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Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions

Note 10. Related Party Transactions

Self Administration Transaction

On June 28, 2019, we, our Operating Partnership and SmartStop TRS entered into a series of transactions, agreements, and amendments to our existing agreements and arrangements with our then-sponsor, SAM, and SmartStop OP Holdings, LLC (“SS OP Holdings”), a subsidiary of SAM, pursuant to which, effective June 28, 2019, we acquired the self storage advisory, asset management and property management businesses and certain joint venture interests of SAM, along with certain other assets of SAM (collectively, the "Self Administration Transaction").

As a result of the Self Administration Transaction, we became self-managed and succeeded to the advisory, asset management and property management businesses and certain joint ventures previously in place for us, SST IV (until the SST IV Merger Date), and SSGT II (until the SSGT II Merger Date), and we acquired the internal capability to originate, structure and manage additional future self storage investment products which would be sponsored by SmartStop REIT Advisors, LLC (“SRA”), our indirect subsidiary. The transfer agent agreement described below was not impacted by the Self Administration Transaction.

Our Chief Executive Officer, who is also the Chairman of our board of directors, holds ownership interests in and is an officer of SAM, and other affiliated entities. Our Chief Executive Officer also previously indirectly held an ownership interest in our former dealer manager. Previously, certain of our executive officers and another member of our board of directors held ownership interests in and/or were officers of SAM, and other affiliated entities. Accordingly, any agreements or transactions we have entered into with such entities may present a conflict of interest. None of SAM and its affiliates or our directors or executive officers receive any compensation, fees or reimbursements from our Managed REITs, other than with respect to fees and reimbursements in accordance with the Administrative Services Agreement and the transfer agent agreement, or as otherwise described in this section.

Former Dealer Manager Agreement

In connection with our Primary Offering, our Former Dealer Manager received a sales commission of up to 7.0% of gross proceeds from sales of Class A Shares and up to 2.0% of gross proceeds from the sales of Class T Shares in the Primary Offering and a dealer manager fee of up to 3.0% of gross proceeds from sales of both Class A Shares and Class T Shares in the Primary Offering under the terms of the Former Dealer Manager Agreement. In addition, our Former Dealer Manager received an ongoing stockholder servicing fee as discussed in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Organization and Offering Costs.

Affiliated Former Dealer Manager

SAM previously indirectly held a 15% non-voting equity interest in our Former Dealer Manager. Affiliates of our Former Dealer Manager own limited partnership interests in our Operating Partnership.

Transfer Agent Agreement

SAM owns 100% of the membership interests of Strategic Transfer Agent Services, LLC, our transfer agent (“Transfer Agent”), which is a registered transfer agent with the SEC. Pursuant to our transfer agent agreement, our Transfer Agent provides transfer agent and registrar services to us. These services are substantially similar to what a third party transfer agent

would provide in the ordinary course of performing its functions as a transfer agent, including, but not limited to: providing customer service to our stockholders, processing the distributions and any servicing fees with respect to our shares and issuing regular reports to our stockholder. Our Transfer Agent may retain and supervise third party vendors in its efforts to administer certain services. We believe that our Transfer Agent, through its knowledge and understanding of the direct participation program industry which includes non-traded REITs, is particularly suited to provide us with transfer agent and registrar services. Our Transfer Agent also conducts transfer agent and registrar services for our Managed REITs and other affiliates.

Fees paid to our Transfer Agent include a fixed quarterly fee, one-time account setup fees, monthly open account fees and fees for investor inquiries. In addition, we will reimburse our Transfer Agent for all reasonable expenses or other changes incurred by it in connection with the provision of its services to us, and we will pay our Transfer Agent fees for any additional services we may request from time to time, in accordance with its rates then in effect. Upon the request of our Transfer Agent, we may also advance payment for substantial reasonable out-of-pocket expenditures to be incurred by it.

