Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
Plans subject to this Part must comply with the format and
minimal disclosure requirements set forth in subdivisions (a) through (hh) of
this section, in addition to the requirements of article 23-A of the
G.B.L.
(a)
Cover.
The outside front cover of the offering plan shall contain
the following information in the following order:
(1) If any non-purchasing residential tenant
may be evicted by application of the provisions of G.B.L., section 352-eee,
352-eeee, rent regulatory laws, or after expiration of a lease term, the cover
shall contain the following statement in boldface roman type at least as large
as eight-point modern type and at least two points leaded:
THIS IS AN EVICTION PLAN. SEE PAGE__.
If G.B.L. section 352-eee, 352-eeee or 352-e(2-a) is
applicable, also state:
NON-PURCHASING TENANTS OTHER THAN ELIGIBLE SENIOR
CITIZENS AND ELIGIBLE DISABLED PERSONS WILL BE EVICTED.
(2) If the plan is a non-eviction plan, the
cover shall contain the following statement in boldface roman type at least as
large as eight-point modern type and at least two points leaded:
THIS IS A NON-EVICTION PLAN. NO NON-PURCHASING TENANT
WILL BE EVICTED BY REASON OF CONVERSION TO COOPERATIVE OWNERSHIP.
(3) The title in boldface type:
COOPERATIVE OFFERING PLAN followed by the address of the property.
(4) The cash amount of the offering, which
shall be based on the maximum aggregate price at which the shares are initially
offered. State the number of shares and the number of units being offered. The
minimum aggregate price at which the shares are initially offered to tenant
purchasers also may be included.
(5) Amount of the mortgage(s) which shall be
based on the projected unpaid balance of all mortgages encumbering the property
at the time of acquisition by the apartment corporation.
(6) The total of the maximum cash amount of
the offering and of the mortgage(s).
The total of the minimum cash amount and of the mortgage(s)
may also be included.
(7)
The amount of the working capital fund and/or reserve fund to be retained by
the apartment corporation.
The amount of reserve fund shall be in compliance with the
applicable local law. If there is a working capital fund and this fund may be
diminished or depleted for closing adjustments, so indicate. If there is not a
working capital fund or reserve fund, indicate -0-.
(8) The name and principal business address
of the sponsor, the selling agent, and the apartment corporation.
Telephone numbers may also be included. The address of the
sponsor must not be in care of sponsor's attorney.
(9) The statement: "Approximate date of first
offering," which shall not be earlier than the date the Department of Law files
the plan.
The term of the initial offer is 12 months commencing on
the date indicated in the letter from the Department of Law stating that the
plan is filed. The term may be extended by an amendment to the offering plan.
The date of the plan should be left blank at submission to the Department of
Law and completed when the plan is filed.
(10) If the plan contains a special risk
section, the statement: "SEE PAGE __ FOR SPECIAL RISKS TO PURCHASERS" must be
printed apart from other print and be in capital letters, in boldface modern
type at least eight-point modern type and at least two points leaded.
(11) The front cover of a proposed offering
plan first submitted to the Department of Law shall contain the following
statement in capital letters printed in red in boldface roman type of at least
eight-point modern type and at least two points leaded. The following statement
shall not appear on the front cover of offering plans filed with the Department
of Law:
THIS IS A PROPOSED OFFERING PLAN ("RED HERRING") TO
CONVERT THIS BUILDING TO A COOPERATIVE. IT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE NEW YORK
STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAW, REAL ESTATE FINANCE BUREAU. APARTMENTS MAY NOT BE SOLD
OR OFFERED FOR SALE UNTIL THE OFFERING PLAN IS FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
LAW.
(12) The
following statement in capital letters printed in boldface roman type at least
as large as eight-point modern type and at least two points leaded must be
included on the cover of all plans filed with the Department of Law:
THIS OFFERING PLAN IS THE ENTIRE OFFER TO SELL THESE
COOPERATIVE APARTMENTS. NEW YORK LAW REQUIRES THE SPONSOR TO DISCLOSE ALL
MATERIAL INFORMATION IN THIS PLAN AND TO FILE THIS PLAN WITH THE NEW YORK STATE
DEPARTMENT OF LAW PRIOR TO SELLING OR OFFERING TO SELL ANY APARTMENTS. FILING
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE DEPARTMENT OR ANY OTHER
GOVERNMENT AGENCY HAS APPROVED THIS OFFERING.
(b)
Table of
contents.
The format and order set forth below shall be followed in
the table of contents. Include headings for the subjects not marked with an
asterisk. In addition, a limited number of headings may be added to the plan.
Headings for subjects that are marked with an asterisk may be omitted if the
subject matter is not applicable to the offering. Omissions, other than
headings marked with an asterisk on the table of contents, and additions,
should be expressly noted and explained in the transmittal letter. Alternative
wording for headings to meet particular facts are set forth in parentheses.
Documentation listed in Part II of the table of contents shall be included in
full in Part II of the plan. The texts of such documents which will be binding
upon the sponsor or the apartment corporation, such as the subscription
agreement, the proprietary lease, and the bylaws of the apartment corporation,
shall be consistent with the disclosures in the plan and shall conform to the
requirements with respect thereto set forth in this section.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I PAGE
______________________________
* SPECIAL RISKS
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* ELECTION FORMS FOR ELIGIBLE SENIOR CITIZENS AND DISABLED
PERSONS
__________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
__________________________________________________
OFFERING PRICES AND SHARE ALLOCATION, SCHEDULE A
__________________________________________________
BUDGET FOR FIRST YEAR OF COOPERATIVE OPERATION, SCHEDULE
B
__________________________________________________
ACCOUNTANT'S CERTIFIED STATEMENTS OF OPERATION
__________________________________________________
CHANGES IN PRICES AND UNITS
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* RIGHTS OF ELIGIBLE SENIOR CITIZENS AND ELIGIBLE
DISABLED PERSONS
__________________________________________________
RIGHTS OF EXISTING TENANTS
__________________________________________________
OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS OF SHARES OF DWELLING UNITS
OCCUPIED BY NON-PURCHASING TENANTS
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* INTERIM LEASES
__________________________________________________
PROCEDURE TO PURCHASE
__________________________________________________
ASSIGNMENT OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENTS
__________________________________________________
EFFECTIVE DATE
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* TERMS OF MORTGAGES
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* FINANCING FOR QUALIFIED PURCHASERS
__________________________________________________
SUMMARY OF PROPRIETARY LEASE
__________________________________________________
APARTMENT CORPORATION
__________________________________________________
HOLDERS OF UNSOLD SHARES
__________________________________________________
PURCHASERS FOR INVESTMENT OR RESALE
__________________________________________________
RESERVE FUND
__________________________________________________
WORKING CAPITAL FUND
__________________________________________________
CONTRACT OF SALE (OR EXCHANGE)
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* SPECIAL TAX CONSEQUENCES OF CONTRACT OF EXCHANGE
* MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, CONTRACTS AND LEASES IDENTITY OF
PARTIES
__________________________________________________
SPONSOR'S PROFIT
__________________________________________________
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
__________________________________________________
DOCUMENTS ON FILE
__________________________________________________
GENERAL
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* RESERVATION OF AIR AND DEVELOPMENTAL RIGHTS
__________________________________________________
SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF BUILDING CONDITION
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
PART II
___________________________________
* OPINION OF REASONABLE RELATIONSHIP
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* ATTORNEY'S INCOME TAX OPINION
__________________________________________________
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (OR PURCHASE AGREEMENT)
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* PURCHASER'S AFFIDAVIT OF INTENTION TO RESIDE
__________________________________________________
FORM OF STOCK CERTIFICATE
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* FORM OF MORTGAGE, NOTE AND RELATED PRINCIPAL
DOCUMENTS
__________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY AND BUILDING CONDITION
__________________________________________________
ASBESTOS REPORT
__________________________________________________
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF APARTMENT
CORPORATION
__________________________________________________
PROPRIETARY LEASE (AND HOUSE RULES)
__________________________________________________
BYLAWS OF THE APARTMENT CORPORATION
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* APPLICABLE RENT REGULATIONS
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* GENERAL BUSINESS LAW SECTION 352-e eee, 352-eee or
352-e(2-a)
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
* PART 18.8 ELIGIBLE SENIOR CITIZENS AND
ELIGIBLE DISABLED PERSONS
__________________________________________________
ESCROW AGREEMENT
__________________________________________________
CERTIFICATIONS
__________________________________________________
SPONSOR AND PRINCIPALS
__________________________________________________
SPONSOR'S ENGINEER (OR ARCHITECT)
__________________________________________________
SPONSOR'S EXPERT CONCERNING ADEQUACY OF BUDGET
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
(c)
Special risks.
This is a very important section, if applicable, and must
be on a separate page following the table of contents. All features of a plan
which involve significant risk, or are reasonably probable to affect
disproportionately or unusually the maintenance charges or obligations of
shareholders in future years of cooperative operation, must be conspicuously
disclosed and highlighted. A brief description of the nature of the risk should
be given in this section and a more thorough description should be given in a
referenced later section. Uncertainties as to whether a risk should be
described in this section should be resolved in favor of inclusion.
(1) Disclose whether sponsor is reserving the
right to rent rather than sell units appurtenant to its unsold shares
(hereinafter "units") as they become vacant. If sponsor is retaining such
right, without committing itself to sell at least 51 percent of the units as
they become vacant, to purchasers for personal occupancy, the cover of the plan
must state in bold print:
BECAUSE SPONSOR IS RETAINING THE RIGHT TO RENT MORE
THAN 49 PERCENT OF THE UNITS IN THE BUILDING OR BUILDINGS BEING CONVERTED TO
COOPERATIVE OWNERSHIP, FUTURE MARKETABILITY OF ALL UNITS MAY BE ADVERSELY
AFFECTED AND PURCHASERS MAY NEVER GAIN EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF THE COOP BOARD OF
DIRECTORS. (SEE SPECIAL RISKS SECTION.)
Disclose that a result of sponsor retaining more than 49
percent of the units, marketability of the units may be adversely affected.
Explain that certain institutional lenders may be unwilling to make loans for
the purchase of units in a cooperative in which the sponsor and/or holders of
unsold shares retain more than 49 percent of the units and that purchasers may
therefore be unable to obtain institutional financing for their own purchase.
Disclose that if they do close title and subsequently seek to sell their
apartments, prospective purchasers may be unable to obtain institutional
financing solely on the basis of sponsor's holding more than 49 percent of the
units in the cooperative corporations, regardless of the credit worthiness of
the prospective purchaser. If the sponsor is able to demonstrate that an
institutional lender has approved the project for coop loans to qualified
purchasers, a disclosure identifying the lender, the terms of the loans to be
offered, eligibility criteria and other material aspects of the lender's
commitment to the project should be included.
(2) If sponsor represents that it will sell
51 percent of the units as they become vacant, to purchasers for personal
occupancy, disclose whether sponsor further represents that it will endeavor in
good faith to sell, in a reasonably timely manner, all remaining unsold units
as they become vacant, to purchasers for personal occupancy, in the building or
buildings being converted to cooperative ownership. If sponsor intends to sell
fewer than all of the units, disclose this fact and the number and percentage
which sponsor does intent to sell, in bold print as the first special risk.
Disclose that the units reserved by sponsor may remain unsold indefinitely and
sponsor may dispose of such units as it chooses, including selling to
investors, renting to tenants, permitting occupancy by relatives or others,
allowing them to remain vacant or selling to purchasers for personal occupancy.
If the sponsor later chooses to sell a greater number and percentage of units
to the public for personal occupancy than disclosed in the initial offering
plan, the plan must be amended to disclose that fact.
If sponsor makes a bulk sale of all or some of its unsold
shares, the transferee is bound by sponsor's representation regarding its
commitment to sell units as they become vacant.
(3) If the bylaws of the cooperative do not
include a provision that after the initial sponsor control period, a majority
of the Board of Directors must be owner-occupants or members of
owner-occupant's households who are unrelated are unrelated to the sponsor and
its principals, this fact must be disclosed as a special risk and the following
warning must be placed on the cover:
THIS PLAN DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT OWNER-OCCUPANTS
WILL EVER CONSTITUTE A MAJORITY OF THE COOP BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (SEE SPECIAL
RISKS SECTION OF PLAN.)
Disclose that unless and until a majority of the Board are
residents of the building unrelated to the sponsor, owner-occupants will not
gain effective control and management of the cooperative. Disclose that
owner-occupants and non-resident shareholders, including sponsor, may have
inherent conflicts on how the cooperative should be managed because of their
different reasons for purchasing, i.e. purchase as a home as
opposed to as an investment.
(d) If the offering plan is submitted to the
Department of Law on or after September 1, 2016 subject to G.B.L. section
352-eee, and the sponsor executed a contract of sale for the building or group
of buildings or acquired the building or group of buildings on or after
September 1, 2016, include the eligible senior citizen and eligible disabled
person election forms promulgated by the Department of Law, forms SH-5 and
SH-2, respectively. If the offering plan is submitted to the Department of Law
on or after September 1, 2016 subject to G.B.L. section 352-e(2-a) or 352-eeee,
and the sponsor executed a contract of sale for the building or group of
buildings or acquired the building or group of buildings on or after September
1, 2016, include the eligible senior citizen and eligible disabled person
election forms promulgated by the Department of Law, forms SH-1 and SH-2,
respectively.
(e)
Introduction.
The introduction must:
(1) Explain that the purpose of the offering
plan is to set forth all the material terms of the offer. Explain that the plan
may be amended from time to time when an amendment is filed with the New York
State Department of Law. State that amendments will be served on all offerees,
as defined in section
18.1(d) of this
Part.
(2) Identify the sponsor,
state when the sponsor acquired the property or sponsor's interest as a
contract vendee.
(3) Disclose
sponsor's intent with regard to the sale of apartments offered in the plan.
Disclose whether sponsor represents that it will endeavor in good faith to
sell, in a reasonably timely manner, all residential units as they become
vacant, to purchasers for personal occupancy in the building or buildings being
converted to cooperative ownership. If sponsor represents an intent to sell
fewer than all of the units in the building or buildings being converted to
cooperative ownership, disclose the number and percentage with sponsor does
intend to sell. Disclose whether sponsor represents that it will decline to
rent apartments, as they become vacant, until has sold at least 51 percent of
the units to purchasers for personal occupancy. If sponsor reserves the right
to rent rather than sell after reaching the 51 percent sales level, disclose
whether sponsor is limiting its right to rent rather than sell based on
objective articulable criteria, such as a significant decline in market prices
of a specific percentage and the condition upon which sponsor would resume
sales. If sponsor does not represent its good faith intent to sell and to
obtain sales of 51 percent of the units prior to renting, include on the cover
of the plan the warning set forth in paragraph (c)(1) of this section and
discuss as a special risk.
(4)
Describe the interest that the apartment corporation is to acquire in the land
and building.
(5) Summarize the
number of shares and units being offered in this offering plan, whether the
units are residential or otherwise, any parking or recreational facilities, and
refer to Schedule A for prices. Identify any units or property interests that
are not being offered, such as commercial space, the superintendent's apartment
and common areas. If applicable, note any air rights or transferable
development rights benefitting or encumbering the property.
