Real Estate Joint Ventures

The Company enters into real estate joint ventures, from time to time, for the purpose of developing real estate in which the Company may or may not have a controlling financial interest. GAAP requires consolidation of VIEs in which an enterprise has a controlling financial interest and is the primary beneficiary. A controlling financial interest will have both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the VIE activities that most significantly impact economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb the VIE losses and right to receive benefits that are significant to the VIE. The Company examines specific criteria and uses judgment when determining whether the Company is the primary beneficiary and must consolidate a VIE. The Company continues to assess whether it is the primary beneficiary on an ongoing basis.

Consolidated Real Estate Joint Ventures

During 2012, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement with a partner to develop a retail center at Pier Park North. The Company’s partner is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the joint venture. However, the Company has significant involvement in the design of the development and approves all major decisions, including project development, annual budgets and financing. The Company determined the joint venture is a VIE and that the Company is the VIE’s primary beneficiary as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

In October 2015, the Pier Park North joint venture refinanced a construction loan by entering into a $48.2 million loan (the “Refinanced Loan”), which is secured by a first lien on, and security interest in, a majority of the Pier Park North joint venture’s property and a $6.6 million short-term letter of credit. Additionally, in connection with this refinancing, each of the Pier Park North joint venture partners executed a limited guarantee in favor of the lender, based on their percentage ownership in the joint venture. See Note 10, Debt.

In addition, the Company is the primary beneficiary of another real estate joint venture, Artisan Park, L.L.C, that is consolidated within the financial results of the Company. The Company is entitled to 74% of the profits or losses of this VIE and is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the joint venture. The Company has determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary as it has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the joint venture’s economic performance; therefore, the results of the VIE have been consolidated within the financial results of the Company.

Unconsolidated Real Estate VIE

As of June 30, 2016, the Company is a partner in ALP Liquidating Trust (“ALP”) that is accounted for using the equity method. The joint venture was entered into to develop and sell certain mixed use residential and commercial projects. The Company has evaluated the VIE consolidation requirements with respect to this joint venture and has determined that the Company is not the primary beneficiary, since the Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE. The Company is not required to contribute additional funds to ALP.

Summarized financial information for ALP is as follows:



	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015

Cash and cash equivalents	$	12,881	$	13,760
Other assets	59		58
Total assets	$	12,940	$	13,818

Accounts payable and other liabilities	$	1,424	$	1,978
Equity⁽¹⁾	11,516		11,840
Total liabilities and equity	$	12,940	$	13,818

(1) In 2008 the Company wrote-off its investment in ALP as a result of ALP reserving its assets to satisfy potential claims and obligations in accordance with its publicly reported liquidation basis of accounting. Subsequently, ALP changed its method of accounting to a going concern basis and reinstated its equity and stated it would report certain expenses as they are incurred. The Company has not recorded any additional equity income as a result of ALP’s change in accounting.

For the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, ALP reported net loss of $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, ALP reported net loss of $0.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively.