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Investment in 111 West 57th Partners LLC
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Investment in 111 West 57th Partners LLC [Abstract]  
Investment in 111 West 57th Partners LLC
Note 4 – Investment in 111 West 57th Partners LLC

On June 28, 2013, 111 West 57th Investment LLC, ("Investment LLC"), a then newly formed subsidiary of the Company, entered into a joint venture agreement (as amended, the "JV Agreement") with 111 West 57th Sponsor LLC, (the "Sponsor"), pursuant to which Investment LLC invested (the "Investment") in a real estate development property to purchase and develop the 111 West 57th Street Property (the "111 West 57th Property").  In consideration for making the Investment, Investment LLC was granted a  membership interest in 111 West 57th Partners LLC ("111 West 57th Partners"), which indirectly acquired the 111 West 57th Property on June 28, 2013 (the "Joint Venture," and such date, the "Closing Date").  The Company also indirectly contributed an additional amount to the Joint Venture in exchange for an additional indirect interest in the Joint Venture.  Other members and the Sponsor contributed additional cash and/or property to the Joint Venture. The Joint Venture plans to redevelop the 111 West 57th Property into a luxury residential tower and retail project.

Amounts relating to the Company's initial investment and other information relating to the 111 West 57th Property is as follows:
 
($ in thousands)
   
Company's aggregate initial investment
 
$
57,250
 
Company's aggregate initial membership interest %
  
60.3
%
Other members and Sponsor initial investment
 
$
37,750
 
Approximate gross square feet of project
  
346,000
 

On June 30, 2015, 111 West 57th Partners obtained financing for the 111 West 57th Property.  The financing was obtained in two parts; (i) a first mortgage construction loan with AIG Asset Management (US), LLC, ("AIG") and (ii) a mezzanine loan with Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc., ("Apollo").  Both loans have a four-year term with a one-year extension option subject to satisfying certain conditions.  The loan agreements also include customary events of default and other customary terms and conditions.  Simultaneously with the closing of the AIG and the Apollo financing, 111 West 57th Partners repaid all outstanding liabilities and obligations to Annaly CRE, LLC under the initial mortgage and acquisition loan agreement, dated June 28, 2013, between 111 West 57th Partners and Annaly CRE, LLC.  The remaining loan proceeds will be drawn down and used as necessary for construction and related costs, loan interest escrow and other related project expenses for development of the 111 West 57th Property.

Information relating to the June 30, 2015 financing for 111 West 57th Partners is as follows:
    
(in thousands)
   
Financing obtained by 111 West 57th Partners
 
$
725,000
 
Annaly CRE LLC initial mortgage and acquisition loan repaid
 
$
230,000
 

In July 2015, based on available net proceeds received from the financing and equity previously invested in the project, funds were distributed to the members of 111 West 57th Partners (the "July 2015 Distribution").  In connection therewith, the Company, principally through Investment LLC, received a distribution but reserved its rights to dispute the actual amount to which it is entitled based on the 111 West 57th Partners Operating Agreement and the Company's percentage interests thereunder.  In accordance with the Second Amended and Restated Investment Operating Agreement as noted herein, the Company through Investment LLC fully repaid 111 West 57th Capital LLC, an entity wholly owned by Mr. R.A. Bianco ("Capital LLC"), its capital contributions as noted below.  The remaining amount was retained by the Company.

Information relating to the July 2015 Distribution is as follows:

(in thousands)
   
Distribution attributable to Company's investment
 
$
11,699
 
Distribution retained by the Company, net of amounts repaid to Capital LLC
 
$
1,831
 

The JV Agreement and related operating agreements generally provide that all distributable cash shall be distributed as follows: (i) first, 100% to the members in proportion to their percentage interests until Investment LLC has received distributions yielding a 20% internal rate of return as calculated; (ii) second, 100% to the Sponsor as a return of (but not a return on) any additional capital contributions made by the Sponsor on account of manager overruns; and (iii) thereafter, (a) 50% to the members in proportion to their respective percentage interests at the time of such distribution, and (b) 50% to the Sponsor.

Additionally, the JV Agreement provides that (i) Mr. Richard A. Bianco (the Company's current Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer) ("Mr. R. A. Bianco"), his immediate family, and/or any limited liability company wholly-owned thereby, and/or a trust in which Mr. R. A. Bianco and/or his immediate family is the beneficiary, shall at all times own, in the aggregate, not less than 20% of the outstanding shares of AmBase; and (ii) Mr. R. A. Bianco shall remain the Chairman of the Board of Directors of AmBase for the duration of the JV Agreement.

In March 2014, the Company entered into an amended and restated operating agreement for Investment LLC (the "Amended and Restated Investment Operating Agreement") to grant a 10%  subordinated participation interest in Investment LLC to Mr. R. A. Bianco as contingent future incentive for Mr. R. A. Bianco's past, current and anticipated ongoing role to develop and commercialize the Company's equity investment in the 111 West 57th Property.  Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Investment Operating Agreement, Mr. R.A. Bianco has no voting rights with respect to his interest in Investment LLC, and his entitlement to receive 10% of the distributions from Investment LLC is subject to the Company first receiving distributions equal to 150% of the Company's initial aggregate investment in Investment LLC and the Joint Venture, plus any additional investments by the Company, and only with respect to any distributions thereafter. At the current time the Company has not expensed nor accrued any amounts relating to this subordinated participation interest, as no amount or range of amounts can be reasonably estimated or assured.

