v3.25.2
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Venture
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Venture

Note 6 — Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Venture

On October 30, 2013, the Predecessor purchased a 48.9% equity interest in Worldwide Plaza for a contract purchase price of $220.1 million, based on the property value at that time for Worldwide Plaza of $1.3 billion less $875.0 million of debt on the property.

On June 1, 2017, the Predecessor acquired an additional 49.9% equity interest on exercise of the Predecessor’s option to purchase pursuant to the Company’s rights under the joint venture agreement of Worldwide Plaza for a contract purchase price of $276.7 million, based on the option price of approximately $1.4 billion less $875.0 million of debt on the property. The Predecessor’s joint venture partner exercised its right to retain 1.2% of the aggregate membership interests in Worldwide Plaza. Following the exercise of the option, the Predecessor owned a total equity interest of 98.8% in Worldwide Plaza.

On October 18, 2017, the Predecessor sold a 48.7% interest in Worldwide Plaza to WWP JV LLC, a joint venture managed by SL Green Realty Corp. and RXR Realty LLC based on an estimated underlying property value of $1.725 billion. In conjunction with the equity sale, there was a concurrent $1.2 billion refinancing of the existing Worldwide Plaza debt. The Predecessor received cash at closing of approximately $446.5 million from the sale and excess proceeds from the financing, net of closing costs which included $108.3 million of defeasance and prepayment costs. The new debt on Worldwide Plaza bears interest at a blended rate of approximately 3.98% per annum, requires monthly payments of interest only and matures in November 2027. As the space previously leased by Cravath, Swaine & Moore, LLP (“Cravath”) has not been re-leased, the property does not generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy debt service requirements. The lender initiated a cash sweep in September 2023 and, as a result, all rent payments are being directed to the sweep account and the lender controls disbursements to cover operating expenditures and capital improvements at Worldwide Plaza. The initiation of the cash sweep restricts the joint venture that owns Worldwide Plaza from making distributions of cash flow generated following the initiation of the sweep. The lease with Cravath expired on August 31, 2024 and interest on the mezzanine debt has not been paid since August 6, 2024. On September 13, 2024, ARC NYWWPJV001, LLC received a copy of a default notice to WWP Mezz, LLC, a subsidiary of WWP, as borrower under a $190.0 million mezzanine first loan, as a result of failure by the borrower to make a required interest payment of $0.8 million under the loan agreement. The borrower entered into a loan modification agreement with the senior lender through July 1, 2025, clarifying the utilization of the cash sweep reserve and other reserves held by the lender. As of July 1, 2025, the senior loan and the mezzanine loans are in payment default. The modification agreement had not been extended as of the date of this report.

The Company initially set aside approximately $90.7 million from the 2017 refinancing proceeds to cover its share of potential future leasing and capital costs at the property, as discussed in “Note 8 Commitments and Contingencies.” On February 4, 2025, the Supreme Court, New York County (the “Supreme Court”) granted summary judgment declaring the Company does not have the obligation to fund capital expenditures pursuant to the Initial Budget (as defined below in Note 8 Commitments and Contingencies), the Company has no obligation to maintain the Reserve (as defined below in Note 8 Commitments and Contingencies) and the LLC Agreement (as defined below in Note 8 Commitments and Contingencies) does not preclude the Company from distributing the Reserve to unitholders. WWP JV LLC has appealed the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Following the sale of its interest discussed above, the Company now holds a 50.1% interest in Worldwide Plaza. The Company has determined that this investment is an investment in a VIE. The Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of this VIE since the Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. The Company accounts for this investment using the equity method of accounting.

The lease with one of the tenants at the Worldwide Plaza property contains a right of first offer if Worldwide Plaza sells 100% of the property. The right requires Worldwide Plaza to offer the tenant the option to purchase 100% of the Worldwide Plaza property, at the price, and on other material terms, proposed by Worldwide Plaza to third parties. If, after 45 days, that tenant does not accept the offer, Worldwide Plaza may then sell the property to a third party, provided that Worldwide Plaza will be required to re-offer the property to that tenant if it desires to sell the property for a purchase price (and other economic consideration) less than 92.5% of the initial purchase price contained in the offer to that tenant.