The initial term of the transfer agent agreement was three years, which term is automatically renewed for one year successive terms, but either party may terminate the transfer agent agreement upon 90 days’ prior written notice. In the event that we terminate the transfer agent agreement, other than for cause, we will pay our transfer agent all amounts that would have otherwise accrued during the remaining term of the transfer agent agreement; provided, however, that when calculating the remaining months in the term for such purposes, such term is deemed to be a 12 month period starting from the date of the most recent annual anniversary date.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreements described above, the following table summarizes related party costs incurred and paid by us for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, as well as any related amounts payable as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2023

 

 

 

Incurred

 

 

Paid

 

 

Payable

 

 

Incurred

 

 

Paid

 

 

Payable

 

Expensed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfer Agent fees

 

$

1,242,655

 

 

$

1,260,896

 

 

$

68,751

 

 

$

1,479,254

 

 

$

1,473,005

 

 

$

75,000

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfer Agent expenses

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholder servicing fee(1)

 

 

53,660

 

 

 

209,980

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

340,979

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

340,980

 

Total

 

$

1,396,315

 

 

$

1,570,876

 

 

$

409,730

 

 

$

1,479,254

 

 

$

1,473,005

 

 

$

415,980

 

 

(1)
We paid our Dealer Manager an ongoing stockholder servicing fee that is payable monthly and accrues daily in an amount equal to 1/365th of 1% of the purchase price per share of the Class T Shares sold in the Primary Offering. The amount incurred during the year ended December 31, 2022 represents an adjustment to the estimated stockholder servicing fee recorded at the time of the sale of the Class T Shares, based on the cessation date of such stockholder servicing fee of March 31, 2022.

Acquisition of Self Storage Platform from SAM and Other Transactions

As a result of the Self Administration Transaction, we acquired the self storage sponsorship platform of SAM. Accordingly, the advisor and property manager entities of SST IV and SSGT II became our indirect subsidiaries, and we became entitled to receive various fees and expense reimbursements under the terms of the SST IV and SSGT II advisory and property management agreements as described below. In addition, we now also own the advisor and property manager entities of SST VI and SSGT III and are entitled to receive various fees and expense reimbursements under the terms of the SST VI and SSGT III advisory and property management agreements as described below.

 

Advisory Agreement Fees

 

Our indirect subsidiaries, Strategic Storage Advisor IV, LLC, the advisor to SST IV (the “SST IV Advisor”), SS Growth Advisor II, LLC, the advisor to SSGT II (the “SSGT II Advisor”), the SST VI Advisor, and the SSGT III Advisor are or were entitled to receive various fees and expense reimbursements under the terms of the SST IV, SSGT II, SST VI, and SSGT III advisory agreements.

 

SST IV Advisory Agreement

 

The SST IV Advisor provided acquisition and advisory services to SST IV pursuant to an advisory agreement (the “SST IV Advisory Agreement”) with SST IV up until the SST IV Merger on March 17, 2021.

 

Effective March 17, 2021, in connection with the SST IV Merger, the SST IV Advisory Agreement was terminated and none of the aforementioned subordinated distributions or fees were paid. As a result of us acquiring SST IV and terminating such contracts, we recorded a write-off of approximately $5.3 million related to the carrying value of the SST IV Advisory Agreement contract. Similarly, we recorded a write-off of approximately $1.2 million related to our special limited partnership interest, which per the terms of the SST IV Merger Agreement, terminated without consideration.

 

As a result of the Self Administration Transaction, we recorded a deferred tax liability, which was the result of the difference between the GAAP carrying value of the SST IV Advisory Agreement and its carrying value for tax purposes. As we reduced the GAAP carrying value of such intangible asset, as noted above, we adjusted the corresponding value of our related deferred tax liability by approximately $1.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2021, and recorded such benefit to the income tax (expense) benefit line-item in our consolidated statements of operations.

SSGT II Advisory Agreement

The SSGT II Advisor provided acquisition and advisory services to SSGT II pursuant to an advisory agreement (the “SSGT II Advisory Agreement”) with SSGT II up until the SSGT II Merger on June 1, 2022.

 

Effective June 1, 2022, in connection with the SSGT II Merger, the SSGT II Advisory Agreement was terminated and pursuant to the SSGT II operating partnership agreement, subordinated distribution of approximately $16.1 million was otherwise due. As a result, we recorded a gain of approximately $16.1 million related to our special limited partnership interest and recorded this within gain on preexisting equity interests upon acquisition of control in our consolidated statements of operations. As a result of our acquisition of SSGT II and terminating the SSGT II Advisory Agreement, we recorded a write-off of approximately $1.4 million related to the carrying value of the SSGT II Advisory Agreement contract.

