|
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR
15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
|
|
(State of incorporation)
|
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
|
Yes
|
☐ | ☒ |
Yes
|
☐ | ☒ |
(Check one):
|
Large Accelerated Filer
|
☐ |
Accelerated Filer
|
☐ |
|
☒
|
Smaller Reporting Company
|
||||
Emerging Growth Company
|
|
||||||||||
PART I
|
Page
|
|
Item 1.
|
1
|
|
Item 1A.
|
2
|
|
Item 1B.
|
8
|
|
Item 1C.
|
8
|
|
Item 2.
|
8
|
|
Item 3.
|
9
|
|
Item 4.
|
9
|
|
PART II
|
||
Item 5.
|
9
|
|
Item 6.
|
9
|
|
Item 7.
|
9
|
|
Item 8.
|
14
|
|
Item 9.
|
40 | |
Item 9A.
|
40 | |
Item 9B.
|
41 | |
Item 9C.
|
41
|
|
PART III
|
||
Item 10.
|
41 | |
Item 11.
|
41
|
|
Item 12.
|
41
|
|
Item 13.
|
41
|
|
Item 14.
|
41
|
|
PART IV
|
||
Item 15.
|
42 | |
Item 16.
|
44
|
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
Attention: Shareholder Services
(800) 937-5449 or (718) 921-8200 Ext. 6820
|
AmBase Corporation
12 Lincoln Blvd., Suite 202
Emerson, NJ 07630
Attn: Shareholder Services
|
- |
funds may be expended, and management’s time devoted to projects that may not be completed,
|
- |
required approvals may not be obtained from governmental entities or other third parties,
|
- |
construction costs of a project may exceed original estimates, negatively impacting the economic feasibility of the project,
|
- |
projects may be delayed due to, without limitation, adverse weather conditions, labor or material shortages,
|
- |
occupancy rates and rents at a completed project may be less than anticipated, and
|
- |
expenses at completed development projects may be higher than anticipated.
|
- |
deterioration in regional and local economic and real estate market conditions,
|
- |
failure to complete construction and lease-up on schedule or within budget may increase debt service expense and construction and other costs,
|
- |
increased operating costs, including insurance premiums, utilities and real estate taxes, due to inflation and other factors which may not necessarily be offset by increased rents,
|
- |
changes in interest rate levels, rates of inflation and the availability of financing,
|
- |
fluctuations in tourism patterns,
|
- |
adverse changes in laws and regulations (including tax, environmental, zoning and building codes, landlord/tenant and other housing laws and regulations) and agency or court interpretations of such
laws and regulations and the related costs of compliance,
|
- |
potential changes in supply of, or demand for rental properties similar to the Company’s,
|
- |
competition for tenants and changes in rental rates,
|
- |
concentration in a single real estate asset and class,
|
- |
needs for additional capital which may be required for needed development or repositioning of one or more real estate assets may exceed the Company’s abilities or its desired minimum level of liquidity,
|
- |
difficulty in reletting properties on favorable terms or at all,
|
- |
impairments in the Company’s ability to collect rent payments when due,
|
- |
the potential for uninsured casualty and other losses,
|
- |
the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws,
|
- |
changes in federal or state tax laws,
|
- |
the effects of global pandemics such as COVID-19 and government responses thereto; and
|
- |
acts of terrorism and war.
|
• |
State, local, and federal entities may impose restrictions, for varying times and to varying degrees, on our ability to enforce tenant’s contractual lease obligations, and this may affect our ability to enforce all our remedies
(such as pursuing collections and seeking evictions) for the failure to pay rent.
|
• |
Consumers whose income has declined, who are working remotely or who cannot freely access neighborhood amenities like restaurants, may decide to live in a location other than New York City.
|
• |
Various state, local and federal rules may require us to waive late fees and certain other customary fees associated with tenant rent obligations. These requirements or practices may result in a loss of revenue.
|
• |
A property may incur significant costs or losses related to shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders, quarantines, infection, clean-up costs or other related factors.
|
• |
There may be concerns related to the general economy about (i) supply chain constraints and (ii) inflation caused by both supply chain constraints and governmental fiscal and monetary policies. Supply chain constraints could cause
delays in any construction and redevelopment activity, and inflation could cause any construction and operating costs to increase without a commensurate increase in our rental revenue.
|
ITEM 1B. |
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
|
ITEM 5.
|
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
|
(a) |
The Common Stock of the Company is quoted in the over-the-counter market under the symbol ABCP. Such prices reflect interdealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown or commission, and may not
necessarily represent actual transactions.
|
(b) |
Not applicable.
