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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center

In March 2016, certain subsidiaries of the Company entered into a series of agreements with affiliates of RIDA Development Corporation (“RIDA”) and Ares Management, L.P. (“Ares”) with respect to an equity investment in Gaylord Rockies, which is currently being developed by RIDA and Ares. The hotel will be managed by an affiliate of Marriott pursuant to a long-term management contract and is expected to consist of a 1,500-room resort hotel with over 485,000 square feet of exhibition, meeting, pre-function and outdoor space. The hotel is expected to be completed in late 2018 and has a total estimated project cost of approximately $800 million.

The Company acquired a 35% interest in a limited liability company which will own the real property comprising the hotel for a capital contribution expected to total $86.1 million. Simultaneously, the Company also acquired a 35% interest in a limited liability company which will lease the hotel from the property owner and assume the Marriott management agreement prior to the opening of the hotel. The Company has funded $31.9 million of its capital contribution, which is included in Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2016, and expects to fund the remainder of its capital contribution during the remainder of 2016 and the first half of 2017. The Company’s capital contributions will be funded from available cash on hand and borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

The terms of the Company’s investment provide that the Company will have the ability to approve certain major decisions affecting the hotel, including, but not limited to, operating budgets, major capital expenditures, material transactions involving the hotel, and approval of designated hotel senior management. The Company also has a right of first offer to acquire the remainder of the project and designated rights to participate in any sales process with respect to the project after exercise of its first offer rights. However, because the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the hotel are either shared or are held by some combination of RIDA, Ares and Marriott, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of this variable interest entity, and thus, accounts for its investment in this joint venture under the equity method of accounting. As such, the Company does not consolidate any part of the assets or liabilities of this investment. The Company’s share of equity method net income or loss will increase or decrease, as applicable, the carrying value of our equity method investment.

A subsidiary of the Company will provide designated asset management services on behalf of the hotel during the pre-construction period in exchange for a flat fee and after opening of the hotel in exchange for a fee based on the hotel’s gross revenues on an annual basis.

In connection with the agreements, the Company agreed to provide guarantees of the hotel’s construction loan, including a principal repayment guaranty of up to $21 million of the total $500 million principal amount of the construction loan previously obtained from a consortium of eight banks, with such amount reducing to $14 million and further reducing to $8.75 million upon the hotel’s satisfaction of designated debt service coverage requirements following completion and opening of the hotel. The Company has also provided a completion guarantee under the construction loan capped at its pro rata share of all costs necessary to complete the project within the time specified in the joint venture’s loan documents. Further, the Company has agreed to a guaranty capped at its pro rata share of the joint venture’s obligations under the construction loan prior to the hotel’s opening related to interest accruing under the construction loan and the operating expenses of the property (estimated pro rata share of interest prior to the hotel opening is $9.8 million). In addition to guaranties related to the construction loan, the Company agreed to provide a guaranty of the mezzanine debt related to the hotel including a payment guaranty capped at $8.75 million for which the Company is only liable in the event there is a casualty or condemnation event at the hotel and the construction lenders elect to apply those proceeds to the construction loan balance and release the construction loan guaranties and liens. The guaranty related to the mezzanine debt also includes an uncapped completion guaranty and an uncapped guaranty of the joint venture’s obligations under the mezzanine loan prior to the hotel’s opening related to interest accruing under the mezzanine loan and the operating expenses of the property to the extent not already satisfied by the parties under the guaranties related to the construction loan. As of June 30, 2016, the Company had not recorded any liability in the condensed consolidated balance sheet associated with these guarantees.

 

Other Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is self-insured up to a stop loss for certain losses related to workers’ compensation claims and general liability claims through September 30, 2012, and for certain losses related to employee medical benefits through December 31, 2012. The Company’s insurance program subsequently transitioned to a low or no deductible program. The Company has purchased stop-loss coverage in order to limit its exposure to any significant levels of claims relating to workers’ compensation, employee medical benefits and general liability for which it is self-insured.

The Company has entered into employment agreements with certain officers, which provide for severance payments upon certain events, including certain terminations in connection with a change of control.

The Company, in the ordinary course of business, is involved in certain legal actions and claims on a variety of matters. It is the opinion of management that such legal actions will not have a material effect on the results of operations, financial condition or liquidity of the Company.