 

As a result of the Self Administration Transaction, we recorded a deferred tax liability, which was the result of the difference between the GAAP carrying value of the SSGT II Advisory Agreement and its carrying value for tax purposes. As we reduced the GAAP carrying value of such intangible asset, as noted above, we adjusted the corresponding value of our related deferred tax liability by approximately $0.3 million on June 1, 2022, and recorded such benefit to the income tax (expense) benefit line-item in our consolidated statements of operations.

SST VI Advisory Agreement

The SST VI Advisor provides acquisition and advisory services to SST VI pursuant to an advisory agreement (the “SST VI Advisory Agreement”). In connection with the SST VI private placement offering, SST VI was required to reimburse the SST VI Advisor for organization and offering costs from the SST VI private offering pursuant to the SST VI private offering advisory agreement.

 

Pursuant to the SST VI Advisory Agreement, the SST VI Advisor receives acquisition fees equal to 1.00% of the contract purchase price of each property SST VI acquires plus reimbursement of any acquisition expenses that SST VI Advisor incurs. The SST VI Advisor also receives a monthly asset management fee equal to 0.0625%, which is one-twelfth of 0.75%, of SST VI’s aggregate asset value, as defined.

A subsidiary of our Operating Partnership may also be potentially entitled to a subordinated distribution through its ownership of a special limited partnership in SST VI’s operating partnership agreement if SST VI (1) lists its shares of common stock on a national exchange, (2) terminates the SST VI Advisory Agreement, (3) liquidates its portfolio, or (4) merges with another entity or enters into an Extraordinary Transaction, as defined in the SST VI operating partnership agreement.

The SST VI Advisory Agreement provides for reimbursement of the SST VI Advisor’s direct and indirect costs of providing administrative and management services to SST VI. Beginning four fiscal quarters after commencement of SST

VI's public offering, which was declared effective March 17, 2022, the SST VI Advisor was required to pay or reimburse SST VI the amount by which SST VI’s aggregate annual operating expenses, as defined, exceed the greater of 2% of SST VI’s average invested assets or 25% of SST VI’s net income, as defined, unless a majority of SST VI’s independent directors determine that such excess expenses were justified based on unusual and non-recurring factors.

On March 1, 2022, Pacific Oak Holding Group, LLC, became a 10% non-voting member of the SST VI Advisor. Pacific Oak Capital Markets, LLC (a subsidiary of Pacific Oak Holding Group, LLC) is SST VI's dealer manager, and as such, is responsible for the marketing of SST VI shares being offered pursuant to SST VI's private offering, and subsequent to March 17, 2022, SST VI's public offering. On October 25, 2022, we, through one of our subsidiaries also agreed to pay SST VI’s dealer manager an amount equal to 1.5% of the gross offering proceeds from the sale of Class W shares sold in their public offering. As such, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had incurred approximately $59,000 and $11,000, respectively, to SST VI's dealer manager associated with the Class W Shares sold in their public offering.

On October 17, 2023, in connection with an amendment to SST VI's dealer manager agreement, SST VI ceased the sale of Class W shares in its public offering, and subsequently began selling Class Z shares. Separately, we through one of our subsidiaries agreed to pay SST VI’s dealer manager an amount equal to 1.5% of the gross offering proceeds from the sale of Class Z shares sold in their public offering. As such, for the year ended December 31, 2023, we had incurred approximately $5,000 to SST VI's dealer manager associated with the Class Z Shares sold in their public offering.

Additionally, in connection with the commencement of SST VI's public offering, the SST VI Advisor or its affiliates agreed that it would fund on behalf of SST VI, an amount equal to 1% of the gross offering proceeds from the sale of Class W shares sold in their initial public offering, which amount shall be used by SST VI towards the payment of its offering expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we funded SST VI such costs in the amount of approximately $39,000 and $20,000, respectively.

 

SSGT III Advisory Agreement

The SSGT III Advisor provides acquisition and advisory services to SSGT III pursuant to an advisory agreement (the “SSGT III Advisory Agreement”). In connection with the SSGT III private placement offering, which became effective on May 18, 2022, SSGT III is required to reimburse the SSGT III Advisor for organization and offering costs from the SSGT III private offering pursuant to the SSGT III Advisory Agreement.

