Safehold Inc. Fair Value Disclosure
Note 16—Fair Values
Fair value represents the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The following fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to be used in valuation techniques to measure fair value:
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).
Certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value either on a recurring or non-recurring basis. Assets required to be marked-to-market and reported at fair value every reporting period are classified as being valued on a recurring basis. Assets not required to be recorded at fair value every period may be recorded at fair value if a specific provision or other impairment is recorded within the period to mark the carrying value of the asset to market as of the reporting date. Such assets are classified as being valued on a non-recurring basis.
The following fair value hierarchy table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis by the above categories ($ in thousands):
Fair Value Using | ||||||||||||
Quoted | ||||||||||||
market | Significant | |||||||||||
prices in | other | Significant | ||||||||||
active | observable | unobservable | ||||||||||
markets | inputs | inputs | ||||||||||
| Total |
| (Level 1) |
| (Level 2) |
| (Level 3) | |||||
As of December 31, 2022 |
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Non-recurring basis: |
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Real estate, net(1) | $ | 811 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 811 | ||||
Impaired land and development(2) | 26,300 | — | — | 26,300 | ||||||||
Loans receivable held for sale (refer to Note 7) |
| 37,650 |
| — |
| — |
| 37,650 | ||||
As of December 31, 2021 |
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Recurring basis: |
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$ | 8,395 | $ | — |
| $ | 8,395 |
| $ | — | |||
Available-for-sale securities(3) | 28,092 | — | — | 28,092 | ||||||||
| (1) | The Company recorded a $1.8 million impairment on an operating property with an estimated fair value of $0.8 million. The estimated fair value is based on the cash flows expected to be received. |
| (2) | The Company recorded a $12.7 million on a land and development asset with an estimated fair value of $26.3 million. The estimated fair value is based on future cash flows expected to be received using a discount rate of 12.5%. |
| (3) | The fair value of the Company’s derivatives are based upon widely accepted valuation techniques utilized by a third-party specialist using observable inputs such as interest rates and contractual cash flow and are classified as Level 2. The fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale securities are based upon unadjusted third-party broker quotes and are classified as Level 3. As of December 31, 2021, derivative liabilities are recorded in “Liabilities associated with real estate held for sale and classified as discontinued operations” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. |
The following table summarizes changes in Level 3 available-for-sale securities reported at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 ($ in thousands):
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |||
Beginning balance | $ | 28,092 | $ | 25,274 | ||
Purchases | — | 3,375 | ||||
Sales and Repayments |
| (26,752) |
| (200) | ||
2,897 | — | |||||
| (4,237) |
| (357) | |||
Ending balance | $ | — | $ | 28,092 | ||
Fair values of financial instruments—The following table presents the carrying value and fair value for the Company’s financial instruments ($ in millions):
As of December 31, 2022 | As of December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||
Carrying | Fair | Carrying | Fair | |||||||||
| Value |
| Value |
| Value |
| Value | |||||
Assets | ||||||||||||
Net investment in leases (refer to Note 5)(1) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 43 | $ | 43 | ||||
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net(1) | 49 | 46 | 333 | 345 | ||||||||
Loans receivable held for sale(1) | 38 | 38 | 43 | 43 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents(2) |
| 1,442 |
| 1,442 |
| 340 |
| 340 | ||||
Restricted cash(2) |
| 6 |
| 6 |
| 54 |
| 54 | ||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||
Debt obligations, net(1)(3) | ||||||||||||
Level 1 | 1,584 | 1,588 | 2,473 | 2,799 | ||||||||
Level 3 | 99 | 98 | 99 | 104 | ||||||||
Total debt obligations, net | 1,683 | 1,686 | 2,572 | 2,903 | ||||||||
| (1) | The fair value of the Company’s net investment in leases, loans receivable and other lending investments, net, loans receivable held for sale and certain debt obligations, net are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. |
| (2) | The Company determined the carrying values of its cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash approximated their fair values. Restricted cash is recorded in “Deferred expenses and other assets, net” on the Company’s balance sheet. The fair value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. |
| (3) | As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the fair value of the Company’s unsecured notes and Senior Term Loan are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. As of December 31, 2021, the fair value of the Company’s 3.125% Senior Convertible Notes was $527.5 million. |
Derivatives—The Company may use interest rate swaps, interest rate caps and foreign exchange contracts to manage its interest rate and foreign currency risk. The valuation of these instruments is determined using discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves, foreign exchange rates, and implied volatilities. The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own non-performance risk and the respective counterparty’s non-performance risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contracts for the effect of non-performance risk, the Company has considered the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, thresholds, mutual puts and guarantees. The Company has determined that the significant inputs used to value its derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Impaired real estate— The Company reviews real estate assets to be held for use and land and development assets for impairment in value whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The value of a long-lived asset held for use and land and development assets are impaired only if management’s estimate of the aggregate future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) to be generated by the asset (taking into account the anticipated holding period of the asset) is less than the carrying value. Such estimate of cash flows considers factors such as expected future operating income trends, as well as the effects of demand, competition and other economic factors.