(6) Outline the basic aspects of cooperative
ownership, including the following:
(i) if
applicable, the apartment corporation will purchase the property at the closing
and will sell shares to purchasers to raise funds;
(ii) the apartment corporation, as the fee
owner of the entire building, is assessed for the real estate taxes on the
property and may be the mortgagor encumbering the entire property. As a result,
shareholders are co-dependent on each other and on the sponsor for payment of
the mortgage and taxes, default on which will jeopardize each shareholder's
equity in his/her shares and unit. Where the sponsor owns a substantial
percentage of the units, a default in payment of maintenance by sponsor
jeopardizes the equity interest of other shareholders;
(iii) each shareholder will enter into a
proprietary lease;
(iv) each
shareholder will have the right to vote for members of the board of
directors;
(v) the conduct of the
affairs of the apartment corporation will be in the hands of the board of
directors; disclose whether sponsor represents, and provides in the bylaws,
that a majority of the apartment corporation board must be owner-occupants of
the building or members of an owner-occupant's household, who are unrelated to
the sponsor or its principals, after the end of the sponsor control period. If
sponsor does not make this representation, include the warning set forth in
paragraph (c)(3) of this section and discuss as a special risk;
(vi) each shareholder will be responsible for
the payment of maintenance charges and any assessments;
(vii) discuss the transitional phase of the
conversion process from rental building to owner-occupied cooperative. Disclose
that because the plan can be declared effective based on sales of 15 percent of
the units to tenants or bona fide purchasers for their own occupancy,
purchasers may be living a mixed rental/owner-occupied building for an
indeterminate period of time, and that purchasers' units may not be marketable
and owner-occupants may not control the board or operation of the property
during such transition. Further discuss how the existence of rent regulated,
non purchasing, tenants, who have a right to continued occupancy, may affect
the speed of the conversion process. Discuss other aspects of living in a mixed
rental/owner-occupied building, including different interests of owners and
renters and the consequences of sponsor's continuing role in the building.
From time to time the Department of Law may promulgate
model forms for the description of the basic aspects involved in a cooperative
conversion for a non-eviction plan under various laws. The transmittal letter
from the attorney who prepared the plan shall note if the applicable model
forms are used.
(7) If applicable, state the number of
apartments subject to each applicable rent regulatory law.
(8) Refer to Schedule A for price
information. State the length of any exclusive period(s), that there will be no
increase in prices during the exclusive period for tenant purchasers, and that
sponsor will not accept subscriptions from non-tenant purchasers for occupied
units during any exclusive period.
(9) State whether any non-purchasing tenant
may be evicted by application of the provisions of G.B.L., section 352-eee or
section 352-eeee, rent regulatory laws, or after expiration of a lease term.
Refer to the sections of the plan that explains the rights of purchasing and
non- purchasing tenants. Do not characterize the plan as a "non-eviction" plan
if non-purchasing tenants are entitled to remain only for the balance of a
lease term. State whether non-purchasing tenants will remain subject to a rent
regulatory law only during the term of tax exemption or abatement
benefits.
(10) State that the
prices are not subject to approval by the Department of Law or any other
government agency.
(11) State that
the plan delivered to tenants and prospective purchasers contains all the
detailed terms of the transaction. State that copies of the plan, all documents
referred to in the plan and all exhibits submitted to the Department of Law in
connection with the filing of the plan will be available for inspection without
charge, and for copying at a reasonable charge, to prospective purchasers and
their attorneys at the office of the selling agent or sponsor.
(12) State any lawful limitations on who may
purchase units.
(13) Include the
following paragraph printed in boldface roman type at least as large as
eight-point modern type and at least two points leaded:
THE PURCHASE OF A COOPERATIVE APARTMENT HAS MANY
SIGNIFICANT LEGAL AND FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STRONGLY
URGES YOU TO READ THIS OFFERING PLAN CAREFULLY AND TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY
BEFORE SIGNING A SUBSCRIPTION (OR PURCHASE) AGREEMENT.
(f)
Purchase prices and
share allocation (Schedule A).
(1)
Schedule A must appear on a separate page entitled "Schedule A" and list the
following information for each apartment in columnar form. Column headings may
be shortened and abbreviated. Indicate that all projected charges are for a
stated 12-month period,
e.g., January 1, 20__ to December 31,
20__. Totals must be given for subparagraphs (iv)-(viii) of this paragraph:
(i) unit identification;
(ii) rent regulatory status of each unit, and
which unit(s) is (are) vacant;
(iii) number of rooms (or usable space in
square feet) and bathrooms;
(iv)
share allocation;
(v) cash purchase
price for each class of purchasers;
(vi) approximate amount of mortgage
applicable to a block of shares (if applicable);
(vii) projected maintenance charges for the
first year of operation at $__ per share (annual and monthly);
(viii) projected annual income tax deduction
at $__ per share for the first year of operation (if applicable).
(2) Shares must be allocated in
whole shares.
(3) Detailed
footnotes must support and explain the information in Schedule A. These
footnotes must include, but are not limited to the following:
(i) For the number of rooms, state the method
of calculating the number of rooms in each unit. If rooms are calculated in
accordance with an industry standard, it is sufficient to refer to the industry
standard employed.
(ii) For the
share allocation, explain the basis for the allocation of shares in the
particular building.
(iii) For the
cash purchase price, explain any differences in prices to classes of
purchasers. Prior to the filing of an effectiveness amendment, plans subject to
G.B.L. section 352-eee or section 352-eeee may not contain different prices for
different classes of tenants in occupancy on the filing date. Refer to the
portion of the plan that explains price changes. If applicable, state that
prices are negotiable.
(iv) For the
cash purchase price, refer to the portion of the plan that explains any closing
costs that a purchaser may have to pay.
(v) For the approximate amount of mortgage(s)
applicable to shares, explain that although shareholders will not be personally
liable to pay the mortgage(s), the apartment corporation will be responsible,
shareholders' maintenance charges include amounts to pay debt service, and a
failure of a certain number of tenants to make the maintenance payments may
result in a foreclosure and the loss of each individual's equity in his or her
apartment. If any mortgage encumbers the property and will encumber the
property after the closing, explain that the approximate amount of the mortgage
applicable to shares is based on the assumption that a closing will occur on a
specified date.
(vi) For the
projected maintenance charges, disclose that if the purchaser obtains
financing, the purchaser's debt service will be an additional expense. Disclose
that projected maintenance charges do not include certain costs for which the
shareholder is responsible, such as (where applicable) repairs to the interior
of the unit, separately metered gas, electricity, hot water, heat, air
conditioning and cable television service. If shareholders individually pay for
heat and hot water costs, or for costs usually paid by a cooperative apartment
corporation, refer to Schedule B-1 for individual maintenance costs; see
subdivision (g)(4) of this section.
(vii) State the aggregate of the monthly
rents currently payable from tenants of all occupied units, or a reasonable
approximation thereof.
(viii) For
the projected income tax deduction, explain that the projected tax deduction
may vary in future years (where applicable) due to changes in the mortgage
principle balance or in the interest rate on the existing mortgage (if any) or
on a refinanced mortgage, or from changes in the allocation of constant debt
service payments between interest and principle, or due to the allocation of
constant debt service payments to interest and principal, or due to changes in
real property taxes resulting from the expiration of real estate tax benefits,
or from changes in the assessed value, the tax rate or the method of assessing
real property. Explain that the projected tax deductions do not include
interest paid by purchasers who finance the purchase of their units, which may
also be deductible.
(ix) If the
initial interest rate on any mortgage that will encumber the property after
closing will be the rate prevailing at closing, state the predicted rate on
which the projected maintenance charges and projected income tax deductions are
based, that the actual rate at the time of closing may be higher or lower, and
that the sponsor will amend the plan, as required by law, to disclose the rate
prevailing at the closing.
(g)
Budget for first year of
cooperative operation (Schedule B).
The plan must describe all projected income and expenses
for the first year of cooperative operation in Schedule B.
(1) The budget must be based upon a specified
12-month period, to commence on the date when it can reasonably be projected
that cooperative operations will begin. When calculating the projection,
include the expiration of any exclusive period and sufficient time to arrange
for the closing. If the actual or anticipated date of commencement of
cooperative operation is to be delayed from the budget year projected in the
offering plan, the plan must be amended to include a revised budget disclosing
current projections. If such amended projections exceed the original
projections by 25 percent or more, the sponsor must offer all purchasers the
right to rescind and a reasonable period of time that is not less than 15 days
after the date of presentation to exercise the right, whether or not sponsor
offers to guarantee the previous budget projection. Sponsor must return any
deposit or downpayment promptly to subscribers who rescind.
(2) The budget for the cooperative must be in
the following format. Headings marked with an asterisk may be omitted if not
applicable to the offering. Additional income, expenses or cost items unique to
a building should be added whenever appropriate to reflect additional sources
of income, expenses, cost or unique circumstances.
SCHEDULE B
Budget for First Year of Cooperative Operation
Beginning __1, 20_
Projected Income
Maintenance Charges
* Commercial_ $__ _________________________________
* Laundry_ $__ ____________________________________
* Other (explain)_ $__
_______________________________
TOTAL
$__
Projected Expense
* Labor_ $__ ______________________________________
_______________________________________________
Heating
$__
_______________________________________________
Utilities (Electricity and gas)
$ __
_______________________________________________
Water charges and sewer rents
$ __
_______________________________________________
Repairs, maintenance and supplies
$ __
_______________________________________________
* Service contracts_ $__
_____________________________
_______________________________________________
Insurance
$__
_______________________________________________
* Management fees_ $__ ____________________________
Legal fees and audit fees
$ __
_______________________________________________
Franchise and corporate taxes
$ __
_______________________________________________
Real estate taxes
$__
_______________________________________________
* Mortgage payments_ $__ ___________________________
* Other (explain)_ $__
_______________________________
* Contingency_ $__ _________________________________
_______________________________________________
TOTAL
$__
(3)
Detailed footnotes must support and explain the projected amounts in Schedule
B. The footnotes must set forth the basis or assumptions for each projection.
(i) Commercial income. Briefly describe any
contracts or leases, other than proprietary leases, that will provide income to
the apartment corporation. State whether the apartment corporation is required
to provide heat, water, electricity, gas or insurance, and describe any other
specific additional costs under the contract or lease. State the name and
business address of each contractor, or lessee, the annual income and the
expiration of the contract or lease. If applicable, state whether sponsor may
rent vacant, nonresidential space, or extend the term of existing leases. State
whether the rent to be collected could be less than the rent set forth in
Schedule B for the space. Sponsor must amend the plan if any new lease or
extension of an existing lease is for a term in excess of two years.
(ii) Labor costs. State the number of full
and part-time existing staff, the number of full and part-time staff projected
for the cooperative in Schedule B, and whether the staff will be union members.
If the budget reflects a reduction in the existing staff, disclose what effect
this will have on the existing level of services. The labor budget must include
benefits required by Federal, State or local law or required by contract such
as workers' compensation, disability insurance, welfare and pension
contributions by employers, unemployment insurance and payroll taxes. Specify
the wages and the cost of each applicable benefit. The budget must reflect
current wage rates and reasonably anticipated increases or increases mandated
by contract. If applicable, state the expiration dates of all union contracts.
If there is nonunion labor in the building, discuss whether their wages meet
State minimum wage laws.
(iii)
Heating, cooling and hot water costs. State the type and quantity of energy
projected to be used during the year and the projected total cost per gallon or
other pricing unit, inclusive of sales tax, for all energy costs for providing
heat, air conditioning and hot water for the building. State the basis for
projecting the quantity of energy to be used. Unless it would be misleading for
a particular building, base the projected quantity of energy on the average
quantity of energy purchased for the prior three years. State the quantity of
energy purchased in each of the three prior years, the average cost per gallon
or other pricing unit and the total cost per year. The Department of Law may,
from time to time, issue pricing guidelines to reflect minimum fuel
costs.
(iv) Utilities (electricity
and gas). State the basis for the projected consumption and projected unit cost
for utilities. Unit cost should be based on the current tariff plus a
reasonably anticipated increase which should be set forth,
e.g., estimate based on current tariff plus a 10-percent
increase. Unless it would be misleading for a particular building, base the
projected quantity of the utilities on the average quantity of the utilities
purchased for the prior three years.
(v) Water charges and sewer rents. State the
present rents and charges and base the projection on reasonably anticipated
increases for the first year of cooperative operation. If the water charges or
sewer rents are metered charges, state the consumption for the prior three
years.
(vi) Repairs, maintenance
and supplies. Describe the material components of the expense for repairs and
maintenance, such as interior repairs, roofing, exterior repairs (including
walls, foundations, windows, doors and locks), heating system (fuel burner,
boiler, pipes, radiators), plumbing, electrical work, exterminating, grounds
maintenance (snow removal, gardening and landscaping, where applicable),
janitor supplies, painting of common areas and such building services and
maintenance items not included under service contracts or other
expenses.
(vii) Service contracts.
State the name of the contractor, the service, the annual cost and the
expiration of the contract. Highlight as a special risk any contract with an
expiration date more than five years after the anticipated closing date, unless
it is customary in the area to enter a long-term contract for the service
rendered (e.g., cable TV contract).
(viii) Insurance. The budget for insurance
must provide, and the apartment corporation must have, at closing, fire and
casualty insurance under an agreed amount replacement cost policy or under a
policy including at least an 80 percent coinsurance provision so that the
insured shall not be a coinsurer. Discuss the adequacy of the insurance to
replace the building in the event of total loss and to avoid being a coinsurer
in the event of partial loss. Disclose the items covered, the coverage amount
limits, the deductibles and the exposures insured against. Disclose if
insurance proceeds may be applied by the mortgagee to reduce the outstanding
mortgage indebtedness instead of to restoring property.
(a) The budget for insurance must provide and
the apartment corporation must have public liability insurance at
closing.
(b) If the following items
are not included in the budget and are applicable to the offering, state that
coverage for them is not included and may be available at extra cost: officers'
and directors' liability; rent insurance; water damage; elevator collision;
boiler and machinery; excess liability; auto liability; fidelity bond and
garage keeper's liability. The plan must alert shareholders to the desirability
of obtaining additional insurance at their own cost to cover such risks as fire
and casualty losses to unit contents, replacements, additions, upgraded
fixtures and improvements; and liability coverage for occurrences within the
unit.
(ix) Management
contract. State the basis for projected management fee. The projected cost must
include any costs required by the terms of the management agreement, such as
bonding. If the cost of a manager or the management contract is greater or
substantially less than the prevailing cost for similar services, state the
prevailing cost which would be charged for services. If no manager or
management contract is provided for in the budget, state the services that
shareholders will have to provide.
(x) Real estate taxes. For the projected
budget year, the present year and the two years prior to submission, state the
assessing authority, the assessed valuation, the tax rates and the amounts
payable. Data for the projected budget year should be estimated if actual
figures are not currently available. Discuss any known or tentative changes in
assessed valuation or tax rate for the first year of cooperative ownership.
Describe any changed circumstances such as a sale or prospective sale prior to
the transfer to the apartment corporation which may have a material effect on
future assessments. State whether certiorari proceedings are
pending and whether they will be continued after the closing, and if so, for
whose benefit and at whose expense.
(xi) Tax exemption and tax abatement
benefits. If the building receives tax benefits (
e.g., under
section J-51 or section 421-a), describe the present benefits, the term, the
level of benefits for future years of cooperative operation and the impact that
termination of benefits will have on maintenance charges. If the plan
represents that the cooperative may or will receive particular tax benefits,
the plan must state that the sponsor will use best efforts to obtain those
benefits, and must project the amount, commencement and duration of the
benefits. Highlight as a special risk if the plan states that the apartment
corporation may or will receive tax benefits, and the sponsor does not
anticipate obtaining the benefits before the closing. Describe the effect on
the budget and maintenance charges with and without the tax benefits. If full
tax benefits may be available for only part of the first year of operation, the
budget may either reflect:
(a) partial
benefits, with a footnote to explain the timing of full benefits; or
(b) full benefits, with a footnote to explain
that the sponsor agrees to pay all taxes in excess of the budgeted figure for
the first year of operation, as well as an approximate projection of when full
benefits will be available.
(xii) Mortgage payments. Describe how the
mortgage(s) is (are) payable during the budget year. State the dollar amount of
mortgage interest and mortgage principal for the first year of cooperative
operation. Explain that, in future years, principal amortization payments will
increase and interest payments will decrease, if applicable. State the amount,
term and interest rate of the mortgage(s). Refer to the "Terms of Mortgages"
section for further explanation of all mortgage terms. Disclose any fixed
increases in payment due under the mortgage(s) in the 10 years after closing,
or the life of the mortgage, whichever is shorter.
(xiii) Other expenses. Include expenses such
as employer association dues (if applicable), building telephone or
switchboard, applicable license fees, registration and municipal permits,
provision for corporate income taxes (if so indicated in tax opinion) and
miscellaneous expenses not provided for in other lines.
(xiv) State that the contingency fund (if
any) is intended to provide for any unanticipated expenses or unanticipated
increases in the projected expenses. Distinguish between the contingency fund
and a reserve for capital expenditures.
(4) If shareholders must separately pay for
heating and hot water costs directly to the utility, such as energy for heat
pumps, baseboard, radiant or space heaters, individually fired boilers, or for
integrated cooling, projections for these individual costs shall be set forth
and explained in Schedule B-1 (next following). This schedule shall present in
chart format applicable individual expense categories for typical units of
various sizes and layouts, supported by detailed footnotes containing
information similar to corresponding footnotes required in this section for
Schedule B.
(h)
Changes in prices and units.
(1)
State that the cash purchase price to be paid by tenants will not increase
during any applicable exclusive period.
(2) The offering prices set forth in Schedule
A must be changed by a duly filed amendment to the plan when the change in
price is an across-the-board increase or decrease affecting one or more lines
of units or unit models, or is to be advertised, or is a price increase for an
individual purchaser. Unless it would constitute a prohibited discriminatory
inducement, the apartment corporation or sponsor may enter into an agreement
with an individual purchaser to sell one or more units at prices lower than
those set forth in this section without filing an amendment if the plan
discloses in this section that the prices are negotiable.
(3) State that no change will be made in the
size or number of units, the share allocations, the total number of shares or
in the size or quality of public areas, except by amendment to the
plan.
(4) State that the sponsor
must obtain a further opinion as to reasonable relationship prior to closing if
any change in price, share allocation or the total number of shares is made
prior to the closing.
(5) State
that unless an affected purchaser consents, no material change will be made in
unit size, layout, or share allocation if a subscription agreement has been
executed and delivered to the apartment corporation or sponsor for that unit
and the purchaser is not in default.
(6) State that no material change will be
made in the total number of shares or in the size or quality of public areas
unless subscribers not in default receive a right to rescind and a reasonable
period of time that is not less than 15 days after the date of presentation to
exercise the right. Sponsor must return any deposit or downpayment promptly to
subscribers who rescind.
(i)
Opinion of reasonable
relationship.
Unless the plan states that purchasers are not expected to
be entitled to deductions under Internal Revenue Code section 216, include an
opinion from a licensed real estate broker, or other expert appraiser, as to
whether the "reasonable relationship" test under Internal Revenue Code section
216 will be met.
(1) The opinion must
state what experience, if any, the broker or appraiser has had with offering
plans and with selling comparable cooperative or condominium units and other
experience or knowledge predicated as the basis of expertise.
(2) Disclose whether the broker or appraiser
is the selling agent or managing agent for the property. The broker or
appraiser may not have any other beneficial interest in the sponsor or in the
profitability of the conversion.
(3) The opinion must include consent to copy
the opinion in the plan.
(4) The
opinion must explain the basis for the allocation of shares in the particular
building.
(5) The opinion must be
signed by a duly authorized signatory or by the firm.
(j)
Accountant's certified statements
of operation.
Include certified statements of income and expenses, for
the two most recent fiscal years of operation, prepared by an independent
certified public accountant. No report need be filed for a fiscal year which
ends less than three months before the date the proposed offering plan is
submitted to the Department of Law. If the building has been in operation for
less than two years, include a statement for the period since the building
began operations. If, after the plan is filed but before it is declared
effective, a more recent fiscal year has ended and the sponsor has had three
additional months after the end of the more recent fiscal year to prepare a
certified statement, sponsor must amend the plan to include the certified
statement for the more recent fiscal year.
(1) The accountant's certification must:
(i) state that the examination was made in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and include such tests of
the accounting records and other accounting procedures as are generally
considered necessary in the circumstances;
(ii) state that, in the accountant's opinion,
the statement of income and expenses presents fairly the income and expenses of
the building for the periods specified in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a consistent basis; and
(iii) be signed by a duly authorized
signatory or by the firm.
(2) The statement of income and expenses
should conform as nearly as possible to the order of presentation and
categories presented in Schedule B.
(3) The following income or expense items,
and other such items that are not applicable to the operation of the building
as a cooperative, may be excluded: depreciation, vacancy advertising, credit
checking, interest income, rental commissions and painting of and repairs to
individual apartments.
(k)
Attorney's income tax
opinion.
Discuss in easily understandable language the specific
requirements of Internal Revenue Code section 216 for the apartment corporation
to qualify as a cooperative housing corporation, and for tenant-stockholders to
be entitled to deduct a proportionate share of real estate taxes and interest.
Discuss any issues in qualifying under section 216 presented by the particular
plan, including problems raised by the share allocations, existing or proposed
apartment uses, the legality of such uses under the certificate of occupancy,
and income from sources other than tenant-stockholders.
(1) Unless highlighted as a special risk,
counsel for sponsor, or for the apartment corporation or independent counsel,
must render in affirmative, unqualified language the opinion that, under
present law, regulations, rulings and decision law, and based on the terms of
the offering plan:
(i) the apartment
corporation will qualify at closing as a cooperative housing corporation under
Internal Revenue Code section 216; and
(ii)
tenant-stockholders as
defined in Internal Revenue Code section 216 will be entitled to deduct for
income tax purposes their proportionate share of the interest and real estate
taxes paid by the apartment corporation.
(2) Highlight as a special risk if there are
unusual features of the plan which may jeopardize the apartment corporation's
qualification or the deductibility of interest and taxes by tenant-
stockholders who itemize deductions in the first year of cooperative operation
of thereafter. Highlight as a special risk if a corporation, partnership,
trust, estate or other entity is not required to designate an individual to
purchase shares of the apartment corporation.
(3) Tax counsel's opinion may not contain a
general disclaimer of liability. It may, however, contain a disclaimer of
liability in the event that the critical facts represented by sponsor and
sponsor's experts were or prove incorrect or there are changes in the
applicable law and regulations, decisional law or Internal Revenue Service
rulings. It may state that it is an attorney's opinion, but not a guarantee,
that the apartment corporation will qualify as a cooperative housing
corporation or that deductions will be available to
tenant-stockholders.
(4) Suggested
language for the disclaimer of liability is set forth as follows: In our
opinion, the apartment corporation will qualify as a cooperative housing
corporation and tenant-stockholders will be entitled to income tax deductions.
However, this opinion is not a guarantee; it is based upon existing rules of
law applied to the facts and documents referred to above. No assurances can be
given that the tax laws upon which counsel base this opinion will not change.
In no event will the sponsor, the sponsor's counsel, the apartment corporation,
counsel to the apartment corporation, the selling agent or any other person be
liable if the apartment corporation ceases to meet the requirements of section
216 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or the New York State Tax Law, as amended, if there are changes in the
facts on which counsel relied in issuing this opinion, or if there are changes
in the applicable statutes, regulations, decisional law or Internal Revenue
Service rulings on which counsel relied.
(l)
Rights of eligible senior citizens
and eligible disabled persons.
If the offering plan is submitted to the Department of Law
on or after September 1, 2016 subject to G.B.L., section 352-e(2-a), 352-eee or
352-eeee, and the sponsor executed a contract of sale for the building or group
of buildings or acquired the building or group of buildings on or after
September 1, 2016, include the following information on the rights of eligible
senior citizens and eligible disabled persons.
(1) Explain that senior citizens and disabled
persons who meet the eligibility requirements may not be evicted by holders of
unsold shares or any subsequent purchaser at any time because the building is
converted to cooperative ownership or under owner-occupancy provisions of rent
codes.
(2) If G.B.L., section
352-eee is applicable, state:
(i) An eligible
senior citizen is a nonpurchasing tenant who is 62 years of age or older on the
date the plan is declared effective and the spouse of any such tenant on such
date.
(ii) G.B.L., section 352-eee
does not require that a tenant file an election form in order to qualify as an
eligible senior citizen. However, it is advised and requested that a tenant who
believes he or she is or will become an eligible senior citizen within 12
months from the date the plan is filed, complete the election form SH-5
promulgated by the Department of Law and included in the plan. This senior
citizen election form should be completed, signed, notarized and returned to
the sponsor within 60 days of presentation of the offering plan.
(3) If G.B.L., section 352-e(2-a)
or 352-eeee is applicable, explain that an eligible senior citizen is a
nonpurchasing tenant or the spouse of a nonpurchasing tenant who:
(i) is 62 years of age or older on the date
that the plan is filed with the Department of Law ("filing date");
and
(ii) has elected not to
purchase his or her apartment within 60 days from the presentation date by
completing the senior citizen election form in the plan, signing the form and
having the signature notarized, and personally delivering it to the named
sponsor or selling agent at a location specified in the plan or by mailing it,
by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the named sponsor
or selling agent at the location specified in the plan. In the event that the
plan becomes subject to G.B.L., section 352-e(2-a) after the plan was accepted
for filing, (a) the plan must be amended immediately after the
statute becomes applicable to such offering, and (b) such
election may be made within 60 days of presentation of such
amendment.
(4) Explain
that an eligible disabled person is a nonpurchasing tenant or spouse of a
nonpurchasing tenant who:
(i) has an
impairment which results from anatomical, physiological or psychological
conditions, other than addiction to alcohol, gambling, or any controlled
substance, which is demonstrable by medically acceptable clinical and
laboratory diagnostic techniques, and which is expected to be permanent, and
which prevents the disabled person from engaging in any substantial gainful
employment on the date the Department of Law accepted the plan for
filing;
(ii) has elected not to
purchase his or her apartment within 60 days from the presentation date by
completing the disabled person election form in the plan, signing the form and
having the signature notarized, and personally delivering it to the named
sponsor or selling agent at a location specified in the plan or by mailing it,
by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the named sponsor
or selling agent at the location specified in the plan. In the event that the
plan becomes subject to G.B.L., section 352-e(2-a) after the plan was accepted
for filing, (a) the plan must be amended immediately after the
statute becomes applicable to such offering, and (b) such
election may be made within 60 days of presentation of such
amendment.
(iii) If the disability
first occurs after acceptance of the plan for filing, then such election may be
made within 60 days following the onset of such disability unless during the
period subsequent to 60 days following the presentation of the plan for filing
but prior to such election, the offeror accepts a written agreement to purchase
the apartment from a bona fide purchaser.
(5) Describe the protections given to
eligible senior citizens and eligible disabled persons under G.B.L., section
352-e(2-a), 352-eee or 352-eeee, including the following:
(i) No eviction proceeding will be commenced
at any time against either eligible senior citizens or eligible disabled
persons, except that such proceedings may be commenced for nonpayment of rent,
illegal use or occupancy of the apartment, refusal of reasonable access to the
owner or a similar breach of obligations to the landlord.
(ii) Eligible senior citizens and eligible
disabled persons who reside in apartments subject to government regulation as
to rentals and continued occupancy shall continue to be subject
thereto.
(iii) The rentals of
eligible senior citizens and eligible disabled persons who reside in dwelling
units not subject to government regulation as to rentals and continued
occupancy, and eligible senior citizens and eligible disabled persons who
reside in dwelling units with respect to which government regulation as to
rentals and continued occupancy is eliminated or becomes inapplicable after the
plan has been accepted for filing by the Department of Law, shall not be
subject to unconscionable increases beyond ordinary rentals for comparable
apartments during the period of their occupancy. Complaints concerning such
increases may be referred to the New York State Department of Law, Real Estate
Finance Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005.
(iv) The rights granted under the plan and
rent regulatory laws to eligible senior citizens and eligible disabled persons
may not be abrogated or reduced, regardless of any expiration of or amendment
to G.B.L., section 352-e(2-a), 352-eee or 352-eeee.
(v) Each purchaser, including a holder of
unsold shares, of the shares allocated to an apartment occupied by an eligible
senior citizen or eligible disabled person, shall be bound by the provisions of
the G.B.L. and the terms of the plan. Each purchaser will be required to
represent in writing to the apartment corporation, at the time of acquisition,
that the purchase is subject to all the rights of the eligible senior citizen
or eligible disabled person occupying the apartment, and that the purchaser,
his successors and assigns shall continue to be bound as long as such occupancy
continues.
(6) Sponsor
may dispute the election by a tenant to be an eligible senior citizen or an
eligible disabled person by applying to the Department of Law for a
determination of the tenant's eligibility within 30 days of the receipt of the
election form pursuant to section
18.8 of this Part. The Department
of Law shall issue a determination of eligibility within 30 days
thereafter.
(7) In the absence of
fraud, the determination by the Department of Law is the sole method for
determining a dispute as to whether a tenant is an eligible senior citizen or
eligible disabled person. The determination by the Department of Law is
reviewable only through a proceeding under article 78 of the Civil Practice Law
and Rules, which must be commenced within 30 days after the determination
becomes final.
(8) State that an
election not to purchase shall not preclude an electing senior citizen or
disabled person from subsequently purchasing his or her apartment on the terms
and conditions set forth in section
18.8 of this Part.
(m)
Rights of
existing tenants.