Pursuant to the SSGT III Advisory Agreement, the SSGT III Advisor will receive acquisition fees equal to 1.00% of the contract purchase price of each property SSGT III acquires plus reimbursement of acquisition expenses that SSGT III Advisor incurs, provided, however, that no reimbursement shall be made for costs of personnel to the extent that such personnel perform services in transactions for which the Advisor receives the Acquisition Fee. The SSGT III Advisor also receives a monthly asset management fee equal to 0.0625%, which is one-twelfth of 0.75%, of SSGT III’s aggregate asset value, as defined. The SSGT III Advisor is also entitled to receive a disposition fee equal to 1.5% of the contract sale price for any properties sold inclusive of any real estate commissions paid to third party real estate brokers.

Through a separate agreement, Pacific Oak Holding Group, LLC, the parent company of Pacific Oak Capital Markets, LLC, the dealer manager for the SSGT III private offering, is entitled to receive 10% of the acquisition fees, asset management fees and disposition fees SSGT III Advisor earns pursuant to the SSGT III Advisory Agreement.

A subsidiary of our Operating Partnership may also be potentially entitled to various subordinated distributions through its ownership of a special limited partnership in SSGT III’s operating partnership agreement if SSGT III (1) lists its shares of common stock on a national exchange, (2) terminates the SSGT III Advisory Agreement, (3) liquidates its portfolio, or (4) merges with another entity or enters into an Extraordinary Transaction, as defined in the SSGT III operating partnership agreement.

The SSGT III Advisory Agreement provides for reimbursement of the SSGT III Advisor’s direct and indirect costs of providing administrative and management services to SSGT III.

 

Managed REIT Property Management Agreements

Our indirect subsidiaries, Strategic Storage Property Management IV, LLC, SS Growth Property Management II, LLC, Strategic Storage Property Management VI, LLC, and SS Growth Property Management III, LLC, (collectively the “Managed REITs Property Managers”), are or were entitled to receive fees for their services in managing the properties owned by the Managed REITs pursuant to property management agreements entered into between the owner of the property and the applicable Managed REIT’s Property Manager.

The Managed REITs’ Property Managers receive a property management fee equal to 6% of the gross revenues from the properties, generally subject to a monthly minimum of $3,000 per property, plus reimbursement of the costs of managing the properties, and a one-time fee of $3,750 for each property acquired that would be managed by the Managed REITs’ Property Managers. Reimbursable costs and expenses include wages and salaries and other expenses of employees engaged in operating, managing and maintaining such properties. Pursuant to the property management agreements, we through our Operating Partnership employ the on-site staff for the Managed REITs’ properties.

 

The SST IV, SST VI, and SSGT III property managers are or were entitled to a construction management fee equal to 5% of the cost of a related construction or capital improvement work project in excess of $10,000.

 

Effective March 17, 2021, in connection with the SST IV Merger, the SST IV property management contracts were terminated. As a result of us acquiring SST IV and terminating such contracts, we recorded a write-off of approximately $1.9 million related to the carrying value of the SST IV property management contracts.

 

Effective June 1, 2022, in connection with the SSGT II Merger, the SSGT II property management contracts were terminated. As a result of us acquiring SSGT II and terminating such contracts, we recorded a write-off of approximately $0.6 million related to the carrying value of the SSGT II property management contracts.

 

In connection with the Self Administration Transaction, we previously recorded a deferred tax liability, which was the result of the difference between the GAAP carrying value of the SST IV and SSGT II property management contracts and their carrying values for tax purposes. As we reduced the GAAP carrying value of such intangible assets, we adjusted the value of our deferred tax liability on a pro-rata basis, reducing the deferred tax liability by approximately $0.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 related to the SST IV Merger and $0.2 million during the three months ended June 30, 2022 related to the SSGT II Merger and the related aforementioned write-offs, and recorded such benefits within the income tax (expense) benefit line-item in our consolidated statements of operations.

