Related Party Transactions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions
Note 10. Related Party Transactions
Through the closing of the Self Administration Transaction on June 28, 2019, we incurred expenses under the following advisory and property management agreements; commencing on such closing and continuing thereafter we no longer incur such expenses. The Former Dealer Manager Agreement and the Transfer Agent Agreement described below were not impacted by the Self Administration Transaction.
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 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 receives an ongoing stockholder servicing fee as discussed in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Organization and Offering Costs.
Affiliated Former Dealer Manager
SAM owns 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 other
non-traded
REITs sponsored by SRA.
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 is three years, which term will be 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, 2020 and 2021, as well as any related amounts payable as of December 31, 2020 and 2021.
 
    
Year Ended December 31, 2020
     
Year Ended December 31, 2021
  
    
Incurred
     
Paid
     
Payable
     
Incurred
     
Paid
     
Payable
  
Expensed
                  
Transfer Agent fees
    $ 525,108      $ 489,108      $ 36,000      $ 967,341      $ 916,349      $ 86,992  
Additional
paid-in
capital
                  
Transfer Agent expenses
      —          —          —          150,000        150,000        —    
Stockholder servicing fee
(1)
      —          645,911        631,429        161,545        636,654        156,320  
Stockholder servicing fees - SST IV
(2)
      —          —          —          1,155,887        814,908        340,979  
  
 
 
     
 
 
     
 
 
     
 
 
     
 
 
     
 
 
  
Total
    $ 525,108      $ 1,135,019      $ 667,429      $ 2,434,773      $ 2,517,911      $ 584,291  
  
 
 
     
 
 
     
 
 
     
 
 
     
 
 
     
 
 
  
