We account for this plan using the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement 123(R), “Share-Based Payment, a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.”

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because our plan has characteristics significantly different from those of traded options and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in our opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of our stock options.

Compensation cost for stock options, if any, is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the award. Our policy is to grant options with an exercise price equal to the quoted closing market price of our stock on the business day preceding the grant date. Awards of stock or restricted stock are expensed as compensation on a current basis over the benefit period.

The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of grant for awards to co-leased employees, and quarterly for options issued to non-employees, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions for grants in 2006 and 2005.

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Dividend yield

 

8.0

%

8.4

%

Expected life of option

 

6.7 years

 

6.9 years

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

4.14

%

4.16

%

Expected stock price volatility

 

21.0

%

19.1

%

 

52




Incentive Distribution (Class B Limited Partner Interest)

The Class B limited partner interests are entitled to receive an incentive return equal to 25% of the amount by which funds from operations, or FFO, plus certain accounting gains (as defined in the partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership which was amended and restated in April 2006) exceed the product of our weighted average stockholders equity (as defined in the amended and restated partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership) multiplied by 9.5% (divided by 4 to adjust for quarterly calculations). We will record any distributions on the Class B limited partner interests as an incentive distribution expense in the period when earned and when payment of such amounts has become probable and reasonably estimable in accordance with the partnership agreement. These cash distributions will reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our common unitholders in our Operating Partnership and to common stockholders. We incurred approximately $7,609 and $2,276 with respect to such Class B limited partner interests for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. We did not recognize such an expense for the period from April 12, 2004 through December 31, 2004.

Derivative Instruments

In the normal course of business, we use a variety of derivative instruments to manage, or hedge, interest rate risk. We require that hedging derivative instruments be effective in reducing the interest rate risk exposure that they are designated to hedge. This effectiveness is essential for qualifying for hedge accounting. Some derivative instruments are associated with an anticipated transaction. In those cases, hedge effectiveness criteria also require that it be probable that the underlying transaction occurs. Instruments that meet these hedging criteria are formally designated as hedges at the inception of the derivative contract.

To determine the fair value of derivative instruments, we use a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions and risks existing at each balance sheet date. For the majority of financial instruments including most derivatives, long-term investments and long-term debt, standard market conventions and techniques such as discounted cash flow analysis, option-pricing models, replacement cost, and termination cost are used to determine fair value. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.

In the normal course of business, we are exposed to the effect of interest rate changes and limit these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives. To address exposure to interest rates, we use derivatives primarily to hedge the mark-to-market risk of our liabilities with respect to certain of our assets. We may also use derivatives to hedge variability in sales proceeds to be received upon the sale of loans held for sale.

We use a variety of commonly used derivative products that are considered plain vanilla derivatives. These derivatives typically include interest rate swaps, caps, collars and floors. We also use total rate of return swaps, or TROR swaps, which are tied to the Lehman Brothers CMBS index. We expressly prohibit the use of unconventional derivative instruments and using derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Further, we have a policy of only entering into contracts with major financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors.

FASB No. 133, or SFAS 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended by FASB No. 149, requires us to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges must be adjusted to fair value through income. If a derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged asset, liability, or firm commitment through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings. SFAS 133 may increase or decrease reported net income and stockholders’ equity prospectively, depending on future

53




levels of LIBOR, swap spreads and other variables affecting the fair values of derivative instruments and hedged items, but will have no effect on cash flows, provided the contract is carried through to full term.

We may employ swaps, forwards or purchased options to hedge qualifying forecasted transactions. Gains and losses related to these transactions are deferred and recognized in net income as interest expense or other income in the same period or periods that the underlying transaction occurs, expires or is otherwise terminated.

All hedges held by us are deemed to be effective in meeting the hedging objectives established by our corporate policy governing interest rate risk management. The effect of our derivative instruments on our financial statements is discussed more fully in Note 17 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Income Taxes

We elected to be taxed as a REIT, under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code, beginning with our taxable year ending December 31, 2004. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet certain organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute at least 90% of our ordinary taxable income to stockholders. As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable income that we distribute to our stockholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will then be subject to federal income taxes on our taxable income at regular corporate rates and we will not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for four years following the year during which qualification is lost unless the Internal Revenue Service grants us relief under certain statutory provisions. Such an event could materially adversely affect our net income and net cash available for distributions to stockholders. However, we believe that we will be organized and operate in such a manner as to qualify for treatment as a REIT and we intend to operate in the foreseeable future in such a manner so that we will qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. We may, however, be subject to certain state and local taxes.

Our TRSs are subject to federal, state and local taxes.

Results of Operations (Amounts in thousands)

Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2006 to the year ended December 31, 2005

Revenues

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

$ Change

 

Investment income

 

$

176,421

 

$

73,302

 

$

103,119

 

Rental revenue, net

 

2,402

 

1,219

 

1,183

 

Gain on sales and other income

 

19,392

 

13,564

 

5,828

 

Total revenues

 

$

198,215

 

$

88,085

 

$

110,130

 

Equity in net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

($2,960

)

($1,489

)

($1,471

)

 

54




Investment income is generated on our whole and bridge loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity interests and CMBS investments. For the year ended December 31, 2006, $24,236 was earned on fixed rate investments while the remaining $152,185 was earned on floating rate investments. The increase over the prior year is due primarily to a significantly larger investment balance in 2006 versus 2005.

Rental revenue of $2,402 in 2006 was earned on 200 Franklin Square Drive, which was held as a consolidated operating property for the three months ended March 31, 2006, and on our TIC interest in 55 Corporate Drive, which has been held as a proportionately consolidated property since its acquisition in June 2006. Following its acquisition, 55 Corporate Drive was being redeveloped. The property is accounted for as an operating property beginning in the three months ended December 31, 2006. Rental revenue in 2006 includes the effect of adjustments for straight-line rent and FASB 141 adjustments for below-market leases for 55 Corporate Drive. Rental revenue of $1,219 in 2005 was earned on only 200 Franklin Square Drive.

Other income of $19,392 for the year ended December 31, 2006 is comprised primarily of gains recorded on the sale of loans and securities of $7,361, and the gain on the sale of 75% of the security interests in the entity that owns 200 Franklin Square Drive of $4,530. The remaining increase over the prior year is primarily attributable to interest on restricted cash balances in our two CDOs (only one of which was in place in the same period of 2005) and other cash balances held by us. For the year ended December 31, 2005, other income of $13,564 was comprised primarily of income recorded on the sale of loans of $7,997.

The loss on investments in unconsolidated joint ventures of $2,960 for the year ended December 31, 2006 represents our proportionate share of the losses generated by our joint venture interests including $7,753 of real estate-related depreciation and amortization, which when added back, results in a contribution to FFO of $4,793. The loss on investments in unconsolidated joint venture of $1,219 for the year ended December 31, 2005 was generated primarily on our investment in One Madison Avenue in New York, New York. Our use of FFO as an important financial measure is discussed in more detail below.

Expenses

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

$ Change

 

Interest expense

 

$

98,299

 

$

33,771

 

$

64,528

 

Management fees

 

16,668

 

9,600

 

7,068

 

Incentive fee

 

7,609

 

2,276

 

5,333

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1,582

 

672

 

910

 

Marketing, general and administrative

 

11,957

 

6,976

 

4,981

 

Provision for loan loss

 

1,430

 

1,030

 

400

 

Provision for taxes

 

1,808

 

900

 

908

 

Total expenses

 

$

139,353

 

$

55,225

 

$

84,128

 

 

Interest expense was $98,299 for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to $33,771 for the year ended December 31, 2005. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2006 consisted primarily of $64,445 of interest on the investment grade tranches of our two CDOs (only one of which was in place during the same period in 2005), $16,138 of interest on borrowings on our master repurchase facilities with Wachovia and Goldman, $11,086 of expense on our three $50,000 issuances of trust preferred securities, and the amortization of deferred financing costs related to our CDOs, repurchase facilities and unsecured revolving credit facility. The $33,771 of interest expense during the same period in 2005 was comprised primarily of $17,429 of interest on the investment grade tranches of our first CDO, $11,756 of interest on borrowings on our master repurchase facilities with Wachovia and Goldman and $3,838 of interest expense incurred against only two $50,000 issuances of trust preferred securities.

55




Management fees increased $7,068 for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $16,668 versus $9,600 for the same period in 2005 due primarily to an increase in our stockholder’s equity as a result of additional issuances of common equity and the issuance of $150,000 of trust preferred securities, on which base management fees are calculated. The remaining increase is comprised of $2,868 paid or payable to our Manager on investments in our two CDOs (only one of which was in place during the same period in 2005) in accordance with the CDO collateral management agreements in lieu of the 0.15% fee otherwise payable to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. on those investments under the asset servicing agreement, higher fees paid or payable to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. under our outsourcing and servicing agreements due to the increase in our investment balances and the scheduled 3% annual increase in the fee payable under our outsourcing agreement.

We recorded an incentive fee expense of $7,609 during the year ended December 31, 2006 in accordance with requirements of the partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership which entitles owners of Class B limited partner interests in our Operating Partnership to an incentive return equal to 25% of the amount by which FFO plus certain accounting gains (as defined in the amended and restated partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership) exceed the product of our weighted average stockholders equity (as defined in the amended and restated partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership) multiplied by 9.5% (divided by 4 to adjust for quarterly calculations). This threshold was only reached during the last six months of 2005 resulting in a lower total expense for 2005.

The increase in marketing, general and administrative expenses to $11,957 for the year ended December 31, 2006 versus the same period in 2005 was due primarily to higher equity and equity related compensation, including an accrual of $1,625 in December 2006, which is directly linked to the performance of our company, professional fees, insurance and general overhead costs and a nonrecurring charge of $525 for third-party professional expenses in connection with a possible business combination involving the acquisition of a publicly-traded commercial real estate finance company with business lines considered by management to be highly complementary to ours. The decision to expense these costs was made once management concluded the proposed transaction was unlikely to occur on terms advantageous to us.

Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2005 to the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004

Revenues

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

$ Change

 

Investment income

 

$

73,302

 

$

6,841

 

$

66,461

 

Rental revenue, net

 

1,219

 

 

1,219

 

Gain on sales and other income

 

13,564

 

310

 

13,254

 

Total revenues

 

$

88,085

 

$

7,151

 

$

80,934

 

Equity in net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

($1,489

)

$

 

($1,489

)

 

Investment income is generated on our whole and bridge loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity interests and CMBS investments. For the year ended December 31, 2005 $10,701 was earned on fixed rate investments while the remaining $62,601 was earned on floating rate investments. The increase over the prior year is due to a significantly larger investment balance in 2005 versus 2004 and the effect of a full twelve months of operations in 2005.

Rental revenue of $1,219 in 2005 was earned on 200 Franklin Square Drive, which was acquired in September 2005. This amount includes the effect of adjustments for straight-line rent and FASB 141 adjustments for below-market leases. We did not hold any real estate investments during 2004.

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Other income of $13,564 for the year ended December 31, 2005 is comprised primarily of income recorded on the sale of fixed and floating rate debt investments of $10,474, including $1,849 attributable to the recognition of unamortized discounts and fees on the investments sold and interest on restricted cash balances in the CDO (which was not in place in 2004) of approximately $2,274. For the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004, other income of $310 was comprised only of interest income on cash balances.

The loss on investments in unconsolidated joint ventures of $1,489 in 2005 represents our proportionate share of the losses generated by our joint venture interests including $4,804 of real estate related depreciation and amortization, which when added back, results in a contribution to FFO of $3,315. We did not maintain any joint venture investments during 2004. Our use of FFO as an important financial measure is discussed in more detail in Item 6.

Expenses

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

$ Change

 

Interest expense

 

$

33,771

 

$

1,463

 

$

32,308

 

Management fees

 

9,600

 

1,965

 

7,635

 

Incentive fee

 

2,276

 

 

2,276

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

672

 

38

 

634

 

Marketing, general and administrative

 

6,976

 

1,358

 

5,618

 

Provision for loan loss

 

1,030

 

 

1,030

 

Provision for taxes

 

900

 

 

900

 

GKK formation costs

 

 

275

 

(275

)

Total expenses

 

$

55,225

 

$

5,099

 

$

50,126

 

 

Interest expense was $33,771 for the year ended December 31, 2005 versus $1,463 for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004. Interest expense in 2005 consists primarily of $17,429 of interest on the investment grade tranches of our CDO, that was not in place in 2004, $11,756 of interest on borrowings on our master repurchase facilities with Wachovia and Goldman, and $3,838 of expense on our two $50,000 issuances of trust preferred securities. The $1,463 of interest expense in 2004 was comprised primarily of interest on borrowings on the master repurchase facility with Wachovia and the amortization of deferred financing costs.

Management fees increased $7,635 for the year ended December 31, 2005 versus the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004 due primarily to an increase in our stockholder’s equity, the issuance of trust preferred securities and a full twelve months of operations in 2005. The remaining increase is comprised of $944 payable to our Manager under the CDO collateral management agreement in lieu of the 0.15% fee otherwise payable to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. on investments in the CDO under the asset servicing agreement, and higher fees paid or payable to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. of $745 and $942 under our outsourcing and servicing agreements, respectively, due to a full twelve months of operations in 2005 and a larger asset base on which to calculate the servicing fee. These fees and the relationship between us, our Manager and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. are discussed further in “Related Party Transactions.”

We recorded an incentive fee expense of $2,276 during the twelve months ended December 31, 2005 in accordance with requirements of the partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership which entitles owners of Class B limited partner interests in our Operating Partnership to an incentive return equal to 25% of the amount by which funds from operations (as defined in the partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership) plus certain accounting gains exceed the product of our weighted average stockholders equity (as defined in the partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership) multiplied by

57




9.5% (divided by 4 to adjust for quarterly calculations). This threshold was not reached during 2004 and, consequently, no expense was recorded. This fee and the relationship between us, our Manager and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. are discussed further in “Related Party Transactions.”

The increase in marketing, general and administrative expenses of $5,618 for the year ended December 31, 2005 versus the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004 reflects a full twelve months of operations in 2005 and a corresponding increase in professional fees, stock-based compensation, insurance and general overhead costs.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity is a measurement of the ability to meet cash requirements, including ongoing commitments to repay borrowings, fund and maintain loans and investments, pay dividends and other general business needs. Our principal sources of working capital and funds for additional investments primarily include: 1) cash flow from operations; 2) borrowings under our repurchase facilities and unsecured revolving credit facility; 3) our CDOs; 4) other forms of financing or additional securitizations including CMBS or subsequent CDO offerings; 5) proceeds from common or preferred equity offerings, 6) issuances of trust preferred securities and, to a lesser extent, 7) the proceeds from principal payments on our investments, and 8) the sale or syndication of certain of our debt investments. We believe these sources of financing will be sufficient to meet our short-term liquidity needs.

Our ability to fund our short-term liquidity needs, including distributions to stockholders, through cash flow from operations can be evaluated through the consolidated statement of cash flows provided in our financial statements. However, the net cash from operations or net cash used in operations disclosed on the statement of cash flows should be adjusted to exclude the effect of loans originated for sale and the proceeds of loans sold during any respective reporting period. These activities are included in cash flow from operations in accordance with GAAP, but constitute an integral part of our investment activity. Consequently, net cash flow from operations is not necessarily reflective of our true recurring operating activities and our ability to fund our required distributions to stockholders through our operating activities.

Our ability to meet our long-term liquidity and capital resource requirements will be subject to obtaining additional debt financing and equity capital. Our inability to renew, replace or expand our sources of financing on substantially similar terms, may have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, an event of default can be triggered under our repurchase facilities and our unsecured revolving credit facility  if, among other things, the management agreement with our Manager is terminated. Depending on market conditions, our debt financing will generally be in the range of 70% to 80% of the carrying value of our total assets. Any indebtedness we incur will likely be subject to continuing covenants and we will likely be required to make continuing representations and warranties in connection with such debt. Our debt financing terms may require us to keep uninvested cash on hand, or to maintain a certain portion of our assets free of liens, each of which could serve to limit our borrowing ability. Moreover, our debt may be secured by our assets. If we default in the payment of interest or principal on any such debt, breach any representation or warranty in connection with any borrowing or violate any covenant in any loan document, our lender may accelerate the maturity of such debt requiring us to immediately repay all outstanding principal. If we are unable to make such payment, our lender could foreclose on our assets that are pledged as collateral to such lender. The lender could also sue us or force us into bankruptcy. Any such event would have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and the value of our common stock. In addition, posting additional collateral to support our credit and repurchase facilities will reduce our liquidity and limit our ability to leverage our assets.

To maintain our status as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, we must distribute annually at least 90% of our taxable income. These distribution requirements limit our ability to retain earnings and thereby replenish or increase capital for operations. However, we believe that our significant capital

58




resources and access to financing, as noted above, will provide us with financial flexibility at levels sufficient to meet current and anticipated capital requirements, including funding new lending and investment opportunities.

Cash Flows (Amounts in thousands)

2006 Compared to 2005

Net cash provided by operating activities increased $152,547 to $154,707 for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to cash provided of $2,160 for the year ended December 31, 2005. Operating cash flow was generated primarily by interest income on our whole and bridge loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans and preferred equity interests and gains on loan sales due, in part, to a larger number of investments in 2006 versus 2005. In addition, $175,050 of proceeds from the sales of loans was offset primarily by a $104,931 use of cash related to the origination of loans held for sale during the year ended December 31, 2006, whereas we realized proceeds of $140,431 from the sales of loans while originating $182,431 of loans that were held for sale during the year ended December 31, 2005.

Net cash used in investing activities increased $281,531 to $1,149,526 for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to $867,995 used during the year ended December 31, 2005. The primary reason for the additional use of cash is related to increased debt investment originations of $817,827, offset by higher principal collections on our debt investments of $537,050.

Net cash provided by financing activities increased $46,240 to $943,557 for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to $897,317 provided during the same period in 2005. This increase was due primarily to the issuance of $903,750 of collateralized debt obligations during the year ended December 31, 2006 versus only $810,500 during the same period in 2005, net proceeds from our proportionate share of the mortgage payable of $94,525 on our TIC interest in 55 Corporate Drive and increased net proceeds from our repurchase facilities of $296,564, offset by lower proceeds from the sale of common stock of $77,057 and an increase in the dividend paid to our common stockholders of $25,545.

2005 Compared to 2004

Net cash provided by operating activities increased $1,015 to $2,160 for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $1,145 for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004. Operating cash flow was generated primarily by interest income on our whole and bridge loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity interests and CMBS investments and gains on loan sales. Cash flow from a higher number of investments in 2005 versus 2004 and the effect of a full twelve months of operations in 2005 was offset primarily by a $42,000 net use of cash related to the origination of investments held for sale at December 31, 2005.

Net cash used in investing activities increased $460,939 to $867,995 for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $407,056 used during the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004. The primary reason for the increase is a full twelve months of operations in 2005, during which we invested $1,030,149 in new debt investments and $110,145 in new real estate investments, including joint ventures, offset by $273,897 of principal collections on our debt investments. This compares to $407,603 invested during the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004 in new debt investments, offset by $736 of principal repayments on debt investments.

Net cash provided by financing activities increased $452,512 to $897,317 for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $444,805 provided during the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004. The increase was due primarily to proceeds of $100,000 from the sale of trust preferred securities in May and August 2005, proceeds of $810,500 from the issuance the CDO in July 2005 and $41,000 in new mortgage debt on 200 Franklin Square Drive, offset by a reduction in borrowings on our repurchase facilities of $360,405 and reduced proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $48,761.

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Capitalization

Our authorized capital stock consists of 125,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value, of which we have authorized the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

As of the date of our formation, April 12, 2004, we had 500,000 shares of common stock outstanding valued at approximately $200. On August 2, 2004 we completed our initial public offering of 12,500,000 shares of common stock resulting in net proceeds of approximately $172.9 million, which was used to fund investments and commence our operations. As of December 31, 2006, 350,000 restricted shares had also been issued under our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, or our Equity Incentive Plan. These shares have a vesting period of two to four years and are not entitled to receive distributions declared by us on our common stock until such time as the shares have vested, or the shares have been designated to receive dividends by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors.

On December 3, 2004, we sold 5,500,000 shares of our common stock resulting in net proceeds of approximately $93.7 million under a private placement exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We subsequently registered the resale of these shares under the Securities Act in August 2005. A total of 4,225,000 shares were sold to various institutional investors and an additional 1,275,000 shares were sold to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. pursuant to its contractual right to choose to maintain a 25% ownership interest in the outstanding shares of our common stock. Of the 5,500,000 shares sold, 2,000,000 shares were settled on December 31, 2004 and the remaining 3,500,000 shares were settled on January 3, 2005.

On September 14, 2005, we sold 3,833,333 shares of our common stock, at a price of $25.80 per share, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $97.8 million. A total of 2,875,000 shares were sold through a public offering and an additional 958,333 shares were sold to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. pursuant to its contractual right to choose to maintain a 25% ownership interest in our outstanding shares of common stock. Net proceeds were used for loan acquisitions and originations, repayment of outstanding principal under one of our repurchase facilities and general corporate purposes.

On May 16, 2006, we sold 3,000,000 shares of our common stock, at a price of $26.75 per share, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $80.0 million. A total of 2,250,000 shares were sold through a public offering and an additional 750,000 shares were sold to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. pursuant to its contractual right to choose to maintain a 25% ownership interest in the outstanding shares of our common stock. After this offering, SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. owned 6,418,333 shares of our common stock. Net proceeds were used for loan acquisitions and originations, repayment of outstanding principal under our repurchase facilities and general corporate purposes.

In August 2005, our $350 million shelf registration statement was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. This registration statement provides us with the ability to issue common and preferred stock, depository shares and warrants. We currently have $170.9 million available under the shelf.

On May 10, 2006, we entered into a sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as sales agent, to offer and sell up to 1,000,000 shares of our common stock from time to time through the sales agent. On May 10, 2006, we also entered into a separate sales agreement with Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as sales agent, to offer and sell up to 1,000,000 shares of our common stock from time to time through the sales agent. To date we have not issued any shares under either agreement.

As of December 31, 2006, 25,878,391 shares of our common stock and no shares of our preferred stock were issued and outstanding.

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Outperformance Plan

In June 2005, the compensation committee of our board of directors approved a long-term incentive compensation program, the 2005 Outperformance Plan. Participants in the 2005 Outperformance Plan, all of whom are co-leased employees, will share in a “performance pool” if our total return to stockholders for the period from June 1, 2005 through May 31, 2008 exceeds a cumulative total return to stockholders of 30% during the measurement period over a base share price of $20.21 per share. The size of the pool will be 10% of the outperformance amount in excess of the 30% benchmark, subject to a maximum limit equal to the lesser of 4% of our outstanding shares and units of limited partnership interest as of the end of the performance period, or 1,200,000 shares. If our total return to stockholders from June 1, 2005 to any subsequent date exceeds 80% and remains at that level or higher for 30 consecutive days, then a minimum performance pool will be established. In the event the potential performance pool reaches the maximum dilution cap before May 31, 2008 and remains at that level or higher for 30 consecutive days, the performance period will end early and the pool will be formed on the last day of such 30-day period. Each participant’s award under the 2005 Outperformance Plan is designated as a specified percentage of the aggregate performance pool to be allocated to such participant assuming the 30% benchmark is achieved. Individual awards under the 2005 Outperformance Plan will be made in the form of partnership units, or LTIP Units, that may ultimately become exchangeable for shares of our common stock or cash, at our election. Under the 2005 Outperformance Plan, LTIP Units have been granted and additional LTIP Units may be granted in the future prior to the determination of the performance pool; however, these LTIP Units will only vest upon satisfaction of performance and other thresholds, and will not be entitled to distributions until after the performance pool, or minimum performance pool, is established. The 2005 Outperformance Plan provides that if a pool is established, each participant will also be entitled to the distributions that would have been paid on the number of LTIP Units earned, had they been issued at the beginning of the performance period. Those distributions will be paid in the form of additional LTIP Units. Once a performance pool has been established, the earned LTIP Units will receive regular quarterly distributions on a per unit basis equal to the dividends per share paid on our common stock, whether or not they are vested. Any LTIP Units that are not earned upon the establishment of the performance pool will be automatically forfeited, and the LTIP Units that are earned will be subject to time-based vesting, with 50% of the LTIP Units earned vesting in May 2009 and the balance vesting one year later based on continued employment with our Manager or SL Green.  We will record the expense of the restricted stock award in accordance with FASB Statement No. 123(R). Compensation expense of $1,174 was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 related to the 2005 Outperformance Plan.

Deferred Stock Compensation Plan for Directors

Under our Independent Director’s Deferral Program, which commenced April 2005, our independent directors may elect to defer up to 100% of their annual retainer fee, chairman fees and meeting fees. Unless otherwise elected by a participant, fees deferred under the program shall be credited in the form of phantom stock units. The phantom stock units are convertible into an equal number of shares of common stock upon such directors’ termination of service from the Board of Directors or a change in control by us, as defined by the program. Phantom stock units are credited to each independent director quarterly using the closing price of our common stock on the applicable dividend record date for the respective quarter. Each participating independent director who elects to receive fees in the form of phantom stock units has the option to have their account credited for an equivalent amount of phantom stock units based on the dividend rate for each quarter or have dividends paid in cash.

As of December 31, 2006, there were approximately 15,301 phantom stock units outstanding, of which 11,301 units are vested.

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Market Capitalization

At December 31, 2006, our CDOs and borrowings under our repurchase facilities, unsecured revolving credit facility and mortgage loans (excluding our share of joint venture debt of $342.8 million) represented 72% of our consolidated market capitalization of $2.9 billion (based on a common stock price of $30.89 per share, the closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 31, 2006). Market capitalization includes our consolidated debt and common stock.

Indebtedness

The table below summarizes borrowings under our Wachovia and Goldman repurchase facilities, KeyBank unsecured revolving credit facility and any proportionately consolidated mortgage debt or term loans at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively (amounts in thousands).

Debt Summary:

 

December 31,
2006

 

December 31,
2005

 

Balance:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed rate

 

$

94,525

(1)

$

41,000

 

Variable rate

 

292,412

 

117,366

 

Total

 

$

386,937

 

$

158,366

 

Effective interest rate for the period:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed rate

 

5.75

%

4.90

%

Variable rate

 

LIBOR+1.72

%

LIBOR+1.59

%


(1)          We have a 49.75% interest in the mortgage note.

Repurchase Facilities

We have two repurchase facilities with an aggregate of $900,000 of total debt capacity. In August 2004, we closed on a $250,000 repurchase facility with Wachovia. This facility was then increased to $350,000 on January 3, 2005 and subsequently increased to $500,000 on April 22, 2005. On March 21, 2006 we further modified the facility by reducing the interest spreads. As a result of the modifications, the $500,000 facility bears interest at spreads of 1.00% to 2.50% over one-month LIBOR and, based on our expected investment activities, provides for advance rates that vary from 60% to 100% based upon the collateral provided under a borrowing base calculation. On October 13, 2006, we extended the facility’s maturity date until October 2009. The lender has a consent right with respect to the inclusion of investments in this facility, determines periodically the market value of the investments, and has the right to require additional collateral if the estimated market value of the included investments declines. We had no accrued interest and borrowings of $151,403 at a weighted average spread to LIBOR of 1.86% as of December 31, 2006, and no accrued interest and borrowings of $67,717 at a weighted average spread to LIBOR of 1.50%, under this facility at December 31, 2005.

On January 3, 2005, we closed an additional repurchase facility with Goldman. On October 13, 2006, we increased this facility from $200,000 to $400,000 and extended its maturity date until September 2009. On March 21, 2006, we modified this facility by reducing the interest spreads. As a result of the modifications, the facility bears interest at spreads of 1.00% to 2.25% over one-month LIBOR and, based on our expected investment activities, provides for advance rates that vary from 40% to 85% based upon the collateral provided under a borrowing base calculation. As with the Wachovia repurchase facility, the lender has a consent right to the inclusion of investments in this facility, determines periodically the market value of the investments, and has the right to require additional collateral if the estimated market value of the included investments declines. We had accrued interest of $261 and borrowings of $126,009 at a

62




weighted average spread to LIBOR of 1.51% as of December 31, 2006, and accrued interest of $163 and borrowings of $49,649 at a weighted average spread to LIBOR of 1.71% under this facility at December 31, 2005.

The repurchase facilities require that we pay down borrowings under these facilities as principal payments on the loans and investments pledged to these facilities are received. Assets pledged as collateral under these facilities may include stabilized and transitional whole loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans, and rated CMBS or commercial real estate CDO securities originated or acquired by us.

In certain circumstances, we have purchased debt investments from a counterparty and subsequently financed the acquisition of those debt investments through repurchase agreements with the same counterparty. We currently record the acquisition of the debt investments as assets and the related repurchase agreements as financing liabilities gross on the consolidated balance sheets. Interest income earned on the debt investments and interest expense incurred on the repurchase obligations are reported gross on the consolidated income statements. However, under a certain technical interpretation of FAS 140, such transactions may not qualify as a purchase by us. We believe, and it is industry practice, that we are accounting for these transactions in an appropriate manner. However, the result of this technical interpretation would prevent us from presenting the debt investments and repurchase agreements and the related interest income and interest expense on a gross basis on our financial statements. Instead, we would present the net investment in these transactions with the counterparty and a derivative with the corresponding change in fair value of the derivative being recorded through earnings. The value of the derivative would reflect changes in the value of the underlying debt investments and changes in the value of the underlying credit provided by the counterparty.

Restrictive Covenants

The terms of our repurchase facilities (together with any related guarantees) include covenants that (a) limit our maximum total indebtedness to no more than 85% of total assets under the Wachovia facility or a debt to equity ratio less than or equal to 5:1 under the Goldman facility, (b) require us to maintain minimum liquidity of at least $10,000 for the first two years and $15,000 thereafter under the Goldman facility, and at least $15,000 under the Wachovia facility, (c) require our fixed charge coverage ratio to be at no time less than 1.50 to 1.00, (d) require our minimum interest coverage ratio to be at no time less than 1.75 to 1.00 under the Wachovia facility, (e) require us to maintain minimum tangible net worth of not less than (i) $129,750, plus (ii) 75% of the net proceeds of our subsequent equity issuances following our initial public offering under the Goldman facility and not less than (i) $400,000, plus (ii) 75% of the proceeds of our subsequent equity issuances following the date of the October 2006 amendment under the Wachovia facility and (f) restrict the maximum amount of our total indebtedness. The covenants also restrict us from making distributions in excess of a maximum of 100% of our FFO (as defined therein) under the Wachovia facility, except that we may in any case pay distributions necessary to maintain our REIT status. An event of default can be triggered on our repurchase facilities if, among other things, GKK Manager LLC is terminated as our Manager. As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, we were in compliance with all such covenants.

Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility

In May 2006 we closed on a $100,000 senior unsecured revolving credit facility with KeyBank National Association, or KeyBank, with an initial term of three years and a one-year extension option. The facility is supported by a negative pledge of an identified asset base with advance rates that vary from 30% to 90% of the asset value provided under a borrowing base calculation. The lender also has consent rights to the

63




inclusion of assets in the borrowing base calculation. The facility bears interest at 1.90% over one-month LIBOR to the extent our leverage ratio, defined as total liabilities to total assets, including our proportionate share of the liabilities and assets of our unconsolidated subsidiaries, is less than 80% and 2.10% over one-month LIBOR to the extent out leverage ratio is equal to or greater than 80%. We had accrued interest of $75 and borrowings of $15,000 at a spread to LIBOR of 2.10% against this facility as of December 31, 2006.

The terms of the unsecured revolving credit facility include covenants that (a) limit our maximum total indebtedness to no more than 85% of total assets, (b) require our fixed charge coverage ratio to be at no time less than 1.50, (c) require our minimum interest coverage ratio to be at no time less than 1.70, (d) require us to maintain minimum tangible net worth of not less than $370,000 plus 75% of the net proceeds from equity offerings completed after the closing of the facility and (e) restrict the maximum amount of our total indebtedness. The covenants also restrict us from making distributions in excess of a maximum of 100% of our FFO (as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT), except that we may in any case pay distributions necessary to maintain our REIT status. An event of default can be triggered on our unsecured revolving credit facility if, among other things, GKK Manager LLC is terminated as our Manager. As of December 31, 2006, we were in compliance with all such covenants.

In conjunction with the closing of the unsecured revolving credit facility with KeyBank, our $25,000 revolving credit facility with Wachovia was terminated.

Mortgage Loan

We have one proportionately consolidated interest-only mortgage loan related to 55 Corporate Drive in an amount equal to our ownership percentage in the entity multiplied by the outstanding principal balance of the mortgage loan, which loan financed the acquisition of 55 Corporate Drive in June 2006. The mortgage has an outstanding principal balance of $190,000, of which we have consolidated 49.75% or $94,525, with an effective interest rate of 5.75% and a term of ten years. Interest on this mortgage was capitalized for a portion of the year ended December 31, 2006 as the property was redeveloped. Capitalized interest was $1,841 for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Collateralized Debt Obligations

During 2005, we issued approximately $1,000,000 of CDOs through two indirect subsidiaries, Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1 Ltd., or the 2005 Issuer, and Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1 LLC, or the 2005 Co-Issuer. The CDO consists of $810,500 of investment grade notes, $84,500 of non-investment grade notes, which were co-issued by the 2005 Issuer and the 2005 Co-Issuer, and $105,000 of preferred shares, which were issued by the 2005 Issuer. The investment grade notes were issued with floating rate coupons with a combined weighted average rate of three-month LIBOR plus 0.49%. We incurred approximately $11,957 of costs related to Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1, which are amortized on a level- yield basis over the average life of the CDO.

On August 24, 2006, we issued an additional approximately $1,000,000 of CDOs through two newly-formed indirect subsidiaries, Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2006-1 Ltd., or the 2006 Issuer, and Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2006-1 LLC, or the 2006 Co-Issuer. The CDO consists of $903,750 of investment grade notes, $38,750 of non-investment grade notes, which were co-issued by the 2006 Issuer and the 2006 Co-Issuer, and $57,500 of preferred shares, which were issued by the 2006 Issuer. The investment grade notes were issued with floating rate coupons with a combined weighted average rate of three-month LIBOR plus 0.37%. We incurred approximately $11,273 of costs related to Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2006-1, which are amortized on a level yield basis over the average life of the CDO.

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We retained all non-investment grade securities, the preferred shares and the common shares in the Issuer of each CDO. The Issuer in each CDO holds assets, consisting primarily of whole loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments, which serve as collateral for the CDO. Each CDO may be replenished, pursuant to certain rating agency guidelines relating to credit quality and diversification, with substitute collateral for loans that are repaid during the first five years of the CDO. Thereafter, the CDO securities will be retired in sequential order from senior-most to junior-most as loans are repaid. The financial statements of the Issuer of each CDO are consolidated in our financial statements. The investment grade notes are treated as a secured financing, and are non-recourse to us. Proceeds from the sale of the investment grade notes issued in each CDO were used to repay substantially all outstanding debt under our repurchase agreements and to fund additional investments.

Junior Subordinated Debentures

On January 27, 2006, we completed a third issuance of $50,000 in unsecured trust preferred securities through a separate newly formed Delaware Statutory Trust, or DST, Gramercy Capital Trust III, or GCTIII, that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of our Operating Partnership. The securities bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.65% for the first ten years ending January 2016, with an effective rate of 7.43% when giving effect to the swap arrangement previously entered into in contemplation of this financing. Thereafter, the interest rate will float based on the three-month LIBOR plus 270 basis points.

In May and August 2005, we completed issuances of $50,000 each in unsecured trust preferred securities through two DSTs, Gramercy Capital Trust I, or GCTI, and Gramercy Capital Trust II, or GCTII, that are also wholly-owned subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership. The securities issued in May 2005 bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.57% for the first ten years ending June 2015 and the securities issued in August 2005 bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.75% for the first ten years ending October 2015. Thereafter the rates will float based on the three-month LIBOR plus 300 basis points.

All issuances of trust preferred securities require quarterly interest distributions; however, payments may be deferred while the interest expense is accrued for a period of up to four consecutive quarters if our Operating Partnership exercises its right to defer such payments. The trust preferred securities are redeemable, at the option of our Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, with no prepayment premium any time after June 30, 2010, October 30, 2010 or January 30, 2011 for the securities issued by GCTI, GCTII and GCTIII, respectively.

GCTI, GCTII and GCTIII each issued $1,550 aggregate liquidation amount of common securities, representing 100% of the voting common stock of those entities to our Operating Partnership for a total purchase price of $4,650. GCTI, GCTII and GCTIII used the proceeds from the sale of the trust preferred securities and the common securities to purchase our Operating Partnership’s junior subordinated notes. The terms of the junior subordinated notes match the terms of the trust preferred securities. The notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future senior indebtedness and certain other of our financial obligations. We realized net proceeds from each offering of approximately $48,956.

Our interests in GCTI, GCTII and GCTIII are accounted for using the equity method and the assets and liabilities of those entities are not consolidated into our financial statements. Interest on the junior subordinated notes is included in interest expense on our consolidated income statements while the value of the junior subordinated notes, net of our investment in the trusts that issued the securities, are presented as a separate item in our consolidated balance sheet.

Contractual Obligations

Combined aggregate principal maturities of our CDOs, repurchase facilities, trust preferred securities, proportionately consolidated mortgage note related to our TIC interest in 55 Corporate Drive, unsecured revolving credit facility and our obligations under our management agreement, outsourcing agreement,

65




CDO collateral management agreement and operating lease as of December 31, 2006 are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

CDOs

 

Repurchase
Facilities

 

Trust
Preferred
Securities

 

Mortgage
Note
Payable(1)

 

Revolving
Credit
Facility

 

Outsourcing and
Management
Agreements(2)

 

CDO
Collateral
Management
Agreements

 

Operating
Lease

 

Total

 

 

2007

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

12,082

 

 

 

$

4,286

 

 

 

$

256

 

 

$

16,624

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,123

 

 

 

4,286

 

 

 

261

 

 

16,670

 

2009

 

 

 

277,412

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,000

 

 

 

12,164

 

 

 

4,286

 

 

 

265

 

 

309,127

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,351

 

 

 

283

 

 

3,634

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,469

 

 

 

297

 

 

1,766

 

Thereafter

 

1,714,250

 

 

 

 

150,000

 

 

94,525

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,054

 

 

1,959,829

 

Total

 

$

1,714,250

 

 

$

277,412

 

 

$

150,000

 

 

$

94,525

 

 

 

$

15,000

 

 

 

$

36,369

 

 

 

$

17,678

 

 

 

$

2,416

 

 

$

2,307,650

 


(1)             We have a 49.75% interest in the mortgage.

(2)             Management fee is calculated as 1.75% of our gross stockholders equity (as defined in the amended and restated management agreement) on December 31, 2006, inclusive of the trust preferred securities issued on May 20, 2005, August 9, 2005 and January 27, 2006.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

We have several off-balance-sheet investments, including joint ventures and structured finance investments. These investments all have varying ownership structures. Substantially all of our joint venture arrangements are accounted for under the equity method of accounting as we have the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control over the operating and financial decisions of these joint venture arrangements. Our off-balance-sheet arrangements are discussed in Note 6, “Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures” in the accompanying financial statements.

Dividends

To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must pay annual dividends to our stockholders of at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined before taking into consideration the dividends paid deduction and net capital gains. We intend to continue to pay regular quarterly dividends to our stockholders. Before we pay any dividend, whether for Federal income tax purposes or otherwise, which would only be paid out of available cash to the extent permitted under our unsecured and secured credit and repurchase facilities, and our term loans, we must first meet both our operating requirements and scheduled debt service on our mortgages and loans payable.

Inflation

A majority of our assets and liabilities are interest rate sensitive in nature. As a result, interest rates and other factors influence our performance more so than inflation. Changes in interest rates do not necessarily correlate with inflation rates or changes in inflation rates. Further, our financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and our distributions are determined by our board of directors based primarily on our net income as calculated for tax purposes, in each case, our activities and balance sheet are measured with reference to historical cost or fair market value without considering inflation.