Summary of Fees and Revenue Related to the Managed REITs

Pursuant to the terms of the various agreements described above for the Managed REITs, the following summarizes the related party fees for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021:

 

Managed REIT Platform Revenues

 

Year Ended
December 31,
2023

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,
2022

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,
2021

 

Asset Management Fees:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SST IV(1)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

716,278

 

SSGT II(2)

 

 

 

 

 

798,395

 

 

 

1,843,769

 

SST VI

 

 

3,420,040

 

 

 

1,348,314

 

 

 

178,282

 

SSGT III

 

 

1,017,194

 

 

 

145,622

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,437,234

 

 

 

2,292,331

 

 

 

2,738,329

 

Property Management Fees:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SST IV(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

346,179

 

SSGT II(2)

 

 

 

 

 

407,706

 

 

 

709,533

 

SST VI

 

 

1,243,056

 

 

 

551,493

 

 

 

99,602

 

SSGT III

 

 

358,494

 

 

 

62,426

 

 

 

 

JV Properties

 

 

738,408

 

 

 

432,944

 

 

 

116,984

 

 

 

 

2,339,958

 

 

 

1,454,569

 

 

 

1,272,298

 

Tenant Protection Program Fees:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SST IV(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

285,959

 

SSGT II(2)

 

 

 

 

 

250,156

 

 

 

636,671

 

SST VI

 

 

841,582

 

 

 

396,758

 

 

 

158,662

 

SSGT III

 

 

186,109

 

 

 

8,119

 

 

 

 

JV Properties

 

 

271,221

 

 

 

186,658

 

 

 

51,185

 

 

 

 

1,298,912

 

 

 

841,691

 

 

 

1,132,477

 

Acquisition Fees:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SST VI

 

 

2,470,497

 

 

 

1,846,168

 

 

 

649,623

 

SSGT III

 

 

837,000

 

 

 

846,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,307,497

 

 

 

2,692,168

 

 

 

649,623

 

Other Managed REIT Fees(3)

 

 

556,353

 

 

 

538,457

 

 

 

530,243

 

Managed REIT Platform Fees

 

 

11,939,954

 

 

 

7,819,216

 

 

 

6,322,970

 

Sponsor funding reduction (4)

 

 

(33,643

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Managed REIT Platform Revenues

 

$

11,906,311

 

 

$

7,819,216

 

 

$

6,322,970

 

 

(1)
On March 17, 2021, we acquired SST IV and no longer earn such fees. Additionally, the Tenant Protection Program revenue for SST IV is now included in ancillary operating revenue in our consolidated statements of operations.
(2)
On June 1, 2022, we acquired SSGT II and no longer earn such fees. Additionally, the Tenant Protection Program revenue for SSGT II is now included in ancillary operating revenue in our consolidated statements of operations.
(3)
Such revenue primarily includes other property management related fees, construction management fees, development fees, and other miscellaneous revenues.
(4)
Pursuant to the Sponsor Funding Agreement, SmartStop funds certain costs of SST VI's share sales, and in return receives Series C Units in SST VI's OP. The excess of the funding over the value of the Series C Units received is accounted for as a reduction of Managed REIT Platform revenues from SST VI over the remaining estimated term of the management contracts with SST VI.

 

 

We offer tenant insurance or tenant protection programs to customers at our Managed REITs' properties pursuant to which we, as the property manager and majority shareholder of the Tenant Protection Program joint ventures, are entitled to substantially all of the net revenue attributable to the sale of such tenant programs.

 

In order to protect our interest in receiving these revenues in light of the fact that the Managed REITs control the properties, we and the Managed REITs transferred our respective rights in such arrangements to a joint venture entity owned 99.9% by us through a TRS subsidiary and 0.1% by the Managed REIT. Under the terms of the operating agreements of the joint venture entities, we receive 99.9% of the net revenues generated from such Tenant Protection Programs and the Managed REIT receives the other 0.1% of such net revenues. Subsequent to the SST IV Merger and the SSGT II Merger, the SST IV and SSGT II Tenant Protection Programs joint ventures are wholly-owned by us and such revenue is generated at our now wholly-owned self storage properties and is recorded within ancillary operating revenue in our consolidated statements of operations.

 

Reimbursable costs from Managed REITs includes reimbursement of SST IV (until the SST IV Merger Date), SSGT II, (until the SSGT II Merger Date), SST VI and SSGT III's Advisors’ direct and indirect costs of providing administrative and management services to the Managed REITs. Additionally, reimbursable costs includes reimbursement pursuant to the property management agreements for reimbursement of the costs of managing the Managed REITs’ properties, including wages and salaries and other expenses of employees engaged in operating, managing and maintaining such properties.

 

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had receivables due from the Managed REITs totaling approximately $6.5 million, and $2.0 million, respectively. Such amounts are included in investments in and advances to the Managed REITs line-item in our consolidated balance sheets. Such amounts included unpaid amounts relative to the above table, in addition to other direct routine reimbursable expenditures of the Managed REITs that we directly funded.

