NOTE 7 REAL ESTATE AND OTHER AFFILIATES

In the ordinary course of business, we enter into partnerships or joint ventures primarily for the development and operations of real estate assets which are referred to as “Real Estate Affiliates”. These partnerships or joint ventures are accounted for in accordance with ASC 810 (“ASC 810”) Consolidations.

In accordance with ASC 810, we assess our joint ventures at inception to determine if any meet the qualifications of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). We consider a partnership or joint venture a VIE if: (a) the total equity investment is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support; (b) characteristics of a controlling financial interest are missing (either the ability to make decisions through voting or other rights, the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity or the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity); or (c) the voting rights of the equity holders are not proportional to their obligations to absorb the expected losses of the entity and/or their rights to receive the expected residual returns of the entity, and substantially all of the entity’s activities either involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor that has disproportionately few voting rights. Upon the occurrence of certain events outlined in ASC 810, we reassess our initial determination of whether the partnership or joint venture is a VIE.

We perform a qualitative assessment of each VIE to determine if we are the primary beneficiary, as required by ASC 810. Under ASC 810, a company concludes that it is the primary beneficiary and consolidates the VIE if the company has both (a) the power to direct the economically significant activities of the entity and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The company considers the contractual agreements that define the ownership structure, distribution of profits and losses, risks, responsibilities, indebtedness, voting rights and board representation of the respective parties in determining if the company is the primary beneficiary. As required by ASC 810, management’s assessment of whether the company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE is continuously performed.

We account for investments in joint ventures deemed to be VIEs for which we are not considered to be the primary beneficiary but have significant influence using the equity method, and investments in joint ventures where we do not have significant influence over the joint venture’s operations and financial policies, on the cost method. Generally, the operating agreements with respect to our Real Estate Affiliates provide that assets, liabilities and funding obligations are shared in accordance with our ownership percentages.

Our investment in real estate and other affiliates which are reported on the equity and cost methods are as follows:

	Economic/ Legal Ownership				Carrying Value				Share of Earnings/Dividends
	June 30,		December 31,		June 30,		December 31,		Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
	2014		2013		2014		2013		2014			2013		2014			2013
	(In percentages)				(In thousands)				(In thousands)
Equity Method Investments:
Circle T Ranch and Power Center	50.00	%	50.00	%	$	9,004	$	9,004	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—
HHMK Development (a)	50.00	%	50.00	%	13		13		193			153		483			153
KR Holdings (a)	50.00	%	50.00	%	34,059		19,764		5,726			5,191		9,735			5,191
Millennium Phase II (a)	81.43	%	81.43	%	2,129		2,174		(99		)	—		(135		)	—
Parcel C (a)	50.00	%	50.00	%	7,245		5,801		—			—		—			—
Stewart Title	50.00	%	50.00	%	4,013		3,843		425			326		518			517
Summerlin Apartments, LLC (a)	50.00	%	—		—		—		—			—		—			—
Summerlin Las Vegas Baseball Club, LLC (a)	50.00	%	50.00	%	10,813		10,636		302			—		176			—
Parcel D (b)	50.00	%	50.00	%	3,642		3,461		—			—		—			—
Woodlands Sarofim	20.00	%	20.00	%	2,573		2,579		40			37		97			76
					73,491		57,275		6,587			5,707		10,874			5,937
Cost basis investments (c)					3,793		3,746		—			—		1,781			2,503
Investment in Real Estate and Other Affiliates					$	77,284	$	61,021	$	6,587		$	5,707	$	12,655		$	8,440

(a) Equity method variable interest entities.

(b) This entity was previously considered a VIE, whose reassessment in 2013 caused it to no longer be considered a VIE. Please refer to the discussion in the section following the table.

We are not the primary beneficiary of any of the VIEs listed above because we do not have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of such joint ventures and therefore we report our interests on the equity method. Our maximum exposure to loss as a result of these investments is limited to the aggregate carrying value of the investment as we have not provided any guarantees or otherwise made firm commitments to fund amounts on behalf of these VIEs. The aggregate carrying value of the unconsolidated VIEs was $54.3 million and $38.4 million as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. As of June 30, 2014, approximately $135.4 million of indebtedness was secured by the properties owned by our Real Estate Affiliates of which our share was approximately $75.2 million based upon our economic ownership. All of this debt is without recourse to us.

At June 30, 2014, the Company was the primary beneficiary of one VIE, which we therefore consolidated. The creditors of the consolidated VIE do not have recourse to the Company’s general credit. As of June 30, 2014, the carrying values of the assets and liabilities associated with the operations of the consolidated VIE were $20.7 million and $0.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, the carrying values of the assets and liabilities associated with the operations of the consolidated VIE were $20.6 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The assets of the VIEs are restricted for use only by the particular VIEs and are not available for our general operations.

Our recent and more significant investments in Real Estate Affiliates and the related accounting considerations are described below.

ONE Ala Moana Condominium Project

On October 11, 2011, we and an entity jointly owned by two local development partners formed a joint venture called HHMK Development, LLC (“HHMK Development”) to explore the development of a luxury condominium tower at the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. On June 14, 2012, we formed another 50/50 joint venture, KR Holdings, with the same partner. We own 50% of each venture and our partners jointly own the remaining 50%.

On September 17, 2012, KR Holdings closed on two $20.0 million non-recourse mezzanine loan commitments with List Island Properties, LLC and A & B Properties, Inc. These loans have a blended interest rate of 12%, were drawn in full on May 15, 2013 and mature on April 30, 2018 with the option to extend for one year. In addition to the mezzanine loans, A & B Properties and List Island Properties both have profit interests in KR Holdings, which entitles them to receive a share of the profits, after a return of our capital plus a 13% preferred return on our capital. A & B Properties’ participation is capped at $3.0 million.

