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Investments in Partially Owned Entities
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
Investments in Partially Owned Entities
Investments in Partially Owned Entities

Alexander’s, Inc. (“Alexander’s”) (NYSE: ALX)

As of March 31, 2018, we own 1,654,068 Alexander’s common shares, or approximately 32.4% of Alexander’s common equity. We manage, lease and develop Alexander’s properties pursuant to agreements which expire in March of each year and are automatically renewable.

As of March 31, 2018, the market value (“fair value” pursuant to ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”)) of our investment in Alexander’s, based on Alexander’s March 29, 2018 quarter ended closing share price of $381.23, was $630,580,000, or $514,502,000 in excess of the carrying amount on our consolidated balance sheet. As of March 31, 2018, the carrying amount of our investment in Alexander’s, excluding amounts owed to us, exceeds our share of the equity in the net assets of Alexander’s by approximately $39,317,000. The majority of this basis difference resulted from the excess of our purchase price for the Alexander’s common stock acquired over the book value of Alexander’s net assets. Substantially all of this basis difference was allocated, based on our estimates of the fair values of Alexander’s assets and liabilities, to real estate (land and buildings). We are amortizing the basis difference related to the buildings into earnings as additional depreciation expense over their estimated useful lives. This depreciation is not material to our share of equity in Alexander’s net income. The basis difference related to the land will be recognized upon disposition of our investment.

Alexander's paid $3,971,000 of Transfer Tax upon the November 2012 sale of its Kings Plaza Regional Shopping Center located in Brooklyn, New York. Alexander's accrued $23,797,000 of potential additional Transfer Tax and related interest based on the precedent established by the Tax Tribunal's decision regarding One Park Avenue (see Note 6 - Real Estate Fund Investments for details) during the first quarter of 2018 which was subsequently paid on April 5, 2018 in order to preserve Alexander's rights to continue litigation and stop accrual of interest, of which our 32.4% share is $7,708,000 and is included in "(loss) income from partially owned entities" on our consolidated statements of income.

Urban Edge Properties (“UE”) (NYSE: UE)

As of March 31, 2018, we own 5,717,184 UE operating partnership units, representing a 4.5% ownership interest in UE. We account for our investment in UE under the equity method and record our share of UE’s net income or loss on a one-quarter lag basis. In 2018 and 2017, we provided UE with information technology support. UE is providing us with leasing and property management services for (i) certain small retail properties that we plan to sell, and (ii) our affiliate, Alexander’s, Rego Park retail assets. As of March 31, 2018, the fair value of our investment in UE, based on UE’s March 29, 2018 quarter ended closing share price of $21.35, was $122,062,000, or $77,886,000 in excess of the carrying amount on our consolidated balance sheet.
8.
Investments in Partially Owned Entities - continued

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (“PREIT”) (NYSE: PEI)

As of March 31, 2018, we own 6,250,000 PREIT operating partnership units, representing an 8.0% interest in PREIT. We account for our investment in PREIT under the equity method and record our share of PREIT’s net income or loss on a one-quarter lag basis.

As of March 31, 2018, the market value (“fair value” pursuant to ASC 820) of our investment in PREIT, based on PREIT’s March 29, 2018 quarter ended closing share price of $9.65, was $60,313,000 or $4,874,000 below the carrying amount on our consolidated balance sheet. As of March 31, 2018, the carrying amount of our investment in PREIT exceeds our share of the equity in the net assets of PREIT by approximately $33,976,000. The majority of this basis difference resulted from the excess of the fair value of the PREIT operating units received over our share of the book value of PREIT’s net assets. Substantially all of this basis difference was allocated, based on our estimates of the fair values of PREIT’s assets and liabilities, to real estate (land and buildings). We are amortizing the basis difference related to the buildings into earnings as additional depreciation expense over their estimated useful lives. This depreciation is not material to our share of equity in PREIT’s net loss. The basis difference related to the land will be recognized upon disposition of our investment.