Related Party Transactions (Amounts in thousands)

In connection with our initial public offering, we entered into a management agreement with our Manager, which was subsequently amended and restated in April 2006. The amended and restated management agreement provides for a term through December 2009 with automatic one-year extension options and is subject to certain termination rights. We pay our Manager an annual management fee equal to 1.75% of our gross stockholders equity (as defined in the amended and restated management agreement) inclusive of our trust preferred securities. We incurred expense to our Manager under this

66




agreement of an aggregate of $10,147, $6,337 and $1,349 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004, respectively.

To provide an incentive to enhance the value of our common stock, the holders of the Class B limited partner interests of our Operating Partnership are entitled to an incentive return equal to 25% of the amount by which FFO plus certain accounting gains and losses (as defined in the amended and restated partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership) exceed the product of our weighted average stockholders equity (as defined in the amended and restated partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership) multiplied by 9.5% (divided by 4 to adjust for quarterly calculations). We will record any distributions on the Class B limited partner interests as an incentive distribution expense in the period when earned and when payments of such amounts have become probable and reasonably estimable in accordance with the partnership agreement. We incurred $7,609 and $2,276 with respect to such Class B limited partner interests for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

We are obligated to reimburse our Manager for its costs incurred under an asset servicing agreement between our Manager and an affiliate of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. and a separate outsourcing agreement between our Manager and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. The asset servicing agreement, which was amended and restated in April 2006, provides for an annual fee payable to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. by us of 0.05% of the book value of all credit tenant lease assets and non-investment grade bonds and 0.15% of the book value of all other assets. The asset servicing fee is reduced by SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. for fees paid directly to outside servicers by us. The outsourcing agreement currently provides for an annual fee payable by us, which fee is currently $1,326 per year, increasing 3% annually over the prior year on the anniversary date of the outsourcing agreement in August of each year. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004, we realized expense of $1,304, $1,266 and $521, respectively, to our Manager under the outsourcing agreement. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004, we realized expense of $2,349, $1,037 and $95, respectively, to our Manager under the asset servicing agreement.

In connection with the closing of our first CDO in July 2005, the Issuer, Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1 Ltd., entered into a collateral management agreement with our Manager. Pursuant to the collateral management agreement, our Manager has agreed to provide certain advisory and administrative services in relation to the collateral debt securities and other eligible investments securing the CDO notes. The collateral management agreement provides for a senior collateral management fee, payable quarterly in accordance with the priority of payments as set forth in the indenture, equal to 0.15% per annum of the net outstanding portfolio balance, and a subordinate collateral management fee, payable quarterly in accordance with the priority of payments as set forth in the indenture, equal to 0.25% per annum of the net outstanding portfolio balance. Net outstanding portfolio balance is the sum of the (i) aggregate principal balance of the collateral debt securities, excluding defaulted securities, (ii) aggregate principal balance of all principal proceeds held as cash and eligible investments in certain accounts, and (iii) with respect to the defaulted securities, the calculation amount of such defaulted securities. As compensation for the performance of its obligations as collateral manager under the first CDO, our Board of Directors has allocated to our Manager the subordinate collateral management fee paid on securities not held by us. At December 31, 2006, we owned all of the non-investment grade bonds, preferred equity and equity in both CDOs. The senior collateral management fee and balance of the subordinate collateral management fee is allocated to us. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we realized expense of $2,065 and $944, respectively, to our Manager under such collateral management agreement.

Collateral manager fees paid on our CDO that closed in August 2006 are governed by the amended and restated management agreement as a “transitional managed” CDO, as defined in the amended and restated management agreement, consisting primarily of debt investments secured by non-stabilized real estate. The amended and restated management agreement provides that in connection with formations of

67




collateralized debt obligations or other securitization vehicles after the execution of the amended and restated management agreement, if a collateral manager is retained, our Manager or an affiliate will be the collateral manager and will receive the following fees:  (i) 0.25% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for “transitional managed” CDOs, (ii) 0.15% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for “non-transitional managed” CDOs, (iii) 0.10% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for static CDOs that own primarily non-investment grade bonds, and (iv) 0.05% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for static CDOs that own primarily investment grade bonds; limited in each instance by the fees that are paid to the collateral manager. The balance of the fees paid by the CDOs for collateral management services are paid to us. For the year ended December 31, 2006, we realized expense of $803 to our Manager under this agreement.

In connection with the 5,500,000 shares of our common stock that were sold on December 3, 2004 and settled on December 31, 2004 and January 3, 2005 in a private placement, we agreed to pay our Manager a fee of $1,000 as compensation for financial advisory, structuring and costs incurred on our behalf.  This fee was recorded as a reduction in the proceeds of the private placement. Apart from legal fees and stock clearing charges totaling $245, no other fees were paid by us to an investment bank, broker/dealer or other financial advisor in connection with the private placement, resulting in total costs of 1.3% of total gross proceeds.

On April 29, 2005, we closed on a $57,503 initial investment in a joint venture with SL Green to acquire, own and operate the South Building located at One Madison Avenue, New York, New York, or the South Building. The joint venture, which was created to acquire, own and operate the South Building, is owned 45% by a wholly-owned subsidiary of us and 55% by a wholly-owned subsidiary of SL Green. The joint venture interests are pari passu. Also on April 29, 2005, the joint venture completed the acquisition of the South Building from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for the purchase price of approximately $802,800 plus closing costs, financed in part through a $690,000 first mortgage loan on the South Building. The South Building comprises approximately 1.2 million square feet and is almost entirely net leased to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, or CS, pursuant to a lease with a 15-year remaining term.

On June 7, 2006, we closed on the acquisition of a 49.75% TIC interest in 55 Corporate Drive, located in Bridgewater, New Jersey with a 0.25% interest to be acquired in the future. The remaining 50% of the property is owned as a TIC interest by an affiliate of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. The property is comprised of three buildings totaling approximately six hundred and seventy thousand square feet which is 100% net leased to an entity whose obligations are guaranteed by Sanofi-Aventis Group through April 2023. The transaction was valued at $236,000 and was financed with a $190,000, 10-year, fixed-rate first mortgage loan.

Commencing May 1, 2005 we are party to a lease agreement with SLG Graybar Sublease LLC, an affiliate of SL Green, for our corporate offices at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York. The lease is for approximately five thousand square feet with an option to lease an additional approximately two thousand square feet and carries a term of ten years with rents on the entire seven thousand square feet of approximately $249 per annum for year one rising to $315 per annum in year ten. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we paid $252 and $90 under this lease, respectively.

Bright Star Couriers LLC, or Bright Star, provides messenger services to us. Bright Star is owned by Gary Green, a son of Stephen L. Green, our Chairman. The aggregate amount of fees paid by us for such services for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004 was $7, $3 and less than $1, respectively.

SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. is an equity holder in the joint venture that is the borrower on an investment with a book value of $29,026 as of December 31, 2005. This investment was repaid in August 2006.

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On July 14, 2005, we closed on the purchase from an SL Green affiliate of a $40,000 mezzanine loan which bears interest at 11.20%. As part of that sale, the seller retained an interest-only participation. We have determined that the yield on our mezzanine loan after giving effect to the interest-only participation retained by the seller is at market. The mezzanine loan is secured by the equity interests in an office property in New York, New York.

On February 27, 2006, we closed on the purchase of a $90,000 whole loan, which bears interest at one-month LIBOR plus 2.15%, to a joint venture in which SL Green is an equity holder. The loan is secured by 55 Corporate Drive in Bridgewater, New Jersey. The loan was repaid in full in June 2006 with the proceeds from new mortgage financing obtained in connection with the sale of the property, 49.75% of which is now owned by us through a TIC structure.

On March 17, 2006, we closed on the purchase of a $25,000 mezzanine loan, which bears interest at one-month LIBOR plus 8.00%, to a joint venture in which SL Green is an equity holder. The loan was repaid in full on May 9, 2006, when we originated a $90,287 whole loan, which bears interest at one-month LIBOR plus 2.75%, to the joint venture. The loan is secured by office and industrial properties in northern New Jersey and has a book value of $90,049 as of December 31, 2006.

On August 1, 2006, we acquired from a financial institution a 50% pari-passu interest in a $65,000 preferred equity investment secured by an office property in New York, New York. An affiliate of SL Green simultaneously acquired and owns the other 50% pari-passu interest. The investment bears interest at a blended fixed rate of 10.52%.

On December 20, 2006, we acquired from a financial institution a pari-passu interest of $125,000 in a $200,000 mezzanine loan, which bears interest at 6.384% and is secured by a multi-family portfolio in New York, New York. An affiliate of SL Green simultaneously acquired the remaining $75,000 pari-passu interest in the mezzanine loan.

During the year ended December 31, 2006, we earned fees of $163 from SL Green representing SL Green’s proportionate share of fees for financing and structural advisory services related to a specific potential transaction.

Funds from Operations

We present FFO because we consider it an important supplemental measure of our operating performance and believe that it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of REITS. We also use FFO for the calculation of the incentive fee payable to the holders of Class B limited partner interests in our Operating Partnership and as one of several criteria to determine performance-based incentive compensation for members of our senior management, which may be payable in cash or equity awards. The revised White Paper on FFO approved by the Board of Governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, in April 2002 defines FFO as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from items which are not a recurring part of our business, such as debt restructurings, and sales of properties, plus real estate-related depreciation and amortization and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. We consider gains and losses on the sales of debt investments and real estate investments including tenancy-in-common investments to be a normal part of our recurring operations and therefore include such gains and losses when arriving at FFO. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP), as an indication of our financial performance, or to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it entirely indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions. Our calculation of FFO may be different from the calculation used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited.

69




Funds from Operations for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004 is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Period 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 12, 2004

 

 

 

For the Year

 

For the Year

 

(formation)

 

 

 

ended

 

ended

 

through

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

$

55,902

 

 

$

31,371

 

 

 

$

2,052

 

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

6,143

 

 

3,448

 

 

 

327

 

 

FFO adjustment for unconsolidated joint ventures

 

7,753

 

 

4,804

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non real estate depreciation and amortization

 

(5,771

)

 

(3,133

)

 

 

(327

)

 

Funds from operations

 

$

64,027

 

 

$

36,490

 

 

 

$

2,052

 

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities

 

$

154,707

 

 

$

2,160

 

 

 

$

1,145

 

 

Cash flows used in investing activities

 

$

(1,149,526

)

 

$

(867,995

)

 

 

$

(407,056

)

 

Cash flows provided by financing activities

 

$

943,557

 

 

$

897,317

 

 

 

$

444,805

 

 

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

SFAS No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment, a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair value. The new standard is effective for interim or annual reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2006. The implementation of SFAS No. 123(R) did not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2006.

In June 2005, the FASB ratified the consensus in EITF Issue No. 04-5, or Issue 04-5, Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights, which provides guidance in determining whether a general partner controls a limited partnership. Issue 04-5 states that the general partner in a limited partnership is presumed to control that limited partnership. The presumption may be overcome if the limited partners have either (1) the substantive ability to dissolve the limited partnership or otherwise remove the general partner without cause or (2) substantive participating rights, which provide the limited partners with the ability to effectively participate in significant decisions that would be expected to be made in the ordinary course of the limited partnership’s business and thereby preclude the general partner from exercising unilateral control over the partnership. If the criteria in Issue 04-5 are met, a company could be required to consolidate certain of its existing unconsolidated joint ventures. Our adoption of Issue 04-5 for new or modified limited partnership arrangements effective June 30, 2005 and existing limited partnership arrangements effective January 1, 2006 did not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2006.

In February 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 155, or SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140.” SFAS No. 155 (1) permits fair value re-measurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that would otherwise require bifurcation, (2) clarifies which interest-only strips and principal-only strips are not subject to the requirements of FASB Statement No. 133, (3) establishes a requirement to evaluate interests in securitized financial assets to identify interests that

70




are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial instruments that contain an imbedded derivative requiring bifurcation, (4) clarifies that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not embedded derivatives, and (5) amends FASB Statement No. 140 to eliminate the prohibition on a qualifying special-purpose entity from holding a derivative financial instrument that pertains to a beneficial interest in other than another derivative financial instrument. SFAS No. 155 is effective January 1, 2007 and we are currently evaluating the effect, if any, that this pronouncement will have on our future financial position or results of operations.

In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, or FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” This interpretation, among other things, creates a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Recognition (step one) occurs when an enterprise concludes that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination. Measurement (step two) determines the amount of benefit that more-likely-than-not will be realized upon settlement. Derecognition of a tax position that was previously recognized would occur when a company subsequently determines that a tax position no longer meets the more-likely-than-not threshold of being sustained. FIN 48 specifically prohibits the use of a valuation allowance as a substitute for derecognition of tax positions, and it has expanded disclosure requirements. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, in which the impact of adoption should be accounted for as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings. We are currently evaluating the effect, if any, that this pronouncement will have on our future financial position or results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, or SFAS No. 157. SFAS No. 157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. This statement clarifies the principle that fair value should be based on the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. SFAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy, giving the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data. SFAS No. 157 applies whenever other standards require assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. This statement is effective in fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.

In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, or SAB 108, which becomes effective beginning on January 1, 2007. SAB 108 provides guidance on the consideration of the effects of prior period misstatements in quantifying current year misstatements for the purpose of a materiality assessment. SAB 108 provides for the quantification of the impact of correcting all misstatements, including both the carryover and reversing effects of prior year misstatements, on the current year financial statements. If a misstatement is material to the current year financial statements, the prior year financial statements should also be corrected, even though such revision was, and continues to be, immaterial to the prior year financial statements. Correcting prior year financial statements for immaterial errors would not require previously filed reports to be amended. Such correction should be made in the current period filings. We believe that the adoption of this standard will not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

ITEM 7A.        QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market Risk

Market risk includes risks that arise from changes in interest rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes that affect market sensitive instruments. In pursuing our business plan, we expect that the primary market risks to which we will be exposed are real estate and interest rate risks.

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Real Estate Risk

Commercial and multi-family property values and net operating income derived from such properties are subject to volatility and may be affected adversely by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, national, regional and local economic conditions which may be adversely affected by industry slowdowns and other factors), local real estate conditions (such as an oversupply of retail, industrial, office or other commercial or multi-family space), changes or continued weakness in specific industry segments, construction quality, age and design, demographic factors, retroactive changes to building or similar codes, and increases in operating expenses (such as energy costs). In the event net operating income decreases, a borrower may have difficulty repaying our loans, which could result in losses to us. In addition, decreases in property values reduce the value of the collateral and the potential proceeds available to a borrower to repay our loans, which could also cause us to suffer losses. Even when a property’s net operating income is sufficient to cover the property’s debt service at the time a loan is made, there can be no assurance that this will continue in the future. We employ careful business selection, rigorous underwriting and credit approval processes and attentive asset management to mitigate these risks.

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk is highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary and tax policies, domestic and international economic and political considerations and other factors beyond our control. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates along the entire interest rate curve for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004 would have increased our interest cost by approximately $14.1 million, $5.8 million and $204,000, respectively, offset by an increase in our investment income of approximately $15.2 million, $7.9 million and $713,000, respectively.

Our operating results will depend in large part on differences between the income from our assets and our borrowing costs. Most of our assets and borrowings are variable-rate instruments that we finance with variable rate debt. The objective of this strategy is to minimize the impact of interest rate changes on the spread between the yield on our assets and our cost of funds. We enter into hedging transactions with respect to all liabilities relating to fixed rate assets. If we were to finance fixed rate assets with variable rate debt and the benchmark for our variable rate debt increased, our net income would decrease. Furthermore, as most of our available financing provides for an ability of the lender to mark-to-market our assets and make margin calls based on a change in the value of our assets, financing fixed rate assets with this debt creates the risk that an increase in fixed rate benchmarks (such as “swap” yields) would decrease the value of our fixed rate assets. We have entered into certain swap transactions in anticipation of drawing upon our mark-to-market debt to hedge against this risk. Some of our loans are subject to various interest rate floors. As a result, if interest rates fall below the floor rates, the spread between the yield on our assets and our cost of funds will increase, which will generally increase our returns. Because we generate income principally from the spread between the yields on our assets and the cost of our borrowing and hedging activities, our net income will generally increase if LIBOR increases and decreases if LIBOR decreases, but this may not always be true in the future. Our exposure to interest rates will also be affected by our overall corporate leverage, which we generally target to be 70% to 80% of the carrying value of our assets, although our actual leverage may vary depending on our mix of assets.

In the event of a significant rising interest rate environment and/or economic downturn, delinquencies and defaults could increase and result in credit losses to us, which could adversely affect our liquidity and operating results. Further, such delinquencies or defaults could have an adverse effect on the spreads between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

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The aggregate carrying values, allocated by product type and weighted average coupons of our loans and other lending investments as of December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 were as follows:

 

 

Carrying Value(1)
($ in thousands)

 

Allocation by
Investment Type

 

Fixed Rate:
Average Yield

 

Floating Rate:
Average Spread over
LIBOR(2)

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Whole loans, floating rate

 

$

1,372,316

 

$

561,388

 

 

63

%

 

 

46

%

 

 

 

327 bps

 

325 bps

 

Whole loans, fixed rate

 

42,376

 

94,448

 

 

2

%

 

 

8

%

 

11.69

%

10.67

%

 

 

Subordinate interests in whole loans, floating
rate

 

236,308

 

362,983

 

 

11

%

 

 

30

%

 

 

 

445 bps

 

443 bps

 

Subordinate interests in whole loans, fixed rate

 

48,769

 

37,104

 

 

2

%

 

 

3

%

 

8.54

%

8.80

%

 

 

Mezzanine loans, floating rate

 

226,675

 

82,793

 

 

10

%

 

 

7

%

 

 

 

665 bps

 

858 bps

 

Mezzanine loans, fixed rate

 

216,216

 

43,352

 

 

10

%

 

 

4

%

 

9.92

%

8.51

%

 

 

Preferred equity, floating rate

 

 

11,795

 

 

 

 

 

1

%

 

 

 

900 bps

 

900 bps

 

Preferred equity, fixed rate

 

44,224

 

11,882

 

 

2

%

 

 

1

%

 

10.68

%

10.27

%

 

 

Total / Weighted average

 

$

2,186,884

 

$

1,205,745

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

10.04

%

9.78

%

384 bps

 

417 bps

 


(1)           Debt investments are presented after scheduled amortization payments and prepayments, and are net of unamortized fees, discounts, asset sales and unfunded commitments.

(2)           Spreads over an index other than LIBOR have been adjusted to a LIBOR based equivalent.

As of December 31, 2006, our investment portfolio had the following maturity characteristics:

 

 

Number of

 

Current

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

Carrying Value

 

 

 

Year of Maturity

 

Maturing

 

(In thousands)

 

% of Total

 

2007

 

 

26

 

 

 

$

608,009

 

 

 

28

%

 

2008

 

 

23

 

 

 

990,814

 

 

 

45

%

 

2009

 

 

16

 

 

 

337,856

 

 

 

15

%

 

2010

 

 

2

 

 

 

6,638

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

 

2

 

 

 

56,920

 

 

 

3

%

 

Thereafter

 

 

7

 

 

 

186,647

 

 

 

9

%

 

Total

 

 

76

 

 

 

$

2,186,884

 

 

 

100

%

 

Weighted average maturity(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.1 years

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)          The calculation of weighted average maturity is based upon the initial term of the investment and does not include option or extension periods or the ability to prepay the investment after a negotiated lock-out period, which may be available to the borrower.

73




Combined aggregate principal maturities of our consolidated CDOs, repurchase facilities, trust preferred securities, proportionately consolidated mortgage note payable related to our TIC interest in 55 Corporate Drive, and unsecured revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2006 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsecured

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trust

 

Mortgage

 

Revolving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase

 

Preferred

 

Note

 

Credit

 

 

 

 

 

CDOs

 

Facilities

 

Securities

 

Payable

 

Facility

 

Total

 

2007

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009

 

 

 

277,412

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,000

 

 

292,412

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thereafter

 

1,714,250

 

 

 

 

150,000

 

 

94,525

(1)

 

 

 

 

1,958,775

 

Total

 

$

1,714,250

 

 

$

277,412

 

 

$

150,000

 

 

$

94,525

 

 

 

$

15,000

 

 

$

2,251,187

 


(1)          We have a 49.75% interest in the mortgage note.