 

 

Investments in and advances to SST VI OP

 

Equity Investments

 

On March 10, 2021, SmartStop OP made an investment of $5.0 million in SST VI OP, in exchange for common units of limited partnership interest in SST VI OP. Additionally, a subsidiary of SmartStop OP owns a special limited partnership interest (the “SST VI SLP”) in SST VI OP.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded a loss related to our equity interest, excluding our preferred investment discussed below, in SST VI OP of approximately $0.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively, and received distributions in the amount of approximately $341,000 and $315,000, respectively.

 

On January 30, 2023, a subsidiary of SmartStop made a preferred investment of 600,000 Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred units of limited partnership interest in SST VI OP for an aggregate of $15 million. Upon closing of the preferred investment, an investment fee equal to 1% of the investment amount was owed and paid by SST VI OP. SmartStop, through its subsidiary, received distributions, payable monthly in arrears, at a rate of 7.0% per annum from the date of issuance until the second anniversary of the date of issuance, 8.0% per annum commencing thereafter until the third anniversary of the date of issuance, 9.0% per annum commencing thereafter until the fourth anniversary of the date of issuance, and 10% per annum thereafter, payable monthly. On May 2, 2023, SST VI fully redeemed SmartStop's preferred investment of 600,000 Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred units of limited partnership interest in SST VI OP, and repaid accrued distributions due as of the date of redemption for a total amount of approximately $15.1 million.

 

As discussed in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, due to our equity interest in SST VI OP, we consolidated this investment from March 10, 2021 (the date of our initial investment in SST VI OP) until May 1, 2021.

 

Sponsor Funding Agreement

On November 1, 2023, SRA, a subsidiary of SmartStop OP entered into a Sponsor Funding Agreement with SST VI and SST VI OP, in connection with certain changes to the public offering of SST VI.

Pursuant to the Sponsor Funding Agreement, SRA, as sponsor of the SST VI offering, has agreed to fund the payment of (i) the upfront 3% sales commission for the sale of shares of SST VI’s Class Y common stock sold in the SST VI offering, (ii) the upfront 3% dealer manager fee for the Class Y Shares sold in the SST VI offering, and (iii) the estimated 1% organization and offering expenses for the sale of Class Y Shares and shares of SST VI’s Class Z common stock sold in the

SST VI offering. SRA also agreed to reimburse SST VI in cash to cover the dilution from certain one-time stock dividends which were issued by SST VI to existing stockholders in connection with the sponsor funding changes to the SST VI offering. On December 15, 2023, we paid SST VI approximately $6.6 million for the reimbursement of the aforementioned stock dividend.

In consideration for SRA providing the funding for the front-end sales load and the cash to cover the dilution from the stock dividends described above, SST VI OP will issue a number of Series C Units to SRA equal to the dollar amount of such funding divided by the then-current offering price for the Class Y Shares and Class Z Shares sold in the SST VI offering, which will initially be $9.30 per share. Pursuant to the Sponsor Funding Agreement, SRA will reimburse SST VI monthly for the applicable front-end sales load it has agreed to fund, and SST VI OP will issue the Series C Units on a monthly basis upon such reimbursement. The Sponsor Funding Agreement will terminate immediately upon the date that SST VI ceases to offer the Class Y Shares and Class Z Shares in the SST VI offering. The SST VI offering was set to expire on March 17, 2024, and was extended to March 17, 2025 upon the approval of SST VI's board of directors on February 1, 2024. Inclusive of all extension options available to SST VI, their offering could not extend beyond September 12, 2025.

On November 1, 2023, SRA entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of SST VI OP with SST VI and SST VI OP containing, among other things, the terms of the Series C Units. The Series C Units shall initially have no distribution, liquidation, voting, or other rights to participate in SST VI OP unless and until such Series C Units are converted into class A units of SST VI OP. The Series C Units shall automatically convert into class A units on a one-to-one basis upon SST VI’s disclosure of an estimated net asset value per share equal to at least $10.00 per share for each class of SST VI shares of common stock, including the Class Y Shares and Class Z Shares, calculated net of the value of the Series C Units to be converted.

