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New Valley LLC
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Real Estate [Abstract]  
New Valley LLC NEW VALLEY LLC
Investments in real estate ventures:

The components of “Investments in real estate ventures” were as follows:
Range of Ownership (1)
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
Condominium and Mixed Use Development:
            New York City Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (“SMSA”)
4.2% - 46.7%
$23,390 $30,465 
            All other U.S. areas
19.6% - 77.8%
36,315 37,773 
59,705 68,238 
Hotels:
            New York City SMSA
0.4% - 12.3%
1,868 2,629 
            International49.0%1,633 1,852 
3,501 4,481 
Commercial:
            New York City SMSA49.0%— 2,591 
            All other U.S. areas1.6%7,055 7,084 
7,055 9,675 
Other:
15.0% - 50.0%
3,938 3,006 
Investments in real estate ventures$74,199 $85,400 
_____________________________
(1) The Range of Ownership reflects New Valley’s estimated current ownership percentage. New Valley’s actual ownership percentage as well as the percentage of earnings and cash distributions may ultimately differ as a result of a number of factors including potential dilution, financing or admission of additional partners.

Contributions:

The components of New Valley’s contributions to its investments in real estate ventures were as follows:
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20212020
Condominium and Mixed Use Development:
            New York City SMSA$396 $1,169 
            All other U.S. areas12,336 4,176 
12,732 5,345 
Apartment Buildings:
            All other U.S. areas— 76 
— 76 
Hotels:
            New York City SMSA1,579 294 
1,579 294 
Other:1,601 524 
Total contributions$15,912 $6,239 

For ventures where New Valley previously held an investment, New Valley contributed its proportionate share of additional capital along with contributions by the other investment partners during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020. New Valley’s direct investment percentage for these ventures did not significantly change. 
Distributions:

The components of distributions received by New Valley from its investments in real estate ventures were as follows:
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20212020
Condominium and Mixed Use Development:
            New York City SMSA$4,440 $1,735 
            All other U.S. areas13,594 11,060 
18,034 12,795 
Apartment Buildings:
            All other U.S. areas18,566 — 
18,566 — 
Commercial:
            New York City SMSA— 591 
            All other U.S. areas503 113 
503 704 
Other106 26 
Total distributions$37,209 $13,525 

Of the distributions received by New Valley from its investment in real estate ventures, $25,330 and $1,919 were from distributions of earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $11,879 and $11,606 were a return of capital for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Distributions from earnings are included in cash from operations in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, while distributions that are returns of capital are included in cash flows from investing activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
Equity in Earnings (losses) from Real Estate Ventures:

New Valley recognized equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures as follows:
Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
September 30,September 30,
2021202020212020
Condominium and Mixed Use Development:
            New York City SMSA$(841)$(6,835)$(3,313)$(15,286)
            All other U.S. areas(6,128)(618)1,146 (9,906)
(6,969)(7,453)(2,167)(25,192)
Apartment Buildings:
            All other U.S. areas999 (208)18,566 (284)
999 (208)18,566 (284)
Hotels:
            New York City SMSA(246)(1,119)(1,094)(1,768)
            International310 157 (219)(394)
64 (962)(1,313)(2,162)
Commercial:
            New York City SMSA— 783 (2,591)1,010 
            All other U.S. areas200 (519)473 (534)
200 264 (2,118)476 
Other:(163)(177)(563)(139)
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures$(5,869)$(8,536)$12,405 $(27,301)

As part of the Company’s ongoing assessment of the carrying values of its investments in real estate ventures, the Company determined that the fair value of one of its New York City SMSA Commercial ventures was less than its carrying value as of September 30, 2021. The Company determined that the impairment was other than temporary. The Company recorded impairment charges as a component of equity in losses from real estate ventures of $2,713 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

As part of the Company’s ongoing assessment of the carrying values of its investments in real estate ventures, the Company determined that the fair value of three of its New York City SMSA Condominium and Mixed Use Development ventures were less than each of its respective carrying value as of September 30, 2020. The Company determined that the impairment was other than temporary. The Company recorded impairment charges as a component of equity in losses from real estate ventures of $6,617 and $10,401 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.

VIE Consideration:

The Company has determined that New Valley is the primary beneficiary of one real estate venture because it controls the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the real estate venture. Consequently, New Valley consolidates this variable interest entity (“VIE”).

The carrying amount of the consolidated assets of the VIE was $0 at both September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Those assets are owned by the VIE, not the Company. The consolidated VIE had no recourse liabilities as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. A VIE’s assets can only be used to settle the obligations of that VIE. The VIE is not a guarantor of the Company’s senior notes and other debts payable.

For the remaining investments in real estate ventures, New Valley determined that the entities were VIEs but New Valley was not the primary beneficiary. Therefore, New Valley’s investment in such real estate ventures has been accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
Maximum Exposure to Loss:

New Valley’s maximum exposure to loss from its investments in real estate ventures consisted of the net carrying value of the venture adjusted for any future capital commitments and/or guarantee arrangements. The maximum exposure to loss was as follows:
September 30, 2021
Condominium and Mixed Use Development:
            New York City SMSA$23,390 
            All other U.S. areas36,315 
59,705 
Hotels:
            New York City SMSA1,868 
            International1,633 
3,501 
Commercial:
            All other U.S. areas7,055 
7,055 
Other3,938 
Total maximum exposure to loss$74,199 

New Valley capitalized $614 and $1,636 of interest costs into the carrying value of its ventures whose projects were currently under development for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. New Valley capitalized $932 and $3,188 of interest costs into the carrying value of its ventures whose projects were currently under development for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.
Douglas Elliman has been engaged by the developers as the sole broker or the co-broker for several of the real estate development projects that New Valley owns an interest in through its real estate venture investments. Douglas Elliman had gross commissions of approximately $7,493 and $8,829 from these projects for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Investments in Real Estate, net:

The components of “Investments in real estate, net” were as follows:
September 30,
2021
December 31,
2020
Escena, net$9,551 $9,735 
Townhome A (11 Beach Street)— 5,896 
            Investments in real estate, net$9,551 $15,631 
Escena.  The assets of “Escena, net” were as follows:
September 30,
2021
December 31,
2020
Land and land improvements$8,911 $8,911 
Building and building improvements1,926 1,926 
Other1,651 1,672 
 12,488 12,509 
Less accumulated depreciation(2,937)(2,774)
 $9,551 $9,735 

New Valley recorded operating losses of $530 and $738 for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, from Escena. New Valley recorded operating losses of $250 and $1,010 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, from Escena. Escena is a master planned community, golf course, and club house in Palm Springs, California.

Townhome A (11 Beach Street). In November 2020, New Valley received, as part of a liquidating distribution from a real estate joint venture, Unit TH-A, a townhouse located in Manhattan, NY. In April 2021, New Valley sold the unit for $6,750 and recognized the revenue in accordance with the scope of ASC Topic 606 since New Valley has no continuing investment or involvement. The sale was presented as revenue and the cost of the investment as cost of sales on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.