The following table summarizes the notional and fair value of our derivative financial instrument at December 31, 2006. The notional value is an indication of the extent of our involvement in this instrument at that time, but does not represent exposure to credit, interest rate or market risks:

 

 

Benchmark Rate

 

Notional
Value

 

Strike
Rate

 

Effective
Date

 

Expiration
Date

 

Fair
Value

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

1 month LIBOR

 

$

168,300

 

4.973

%

 

1/2007

 

 

 

1/2017

 

 

$

836

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

1 month LIBOR

 

64,076

 

4.990

%

 

1/2007

 

 

 

1/2017

 

 

248

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

1 month LIBOR

 

42,718

 

4.990

%

 

1/2007

 

 

 

1/2017

 

 

162

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

3 month LIBOR

 

39,683

 

4.420

%

 

7/2005

 

 

 

2/2014

 

 

1,293

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

1 month LIBOR

 

36,500

 

4.837

%

 

12/2006

 

 

 

11/2009

 

 

120

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

1 month LIBOR

 

31,686

 

3.855

%

 

7/2005

 

 

 

11/2009

 

 

943

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

3 month LIBOR

 

24,940

 

5.445

%

 

8/2006

 

 

 

7/2016

 

 

(728

)

Interest Rate Cap

 

3 month LIBOR

 

23,713

 

5.700

%

 

11/2005

 

 

 

12/2007

 

 

2

 

Interest Rate Cap

 

1 month LIBOR

 

20,000

 

6.000

%

 

4/2006

 

 

 

4/2007

 

 

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

3 month LIBOR

 

12,000

 

9.850

%

 

8/2006

 

 

 

8/2011

 

 

(93

)

Basis Swap

 

1 month PRIME

 

9,363

 

722 bps

 

 

8/2006

 

 

 

12/2007

 

 

(29

)

Interest Rate Swap

 

1 month LIBOR

 

6,339

 

4.760

%

 

1/2006

 

 

 

3/2015

 

 

97

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

1 month LIBOR

 

3,960

 

4.959

%

 

12/2005

 

 

 

12/2015

 

 

16

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

1 month LIBOR

 

3,465

 

4.280

%

 

7/2005

 

 

 

12/2009

 

 

64

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

3 month LIBOR

 

3,465

 

5.178

%

 

4/2006

 

 

 

3/2010

 

 

(21

)

Total

 

 

 

$

490,208

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,910

 

 

74




ITEM 8.                FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Index to Financial Statements and Schedules

GRAMERCY CAPITAL CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

75

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2006 and 2005

 

77

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004

 

78

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004

 

79

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004

 

80

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

82

Schedules

 

 

Schedule IV Mortgage Loans on Real Estate as of December 31, 2006

 

115

 

All other schedules are omitted because they are not required or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

75




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Gramercy Capital Corp.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Gramercy Capital Corp. as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index as Item 15(a)(2). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of Gramercy Capital Corp.’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Gramercy Capital Corp. at December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, Gramercy Capital Corp. adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment.”

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Gramercy Capital Corp.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 28, 2007 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

 

New York, New York

February 28, 2007

76




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Gramercy Capital Corp.

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Item 9A. Controls and Procedures - “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting,” that Gramercy Capital Corp. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Gramercy Capital Corp.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

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.

In our opinion, management’s assessment that Gramercy Capital Corp. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion, Gramercy Capital Corp. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Gramercy Capital Corp. as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004 of Gramercy Capital Corp. and our report dated February 28, 2007 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

 

New York, New York

February 28, 2007

77




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

$

19,314

 

 

 

$

70,576

 

 

Restricted cash

 

 

354,283

 

 

 

53,833

 

 

Loans and other lending investments, net

 

 

2,144,151

 

 

 

1,163,745

 

 

Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures

 

 

57,567

 

 

 

58,040

 

 

Loans held for sale, net

 

 

42,733

 

 

 

42,000

 

 

Commercial real estate, net

 

 

99,821

 

 

 

51,173

 

 

Accrued interest

 

 

12,092

 

 

 

7,187

 

 

Deferred financing costs

 

 

27,456

 

 

 

17,488

 

 

Deferred costs

 

 

1,271

 

 

 

1,894

 

 

Derivative instruments, at fair value

 

 

2,910

 

 

 

2,271

 

 

Other assets

 

 

4,515

 

 

 

1,603

 

 

Total assets

 

 

$

2,766,113

 

 

 

$

1,469,810

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase agreements

 

 

$

277,412

 

 

 

$

117,366

 

 

Credit facilities

 

 

15,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

 

1,714,250

 

 

 

810,500

 

 

Mortgage note payable

 

 

94,525

 

 

 

41,000

 

 

Management fees payable

 

 

2,093

 

 

 

1,329

 

 

Incentive fee payable

 

 

1,195

 

 

 

1,237

 

 

Dividends payable

 

 

14,419

 

 

 

10,726

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

24,750

 

 

 

11,561

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

11,809

 

 

 

3,687

 

 

Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures held by trusts that issued trust preferred securities

 

 

150,000

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

Total liabilities

 

 

2,305,453

 

 

 

1,097,406

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, par value $0.001, 25,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, par value $0.001, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 25,878,391 and 22,802,642 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

 

 

26

 

 

 

22

 

 

Additional paid-in-capital

 

 

453,766

 

 

 

369,529

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

2,890

 

 

 

2,851

 

 

Retained earnings

 

 

3,978

 

 

 

2

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

460,660

 

 

 

372,404

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

 

$

2,766,113

 

 

 

$

1,469,810

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

78




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

Period from
April 12, 2004
(formation)
through
December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income

 

$

176,421

 

$

73,302

 

 

$

6,841

 

 

Rental revenue, net

 

2,402

 

1,219

 

 

 

 

Gain on sales and other income

 

19,392

 

13,564

 

 

310

 

 

Total revenues

 

198,215

 

88,085

 

 

7,151

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

98,299

 

33,771

 

 

1,463

 

 

Management fees

 

16,668

 

9,600

 

 

1,965

 

 

Incentive fee

 

7,609

 

2,276

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1,582

 

672

 

 

38

 

 

Marketing, general and administrative

 

11,957

 

6,976

 

 

1,358

 

 

Provision for loan loss

 

1,430

 

1,030

 

 

 

 

Total expenses

 

137,545

 

54,325

 

 

4,824

 

 

Income from continuing operations before equity in net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures and provision for taxes

 

60,670

 

33,760

 

 

2,327

 

 

Equity in net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

(2,960

)

(1,489

)

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes

 

57,710

 

32,271

 

 

2,327

 

 

Provision for taxes

 

(1,808

)

(900

)

 

 

 

GKK formation costs

 

 

 

 

(275

)

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

$

55,902

 

$

31,371

 

 

$

2,052

 

 

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

$

2.26

 

$

1.57

 

 

$

0.15

 

 

Diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

$

2.15

 

$

1.51

 

 

$

0.15

 

 

Dividends per common share

 

$

2.08

 

$

1.495

 

 

$

0.15

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

24,722

 

20,027

 

 

13,348

 

 

Diluted weighted average common shares and common share equivalents outstanding

 

26,009

 

20,781

 

 

13,411

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

79




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Paid

 

Comprehensive

 

Retained

 

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

Shares

 

Par Value

 

In-Capital

 

Income

 

Earnings

 

Total

 

Income

 

Balance at April 12, 2004 (formation)

 

 

500

 

 

 

$

1

 

 

 

$

199

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

200

 

 

$

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,052

 

 

2,052

 

 

2,052

 

 

Net unrealized gain on derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

282

 

 

 

 

 

 

282

 

 

282

 

 

Net proceeds from common stock offerings

 

 

18,000

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

267,955

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

267,973

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation—fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

404

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

404

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation plan, net

 

 

313

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash distributions declared ($0.15 per common share of which none represented a return of capital for federal income tax purposes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,952

)

 

(1,952

)

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2004

 

 

18,813

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

268,558

 

 

 

282

 

 

 

100

 

 

268,959

 

 

$

2,334

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,371

 

 

31,371

 

 

$

31,371

 

 

Net unrealized gain on derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,569

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,569

 

 

2,569

 

 

Net proceeds from common stock offerings

 

 

3,833

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

96,028

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

96,031

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation—fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,798

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,798

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from stock option exercises

 

 

131

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,970

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,970

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation plan, net

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,175

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,175

 

 

 

 

 

Cash distributions declared ($1.495 per common share of which none represented a return of capital for federal income tax purposes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(31,469

)

 

(31,469

)

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2005

 

 

22,803

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

369,529

 

 

 

2,851

 

 

 

2

 

 

372,404

 

 

$

33,940

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55,902

 

 

55,902

 

 

$

55,902

 

 

Net unrealized gain on derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

 

 

 

39

 

 

39

 

 

Proceeds from common stock offerings

 

 

3,000

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

79,787

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

79,790

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation—fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,259

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,259

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from stock option exercises

 

 

63

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1,017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,018

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation plan, net

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,174

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,174

 

 

 

 

 

Cash distributions declared ($2.08 per common share of which none represented a return of capital for federal income tax purposes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(51,926

)

 

(51,926

)

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2006

 

 

25,878

 

 

 

$

26

 

 

 

$

453,766

 

 

 

$

2,890

 

 

 

$

3,978

 

 

$

460,660

 

 

$

55,941

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

80




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

Period from
April 12, 2004
(formation)
through
December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

$

55,902

 

$

31,371

 

 

$

2,052

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income available to common stockholders to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

6,042

 

3,448

 

 

38

 

 

Amortization of discount, premium and other fees on investments

 

(12,956

)

(1,810

)

 

253

 

 

Deferred rents receivable

 

(1,488

)

 

 

 

 

Equity in net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

2,960

 

1,489

 

 

 

 

Gain on sale of securities

 

(6,362

)

 

 

 

 

Amortization of stock compensation

 

3,433

 

2,569

 

 

 

 

Provision for loan loss

 

1,430

 

1,030

 

 

 

 

Net realized gain on loan held for sale

 

(4,713

)

 

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New investments in loans held for sale

 

(104,931

)

(182,431

)

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale

 

175,050

 

140,431

 

 

 

 

Accrued interest

 

(4,905

)

(4,266

)

 

(2,921

)

 

Other assets

 

12,034

 

(1,364

)

 

(628

)

 

Management fees payable

 

764

 

913

 

 

416

 

 

Incentive fee payable

 

(42

)

1,237

 

 

 

 

Settlement of derivative instruments

 

534

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

31,955

 

9,543

 

 

1,935

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

154,707

 

2,160

 

 

1,145

 

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New investment originations and funded commitments

 

(1,847,976

)

(1,030,149

)

 

(407,603

)

 

Principal collections on investments

 

810,947

 

273,897

 

 

736

 

 

Investment in commercial real estate and securities

 

(113,644

)

(50,616

)

 

 

 

Net proceeds from the sale of securities

 

14,812

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in joint venture

 

75

 

(59,529

)

 

 

 

Change in restricted cash from investing activities

 

(11,900

)

 

 

 

 

Settlement of derivative instruments

 

 

106

 

 

 

 

Deferred investment costs

 

(1,840

)

(1,704

)

 

(189

)

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(1,149,526

)

(867,995

)

 

(407,056

)

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from repurchase facilities

 

1,381,582

 

815,151

 

 

238,885

 

 

Repayments of repurchase facilities

 

(1,206,537

)

(936,670

)

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of collateralized debt obligation

 

903,750

 

810,500

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from mortgage note payable

 

94,525

 

41,000

 

 

 

 

Change in restricted cash from financing activities

 

(304,567

)

(50,935

)

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

81




 

Settlement of derivative instruments

 

730

 

375

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from stock options exercised

 

1,018

 

1,970

 

 

 

 

Net proceeds from sale of common stock

 

79,790

 

156,848

 

 

268,409

 

 

Stock subscription receivable

 

 

 

 

(60,445

)

 

Issuance of trust preferred securities

 

50,000

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

Deferred financing costs and other liabilities

 

(8,494

)

(18,227

)

 

(2,044

)

 

Dividends paid

 

(48,240

)

(22,695

)

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

943,557

 

897,317

 

 

444,805

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(51,262

)

31,482

 

 

38,894

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

70,576

 

39,094

 

 

200

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

19,314

 

$

70,576

 

 

$

39,094

 

 

Non-cash activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in investment in unconsolidated joint ventures

 

1,814

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred gains on derivative instruments

 

237

 

2,569

 

 

282

 

 

Supplemental cash flow disclosures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

80,956

 

22,440

 

 

558

 

 

Income taxes paid

 

1,888

 

828

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

82




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

1.   Organization

Gramercy Capital Corp. (the “Company” or “Gramercy”) is a commercial real estate specialty finance company that focuses on the direct origination and acquisition of whole loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, and net lease investments involving commercial properties throughout the United States. When evaluating transactions, we assess our risk-adjusted return and target transactions with yields that seek to provide excess returns for the risks being taken.

Substantially all of our operations are conducted through GKK Capital LP, a Delaware limited partnership, or our Operating Partnership. We, as the sole general partner of, and currently the holder of 100% of the common units of, our Operating Partnership, have responsibility and discretion in the management and control of our Operating Partnership, and the limited partners of our Operating Partnership, in such capacity, have no authority to transact business for, or participate in the management activities of, our Operating Partnership. Accordingly, we consolidate the accounts of our Operating Partnership.

We are externally managed and advised by GKK Manager LLC, or our Manager, a majority-owned subsidiary of SL Green Realty Corp., or SL Green. At December 31, 2006, SL Green owned approximately 25% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. We qualified as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2004 and expect to qualify for the current fiscal year. To maintain our tax status as a REIT, we plan to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to “we,” “our,” and “us” means Gramercy Capital Corp.

As of December 31, 2006, we held loans and other lending investments of $2,186,884 net of fees, discounts, and unfunded commitments with an average spread to LIBOR of 384 basis points for our floating rate investments, and an average yield of 10.04% for our fixed rate investments. As of December 31, 2006, we also held interests in four credit tenant lease, or CTL, investments comprised of a 49.75% tenancy-in-common, or TIC, interest in 55 Corporate Drive in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and three joint venture investments.

2.   Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our subsidiaries which are wholly-owned or controlled by us, or entities which are variable interest entities in which we are the primary beneficiaries under FASB Interpretation No. 46, or FIN 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.”  FIN 46 requires a variable interest entity, or VIE, to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the party that absorbs a majority of the VIE’s anticipated losses and/or a majority of the expected returns. We have evaluated our investments for potential classification as variable interests by evaluating the sufficiency of the entities’ equity investment at risk to absorb losses, and determined that we are not the primary beneficiary for any of our investments. Entities which we do not control and entities which are VIE’s, but where we are not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for under the equity method. When investments are made through a TIC structure, we report our pro rata share of the assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses of the investment in our financial statements. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

83




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash at December 31, 2006 consists primarily of $322,167 on deposit with the trustee of our collateralized debt obligations, or CDOs, a portion of which represents proceeds from our second CDO issuance that will be used to fund future investments that will be acquired by the CDO trust. Also included are the proceeds of repayments from loans serving as collateral in our CDOs, which will be used to fund investments to replace those trust assets which are repaid or sold by the trust, interest payments received by the trustee on investments that serve as collateral for our CDOs, which are remitted to us on a quarterly basis in the month following the end of our fiscal quarter, and future funding obligations on certain investments. The remaining balance consists of interest reserves held on behalf of borrowers and $18,201 representing our proportionate share of the reserves of 55 Corporate Drive.

Loans and Investments and Loans Held for Sale

Loans held for investment are intended to be held to maturity and, accordingly, are carried at cost, net of unamortized loan origination fees, discounts, repayments, sales of partial interests in loans, and unfunded commitments unless such loan or investment is deemed to be impaired. Loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or market value using available market information obtained through consultation with dealers or other originators of such investments. We may originate or acquire preferred equity interests that allow us to participate in a percentage of the underlying property’s cash flows from operations and proceeds from a sale or refinancing. Should we make such a preferred equity investment, we must determine whether that investment should be accounted for as a loan, joint venture or as an interest in real estate.

Specific valuation allowances are established for impaired loans based on the fair value of collateral on an individual loan basis. The fair value of the collateral is determined by selecting the most appropriate valuation methodology, or methodologies, among several generally available and accepted  in the commercial real estate industry. The determination of the most appropriate valuation methodology is based on the key characteristics of the collateral type. These methodologies include the evaluation of operating cash flow from the property during the projected holding period, and the estimated sales value of the collateral computed by applying an expected capitalization rate to the stabilized net operating income of the specific property, less selling costs, all of which are discounted at market discount rates.

If upon completion of the valuation, the fair value of the underlying collateral securing the impaired loan is less than the net carrying value of the loan, an allowance is created with a corresponding charge to the provision for loan losses. The allowance for each loan is maintained at a level we believe is adequate to absorb probable losses. We maintained a reserve of $2,460 and $1,030 at December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

Our Manager evaluates our assets on a regular basis to determine if they continue to satisfy our investment criteria. Subject to certain restrictions, our Manager may cause us to sell our investments

84




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

opportunistically and use the proceeds of any such sale for debt reduction, additional acquisitions or working capital purposes.

Classifications of Mortgage-Backed Securities

Mortgage-backed securities, or MBS, are classified as available-for-sale securities. As a result, changes in fair value will be recorded as a balance sheet adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income, which is a component of stockholders equity, rather than through our statement of operations. If available-for-sale securities were classified as trading securities, there could be substantially greater volatility in earnings from period-to-period as these investments would be marked to market and any reduction in the value of the securities versus the previous carrying value would be considered an expense on our statement of operations. We had no investments as of December 31, 2006 that were accounted for as trading securities.

Valuations of Mortgage-Backed Securities

All MBS are carried on the balance sheet at fair value. We determine the fair value of MBS based on the types of securities in which we have invested. For liquid, investment-grade securities, we consult with dealers of such securities to periodically obtain updated market pricing for the same or similar instruments. For non-investment grade securities, we actively monitor the performance of the underlying properties and loans and update our pricing model to reflect changes in projected cash flows. The value of the securities is derived by applying discount rates to such cash flows based on current market yields. The yields employed are obtained from our own experience in the market, advice from dealers and/or information obtained in consultation with other investors in similar instruments. Because fair value estimates may vary to some degree, we must make certain judgments and assumptions about the appropriate price to use to calculate the fair values for financial reporting purposes. Different judgments and assumptions could result in different presentations of value.

When the fair value of an available-for-sale security is less than the amortized cost, we consider whether there is an other-than-temporary impairment in the value of the security (for example, whether the security will be sold prior to the recovery of fair value). If, in our judgment, an other-than-temporary impairment exists, the cost basis of the security is written down to the then-current fair value, and this loss is realized and charged against earnings. The determination of other-than-temporary impairment is a subjective process, and different judgments and assumptions could affect the timing of loss realization.

Credit Tenant Lease Investments

Consolidated CTL investments are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Costs directly related to the acquisition of such investments are capitalized. Certain improvements are capitalized when they are determined to increase the useful life of the building. Capitalized items are depreciated using the straight-line method over the shorter of the useful lives of the capitalized item or 40 years for buildings or facilities, the remaining life of the facility for facility improvements, four to seven years for personal property and equipment, and the shorter of the remaining lease term or the expected life for tenant improvements.

85




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

Consolidated depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 were $614 and $324, respectively. We did not have any consolidated CTL investments during the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004.

Results of operations of properties acquired are included in the Statement of Income from the date of acquisition.

In accordance with FASB No. 144, or SFAS 144, “Accounting for the Impairment of Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” a property to be disposed of is reported at the lower of its carrying amount or its estimated fair value, less its cost to sell. Once an asset is held for sale, depreciation expense and straight-line rent adjustments are no longer recorded and historic results are reclassified as Discontinued Operations.

In accordance with FASB No. 141, or SFAS 141, “Business Combinations,” we allocate the purchase price of real estate to land and building and, if determined to be material, intangibles, such as the value of above, below and at-market leases and origination costs associated with the in-place leases. We depreciate the amount allocated to building and other intangible assets over their estimated useful lives, which generally range from three to 40 years. The values of the above and below-market leases are amortized and recorded as either an increase (in the case of below-market leases) or a decrease (in the case of above-market leases) to rental income over the remaining term of the associated lease. The value associated with in-place leases and tenant relationships are amortized over the expected term of the relationship, which includes an estimated probability of the lease renewal, and its estimated term. If a tenant vacates its space prior to the contractual termination of the lease and no rental payments are being made on the lease, any unamortized balance of the related intangible will be written off. The tenant improvements and origination costs are amortized as an expense over the remaining life of the lease (or charged against earnings if the lease is terminated prior to its contractual expiration date). We assess fair value of the leases based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and capitalization rates and available market information. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including the historical operating results, known trends, and market/economic conditions that may affect the property.

Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

We account for our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures under the equity method of accounting since we exercise significant influence, but do not unilaterally control, the entities and are not considered to be the primary beneficiary under FIN 46. In the joint ventures, the rights of the other investor are protective and participating. Unless we are determined to be the primary beneficiary, these rights preclude us from consolidating the investments. The investments are recorded initially at cost as an investment in unconsolidated joint ventures, and subsequently are adjusted for equity in net income (loss) and cash contributions and distributions. Any difference between the carrying amount of the investments on our balance sheet and the underlying equity in net assets is amortized as an adjustment to equity in net income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures over the lesser of the joint venture term or 40 years. None of the joint venture debt is recourse to us. As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, we had investments of $57,567 and $58,040 in unconsolidated joint ventures, respectively.

86




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

Revenue Recognition

Interest income on debt investments is recognized over the life of the investment using the effective interest method and recognized on the accrual basis. Fees received in connection with loan commitments are deferred until the loan is funded and are then recognized over the term of the loan using the effective interest method. Anticipated exit fees, whose collection is expected, are also recognized over the term of the loan as an adjustment to yield. Fees on commitments that expire unused are recognized at expiration. Fees received in exchange for the credit enhancement of another lender, either subordinate or senior to us, in the form of a guarantee are recognized over the term of that guarantee using the straight-line method.

Income recognition is generally suspended for debt investments at the earlier of the date at which payments become 90 days past due or when, in our opinion, a full recovery of income and principal becomes doubtful. Income recognition is resumed when the loan becomes contractually current and performance is demonstrated to be resumed.

In some instances we may sell all or a portion of our investments to a third party. To the extent the fair value received for an investment exceeds the amortized cost of that investment and FASB Statement No. 140, or SFAS 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities,” criteria is met, under which control of the asset that is sold is surrendered making it a “true sale,” a gain on the sale will be recorded through earnings as other income. To the extent an investment that is sold has a discount or fees, which were deferred at the time the investment was made and were being recognized over the term of the investment, the unamortized portion of the discount or fees are recognized at the time of sale and recorded as a gain on the sale of the investment through other income. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we recognized $5,349 and $10,474 in net gains from the sale of debt investments or commitments. We did not recognize any such gains for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004.

Rental revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The excess of rents recognized over amounts contractually due pursuant to the underlying leases is included in other assets on the accompanying balance sheets. We may establish, on a current basis, an allowance against this account for future potential tenant credit losses, which may occur. The balance reflected on the balance sheet will be net of such allowance.

In addition to base rent, the tenants in our CTL investments also pay all operating costs of owned property including real estate taxes.

Reserve for Possible Loan Losses

The expense for possible loan losses in connection with debt investments is the charge to earnings to increase the allowance for possible loan losses to the level that management estimates to be adequate considering delinquencies, loss experience and collateral quality. Other factors considered relate to geographic trends and project diversification, the size of the portfolio and current economic conditions. Based upon these factors, we may establish the provision for possible loan losses by individual asset or category of asset. When it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts contractually due, the account is considered impaired.

Where impairment is indicated, a valuation write-down or write-off is measured based upon the excess of the recorded investment amount over the net fair value of the collateral, as reduced by selling costs. Any

87




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

deficiency between the carrying amount of an asset and the net sales price of foreclosed collateral is charged to the allowance for loan losses. We maintained a reserve for possible loan losses of $2,460 against investments with a carrying value of $131,427 as of December 31, 2006, and a reserve for possible loan losses of $1,030 against investments with a carrying value of $68,293 as of December 31, 2005.

Deferred Costs

Deferred costs consist of fees and direct costs incurred to originate new investments and are amortized using the effective yield method over the related term of the investment.

In March 2006, we recorded a nonrecurring charge of $525 for third-party professional expenses in connection with a possible business combination involving the acquisition of a publicly-traded commercial real estate finance company with business lines considered by our management to be highly complementary to ours. The decision to expense these costs was made once management concluded the proposed transaction was unlikely to occur on terms advantageous to us.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs represent commitment fees, legal and other third party costs associated with obtaining commitments for financing which result in a closing of such financing. These costs are amortized over the terms of the respective agreements and the amortization is reflected in interest expense. Unamortized deferred financing costs are expensed when the associated debt is refinanced or repaid before maturity. Costs incurred in seeking financing transactions, which do not close, are expensed in the period in which it is determined that the financing will not close.

Stock Based Compensation Plans

We have a stock-based compensation plan, described more fully in Note 14. We account for this plan using the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement 123(R), “Share-Based Payment, a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.”

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because our plan has characteristics significantly different from those of traded options and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in our opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of our stock options.

Compensation cost for stock options, if any, is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the award. Our policy is to grant options with an exercise price equal to the quoted closing market price of our stock on the business day preceding the grant date. Awards of stock or restricted stock are expensed as compensation on a current basis over the benefit period.

The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of grant for awards to co-leased employees, and quarterly for options issued to non-employees, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions for grants in 2006 and 2005.

88




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Dividend yield

 

8.0

%

8.4

%

Expected life of option

 

6.7 years

 

6.9 years

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

4.14

%

4.16

%

Expected stock price volatility

 

21.0

%

19.1

%

 

Incentive Distribution (Class B Limited Partner Interest)

The Class B limited partner interests are entitled to receive an incentive return equal to 25% of the amount by which funds from operations, or FFO plus certain accounting gains (as defined in the partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership which was amended and restated in April 2006) exceed the product of our weighted average stockholders equity (as defined in the amended and restated partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership) multiplied by 9.5% (divided by 4 to adjust for quarterly calculations). We will record any distributions on the Class B limited partner interests as an incentive distribution expense in the period when earned and when payment of such amounts has become probable and reasonably estimable in accordance with the partnership agreement. These cash distributions will reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our common unitholders in our Operating Partnership and to common stockholders. We incurred approximately $7,609 and $2,276 with respect to such Class B limited partner interests for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. We did not recognize such an expense for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004.

Derivative Instruments

In the normal course of business, we use a variety of derivative instruments to manage, or hedge, interest rate risk. We require that hedging derivative instruments be effective in reducing the interest rate risk exposure that they are designated to hedge. This effectiveness is essential for qualifying for hedge accounting. Some derivative instruments are associated with an anticipated transaction. In those cases, hedge effectiveness criteria also require that it be probable that the underlying transaction occurs. Instruments that meet these hedging criteria are formally designated as hedges at the inception of the derivative contract.

To determine the fair value of derivative instruments, we use a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions and risks existing at each balance sheet date. For the majority of financial instruments including most derivatives, long-term investments and long-term debt, standard market conventions and techniques such as discounted cash flow analysis, option-pricing models, replacement cost, and termination cost are used to determine fair value. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.

89




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

In the normal course of business, we are exposed to the effect of interest rate changes and limit these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives. To address exposure to interest rates, we use derivatives primarily to hedge the mark-to-market risk of our liabilities with respect to certain of our assets. We may also use derivatives to hedge variability in sales proceeds to be received upon the sale of loans held for sale.

We use a variety of commonly used derivative products that are considered plain vanilla derivatives. These derivatives typically include interest rate swaps, caps, collars and floors. We also use total rate of return swaps, or TROR swaps, which are tied to the Lehman Brothers CMBS index. We expressly prohibit the use of unconventional derivative instruments and using derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Further, we have a policy of only entering into contracts with major financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors.

FASB No. 133, or SFAS 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended by FASB No. 149, requires us to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges must be adjusted to fair value through income. If a derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged asset, liability, or firm commitment through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings. SFAS 133 may increase or decrease reported net income and stockholders’ equity prospectively, depending on future levels of LIBOR, swap spreads and other variables affecting the fair values of derivative instruments and hedged items, but will have no effect on cash flows, provided the contract is carried through to full term.

We may employ swaps, forwards or purchased options to hedge qualifying forecasted transactions. Gains and losses related to these transactions are deferred and recognized in net income as interest expense or other income in the same period or periods that the underlying transaction occurs, expires or is otherwise terminated.

All hedges held by us are deemed to be effective in meeting the hedging objectives established by our corporate policy governing interest rate risk management. The effect of our derivative instruments on our financial statements is discussed more fully in Note 17.

Income Taxes

We elected to be taxed as a REIT, under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code, beginning with our taxable year ending December 31, 2004. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet certain organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute at least 90% of our ordinary taxable income to stockholders. As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable income that we distribute to our stockholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will then be subject to federal income taxes on our taxable income at regular corporate rates and we will not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for four years following the year during which qualification is lost unless the Internal Revenue Service grants us relief

90




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

under certain statutory provisions. Such an event could materially adversely affect our net income and net cash available for distributions to stockholders. However, we believe that we will be organized and operate in such a manner as to qualify for treatment as a REIT and we intend to operate in the foreseeable future in such a manner so that we will qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. We may, however, be subject to certain state and local taxes.

Our TRSs are subject to federal, state and local taxes.

Underwriting Commissions and Costs

Underwriting commissions and costs incurred in connection with our stock offerings are reflected as a reduction of additional paid-in-capital.

Formation Costs

Costs incurred to organize Gramercy in 2004 were expensed as incurred.

Earnings Per Share

We present both basic and diluted earnings per share, or EPS. Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock, where such exercise or conversion would result in a lower EPS amount.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash investments, debt investments and accounts receivable. Gramercy places its cash investments in excess of insured amounts with high quality financial institutions. Our Manager performs ongoing analysis of credit risk concentrations in our debt investment portfolio by evaluating exposure to various markets, underlying property types, investment structure, term, sponsors, tenants and other credit metrics. Four investments accounted for more than 21% of the total carrying value of our debt investments as of December 31, 2006 and 20% of the total carrying value of our debt investments as of December 31, 2005. Six investments accounted for approximately 22% of the revenue earned on our debt investments for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to three investments which accounted for approximately 25% of

91




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

the revenue earned on our debt investments for the year ended December 31, 2005 and two investments which accounted for approximately 58% of the revenue earned on our debt investments for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123(R), or SFAS No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment, a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair value. The new standard is effective for interim or annual reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2006. The implementation of SFAS No. 123(R) did not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2006.

In June 2005, the FASB ratified the consensus in EITF Issue No. 04-5, or Issue 04-5, Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights, which provides guidance in determining whether a general partner controls a limited partnership. Issue 04-5 states that the general partner in a limited partnership is presumed to control that limited partnership. The presumption may be overcome if the limited partners have either (1) the substantive ability to dissolve the limited partnership or otherwise remove the general partner without cause or (2) substantive participating rights, which provide the limited partners with the ability to effectively participate in significant decisions that would be expected to be made in the ordinary course of the limited partnership’s business and thereby preclude the general partner from exercising unilateral control over the partnership. If the criteria in Issue 04-5 are met, a company could be required to consolidate certain of its existing unconsolidated joint ventures. Our adoption of Issue 04-5 for new or modified limited partnership arrangements effective June 30, 2005 and existing limited partnership arrangements effective January 1, 2006 did not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2006.

In February 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 155, or SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140.” SFAS No. 155 (1) permits fair value re-measurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that would otherwise require bifurcation, (2) clarifies which interest-only strips and principal-only strips are not subject to the requirements of FASB Statement No. 133, (3) establishes a requirement to evaluate interests in securitized financial assets to identify interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial instruments that contain an imbedded derivative requiring bifurcation, (4) clarifies that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not embedded derivatives, and (5) amends FASB Statement No. 140 to eliminate the prohibition on a qualifying special-purpose entity from holding a derivative financial instrument that pertains to a beneficial interest in other than another derivative financial instrument. SFAS No. 155 is effective January 1, 2007 and we are currently evaluating the effect, if any, that this pronouncement will have on our future financial position or results of operations.

92




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, or FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” This interpretation, among other things, creates a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Recognition (step one) occurs when an enterprise concludes that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination. Measurement (step two) determines the amount of benefit that more-likely-than-not will be realized upon settlement. Derecognition of a tax position that was previously recognized would occur when a company subsequently determines that a tax position no longer meets the more-likely-than-not threshold of being sustained. FIN 48 specifically prohibits the use of a valuation allowance as a substitute for derecognition of tax positions, and it has expanded disclosure requirements. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, in which the impact of adoption should be accounted for as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings. We are currently evaluating the effect, if any, that this pronouncement will have on our future financial position or results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, or SFAS No. 157. SFAS No. 157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. This statement clarifies the principle that fair value should be based on the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. SFAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy, giving the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data. SFAS No. 157 applies whenever other standards require assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. This statement is effective in fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We believe that the adoption of this standard on January 1, 2008 will not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, or SAB 108, which becomes effective beginning on January 1, 2007. SAB 108 provides guidance on the consideration of the effects of prior period misstatements in quantifying current year misstatements for the purpose of a materiality assessment. SAB 108 provides for the quantification of the impact of correcting all misstatements, including both the carryover and reversing effects of prior year misstatements, on the current year financial statements. If a misstatement is material to the current year financial statements, the prior year financial statements should also be corrected, even though such revision was, and continues to be, immaterial to the prior year financial statements. Correcting prior year financial statements for immaterial errors would not require previously filed reports to be amended. Such correction should be made in the current period filings. We believe that the adoption of this standard will not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

93




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

3.   Loans and Other Lending Investments

The aggregate carrying values, allocated by product type and weighted average coupons of our loans and other lending investments as of December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 were as follows:

 

 

Carrying Value(1)
($ in thousands)

 

Allocation by
Investment Type

 

Fixed Rate:
Average Yield

 

Floating Rate:
Average Spread over LIBOR(2)

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Whole loans, floating rate

 

$

1,372,316

 

$

561,388

 

 

63

%

 

 

46

%

 

 

 

327 bps

 

325 bps

 

Whole loans, fixed rate

 

42,376

 

94,448

 

 

2

%

 

 

8

%

 

11.69

%

10.67

%

 

 

Subordinate interests in whole loans, floating rate

 

236,308

 

362,983

 

 

11

%

 

 

30

%

 

 

 

445 bps

 

443 bps

 

Subordinate interests in whole loans, fixed rate

 

48,769

 

37,104

 

 

2

%

 

 

3

%

 

8.54

%

8.80

%

 

 

Mezzanine loans, floating rate

 

226,675

 

82,793

 

 

10

%

 

 

7

%

 

 

 

665 bps

 

858 bps

 

Mezzanine loans, fixed rate

 

216,216

 

43,352

 

 

10

%

 

 

4

%

 

9.92

%

8.51

%

 

 

Preferred equity, floating rate

 

 

11,795

 

 

 

 

 

1

%

 

 

 

900 bps

 

900 bps

 

Preferred equity, fixed rate

 

44,224

 

11,882

 

 

2

%

 

 

1

%

 

10.68

%

10.27

%

 

 

Total / Weighted average

 

$

2,186,884

 

$

1,205,745

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

10.04

%

9.78

%

384 bps

 

417 bps

 


(1)          Debt investments are presented after scheduled amortization payments and prepayments, and are net of unamortized fees, discounts, asset sales and unfunded commitments.

(2)          Spreads over an index other than LIBOR have been adjusted to a LIBOR based equivalent.

The carrying value of our loans and other lending investments is net of unamortized fees and discounts of $35,500 and $13,336 at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and unfunded commitments of $289,153 and $107,281 at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

As of December 31, 2006, our investment portfolio had the following maturity characteristics:

Year of Maturity

 

 

 

Number of
Investments
Maturing

 

Current
Carrying Value
(In thousands)

 

% of Total

 

2007

 

 

26

 

 

 

$

608,009

 

 

 

28

%

 

2008

 

 

23

 

 

 

990,814

 

 

 

45

%

 

2009

 

 

16

 

 

 

337,856

 

 

 

15

%

 

2010

 

 

2

 

 

 

6,638

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

 

2

 

 

 

56,920

 

 

 

3

%

 

Thereafter

 

 

7

 

 

 

186,647

 

 

 

9

%

 

Total

 

 

76

 

 

 

$

2,186,884

 

 

 

100

%

 

Weighted average maturity(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.1 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

94




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006


(1)          The calculation of weighted average maturity is based upon the initial term of the investment and does not include option or extension periods or the ability to prepay the investment after a negotiated lock-out period, which may be available to the borrower.

For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004 the Company’s investment income from debt investments was generated by the following investment types:

 

 

For the Year Ended
December 31, 2006

 

For the Year Ended
December 31, 2005

 

For the Period From
April 12, 2004
(formation) through
December 31, 2004

 

Investment Type

 

 

 

Investment
Income

 

% of
Total

 

Investment
Income

 

% of
Total

 

Investment
Income

 

% of
Total

 

Whole loans

 

 

$

107,074

 

 

 

60

%

 

 

$

30,331

 

 

 

41

%

 

 

$

782

 

 

 

11

%

 

Subordinate interests in whole loans

 

 

42,506

 

 

 

24

%

 

 

29,630

 

 

 

41

%

 

 

5,499

 

 

 

80

%

 

Mezzanine loans

 

 

22,353

 

 

 

13

%

 

 

10,356

 

 

 

14

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred equity

 

 

4,488

 

 

 

3

%

 

 

1,574

 

 

 

2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CMBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,411

 

 

 

2

%

 

 

560

 

 

 

9

%

 

Total

 

 

$

176,421

 

 

 

100

%

 

 

$

73,302

 

 

 

100

%

 

 

$

6,841

 

 

 

100

%

 

 

At December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, our debt investment portfolio had the following geographic diversification:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Region

 

 

 

Carrying
Value

 

% of
Total

 

Carrying
Value

 

% of
Total

 

Northeast

 

$

1,169,790

 

 

53

%

 

$

464,054

 

 

39

%

 

West

 

579,568

 

 

27

%

 

378,040

 

 

31

%

 

South

 

310,909

 

 

14

%

 

258,511

 

 

21

%

 

Midwest

 

41,894

 

 

2

%

 

74,949

 

 

6

%

 

Various

 

84,723

 

 

4

%

 

30,191

 

 

3

%

 

Total

 

$

2,186,884

 

 

100

%

 

$

1,205,745

 

 

100

%

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2006, we recognized $5,349 in gains from the sale or syndication of debt investments totaling $173,391, of which $313 represents the recognition of unamortized discounts or fees at the time of sale. For the year ended December 31, 2005, we recognized $10,474 in gains from the sale or syndication of debt investments totaling $182,035, of which $1,849 represented the recognition of unamortized discounts or fees at the time of sale.

We maintained a reserve for possible loan losses of $2,460 against investments with a carrying value of $131,427 as of December 31, 2006, and a reserve for possible loan losses of $1,030 against investments with a carrying value of $68,293 as of December 31, 2005, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2006, we recorded additional reserves for loan losses of $1,930 through our results of operations, offset by a reversal of $500, which had been reserved against an investment that repaid in full. For the period during

95




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

which a reserve was carried, these investments generated interest income of $9,377 and $2,413 in 2006 and 2005, respectively, and income recognition remained current. We did not maintain a reserve during 2004.

In connection with a preferred equity investment, which was repaid in October 2006, we have guaranteed a portion of the outstanding principal balance of the first mortgage loan that is a financial obligation of the entity in which we have invested in the event of a borrower default under such loan. The loan matures in 2032. This guarantee is considered to be an off-balance-sheet arrangement and will survive until the repayment of the first mortgage loan. As compensation, we received a credit enhancement fee of $125 from the borrower, which is recognized as the fair value of the guarantee and has been recorded on our balance sheet as a liability. The liability will be amortized over the life of the guarantee using the straight-line method and corresponding fee income will be recorded. Our maximum exposure under this guarantee is approximately $1,441 as of December 31, 2006. Under the terms of the guarantee, the investment sponsor is required to reimburse us for the entire amount paid under the guarantee until the guarantee expires.