(1)
(i) Describe the rights of tenants as
established in the General Business Law, the New York City Rent Stabilization
Law, the New York City and State Rent Control Laws, the Emergency Tenant
Protection Act, article 7-C of the Multiple Dwelling Law, or as granted by the
sponsor. Include in the offering plan only the descriptions that are applicable
to the particular tenants who reside in the building. Reproduce in Part II of
the plan only those laws or regulations that are applicable to the particular
tenants who reside in the building.
(ii) From time to time the Department of Law
may promulgate model forms for the description of tenants' rights under various
laws. The transmittal letter from the attorney who prepared the plan must note
if the applicable model forms are used.
(iii) Include discussions of:
(a) The exclusive period. State:
(1) All bona fide tenants in occupancy on the
date the plan is accepted for filing will have the exclusive right to subscribe
to purchase the shares allocated to their dwelling units for 90 days after the
plan is presented.
(2) Any bona
fide tenant with the right to renew a lease on the date the plan is accepted
for filing has the right to subscribe as a tenant during the exclusive
period.
(3) Any bona fide tenant
who has the right to continued occupancy on the date the plan is accepted for
filing has the right to subscribe as a tenant during the exclusive
period.
(4) For the purpose of
determining who has the right to subscribe during the exclusive period, a bona
fide tenant of record with an unexpired lease on the date the plan is accepted
for filing shall be presumed to be a tenant in occupancy even though the tenant
has sublet his or her dwelling unit or the dwelling unit is not the tenant's
primary residence.
(5) A bona fide
sublessee in occupancy on the date the plan is accepted for filing has the
right to subscribe during the exclusive period if he or she:
(i) sublets from a non-bona fide tenant,
or
(ii) has obtained written
permission to purchase shares allocated to this or her dwelling unit from a
bona fide tenant of record. Nothing herein shall be construed to deprive an
owner of any legal remedy for illegal occupancy.
(6) A residential occupant entitled to
protection under article 7-C of the Multiple Dwelling Law has the right to
subscribe during the exclusive period.
(7) Whether and under what conditions a
corporation, partnership, trust, estate or other entity is required to
designate an individual to purchase the shares allocated to its dwelling unit
in order to exercise its right to subscribe.
(b) Any protected period of occupancy before
a tenant may be evicted.
(c) Any
period of time during which a tenant has the right to purchase on the terms
obtained by an outside purchaser.
(d) Any provisions for notice to the tenants
or postings of the percentage of tenants who have purchased units, or
percentage of units for which sponsor has accepted subscription
agreements.
(e) Any protection
against rent increases for nonpurchasing tenants. State that complaints of
unconscionable rent increases proscribed by law may be referred to the New York
State Department of Law, Real Estate Finance Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New
York, NY 10005.
(f) The provision
to nonpurchasing tenants of all services and facilities required by law on a
nondiscriminatory basis. Refer to the services described in the "Obligations of
Holders of Shares of Dwelling Units Occupied by Non-Purchasing Tenants" section
of the plan.
(g) Any requirement
that tenants or their representatives be allowed to physically inspect the
building or buildings.
(h) Any
protection against interruption or discontinuance of services or harassment of
tenants.
(i) The extent to which
applicable law (such as G.B.L., section 352-e(2-a), 352-eee or 352-eeee)
protects nonpurchasing tenants against termination or abridgement of rights
acknowledged or granted in the plan in the event of expiration of or amendment
to such law.
(2) State that the bylaws provide that
nonpurchasing tenants will be notified of changes in ownership of shares for
dwelling units they occupy, and describe the timing and manner of such
notification.
(3) State whether
sponsor will permit the assignment or transfer of subscription agreements by
tenants in occupancy, and refer to the Assignment of Subscription Agreements
section of the plan; see subdivision (q) of this section.
(4) State that if, prior to the expiration of
any exclusive period which begins prior to the closing, the sponsor amends the
terms and conditions of the offering to be more favorable to tenant purchasers,
a tenant who was in occupancy on the presentation date and who executed and
submitted a subscription agreement before the sponsor amended the terms shall
benefit from the more favorable terms and conditions.
(5) State whether tenants in occupancy may
purchase a vacant apartment or any other apartment not occupied by the tenant,
the price of the other apartment, the procedure to purchase, and the procedure
that will be followed if more than one tenant seeks the same
apartment.
(n)
Obligations of holders of shares of dwelling units occupied by
nonpurchasing tenants.
The discussion of the obligations of holders of shares of
dwelling units occupied by nonpurchasing tenants shall include:
(1) the rights of existing tenants to
continued occupancy; and
(2) the
specific laws and rent regulations, such as the New York City Rent
Stabilization Law and Code, New York City Rent Control Law, the Emergency
Tenant Protection Act, the Multiple Dwelling Law, the Multiple Residence Law,
that will apply to the tenancy of the dwelling unit. Discussions of these
obligations shall include:
(i) Any obligation
to join any industry organization, as required by law, and whether the dwelling
unit may be subject to rent control or may become so if membership in the Rent
Stabilization Association lapses or purchaser is expelled. State whether the
dwelling unit is subject to the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, even if the
unit is vacated.
(ii) The
obligation to pay the amount due as maintenance charges for the apartment even
if the amount is more than the rent received from the nonpurchasing
tenant.
(iii) The obligation to
provide to the nonpurchasing tenant all services required by law to the extent
applicable, including the obligation to make all repairs to the apartment which
are not the responsibility of the apartment corporation under the proprietary
lease. These services may include, but are not limited to, painting, interior
decoration, repairs to interior plumbing and wiring, and replacement of
fixtures and of appliances, doors, hardware and windows.
(iv) All litigation costs, fees, and any dues
related to the tenancy, are the sole responsibility of the purchaser.
(v) The obligation to give renewal leases and
riders as required by law. The tenant may only be evicted on grounds permitted
by law.
(vi) Note that Rent
Stabilization and Emergency Tenant Protection Act leases may be inspected by
potential purchasers, and should be inspected to ascertain the purchaser's
obligations.
(3)
Subscription agreements or other agreements to purchase shares of dwelling
units occupied by nonpurchasing tenants and the proprietary leases for said
units shall include an agreement by the subscriber or purchaser to irrevocably
appoint the apartment corporation's managing agent and its successors (or the
apartment corporation if no managing agent is employed by the apartment
corporation) as his or her agent to provide to the nonpurchasing tenant(s) all
services and facilities required by law.
(4) Except for the sponsor and holders of
unsold shares, subscription agreements or other agreements to purchase shares
of dwelling units occupied by nonpurchasing tenants and the proprietary leases
for said units shall include an agreement by the subscriber or purchaser to
deposit with the managing agent (or apartment corporation if no managing agent
is to be employed) at the closing an amount not less than two months'
maintenance charges to be used as working capital to furnish services required
under the nonpurchasing tenant's lease and under the laws and regulations
specified in paragraph (2) of this subdivision. Upon notice by the managing
agent (or apartment corporation) that the deposit has been diminished, the fund
shall be replenished by the shareholder within a specified period of time. The
failure of the shareholder to replenish the fund in a timely fashion shall
result in the apartment corporation having a lien against the shares
appurtenant to the dwelling unit. Interest, if any, earned on the fund shall be
the property of the shareholder.
(5) The responsibility imposed on the holders
of shares of dwelling units occupied by nonpurchasing tenants by General
Obligations Law section 7-103 with respect to security deposit funds.
(o)
Interim leases.
(1) State whether the owner of the building
may rent any unit that is vacant before the closing.
(2) If applicable, state whether a tenant is
subject to the Rent Stabilization Law or Emergency Tenant Protection Act. Also
state that the rent will not exceed the maximum rental that may be legally
collectable, if any.
(3) Describe
the status of the tenant under any applicable rent regulatory law in the event
that the plan is abandoned.
(4)
State whether an uncured default under the subscription agreement is a default
under the lease or if an uncured default under the lease is a default under the
subscription agreement. If an uncured default under the lease can result in a
default under the subscription agreement, state that before the sponsor may
utilize the default under the lease to declare a default under the subscription
agreement, either:
(i) the sponsor must
obtain an order of eviction or other judgment or order from a court or agency
of competent jurisdiction against the lessee, or
(ii) the lessee must have vacated the
unit.
(5) State the
length of time the interim lessee has to vacate the apartment after a default
under the subscription agreement or rescission of the subscription agreement by
the lessee.
(p)
Procedure to purchase.
Describe the essential terms of the subscription (purchase)
agreement which must comply with this Part. State the purchase procedure,
including to whom and when the subscription agreement must be returned and the
deposit payment made.
(1) State the
amount or the percentage of the deposit, which may not be less than the lower
of (i) $1,000 per block of shares, or (ii) 10 percent of the cash
amount.
(2) Escrow, trust fund.
The following requirements apply to all offerings and shall
be fully disclosed in all offering plans subject to this Part:
(i) Statutory requirement. The sponsor shall
comply with the escrow and trust fund requirements of GBL sections 352-e(2-b)
and 352-h and these regulations, and all funds paid by purchasers shall be
handled in accordance with these statutes and regulations.
(ii) The mandatory escrow agreement. All
deposits, down payments or advances made by subscribers or purchasers prior to
closing of each individual transaction shall be held pursuant to a written
agreement entered into between the sponsor, the purchaser, and the escrow
agent. Said provisions may be included in a separate escrow agreement or in the
subscription or purchase agreement, and are referred to in this paragraph as
the "escrow agreement." The plan must set forth the material terms of the
escrow agreement. The sponsor shall specify the exhibit in part II of the plan
that contains thee escrow agreement. If a separate escrow agreement is used, a
copy of the full agreement must be included as a separate exhibit to the plan
in part II. Disclose, without limitation, any indemnity by the sponsor in favor
of the escrow agent, provision for discharge of the escrow agent's obligations
by the sponsor upon payment of the deposit and interest in accordance with
these regulations, any right of the escrow agent to represent the sponsor in
any lawsuit, any compensation by the sponsor to the depository bank(s), any
provision for payments by the sponsor under an indemnity in favor of the escrow
agent and whether the sponsor will compensate the escrow agent for acting as
such. The plan and escrow agreement must include language conforming to
subparagraphs (vi) - (viii) of this paragraph. However, the failure to include
such language in the plan or escrow agreement shall not excuse the sponsor and
the escrow agent from compliance with said subparagraphs.
(iii) Payments. All funds received from
purchasers or subscribers whether in the form of checks, drafts, money orders,
wire transfers, or other instruments which identify the payor, shall be made
payable to or endorsed by the subscriber or purchaser to the order of the
attorney or law firm as escrow agent.
(iv) The escrow agent. The escrow agent must
be an attorney or a firm of attorneys admitted to practice in the State of New
York or an attorney admitted in a foreign jurisdiction who submits to the
jurisdiction of the State of New York for any cause of action arising out of
the escrow provisions set forth in the escrow agreement. The signatories on any
escrow account must be attorneys admitted in the State of New York or admitted
in a foreign jurisdiction who submit to the jurisdiction of the State of New
York for any cause of action arising out of the escrow provisions set forth in
the escrow agreement. Neither the escrow agent nor any authorized signatory on
any account may be the sponsor, the selling agent, the managing agent, or a
principal thereof. However, a law firm that has a member who is a principal may
be the escrow agent provided that members of the firm who are signatories on
any account are not themselves principals. Only an attorney or member of a firm
acting as escrow agent shall be a signatory on any account and only such
attorney shall be authorized to release funds. The name, address and telephone
number of the escrow agent and of each attorney who is a signatory must be
stated in the plan.
(v) The
account(s). All deposits, down payments, or advances made by subscribers prior
to closing of each individual transaction, whether received before or after the
date of consummation of the plan, must be placed within five businesses days
after the escrow agreement is signed by all necessary parties in an attorney's
segregated special escrow account or accounts in a bank or banks doing business
in the State of New York which account(s) is/are insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). Sponsor shall state the applicable FDIC
insurance limits, whether and to what extent the deposits, down payments, or
advances are insured, and whether sponsor may utilize more than one segregated
special escrow account for each deposit, down payment, or advance. Include as a
special risk that deposits in excess of said limits will not be federally
insured. An attorney shall open and maintain any such account in his or her own
name, or in the name of a firm of attorneys of which he or she is a member, or
in the name of the attorney or firm of attorneys by whom he or she is employed,
separate from such attorney's personal accounts or from any accounts in which
assets belonging to the firm are deposited, and separate from any accounts
maintained in the capacity of executor, guardian, trustee or receiver. A master
escrow account with a sub- account for each purchaser is acceptable. The name
of any account, the bank, and the bank address must be stated in the plan. The
word "escrow" must be included as part of the name of any account. Funds from
any account may be released only by signature of the attorney who is named as
Escrow Agent. Neither the sponsor nor any principal of the sponsor may be a
signatory on any account. Funds must be placed in an interest-bearing account
or accounts, with all interest credited to the purchaser, unless either the
purchaser defaults and the plan is consummated, or the sponsor elects to place
the funds in a separate Interest-On-Lawyer's- Account ("IOLA") for each
offering plan pursuant to Judiciary Law section 497. T he plan shall indicate
whether the interest rate to be earned will be the prevailing rate for such
accounts. State the current prevailing rate and when interest will begin to
accrue. No fees of any kind may be deducted from any account principal or any
interest earned thereon. Sponsor shall bear any administrative cost for
maintenance of any account.
(vi)
Notification to purchaser. Within 10 business days after the escrow agreement
is signed by all necessary parties, the escrow agent shall notify the purchaser
that such funds have been deposited in the bank(s) indicated in the plan, and
provide any account number, and the initial interest rate. If the purchaser
does not receive notice of such deposit within 15 business days after tender of
the deposit, he or she may cancel the purchase and rescind within 90 days after
tender of the deposit complaints concerning the failure to honor such
cancellation requests may be referred to the New York State Department of Law,
28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005. Rescission may not be afforded where
proof satisfactory to the Attorney General is submitted establishing that the
escrowed funds were timely deposited in accordance with these regulations and
requisite notice was timely mailed to the subscriber or purchaser.
(vii) Escrow revisions. Before funds are
transferred to any new escrow account, or if the escrow agent is replaced, the
plan must be amended to provide the same full disclosure with respect to any
new account, the escrow agent and the escrow agreement as was originally
provided. A bond, letter of credit or other security may not be substituted for
any escrow account, unless a special exemption under exceptional circumstances
is first requested by the sponsor and is granted by the Attorney General,
following the procedures of section
21.3(l)(4) of
this Title. In such event, and only after the Department of Law grants such
exemption in writing, the provisions of section
21.3(l)(5), (6) and
(7) of this Title are applicable.
(viii) Release of funds. The escrow agreement
and the plan must set forth the requirements and procedures for the release of
the escrowed funds. These shall include:
(a)
Under no circumstances shall sponsor seek release of the escrowed funds of a
defaulting purchaser until after consummation of the plan. Consummation of the
plan does not relieve the sponsor of its obligations pursuant to GBL section
352-h.