 
(1)
We pay our Dealer Manager an ongoing stockholder servicing fee that is payable monthly and accrues daily in an amount equal to 1/365
th
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, 2021 represents an adjustment to the estimated stockholder servicing fee recorded at the time of the sale of the Class T Shares, based on the current estimated cessation date (March 31, 2022) of such stockholder servicing fee.
(2)
Represents the stockholder servicing fee liability assumed in the SST IV Merger.
Please see Note 3 – Real Estate Facilities and Note 5 – Self Administration Transaction for additional information.
Acquisition of Self Storage Platform from SmartStop Asset Management, LLC 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 also own the advisor and property manager entities of SST VI and are entitled to receive various fees and expense reimbursements under the terms of the SST VI 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”), and Strategic Storage Advisor VI, LLC, the advisor to SST VI (the “SST VI Advisor”) are or were entitled to receive various fees and expense reimbursements under the terms of the SST IV, SSGT II, and SST VI 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”) to SST IV up until the SST IV Merger on March 17, 2021.
Effective April 30, 2020, SST IV suspended its offering due to various factors, including the uncertainty relating to the ongoing
COVID-19
outbreak and its potential economic impact, the status of fundraising in the
non-traded
REIT industry due to such uncertainty and the termination of their dealer manager agreement. SST IV’s public offering terminated on September 11, 2020.
The SST IV Advisor received a monthly asset management fee equal to 0.0833%, which is
one-twelfth
of 1%, of SST IV’s aggregate asset value, as defined. The SST IV Advisor was potentially also entitled to various subordinated distributions under SST IV’s operating partnership agreement pursuant to the special limited partnership interest and its cash flow participation distribution rights if SST IV (1) listed its shares of common stock on a national exchange, (2) terminated the SST IV Advisory Agreement, (3) liquidated its portfolio, or (4) entered into an Extraordinary Transaction, as defined in the SST IV operating partnership agreement.
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 value of our deferred tax liabilities by
pro-rata
amounts, reducing the deferred tax liabilities in aggregate by
approximately $1.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2021, and recorded such adjustment as Other income within the other line item in our consolidated statements of operations.
SSGT II Advisory Agreement
The SSGT II Advisor provides acquisition and advisory services to SSGT II pursuant to an advisory agreement (the “SSGT II Advisory Agreement”). In connection with the SSGT II private placement offering, SSGT II is required to reimburse the SSGT II Advisor for organization and offering costs from the SSGT II private offering pursuant to the SSGT II Advisory Agreement.
Effective as of April 30, 2020, SSGT II suspended its offering due to various factors, including the uncertainty relating to the ongoing
COVID-19
outbreak and its potential economic impact, the status of fundraising in the
non-traded
REIT industry due to such uncertainty and the termination of its dealer manager agreement.
The SSGT II Advisor receives a monthly asset management fee equal to 0.1042%, which is
one-twelfth
of 1.25%, of SSGT II’s aggregate asset value, as defined.
The SSGT II Advisor may also be potentially entitled to various subordinated distributions under SSGT II’s operating partnership agreement pursuant to the special limited partnership interest and its cash flow participation distribution rights. So long as the SSGT II Advisory Agreement has not been terminated (including by means of
non-renewal),
SSGT II is required to pay the SSGT II Advisor a distribution from its operating partnership (other than net sale proceeds), pursuant to a special limited partnership interest, equal to 10.0% of any amount distributed to stockholders in excess of the amount required to provide stockholders with an annual aggregate distribution equal to 5.0% (reflective of the weighted average purchase price per share), cumulative within the subject calendar year (as adjusted for partial periods outstanding). Such distribution will be reconciled and paid annually. The cash flow participation distribution may be payable in cash or operating partnership units (or any combination thereof), at the election of the SSGT II Advisor.
Pursuant to SSGT II’s operating partnership agreement if SSGT II (1) lists its shares of common stock on a national exchange, (2) terminates the SSGT II Advisory Agreement, (3) liquidates its portfolio, or (4) merges with another entity or enters into an Extraordinary Transaction, as defined in the SSGT II operating partnership agreement, the SSGT II Advisor may potentially be entitled to various subordinated distributions.
The SSGT II Advisory Agreement provides for reimbursement of the SSGT II Advisor’s direct and indirect costs of providing administrative and management services to SSGT II.
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 is required to reimburse the SST VI Advisor for organization and offering costs from the SST VI private offering pursuant to the SST VI Advisory Agreement.
Pursuant to the SST VI Advisory Agreement, the SST VI Advisor will receive 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.
The SST VI Advisor may also be potentially entitled to various subordinated distributions pursuant to the special limited partnership interest under 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.
Managed REIT Property Management Agreements
Our indirect subsidiaries, Strategic Storage Property Management IV, LLC, SS Growth Property Management II, LLC, and Strategic Storage Property Management VI, LLC (collectively the “Managed REITs Property Managers”), are 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 will 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 and SST VI 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.
In connection with the Self Administration Transaction, we previously recorded a deferred tax liability, which is the result of the difference between the GAAP carrying value of the SST IV property management contracts and their carrying value for tax purposes. As we reduced the GAAP carrying value of such intangible assets, we adjusted the value of our deferred tax liabilities by
pro-rata
amounts, reducing the deferred tax liabilities in aggregate by approximately $0.5 million, and recorded such adjustment as other income within the other line-item in our consolidated statement 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, 2021, 2020, and 2019:
 
Managed REIT Platform Revenues
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2021
     
Year Ended
December 31,
2020
     
Year Ended
December 31,
2019
  
Advisory agreement – SST IV
(1)
    $ 716,278      $ 3,211,661      $ 1,153,137  
Advisory agreement – SSGT II
      1,843,769        1,210,529        310,786  
Advisory agreement – SST VI
      178,282        —          —    
Property management agreement – SST IV
(1)
      346,179        1,429,632        602,162  
Property management agreement – SSGT II
      709,533        371,751        91,594  
Property management agreement – SST VI
      99,602        —          —    
Tenant Protection Program revenue – SST IV
(3)
      285,959        893,315        —    
Tenant Protection Program revenue – SSGT II
      636,671        257,602        37,269  
Tenant Protection Program revenue – SST VI
      158,662        —          254,148  
Other Managed REIT revenue
(2)
      1,348,035        674,140        619,210  
  
 
 
     
 
 
     
 
 
  
Total
    $ 6,322,970      $ 8,048,630      $ 3,068,306  
  
 
 
     
 
 
     
 
 
  
 