During 2014, in connection with the funding of additional capital calls under the JV Agreement for required borrowing and development costs for the 111 West 57th Property, the Company's management and its Board of Directors concluded that, given the continuing development risks of the 111 West 57th Property and the Company's financial position, the Company should not at that time increase its already significant concentration and risk exposure to the 111 West 57th Property.  Nonetheless, the Company sought to limit dilution of its interest in the Joint Venture resulting from any failure to fund the capital call requirements, but at the same time wished to avoid the time, expense and financial return requirements (with attendant dilution and possible loss of voting rights) that obtaining a replacement third-party investor would require. The Company therefore entered into a second amended and restated operating agreement for Investment LLC ("Second Amended and Restated Investment Operating Agreement") pursuant to which Capital LLC was admitted as a member of Investment LLC. In exchange for Capital LLC contributing toward Investment LLC capital calls in respect of the 111 West 57th Property, available cash of Investment LLC will be distributed first to Capital LLC until it has received a 20% internal rate of return (calculated as provided for in the JV Agreement as noted above), second to the Company until it has received 150% of its capital, and; thereafter, available cash is split 10/90 with 10% going to Mr. R.A. Bianco as the subordinated participation interest noted above and 90% going to Capital LLC and the Company pari-passu, with Capital LLC receiving one-half of its pro-rata share based on capital contributed and the Company receiving the balance. No other material changes were made to the Amended and Restated Investment Operating Agreement, and neither Mr. Bianco nor Capital LLC has any voting rights with respect to their interest and investment in Investment LLC.

Capital contributed by Capital LLC in December 2014 and April 2015, which was fully repaid as part of the July 2015 Distribution, was as follows:

(in thousands)
   
Capital contributed by Capital LLC
 
$
9,868
 

As part of the July 2015 Distribution, Capital LLC was repaid the full amount of its capital investment.  Additional amounts may still be payable to Capital LLC based on investment returns received on the 111 West 57th Property as further described herein.

Pursuant to various capital contribution requests in December 2014, February 2015 and April 2015, the Company was requested to contribute funds to the Joint Venture (the "Capital Contribution Requests").  The Company chose to contribute only a portion of the amounts requested pursuant to the Capital Contribution Requests.  The remaining amounts requested pursuant to the Capital Contribution Requests (not funded by the Company) were contributed by either the Sponsor, which deemed its capital contributions on behalf of the Company to be Shortfall Capital Contributions ("Shortfall Capital Contributions") or by the Company from Capital LLC, pursuant to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Investment Operating Agreement as noted herein.

The Company made additional capital contributions to the Joint Venture as indicated below:

(in housands)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2016
 
Capital contributions
 
$
-
 

In accordance with the JV Agreement, Shortfall Capital Contributions may be treated either as a member loan or as a dilutive capital contribution by the funding party valued at one and one-half times the amount actually contributed.  The Sponsor deemed the Shortfall Capital Contributions as dilutive capital contributions to the Company.   The Company believes in accordance with the terms of the agreements, a portion of the Shortfall Capital Contribution amounts should be treated as a member loan, therefore, resulting in no dilution to the Company.  The Sponsor contends that the Capital Contribution Requests, if taken together, would cause the Company to be diluted to approximately 48%.  The parties are currently in discussions with regard to the calculation of the revised investment percentages resulting from the Capital Contribution Requests, along with the treatment and allocation of these Shortfall Capital Contribution amounts.

In April 2016, the Company filed an action in New York State Supreme Court against the Sponsors, et al., pursuant to which the Company is seeking compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages and equitable relief including a declaration of the parties' rights, an accounting, and a constructive trust over distributions. For additional information, see Note 9 – Legal Proceedings.

The Company has recorded the investment in 111 West 57th Partners utilizing the equity method of accounting, as pursuant to the various agreements the Company has significant influence, but does not have control, as defined under GAAP. Accordingly, the results of operations of 111 West 57th Partners are included in equity income (loss) in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations As of March 31, 2016, the Company's carrying amount of its investment in 111 West 57th Partners, as noted in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet, is greater than the Company's equity in the underlying net assets of 111 West 57th Partners by $867,000, categorized as goodwill, due to a difference resulting from the reduction in equity for syndication fees paid relating to 111 West 57th Partners.  The Company reviews its investments and ownership interests recorded under the equity method for impairment on a regular basis and if events or changes in circumstances indicate that a loss in the value of its investment may be other than temporary.  There was no impairment on the Company's equity method investment for the periods ended March 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015.

The following tables present summarized financial information for the Company's equity method investment in 111 West 57th Partners.  The amounts shown represent 100% of the financial position and results of operations of 111 West 57th Partners for the dates indicated below.

(in thousands)
Assets:
 
March 31, 2016
  
December 31, 2015
 
Real estate held for development, net
 
$
468,219
  
$
440,370
 
Escrow deposits
  
9,400
   
9,400
 
Other assets
  
22,708
   
26,827
 
Total assets
 
$
500,327
  
$
476,597
 
Liabilities:
        
Loans payable
 
$
365,180
  
$
340,693
 
Other liabilities
  
14,340
   
14,447
 
Total liabilities
  
379,520
   
355,140
 
Equity:
        
Total members' equity
  
120,807
   
121,457
 
Total liabilities and members' equity
 
$
500,327
  
$
476,597
 

 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Rental income
 
$
  
$
 
Expenses
  
650
   
417
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
(650
)
 
$
(417
)