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Note 9 - Variable Interest Entity
6 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2012
Variable Interest Entity [Text Block]
9.   VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY

Management evaluates the Trust’s explicit and implicit variable interests to determine if they have any variable interests in VIEs. Variable interests are contractual, ownership, or other pecuniary interests in an entity whose value changes with changes in the fair value of the entity’s net assets, exclusive of variable interests. Explicit variable interests are those which directly absorb the variability of a VIE and can include contractual interests such as loans or guarantees as well as equity investments. An implicit variable interest acts the same as an explicit variable interest except it involves the absorbing of variability indirectly, such as through related party arrangements or implicit guarantees. The analysis includes consideration of the design of the entity, its organizational structure, including decision making ability over the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. Generally accepted accounting principles require a reporting entity to consolidate a VIE when the reporting entity has a variable interest, or combination of variable interest, that provides it with a controlling financial interest in the VIE.  The entity that consolidates a VIE is referred to as the primary beneficiary of that VIE.

The Partnership has determined that the Albuquerque entity is a variable interest entity with the Partnership as the primary beneficiary.  In its determination, management considered the following qualitative and quantitative factors:

a)          The Partnership, Trust and their related parties, which share common ownership and management, have guaranteed material financial obligations of the Albuquerque entity, including its mortgage note payable and distribution obligations, which, based on the capital structure of the Albuquerque entity, management believes could potentially be significant.

b)          The Partnership, Trust and their related parties have maintained, as a group, a controlling ownership interest in the Albuquerque entity, with the largest ownership belonging to the Partnership.

c)          The Partnership, Trust and their related parties have maintained control over the decisions which most impact the financial performance of the Albuquerque entity, including providing the personnel to operate the property on a daily basis.

During the first six months ending July 31, 2012 and 2011, neither the Trust nor the Partnership has provided any implicit or explicit financial support for which they were not previously contracted.