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
2024
|
2023
|
|||||||
Operating expenses:
|
||||||||
Compensation and benefits
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Professional and outside services
|
|
|
||||||
Property operating and maintenance
|
|
|
||||||
Insurance
|
|
|
||||||
Other operating
|
|
|
||||||
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
||||||
Operating income (loss)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Interest income
|
|
|
||||||
Interest expense
|
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Income (loss) before income taxes
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Income tax expense (benefit)
|
|
|
||||||
Net income (loss)
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
||
Net income (loss) per common share - basic
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
||
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
|
|
|
Assets:
|
December 31,
2024
|
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Other assets
|
|
|
||||||
Total assets
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):
|
||||||||
Liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Loan(s) payable – related party – BARC Investments LLC |
||||||||
Loan(s) payable – related party – R. A. Bianco |
||||||||
Total liabilities
|
|
|
||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
|
||||||||
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
|
||||||||
Common stock ($
|
|
|
||||||
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
||||||
Accumulated deficit
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Treasury stock, at cost – 2024 -
|
(
|
)
|
||||||
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
(in thousands)
|
Common
stock
|
Additional
paid-in
capital
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
Treasury
stock
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||
January 1, 2023
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
December 31, 2023
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||||||||||
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
(
|
)
|
|
(
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Sale of common stock Equity Offering |
||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2024
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
$
|
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
(in thousands)
|
2024
|
2023
|
||||||
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
||||||||
Net income (loss)
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided (used) by operating activities
|
||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Other assets
|
|
|
||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
(
|
)
|
|
|||||
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||
Sale of common stock – equity offering |
||||||||
Proceeds from loan(s) payable – related party – BARC Investments LLC |
||||||||
Payoff of loan payable – related party – R. A. Bianco |
( |
) | ||||||
Proceeds from loan(s) payable – related party – R. A. Bianco |
||||||||
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
||||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
(
|
)
|
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
|
|
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Supplemental cash flow disclosure:
|
||||||||
Income taxes refunded (paid)
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Interest expense paid |
$ | $ |
($ in thousands)
|
||||
Company’s aggregate initial investment
|
$
|
|
||
Company’s aggregate initial membership interest %
|
|
%
|
($ in thousands)
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Company matching contributions
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Employer match %
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
(shares in thousands)
|
December 31,
2024
|
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Par value
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Authorized shares
|
|
|
||||||
Issued shares
|
|
|
||||||
Outstanding shares
|
|
|
(shares in thousands)
|
December 31,
2024
|
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Par value
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Authorized shares
|
|
|
||||||
Issued shares
|
|
|
||||||
Outstanding shares
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Common stock outstanding at beginning of period
|
|
|
||||||
Common stock repurchased for treasury
|
|
|
||||||
Issuance of common stock |
||||||||
Sale of treasury stock
|
|
|
||||||
Common stock outstanding at end of period
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Treasury stock held at beginning of period
|
|
|
||||||
Common stock repurchased for treasury
|
|
|
||||||
Issuance of treasury stock
|
(
|
)
|
|
|||||
Treasury stock held at end of period
|
|
|
($ in thousands, except per share data)
|
||||
Number of Shares purchased by BARC
|
|
|||
Number of Shares purchased by others
|
|
|||
Total number of Shares offered and purchased
|
|
|||
Equity Offering – purchase price per Share
|
$
|
|
||
Total proceeds received from the Equity Offering
|
$
|
|
(in thousands)
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
|
|||
Common shares repurchased to treasury during the period
|
|
|||
Aggregate cost of shares repurchased during the period
|
$
|
|
(in thousands)
|
December 31,
2024
|
|||
Total number of common shares authorized for repurchase
|
|
|||
Total number of common shares repurchased to date
|
|
|||
Total number of shares that may yet be repurchased
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Rent expense
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Approximate square feet of leased office space
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Federal - current
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
State - current
|
|
|
||||||
Total current
|
|
|
||||||
Federal - deferred
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
State - deferred
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Change in valuation allowance
|
|
|
||||||
Total deferred
|
|
|
||||||
Income tax expense (benefit)
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
(in thousands)
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
||
Tax expense (benefit):
|
||||||||
Tax at statutory federal rate
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
||
State income taxes
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Permanent items, tax credits and other adjustments
|
||||||||
Change in valuation allowance
|
|
|
||||||
Income tax expense (benefit)
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
|
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
|
|||||||
Tax at statutory federal rate
|
|
% |
|
% | ||||
State income taxes
|
|
|
||||||
Permanent items, tax credits and other adjustments
|
||||||||
Change in valuation allowance
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Effective income tax rate
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
(in thousands) |
December 31,
2024
|
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Deferred tax asset
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Valuation allowance
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Net deferred tax asset recognized
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
|
(i) |
first,
|
|
(ii) |
thereafter, any additional amounts shall be distributed (a)
|
Date of loan(s)
|
Rate
|
Due Date
|
December 31,
2024
|
December 31,
2023
|
|||||||||
|
|
%
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||||
$
|
|
$
|
|
(in thousands)
|
December 31,
2024
|
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Accrued interest expense
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
Date of loan(s)
|
Rate |
Due Date
|
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
|
|
%
|
|
$
|
|
||||
|
|
%
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
%
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
%
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
%
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
%
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
%
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
%
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
%
|
|
|
|||||
$
|
|
Date of loan(s)
|
Rate
|
Due Date
|
December 31,
2024
|
||||||
|
|
%
|
|
$
|
|
||||
|
|
%
|
|
|
|||||
$
|
|
(in thousands)
|
December 31,
2024
|
December 31,
2023
|
||||||
Accrued interest expense
|
$
|
|
$
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
2024
|
2023
|
|||||||
Operating expenses:
|
||||||||
Compensation and benefits
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
||||
Professional and outside services
|
|
|
||||||
Property operating and maintenance
|
|
|
||||||
Insurance
|
|
|
||||||
Other operating
|
|
|
||||||
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
||||||
Operating income (loss)
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Interest income
|
|
|
||||||
Interest expense
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Income (loss) before income taxes
|
(
|
)
|
(
|
)
|
||||
Income tax expense (benefit)
|
|
|
||||||
Net income (loss)
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
$
|
(
|
)
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
Not applicable.