Through December 31, 2023, we have paid SST VI approximately $6.6 million in connection with the Sponsor Funding Agreement, and have received approximately 710,000 subordinated units. Additionally, as of December 31, 2023, approximately $0.2 million was accrued as a payable pursuant to the Sponsor Funding Agreement.

If SST VI were to sell the maximum amount under its offering of $1.0 billion, assuming the sale of all Class Y Shares consisting of a 7% front end sales load, the maximum commitment of SRA pursuant to the Sponsor Funding Agreement is approximately $70 million, excluding the reimbursement for the one time stock dividend of approximately $6.6 million.

 

Debt Investments

 

On March 11, 2021, SST VI OP, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, used the funds from our $5.0 million investment described above, in part, to acquire its first self storage facility in Phoenix, Arizona for approximately $16 million. In connection with SST VI OP’s acquisition of the Phoenix property, we provided a $3.5 million mezzanine loan to a wholly-owned subsidiary of SST VI OP with an initial interest rate of 8.5% and term of six months; as well as a 180 day extension option which was exercised and increased the interest rate to 9.25% for the remainder of the term.

 

On April 16, 2021, in connection with SST VI OP’s investment in a real estate joint venture property located in North York, Ontario Canada, we provided a $2.1 million term loan with similar terms as the mezzanine loan discussed above.

 

On November 12, 2021, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SST VI OP repaid the outstanding balance on the $3.5 million mezzanine loan and the $2.1 million term loan along with all accrued interest. The loans were terminated in accordance with the mezzanine loan agreement and the term loan agreement without fees or penalties.

 

On December 30, 2021, in connection with SST VI's acquisition of two self storage facilities, SmartStop OP entered into a mezzanine loan agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of SST VI OP for up to $45 million (the “SST VI Mezzanine Loan”). The SST VI Mezzanine Loan required a commitment fee equal to 1.0% of the amount drawn at closing of the SST VI Mezzanine Loan, and each subsequent draw. Interest on this loan accrued at LIBOR plus 3.0%.

 

The SST VI Mezzanine Loan was amended on December 20, 2022, such amendment increased the principal borrowing amount from a maximum of $45 million to $55 million. Pursuant to this amendment, the interest rate on the SST VI Mezzanine Loan was converted to a variable rate equal to SOFR plus 3.0%. Additionally, in such amendment, SST VI exercised the existing extension option; payments on the SST VI Mezzanine Loan were interest only until the due date of December 30, 2023. As of December 31, 2022, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SST VI OP had $35.0 million outstanding, pursuant to the SST VI Mezzanine Loan. On May 2, 2023, SST VI fully repaid the outstanding principal, plus all applicable

accrued interest due on the SST VI Mezzanine Loan as of such date for a total amount of approximately $51.7 million. On such date, the SST VI Mezzanine Loan agreement was terminated.

 

On June 13, 2023 SmartStop OP entered into a promissory note agreement with SST VI OP ( the “SST VI Note”), where SST VI OP borrowed $15.0 million. Interest on the loan accrued at SOFR plus 3.0%. Payments on the SST VI Note are interest only. The loan was extended to December 31, 2024 at the borrower's option. As such, the interest rate on the loan increased to SOFR plus 4.0%, and a fee equal to 0.25% of the outstanding principal balance was due as a result of SST VI exercising the extension option. The SST VI Note required a commitment fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the loan. As of December 31, 2023, SST VI OP had $15.0 million borrowed and outstanding pursuant to the SST VI Note.

 

The following table summarizes the carrying value of our investments in and advances to SST VI as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

Receivables:

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Receivables and advances due

 

$

5,861,326

 

 

$

1,828,990

 

Debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

SST VI Mezzanine Loan

 

 

-

 

 

 

35,000,000

 

SST VI Note

 

 

15,000,000

 

 

 

-

 

Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

SST VI OP Units and
   SST VI SLP

 

 

1,932,357

 

 

 

3,221,410

 

SST VI Class C Subordinated Units

 

 

3,306,494

 

 

 

-

 

Total investments in and advances

 

$

26,100,177

 

 

$

40,050,400

 

 

Investments in and advances to SSGT III OP

 

Equity Investments

 

On August 29, 2022, SmartStop OP made an investment of $5.0 million in SS Growth Operating Partnership III, L.P., the operating partnership of SSGT III ("SSGT III OP"), in exchange for common units of limited partnership interest in SSGT III OP. Additionally, a subsidiary of SmartStop OP owns a special limited partnership interest (the "SSGT III SLP") in SSGT III OP.