KR Holdings closed on a $132.0 million first mortgage construction loan on May 15, 2013 of which $37.3 million is outstanding as of June 30, 2014. Upon closing and under the terms of the venture agreement, we sold to KR Holdings our interest in the condominium rights for net cash proceeds of $30.8 million and a 50% equity interest in KR Holdings. Our partner contributed $16.8 million of cash for their 50% equity interest. The construction loan will be drawn over the course of construction, is secured by the condominium rights and buyers’ deposits, has no recourse to us, matures on May 15, 2016, and bears interest at one-month LIBOR plus 3.00%.

Millennium Woodlands Phase II, LLC

On May 14, 2012, we entered into a joint venture, Millennium Woodlands Phase II, LLC (“Millennium Phase II”), with The Dinerstein Companies, the same joint venture partner in the Millennium Waterway Apartments I project, for the construction of a new 314-unit Class A multi-family complex in The Woodlands Town Center. Our partner is the managing member of Millennium Phase II. As the managing member, our partner controls, directs, manages and administers the affairs of Millennium Phase II. On July 5, 2012, Millennium Phase II was capitalized by our contribution of 4.8 acres of land valued at $15.5 million to the joint venture, our partner’s contribution of $3.0 million in cash and a construction loan in the amount of $37.7 million which is guaranteed by our partner. The development of Millennium Phase II further expands our multi-family portfolio in The Woodlands Town Center.

Parcel C

On October 4, 2013, we entered into a joint venture agreement with a local developer, Kettler, Inc. (“Kettler”), to construct a 437-unit, Class A apartment building with 31,000 square feet of ground floor retail on Parcel C in downtown Columbia, Maryland. We contributed approximately five acres of land having an approximate book value of $4.0 million to the joint venture. Our land was valued at $23.4 million or $53,500 per constructed unit. When the venture closes on the construction loan and upon completion of certain other conditions, including obtaining completed site development and construction plans and an approved project budget, our partner will be required to contribute cash to the venture.

Summerlin Apartments, LLC

On January 24, 2014, we entered into a joint venture with a national multi-family real estate developer, The Calida Group (“Calida”), to construct, own and operate a 124-unit gated luxury apartment development. We and our partner each own 50% of the venture, and unanimous consent of the partners is required for all major decisions. This project represents the first residential development in Summerlin’s 400-acre downtown and is located within walking distance of downtown Summerlin. We will contribute a 5.5-acre parcel of land with an agreed value of $3.2 million in exchange for a 50% interest in the venture when construction financing closes. Our partner will contribute cash for their 50% interest, act as the development manager, fund all pre-development activities, obtain construction financing and provide any guarantees required by the lender. Upon a sale of the property, we are entitled to 100% of the proceeds in excess of an amount determined by applying a 7.0% capitalization rate to NOI. The venture is expected to begin construction in the fall of 2014 with a projected second quarter 2015 opening for the first phase and the final phase being opened by the end of 2015.

Summerlin Las Vegas Baseball Club, LLC

On August 6, 2012, we entered into a joint venture for the purpose of acquiring 100% of the operating assets of the Las Vegas 51s, a Triple-A baseball team which is a member of the Pacific Coast League. We own 50% of the venture and our partners jointly own the remaining 50%. Unanimous consent of the partners is required for all major decisions. As of the date the joint venture acquired the baseball team, we had funded our capital contribution of $10.5 million. Our strategy in owning an interest is to pursue a potential relocation of the team to a to-be-built stadium in our Summerlin master planned community. Efforts to re-locate the team are ongoing but there can be no assurance that such a stadium will ultimately be built.

The Metropolitan Downtown Columbia Project

On October 27, 2011, we entered into a joint venture, Parcel D Development, LLC (“Parcel D”), with Kettler, Inc. (“Kettler”) to construct a Class A apartment building with ground floor retail space in downtown Columbia, Maryland. We and our partner each own 50% of the venture, and unanimous consent of the partners is required for all major decisions. On July 11, 2013, the joint venture closed a $64.1 million construction loan which is non-recourse to us. The loan bears interest at one-month LIBOR plus 2.4% and matures in July 2020. At loan closing, our land contribution was valued at $53,500 per unit, or $20.3 million, and Kettler contributed $13.3 million in cash, of which $7.0 million was distributed to us. Both we and Kettler made additional contributions of $3.1 million to the joint venture in accordance with the loan agreement, thus increasing our total capital account to $16.4 million. This transaction was accounted for as a partial sale of the land for which we recognized a net profit of $0.7 million.

Upon formation of the joint venture, we determined that Parcel D was a VIE, and that we were not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, we accounted for our investment in Parcel D using the equity method. Upon closing of the first mortgage construction loan, the entity was recapitalized resulting in a reconsideration of the initial determination of VIE status. As a result of the reconsideration, we determined that Parcel D was no longer considered a VIE. We still account for our investment in Parcel D using the equity method.

Other

Our interest in Westlake Retail Associates, Ltd. (“Circle T Ranch”) and 170 Retail Associates (“Circle T Power Center”), and together with Circle T Ranch (“Circle T”), Woodlands Sarofim #1 Ltd. (“Woodlands Sarofim”) industrial buildings and Stewart Title of Montgomery County, Inc. (“Stewart Title”) are reflected in our financial statements as non-consolidated joint ventures in which we own a non-controlling interest and are accounted for on the equity method.