Note 19 - Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

19.  Commitments and Contingencies:

Operations

The Company is primarily engaged in the operation of shopping centers that are either owned or held under long-term leases that expire at various dates through 2109. The Company, in turn, leases premises in these centers to tenants pursuant to lease agreements which provide for terms ranging generally from 5 to 25 years and for annual minimum rentals plus incremental rents based on operating expense levels and tenants' sales volumes. Annual minimum rentals plus incremental rents based on operating expense levels and percentage rents comprised 98% of total revenues from rental properties for each of the three years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

The minimum revenues expected to be received by the Company from rental properties under the terms of all non-cancelable tenant leases for future years, assuming no new or renegotiated leases are executed for such premises, are as follows (in millions):

	2020		2021		2022		2023		2024		Thereafter
Minimum revenues	$	827.4	$	773.6	$	680.9	$	582.0	$	485.4	$	2,658.1

Base rental revenues from rental properties are recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the related leases. The difference between the amount of rental income contracted through leases and rental income recognized on a straight-line basis for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $17.2 million, $13.6 million and $15.7 million, respectively.

Letters of Credit

The Company has issued letters of credit in connection with the completion and repayment guarantees for loans encumbering certain of the Company’s development and redevelopment projects and guaranty of payment related to the Company’s insurance program. At December 31, 2019, these letters of credit aggregated $40.8 million.

Other

In connection with the construction of its development and redevelopment projects and related infrastructure, certain public agencies require posting of performance and surety bonds to guarantee that the Company’s obligations are satisfied. These bonds expire upon the completion of the improvements and infrastructure. As of December 31, 2019, there were $17.6 million in performance and surety bonds outstanding.

The Company is subject to various other legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that the final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company as of December 31, 2019.