(b) The escrow agent shall
release the funds in escrow if so directed:
(1) pursuant to terms and conditions set
forth in the escrow agreement upon closing of the individual transaction;
or
(2) in a subsequent writing
signed by both sponsor and purchaser; or
(3) by a final, non-appealable order or
judgment of a court; or
(4) by a
final, non-reviewable determination of the Attorney General pursuant to
subparagraph (ix) of this paragraph, so long as the subscription or purchase
agreement provides for dispute resolution by the Attorney General and was
signed on or before March 1, 2013.
(c) If the escrowed funds are not released
pursuant to clause (b) of this subparagraph, and the escrow
agent receives a re-quest by either party to release the funds, the escrow
agent must give both parties prior written notice of not fewer than 30 days
before releasing said funds. If the escrow agent has not received notice of
objection to the release of the funds at the expiration of the 30 day period,
the funds shall be released and the escrow agent shall provide further written
notice to both parties informing them of such release. If the escrow agent
receives a written notice from either party objecting to the release of the
escrowed funds within said 30-day period, the escrow agent shall continue to
hold said funds until otherwise directed pursuant to clause
(b) of this subparagraph. However, the escrow agent shall also
have the right at any time to deposit the funds contained in the escrow account
with the clerk of a court in the county in which the interest offered pursuant
to the plan is located and shall give written notice to both parties of such
deposit.
(d) The sponsor shall not
object to the release of the escrowed funds to:
(1) a purchaser who timely rescinds in
accordance with an offer of rescission contained in the plan or an amendment to
the plan; or
(2) all purchasers
after an amendment abandoning the plan is accepted for filing by the Department
of Law.
(ix)
Disputes.
(a) In the event of a dispute
arising in connection with a subscription or purchase agreement providing for
dispute resolution by the Attorney General that was signed on or before March
1, 2013, the sponsor shall apply and the purchaser or the escrow agent holding
the down payments in escrow may apply to the Attorney General for a
determination on the disposition of the deposit and any interest earned
thereon. Forms for this purpose will be available from the Department of Law.
The party making such application shall contemporaneously send to all other
parties a copy of such application.
(b) Pending the determination of the Attorney
General to grant or deny the application, the sponsor, the purchaser and the
escrow agent shall abide by any interim directive issued by the Attorney
General.
(c) If the application
permitting release of funds is granted, the deposit and any interest earned
thereon shall be disposed of in accordance with a final, non-reviewable
determination of the Attorney General.
(d) The Attorney General shall act upon the
application within 30 days after its submission to the Department of Law, by
either making a determination or notifying the parties that an extension of
time in which to do so is necessary for stated reasons.
(e) If the application seeking release of
funds is denied, the escrow agent shall continue to hold the deposit and any
interest earned thereon until:
(1) both the
sponsor and purchaser direct payment to a specified party in accordance with a
written direction signed by both the sponsor and purchaser; or
(2) a final, non-appeable order judgment of a
court is served on the escrow agent; or
(3) the escrow agent deposits the disputed
amount into court.
(x) Exhibits to plan. Copies of the forms
provided by the bank for opening the escrow account and the form of escrow
agreement, if separate from the subscription or purchase agreement, must be
included as Exhibit B-19 of the submission.
(xi) Records on file. The escrow agent shall
maintain all records concerning any escrow account for seven years after
release of the funds. Upon the dissolution of any law firm which was the escrow
agent, the former partners or members of the firm shall make appropriate
arrangements for the maintenance of these records by one of them or by the
successor firm and shall notify the Department of Law of such
transfer.
(xii) Review and audit.
The Department of Law may perform random reviews and audits of any records
involving escrow accounts to determine compliance with statute and
regulation.
(xiii) Waiver void. Any
provision of any contract or agreement, whether oral or in writing, by which a
purchaser purports to waive or indemnify any obligation of the escrow agent
holding trust funds is absolutely void. The provisions of this section of the
regulations shall prevail over any conflicting or inconsistent provision in the
plan or in the escrow agreement or subscription or purchase
agreement.
(xiv) Trust obligation
of sponsor. Nothing herein contained shall diminish or impair the sponsor's
statutory obligation to each purchaser or subscriber pursuant to GBL section
352-h to hold in trust all deposits, advances or payments made in connection
with the offer until consummation of the transaction with such purchaser or
subscriber. Consummation of the plan does not relieve sponsor of its
obligations pursuant to GBL section 352-h. Funds from any escrow account remain
the property of the purchaser until employed in connection with the
consummation of the transaction. Such funds shall not be part of the estate of
the sponsor or the escrow agent upon any bankruptcy, incapacity or
death.
(xv) Transition. All funds
required to be held pursuant to GBL sections 352-e(2-b) and 352-h on the
effective date of this section shall be transferred into escrow accounts in
compliance with this regulation within 60 days thereafter.
(3) Highlight as a special risk any provision
allowing sums in excess of 10 percent of the cash purchase price to be retained
as liquidated damages, other than the actual cost incurred for any special work
ordered by the subscriber. Highlight as a special risk if sponsor may seek
specific performance of the purchase agreement.
(4) State that the balance of the purchase
price is to be paid after written demand is made and that the purchasers will
have not less than 15 days to make the payment after receipt of the demand
notice. If payment is due in advance of the closing, state the maximum number
of days between the scheduled closing date and the date payment is
due.
(5) Any "time is of the
essence" provision concerning subscriber's obligations must be explained in
easily understandable terms and must be highlighted as a special
risk.
(6) Purchasers must be given
written notice of the closing date at least 30 days in advance of the closing
of title on the building to the apartment corporation.
(7) Sponsor or the apartment corporation must
make a written demand for payment 30 days before a forfeiture of the
subscription agreement shall be declared.
(8) State when the subscriber (purchaser) is
required to sign a proprietary lease, the number of days within which the lease
must be returned to the selling agent or sponsor, and the consequences if the
lease is not returned.
(9) The plan
shall state that:
(i) Nontenant subscribers or
purchasers are afforded either:
(a) not less
than seven days after delivering an executed subscription agreement together
with the required deposit to rescind the subscription agreement and have the
full deposit refunded promptly. The subscriber must either personally deliver a
written notice of rescission to the sponsor or selling agent within the
seven-day period or mail the notice of rescission to the sponsor or selling
agent and have the mailing postmarked within the seven-day period; or
(b) not less than three business days to
review the offering plan and all filed amendments prior to executing a
subscription agreement.
(ii) Tenants are afforded not less than three
business days to review the offering plan and all filed amendments prior to
executing a subscription agreement.
(10) A complete copy of the subscription
agreement must be inserted in the plan.
(11) Highlight as a special risk if the
subscriber's obligation to purchase is not contingent on obtaining financing.
If the subscriber's obligations are contingent upon obtaining a commitment for
financing or actually obtaining financing, the details must be fully disclosed
and explained. State the time within which the subscriber has to notify sponsor
of inability to obtain financing. Include the subscriber's time to obtain
financing or a commitment and the risk, if any, that the commitment may expire
or that the terms of the commitment may change prior to actual closing. If
subscriber's obligations are contingent on obtaining a financing commitment and
the financing commitment lapses or expires prior to closing and the subscriber
has made a good faith effort to extend the commitment, sponsor must grant to
such subscriber a right of rescission and a reasonable period of time to
exercise the right.
(12) The plan
and subscription agreement must provide that any conflict between the plan and
the subscription agreement will be resolved according to the terms of the
plan.
(13) State that within a
specified number of days after a subscriber delivers an executed subscription
agreement, together with the required deposit, the apartment corporation or
sponsor must either accept the subscription agreement and return a fully
executed counterpart to the subscriber or reject the subscription agreement and
refund the full deposit previously tendered. Discuss the outcome for the
subscriber if the apartment corporation or sponsor takes no action within the
time period specified in the plan.
(14) The subscription agreement and plan may
not contain, or be modified to contain, a provision waiving purchaser's rights
or abrogating sponsor's obligations under article 23-A of the G.B.L. The
subscription agreement to be used by tenant purchasers who subscribe during the
exclusive period may not be modified except by a duly filed amendment to the
plan.
(q)
Assignment of subscription agreements.
State whether sponsor will permit the assignment or
transfer of subscription agreements by tenants prior to the declaration of
effectiveness. If they will be permitted:
(1) State the conditions, if any, upon which
sponsor will grant permission to assign or transfer prior to the declaration of
effectiveness. Such conditions shall be specific and reasonable and applied to
an objective and nondiscriminary basis.
(2) In order for assigned or transferred
subscriptions to be counted towards effectiveness:
(i) a subscription agreement shall be signed
by the tenant and the full downpayment paid by the tenant to the sponsor;
and
(ii) the assignee shall provide
a notarized affidavit stating that the assignee was not procured by the sponsor
or the selling agent, and that the assignee intends that he or she or a
specified member of his or her immediate family personally occupy the dwelling
unit. The form of assignee affidavit shall appear in Part II of the
plan.
(r)
Effective date.
The plan must explain that the offer to sell is contingent
upon the plan being declared effective and upon compliance with the relevant
conditions and time periods described in the offering plan. Sponsor must
conform with the following provisions in determining whether, when and how the
plan will be declared effective.
(1)
The plan may be declared effective by (i) an amendment to the plan, or (ii) by
serving notice on each tenant and nontenant purchaser (in the manner required
by section
18.1[d] of this
Part) that the plan is declared effective and submitting an amendment to the
Department of Law within five days confirming that the plan was declared
effective on a specified date. The amendment must conform to section
18.5(e) of this
Part. State that no closing shall be held until this amendment is accepted for
filing by the Department of Law.
(2) If the plan is presented pursuant to
G.B.L. section 352-eee or section 352-eeee, state the minimum percentage of
sales to tenants or other purchasers that are needed before the plan may be
declared effective. In all plans, state that when calculating that percentage,
no more than one subscription agreement by the tenant or tenants of a
particular dwelling unit shall be counted. Also state that only one
subscription agreement from any tenant who leases or occupies more than one
dwelling unit shall be counted towards effectiveness.
(3) If the plan is not presented pursuant to
G.B.L. section 352-eee or section 352-eeee, state that the plan may not be
declared effective unless tenants in occupancy or bona fide purchasers who
represent in their subscription agreements that they or a specified member of
their immediate family intend to occupy the unit when it becomes vacant have
signed subscription agreements for at least 15 percent of the units offered
under the plan.
(4) State that the
plan will not be declared effective based on subscription agreements:
(i) signed by subscribers who have been
granted a right of rescission that has not yet expired or been
waived;
(ii) assigned or
transferred without compliance with subdivision (q) of this section;
(iii) if the subscriber was not afforded the
protections required by paragraph (p)(9) of this section; or
(iv) with any subscriber who is the sponsor
or the selling agent, or is a principal of the sponsor or the selling agent, or
is related to the sponsor or the selling agent or to any principal of the
sponsor or the selling agent by blood, marriage or adoption or as a business
associate, an employee, a shareholder or a limited partner; except that such a
subscriber other than the sponsor or a principal of the sponsor may be included
to the extent permissible under section
18.5(e)(6)(vi)
(c) or section
18.5(e)(6)(vii) (
b)(2) of this Part, as applicable.
(5) The plan must be declared
effective when subscription agreements have been accepted by sponor for 80
percent or more of the units offered under the plan.
(6) If the plan is submitted pursuant to
G.B.L. section 352-eeee:
(i) For a noneviction
plan, state that the plan may not be declared effective until written purchase
agreements have been executed and delivered for at least 15 percent of all
dwelling units in the building or group of buildings or development subscribed
for by bona fide tenants in occupancy, or bona fide purchasers who represent
that they intend that they or a specified member of their immediate family
occupy the dwelling unit when it becomes vacant. As to tenants who were in
occupancy on the date the plan was accepted for filing, the subscription
agreement shall be executed and delivered pursuant to an offering made without
discriminatory repurchase agreements or other discriminatory
inducements.
(ii) For an eviction
plan, state that the plan may not be declared effective unless at least 51
percent of the bona fide tenants in occupancy of all dwelling units in the
building or group of buildings on the date the offering statement or prospectus
was accepted for filing shall have executed and delivered written agreements to
purchase under the plan pursuant to an offering made in good faith without
fraud and with no discriminatory inducements.
(a) In establishing a base for computing the
required 51 percent, all dwelling units in the building or group of buildings
shall be included, except:
(1) those that were
both vacant and not under lease on the date the offering plan or prospectus was
accepted for filing by the Department of Law ("the filing date"); and
(2) dwelling units of eligible senior
citizens and eligible disabled persons who have not subsequently purchased,
unless the sponsor has disputed such election in which case the affected
dwelling unit will remain in the base until such time as a final determination
is made that the election is sustained.
(b) In computing the 51 percent requirement,
the following subscriptions may be included:
(1) subscriptions by bona fide tenants in
occupancy on the filing date of shares allocated to his or her dwelling
unit;
(2) subscriptions by bona
fide tenants in occupancy on the filing date of shares allocated to dwelling
units which are both vacant and not under lease;
(3) subscriptions by bona fide tenants in
occupancy on the filing date of shares allocated to a dwelling unit of another
bona fide tenant if the other tenant has subscribed to purchase the shares
allocated to the first tenant's dwelling unit or a vacant dwelling
unit;
(4) subscriptions by the bona
fide tenant of record on the filing date or by a subtenant who has the right to
purchase; and
(5) subscriptions for
shares allocated to dwelling units leased to a corporation, partnership, trust,
estate or other entity subscribed to by an individual approved by said
corporation, partnership, trust, estate or other entity.
(iii) State that the plan will be
deemed abandoned, void and of no effect if its does not become effective within
15 months from the date the offering plan or prospectus was accepted for
filing; and, in the event of such abandonment, no new plan for conversion of
such building or group of buildings or development shall be submitted to the
Department of Law for at least 12 months after such abandonment. Such 15-month
limit shall not be extended although a plan is amended from an eviction plan to
a noneviction plan.
(7)
If the plan is submitted pursuant to G.B.L. section 352-eee:
(i) For a noneviction plan, state that the
plan may not be declared effective unless at least 15 percent of those bona
fide tenants in occupancy of all dwelling units in the building or group of
buildings or development on the date the plan is declared effective shall have
executed and delivered written agreements to purchase under the plan. As to
tenants who were in occupancy on the date a letter was issued by the Attorney
General accepting the plan for filing, the subscription agreement shall be
executed and delivered pursuant to an offering made in good faith without fraud
and discriminatory repurchase agreements or other discriminatory inducements.
In establishing a base for computing the required percentage necessary for
effectiveness, all dwelling units in the building, group of buildings or
development shall be included in the base.
