Other Assets

A Variable Interest Entity ("VIE") is an entity in which the equity investors have not provided enough equity to finance the entity's activities or the equity investors (1) cannot directly or indirectly make decisions about the entity's activities through their voting rights or similar rights; (2) do not have the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity; (3) do not have the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity; or (4) have voting rights that are not proportionate to their economic interests and the entity's activities involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor with a disproportionately small voting interest.

We have determined that TUI Cruises GmbH, our 50%-owned joint venture, which operates the brand TUI Cruises, is a VIE. As of December 31, 2017, the net book value of our investment in TUI Cruises was approximately $624.5 million, primarily consisting of $422.8 million in equity and a loan of €166.5 million, or approximately $199.8 million based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2016, the net book value of our investment in TUI Cruises was approximately $517.0 million, primarily consisting of $323.5 million in equity and a loan of €182.3 million, or approximately $192.4 million based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2016. The loan, which was made in connection with the sale of Splendour of the Seas in April 2016, accrues interest at a rate of 6.25% per annum and is payable over 10 years. This loan is 50% guaranteed by TUI AG, our joint venture partner in TUI Cruises, and is secured by a first priority mortgage on the ship. Refer to Note 5. Property and Equipment for further information. The majority of these amounts were included within Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets.

In addition, we and TUI AG have each guaranteed the repayment by TUI Cruises of 50% of a bank loan. As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding principal amount of the loan was €95.1 million, or approximately $114.2 million based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2017. While this loan matures in May 2022, the lenders have agreed to release each shareholder's guarantee if certain conditions are met by April 2018. The loan amortizes quarterly and is secured by first mortgages on the Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2 vessels. Based on current facts and circumstances, we do not believe potential obligations under our guarantee of this bank loan are probable.

Our investment amount, outstanding term loan and the potential obligations under the bank loan guarantee are substantially our maximum exposure to loss in connection with our investment in TUI Cruises. We have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of TUI Cruises. We believe that the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact TUI Cruises’ economic performance are shared between ourselves and TUI AG. All the significant operating and financial decisions of TUI Cruises require the consent of both parties, which we believe creates shared power over TUI Cruises. Accordingly, we do not consolidate this entity and account for this investment under the equity method of accounting.

TUI Cruises has two newbuild ships on order scheduled to be delivered in each of 2018 and 2019. TUI Cruises has in place agreements for the secured financing of each of the ships on order for up to 80% of the contract price. The remaining portion of the contract price of the ships is expected to be funded through an existing €150.0 million, or approximately $180.1 million based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2017, bank facility and TUI Cruises’ cash flows from operations. The various ship construction and financing agreements include certain restrictions on each of our and TUI AG’s ability to reduce our current ownership interest in TUI Cruises below 37.55% through 2021.

We have determined that Pullmantur Holdings, in which we have a 49% noncontrolling interest, is a VIE for which we are not the primary beneficiary, as we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance. Accordingly, following the sale of our 51% interest in Pullmantur Holdings to Springwater Capital LLC ("Springwater") in 2016, we do not consolidate this entity and we account for this investment under the equity method of accounting. As of December 31, 2017, our maximum exposure to loss in Pullmantur Holdings was approximately $53.7 million consisting of loans and other receivables. As of December 31, 2016, our maximum exposure to loss in Pullmantur Holdings was approximately $43.7 million consisting of loans and other receivables. These amounts were included within Trade and other receivables, net and Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets.

In conjunction with the sale of our 51% interest in Pullmantur Holdings, we agreed to provide a non-revolving working capital facility to a Pullmantur Holdings subsidiary in the amount of up to €15.0 million or approximately $18.0 million based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2017. Proceeds of the facility, which may be drawn through July 2018, will bear interest at the rate of 6.5% per annum and are payable through 2022. Springwater has guaranteed repayment of 51% of the outstanding amounts under the facility. As of December 31, 2017, no amounts had been drawn on this facility. See Note 1. General for further discussion on the sales transaction.

