What the changes say
- Empire State Realty OP added specific terrorism insurance and New York rent regulation risks.
- Lease expiration figures and top tenant concentrations were updated.
- Observatory revenue figures and union workforce headcounts were revised.
What changed since the prior 10-K
New
- NewRisks Relating to Portfolio Concentration
A terrorist event in New York City, particularly at a high-profile property such as the Empire State Building, could materially disrupt our operations, reduce demand for our properties and Observatory, and negatively affect occupancy and rental rates
A terrorist attack on the Empire State Building could disrupt operations and exceed our $2.0 billion terrorism insurance coverage.
- NewRisks Relating to the Real Estate Market
As of December 31, 2025, we had approximately 0.7 million rentable square feet of vacant space in our office and
We have 0.7 million rentable square feet of vacant space, with commercial leases expiring on 5.1% of square footage in 2026 and 7.3% in 2027.
- NewRisks Relating to Acquisitions and Dispositions
We may acquire properties through tax deferred contribution transactions, which could result in securityholder dilution and limit our ability to sell such assets
Acquiring properties through tax-deferred contribution transactions may cause dilution and restrict our ability to sell assets favorably.
- NewRisks Relating to Legal Compliance, Sustainability and Cybersecurity
Sustainability-related disclosure standards and expectations continue to evolve and may differ across jurisdictions and stakeholders. Our selection and application of disclosure frameworks involve judgment, and future changes in standards or interpretation could require revisions to previously disclosed information
Evolving sustainability disclosure standards and potential failure to meet stated goals could cause reputational harm, litigation, or increased regulatory scrutiny.
- NewRisks Relating to Legal Compliance, Sustainability and Cybersecurity
The adoption of or changes in rent regulation, tenant protection and eviction laws in New York could adversely affect our residential operations and property values
New York rent stabilization laws and Good Cause Eviction could limit rent increases and residential property values.
Dropped
- DroppedRisks Relating to Portfolio Concentration
The threat or occurrence of a terrorist event, particularly in New York City, may materially and adversely affect the value of our properties and our ability to generate cash flow
- DroppedRisks Relating to the Real Estate Market
We may be unable to renew leases or re-lease vacant space on favorable terms or at all as leases expire
- DroppedRisks Relating to Acquisitions and Dispositions
In the future we may acquire properties through tax deferred contribution transactions in exchange for our partnership
- DroppedRisks Relating to Legal Compliance, Sustainability and Cybersecurity
The adoption of or changes in rent control or rent stabilization regulations and eviction regulations in our markets could have an adverse effect on our operations and property values
Terrorism threats in New York City could increase insurance premiums and decrease property demand.
Reworded
- 100% rewrittenRisks Relating to Legal Compliance, Sustainability and Cybersecurity
Stakeholder attention to sustainability matters may impact our business
Updated to focus on specific environmental laws like Local Law 97, compliance costs, and performance metrics instead of general societal pressure.
Was: Increasing attention to sustainability matters may impact our business
- 98% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Non-Real Estate Operations
The Observatory operations at the Empire State Building may be negatively impacted by geopolitical factors, competition, adverse weather, and changes in tourist trends
Updated to report that visitor volume decreased in 2025 compared to 2024, remaining below 2019 levels.
- 89% rewrittenRisks Relating to Legal Compliance, Sustainability and Cybersecurity
Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in loss of investor confidence and adversely impact our stock price
Updated to note that while past IT general control material weaknesses were remediated, new ones could arise.
- 79% rewrittenRisks Relating to Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
We may incur significant costs to comply with environmental laws, for example New York City’s Local Law 97
Updated Local Law 97 risk language to reflect current expectations of operating within emissions limits during the 2024-2029 enforcement period.
- 67% rewrittenRisks Related to ESRT's REIT Status, Our Organization and Structure
Tax consequences to holders of our operating partnership units and tax protection agreements triggered upon a sale or refinancing of our properties could limit our ability either to sell certain properties or engage in a strategic transaction
Added specific reference to ESRT for Chairman and CEO Anthony E. Malkin and Chairman Emeritus Peter L. Malkin regarding tax consequences.
- 56% rewrittenRisks Relating to Human Capital Management
Our failure to maintain satisfactory labor relations could materially and adversely affect us
Updated union coverage figures to 407 employees (63% of workforce) in 2025 and noted past or potential strikes.
