Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
From time to time, we may be a party to certain legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings relating to the enforcement of our rights under contracts with our portfolio companies. Additionally, as of June 30, 2023, we owned a multi-tenant office building that is subject to a ground lease. The ground lease provides for a new base rent every 5 years based on the greater of the annual base rent for the prior lease year or 9% of the fair market value of the land. The next rent reset on the ground lease is scheduled for November 1, 2025. We are currently litigating with the landlord with respect to the appropriate method for determining the fair value of the land for purposes of setting the ground rent – Terra Ocean Ave., LLC v. Ocean Avenue Santa Monica Realty LLC, Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, Case No. 20STCV34217. We believe this determination should be based on comparable sales, while the landlord insists that the rent under the ground lease itself is also relevant. Our position has prevailed in all three of the prior arbitrations to reset the ground rent. We intend vigorously to pursue the litigation. While we believe our arguments will likely prevail, the outcome of the legal proceeding cannot be predicted with certainty. If the landlord prevails, the future rent reset determinations could result in significantly higher ground rent, which would likely result in a significant diminution in the value of our interest in the ground lease and the office building.
On July 7, 2023, Centennial Bank filed a complaint for breach of guaranty against us in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York (SDNY). The complaint relates to a loan made by Centennial Bank to Terra Ocean Ave., LLC (“Terra Ocean”), and alleges that Centennial Bank allegedly made a mistake in July 2021, in demanding a prepayment of $11.3 million instead of $28.5 million with respect to the loan, and that we, as guarantor in certain limited respects, must now pay the difference (i.e. $17.2 million) plus interest and attorneys’ fees and costs. Centennial Bank’s now alleges that its mistake in determining the prepayment amount was caused by the wrongful failure to disclose the then-current status of the Lease Litigation by Terra Ocean and/or us. On July 24, 2023, we, through counsel appeared in the action. Although the action is in its initial stages, we are seeking a dismissal of the complaint at the pleading stage and, if not successful, is prepared to vigorously defend itself through trial. We believe the claim by Centennial Bank is without merit.
Also on July 17, 2023, Centennial Bank filed a complaint against Terra Ocean for: (i) Breach of Contract; (ii) Judicial Foreclosure and Deficiency Judgment; and (iii) Specific Performance and Appointment of Receiver in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles. Centennial Bank seeks to foreclose on the deed of trust encumbering the tenant’s interest in the above-mentioned multi-tenant office building and ground lease. In the complaint, Centennial Bank alleges that its loan to Terra Ocean is in default and the outstanding principal amount of the loan is $27.6 million as of the filing of the complaint. Prior to Centennial Bank filing its complaints against the Company and Terra Ocean, Terra Ocean sought to convey its interest in the ground lease in lieu of foreclosure. Terra Ocean is in the process of preparing an appropriate response to Centennial Bank’s claims in this action.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes from the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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