  (1)
On March 17, 2021, we acquired SST IV and no longer earn such fees.
  (2)
Such revenues primarily include construction management, development fees, and other miscellaneous revenues.
  (3)
On March 17, 2021, we acquired SST IV and such revenue is now included in 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, and SST VI 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, 2021 and 2020, we had receivables due from the Managed REITs totaling approximately $1.4 million, and $0.5 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 expenditures of the Managed REITs that we directly funded.
Investment in SSGT II OP
On September 21, 2020, a wholly-owned subsidiary of our Operating Partnership (the “Preferred Investor”), entered into a preferred unit purchase agreement (the “SSGT II Unit Purchase Agreement”) with SS Growth Operating Partnership II, L.P. (the “SSGT II OP”) and SSGT II. Pursuant to the terms of the SSGT II Unit Purchase Agreement, the Preferred Investor agreed to purchase, in one or more tranches, up to 1.6 million units of limited partnership interest in SSGT II OP (the “SSGT II Preferred Units”) for an aggregate of up to $40 million (the “SSGT II Investment”). Upon the closing of each tranche of the SSGT II Investment, the Preferred Investor was due an investment fee equal to 1% of the investment amount of such tranche.
The Preferred Investor received distributions, payable monthly in arrears, at a rate of 7.25% per annum from the date of investment until 180 days after the date of investment, 8.25% per annum from 181 days after the date of investment until 360 days after the date of investment, and 9.25% per annum thereafter (collectively, the “Pay Rate”). The proceeds of the SSGT II Investment may be used by SSGT II OP to finance self storage acquisition, development, and improvement activities, and working capital or other general partnership purposes. Each SSGT II Preferred Unit had a liquidation preference of $25.00, plus all accumulated and unpaid distributions. The foregoing distributions are payable monthly, and calculated on an actual/360 day basis, and any unpaid distributions accrue at the applicable Pay Rate.
On September 21, 2020, October 29, 2020, and November 4, 2020, the Preferred Investor invested approximately $6.5 million, $13 million, and $13 million, respectively, in the SSGT II Operating Partnership. On November 12, 2020, SSGT II redeemed $19 million of our SSGT II Preferred Units, reducing our investment in SSGT II Preferred Units to $13.5 million, which was recorded in investments in and advances to Managed REITs in our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020.
On January 21, 2021, SSGT II redeemed the remaining $13.5 million of our outstanding SSGT II Preferred Units.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, we were potentially required to purchase an additional $7.5 million in SSGT II Preferred Units.
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we recorded income related to the SSGT II Preferred Units totaling approximately $0.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively, which is recorded within the Other line item in our consolidated statements of operations.
Investment in SST VI OP
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.
On March 11, 2021, SST VI OP, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, used these funds, 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, 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 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. The SST VI Mezzanine Loan is secured by a pledge of the equity interest in the
 
indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of SST VI that collectively currently own two self storage facilities in Florida. SST VI OP also serves as a
non-recourse
guarantor.
The interest rate on the SST VI Mezzanine Loan is a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 3%. Payments on the SST VI Mezzanine Loan are interest only until December 30, 2022, which is the initial maturity date of the SST VI Mezzanine Loan. SST VI OP may, in certain circumstances, extend the ultimate maturity date of the SST VI Mezzanine Loan through December 30, 2023 upon written notice to us, in which event the interest rate of the SST VI Mezzanine Loan will increase to LIBOR plus 4% per annum. The SST VI 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 SST VI Mezzanine Loan may be released from the pledge of collateral. As of December 31, 2021, SST VI OP had borrowed $6.8 million pursuant to the SST VI Mezzanine Loan and we were potentially required to fund an additional $38.2 million.
Additionally, SmartStop OP already had a special limited partnership interest (the “SLP”), whereby SmartStop OP would receive a subordinated distribution upon certain returns on equity being met.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded a loss related to our equity interest in SST VI OP of approximately $0.6 million, which is recorded within the Other line item in our consolidated statements of operations.
Administrative Services Agreement
For the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020, we incurred fees payable to SAM under the Administrative Services Agreement of approximately $0.2 million, and $1.9 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 $0.6 million and $0.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, 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 statement of operations.
As of December 31, 2021, a receivable of approximately $60,000 was due from SAM related to the Administrative Services Agreement and included in the other assets line in our consolidated balance sheet.
As of December 31, 2020, a receivable of approximately $50,000 was due from SAM related to the Administrative Services Agreement and included in the due to affiliates line in our consolidated balance sheet.