- 44% rewrittenRisks Relating to Portfolio Concentration
We rely on three properties, in particular the Empire State Building and its Observatory, for a significant portion of our revenue
Updated 2025 financial figures, showing three properties generated 55.6% of rental revenue and the Observatory generated $128.3 million.
- 37% rewrittenRisks Relating to Portfolio Concentration
Our five largest tenants represented approximately 17.4% of our total commercial portfolio’s annualized rent as of December 31, 2025
Updated top tenant figures to show five largest tenants represented 17.4% of annualized rent, with the largest leasing 0.4 million square feet.
Was: Our five largest tenants represented approximately 16.5% of our total commercial portfolio’s annualized rent as of December 31, 2024
- 33% rewrittenRisks Relating to the Real Estate Market
The short-term nature of multifamily leases exposes us more quickly to the effects of declining market rents, potentially making our revenue more volatile
- 31% rewrittenRisks Relating to Legal Compliance, Sustainability and Cybersecurity
Cyberattacks and any failure to comply with related laws could negatively impact us
- 26% rewrittenRisks Relating to Our Indebtedness and Liquidity
Our growth depends on external sources of capital that are outside of our control
- 20% rewrittenRisks Relating to Acquisitions and Dispositions
We may be unable to identify and successfully complete acquisitions, and completed acquisitions may expose us to additional risks
All 60 risk factors
Headings as the filing states them, in filing order.
Risks Relating to Portfolio Concentration
- 01Our properties are geographically concentrated in New York, and adverse state or local economic or regulatory developments could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition
- 02We rely on three properties, in particular the Empire State Building and its Observatory, for a significant portion of our revenue44% rewritten
- 03Our five largest tenants represented approximately 17.4% of our total commercial portfolio’s annualized rent as of December 31, 202537% rewritten
- 04A terrorist event in New York City, particularly at a high-profile property such as the Empire State Building, could materially disrupt our operations, reduce demand for our properties and Observatory, and negatively affect occupancy and rental ratesNew
Risks Relating to the Real Estate Market
- 05Adverse economic and geopolitical conditions impacting the industries of our tenants could cause reduced demand, rental rates and occupancy for our office, multifamily, and retail space
- 06The bankruptcy or insolvency of any tenant could result in the termination of such tenant’s lease and material losses to us
- 07Competition may impede our ability to attract or retain tenants or re-lease space and we may be required to make rent or other concessions and/or significant capital expenditures to improve our properties in order to retain and attract tenants
- 08As of December 31, 2025, we had approximately 0.7 million rentable square feet of vacant space in our office andNew
- 09The short-term nature of multifamily leases exposes us more quickly to the effects of declining market rents, potentially making our revenue more volatile33% rewritten
Risks Relating to Our Properties
- 10We face various risks related to our ground leases, including those arising from breach, expiration and eminent domain proceedings, and we have no permanent economic interest in the land or improvements at such properties
- 11We are exposed to risks associated with property development
- 12Significant inflation could adversely affect our business and financial results
- 13We may not be able to control our operating costs, or our expenses may remain constant or increase even if income from our properties decreases
- 14We are exposed to risks from third-party property management services
Risks Related to Our Non-Real Estate Operations
- 15The Observatory operations at the Empire State Building may be negatively impacted by geopolitical factors, competition, adverse weather, and changes in tourist trends98% rewritten
- 16The broadcasting operations at the Empire State Building are not traditional real estate operations, and competition and changes in the broadcasting of signals over air may subject us to additional risks
- 17The impairment of a significant portion of goodwill could negatively affect our results of operations and financial condition
Risks Relating to Acquisitions and Dispositions
- 18We may be unable to identify and successfully complete acquisitions, and completed acquisitions may expose us to additional risks20% rewritten
- 19We may acquire properties through tax deferred contribution transactions, which could result in securityholder dilution and limit our ability to sell such assetsNew
- 20If we are unable to sell, dispose of or refinance one or more properties in the future, we may be unable to realize our investment objectives
- 21We may incur taxable capital gain on the disposition of assets due to the failure to comply with Section 1031 of the Code
Risks Relating to Our Indebtedness and Liquidity
- 22Our debt, the cost of our debt and limitations in our loan documents could adversely affect us
- 23Our debt includes restrictions on our financial and operational flexibility and distributions
- 24Mortgages expose us to foreclosure and loss of our investment in a mortgaged property
- 25High mortgage rates and/or unavailability of mortgage debt may make it difficult for us to finance or refinance properties, which could reduce the number of properties we can acquire, our net income and the amount of cash distributions
