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Other Investments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]  
Other Investments
Other Investments

The Company's other investments and its proportionate share of results from equity method investments were as follows ($ in thousands):
 
Carrying Value
 
Equity in Earnings
 
As of December 31,
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
LNR
$

 
$
205,773

 
$
16,465

 
$
60,669

 
$
53,861

Madison Funds
67,782

 
56,547

 
14,796

 
10,246

 
3,641

Oak Hill Funds
21,366

 
29,840

 
4,174

 
5,844

 
1,918

Real estate equity investments
62,205

 
47,619

 
2,753

 
21,636

 
(5,273
)
Other equity method investments(1)
45,954

 
47,939

 
3,332

 
4,614

 
40,944

Total equity method investments
$
197,307

 
$
387,718

 
$
41,520

 
$
103,009

 
$
95,091

Other
9,902

 
11,125

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total other investments
$
207,209

 
$
398,843

 
 
 
 
 
 


Explanatory Note:
_______________________________________________________________________________

(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2011, equity in earnings includes $38.4 million of earnings related to Oak Hill Advisors, L.P. and related entities that were sold in October 2011.

LNR—In July 2010, the Company acquired an ownership interest of approximately 24% in LNR Property Corporation ("LNR"). LNR is a servicer and special servicer of commercial mortgage loans and CMBS and a diversified real estate investment, finance and management company. In the transaction, the Company and a group of investors, including other creditors of LNR, acquired 100% of the common stock of LNR in exchange for cash and the extinguishment of existing senior notes of LNR's parent holding company (the "Holdco Notes"). The Company contributed $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of Holdco Notes and $100.0 million in cash in exchange for an equity interest of $120.0 million.

Beginning in September 2012, the Company and other owners of LNR entered into negotiations with potential purchasers of LNR. After an extensive due diligence and negotiation process, the LNR owners entered into a definitive contract to sell LNR in January 2013 at a fixed sale price which, from the Company's perspective, reflected in part the Company's then-current expectations about the future results of LNR and potential volatility in its business. The definitive sale contract provided that LNR would not make cash distributions to its owners during the fourth quarter of 2012 through the closing of the sale. Notwithstanding the fixed terms of the contract, our investment balance in LNR increased due to equity in earnings recorded which resulted in our recognition of other than temporary impairment on our investment during the year ended December 31, 2013. In April 2013, the Company completed the sale of its 24% equity interest in LNR and received $220.3 million in net proceeds. Approximately $25.2 million of net proceeds were placed in escrow for potential indemnification obligations through April 2014. The Company is not currently aware that any material indemnification claims are probable of occurring.
The following table represents investee level summarized financial information for LNR ($ in thousands)(1):
 
For the Period from October 1, 2012 to April 19,
 
For the Years
Ended September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Income Statements
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue(2)
$
179,373

 
$
332,902

 
$
327,032

Income tax (expense) benefit(3)
$
(2,137
)
 
$
(6,731
)
 
$
76,558

Net income attributable to LNR(4)
$
113,478

 
$
253,039

 
$
225,190

iStar's ownership percentage
24
%
 
24
%
 
24
%
iStar's equity in earnings from LNR(5)
$
45,375

 
$
60,669

 
$
53,861


 
As of September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
Balance Sheets
 
 
 
Total assets(2)
$

 
$
98,513,452

Total debt(2)
$

 
$
97,521,520

Total liabilities(2)
$

 
$
97,639,696

Noncontrolling interests
$

 
$
8,067

LNR Property LLC equity
$

 
$
865,689

iStar's ownership percentage
%
 
24
%
iStar's equity in LNR(6)
$

 
$
205,773



 
For the Period from October 1, 2012 to April 19,
 
For the Years
Ended September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Cash Flows
 
 
 
 
 
Operating cash flows
$
(127,075
)
 
$
(85,909
)
 
$
170,703

Cash flows from investing activities
$
(36,543
)
 
$
(55,686
)
 
$
45,488

Cash flows from financing activities
$
217,241

 
$
229,634

 
$
(123,506
)
Net cash flows
$
53,623

 
$
88,039

 
$
92,685

Cash distributions
$

 
$
61,179

 
$
73,916

iStar's ownership percentage
24
%
 
24
%
 
24
%
Cash distributions received by iStar

 
14,690

 
17,722



Explanatory Notes:
_______________________________________________________________________________

(1)
The Company recorded its investment in LNR, which was sold in April 2013, on a one quarter lag, therefore, amounts in the Company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 are based on balances and results from LNR for the period from October 1, 2012 to April 19, 2013. The amounts in the Company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 are based on balances and results from LNR for the years ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
(2)
LNR consolidates certain commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligation trusts that are considered VIEs (and for which it is the primary beneficiary), that have been included in the amounts presented above. As of September 30, 2012, the assets of these trusts, which aggregated $97.52 billion, were the sole source of repayment of the related liabilities, which aggregated $97.21 billion and are non-recourse to LNR and its equity holders, including the Company. Excluding the amounts related to VIEs, as of September 30, 2012, total assets were $1.38 billion , total debt was $398.9 million, and total liabilities were $517.1 million. In addition, total revenue presented above includes $55.5 million, $95.4 million, and $119.0 million for the period from October 1, 2012 to April 19, 2013 and for the years ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, of servicing fee revenue that is eliminated upon consolidation of the VIE's at the LNR level. This income is then added back through consolidation at the LNR level as an adjustment to income allocable to noncontrolling entities and has no net impact on net income attributable to LNR.
(3)
During the year ended December 31, 2011, LNR recorded an income tax benefit from the settlement of certain tax liabilities.
(4)
Subsequent to the sale of the Company's interest in LNR, LNR reported a reduction in their earnings of $66.2 million related to a purchase price allocation adjustment. The reduction was reflected in LNR's operations for the three months ended March 31, 2013, which resulted in a net loss for the period. Because the Company recorded its investment in LNR on a one quarter lag, the adjustment was reflected in the quarter ended June 30, 2013. There was no net impact on the Company's previously reported equity in earnings as the Company limited its proportionate share of earnings from LNR as described above.
(5)
LNR reported a net loss for the period from April 1, 2013 to April 19, 2013 which had already been considered in the Company's other than temporary impairment assessment. As such, no equity in earnings was recorded during the quarter ended September 30, 2013. The total equity in earnings recognized for LNR was $45.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
(6)
Represents the Company's investment in LNR at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The following table reconciles the activity related to the Company's investment in LNR for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013, the six months ended December 31, 2013 and for the year ended December 31, 2013 ($ in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
 
