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Note 5 - Variable Interest Entities ("VIE")
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements  
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]
5.
Variable Interest Entities (“VIE”)
 
Consolidated Operating Properties
 
Included within the Company’s consolidated operating properties at March 31, 2016, are 19 consolidated entities that are VIEs, for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. These entities have been established to own and operate real estate property. The Company’s involvement with these entities is through its majority ownership and management of the properties. The entities were deemed VIEs primarily based on the fact that the unrelated investors do not have substantial kick-out rights to remove the general or managing partner by a vote of a simple majority or less and their participating rights are not substantive. The Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of these VIEs as a result of its controlling financial interest.
 
At March 31, 2016, total assets of these VIEs were $647.9 million and total liabilities were $36.1 million. The classification of these assets are primarily within operating real estate and other assets and the classifications of liabilities are primarily within accounts payable, accrued expenses and mortgages payable.
 
The majority of the operations of these VIEs are funded with cash flows generated from the properties. The Company has not provided financial support to any of these VIEs that it was not previously contractually required to provide, which consists primarily of funding any capital expenditures, including tenant improvements, which are deemed necessary to continue to operate the entity and any operating cash shortfalls that the entity may experience
.
 
Consolidated Ground-Up Development Project
 
Included within the Company’s ground-up development projects at March 31, 2016, is an entity that is a VIE, for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. This entity was established to develop real estate property to hold as a long-term investment. The Company’s involvement with this entity is through its majority ownership and management of the property. This entity was deemed a VIE primarily based on the fact that the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support. The initial equity contributed to this entity was not sufficient to fully finance the real estate construction as development costs are funded by the partners throughout the construction period. The Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of this VIE as a result of its controlling financial interest.
 
At March 31, 2016, total assets of this ground-up development VIE were $75.0 million and total liabilities were $0.1 million. The classification of these assets is primarily within Real estate under development and the classification of liabilities is primarily within accounts payable and accrued expenses, which is included in Other liabilities in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
Substantially all of the projected development costs to be funded for this ground-up development VIE, aggregating $17.4 million, will be funded with capital contributions from the Company and by the outside partners, when contractually obligated. The Company has not provided financial support to this VIE that it was not previously contractually required to provide.
 
Unconsolidated Redevelopment Investment
 
Included in the Company’s joint venture investments at March 31, 2016, is an unconsolidated joint venture, which is a VIE for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. This joint venture was primarily established to develop real estate property for long-term investment and was deemed a VIE primarily based on the fact that the equity investment at risk was not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support. The initial equity contributed to this entity was not sufficient to fully finance the real estate construction as development costs are funded by the partners throughout the construction period. The Company determined that it was not the primary beneficiary of this VIE based on the fact that the Company has shared control of this entity along with the entity’s partners and therefore does not have a controlling financial interest.
 
As of March 31, 2016, the Company’s investment in this VIE was a negative $7.4 million, due to the fact that the Company had a remaining capital commitment obligation, which is included in Other liabilities in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with this VIE is estimated to be $7.4 million, which is the remaining capital commitment obligation. The Company has not provided financial support to this VIE that it was not previously contractually required to provide. All future costs of development will be funded with capital contributions from the Company and the outside partner in accordance with their respective ownership percentages.