(ii) For an eviction plan, state that the
plan may not be declared effective unless written agreements to purchase under
the plan pursuant to an offering made in good faith without fraud and with no
discriminatory repurchase agreements or other discriminatory inducements shall
have been executed and delivered by:
(a) at
least 51 percent of the bona fide tenants in occupancy of all dwelling units in
the building or group of buildings or development on the date the plan was
accepted for filing by the Attorney General, excluding, for the purposes of
determining the number of bona fide tenants in occupancy on such date,
nonpurchasing eligible senior citizens who have returned completed election
forms and who are 62 years old prior to the plan being declared effective,
nonpurchasing and nonelecting eligible senior citizens for whom the sponsor has
submitted evidence of eligibility satisfactory to the Department of Law, and
nonpurchasing eligible disabled persons; and
(b) at least 35 percent of the bona fide
tenants in occupancy of all dwelling units in the building or group of
buildings or development on the date the offering statement or prospectus was
accepted for filing by the Attorney General, including, for the purposes of
determining the number of bona fide tenants in occupancy on such date, eligible
senior citizens and eligible disabled persons.
(1) In establishing a base for computing the
required percentages necessary for effectiveness, all dwelling units in the
building or group of buildings shall be included, except:
(i) for purposes of both the 51-percent
calculation and the 35-percent calculation, those that were both vacant and not
under lease on the date the offering plan or prospectus was accepted for filing
by the Department of Law ("the filing date"); and
(ii) for purposes of the 51-percent
calculation, dwelling units of nonpurchasing eligible senior citizens who have
returned completed election forms prior to the plan being declared effective,
nonpurchasing eligible senior citizens for whom the sponsor has submitted
evidence of eligibility satisfactory to the Department of Law, and the eligible
disabled persons who have not subsequently purchased, unless the sponsor has
disputed such election in which case the affected dwelling unit will remain in
the base until such time as a final determination is made that the election is
sustained.
(2) In
computing the percentage necessary for effectiveness, the following
subscriptions may be included:
(i)
subscriptions, by bona fide tenants in occupancy on the filing date, of shares
allocated to his or her dwelling unit;
(ii) subscriptions, by bona fide tenants in
occupancy on the filing date, of shares allocated to dwelling units which are
both vacant and not under lease;
(iii) subscriptions, by bona fide tenants in
occupancy on the filing date, of shares allocated to a dwelling unit of another
bona fide tenant if the other tenant has subscribed to purchase the shares
allocated to the first tenant's dwelling unit or a vacant dwelling
unit;
(iv) subscriptions by the
bona fide tenant of record on the filing date or by a subtenant who has the
right to purchase; and
(v)
subscriptions for shares allocated to dwelling units leased to a corporation,
partnership, trust, estate or other entity subscribed to by an individual
approved by said corporation, partnership, trust, estate or other
entity.
(iii) State that the plan will be deemed
abandoned if it does not become effective within 12 months from the filing
date. In the event of abandonment, no new plan for the conversion of the
building may be submitted to the Department of Law for at least 15 months after
the abandonment.
(8) An
eviction plan may become a noneviction plan provided that sponsor first amends
the plan prior to declaring it effective to notify the tenants of the change or
impending change. The amendment must grant subscribers a right of rescission
and a 30-day period after presentation of such duly filed amendment to exercise
the right. Sponsor must return any deposit or downpayment promptly to a
purchaser who rescinds. Sponsor must honor any non-rescinded subscription
agreements. Thereafter, sponsor may declare the plan effective as a noneviction
plan when sponsor accepts subscription agreements as required by law or by
these regulations for a minimum percentage of tenants or units. If the
amendment provides that the plan will become a noneviction plan immediately
following the expiration of a time period, sponsor shall notify the tenants of
the outcome by a notice posted and filed as provided under section
18.1(p) of this
Part.
(9) A noneviction plan may
not be amended at any time to provide that it shall be an eviction
plan.
(10) If the plan may be
abandoned by sponsor, at its option, before it is declared effective, the plan
must state that within a specified number of days after abandonment, all monies
paid by subscribers shall be refunded to them in full, with interest earned if
the plan provides for interest payable to the subscriber. Sponsor shall
promptly file a notice of abandonment on form RS-3 as required by section
18.1(o) of this
Part.
(11) Sponsor may not abandon
the plan after the effectiveness amendment is filed for any reason other than:
(i) a defect in title which cannot be cured
without litigation or cannot be cured for less than a stated amount;
(ii) work orders of a mortgagee or violations
that cannot be cured for less than a stated amount;
(iii) substantial damage or destruction of
the building by fire or other casualty which cannot be cured for less than a
stated amount; or
(iv) the taking
of any material portion of the property by condemnation or eminent domain. This
section must provide that any stated amount (of money) relied upon as basis for
abandonment after effectiveness must exclude any such title defects,
violations, work orders, or determinations of any authority or regulatory
association which exist on the date of presentation of the plan and either are
known to the sponsor or are a matter of public record.
(12) If required by law, state the time
within which the plan must be declared effective and, if the plan is not
declared effective within that time, or if sponsor has not received the minimum
requisite number of subscription agreements within that time, state the time
before another plan may be presented.
(13) State, where applicable, that on the
closing date, title to the property will be conveyed to the apartment
corporation. Certificates for the shares of the apartment corporation and the
accompanying proprietary leases will be delivered promptly thereafter to each
purchaser who has paid the cash purchase price and has complied with all of the
purchaser's obligations under the subscription agreement.
(14) State that within 10 days after a first
annual shareholders' meeting is held, a copy of the closing statement together
with copies of supporting documents shall be delivered to the Department of Law
and also served upon one member of the board of directors who is a resident
shareholder and not related to the sponsor or a holder of unsold shares. The
closing statement shall include all documents executed to effect the transfer
of title to the cooperative corporation including but not limited to a summary
of the transaction, financing statements, transfer and gains tax returns if
any, adjustments, title report, mortgages, commercial leases, master leases,
management agreements, and all agreements binding on the cooperative
corporation after closing.
(s)
Terms of mortgages.
Disclose the terms of each mortgage that will encumber the
property after the closing date. Include the following information:
(1) Name and address of the current holder of
the mortgage.
(2) Amount and term.
State the date of the mortgage, estimated balance at
anticipated date of closing, maturity date, total scheduled unpaid balance at
maturity and amount per share. If any mortgage has been extended, consolidated
or otherwise modified, explain the present terms of the mortgage as modified.
If the mortgage is not self-liquidating over the term, project the amount of
the balance or "balloon" due on maturity, and explain the risk that refinancing
may not be available on the same or better terms. Highlight as a special risk
if the term for a mortgage that is not self-liquidating is for less than five
years from the anticipated date of closing, unless the estimated balance due at
the date of closing is less than 10 percent of the minimum cash amount of the
offering. In view of the potential risks to the apartment corporation in some
short-term mortgages, the attorney who prepared the plan must note any
short-term mortgage in the transmittal letter to the Department of Law required
by section
18.2(c)(1) of
this Part.
(3) Interest
rate.
State the annual interest rate(s) over the term of the
loan. State the initial interest rate, or (if not a fixed rate) explain how it
will be established. If the loan has a variable or adjustable rate, explain the
method of calculating adjustments, any limits on increases or decreases, when
adjustments may be made, and the impact that adjustments will have on payments
and the principal balance. Highlight as a special risk if the variable or
adjustable rate could increase by more than five percent within a 30-month
period or if the variable or adjustable rate is not subject to a specific limit
on increases. If the sponsor procures financing at an interest rate that is
below the prevailing rate offered by the lender, disclose the prevailing rate
offered by the lender and the interest on the loan to the apartment
corporation. If the mortgage is not self-liquidating, also disclose any
limitations on the ability of the apartment corporation to refinance on the
same or better terms.
(4)
Payments.
State the amount of each payment, when payments are due,
and how payments are applied to interest and principal. For variable rate or
adjustable rate mortgages, disclose the impact that interest rate changes will
have on the allocation of payments to interest and principal and on itemized
deductions available to shareholders. Highlight as a special risk if payments
will increase in the first 10 years of operation due to a fixed amount
increase.
(5) Prepayment.
State whether and when the unpaid principal balance may be
prepaid in whole or in part, the number of days of prior notice that must be
given and any charges for prepayment. Disclose any restrictions on the
apartment corporation to prepay the entire unpaid principal at any time.
(6) Insurance.
The insurance coverage reflected in Schedule B must be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the mortgagee.
(7) Escrow and reserve requirements.
Describe the requirements for escrow and reserve deposits,
including any for taxes, water and sewer charges, insurance, capital reserves
or otherwise, and whether and how such requirements may be increased or
modified.
(8) Late charges.
Describe the amount of late charges, if any, and how they
are assessed.
(9)
Refinancing and subordinate mortgages.
State whether subordinate mortgages are permitted. Describe
the lien priority of subordinate mortgages. Discuss whether junior mortgages
are subordinate to refinancing if prior mortgages come due first in time, and
disclose any limitations on refinancing. Highlight as a special risk if a
subordinate mortgage does not continue to be subordinate when it is time to
refinance prior mortgages.
(10) Wraparound mortgages.
(i) If any mortgage is a "wraparound"
mortgage, explain the meaning of a wraparound mortgage and explain additional
risks and costs to the apartment corporation as a result of such wraparound
mortgage. In view of the potential risks to the apartment corporation in some
wraparound mortgages, the attorney who prepared the plan must note any
wraparound mortgage in the transmittal letter to the Department of Law required
by section
18.2(c)(1) of
this Part.
(ii) Any wraparound
mortgage which is a purchase money mortgage to be placed at or prior to the
closing, or which was or will be granted to the present owner or last previous
owner within the three years prior to submission, or following submission of
the proposed offering plan to the Department of Law, must provide that if the
holder defaults in any payment due on any underlying mortgage and the
applicable grace period has expired, the wraparound mortgage shall be deemed
satisfied; provided, however, if the holder of the wraparound mortgage becomes
current on all past due payments, the holder(s) of the underlying mortgage(s)
has (have) not commenced foreclosure proceedings or has (have) discontinued
foreclosure proceedings because of default, and the holder of the wraparound
mortgage pays all expenses incurred by the apartment corporation as a result of
such default by the holder, including legal fees and fees paid to arrange for
refinancing the underlying mortgages, the wraparound mortgage may be
reinstated.
(iii) If a mortgage is,
or is represented or purports to be a wraparound mortgage, it shall provide:
(a) that the holder's interest in the
mortgage shall stand as security for fulfillment of the described periodic
payments and final payments on senior mortgages;
(b) that it will be executed and acknowledged
by both the mortgagee and the mortgagor;
(c) that any assignee and any successor by
operation of law will be bound by the wraparound mortgagee's described
obligation to make such payments on senior mortgages; and
(d) will contain an undertaking that any
assignee as well as the assignor will execute and acknowledge the assignment
instrument.
(11) Negative amortization mortgages.
If any mortgage is a "negative amortization" mortgage,
highlight as a special risk and explain the meaning of a negative amortization
mortgage and the additional risks and costs to the apartment corporation as a
result of such negative amortization mortgage. Include a discussion of the
potential increase in the principal balance over the term of the mortgage and
any limitations on the increase in interest payments. In view of the potential
risks to the apartment corporation in some negative amortization mortgages, the
attorney who prepared the plan must note any negative amortization mortgage in
the transmittal letter to the Department of Law required by section
18.2(c)(1) of
this Part.
(12) If any
mortgage contains unusual risks and features which are not prevalent among
financing institutions in the State of New York engaged in providing real
estate mortgage loans to apartment corporations, highlight as a special risk
and explain the risks of such mortgage. The attorney who prepared the plan must
note such a mortgage in the transmittal letter to the Department of Law
required by section
18.2(c)(1) of
this Part.
(13) Events of default.
For each mortgage, describe the material events of default
entitling the lender to accelerate the mortgage indebtedness and describe grace
periods granted to the apartment corporation. Sponsor must either state
affirmatively that there is not a due-on-sale clause in the mortgage or
disclose the existence of such a clause, and state that the sponsor has
obtained the necessary consents or that sponsor will replace or satisfy the
mortgage at closing if the consents are not obtained, or give an assurance
satisfactory to the Department of Law that sponsor will replace the mortgage if
a default is declared. Sponsor must state that, except as discussed above, no
default will exist at closing.
(14) Restrictions.
Describe important restrictions on the apartment
corporation's right to alter, improve, sell, occupy or mortgage the
property.
(15) Sponsor must
represent that it will make all payments due prior to or at closing on existing
mortgages that will also encumber the property after closing.
(t)
Financing for qualified
purchasers.
Disclose the terms of any commitment by sponsor or a lender
procured by sponsor to finance the purchase of shares allocated to units. The
plan must be amended to include the terms of financing if not fully described
in the offering plan. The terms shall include, and are not limited to, the
following:
(1) Name and address of
lender.
(2) Amount and term.
State the maximum amount (which may be expressed as a
percentage of the cash purchase price) available for shares allocated to a unit
and the minimum term of the loan. If the financing offered is not
self-liquidating over the term, state how the amount of the balance or
"balloon" due on maturity will be calculated, and explain the risk that
refinancing may not be available on the same or better terms. Highlight as a
special risk if the principal balance is due in less than three years. If the
sponsor is providing the financing, state whether the sponsor will refinance or
extend the loan at maturity. State the maximum amount of financing available to
purchasers generally through a bulk commitment.
(3) Availability.
Sponsor must discuss whether financing is available to all
purchasers. If not, discuss the method of allocation of such financing which
shall not constitute a discriminatory inducement to tenant purchasers.
(4) Interest rate.
State the annual interest rate over the term of the loan.
If the loan has a variable or adjustable rate, indicate the initial interest
rate or (if not a fixed rate) explain how it will be established, the method of
calculating adjustments, any limits on increases or decreases, when adjustments
may be made, and the impact adjustments will have on debt service payments and
the principal balance. If sponsor structures the financial terms of the
transaction in such a manner as to result in possible taxable income to a
purchaser, the financial and tax implications of such structuring must be
disclosed. If the sponsor procures financing at an interest rate that is below
the prevailing rate offered by the lender, disclose the prevailing interest
rate and the interest rate offered to purchasers. If the loan is not
self-liquidating, also disclose any limitation on the ability of the purchasers
to refinance on the same or better terms.
(5) Payments.
State when payments are due, and how payments are applied
to interest and principal. For variable rate or adjustable rate loans, disclose
how initial payments are allocated to interest and principal, disclose the
impact that interest rate changes will have on the allocation of payments to
interest and principal and on itemized deductions available to
shareholders.
(6)
Prepayment.
State whether and when the unpaid principal balance may be
prepaid in whole or in part, the number of days of prior notice that must be
given, and any charges for prepayment. Disclose any restrictions on the ability
of a purchaser to prepay the entire unpaid principal at any time.
(7) Term of commitment.
State when the financing commitment expires.
(8) Late charges.
Describe the amount of late charges and how they are
assessed.
(9) Additional
financing costs.
Disclose the amount of additional costs or charges to
purchasers in connection with such financing, including, for example, points,
origination fees, lender's or any other legal fees, processing fees,
application fees, insurance and appraisal fees.
(10) Restrictions.
Describe major restrictions on a shareholder's right to
alter, improve, sell, sublease, purchase, own, occupy, finance or otherwise
acquire, use or dispose of a unit.
(11) Events of default.
Describe the material events of default entitling the
lender to accelerate the principal indebtedness, and describe grace periods
granted to purchasers.