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2013
 
For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2013
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
Carrying value of LNR at beginning of period
$
205,773

 
$
220,281

 
$

 
$
205,773

 
Equity in earnings of LNR for the period(1)
$
45,375

 
$

 
$

 
$
45,375

(a)
Balance before other than temporary impairment
$
251,148

 
$
220,281

 
$

 
$
251,148

 
Other than temporary impairment(1)
$
(30,867
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(30,867
)
(b)
Sales proceeds pursuant to contract
$

 
$
(220,281
)
 
$

 
$
(220,281
)
 
Carrying value of LNR at end of period
$
220,281

 
$

 
$

 
$

 

Explanatory Notes:
_______________________________________________________________________________
(1)
Subsequent to the sale of the Company's interest in LNR, LNR reported a reduction in their earnings of $66.2 million related to a purchase price allocation adjustment. The reduction was reflected in LNR's operations for the three months ended March 31, 2013, which resulted in a net loss for the period. Because the Company recorded its investment in LNR on a one quarter lag, the adjustment was reflected in the quarter ended June 30, 2013. There was no net impact on the Company's previously reported equity in earnings as the Company limited its proportionate share of earnings from LNR as described above.

For the year ended December 31, 2013, the amount that was recognized as income in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations is the sum of items (a), (b) and $1.7 million of income recognized for the release of other comprehensive income related to LNR upon sale, or $16.5 million.
Madison Funds—As of December 31, 2013, the Company owned a 29.52% interest in Madison International Real Estate Fund II, LP, a 32.92% interest in Madison International Real Estate Fund III, LP and a 29.52% interest in Madison GP1 Investors, LP (collectively, the "Madison Funds"). The Madison Funds invest in ownership positions of entities that own real estate assets. The Company determined that these entities are variable interest entities and that the Company is not the primary beneficiary.
Oak Hill Funds—As of December 31, 2013, the Company owned a 5.92% interest in OHA Strategic Credit Master Fund, L.P. ("OHASCF"). OHASCF was formed to acquire and manage a diverse portfolio of assets, investing in distressed, stressed and undervalued loans, bonds, equities and other investments. The Company determined that this entity is a variable interest entity and that the Company is not the primary beneficiary.
Real estate equity investments—During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company sold land for net proceeds of $21.4 million to a newly formed unconsolidated entity in which the Company had a preferred partnership interest and a 47.5% equity interest. The Company's proportionate share of the assets retained on a carryover basis on the date of sale was $10.6 million. The Company held a preferred partnership interest of $6.6 million, which was repaid and no longer outstanding at December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had a recorded equity interest of $5.5 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company contributed land to a newly formed unconsolidated entity in which the Company received an equity interest of 75.6%. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had a recorded equity interest of $18.0 million. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company contributed land to a newly formed unconsolidated entity in which the Company also received a 50.0% equity interest. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had a recorded equity interest of $3.5 million.

In addition, as of December 31, 2013, the Company's other real estate equity investments included equity interests in real estate ventures ranging from 31% to 70%, comprised of investments of $16.4 million in net lease assets, $16.0 million in operating properties and $2.7 million in land assets. As of December 31, 2012, the Company's real estate equity investments included $16.4 million in net lease assets, $25.7 million in operating properties and $5.5 million in land assets. One of the Company's equity investments in operating properties represents a 33% interest in residential property units. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company's earnings from its interest in this property includes income from sales of residential units of $4.7 million and $26.0 million, respectively.
Oak Hill Advisors—In October 2011, the Company sold a substantial portion of its interests in Oak Hill Advisors, L.P. and related entities for $183.7 million of net cash proceeds, which resulted in a net gain of $30.3 million that was recorded in "Earnings from equity method investments" on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. Glenn R. August, a former director of the Company and the president and senior partner of Oak Hill Advisors, L.P., participated in the transaction as a purchaser. In conjunction with the sale of its interests in Oak Hill Advisors, L.P., the Company retained interests in its share of certain unearned incentive fees of various funds. These fees are contingent on the future performance of the funds and the Company will recognize income related to these fees if and when the amounts are realized.
Other investments—The Company also had smaller investments in real estate related funds and other strategic investments in several other entities that were accounted for under the equity method or cost method.
Summarized financial information—The following table presents the investee level summarized financial information of the Company's equity method investments, excluding LNR ($ in thousands):
 
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Income Statements
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
 
$
284,513

 
$
401,870

 
$
198,340

Net income attributable to parent entities
 
$
206,198

 
$
304,960

 
$
97,066


 
 
As of December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
Total assets
 
$
2,980,737

 
$
2,758,889

Total liabilities
 
$
303,100

 
$
170,997

Noncontrolling interests
 
$
333

 
$
2,253

Total equity
 
$
2,677,304

 
$
2,585,639