We have determined that Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd. ("Grand Bahama"), a ship repair and maintenance facility in which we have a 40% noncontrolling interest, is a VIE. This facility serves cruise and cargo ships, oil and gas tankers and offshore units. We utilize this facility, among other ship repair facilities, for our regularly scheduled drydocks and certain emergency repairs as may be required. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we made payments of $16.0 million and $39.8 million, respectively, to Grand Bahama for ship repair and maintenance services. We have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of this facility, as we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the facility's economic performance. Accordingly, we do not consolidate this entity and we account for this investment under the equity method of accounting. As of December 31, 2017, the net book value of our investment in Grand Bahama was approximately $49.4 million, consisting of $32.4 million in equity and a loan of $17.0 million. As of December 31, 2016, the net book value of our investment in Grand Bahama was approximately $47.0 million, consisting of $23.2 million in equity and a loan of $23.8 million. These amounts represent our maximum exposure to loss related to our investment in Grand Bahama. During the first quarter of 2016, our debt agreement with Grand Bahama was amended to extend the maturity by 10 years and increase the applicable interest rate to the lower of (i) LIBOR plus 3.50% and (ii) 5.50%. Interest payable on the loan is due on a semi-annual basis. We have experienced strong payment performance on the loan since its amendment, and as a result completed an evaluation and review of the loan resulting in a reclassification of the loan to accrual status as of October 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we received principal and interest payments of approximately $15.7 million. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we received payments of approximately $14.8 million. The loan balance is included within Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. The loan is currently accruing interest under the effective yield method, which includes the recognition of previously unrecognized interest that accumulated while the loan was in non-accrual status.

We monitor credit risk associated with the loan through our participation on Grand Bahama's board of directors along with our review of Grand Bahama's financial statements and projected cash flows. Based on this review, we believe the risk of loss associated with the outstanding loan is not probable as of December 31, 2017.

We have determined that Skysea Holding International Ltd. ("Skysea Holding"), in which we have a 36% noncontrolling interest, is a VIE. During the second quarter of 2017, we made an equity contribution of $7.1 million which increased our equity interest from 35% to 36%. The contribution was made pursuant to a funding arrangement in which the entity's three largest investors agreed to contribute a total of $30.0 million in proportion to their equity interest in a series of installments. We have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of Skysea Holding as we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance. Accordingly, we do not consolidate this entity and we account for this investment under the equity method of accounting. In December 2014, we and Ctrip.com International Ltd, which also owns 36% of Skysea Holding, each provided a debt facility to a wholly owned subsidiary of Skysea Holding in the amount of $80.0 million, with an applicable interest rate of 6.5% per annum, which mature in January 2030. Due to recent payment performance, the loans were classified to non-accrual status in 2017. The facilities, which are pari passu to each other, are each 100% guaranteed by Skysea Holding and are secured by first priority mortgages on the ship Golden Era. As of December 31, 2017, the net book value of our investment in Skysea Holding and its subsidiaries was approximately $96.0 million, consisting of $4.4 million in equity and loans and other receivables of $91.6 million. As of December 31, 2016, the net book value of our investment in Skysea Holding and its subsidiaries was approximately $98.0 million, consisting of $9.2 million in equity and loans and other receivables of $88.8 million. The majority of these amounts were included within Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets and represent our maximum exposure to loss related to our investment in Skysea Holding.

We monitor credit risk associated with the loan through our participation on Skysea Holding's board of directors along with our review of Skysea Holding's financial statements and projected cash flows. Based on this review, we believe the risk of loss associated with the outstanding loan is not probable as of December 31, 2017.

The following tables set forth information regarding our investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting, including the entities discussed above, (in thousands):



	For the period ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Share of equity income from investments	$	156,247	$	128,350	$	81,026
Dividends received	$	109,677	$	75,942	$	33,338



	As of December 31,
	2017		2016
Total notes receivable due from equity investments	$	314,323	$	323,636
Less-current portion⁽¹⁾	38,658		40,742
Long-term portion⁽²⁾	$	275,665	$	282,894

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(1) Included within Trade and other receivables, net in our consolidated balance sheets.

(2)Included within Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets.

We also provide ship management services to TUI Cruises GmbH, Pullmantur Holdings and Skysea Holding. Additionally, we bareboat charter to Pullmantur Holdings the vessels currently operated by its brands, which were retained by us following the sale of our 51% interest in Pullmantur Holdings. We recorded the following as it relates to these services in our operating results within our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) (in thousands):



	For the period ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Revenues	$	53,532	$	30,517	$	20,217
Expenses	$	15,176	$	12,795	$	15,669

Summarized financial information for our affiliates accounted for under the equity method of accounting was as follows (in thousands):



	As of December 31,
	2017		2016
Current assets	$	532,330	$	492,707
Non-current assets	3,673,613		2,942,580
Total assets	$	4,205,943	$	3,435,287

Current liabilities	$	1,152,193	$	887,175
Non- current liabilities	1,974,166		1,704,495
Total liabilities	$	3,126,359	$	2,591,670

Equity attributable to:
Noncontrolling interest	$	1,753	$	1,544



	For the period ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Total revenues	$	1,994,014		$	1,340,662		$	990,172
Total expenses	(1,684,276		)	(1,078,470		)	(830,898		)
Net income	$	309,738		$	262,192		$	159,274