4.   Property Acquisitions

55 Corporate Drive

On June 7, 2006 we closed on the acquisition of a 49.75% TIC interest in 55 Corporate Drive, located in Bridgewater, New Jersey, with a 0.25% interest to be acquired in the future. The property is comprised of three buildings totaling 670,000 square feet which is 100% net leased to an entity whose obligations are guaranteed by Sanofi-Aventis Group through April 2023. The transaction was valued at $236,000 and was financed with a $190,000, 10-year, fixed rate first mortgage loan. The remaining 50% of the property is owned as a TIC interest by an affiliate of SL Green.  Upon closing the acquisition of the property, the $90,000 whole loan previously held by us was repaid in full using proceeds from the new mortgage financing. Following its acquisition, all income and expenses at this property were capitalized and were not recognized in our results from operations as the property was being redeveloped. The property is accounted for as an operating property beginning in the three months ended December 31, 2006.

The following is a schedule of our proportionate share of future minimum rent payments to be received under the lease at 55 Corporate Drive:

 

 

Rent Payments

 

2007

 

 

$

2,428

 

 

2008

 

 

6,140

 

 

2009

 

 

7,996

 

 

2010

 

 

7,996

 

 

2011

 

 

8,107

 

 

Thereafter

 

 

100,925

 

 

 

 

 

$

133,592

 

 

 

96




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

5.   Disposition of Security Interests in Property

200 Franklin Square Drive

On September 6, 2005, we closed on the acquisition of a 100% fee interest in 200 Franklin Square Drive, located in Somerset, New Jersey. The property is a 200,000 square foot building which is 100% net leased to Philips Holding USA Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Philips Electronics, through December 2021. The property was acquired for a purchase price of $50,250, excluding closing costs, and financed with a $41,000, 10-year, fixed-rate first mortgage loan.

On March 31, 2006, following the conversion of the entity that owns 200 Franklin Square Drive into a Delaware statutory trust, or DST, we sold approximately 29.3% of our security interests in the DST to a third party. Subsequently, we sold an additional 45.7% of our security interests in the DST to the same party, reducing our final ownership interest to 25.0%. We received total cash consideration of $12,800 for these interests and the buyer assumed 75% of the DST’s underlying mortgage debt. The disposition resulted in a net gain of $4,530, after transaction costs. As a result of the disposition, this investment is now classified as an investment in joint venture and accounted for using the equity method. As of December 31, 2006, the investment has a carrying value of $2,519. We recorded our pro rata share of net income of the joint venture of $109 for the year ended December 31, 2006.

6.   Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

South Building at One Madison Avenue, New York, New York

On April 29, 2005, we closed on a $57,503 initial investment in a joint venture with SL Green to acquire, own and operate the South Building located at One Madison Avenue, New York, New York, or the South Building. The joint venture is owned 45% by a wholly-owned subsidiary and 55% by a wholly-owned subsidiary of SL Green. The joint venture interests are pari passu. Also on April 29, 2005, the joint venture completed the acquisition of the South Building from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for the purchase price of approximately $802,800 plus closing costs, financed in part through a $690,000 first mortgage loan on the South Building. The first mortgage is non-recourse to us. The South Building comprises approximately 1.2 million square feet and is almost entirely net leased to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, or CS, pursuant to a lease with a 15-year remaining term. As of December 31, 2006 the investment has a carrying value of $55,168. We recorded our pro rata share of net losses of the joint venture of $1,728 and $1,358 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

101 S. Marengo Avenue, Pasadena, California

On November 29, 2005, we closed on the purchase of a 50% interest in an office building in Pasadena, CA. We also acquired an interest in certain related assets as part of the transaction. The 345,000 square foot office property, which is net leased to Bank of America through September 2015, assuming the exercise of options, and related collateral were acquired for $52,000 plus closing costs, using a non-recourse, $50,000, 10-year fixed-rate first mortgage loan. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we recorded our pro rata share of net losses of the joint ventures of $1,341 and $131, respectively.

97




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

7.   Junior Subordinated Debentures

On January 27, 2006, we completed a third issuance of $50,000 in unsecured trust preferred securities through a separate newly formed DST, Gramercy Capital Trust III, or GCTIII, that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of our Operating Partnership. The securities bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.65% for the first ten years ending January 2016, with an effective rate of 7.43% when giving effect to the swap arrangement previously entered into in contemplation of this financing. Thereafter, the interest rate will float based on the three-month LIBOR plus 270 basis points.

In May and August 2005, we completed issuances of $50,000 each in unsecured trust preferred securities through two DSTs, Gramercy Capital Trust I, or GCTI, and Gramercy Capital Trust II, or GCTII, that are also wholly-owned subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership. The securities issued in May 2005 bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.57% for the first ten years ending June 2015 and the securities issued in August 2005 bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.75% for the first ten years ending October 2015. Thereafter the rates will float based on the three-month LIBOR plus 300 basis points.

All issuances of trust preferred securities require quarterly interest distributions; however, payments may be deferred while the interest expense is accrued for a period of up to four consecutive quarters if our Operating Partnership exercises its right to defer such payments. The trust preferred securities are redeemable, at the option of our Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, with no prepayment premium any time after June 30, 2010, October 30, 2010 or January 30, 2011 for the securities issued by GCTI, GCTII and GCTIII, respectively.

GCTI, GCTII and GCTIII each issued $1,550 aggregate liquidation amount of common securities, representing 100% of the voting common stock of those entities to our Operating Partnership for a total purchase price of $4,650. GCTI, GCTII and GCTIII used the proceeds from the sale of the trust preferred securities and the common securities to purchase our Operating Partnership’s junior subordinated notes. The terms of the junior subordinated notes match the terms of the trust preferred securities. The notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future senior indebtedness and certain other of our financial obligations. We realized net proceeds from each offering of approximately $48,956.

Our interests in GCTI, GCTII and GCTIII are accounted for using the equity method and the assets and liabilities of those entities are not consolidated into our financial statements. Interest on the junior subordinated notes is included in interest expense on our consolidated income statements while the value of the junior subordinated notes, net of our investment in the trusts that issued the securities, are presented as a separate item in our consolidated balance sheet.

8. Collateralized Debt Obligations

During 2005, we issued approximately $1,000,000 of CDOs through two indirect subsidiaries, Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1 Ltd., or the 2005 Issuer, and Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1 LLC, or the 2005 Co-Issuer. The CDO consists of $810,500 of investment grade notes, $84,500 of non-investment grade notes, which were co-issued by the 2005 Issuer and the 2005 Co-Issuer, and $105,000 of preferred shares, which were issued by the 2005 Issuer. The investment grade notes were issued with floating rate coupons with a combined weighted average rate of three-month LIBOR plus 0.49%. We incurred approximately $11,957 of costs related to Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1, which are amortized on a level- yield basis over the average life of the CDO.

98




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

On August 24, 2006, we issued an additional approximately $1,000,000 of CDOs through two newly-formed indirect subsidiaries, Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2006-1 Ltd., or the 2006 Issuer, and Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2006-1 LLC, or the 2006 Co-Issuer. The CDO consists of $903,750 of investment grade notes, $38,750 of non-investment grade notes, which were co-issued by the 2006 Issuer and the 2006 Co-Issuer, and $57,500 of preferred shares, which were issued by the 2006 Issuer. The investment grade notes were issued with floating rate coupons with a combined weighted average rate of three-month LIBOR plus 0.37%. We incurred approximately $11,273 of costs related to Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2006-1, which are amortized on a level yield basis over the average life of the CDO.

We retained all non-investment grade securities, the preferred shares and the common shares in the Issuer of each CDO. The Issuer in each CDO holds assets, consisting primarily of whole loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments, which serve as collateral for the CDO. Each CDO may be replenished, pursuant to certain rating agency guidelines relating to credit quality and diversification, with substitute collateral for loans that are repaid during the first five years of the CDO. Thereafter, the CDO securities will be retired in sequential order from senior-most to junior-most as loans are repaid. The financial statements of the Issuer of each CDO are consolidated in our financial statements. The investment grade notes are treated as a secured financing, and are non-recourse to us. Proceeds from the sale of the investment grade notes issued in each CDO were used to repay substantially all outstanding debt under our repurchase agreements and to fund additional investments.

9.  Debt Obligations

Repurchase Facilities

We have two repurchase facilities, one with Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC or one or more of its affiliates, or Wachovia, and one with Goldman Sachs Mortgage Company, or Goldman.

The repurchase facility with Wachovia is a $500,000 facility. This facility was initially established as a $250,000 facility, was increased to $350,000 from $250,000 effective January 3, 2005, and was subsequently increased to $500,000 effective April 22, 2005. On March 21, 2006, we further modified the facility by reducing the interest spreads. As a result of the modifications, the $500,000 facility bears interest at spreads of 1.00% to 2.50% over one-month LIBOR and, based on our expected investment activities, provides for advance rates that vary from 60% to 100% based upon the collateral provided under a borrowing base calculation. On October 13, 2006, we extended the facility’s maturity date until October 2009. The lender has a consent right with respect to the inclusion of investments in this facility, determines periodically the market value of the investments, and has the right to require additional collateral if the estimated market value of the included investments declines. We had no accrued interest and borrowings of $151,403 at a weighted average spread to LIBOR of 1.86% as of December 31, 2006, and no accrued interest and borrowings of $67,717 at a weighted average spread to LIBOR of 1.50%, as of December 31, 2005.

99




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

Borrowings under the Wachovia facility at December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 were secured by the following investments:

 

 

Carrying Value(1)

 

Investment Type

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Whole loans

 

$

117,328

 

$

33,223

 

Subordinate interests in whole loans

 

 

74,689

 

Mezzanine loans

 

139,680

 

 

Preferred equity

 

14,955

 

 

CDO securities(2)

 

 

49,500

 

Total

 

$

271,963

 

$

157,412

 

 


(1)         Approximates fair value.

(2)         Represents the BB rated securities in our CDO that were retained by us.

We also have a repurchase facility with Goldman. On October 13, 2006 we increased this facility from $200,000 to $400,000 and extended its maturity date until September 2009. On March 21, 2006, we modified the pricing on this facility by reducing the interest spreads. As a result of the modifications, the facility bears interest at spreads of 1.00% to 2.25% over one-month LIBOR and, based on our expected investment activities, provides for advance rates that vary from 40% to 85% based upon the collateral provided under a borrowing base calculation. As with the Wachovia facility, the lender has a consent right to the inclusion of investments in this facility, determines periodically the market value of the investments, and has the right to require additional collateral if the estimated market value of the included investments declines. We had accrued interest of $261 and borrowings of $126,009 at a weighted average spread to LIBOR of 1.51% as of December 31, 2006, and accrued interest of $163 and borrowings of $49,649 at a weighted average spread to LIBOR of 1.71% under this facility at December 31, 2005.

Borrowings under the Goldman facility at December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 were secured by the following investments:

 

 

Carrying Value(1)

 

Investment Type

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Whole loans

 

$

97,795

 

$

59,457

 

Mezzanine loans

 

71,798

 

 

Total

 

$

169,593

 

$

157,412

 


(1)         Approximates fair value.

The terms of our repurchase facilities (together with any related guarantees) include covenants that (a) limit our maximum total indebtedness to no more than 85% of total assets under the Wachovia facility or a debt to equity ratio less than or equal to 5:1 under the Goldman facility, (b) require us to maintain minimum liquidity of at least $10,000 for the first two years and $15,000 thereafter under the Goldman facility, and at least $15,000 under the Wachovia facility, (c) require our fixed charge coverage ratio to be

100




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

at no time less than 1.50 to 1.00, (d) require our minimum interest coverage ratio to be at no time less than 1.75 to 1.00 under the Wachovia facility, (e) require us to maintain minimum tangible net worth of not less than (i) $129,750, plus (ii) 75% of the net proceeds of our subsequent equity issuances following our initial public offering under the Goldman facility and not less than (i) $400,000, plus (ii) 75% of the proceeds of our subsequent equity issuances following the date of the October 2006 amendment under the Wachovia facility and (f) restrict the maximum amount of our total indebtedness. The covenants also restrict us from making distributions in excess of a maximum of 100% of our FFO (as defined therein) under the Wachovia facility, except that we may in any case pay distributions necessary to maintain our REIT status. An event of default can be triggered on our repurchase facilities if, among other things, GKK Manager LLC is terminated as our Manager. As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, we were in compliance with all such covenants.

The repurchase facilities require that we pay down borrowings under these facilities as principal payments on the loans and investments pledged to these facilities are received. Assets pledged as collateral under these facilities may include stabilized and transitional whole loans, subordinate interests in whole loans, mezzanine loans, and rated CMBS or commercial real estate CDO securities originated or acquired by us.

In certain circumstances, we have purchased debt investments from a counterparty and subsequently financed the acquisition of those debt investments through repurchase agreements with the same counterparty. We currently record the acquisition of the debt investments as assets and the related repurchase agreements as financing liabilities gross on the consolidated balance sheets. Interest income earned on the debt investments and interest expense incurred on the repurchase obligations are reported gross on the consolidated income statements. However, under a certain technical interpretation of FAS 140, such transactions may not qualify as a purchase by us. We believe, and it is industry practice, that we are accounting for these transactions in an appropriate manner. However, the result of this technical interpretation would prevent us from presenting the debt investments and repurchase agreements and the related interest income and interest expense on a gross basis on our financial statements. Instead, we would present the net investment in these transactions with the counterparty and a derivative with the corresponding change in fair value of the derivative being recorded through earnings. The value of the derivative would reflect changes in the value of the underlying debt investments and changes in the value of the underlying credit provided by the counterparty.

Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility

In May 2006, we closed on a $100,000 senior unsecured revolving credit facility with KeyBank National Association, or KeyBank, with an initial term of three years and a one-year extension option. The facility is supported by a negative pledge of an identified asset base with advance rates that vary from 30% to 90% of the asset value provided under a borrowing base calculation. The lender also has consent rights to the inclusion of assets in the borrowing base calculation. The facility bears interest at 1.90% over one-month LIBOR to the extent our leverage ratio, defined as total liabilities to total assets, including our proportionate share of the liabilities and assets of our unconsolidated subsidiaries, is less than 80% and 2.10% over one-month LIBOR to the extent out leverage ratio is equal to or greater than 80%. We had

101




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

accrued interest of $75 and borrowings of $15,000 at a spread to LIBOR of 2.10% against this facility as of December 31, 2006.

The terms of the unsecured revolving credit facility include covenants that (a) limit our maximum total indebtedness to no more than 85% of total assets, (b) require our fixed charge coverage ratio to be at no time less than 1.50, (c) require our minimum interest coverage ratio to be at no time less than 1.70, (d) require us to maintain minimum tangible net worth of not less than $370,000 plus 75% of the net proceeds from equity offerings completed after the closing of the facility and (e) restrict the maximum amount of our total indebtedness. The covenants also restrict us from making distributions in excess of a maximum of 100% of our FFO (as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT), except that we may in any case pay distributions necessary to maintain our REIT status. An event of default can be triggered on our unsecured revolving credit facility if, among other things, GKK Manager LLC is terminated as our Manager. As of December 31, 2006, we were in compliance with all such covenants.

In conjunction with the closing of the unsecured revolving credit facility with KeyBank, our $25,000 revolving credit facility with Wachovia was terminated.

Mortgage Loan

We have one proportionately consolidated interest-only mortgage loan related to 55 Corporate Drive in an amount equal to our ownership percentage in the entity multiplied by the outstanding principal balance of the mortgage loan, which loan financed the acquisition of 55 Corporate Drive in June 2006. The mortgage has an outstanding principal balance of $190,000, of which we have consolidated 49.75% or $94,525, with an effective interest rate of 5.75% and a term of ten years. Interest on this mortgage was capitalized for a portion of the year ended December 31, 2006 as the property was redeveloped. Capitalized interest was $1,841 for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Combined aggregate principal maturities of our consolidated CDOs, repurchase facilities, trust preferred securities, proportionately consolidated mortgage note payable related to our TIC interest in 55 Corporate Drive, and unsecured revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2006 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsecured

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trust

 

Mortgage

 

Revolving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase

 

Preferred

 

Note

 

Credit

 

 

 

 

 

 

CDOs

 

Facilities

 

Securities

 

Payable

 

Facility

 

Total

 

 

2007

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009

 

 

 

277,412

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,000

 

 

292,412

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thereafter

 

1,714,250

 

 

 

 

150,000

 

 

94,525

(1)

 

 

 

 

1,958,775

 

Total

 

$

1,714,250

 

 

$

277,412

 

 

$

150,000

 

 

$

94,525

 

 

 

$ 15,000

 

 

$

2,251,187

 


(1)          We have a 49.75% interest in the mortgage note.

102




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

10. Operating Partnership Agreement / Manager

At December 31, 2006, we owned all of the Class A limited partnership interests in our Operating Partnership. At December 31, 2006, the majority of the Class B limited partnership interests were owned by our Manager and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. Interests were also held by certain officers and employees of SL Green, including some of whom are our executive officers, certain of which interests are subject to performance thresholds.

At December 31, 2006, the majority of the interests in our Manager were held by SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. Interests were also held by certain officers and employees of SL Green, including some of whom are our executive officers, certain of which interests are subject to performance thresholds.

11. Related Party Transactions

In connection with our initial public offering, we entered into a management agreement with our Manager, which was subsequently amended and restated in April 2006. The amended and restated management agreement provides for a term through December 2009 with automatic one-year extension options and is subject to certain termination rights. We pay our Manager an annual management fee equal to 1.75% of our gross stockholders equity (as defined in the amended and restated management agreement) inclusive of our trust preferred securities. We incurred expense to our Manager under this agreement of an aggregate of $10,147, $6,337 and $1,349 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004, respectively.

To provide an incentive to enhance the value of our common stock, the holders of the Class B limited partner interests of our Operating Partnership are entitled to an incentive return equal to 25% of the amount by which FFO plus certain accounting gains and losses (as defined in the amended and restated partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership) exceed the product of our weighted average stockholders equity (as defined in the amended and restated partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership) multiplied by 9.5% (divided by 4 to adjust for quarterly calculations). We will record any distributions on the Class B limited partner interests as an incentive distribution expense in the period when earned and when payments of such amounts have become probable and reasonably estimable in accordance with the partnership agreement. We incurred $7,609 and $2,276 with respect to such Class B limited partner interests for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

We are obligated to reimburse our Manager for its costs incurred under an asset servicing agreement between our Manager and an affiliate of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. and a separate outsourcing agreement between our Manager and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. The asset servicing agreement, which was amended and restated in April 2006, provides for an annual fee payable to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. by us of 0.05% of the book value of all credit tenant lease assets and non-investment grade bonds and 0.15% of the book value of all other assets. The asset servicing fee is reduced by SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. for fees paid directly to outside servicers by us. The outsourcing agreement currently provides for an annual fee payable by us, which fee is currently $1,326 per year, increasing 3% annually over the prior year on the anniversary date of the outsourcing agreement in August of each year. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004, we realized expense of $1,304, $1,266 and $521, respectively, to

103




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

our Manager under the outsourcing agreement. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004, we realized expense of $2,349, $1,037 and $95, respectively, to our Manager under the asset servicing agreement.

In connection with the closing of our first CDO in July 2005, the Issuer, Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1 Ltd., entered into a collateral management agreement with our Manager. Pursuant to the collateral management agreement, our Manager has agreed to provide certain advisory and administrative services in relation to the collateral debt securities and other eligible investments securing the CDO notes. The collateral management agreement provides for a senior collateral management fee, payable quarterly in accordance with the priority of payments as set forth in the indenture, equal to 0.15% per annum of the net outstanding portfolio balance, and a subordinate collateral management fee, payable quarterly in accordance with the priority of payments as set forth in the indenture, equal to 0.25% per annum of the net outstanding portfolio balance. Net outstanding portfolio balance is the sum of the (i) aggregate principal balance of the collateral debt securities, excluding defaulted securities, (ii) aggregate principal balance of all principal proceeds held as cash and eligible investments in certain accounts, and (iii) with respect to the defaulted securities, the calculation amount of such defaulted securities. As compensation for the performance of its obligations as collateral manager under the first CDO, our Board of Directors has allocated to our Manager the subordinate collateral management fee paid on securities not held by us. At December 31, 2006 we owned all of the non-investment grade bonds, preferred equity and equity in both CDOs. The senior collateral management fee and balance of the subordinate collateral management fee is allocated to us. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we realized expense of $2,065 and $944, respectively, to our Manager under such collateral management agreement.

