Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Except as set forth below, there were no material changes to the “Risk Factors” disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Form 10-K”) and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020.
Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows have been and are expected to continue to be adversely affected by the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the impact could be material to us.
Our business has been adversely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, our “non-essential” retail tenants were ordered to temporarily close and although substantially all re-opened in the latter part of June 2020, there are limitations on occupancy and other restrictions that affect their ability to resume full operations. In limited circumstances, we have agreed to and may continue to agree to rent deferrals and abatements for certain of our tenants.
Numerous Federal, state, local and industry-initiated efforts may also affect our ability to collect rent or enforce remedies for the failure to pay rent. Certain of our tenants may incur significant costs or losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and/or incur other liabilities related to shelter-in-place orders, quarantines, infection or other related factors. Tenants that experience deteriorating financial conditions may be unwilling or unable to pay rent on a timely basis, or at all. Specifically, on September 10, 2020, Century 21, which leases 135,000 square feet at our Rego Park II shopping center, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused, and is likely to continue to cause, severe economic, market or other disruptions worldwide. Conditions in the bank lending, capital and other financial markets may deteriorate as a result of the pandemic, our access to capital and other sources of funding may become constrained and the ratios of our debt to asset values may deteriorate, which could adversely affect the availability and terms of future borrowings, renewals or refinancings. In addition, the deterioration of global, national, regional and local economic conditions as a result of the pandemic may ultimately decrease occupancy and/or rent levels across our portfolio as tenants reduce or defer their spending, which may result in less cash flow available for operating costs, to pay our indebtedness and for distribution to our stockholders and the impact could be material. In addition, the value of our real estate assets may decline, which may result in non-cash impairment charges in future periods and the impact could be material. The extent of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on our operational and financial performance will depend on future developments, including the duration, spread and intensity of the outbreak and governmental responses thereto, all of which are uncertain and difficult to predict. Due to the speed with which the situation is developing, we are not able at this time to estimate the ultimate effect of these factors on our business, but the adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be material. The potential effects of COVID-19 also could impact many of our risk factors included in our 2019 Form 10-K. However, the potential impact remains uncertain.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
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Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.