Note 15 - Fair Value Disclosure of Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

15. Fair Value Disclosure of Financial Instruments:

All financial instruments of the Company are reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at amounts which, in management’s estimation based upon an interpretation of available market information and valuation methodologies, reasonably approximate their fair values except those listed below, for which fair values are disclosed.  The valuation method used to estimate fair value for fixed-rate and variable-rate debt is based on discounted cash flow analyses, with assumptions that include credit spreads, market yield curves, trading activity, loan amounts and debt maturities.  The fair values for marketable securities are based on published values, securities dealers’ estimated market values or comparable market sales.  Such fair value estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized upon disposition.

As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the FASB’s Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).

The following are financial instruments for which the Company’s estimate of fair value differs from the carrying amounts (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2015				2014
	Carrying Amounts		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amounts		Estimated Fair Value
Marketable Securities (1)	$	7,565	$	7,564	$	90,235	$	90,035
Notes Payable (2)	$	3,761,328	$	3,820,205	$	3,171,742	$	3,313,936
Mortgages Payable (3)	$	1,614,982	$	1,629,760	$	1,424,228	$	1,481,138

(1) As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company determined that $5.9 million and $87.7 million, respectively, of the Marketable securities estimated fair value were classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy and the remaining $1.7 million and $2.3 million, respectively, were classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

(2) The Company determined that its valuation of these Notes Payable was classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. 

(3) The Company determined that its valuation of these Mortgages Payable was classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. 

The Company has available for sale securities that must be measured under the FASB’s Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures guidance. The Company currently does not have non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

The Company from time to time has used interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate risk. The fair values of interest rate swaps are determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts (or payments) and the discounted expected variable cash payments (or receipts).  The variable cash payments (or receipts) are based on an expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves.  Based on these inputs, the Company has determined that interest rate swap valuations are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The table below presents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall.

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):

	Balance at December 31, 2015		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Marketable equity securities	$	5,909	$	5,909	$	-	$	-
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	$	1,426	$	-	$	1,426	$	-

	Balance at December 31, 2014		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Marketable equity securities	$	87,659	$	87,659	$	-	$	-
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	$	1,404	$	-	$	1,404	$	-

Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in thousands):

	Balance at December 31, 2015		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Real estate	$	52,439	$	-	$	-	$	52,439

	Balance at December 31, 2014		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Real estate	$	80,270	$	-	$	-	$	80,270

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recognized impairment charges of $45.5 million, of which $0.1 million, before noncontrolling interests and income taxes, is included in discontinued operations. These impairment charges consist of (i) $20.2 million related to adjustments to property carrying values, (ii) $10.2 million related to the sale of operating properties, (iii) $9.0 million related to a cost method investment, (iv) $5.3 million related to certain investments in other real estate investments and (v) $0.8 million related to marketable debt securities investments. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recognized impairment charges of $217.8 million, of which $178.0 million, before income tax benefits of $1.7 million, is included in discontinued operations. These impairment charges consist of (i) $118.4 million related to adjustments to property carrying values, (ii) the release of cumulative foreign currency translation loss of $92.9 million relating to the substantial liquidation of the Company’s investment in Mexico, (iii) $4.8 million related to a cost method investment and (iv) $1.6 million related to a preferred equity investment.

The Company’s estimated fair values for the year ended December 31, 2015, as it relates to property carrying values were primarily based upon (i) estimated sales prices from third party offers based on signed contracts or letters of intent (this method was used to determine $5.7 million of the $20.2 million in impairments recognized during the year ended December 31, 2015), for which the Company does not have access to the unobservable inputs used to determine these estimated fair values, (ii) third party appraisals (this method was used to determine $8.9 million of the $20.2 million in impairments recognized during the year ended December 31, 2015) and (iii) discounted cash flow models (this method was used to determine $5.6 million of the $20.2 million in impairments recognized during the year ended December 31, 2015). The discounted cash flow models include all estimated cash inflows and outflows over a specified holding period. These cash flows were comprised of unobservable inputs which include forecasted revenues and expenses based upon market conditions and expectations for growth. The capitalization rates primarily ranging from 8.25% to 8.5% and discount rates primarily ranging from 9.25% to 9.75% which were utilized in the models were based upon observable rates that the Company believes to be within a reasonable range of current market rates for each respective investment.

The Company’s estimated fair values for the year ended December 31, 2014, as it relates to property carrying values were primarily based upon (i) estimated sales prices from third party offers based on signed contracts or letters of intent (this method was used to determine $88.2 million of the $118.4 million in impairments recognized during the year ended December 31, 2014), for which the Company does not have access to the unobservable inputs used to determine these estimated fair values, and (ii) discounted cash flow models (this method was used to determine $30.2 million of the $118.4 million in impairments recognized during the year ended December 31, 2014). The discounted cash flow models include all estimated cash inflows and outflows over a specified holding period. These cash flows were comprised of unobservable inputs which include forecasted revenues and expenses based upon market conditions and expectations for growth. The capitalization rates primarily ranging from 7.0% to 12.5% and discount rates primarily ranging from 7.5% to 13.5% which were utilized in the models were based upon observable rates that the Company believes to be within a reasonable range of current market rates for each respective investment.

Based on these inputs the Company determined that its valuation of these investments was classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The property carrying value impairment charges resulted from the Company’s efforts to market certain assets and management’s assessment as to the likelihood and timing of such potential transactions.