(12)
If any proposed financing contains unusual risks and features which are not
prevalent among financing institutions in the State of New York engaged in
providing cooperative apartment loans to unit purchasers, highlight as a
special risk and explain the risks of such financing. The attorney who prepared
the plan must note such financing in the transmittal letter to the Department
of Law required by section
18.2(c)(1) of
this Part.
(u)
Summary of proprietary lease.
Summarize the important provisions of the proprietary
lease, including the following:
(1)
Discuss any restrictions on the shareholder's right to use, sell, lease or
pledge the shares and proprietary lease. Describe any fees or charges imposed
by the apartment corporation for purchasing, selling, leasing or pledging
shares or units.
(2) State whether
the apartment corporation will notify a lender of a shareholder's default under
the proprietary lease.
(3) State
the material events of default under the lease.
(4) Discuss the procedure to modify the terms
of the proprietary lease.
(5) State
whether the shareholder is responsible for interior repairs and whether the
consent of the apartment corporation is needed for alterations or
additions.
(6) Discuss the right to
accumulate reserves for capital expenditures or otherwise and restrictions
imposed on such right.
(7) Discuss
the shareholder's right to cancel the proprietary lease.
(8) Discuss the procedures to establish
maintenance charges and to divide the charges among shareholders.
(9) If the offering plan is, or is amended to
be, a noneviction plan for any nonpurchasing tenants, or is subject to G.B.L.,
section 352-e(2-a), 352-eee or 352-eeee and subject to occupancy by eligible
senior citizens and eligible disabled persons, the proprietary lease must
state:
(i) such nonpurchasing tenants may not
be evicted by the proprietary lessee for purposes of owner occupancy;
(ii) such right is intended for the benefit
of nonpurchasing tenants, and is not intended to abrogate any rights of the
owner of the unit as against the apartment corporation;
(iii) such nonpurchasing tenants who reside
in dwelling units subject to government regulation as to rentals and continued
occupancy shall continue to be subject thereto;
(iv) the rentals of any such nonpurchasing
tenants who reside in dwelling units not subject to government regulation as to
rentals and continued occupancy, and any such nonpurchasing tenants who reside
in dwelling units with respect to which government regulation as to rentals and
continued occupancy is eliminated or becomes inapplicable after the plan has
become effective, shall not be subject to unconscionable increases beyond
ordinary rentals for comparable apartments during the period of their
occupancy;
(v) any tenant's renewal
lease or renewal sublease may provide that eviction proceedings may be
commenced for nonpayment of rent, illegal use or occupancy of the premises,
refusal of access to the owner or a similar breach by the nonpurchasing tenant
of his or her obligations to the landlord; and
(vi) the sections of the lease concerning
nonpurchasing tenants may not be subsequently amended or deleted.
(10) State that the obligations of
holders of shares of dwelling units occupied by nonpurchasing tenants, as
discussed in the plan, are included in the proprietary lease.
(11) Discuss any restrictions against holders
of unsold shares cancelling their proprietary lease as referred to in paragraph
(w)(12) of this section.
(v)
Apartment corporation.
Describe how the affairs of the apartment corporation will
be governed. Summarize the important sections of the bylaws and the certificate
of incorporation, including the following:
(1) State the statutory authority under which
the apartment corporation was or may be incorporated, the date of the
incorporation and the number of shares which has been authorized and
issued.
(2) State the number and
composition of the board of directors, eligibility requirements, elections and
when the first meeting will be held after the closing. If applicable, explain
cumulative voting and any provisions for the indemnification of the board of
directors.
(3) State the vote
needed to amend the apartment corporation's bylaws.
(4) State the names of the present or
anticipated first officers and directors and their relationship, if any, to
sponsor, sponsor's principals and sponsor's or the apartment corporation's
attorney.
(5) Describe the extent
to which sponsor as holder of unsold shares or other holders of unsold shares
will or may control the board of directors after closing, and the consequences
to purchasers of such reservation of control, subject to the following
requirements:
(i) If the plan is an eviction
plan, sponsor and other holders must agree not to exercise voting control of
the board of directors for more than two years after closing, or whenever the
unsold shares constitute less than 50 percent of the shares, whichever is
sooner. If the plan is presented as or amended to a noneviction plan, sponsor
and other holders of unsold shares must agree not to exercise voting control of
the board of directors for more than five years from closing, or whenever the
unsold shares constitute less than 50 percent of the shares, whichever is
sooner. Disclose whether sponsor represents and provides in the bylaws, that a
majority of the apartment corporation board must be owner-occupants of the
building or members of an owner-occupant's household, who are unrelated to the
sponsor or its principals, after the end of the sponsor control period. If
sponsor does not make this representation, include the warning set forth in
paragraph 18.3(c)(3) of this section and discuss as a special risk.
(ii) Sponsor and other holders of unsold
shares may not exercise veto power over expenses described in Schedule B or
over expenses required:
(a) to comply with
applicable laws or regulations;
(b)
to remedy any notice of violation;
(c) to remedy any work order by a mortgagee
or an insurer; or
(d) to remedy a
notice of default from a mortgagee.
(iii) If the plan is an eviction plan,
sponsor and other holders of unsold shares may, if the plan so provides,
exercise veto power over other expenses for a period ending not more than three
years after closing, or whenever the unsold shares constitute less than 25
percent of the shares, whichever is sooner. If the plan is presented as or
amended to a noneviction plan, sponsor may, if the plan so provides, exercise
veto power over other expenses for a period ending not more than five years
after closing, or whenever the unsold shares constitute less than 25 percent of
the shares, whichever is sooner.
(6) State whether officers and directors
serve with or without compensation, and highlight as a special risk if officers
and directors appointed by the sponsor or holders of unsold shares serve with
compensation paid by the apartment corporation.
(7) State that the apartment corporation has
a lien on each block of shares for payment of maintenance charges, assessments,
and the replenishment of the fund to be maintained pursuant to paragraph (n)(4)
of this section, and the consequences of such lien.
(8) State that a copy of the bylaws is set
forth in Part II of the plan.
(9)
State that all expenses of the apartment corporation accruing up to and
including the closing date will be paid by the sponsor or by the apartment
corporation from the proceeds of the sale of shares.
(10) State that the apartment corporation may
not discriminate against any person for a reason proscribed by civil rights
laws.
(w)
Unsold
shares.
(1) State that: unsold shares
shall be any shares not subscribed to and fully paid for prior to closing. At
or prior to closing, unsold shares must be acquired by the sponsor or
financially responsible individuals produced by the sponsor. A holder of unsold
shares is the sponsor or any individual designated to hold unsold shares by the
sponsor. Such shares shall cease to be unsold shares when purchased by a
purchaser for occupancy.
(2) If a
holder of unsold shares or a person related by blood or marriage to the holder
of unsold shares takes occupancy as a bona fide resident, the shares shall
cease to be unsold shares.
(3)
Sponsor must guarantee payment of all maintenance charges and assessments due
from a holder of unsold shares. The apartment corporation also will have a lien
upon the shares to secure performance of all obligations of sponsor and holders
of unsold shares under the proprietary lease.
(4) Sponsor must represent that it has the
financial resources to enable it to meet its obligations with respect to unsold
shares and state the means by which it will fund its financial obligations to
the cooperative. If the funding source is stated as income from projected
sales, disclose other sources of funding, if any, that will be utilized if such
projected sales are not made. Disclose whether any bond or other security has
been furnished to secure sponsor's obligations.
(5) If applicable, state that the
consideration for the unsold shares at closing will meet the reasonable
relationship standard of Internal Revenue Code section 216(b)(2).
(6) State whether unsold shares will be
issued only to persons who will hold for their own account, and whether a
holder may pool profits or losses with other holders of unsold shares. If
holders of unsold shares may pool profits or losses, discuss the tax
implications in the attorney's income tax opinion, and highlight as a special
risk if the pooling extends beyond the seller's qualified holding period
applicable under Internal Revenue Code section 216(b)(6).
(7) Describe any special rights or
obligations of a holder of unsold shares, including, but not limited to: the
right to use, lease, sublet, sell, pledge or transfer unsold shares, whether
the consent of the managing agent or the apartment corporation is required for
transfer, whether the apartment corporation may impose fees or charges on the
holder of unsold shares for transfer, whether a holder of unsold shares may use
units for models or offices and whether a holder of unsold shares may make
alterations or additions to a unit without the consent of the apartment
corporation. All alterations and additions must be in compliance with building
codes and related laws.
(8) A
holder of unsold shares shall comply with the trust fund and escrow provisions
of G.B.L. sections 352-h and 352-e(2)(b).
(9) A holder of unsold shares must register
as a broker-dealer pursuant to G.B.L. section 359-e unless he or she is already
registered as a principal of the sponsor or otherwise. A holder of unsold
shares must furnish to the Department of Law all information required for a
principal of the sponsor by section
18.2(c)(4)(iv) of
this Part.
(10) A holder of unsold
shares shall amend the plan to provide current and accurate information about
the offering, including the same information concerning all holders of unsold
shares as is required for principals of the sponsor by paragraphs (cc)(1), (2),
(7) and (8) of this section, until the shares held as unsold shares have been
sold to bona fide purchasers. A holder of unsold shares also shall provide
prospective purchasers with a copy of the offering plan and all filed
amendments.
(11) Highlight as a
special risk if the following provision or a more restrictive provision is no
part of the proprietary lease. "Holders of unsold shares may not cancel their
proprietary leases unless:
(i) shareholders
owning a majority of the apartment corporation's outstanding shares (other than
unsold shares) shall have given notice of intent to cancel; or
(ii) all unsold shares constitute 15 percent
or less of the apartment corporation's outstanding shares, at least five years
have elapsed since the apartment corporation acquired title to the building and
on the effective date of cancellation holders of unsold shares shall pay to the
apartment corporation a sum equal to the product of the then current monthly
maintenance charges payable under the proprietary lease multiplied by
24".
(x)
Purchasers for investment or resale.
A purchaser for investment or resale is a purchaser who
purchases shares allocated to three or more apartments, which are not for
occupancy by such purchaser or persons related by blood, marriage or adoption
to such purchaser. In connection with the sale of such shares:
(1) A purchaser for investment or resale must
register as a dealer pursuant to G.B.L. section 359-e (if not already
registered).
(2) A purchaser for
investment or resale shall comply with the trust fund and escrow provisions of
G.B.L. sections 352-h and 352-e(2)(b).
(3) A purchaser for investment or resale
shall provide the following documents to a prospective purchaser at no cost to
the purchaser three business days before entering a purchase agreement:
(i) copy of the most recent financial
statement of the apartment corporation, if any and copy of the most recent
budget of projected expenses, if any;
(ii) copy of the most recent notice from the
apartment corporation of the interest and taxes deductible for income tax
purposes, if any;
(iii) copies of
notices from the apartment corporation concerning changes in maintenance
charges, potential assessments, planned major capital improvements and proposed
refinancing of the building's mortgage(s), if any;
(iv) copies of pleadings in pending lawsuits
or proceedings, the outcome of which may affect the offering of the unit, the
seller's capacity to perform all of its obligations under the purchase
agreement or the rights of an existing tenant of the unit, if any;
(v) if the unit is occupied, copy of the
tenant's lease and representation of the tenant's status under rent laws and
(if applicable) as an senior citizen or eligible handicapped person or eligible
senior citizen or eligible disabled person;
(vi) copies of the bylaws and proprietary
lease of the apartment corporation as amended; and
(vii) copy of notice of uncured violations of
record in the unit that are the responsibility of the proprietary lessee to
cure, if any.
(y)
Reserve fund and/or working capital
fund.
The offering plan must state whether the apartment
corporation will have funds for working capital and/or as a reserve for capital
expenditures. The offering plan must comply with any applicable law concerning
reserve funds and/or working capital funds. If such funds are provided, state
the amount of the funds; whether the sponsor and purchasers contribute to the
funds; what restrictions there are on the use of each fund; and when the funds
will be available to the apartment corporation. If a fund is called a reserve
fund, it may be used only for capital expenditures, and the apartment
corporation's bylaws shall contain a provision authorizing the establishment of
such a fund. Discuss whether the reserve fund (if any) will be sufficient to
pay for the replacement of capital items likely to be needed as disclosed in
the Description of Property and Building Condition.
(1) Unless highlighted as a special risk, the
plan shall provide that while the sponsor is in control of the board of
directors, the reserve fund or working capital fund may not be used to reduce
projected maintenance charges in the plan.
(2) If the offering plan provides for a
reserve fund or a working capital fund, the plan must state that neither the
Department of Law nor any other government agency has passed upon the adequacy
of the funds.
(3) Closing
adjustments may only be deducted from the working capital fund. If a
substantial credit to the sponsor can be anticipated with reasonable
probability (for example, an escrow deposit of tax accruals, an existing FHA
depositary fund for replacements, or other fund to be transferred to the
apartment corporation at the closing) the approximate range or amounts of such
adjustment item must be disclosed. Disclose how the net closing adjustments, if
in favor of the sponsor, are to be paid. State whether there will be a minimum
working capital fund regardless of the amount of closing adjustments.
(4) If, by reason of any substantial closing
adjustment item in favor of the sponsor, the sponsor will be paid over a period
of time, such as by an installment note, the budget in the plan (Schedule B)
must reflect such proposed payment, as a separate line of the budget with a
footnote disclosing the nature and purpose of the payments.
(5) Closing costs may not be deducted from
the working capital fund or the reserve fund. Closing costs may be paid by the
sponsor or by the apartment corporation from the proceeds of the sale of
shares. The plan may provide a separate special fund, with disclosures in the
manner and format of the working capital fund, to show payment of closing costs
from the proceeds of sale of shares.
(z)
Contract of sale (or
exchange).
State the material terms of the contract of sale or
exchange under which the apartment corporation will acquire the property,
including the following (unless stated elsewhere in the plan):
(1) State the date of the agreement, purchase
price of the property, how the purchase price may be adjusted by changes in the
offering prices, and how and when the purchase price is to be paid.
(2) State that the apartment corporation will
receive the property free and clear of liens, encumbrances and title exceptions
other than those described in the plan. Describe any leases, mortgages, liens,
encumbrances and title exceptions that will affect the property after closing.
Title exceptions may include the state of facts shown on a stated survey, and
any additional state of facts a subsequent accurate survey would show, provided
that such additional state of facts does not render title
unmarketable.
(3) State that the
apartment corporation's title will be insured at closing by a title company
that is authorized to do business in the state where the cooperative is
located. State the amount of the coverage or how the amount will be derived.
For a contract of sale or exchange, coverage may not be in an amount that is
less than the aggregate of:
(i) the total
cash payments received under all subscription agreements less the reserve
and/or working capital fund;
(ii)
the product of the number of unsold shares multiplied by the lowest cash
payment per share offered to tenants in occupancy; and
(iii) the amount of the apartment
corporation's mortgage indebtedness. State that sponsor will pay for the
insurance or the apartment corporation will pay for the insurance from the
proceeds of the sale of shares.
(4) All personal property located on the
property on the date the contract of sale is signed, that is owned by the
sponsor or the owner of the property if not the sponsor, is included in the
conveyance unless specifically excepted in the offering plan.
