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Other Investments
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
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 as of
 
Equity in Earnings
 
June 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Real estate equity investments
$
98,204

 
$
62,205

 
$
1,442

 
$
957

 
$
1,687

 
$
2,721

Other equity method investments(1)
70,067

 
45,954

 
23,882

 
(127
)
 
24,918

 
1,626

Madison Funds
43,531

 
67,782

 
(1,989
)
 
4,865

 
(2,391
)
 
7,124

Oak Hill Funds
20,275

 
21,366

 
758

 
909

 
3,056

 
2,065

LNR

 

 

 
1,719

 

 
16,465

Total equity method investments
232,077

 
197,307

 
$
24,093

 
$
8,323

 
$
27,270

 
$
30,001

Other
9,484

 
9,902

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total other investments
$
241,561

 
$
207,209

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Explanatory Note:
_______________________________________________________________________________

(1)
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recognized $23.4 million of earnings from equity method investments resulting from asset sales by one of its equity method investees.

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 $25.2 million of net proceeds, which were placed in escrow for potential indemnification obligations, were released to the Company in April 2014.
The following table represents investee level summarized financial information for LNR ($ in thousands)(1):
 
For the Three Months
Ended March 31, 2013
 
For the Six Months
Ended March 31, 2013
Income Statements
 
 
 
Total revenue(2)
$
68,779

 
$
146,579

Income tax (expense) benefit
(1,121
)
 
(1,401
)
Net income attributable to LNR
42,452

 
231,701



Explanatory Notes:
_______________________________________________________________________________

(1)
The Company recorded its investment in LNR, which was sold in April 2013, on a one quarter lag. Therefore, the amounts in the Company's financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 were based on balances and results from LNR for the three and six months ended March 31, 2013.
(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. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2013, total revenue presented above includes $21.1 million and $50.4 million, 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.

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 and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 ($ in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
 
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2013
 
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 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 Note:
_______________________________________________________________________________

(1)
During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company recorded an other than temporary impairment of $30.9 million. 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 pursuant to the definitive sale agreement as described above.

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the amount that was recognized as income in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations is the sum of items (a) and (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 June 30, 2014, 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 VIEs and that the Company is not the primary beneficiary.
Oak Hill Funds—As of June 30, 2014, 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 VIE and that the Company is not the primary beneficiary.
Real Estate Equity Investments—During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company sold a net lease asset for net proceeds of $93.7 million to a newly formed unconsolidated entity in which the Company contributed $17.7 million for a noncontrolling equity interest of approximately 51.9%. The Company partnered with a sovereign wealth fund to form the venture in which the partners plan to contribute up to an aggregate $500 million of equity to acquire and develop net lease assets over time. The Company is responsible for sourcing new opportunities and managing the venture and its assets in exchange for a promote and management fee. Several of the Company's senior executives whose time is substantially devoted to the net lease venture own a total of 0.6% equity ownership in the venture via co-investment. These executives are also entitled to an amount equal to 50% of any promote payment received based on the 47.5% partner's interest. As of June 30, 2014, the Company had a recorded equity interest of $17.3 million.

During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company contributed land to a newly formed unconsolidated entity in which the Company received an initial equity interest of 85.7%. This entity is a VIE and the Company does not have controlling interest due to shared control of the entity with its partner. As of June 30, 2014, the Company had a recorded equity interest of $9.5 million. Additionally, the Company committed to provide $45.7 million of mezzanine financing to the entity. As of June 30, 2014, the loan balance was $1.9 million and was included in "Loans receivable and other lending investments, net" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In addition, as of June 30, 2014, the Company's other real estate equity investments included equity interests in real estate ventures ranging from 31% to 76%, comprised of investments of $16.4 million in net lease assets, $15.1 million in operating properties and $39.9 million in land assets. As of December 31, 2013, the Company's real estate equity investments included $16.4 million in net lease assets, $16.0 million in operating properties and $29.8 million in land assets. One of the Company's equity investments in operating properties represents a 33% interest in residential property units. For the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company's earnings from its interest in this property includes income from sales of residential units of $0.3 million and $4.0 million, respectively.

Other Investments—As of June 30, 2014, 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.