- 26Our growth depends on external sources of capital that are outside of our control26% rewritten
Risks Relating to Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
- 27Natural disasters and physical climate risk could adversely impact our area and business
- 28Some of our potential losses may not be covered by insurance
- 29We may incur significant costs to comply with environmental laws, and environmental contamination may impair our ability to lease and/or sell real estate
- 30We may incur significant costs to comply with environmental laws, for example New York City’s Local Law 9779% rewritten
Risks Relating to Human Capital Management
- 31The departure of any of our key personnel could materially and adversely affect us
- 32ESRT's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer has outside business interests that take his time and attention away from us, which could materially and adversely affect us
- 33Our failure to maintain satisfactory labor relations could materially and adversely affect us56% rewritten
Risks Relating to Legal Compliance, Sustainability and Cybersecurity
- 34Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in loss of investor confidence and adversely impact our stock price89% rewritten
- 35We face risks associated with our tenants being designated “Prohibited Persons” by OFAC and similar requirements
- 36We may incur significant costs to comply with the ADA and similar laws
- 37We may become subject to litigation, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition
- 38Stakeholder attention to sustainability matters may impact our business100% rewritten
- 39Sustainability-related disclosure standards and expectations continue to evolve and may differ across jurisdictions and stakeholders. Our selection and application of disclosure frameworks involve judgment, and future changes in standards or interpretation could require revisions to previously disclosed informationNew
- 40Cyberattacks and any failure to comply with related laws could negatively impact us31% rewritten
- 41The adoption of or changes in rent regulation, tenant protection and eviction laws in New York could adversely affect our residential operations and property valuesNew
- 42Government housing regulations may limit opportunities at the multifamily properties in which we invest, and failure to comply with resident qualification requirements or to extend such programs upon expiration may result in financial penalties or loss of benefits
Risks Related to ESRT's REIT Status, Our Organization and Structure
- 43You may be allocated more taxable income than the distributions you receive from us
- 44Your ability to deduct certain losses allocated from us may be subject to limitations
- 45Participants may recognize taxable gain resulting from a reduction in their allocable share of our liabilities or specific transactions or tax elections by ESRT
- 46Failure of ESRT to qualify as a REIT would have a material adverse effect on us
- 47To enable ESRT to comply with REIT requirements, we may have to forego and/or liquidate otherwise attractive investments or borrow funds and we may be subject to tax
- 48We cannot match the transferor of particular Series 60, Series 250, or Series ES OP units with each transferee of such OP units, so we have adopted certain income tax accounting positions that could subject us to challenge by the IRS
- 49Our state and local taxes could increase due to property tax rate changes, reassessment and/or changes in state and local tax laws, which could materially and adversely affect us
- 50U.S. federal, state and local legislative, judicial or regulatory tax changes could have a material adverse effect on our shareholders and us
- 51Tax consequences to holders of our operating partnership units and tax protection agreements triggered upon a sale or refinancing of our properties could limit our ability either to sell certain properties or engage in a strategic transaction67% rewritten
- 52Holders of ESRT’s Class B common stock have a significant vote in ESRT matters
- 53The concentration of our voting power may adversely affect the ability of new investors to influence our policies
- 54Conflicts of interest exist or could arise in the future between ESRT’s securityholders and OP unit holders
- 55ESRT’s rights and the rights of ESRT’s securityholders to take action against ESRT’s directors and officers are limited, which could limit your recourse in the event of actions not in your best interest
- 56Limits on changes in control may discourage takeover attempts beneficial to securityholders
Risks Related to our Traded OP Units
- 57Our cash available for distribution may not be sufficient to make distributions at expected levels, and the market price of our securities could be adversely affected by our level of cash distributions
- 58Changes in market conditions could adversely affect the market price of ESRT's Common Stock and our traded OP Units
- 59The future exercise of registration rights may adversely affect the market price of our securities
- 60Future issuances of debt or equity securities or preferred units may be dilutive to current securityholders and may materially adversely affect the market price of our traded securities
Other Empire State Realty OP 10-Ks
- FY2024 10-K risk factors59 risks
Properties concentrated heavily in New York City and the Empire State Building anchor significant revenue exposure.
Filed Feb 28, 2025
About this page
The headings are the filing's own. The one-line readings and the overview are automated and can be wrong: read Item 1A of the 10-K for the exact wording.