If the Company determines a real estate asset available and held for sale is impaired, it records an impairment charge to adjust the asset to its estimated fair market value less costs to sell. Due to the nature of individual real estate properties, the Company generally uses a discounted cash flow methodology through internally developed valuation models to estimate the fair value of the assets. This approach requires the Company to make judgments with respect to significant unobservable inputs, which may include discount rates, capitalization rates and the timing and amounts of estimated future cash flows. For income producing properties, cash flows generally include property revenues, operating costs and capital expenditures that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for market rate growth and occupancy levels. For other real estate, cash flows may include lot and unit sales that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for annual market rate growth, operating costs, costs of completion and the inventory sell out pricing and timing. The Company will also consider comparable market transactions, if available. In some cases, the
Company obtains external “as is” appraisals for real estate assets and appraised values may be discounted when real estate markets rapidly deteriorate. The Company has determined that significant inputs used in its internal valuation models and appraisals fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Additionally, in certain cases, if the Company is under contract to sell an asset, it will mark the asset to the contracted sales price less costs to sell. The Company considers this to be a Level 3 input under the fair value hierarchy.
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net—The Company estimates the fair value of its performing loans and other lending investments using a discounted cash flow methodology. This method discounts estimated future cash flows using rates management determines best reflect current market interest rates that would be offered for loans with similar characteristics and credit quality. The Company determined that the significant inputs used to value its loans and other lending investments fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. For certain lending investments, the Company uses market quotes, to the extent they are available, that fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy or broker quotes that fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
The Company estimates the fair value of its non-performing loans using a discounted cash flow methodology through internally developed valuation models to estimate the fair value of the collateral. This approach requires the Company to make judgments in respect to significant unobservable inputs, which may include discount rates, capitalization rates and the timing and amounts of estimated future cash flows. For income producing properties, cash flows generally include property revenues, operating costs and capital expenditures that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for market rate growth and occupancy levels. For other real estate, cash flows may include lot and unit sales that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for annual revenue growth, operating costs, costs of completion and the inventory sell out pricing and timing. The Company will also consider comparable market transactions, if available. In some cases, the Company obtains external “as is” appraisals for loan collateral, generally when third party participations exist, and appraised values may be discounted when real estate markets rapidly deteriorate. The Company has determined that significant inputs used in its internal valuation models and appraisals fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Debt obligations, net—For debt obligations traded in secondary markets, the Company uses market quotes, to the extent they are available, to determine fair value and are considered Level 2 on the fair value hierarchy. For debt obligations not traded in secondary markets, the Company determines fair value using a discounted cash flow methodology, whereby contractual cash flows are discounted at rates that management determines best reflect current market interest rates that would be charged for debt with similar characteristics and credit quality. The Company has determined that the inputs used to value its debt obligations under the discounted cash flow methodology fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Feb 22, 2023 | Showing above |
| 2021 | Feb 25, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Feb 23, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Feb 24, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Feb 26, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Feb 26, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Feb 27, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 26, 2016 | |
About Fair Value Disclosures
Fair value disclosures classify all assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy: Level 1 (quoted market prices), Level 2 (observable inputs like yield curves), and Level 3 (unobservable inputs requiring management estimates). The proportion of Level 3 assets directly reflects how much of the balance sheet depends on internal models rather than market evidence.
Key signals: a growing Level 3 balance relative to total fair-value assets increases valuation uncertainty and earnings volatility risk. Watch for transfers between levels — assets moving from Level 2 to Level 3 often signal deteriorating market liquidity. Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 positions flow through earnings or other comprehensive income, so large swings deserve scrutiny. For financial institutions, examine the sensitivity disclosures that show how Level 3 valuations change under alternative assumptions. Compare the fair value of debt against its carrying amount to gauge hidden leverage.