Independence Plaza

We have a 50.1% economic interest in a joint venture that owns Independence Plaza, a three-building 1,327 unit residential complex in the Tribeca submarket of Manhattan. The joint venture paid $1,730,000 of Transfer Tax upon its acquisition of the property in December 2012. The joint venture accrued $13,103,000 of potential additional Transfer Tax and related interest based on the precedent established by the Tax Tribunal's decision regarding One Park Avenue (see Note 6 - Real Estate Fund Investments for details) during the first quarter of 2018, which was subsequently paid on April 5, 2018, in order to preserve the joint venture's rights to continue litigation and stop accrual of interest. Because we consolidate the entity that incurred the potential additional Transfer Tax, $13,103,000 of expense is included in "transaction related costs and other" and $6,538,000 is allocated to "noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries" on our consolidated statements of income.

Toys "R" Us, Inc. ("Toys")

We own 32.5% of Toys. On September 18, 2017, Toys filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. On March 15, 2018, Toys sought authorization to wind down its U.S. operations, including closing U.S. stores and liquidating all U.S. inventory, which relief was granted on an interim basis on March 22, 2018. We carry our Toys investment at zero. Further, we do not hold any debt of Toys and do not guarantee any of Toys’ obligations. For income tax purposes, we carry our investment in Toys at approximately $420,000,000, which could result in a tax deduction in future periods.

Below is a schedule summarizing our investments in partially owned entities.
(Amounts in thousands)
Percentage Ownership at
 
Balance as of
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Partially owned office buildings/land (1)
Various
 
$
497,735

 
$
504,393

 
Alexander’s
32.4%
 
116,078

 
126,400

 
PREIT
8.0%
 
65,187

 
66,572

 
UE
4.5%
 
44,176

 
46,152

 
Other investments (2)
Various
 
310,052

 
313,312

 
 
 
 
$
1,033,228

 
$
1,056,829

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
330 Madison Avenue(3)
25.0%
 
$
(54,878
)
 
$
(53,999
)
 
7 West 34th Street (4)
53.0%
 
(47,582
)
 
(47,369
)
 
 
 
 
$
(102,460
)
 
$
(101,368
)
____________________
(1)
Includes interests in 280 Park Avenue, 650 Madison Avenue, One Park Avenue, 512 West 22nd Street, 85 Tenth Avenue, 61 Ninth Avenue and others.
(2)
Includes interests in Independence Plaza, Fashion Centre Mall/Washington Tower, Rosslyn Plaza, 50-70 West 93rd Street, Moynihan Office Building, Toys (which has a carrying amount of zero), 666 Fifth Avenue Office Condominium and others.
(3)
Our negative basis resulted from a refinancing distribution and is included in "other liabilities" on our consolidated balance sheets.
(4)
Our negative basis resulted from a deferred gain from the sale of a 47.0% ownership interest in the property on May 27, 2016 and is included in "other liabilities" on our consolidated balance sheets.
8.
Investments in Partially Owned Entities - continued

Below is a schedule of net (loss) income from partially owned entities.
(Amounts in thousands)
Percentage
Ownership at
March 31, 2018
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
2017
Our share of net (loss) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Partially owned office buildings(1)
Various
 
$
(4,283
)
 
$
810

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alexander's (see page 24 for details):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in net (loss) income(2)
32.4%
 
(3,209
)
 
6,892

 
Management, leasing and development fees
 
 
1,208

 
1,509

 
 
 
 
(2,001
)
 
8,401

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UE (see page 24 for details):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in net (loss) income
4.5%
 
(717
)
 
1,091

 
Management, leasing and development fees
 
 
76

 
209

 
 
 
 
(641
)
 
1,300

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PREIT (see page 25 for details):
8.0%
 
(429
)
 
(2,830
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other investments(3)
Various
 
(2,550
)
 
(6,323
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(9,904
)
 
$
1,358

____________________
(1)
Includes interests in 280 Park Avenue, 650 Madison Avenue, One Park Avenue, 7 West 34th Street, 330 Madison Avenue, 512 West 22nd Street, 85 Tenth Avenue and others. 2018 includes our $4,978 share of potential additional Transfer Tax related to the March 2011 acquisition of One Park Avenue (see Note 6 - Real Estate Fund Investments).
(2)
2018 includes our $7,708 share of Alexander's potential additional Transfer Tax.
(3)
Includes interests in Independence Plaza, Fashion Centre Mall/Washington Tower, Rosslyn Plaza, 50-70 West 93rd Street, 666 Fifth Avenue Office Condominium and others.