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded a loss related to our equity interest in SSGT III OP of approximately $0.7 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and received distributions in the amount of approximately $257,000 and $55,000, respectively.

 

Debt Investments

 

On August 9, 2022, in connection with SSGT III's acquisition of two self storage facilities, SmartStop OP, L.P. entered into a mezzanine loan agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of SSGT III, for up to $50.0 million (the "SSGT III Mezzanine Loan"), of which $42.0 million was funded as an initial draw at the time of closing. The SSGT III Mezzanine Loan requires a commitment fee equal to 1.0% of the amount drawn at closing of the SSGT III Mezzanine Loan, and subsequent draws.

The SSGT III Mezzanine Loan was amended on December 20, 2022, such amendment increased the principal borrowing amount from up to $50 million to $77 million. Pursuant to this amendment, the interest rate on the SSGT III Mezzanine Loan became a variable rate equal to SOFR plus 3.0%. Payments on the SSGT III Mezzanine Loan are interest only, and it had an initial maturity date of August 9, 2023. SSGT III extended the ultimate maturity date of the SSGT III Mezzanine Loan until August 9, 2024, as such, the interest rate of the SSGT III Mezzanine Loan increased to SOFR plus 4.0% per annum, pursuant to the December 20, 2022 amendment. The SSGT III Mezzanine Loan may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time without fees or penalty and, in certain circumstances, equity interests securing the SSGT III Mezzanine Loan may be released from the pledge of collateral. The SSGT III Mezzanine Loan is secured by a pledge of the equity

interest in the indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of SSGT III, that owned seven operating self storage facilities as of December 31, 2023. SSGT III OP, also serves as a non-recourse guarantor.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SSGT III OP had $4.0 million and $17.5 million, respectively, borrowed and outstanding pursuant to the SSGT III Mezzanine Loan.

 

The following table summarizes the carrying value of our investments in and advances to SSGT III OP as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

Receivables:

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Receivables and advances due

 

$

628,710

 

 

$

156,082

 

Debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

SSGT III Mezzanine Loan(1)

 

 

4,000,000

 

 

 

17,500,000

 

Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

SSGT III OP Units and
    SSGT III SLP

 

 

3,661,978

 

 

 

4,664,687

 

Total investments in and advances

 

$

8,290,688

 

 

$

22,320,769

 

 

(1) As of December 31, 2023, $1.5 million was available to be drawn on the SSGT III Mezzanine Loan.

 

Administrative Services Agreement

On June 28, 2019, we along with our Operating Partnership, SmartStop TRS and SmartStop Storage Advisors, LLC (collectively, the “Company Parties”) entered into an Administrative Services Agreement with SAM (the “Administrative Services Agreement”), which, as amended, requires that the Company Parties will be reimbursed for providing certain operational and administrative services to SAM which may include, without limitation, accounting and financial support, IT support, HR support, advisory services and operations support, and administrative support and other miscellaneous reimbursements as set forth in the Administrative Services Agreement and SAM will be reimbursed for providing certain operational and administrative services to the Company Parties which may include, without limitation, due diligence support, marketing, fulfillment and offering support, events support, insurance support, and administrative and facilities support. SAM and the Company Parties will reimburse one another based on the actual costs of providing their respective services. Additionally, SAM paid the Company Parties an allocation of rent and overhead for the portion of the Ladera Office that it occupied until October 2022, at which time SAM relocated to a separate office. Such agreement had an initial term of three years, with automatic one-year renewals, and is subject to certain adjustments as defined in the agreement.

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we incurred reimbursements payable to SAM under the Administrative Services Agreement of approximately $0.5 million and approximately $0.3 million, respectively, which were recorded in the Managed REIT Platform expenses line item in our consolidated statements of operations.

We recorded reimbursements from SAM of approximately $0.7 million and $0.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to services provided to SAM as well as reimbursements of rent and overhead for the portion of the Ladera Office occupied by SAM, which were included in Managed REIT Platform revenue in our consolidated statements of operations and other miscellaneous reimbursements.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, a payable of approximately $11,000 and a receivable of approximately $15,000, respectively, was due to/from SAM related to the Administrative Services Agreement.