Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation [Policy Text Block]

The consolidated financial statements reflect all of our accounts, including those of our majority-owned and/or controlled subsidiaries. The portion of equity in a subsidiary that is not attributable, directly or indirectly, to us is presented as noncontrolling interests. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Finance, Loans and Leases Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Assets representing rights to receive money on demand or at fixed or determinable dates are referred to as finance receivables. Our finance receivable portfolios consist of our Net investments in direct financing leases and deferred acquisition fees. Operating leases are not included in finance receivables as such amounts are not recognized as an asset in the consolidated balance sheets

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Under current authoritative accounting guidance for fair value measurements, the fair value of an asset is defined as the exit price, which is the amount that would either be received when an asset is sold or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The guidance establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers are: Level 1, for which quoted market prices for identical instruments are available in active markets, such as money market funds, equity securities and U.S. Treasury securities; Level 2, for which there are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the instrument, such as certain derivative instruments including interest rate caps and swaps; and Level 3, for which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring us to develop our own assumptions, such as certain securities. Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument: Money Market Funds — Our money market funds consisted of government securities and U.S. Treasury bills. These funds were classified as Level 1 as we used quoted prices from active markets to determine their fair values Derivative Assets and Liabilities — Our derivative assets and liabilities are primarily comprised of interest rate swaps or caps. These derivative instruments were measured at fair value using readily observable market inputs, such as quotations on interest rates. These derivative instruments were classified as Level 2 because they are custom, over-the-counter contracts with various bank counterparties that are not traded in an active market. Other Securities — Our other securities are primarily comprised of our investment in an India growth fund and our interest in a commercial mortgage loan securitization. These funds are not traded in an active market. We estimated the fair value of these securities using internal valuation models that incorporate market inputs and our own assumptions about future cash flows. We classified these assets as Level 3. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest — We account for our noncontrolling interest in WPCI as a redeemable noncontrolling interest. We determined the valuation of the redeemable noncontrolling interest using widely accepted valuation techniques, including expected discounted cash flows of the investment as well as the income capitalization approach, which considers prevailing market capitalization rates. We classified this liability as Level 3

Shares Subject to Mandatory Redemption, Changes in Redemption Value, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We account for the noncontrolling interest in WPCI held by one of our officers (Note 3) as a redeemable noncontrolling interest, as we have an obligation to repurchase the interest from that officer, subject to certain conditions. The officer's interest is reflected at estimated redemption value for all periods presented.

Discontinued Operations, Policy [Policy Text Block]

From time to time, tenants may vacate space due to lease buy-outs, elections not to renew their leases, insolvency or lease rejection in the bankruptcy process. In these cases, we assess whether we can obtain the highest value from the property by re-leasing or selling it. In addition, in certain cases, we may try to sell a property that is occupied. When it is appropriate to do so under current accounting guidance for the disposal of long-lived assets, we classify the property as an asset held for sale on our consolidated balance sheet and the current and prior period results of operations of the property are reclassified as discontinued operations.