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Other Investments
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
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 for the
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
2015
 
2014
iStar Net Lease I LLC ("Net Lease Venture")
$
124,464

 
$
125,361

 
$
1,633

 
$
(362
)
Other real estate equity investments
86,166

 
88,848

 
(1,302
)
 
934

Other investments
50,725

 
63,262

 
1,733

 
3,334

Madison Funds
44,997

 
45,971

 
(37
)
 
(402
)
Marina Palms, LLC ("Marina Palms")
35,197

 
30,677

 
4,520

 
(327
)
Total other investments
341,549

 
354,119

 
$
6,547

 
$
3,177



Net Lease Venture—During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company partnered with a sovereign wealth fund to form a new unconsolidated entity in which the Company has a noncontrolling equity interest of approximately 51.9%. This entity is not a VIE and the Company does not have controlling interest due to the substantive participating rights of its partner. 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 officers 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 officers are also entitled to an amount equal to 50% of any promote payment received based on the 47.5% partner's interest. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company sold a net lease asset for net proceeds of $93.7 million, which approximated carrying value, to the venture. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the venture's carrying value of total assets was $346.8 million and $348.1 million, respectively.
Marina Palms—As of March 31, 2015, the Company owned a 47.5% equity interest and a $10.0 million preferred partnership interest in Marina Palms. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the venture's carrying value of total assets was $275.8 million and $265.7 million, respectively.
Other real estate equity investments—As of March 31, 2015, the Company's other real estate equity investments included equity interests in real estate ventures ranging from 16% to 86%, comprised of investments of $12.3 million in operating properties and $73.7 million in land assets. As of December 31, 2014, the Company's real estate equity investments included $13.2 million in operating properties and $75.5 million in land assets.
Madison Funds—As of March 31, 2015, the Company owned a 29.5% interest in Madison International Real Estate Fund II, LP ("MIRELF II"), a 32.9% interest in Madison International Real Estate Liquidity Fund III, LP ("MIRELF III"), a 32.9% interest in Madison International Real Estate Liquidity Fund III AIV, LP ("MIRELF III AIV") and a 29.5% 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.
Other investments—As of March 31, 2015, 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. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company sold available-for-sale securities for proceeds of $7.3 million for realized gains of $2.5 million, which is included in "Other income" on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. The amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings was determined based on the specific identification method.
Summarized investee financial information—The following tables present the investee level summarized financial information of the Company's equity method investments, which were significant subsidiaries as of March 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):
 
Revenues
 
Expenses
 
Net Income Attributable to Parent Entities
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Marina Palms
$
34,998

 
$
(22,638
)
 
$
12,360

Net Lease Venture
7,829

 
(4,546
)
 
3,146

 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
Marina Palms
$
17

 
$
(710
)
 
$
(693
)
Net Lease Venture(1)
944

 
(1,642
)
 
(698
)


Explanatory Note:
_______________________________________________________________________________

(1)
The Company began accounting for its investment in Net Lease Venture under the equity method of accounting on February 13, 2014, when the venture was formed. The amounts in the Company's financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2014 are based on the balances and results from Net Lease Venture for the period from February 13, 2014 to March 31, 2014.