|
ITEM 10. |
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
|
ITEM 12.
|
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
|
ITEM 13. |
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
|
(a) Documents filed as a part of this report:
|
||
1. Index to Financial Statements:
|
Page
|
|
14
|
||
15
|
||
16
|
||
17
|
||
18
|
||
19
|
(b) Exhibits:
|
||
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of AmBase Corporation (as of July 23, 2024), (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the year ended
June 30, 2024).
|
||
By-Laws of AmBase Corporation (as amended through March 15, 1996), (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017).
|
||
Amended & Restated Rights Agreement dated as of March 27, 2019, between the Company and American Stock Transfer and Trust Co. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018).
|
||
Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2019).
|
||
Employment Agreement dated as of March 30, 2006, between Richard A. Bianco and the Company, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10H to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2005).
|
||
Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of January 1, 2008, between Richard A. Bianco and the Company, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10E to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2007).
|
||
Amendment to Employment Agreement between Richard A. Bianco and the Company extending term of employment to May 31, 2023, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017).
|
||
Amendment to Employment Agreement between Richard A. Bianco and the Company extending term of employment to May 31, 2028, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 Company’s Current report on Form 8-K
filed January 20, 2023).
|
||
111 West 57th Partners LLC Limited Liability Company Agreement. Dated as of June 28, 2013, (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to Amendment no. 1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013).
|
||
Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of 111 West 57th Investment, LLC dated December 19, 2014
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014).
|
||
Agreement between Mr. Richard A. Bianco, the Company’s Chairman President and Chief Executive Officer (“Mr. R.A. Bianco”) and the Company for Mr. R.A. Bianco to provide to the Company a financial commitment
in the form of a line of credit up to ten million dollars ($10,000,000) or additional amount(s) as may be necessary and agreed to enable AmBase to contribute capital to the 111 West 57th Property (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9
to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the annual period ending December 31, 2016).
|
||
Amendment dated May 20, 2019, to the September 2017 Litigation Funding Agreement, between Mr. R.A. Bianco and the Company, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current report on Form
8-K filed May 21, 2019).
|
Senior Promissory Note for $2,000,000, between BARC Investments LLC, an affiliate of the Company and the Company (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on
August 21, 2024, and incorporated herein by reference).
|
||
Senior Promissory Note for $1,000,000, between Richard A. Bianco, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“Mr. R.A. Bianco”) and the Company (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on September 24, 2024, and incorporated herein by reference).
|
||
Senior Promissory Note for $500,000, between Richard A. Bianco, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“Mr. R.A. Bianco”) and the Company (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report
on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on December 5, 2024, and incorporated herein by reference).
|
||
Senior Promissory Note for $100,000, between Richard A. Bianco, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“Mr. R.A. Bianco”) and the Company (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report
on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on March 13, 2025, and incorporated herein by reference).
|
||
Form of Subscription Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023).
|
||
Standby Purchase Agreement dated February 28, 2024, between BARC Investments LLC and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2023).
|
||
August 31, 2012, Supervisory Goodwill Settlement Agreement (originally filed as Exhibit 99 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 22, 2012, and incorporated by reference herein).
|
||
AmBase Corporation - Code of Ethics as adopted by Board of Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003).
|
||
AmBase Corporation Insider Trading Policies and Procedures (included in the AmBase Corporation – Code of Ethics and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
year ended December 31, 2003).
|
||
Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
|
||
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14.
|
||
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14.
|
||
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
|
||
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
|
||
101.1*
|
The following financial statements from AmBase Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Statement of Operations; (ii) Consolidated
Balance Sheets; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow: and (iv) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
|
104.1*
|
The cover page from this Annual Report on Form 10-K in Inline XBRL
|
AMBASE CORPORATION
|
|
/s/RICHARD A. BIANCO
Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: March 24, 2025
|
/s/RICHARD A. BIANCO
Chairman, President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Date: March 24, 2025
|
/s/JOHN FERRARA
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Controller
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Date: March 24, 2025
|
/s/ALESSANDRA F. BIANCO
Director
Date: March 24, 2025
|
/s/RICHARD A. BIANCO, JR.
Director
Date: March 24, 2025
|
/s/SCOTT M. SALANT, ESQ.
Director
Date: March 24, 2025
|