COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 15 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In the normal course of business, from time to time, we are involved in legal proceedings relating to the ownership and operations of our properties. In management’s opinion, the liabilities, if any, that may ultimately result from such legal actions are not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

We had outstanding letters of credit and surety bonds totaling $80.2 million and $53.7 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. These letters of credit and bonds were issued primarily in connection with insurance requirements, special real estate assessments and construction obligations.

On June 27, 2013, the City of New York executed the amended and restated ground lease for South Street Seaport. The restated lease terms provide for annual fixed rent of $1.2 million starting July 1, 2013 with an expiration of December 30, 2072, including our options to extend. The rent escalates at 3.0% compounded annually. On July 1, 2018 the base rent will be adjusted to the higher of the fair market value or the then base rent. In addition to the annual base rent of $1.2 million, we are required to make annual payments of $210,000 as additional rent through the term of the lease. The additional rent escalates annually at the Consumer Price Index. We are entitled to a total rent credit of $1.5 million, to be taken monthly over a 30-month period. Simultaneously with the execution of the lease, we executed a completion guaranty for the redevelopment of Pier 17. The completion guaranty requires us to perform certain obligations under the lease, including the commencement of construction by October 1, 2013 with a scheduled completion date in 2017.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Uplands portion of South Street Seaport suffered damage due to flooding as a result of Superstorm Sandy. Reconstruction efforts are ongoing and the property is only partially operating. We have received $47.9 million in insurance proceeds through March 31, 2015 related to our claim. We recognized Other income relating to these insurance recoveries of $0.3 million and $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We are in litigation with several of the insurance carriers to recover additional amounts that we believe are owed to us under the policies. We believe that our insurance will reimburse substantially all of the costs of repairing the property and will also compensate us for substantially all lost income resulting from the storm.

Please refer to Note 11 – Income Taxes for additional contingencies related to our uncertain tax positions.