Collateral manager fees paid on our CDO that closed in August 2006 are governed by the amended and restated management agreement as a “transitional managed” CDO, as defined in the amended and restated management agreement, consisting primarily of debt investments secured by non-stabilized real estate. The amended and restated management agreement provides that in connection with formations of collateralized debt obligations or other securitization vehicles after the execution of the amended and restated management agreement, if a collateral manager is retained, our Manager or an affiliate will be the collateral manager and will receive the following fees:  (i) 0.25% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for “transitional managed” CDOs, (ii) 0.15% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for “non-transitional managed” CDOs, (iii) 0.10% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for static CDOs that own primarily non-investment grade bonds, and (iv) 0.05% per annum of the book value of the assets owned for static CDOs that own primarily investment grade bonds; limited in each instance by the fees that are paid to the collateral manager. The balance of the fees paid by the CDOs for collateral management services are paid to us. For the year ended December 31, 2006 we realized expense of $803 to our Manager under this agreement.

In connection with the 5,500,000 shares of common stock that were sold on December 3, 2004 and settled on December 31, 2004 and January 3, 2005 in a private placement, we agreed to pay our Manager a fee of $1,000 as compensation for financial advisory, structuring and costs incurred on our behalf.  This fee was recorded as a reduction in the proceeds of the private placement. Apart from legal fees and stock clearing charges totaling $245, no other fees were paid by us to an investment bank, broker/dealer or other

104




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

financial advisor in connection with the private placement, resulting in total costs of 1.3% of total gross proceeds.

On April 29, 2005, we closed on a $57,503 initial investment in a joint venture with SL Green to acquire, own and operate the South Building located at One Madison Avenue, New York, New York, or the South Building. The joint venture, which was created to acquire, own and operate the South Building, is owned 45% by a wholly-owned subsidiary of us and 55% by a wholly-owned subsidiary of SL Green. The joint venture interests are pari passu. Also on April 29, 2005, the joint venture completed the acquisition of the South Building from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for the purchase price of approximately $802,800 plus closing costs, financed in part through a $690,000 first mortgage loan on the South Building. The South Building comprises approximately 1.2 million square feet and is almost entirely net leased to CS pursuant to a lease with a 15-year remaining term.

On June 7, 2006, we closed on the acquisition of a 49.75% TIC interest in 55 Corporate Drive, located in Bridgewater, New Jersey with a 0.25% interest to be acquired in the future. The remaining 50% of the property is owned as a TIC interest by an affiliate of SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. The property is comprised of three buildings totaling approximately six hundred and seventy thousand square feet which is 100% net leased to an entity whose obligations are guaranteed by Sanofi-Aventis Group through April 2023. The transaction was valued at $236,000 and was financed with a $190,000, 10-year, fixed-rate first mortgage loan.

Commencing May 1, 2005 we are party to a lease agreement with SLG Graybar Sublease LLC, an affiliate of SL Green, for our corporate offices at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York. The lease is for approximately five thousand square feet with an option to lease an additional approximately two thousand square feet and carries a term of ten years with rents on the entire seven thousand square feet of approximately $249 per annum for year one rising to $315 per annum in year ten. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we paid $252 and $90 under this lease, respectively.

Bright Star Couriers LLC, or Bright Star, provides messenger services to us. Bright Star is owned by Gary Green, a son of Stephen L. Green, our Chairman. The aggregate amount of fees paid by us for such services for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004 was $7, $3 and less than $1, respectively.

SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. is an equity holder in the joint venture that is the borrower on an investment with a book value of $29,026 as of December 31, 2005. This investment was repaid in August 2006.

On July 14, 2005, we closed on the purchase from an SL Green affiliate of a $40,000 mezzanine loan which bears interest at 11.20%. As part of that sale, the seller retained an interest-only participation. We have determined that the yield on our mezzanine loan after giving effect to the interest-only participation retained by the seller is at market. The mezzanine loan is secured by the equity interests in an office property in New York, New York.

On February 27, 2006, we closed on the purchase of a $90,000 whole loan, which bears interest at one-month LIBOR plus 2.15%, to a joint venture in which SL Green is an equity holder. The loan is secured by 55 Corporate Drive in Bridgewater, New Jersey. The loan was repaid in full in June 2006 with the proceeds

105




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

from new mortgage financing obtained in connection with the sale of the property, 49.75% of which is now owned by us through a TIC structure.

On March 17, 2006, we closed on the purchase of a $25,000 mezzanine loan, which bears interest at one-month LIBOR plus 8.00%, to a joint venture in which SL Green is an equity holder. The loan was repaid in full on May 9, 2006, when we originated a $90,287 whole loan, which bears interest at one-month LIBOR plus 2.75%, to the joint venture. The loan is secured by office and industrial properties in northern New Jersey and has a book value of $90,049 as of December 31, 2006.

On August 1, 2006, we acquired from a financial institution a 50% pari-passu interest in a $65,000 preferred equity investment secured by an office property in New York, New York. An affiliate of SL Green simultaneously acquired and owns the other 50% pari-passu interest. The investment bears interest at a blended fixed rate of 10.52%.

On December 20, 2006, we acquired from a financial institution a pari-passu interest of $125,000 in a $200,000 mezzanine loan, which bears interest at 6.384% and is secured by a multi-family portfolio in New York, New York. An affiliate of SL Green simultaneously acquired the remaining $75,000 pari-passu interest in the mezzanine loan.

During the year ended December 31, 2006, we earned fees of $163 from SL Green representing SL Green’s proportionate share of fees for financing and structural advisory services related to a specific potential transaction.

12. Deferred Costs

Deferred costs at December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 consisted of the following:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Deferred financing

 

$

35,103

 

$

20,553

 

Deferred acquisition

 

2,195

 

2,210

 

 

 

37,298

 

22,763

 

Less accumulated amortization

 

(8,571

)

(3,381

)

 

 

$

28,727

 

$

19,382

 

 

Deferred financing costs relate to our existing repurchase facilities with Wachovia and Goldman, our unsecured revolving credit facility with KeyBank, our CDOs and the trust preferred securities. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis to interest expense based on the remaining term of the related financing.

Deferred acquisition costs consist of fees and direct costs incurred to originate our investments and are amortized using the effective yield method over the related term of the investment.

13. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following discussion of fair value was determined by our Manager, using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop estimated fair value. Accordingly, fair values are not necessarily indicative of the amounts we could realize on disposition of the financial instruments. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on estimated fair value amounts.

106




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

Cash equivalents, accrued interest, and accounts payable balances reasonably approximate their fair values due to the short maturities of these items. The carrying value of our CDOs, repurchase facilities and unsecured revolving credit facility approximate fair value because they bear interest at floating rates, which we believe, for facilities with a similar risk profile, reasonably approximate market rates. Our junior subordinated debentures reasonably approximate fair value based upon the amount at which similarly issued instruments would be issued in the current market. Based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for bank loans with similar terms and average maturities, the fair value of our fixed rate mortgage payable approximates its carrying value. Loans are carried at amounts, which reasonably approximate their fair value as determined by our Manager.

The fair value of our fixed-rate debt investments as determined by our Manager in consultation with market dealers of such instruments as of December 31, 2006 are as follows:

 

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair 
Value

 

Fixed-rate debt investments

 

$

351.585

 

$

351,585

 

 

Disclosure about fair value of financial instruments is based on pertinent information available to us at December 31, 2006. Although we are not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the reasonable fair value amounts, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these financial statements since that date and current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.

14. Stockholders’ Equity

Common Stock

Our authorized capital stock consists of 125,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value, of which we have authorized the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

As of the date of our formation, April 12, 2004, we had 500,000 shares of common stock outstanding valued at approximately $200. On August 2, 2004 we completed our initial public offering of 12,500,000 shares of common stock resulting in net proceeds of approximately $172,900, which was used to fund investments and commence our operations. As of December 31, 2006, 350,000 restricted shares had also been issued under our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, or the Equity Incentive Plan. These shares have a vesting period of three to four years and are not entitled to receive distributions declared by us on our common stock until such time as the shares have vested, or the shares have been designated to receive dividends by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors.

On December 3, 2004, we sold 5,500,000 shares of our common stock, at a price of $17.27 per share, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $93,740 under a private placement exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We subsequently registered the resale of these shares under the Securities Act in August 2005. A total of 4,225,000 shares were sold to various institutional investors and an additional 1,275,000 shares were sold to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. pursuant to its contractual right to choose to maintain a 25% ownership

107




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

interest in the outstanding shares of our common stock. Of the 5,500,000 shares sold, 2,000,000 shares were settled on December 31, 2004 and the remaining 3,500,000 shares were settled on January 3, 2005.

On September 14, 2005, we sold 3,833,333 shares of our common stock, at a price of $25.80 per share, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $97,830. A total of 2,875,000 shares were sold through a public offering and an additional 958,333 shares were sold to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. pursuant to its contractual right to choose to maintain a 25% ownership interest in our outstanding shares of common stock. Net proceeds were used for loan acquisitions and originations, repayment of outstanding principal under one of our repurchase facilities and general corporate purposes.

On May 16, 2006, we sold 3,000,000 shares of our common stock, at a price of $26.75 per share, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $79,787. A total of 2,250,000 shares were sold through a public offering and an additional 750,000 shares were sold to SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. pursuant to its contractual right to choose to maintain a 25% ownership interest in the outstanding shares of our common stock. After this offering, SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. owned 6,418,333 shares of our common stock. Net proceeds were used for loan acquisitions and originations, repayment of outstanding principal under our repurchase facilities and general corporate purposes.

In August 2005 our $350,000 shelf registration statement was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. This registration statement provides us with the ability to issue common and preferred stock, depository shares and warrants. We currently have $170,850 available under the shelf.

As of December 31, 2006, 25,878,391 shares of our common stock and no shares of our preferred stock were issued and outstanding.

Equity Incentive Plan

As part of our initial public offering, we instituted our Equity Incentive Plan. The Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, authorizes (i) the grant of stock options that qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or ISOs, (ii) the grant of stock options that do not qualify, or NQSOs, (iii) the grant of stock options in lieu of cash directors’ fees and (iv) grants of shares of restricted and unrestricted common stock. The exercise price of stock options will be determined by the compensation committee, but may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares of common stock on the date of grant. At December 31, 2006, approximately 1,212,840 shares of common stock were available for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan.

Management and outsourcing fees paid to our Manager and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. are sufficient to reimburse our Manager and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P. for the applicable compensation, including payroll taxes, of the employees who provide services to Gramercy pursuant to the confirmatory addendum to the Management Agreement between Gramercy, our Manager and our Operating Partnership. These awardees are considered co-leased employees. Options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan to recipients who are co-leased employees of Gramercy are exercisable at the fair market value on the date of grant and, subject to termination of employment, expire ten years from the date of grant, are not transferable other than on death, and are exercisable in three to four annual installments commencing one year from the date of grant. In some instances, options may be granted under the Equity Incentive Plan to persons who provide significant services to us or our affiliates, but are not considered co-leased employees because compensation for their services is not covered by our

108




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

management agreement or outsourcing agreement. Options granted to recipients that are not co-leased employees have the same terms as those issued to co-leased employees except as it relates to any performance-based provisions within the grant. To the extent there are performance provisions associated with a grant to a recipient who is not a co-leased employee, an estimated expense related to these options is recognized over the vesting period and the final expense is reconciled at the point performance has been met, or the measurement date. If no performance based provision exists, the fair value of the options is calculated on a quarterly basis and the related expense is recognized over the vesting period.

A summary of the status of our stock options as of December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 are presented below:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

Options
Outstanding

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Options
Outstanding

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

 

733,584

 

 

 

$

16.47

 

 

 

640,500

 

 

 

$

15.05

 

 

Granted

 

 

197,500

 

 

 

$

23.49

 

 

 

236,000

 

 

 

$

19.62

 

 

Exercised

 

 

(63,749

)

 

 

$

15.95

 

 

 

(131,249

)

 

 

$

15.01

 

 

Lapsed or cancelled

 

 

(37,334

)

 

 

$

20.18

 

 

 

(11,667

)

 

 

$

18.20

 

 

Balance at end of period

 

 

830,001

 

 

 

$

18.02

 

 

 

733,584

 

 

 

$

16.47

 

 

 

All options were granted within a price range of $15.00 to $26.79. The remaining weighted average contractual life of the options was 8.10 years. Compensation expense of $432 will be recorded over the course of the next 15 months, representing the remaining weighted average vesting period of the option awards as of December 31, 2006. Compensation expense of $324, $172 and $23 was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004, respectively, related to the issuance of stock options.

Through December 31, 2006, 350,000 restricted shares had been issued under the Equity Incentive Plan, of which 62% have vested.  The unvested shares are not currently entitled to receive distributions declared by us on our common stock until such time as the shares have vested. Unvested shares may be entitled to receive dividends at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. Holders of restricted shares are prohibited from selling such shares until they vest but are provided the ability to vote such shares beginning on the date of grant. Compensation expense of $163 will be recorded over the course of the next 9 months, representing the remaining weighted average vesting period of the restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2006. Compensation expense of $1669, $1,577 and $381 was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004, respectively, related to the issuance of restricted shares.

Outperformance Plan

In June 2005, the compensation committee of our board of directors approved a long-term incentive compensation program, the 2005 Outperformance Plan. Participants in the 2005 Outperformance Plan, all of whom are co-leased employees, will share in a “performance pool” if our total return to stockholders for the period from June 1, 2005 through May 31, 2008 exceeds a cumulative total return to stockholders of 30% during the measurement period over a base share price of $20.21 per share. The size of the pool will

109




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

be 10% of the outperformance amount in excess of the 30% benchmark, subject to a maximum limit equal to the lesser of 4% of our outstanding shares and units of limited partnership interest as of the end of the performance period, or 1,200,000 shares. If our total return to stockholders from June 1, 2005 to any subsequent date exceeds 80% and remains at that level or higher for 30 consecutive days, then a minimum performance pool will be established. In the event the potential performance pool reaches the maximum dilution cap before May 31, 2008 and remains at that level or higher for 30 consecutive days, the performance period will end early and the pool will be formed on the last day of such 30-day period. Each participant’s award under the 2005 Outperformance Plan is designated as a specified percentage of the aggregate performance pool to be allocated to such participant assuming the 30% benchmark is achieved. Individual awards under the 2005 Outperformance Plan will be made in the form of partnership units, or LTIP Units, that may ultimately become exchangeable for shares of our common stock or cash, at our election. Under the 2005 Outperformance Plan, LTIP Units have been granted and additional LTIP Units may be granted in the future prior to the determination of the performance pool; however, these LTIP Units will only vest upon satisfaction of performance and other thresholds, and will not be entitled to distributions until after the performance pool, or minimum performance pool, is established. The 2005 Outperformance Plan provides that if a pool is established, each participant will also be entitled to the distributions that would have been paid on the number of LTIP Units earned, had they been issued at the beginning of the performance period. Those distributions will be paid in the form of additional LTIP Units. Once a performance pool has been established, the earned LTIP Units will receive regular quarterly distributions on a per unit basis equal to the dividends per share paid on our common stock, whether or not they are vested. Any LTIP Units that are not earned upon the establishment of the performance pool will be automatically forfeited, and the LTIP Units that are earned will be subject to time-based vesting, with 50% of the LTIP Units earned vesting in May 2009 and the balance vesting one year later based on continued employment with our Manager or SL Green.  We will record the expense of the restricted stock award in accordance with FASB Statement No. 123(R). Compensation expense of $1,174 was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 related to the 2005 Outperformance Plan.

Deferred Stock Compensation Plan for Directors

Under our Independent Director’s Deferral Program, which commenced April 2005, our independent directors may elect to defer up to 100% of their annual retainer fee, chairman fees and meeting fees. Unless otherwise elected by a participant, fees deferred under the program shall be credited in the form of phantom stock units. The phantom stock units are convertible into an equal number of shares of common stock upon such directors’ termination of service from the Board of Directors or a change in control by us, as defined by the program. Phantom stock units are credited to each independent director quarterly using the closing price of our common stock on the applicable dividend record date for the respective quarter. Each participating independent director who elects to receive fees in the form of phantom stock units has the option to have their account credited for an equivalent amount of phantom stock units based on the dividend rate for each quarter or have dividends paid in cash.

As of December 31, 2006, there were approximately 15,301 phantom stock units outstanding, of which 11,301 units are vested.

110




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004 is computed as follows:

 

 

For the Year
Ended 
December 31,
2006

 

For the Year
Ended
December 31,
2005

 

For the period
from April 12,
2004
(formation) 
through 
December 31,
2004

 

Numerator (Income)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic Earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

 

$

55,902

 

 

 

$

31,371

 

 

 

$

2,052

 

 

Effect of dilutive securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

 

$

55,902

 

 

 

$

31,371

 

 

 

$

2,052

 

 

Denominator (Weighted Average Shares)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares available to common stockholders

 

 

24,722

 

 

 

20,027

 

 

 

13,348

 

 

Effect of Diluted Securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation plans

 

 

1,272

 

 

 

752

 

 

 

63

 

 

Phantom stock units

 

 

15

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted Shares

 

 

26,009

 

 

 

20,781

 

 

 

13,411

 

 

 

15. Benefit Plans

We do not maintain a defined benefit pension plan, post-retirement health and welfare plan, 401(k) plan or other benefits plans as we do not have any employees. These benefits are provided to its employees by our Manager, a majority-owned subsidiary of SL Green.

16.  Commitments and Contingencies

We and our Operating Partnership are not presently involved in any material litigation nor, to our knowledge, is any material litigation threatened against us or our investments, other than routine litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes the costs, if any, incurred by our Operating Partnership and us related to litigation will not materially affect our financial position, operating results or liquidity.

Our corporate offices at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York are subject to an operating lease agreement with SLG Graybar Sublease LLC, an affiliate of SL Green, effective May 1, 2005. The lease is for approximately five thousand square feet with an option to lease an additional approximately two thousand square feet and carries a term of ten years with rents on the entire seven thousand square feet of approximately $249 per annum for year one rising to $315 per annum in year ten.

111




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments under our operating lease as of December 31, 2006.

 

 

Operating 
Lease

 

2007

 

 

$

256

 

 

2008

 

 

261

 

 

2009

 

 

265

 

 

2010

 

 

283

 

 

2011

 

 

297

 

 

Thereafter

 

 

1,054

 

 

Total minimum lease payments

 

 

$

2,416

 

 

 

17. Financial Instruments: Derivatives and Hedging

FASB No. 133, or SFAS 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” which became effective January 1, 2001, requires Gramercy to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges must be adjusted to fair value through income. If a derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged asset, liability, or firm commitment through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings. SFAS 133 may increase or decrease reported net income and stockholders’ equity prospectively, depending on future levels of LIBOR interest rates and other variables affecting the fair values of derivative instruments and hedged items, but will have no effect on cash flows, provided the contract is carried through to full term.