We have a right to transfer our membership interests in Worldwide Plaza to purchasers meeting certain qualifications, subject to a right of first offer to our joint venture partner. Commencing January 18, 2022, we and our joint venture partner also have the right to require the joint venture to market the property it owns for sale, subject to a right of first offer to our joint venture partner. We could be subject to transfer taxes on a transfer of our interest or a sale of the property.

Any transferee of our interest would acquire an interest subject to the same limitations on participation in the management of Worldwide Plaza that apply to us. There can be no assurance these limitations will not affect our ability to sell our interest in Worldwide Plaza or the amount we would receive on a sale. In addition, we may determine that a sale of the property rather than our interest in Worldwide Plaza is the best way to maximize the value of our interest in Worldwide Plaza. A sale of the property could substantially delay the timing of our complete liquidation. Additionally, the existence of the right of first offers may delay our ability to sell the Worldwide Plaza property or our interest in Worldwide Plaza on terms and in the timeframe of our choosing and may diminish the price we receive on a sale.

For the six months ended June 30, 2025, rent from Nomura Holdings America, Inc. (“Nomura”) represented 58.5% of the total cash rent at Worldwide Plaza. As of June 30, 2025, Nomura is the only tenant at Worldwide Plaza whose annualized cash rent represents greater than 10% of the total annualized cash rent at the property. On June 25, 2025, Nomura elected to exercise its termination right for the entire 16th and entire 24th floors, aggregating approximately 75 thousand square feet, effective January 1, 2027. Nomura will be required to pay an early termination fee to effectuate the termination which will be held in a lender-controlled account. The lease for Nomura’s remaining approximately 630 thousand square feet expires September 30, 2033 with no remaining early termination rights. The termination, delinquency or non-renewal of Nomura’s remaining tenancy would have a material effect on the Company’s operations. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, rent from Nomura and Cravath represented 29.4% and 48.0% of total annualized cash rent, respectively.

The lease with Cravath expired on August 31, 2024 and the space has not been re-leased. The expiration of this lease has had a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations.

See "Note 8 Commitments and Contingencies" for a discussion of legal proceedings.

The amounts reflected in the following tables are based on the going concern basis financial information of Worldwide Plaza. Under liquidation accounting, equity investments are carried at net realizable value.

The condensed balance sheets as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 for Worldwide Plaza are as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

June 30, 2025

 

 

December 31, 2024

 

Real estate assets, at cost

 

$

852,495

 

 

$

850,939

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

(379,368

)

 

 

(335,319

)

Total real estate assets, net

 

 

473,127

 

 

 

515,620

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

97,122

 

 

 

83,787

 

Restricted cash

 

 

7,256

 

 

 

19,042

 

Other assets

 

 

76,390

 

 

 

99,157

 

Total assets

 

$

653,895

 

 

$

717,606

 

Debt

 

$

1,347,321

 

 

$

1,266,858

 

Other liabilities

 

 

232,525

 

 

 

293,308

 

Total liabilities

 

 

1,579,846

 

 

 

1,560,166

 

Deficit

 

 

(925,951

)

 

 

(842,560

)

Total liabilities and deficit

 

$

653,895

 

 

$

717,606

 

The condensed statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 for Worldwide Plaza are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

June 30,

 

 

June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Rental income

 

$

19,025

 

 

$

35,542

 

 

$

38,825

 

 

$

70,803

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

 

16,527

 

 

 

16,105

 

 

 

34,883

 

 

 

32,067

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

7,405

 

 

 

5,274

 

 

 

12,522

 

 

 

10,547

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

23,932

 

 

 

21,379

 

 

 

47,405

 

 

 

42,614

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

(4,907

)

 

 

14,163

 

 

 

(8,580

)

 

 

28,189

 

Interest expense

 

 

(21,803

)

 

 

(21,216

)

 

 

(43,372

)

 

 

(42,337

)

Net loss

 

$

(26,710

)

 

$

(7,053

)

 

$

(51,952

)

 

$

(14,148

)