(5) Describe the types of cost, fees and
charges to be paid in connection with the closing. State that the working
capital fund will not be reduced by costs paid by the apartment
corporation.
(6) List items to be
apportioned and set forth the basis for apportionment. The disclosures in this
section, with respect to closing costs and closing adjustment provisions,
should be consistent with the requirements in subdivision (y) of this
section.
(7) Describe the type of
deed. Highlight as special risk if the deed is not a full warranty deed or a
bargain and sale deed with covenants against grantor's acts.
(8) Describe whether and to what extent the
sponsor is obligated to repair any damage from a casualty or other cause that
occurs before closing and the rights and obligations of purchasers of damaged
units.
(9) The plan and contract of
sale or exchange must provide that any conflict between the plan and the
contract will be resolved in favor of the plan.
(10) State what will happen to the security
deposits of purchasing and non-purchasing tenants. Set forth the obligations
concerning security deposits under General Obligations Law section
7-103.
(11) State that all
representations under the offering plan, all obligations pursuant to the
G.B.L., and such additional obligations under the offering plan which are to be
performed subsequent to closing date, will survive delivery of the
deed.
(12) State that the sponsor
will maintain the property until the closing is substantially the same
condition and manner as on the date of presentation.
(aa)
Special tax consequences of
contract of exchange.
(1) For a
contract of exchange, which refers to either a transfer by individual owners to
a corporation controlled by them or to another type of nontaxable exchange,
explain what the apartment corporation's tax basis in the property would have
been (in approximate amount) on the projected date of closing under an ordinary
contract of sale in comparison to the corporation's projected tax basis under
the Internal Revenue Code sections making the exchange nontaxable.
(2) Discuss the impact, if any, that
structuring the transaction as an exchange will have on the depreciation
available to the apartment corporation, and on tax deductions available to
particular tenant-stockholders (for example, self-employed persons depreciating
a home office), and on the possibility of income being taxable to the apartment
corporation.
(3) Discuss the
apartment corporation's tax liability in the event the property is ever sold or
liquidated either voluntarily or involuntarily (such as upon a mortgage
foreclosure) including the possibility that the unpaid principal balance of the
mortgage will exceed the apartment corporation's basis.
(4) If the transaction is structured as an
exchange, sponsor shall indemnify the apartment corporation and purchasers
against any liability incurred after title is transferred to the apartment
corporation and before the stock certificates and proprietary leases are
delivered to purchasers under the offering plan. Such indemnification shall not
be required in cases where the shares are issued to purchasers simultaneously
with the transfer of title to the apartment corporation. Sponsor must update
the title search before the first closing to a purchaser and if there are any
judgments or liens or if litigation has been commenced, sponsor must amend the
plan before the first closing to a purchaser. The apartment corporation must
have public liability insurance after it takes title to the property and before
the first closing to a purchaser.
(bb)
Management agreement, contracts
and leases.
(1) Summarize the important
terms of the management agreement including:
(i) the name and address of the managing
agent;
(ii) the term of the
management agreement and the agent's right (if any) to cancel the
agreement;
(iii) all fees and other
compensation for services;
(iv) the
major duties and services to be performed by the managing agent, including
whether bookkeeping, payroll, income tax deduction calculation and maintenance
collection are provided;
(v) the
obligations (if any) of the apartment corporation to reimburse the agent for
expenses incurred or to indemnify the agent against liability for acts properly
performed by it pursuant to the agreement;
(vi) whether the management agreement is
assignable by the agent and what restrictions are imposed on
assignability.
(2) Plans
subject to the provisions of G.B.L. section 352-eee(3) or 352-eeee(3) shall
refer to the applicable G.B.L. provision and comply with it.
(3) If not described in detail in the
footnotes to the budget, summarize all agreements or leases that will be
binding on the apartment corporation, including the name of the contractor or
lessee, the services rendered or received, the annual income or cost and the
expiration date of the contract or lease.
(4) Highlight as a special risk if any
contract is binding on the apartment corporation for more than five years after
the anticipated closing date, unless it is customary in the area to enter a
long-term contract for the service rendered, e.g., a cable TV
contract. Note whether the contract is with a business affiliate of the sponsor
or its principals.
(5) Disclose the
material terms of all leases with the apartment corporation other than
proprietary leases, including but not limited to the following:
(i) State the date and term of each lease,
the space leased, the identity of the lessee and sublessee(s), if any, the rent
and any additional rent payable thereunder, and the present and permitted use
for the space.
(ii) State whether
the present and future rent payable by the lessee is sufficient to cover the
expenses fairly attributable to the leased space.
(iii) Highlight as a special risk if:
(a) any lease has a term exceeding 10
years;
(b) if the lease generates or
is expected to generate less income than the pro rata share of
expenses attributable to the leased space now or in the future; or
(c) if the ratio of income generated by the
lease to the share of expenses fairly attributable to the leased space may
decline in the future. Describe the potential burden to the apartment
corporation of these risks. Disclose the basis for projecting the share of
expense attributable to the leased space, and estimate the income and expenses
for the lease term.
(iv)
Explain the apartment corporation's rights and obligations under the lease with
regard to making ordinary or structural repairs, rebuilding after a casualty,
retaining insurance or condemnation proceeds, limiting use to those compatible
with a first-class residential building, and barring offensive uses. State
whether consent of the apartment corporation is required before the lessee can
assign or sublet space, change the current uses, alter the structure, or
perform work that may result in mechanics' liens.
(v) When the lessee or sublessee is the
sponsor or the selling agent, or is a principal of the sponsor or the selling
agent, or is related to the sponsor, the selling agent or any principal of the
sponsor or selling agent, by blood, marriage or adoption or as a business
associate, an employee, a shareholder or a limited partner, the following
provisions shall apply:
(a) The lease may not
contain any unconscionable terms, including but not limited to any provision
pursuant to which the rent payable may be less than expenses fairly
attributable to the leased space.
(b) The lease must contain escalator clauses
which ensure that the rent payable by the lessee for the term of the lease will
be sufficient to cover the expenses fairly attributable to the leased space,
such as expenses for real estate taxes, labor, insurance, heating and
utilities, except as provided in clause (c) of this
subparagraph.
(c) The terms of the
lease may not jeopardize the apartment corporation's qualification under
section 216 of the Internal Revenue Code, unless the
possibility of disqualification under section
216 of the IRC is highlighted as a special
risk and the cover prominently displays the legend: PERSONAL INCOME TAX
DEDUCTIONS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASERS UNDER THIS PLAN. See Pg. __.
(Refer to the Tax Opinion.)
(d) Any
lease that comes within subdivision (bb)(5)(v) of this section must be noted in
the transmittal letter to the Department of Law required by section
18.2(c)(1).
(cc)
Identity of parties.
(1) State
the names and business addresses, backgrounds and experience of the sponsor and
principals of sponsor, as defined in section
18.1(c) of this
Part. If the sponsor is a contract vendee, such information shall also be
provided with respect to the owner of the property to be conveyed to the
cooperative and principals of the present owner, and any relationship between
the owner of the property and the contract vendee shall also be disclosed.
Describe:
(i) any prior felony convictions of
sponsor and/or any principals of sponsor; and
(ii) any prior convictions, injunctions and
judgments against the sponsor and/or any principals of sponsor that may be
material to the offering plan or an offering of securities generally, and that
occurred within the 15 years prior to the submission of the proposed offering
plan.
(2) List all
properties offered for sale by the sponsor or affiliates of the sponsor's
principals as cooperatives, condominiums or planned unit development homes
within the past five years, by address and the year they first became available
for occupancy. If the number of such properties or projects exceed five for the
sponsor or a principal, the five most recent offerings may be listed.
(3) Identify each cooperative, condominium or
homeowners association, other than the subject building(s), where the sponsor,
general partner or principal of the sponsor, or the holder of unsold shares,
owns 10 percent or more of the unsold shares or units as an individual, general
partner or principal, and state whether the sponsor, general partner, principal
or holder of unsold shares is current in its financial obligations, including,
but not limited to, payment of maintenance or common charges, taxes, reserve or
working capital fund payments, assessments, payments for repairs and
improvements promised in the plan, payment of underlying mortgages, and payment
of loans for which shares or units have been pledged as collateral or
mortgaged. If not current, state the identity of the property and the date and
amount of each delinquency, together with any additional relevant
facts.
(4) State the name and
address of the sponsor's attorney, the apartment corporation's attorney, if
any, and identify which attorney prepared the offering plan. If an attorney
represents the apartment corporation, describe the scope of the attorney's
responsibilities.
(5) If there is
or will be a managing agent or manager for the property, include the name,
address and experience of the managing agent or manager and a representative
list of other properties being managed by the managing agent or manager. If the
managing agent or manager has no comparable experience, so state. Describe:
(i) any prior felony convictions of the
managing agent or any principals of the managing agent; and
(ii) any prior convictions, injunctions and
judgments against the managing agent or any principals of the managing agent
that may be material to the offering plan or an offering of securities
generally, that occurred within the 15 years prior to the submission of the
proposed offering plan.
(6) State the name, address and experience of
the selling agent. Describe:
(i) any prior
felony convictions of the selling agent, or any principals of the selling
agent; and
(ii) any prior
convictions, injunctions and judgments against the selling agent, or any
principals of the selling agent that may be material to the offering plan or an
offering of securities generally, that occurred within the 15 years prior to
the submission of the proposed offering plan.
(7) State the name, address and experience of
the sponsor's professional engineer or registered architect.
(8) State the relationship (if any) between
the sponsor or its principals and:
(i) the
selling agent;
(ii) the managing
agent;
(iii) the engineer or
architect; and
(iv) any person or
firm who will provide service to the apartment corporation subsequent to the
commencement of cooperative operation.
(9) If applicable, state that the Secretary
of State is designated to receive service of process for an out-of-state
sponsor, or for out-of-state principals of the sponsor, or for an out-of-state
selling agent and its principals.
(dd)
Sponsor's profit.
(1) If sponsor, a principal or principals of
sponsor have had any ownership interest in the property for three years or less
prior to submission of the proposed offering plan to the Department of Law,
estimate the amount of total profit the sponsor will make on the
conversion.
(2) Include the
following information in describing the profit:
(i) the date that the sponsor acquired or
will acquire an ownership interest;
(ii) the purchase price of the ownership
interest (and when the purchase price is payable if not yet paid), the amount
of any purchase money mortgage(s) on the property, and the amount of any
mortgage(s) that the sponsor assumed or took subject to;
(iii) the approximate cost of capital
expenditures undertaken or to be undertaken by sponsor;
(iv) the costs associated with acquisition
and ownership of the property, including financing costs; and
(v) the aggregate amount for costs incurred
in connection with the conversion, such as sales commissions, attorneys' and
engineers' fees, printing, advertising, title insurance for the apartment
corporation, government filing fees and transfer taxes.
(3) In estimating the sponsor's profit,
assume that the sponsor will become the holder of all unsold shares and that
all shares of the apartment corporation will be sold. Unless the assumption
would be misleading for a particular property, assume that 100 percent of the
shares allocated will be sold at the price per share in Schedule A for tenant
purchasers.
(4) If sponsor, a
principal or principals of sponsor have had an ownership interest in the
property for more than three years prior to the submission of the proposed
offering plan to the Department of Law, state whether the sponsor expects to
make a profit on the conversion.
(ee)
Reports to shareholders.
State that it is the obligation of the apartment
corporation to give all shareholders annually:
(1) a statement of the amount deductible for
income tax purposes by a specified date that shall be no later than March
15th;
(2) a financial statement
prepared by a certified public accountant or public accountant by a specified
date; and
(3) prior notice of the
annual shareholders' meeting.
(ff)
Documents on file.
State that sponsor shall keep copies of the plan, all
documents referred to in the plan and all exhibits submitted to the Department
of Law in connection with the filing of the plan, on file, and available for
inspection without charge, and copying at a reasonable charge, at a specified
location for six years from the date of closing.
(gg)
General.
Describe any other material facts concerning the sponsor,
the selling agent, the managing agent, any of their principals, the property,
the offering and a prospective purchaser's rights and obligations, including
the following:
(1) Disclose whether
there are any lawsuits, administrative proceedings or other proceedings, the
outcome of which may materially affect the offering, the property, the rights
of existing tenants, sponsor's capacity to perform all of its obligations under
the plan, the apartment corporation or the operation of the
cooperative.
(2) Disclose whether
the property was the subject of any prior cooperative or condominium offerings.
Disclose whether any preliminary binding agreements have been entered or
whether money has been collected from prospective purchasers.
(3) Represent that the sponsor, its agents
and sponsor as holder of unsold shares will not discriminate against any person
on any basis prohibited by civil rights laws.
(4) Note subscribers' rights to rescind
subscriptions following adverse amendments; see section
18.5(a)(5) of
this Part.
(5) Disclose any
circumstances which may affect use or enjoyment of the property and
appurtenances, such as reciprocal covenants or easements, impending adjacent
high-rise construction, any usage restriction by statute, ordinance or zoning
resolution such as specified occupancy percentage by certified artists, or
historic district or landmark designation, unless disclosed elsewhere in the
plan.
(hh)
Sponsor's statement of building condition.
Include the following provisions:
(1) Sponsor must adopt the
Description of Property and Building Condition set forth in
Part II of the plan and represent that sponsor has no knowledge of any material
defects or need for major repairs to the property except as set forth in the
Description of Property and Building Condition.
(2) State whether the property is offered in
"as is" condition as of a specified date, subject to (i) the sponsor's
obligation to maintain the property until the closing in substantially the same
condition and manner as on the date of presentation, (ii) reasonable wear and
tear, and (iii) sponsor's obligation described in paragraph (3) of this
subdivision, to cause violations of record to be cured. To the extent not
reported in the Description of Property and Building
Condition, describe any rehabilitation to be completed by sponsor and
the timetable for completion.
(3)
State that prior to closing or within a reasonable period of time thereafter,
sponsor will cause to be cured all violations of record as of the closing date
(except violations caused by acts or omissions of tenants of the building in
their own units), and will eliminate all dangerous or hazardous conditions that
sponsor has notice of, and comply with all work orders from
mortgagees.
(4) If not stated in
the Description of Property and Building Conditions, state
whether the number of units offered is identical to the number of units stated
on the certificate of occupancy, whether the proposed use of the units is the
same as the use indicated in the certificate of occupancy, and whether property
interests that are offered, such as roof gardens or basement facilities, are
provided for in the certificate of occupancy.
(5) Note any official inspection reports
reflecting upon condition of the premises, such as notices of building code
violations, or any reports required by local law, including, if applicable, the
report required by C26-105.3 of the Administrative Code of the City of New
York, which shall each be reproduced in Part II of the plan; and disclose the
existence and availability of any inspection reports by a professional engineer
or a registered architect retained by a group or association of
tenants.
(6) Disclose the existence
of any applicable federal, State or local laws concerning lead- based paint and
whether the sponsor will comply with such laws and regulations promulgated
thereunder.