112




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

The following table summarizes the notional and fair value of our derivative financial instrument at December 31, 2006. The notional value is an indication of the extent of our involvement in this instrument at that time, but does not represent exposure to credit, interest rate or market risks:

 

 

Benchmark Rate

 

Notional
Value

 

Strike
Rate

 

Effective
Date

 

Expiration
Date

 

Fair
Value

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

1 month LIBOR

 

 

$

168,300

 

4.973

%

 

1/2007

 

 

 

1/2017

 

 

$

836

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

1 month LIBOR

 

 

64,076

 

4.990

%

 

1/2007

 

 

 

1/2017

 

 

248

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

1 month LIBOR

 

 

42,718

 

4.990

%

 

1/2007

 

 

 

1/2017

 

 

162

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

3 month LIBOR

 

 

39,683

 

4.420

%

 

7/2005

 

 

 

2/2014

 

 

1,293

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

1 month LIBOR

 

 

36,500

 

4.837

%

 

12/2006

 

 

 

11/2009

 

 

120

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

1 month LIBOR

 

 

31,686

 

3.855

%

 

7/2005

 

 

 

11/2009

 

 

943

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

3 month LIBOR

 

 

24,940

 

5.445

%

 

8/2006

 

 

 

7/2016

 

 

(728

)

Interest Rate Cap

 

 

3 month LIBOR

 

 

23,713

 

5.700

%

 

11/2005

 

 

 

12/2007

 

 

2

 

Interest Rate Cap

 

 

1 month LIBOR

 

 

20,000

 

6.000

%

 

4/2006

 

 

 

4/2007

 

 

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

3 month LIBOR

 

 

12,000

 

9.850

%

 

8/2006

 

 

 

8/2011

 

 

(93

)

Basis Swap

 

 

1 month PRIME

 

 

9,363

 

722 bps   

 

8/2006

 

 

 

12/2007

 

 

(29

)

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

1 month LIBOR

 

 

6,339

 

4.760

%

 

1/2006

 

 

 

3/2015

 

 

97

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

1 month LIBOR

 

 

3,960

 

4.959

%

 

12/2005

 

 

 

12/2015

 

 

16

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

1 month LIBOR

 

 

3,465

 

4.280

%

 

7/2005

 

 

 

12/2009

 

 

64

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

 

3 month LIBOR

 

 

3,465

 

5.178

%

 

4/2006

 

 

 

3/2010

 

 

(21

)

Total

 

 

 

 

 

$

490,208

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,910

 

 

At December 31, 2006, derivative instruments were reported at their fair value as assets of $3,782 and liabilities of $872. Offsetting adjustments are represented as deferred gains in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income of $2,890. For the year ended December 31, 2006 we recognized in interest expense $1 attributable to the ineffective component of our derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges. For the same period we reclassified through earnings (i) $1,815 representing the gains and losses previously reported in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which were reclassified into earnings at the same time that the forecasted transactions affect earnings, and (ii) a $994 reduction in earnings representing the change in value of undesignated derivatives which are not speculative for economic purposes. Currently, all derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedging instruments with the exception of a $20,000 notional cap, a $9,363 notional Prime-LIBOR basis swap, and a $168,300 notional swap, which are effective economic hedges but have not been designated. Over time, the realized and unrealized gains and losses held in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income will be reclassified into earnings in the same periods in which the hedged interest payments affect earnings. We estimate that approximately $943 of the current balance held in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income will be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months.

We are hedging exposure to variability in future interest payments on our debt facilities and cash flows for future transactions except in the case of swaps we may enter into from time to time, including TROR swaps, which are intended to hedge our exposure to variability in the rate of return in excess of anticipated future interest payments on that portion of our debt facilities used to fund fixed rate mortgage loan assets held as available for sale.

113




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

18. Income Taxes

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT, under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code beginning with our taxable year ending December 31, 2004. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet certain organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute at least 90% of our ordinary taxable income to stockholders. As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable income that we distribute to our stockholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will then be subject to federal income taxes on our taxable income at regular corporate rates and we will not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for four years following the year during which qualification is lost unless the Internal Revenue Service grants us relief under certain statutory provisions. Such an event could materially adversely affect our net income and net cash available for distributions to stockholders. However, we believe that we are organized and will operate in such a manner as to qualify for treatment as a REIT and we intend to operate in the foreseeable future in such a manner so that we will qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. We may, however, be subject to certain state and local taxes.

For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we recorded $1,808 and $900 of income tax expense, respectively, in income from continuing operations for income attributable to our wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiaries. We have assumed an effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2006 of 48% taking into consideration the anticipated applicable U.S. federal statutory tax rate at December 31, 2006 of 34% and state and local taxes.

19. Environmental Matters

Our management believes we are in compliance in all material respects with applicable Federal, state and local ordinances and regulations regarding environmental issues. Our management is not aware of any environmental liability that it believes would have a materially adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

20. Segment Reporting

Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 131, or “SFAS No. 131,” establishes standards for the way that public entities report information about operating segments in their annual financial statements. We are a REIT focused primarily on originating and acquiring loans and securities related to real estate and under the provisions of SFAS No. 131 currently operate in only one segment.

21. Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities

Following the conversion of the entity that owns 200 Franklin Square Drive into a DST, we sold approximately 75% of our security interests in the DST to a third party, reducing our final ownership interest to 25.0%. We received total cash consideration of $12,800 for these interests and the buyer assumed 75% of the DST’s underlying mortgage debt. As a result of the transaction, the property is no longer consolidated onto our balance sheet, but instead is accounted for as an equity method investment.

114




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2006

The following table represents non-cash activities recognized in other comprehensive income:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Deferred gains on derivative instruments

 

$ 237

 

$

2,569

 

$

282

 

 

22. Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

Quarterly data for the last two years is presented below (in thousands).

2006 Quarter Ended

 

 

 

December 31

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

March 31

 

Total revenues

 

 

$

67,264

 

 

 

$

50,455

 

 

$

43,505

 

 

$

36,990

 

 

Income from continuing operations before equity in net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures and provision for taxes

 

 

19,495

 

 

 

16,065

 

 

13,782

 

 

11,328

 

 

Equity in net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

 

(870

)

 

 

(734

)

 

(630

)

 

(727

)

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes and GKK formation costs

 

 

18,625

 

 

 

15,331

 

 

13,152

 

 

10,601

 

 

Provision / (recovery) for taxes

 

 

(630

)

 

 

(795

)

 

(335

)

 

(47

)

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

 

$

17,995

 

 

 

$

14,536

 

 

$

12,817

 

 

$

10,554

 

 

Net income per common share - Basic

 

 

$

0.70

 

 

 

$

0.56

 

 

$

0.53

 

 

$

0.46

 

 

Net income per common share - Diluted

 

 

$

0.66

 

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

$

0.50

 

 

$

0.44

 

 

 

2005 Quarter Ended

 

 

 

December 31

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

March 31

 

Total revenues

 

 

$

32,045

 

 

 

$

26,592

 

 

$

18,758

 

 

$

10,690

 

 

Income from continuing operations before equity in net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures and provision for taxes

 

 

11,247

 

 

 

9,587

 

 

8,361

 

 

4,566

 

 

Equity in net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

 

(575

)

 

 

(510

)

 

(404

)

 

—-

 

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes and GKK formation costs

 

 

10,672

 

 

 

9,077

 

 

7,957

 

 

4,566

 

 

Provision / (recovery) for taxes

 

 

100

 

 

 

(500

)

 

(500

)

 

—-

 

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

 

$

10,772

 

 

 

$

8,577

 

 

$

7,457

 

 

$

4,566

 

 

Net income per common share - Basic

 

 

$

0.47

 

 

 

$

0.44

 

 

$

0.40

 

 

$

0.24

 

 

Net income per common share - Diluted

 

 

$

0.45

 

 

 

$

0.41

 

 

$

0.39

 

 

$

0.24

 

 

 

23. Subsequent Events

On January 10, 2007 we originated two mezzanine loans totaling $169,700, which bear interest at one-month LIBOR plus 600 basis points. The mezzanine loan with a principal amount of $42,400 is secured by interests in an office building in New York, New York. The first mortgage on this property was defeased in February 2007, at which time our investment was converted to a first mortgage lien. The mezzanine loan with a principal amount of $127,300 is secured by interests in a residential property portfolio with locations primarily in the northeast United States. An affiliate of SL Green simultaneously originated pari-passu interests in the mezzanine loans of $30,300.

115




Gramercy Capital Corp.
Schedule IV—Mortgage Loans on Real Estate
December 31, 2006
(Dollars in thousands)

Description

 

Location

 

Interest Rate(1)

 

Final
Maturity
Date(2)

 

Periodic
Payment
Terms

 

Prior
Liens

 

Face
Amount
of Loans

 

Carrying
Amount of
Loans(3)

 

Whole Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Office

 

Washington, DC

 

LIBOR + 2.50%

 

July 2008

 

Interest only

 

$

 

$

163,000

 

 

$

162,250

 

 

Retail

 

Cupertino, CA

 

LIBOR + 4.10%

 

June 2008

 

Interest only

 

 

118,790

 

 

117,328

 

 

Office

 

Various cities, NJ

 

LIBOR + 2.75%

 

May 2008

 

Interest only

 

 

90,287

 

 

90,048

 

 

Multi-family

 

New York, NY

 

LIBOR + 3.50%

 

February 2008

 

Interest only

 

 

84,735

 

 

84,519

 

 

Multi-family

 

Various cities, FL

 

LIBOR + 3.00%

 

September 2008

 

Interest only

 

 

77,478

 

 

76,709

 

 

Hotel

 

Las Vegas, NV

 

LIBOR + 2.60%

 

June 2008

 

Interest only

 

 

67,529

 

 

67,529

 

 

Whole loans < 3%

 

Various

 

8.57% - 14.95%
LIBOR + 1.50%-6.00%

 

January 2007 -
October 2009

 

 

 

 

824,007

 

 

816,309

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,425,826

 

 

1,414,692

 

 

Subordinate interests
in whole loans < 3%

 

Various

 

5.00% - 13.14%
LIBOR + 1.06%-12.50%

 

January 2007 -
September 2016

 

 

 

1,641,503

 

291,588

 

 

285,077

 

 

Mezzanine Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multi-family(4)

 

New York, NY

 

6.384%

 

December 2016

 

Interest only

 

4,200

 

125,000

 

 

106,832

 

 

Mezzanine loans < 3%

 

Various

 

8.47% - 13.24%
LIBOR + 4.25%-10.00%

 

April 2007 -
July 2016

 

 

 

2,001,589

 

335,878

 

 

336,059

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,005,789

 

460,878

 

 

442,891

 

 

Preferred equity < 3%

 

Various

 

10.18% - 10.87%
LIBOR + 9.00%

 

July 2007 -
August 2011

 

 

 

875,686

 

44,500

 

 

44,222

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,522,978

 

$

2,222,792

 

 

$

2,186,884

 

 


(1)                All variable-rate loans are based on one-month LIBOR and reprice monthly.

(2)                Reflects the initial maturity of the investment and does not consider any options to extend that are at the discretion of the borrower.

(3)                No mortgage loans are delinquent with respect to principal or interest.

(4)                An SL Green affiliate holds a pari-passu interest in the investment.

116




ITEM  9.             CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM  9A.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure based closely on the definition of “disclosure controls and procedures” in Rule 13a-15(e). In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Also, we have investments in certain unconsolidated entities. As we do not control these entities, our disclosure controls and procedures with respect to such entities are necessarily substantially more limited than those we maintain with respect to our consolidated subsidiaries.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on that evaluation, we concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2006.

Management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included elsewhere herein.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the year ended December 31, 2006 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reports.

ITEM  9B.    OTHER INFORMATION

None.

117




PART III

ITEM 10.         DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by Item 10 will be set forth in our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, prior to April 30, 2006 (the “2007 Proxy Statement”), and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 11.         EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The information required by Item 11 will be set forth in the 2007 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12.         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by Item 12 will be set forth in the 2007 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13.         CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required by Item 13 will be set forth in the 2007 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14.         PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information regarding principal accounting fees and services and the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures required by this Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the 2007 Proxy Statement.

118




PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)(1)            Consolidated Financial Statements

 

GRAMERCY CAPITAL CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

75

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2006 and 2005

 

77

 

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004

 

78

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004

 

79

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the period from April 12, 2004 (formation) through December 31, 2004

 

80

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

82

 

(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

 

 

 

Schedule IV-Mortgage Loans on Real Estate as of December 31, 2006

 

115

 

Schedules other than those listed are omitted as they are not applicable or the required or equivalent information has been included in the financial statements or notes thereto.

 

 

 

(a)(3)            Exhibits

See Index to Exhibits on following page

119




 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

3.1

 

Articles of Incorporation of the Company, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-114673), declared effective by the Commission on July 27, 2004.

3.2

 

Bylaws of the Company, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-114673), declared effective by the Commission on July 27, 2004.

4.1

 

 

Specimen Common Stock Certificate, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-114673), declared effective by the Commission on July 27, 2004.

10.1

 

Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of GKK Capital LP, dated April 19, 2006, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 19, 2006, filed with the Commission on April 20, 2006.

10.2

 

Form of Amended and Restated Management Agreement by and between the Company and GKK Manager LLC, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 19, 2006, filed with the Commission on April 20, 2006.

10.3

 

Form of Amended and Restated Origination Agreement by and between the Company and SL Green Realty Corp., incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 19, 2006, filed with the Commission on April 20, 2006.

10.4

 

Form of Amended and Restated Asset Servicing Agreement by and between GKK Manager LLC and SLG Gramercy Services LLC, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 19, 2006, filed with the Commission on April 20, 2006.

10.5

 

Form of Amended and Restated Outsource Agreement by and between GKK Manager LLC and SLG Operating Partnership, L.P., incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2006.

10.6

 

Form of Collateral Management Agreement by and between Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1, Ltd., as issuer and GKK Manager LLC, as collateral manager, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2005.

10.7

 

Collateral Management Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2006, by and between Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2006-1, Ltd., as issuer and GKK Manager LLC, as collateral manager, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2006.

10.8

 

Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of October 13, 2006, by and among Gramercy Warehouse Funding II LLC, GKK Trading Warehouse II LLC and Goldman Sachs Mortgage Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 13, 2006, filed with the Commission on October 19, 2006.

10.9

 

Annex I to Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of October 13, 2006, by and among Gramercy Warehouse Funding II LLC, GKK Trading Warehouse II LLC and Goldman Sachs Mortgage Company, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 13, 2006, filed with the Commission on October 19, 2006.

120




 

10.10

 

Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of October 13, 2006, by and among Gramercy Warehouse Funding I LLC, GKK Trading Warehouse I LLC, GKK 450 LEX LLC, and the additional sellers from time to time parties thereto, the buyers from time to time parties thereto, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as agent, and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as the sole lead arranger, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on October 19, 2006.

10.11

 

Form of Credit Agreement, by and between the Company and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-114673), declared effective by the Commission on July 27, 2004.

10.12

 

Form of Indenture by and among Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1, Ltd., as issuer, Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2005-1 LLC, as co-issuer, GKK Liquidity LLC, as advancing agent and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, paying agent, calculation agent, transfer agent, custodial securities intermediary, backup advancing agent, notes registrar, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2005.

10.13

 

Form of 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-114673), declared effective by the Commission on July 27, 2004.

10.14

 

Form of Gramercy Capital Corp. Director’s Deferral Program, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2005.

10.15

 

Form of Gramercy Capital Corp. 2005 Long-Term Outperformance Program Award Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated December 14, 2005, filed with the Commission on December 20, 2005.

10.16

 

Form of Employment Agreement by and between Hugh Hall and GKK Manager LLC, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

10.17

 

Form of Employment Agreement by and between Robert R. Foley and GKK Manager LLC, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

10.18

 

Form of Second Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement by and between the Company and SL Green Operating Partnership, L.P., incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated April 19, 2006, filed with the Commission on April 20, 2006.

10.19

 

Form of Registration Rights Agreement, by and between various holders of the Company’s common stock and the Company, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated December 9, 2004, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.

10.20

 

Form of Purchase Agreement, by and among the Company and various investors in the Company’s common stock, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated December 3, 2004 filed with the Commission on December 3, 2004.

10.21

 

Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement by and among GKK Capital LP, as depositor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as property trustee, Chase Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware trustee, and the administrative trustees named therein, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2005.

10.22

 

Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture between GKK Capital LP and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as trustee, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2005.

121




 

10.23

 

Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement among GKK Capital LP, as depositor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as property trustee, Chase Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware trustee, and the administrative trustees named therein, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2005.

10.24

 

Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture between GKK Capital LP and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as trustee, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2005.

10.25

 

Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement among GKK Capital LP, as depositor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as property trustee, Chase Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware trustee, and the administrative trustees named therein, dated January 27, 2006, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

10.26

 

Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture between GKK Capital LP and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as trustee, dated January 27, 2006, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

10.27

 

Indenture, dated as of August 24, 2006, by and among Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2006-1, Ltd., as issuer, Gramercy Real Estate CDO 2006-1 LLC, as co-issuer, GKK Liquidity LLC, as advancing agent, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, paying agent, calculation agent, transfer agent, custodial securities intermediary, backup advancing agent and notes registrar, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2006.

10.28

 

Form of Underwriting Agreement among Gramercy Capital Corp., GKK Capital LP, GKK Manager LLC and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as underwriter, dated May 11, 2006, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated May 16, 2006, filed with the Commission on May 17, 2006.

10.29

 

Form of LLC Agreement, by and between GKK Madison Investment LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and SLG Madison Investment LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SL Green Realty Corp., incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2005.

10.30

 

Form of Sales Agreement, dated May 10, 2006, by and among the Company, GKK Capital LP, GKK Manager LLC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2006.

10.31

 

Form of Sales Agreement, dated May 10, 2006, by and among the Company, GKK Capital LP and Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith Incorporated, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2006.

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant, filed herewith.

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, filed herewith.

24.1

 

Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

31.1

 

Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.

31.2

 

Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.

32.1

 

Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.

32.2

 

Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.

 

122




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

GRAMERCY CAPITAL CORP.

 

 

 

Dated: February 28, 2006

By:

/s/ Robert R. Foley

 

 

Robert R. Foley

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that we, the undersigned officers and directors of Gramercy Capital Corp. hereby severally constitute Marc Holliday and Robert R. Foley, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys and with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed herewith and any and all amendments to said Annual Report on Form 10-K, and generally to do all such things in our names and in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Gramercy Capital Corp. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

Signatures

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Stephen L. Green

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

February 28, 2006

Stephen L. Green

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Marc Holliday

 

Chief Executive Officer, President

 

February 28, 2006

Marc Holliday

 

and Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Robert R. Foley

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

February 28, 2006

Robert R. Foley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Hugh F. Hall

 

Chief Operating Officer and Director

 

February 28, 2006

Hugh Hall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Allan J. Baum

 

Director

 

February 28, 2006

Allan J. Baum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jeffrey E. Kelter

 

Director

 

February 28, 2006

Jeffrey E. Kelter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Paul J. Konigsberg

 

Director

 

February 28, 2006

Paul J. Konigsberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Charles S. Laven

 

Director

 

February 28, 2006

Charles S. Laven

 

 

 

 

 

123



EX-21.1 2 a07-5398_1ex21d1.htm EX-21.1

Exhibit 21.1

Subsidiaries of Gramercy Capital Corp.

ENTITY

 

JURISDICTION

GKK Capital LP

 

Delaware

GKK Trading Corp.

 

Delaware

Gramercy Investment Trust

 

Maryland

Gramercy Warehouse Funding I LLC

 

Delaware

Gramercy Warehouse Funding II LLC

 

Delaware

GIT Trading Corp.

 

Delaware

 



EX-23.1 3 a07-5398_1ex23d1.htm EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (Form S-3 No. 333-126938 and No. 333-128013) and in the related Prospectuses and the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-121051) pertaining to the Gramercy Capital Corp. Equity Incentive Plan of our reports dated February 28, 2007 with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Gramercy Capital Corp., Gramercy Capital Corp. management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Gramercy Capital Corp., included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2006.

/s/ Ernst and Young LLP

New York, New York
February 28, 2007



EX-31.1 4 a07-5398_1ex31d1.htm EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Marc Holliday, Chief Executive Officer, certify that:

1.                 I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Gramercy Capital Corp. (the “registrant”);

2.                 Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.                 Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.                 The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a 15(f) and 15(d)—15(f) for the registrant and have:

(a)        Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)       Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)        Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;

(d)       Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.                 The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)        All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)       Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 28, 2007

 

 

 

/s/ Marc Holliday

 

Name: Marc Holliday

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 



EX-31.2 5 a07-5398_1ex31d2.htm EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Robert R. Foley, Chief Financial Officer, certify that:

1.                 I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Gramercy Capital Corp. (the “registrant”);

2.                 Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.                 Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.                 The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a 15(f) and 15(d)—15(f)for the registrant and have:

(a)        Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)       Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)        Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;

(d)       Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.                 The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)        All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)       Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 28, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Robert R. Foley

 

 

Name: Robert R. Foley

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 



EX-32.1 6 a07-5398_1ex32d1.htm EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Gramercy Capital Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Marc Holliday, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1.                The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.                The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ MARC HOLLIDAY

 

Name:

Marc Holliday

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

February 28, 2007

 



EX-32.2 7 a07-5398_1ex32d2.htm EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Gramercy Capital Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Robert R. Foley, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1.                The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.                The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ ROBERT R. FOLEY

 

 

Name:

Robert R. Foley

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

February 28, 2007

 

 



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