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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES AND LIQUIDITY
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES AND LIQUIDITY  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES AND LIQUIDITY

NOTE 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES AND LIQUIDITY

 

In conjunction with its sale of Four Hickory in November 2007, the Company agreed to fund approximately $1.0 million to satisfy its commitment to compensate LK-Four Hickory, LLC for move-in discounts and other concessions to existing tenants at the time of sale. The Company also has certain agreements with LK-Four Hickory, LLC to fund projection shortfalls, which, to date, we have not had to provide any additional funding. In addition, related parties of the Company have active lease agreements with LK-Four Hickory, LLC.

 

On December 17, 2007, both Limkwang Nevada, Inc., the majority owner of LK-Four Hickory, LLC, and ARL unconditionally guaranteed the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or hereafter, including all fees and expenses incurred by the bank on collection of a $28.0 million note payable for LK-Four Hickory, LLC.

 

Liquidity.     Management believes that ARL will generate excess cash flow from property operations in 2012; such excess, however, will not be sufficient to discharge all of ARL’s obligations as they became due. Management intends to sell land and income- producing real estate, refinance real estate and obtain additional borrowings primarily secured by real estate to meet its liquidity requirements.

 

Partnership Buyouts.    ARL is the limited partner in various partnerships related to the construction of residential properties. As permitted in the respective partnership agreements, ARL intends to purchase the interests of the general and any other limited partners in these partnerships subsequent to the completion of these projects. The amounts paid to buy out the non-affiliated partners are limited to development fees earned by the non-affiliated partners, and are set forth in the respective partnership agreements.

 

Litigation.     American Realty Trust, Inc (“ART”) and its subsidiary ART Midwest, Inc have been embroiled in a lawsuit with a Mr. David Clapper and companies related to Mr. Clapper (“The Clapper Entities”) since 1999. The origins of the matter began in 1998 in a transaction whereby ART Midwest was to acquire eight apartments from the Clapper Entities. Through the years there have been rulings both for and against ART in this matter; however, in October 2011 a final ruling was issued whereby the Clapper Entities were awarded approximately $74 million, including $26 million in damages and $48 million in interest. This ruling was against ART and its subsidiary ART Midwest and not the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.

 

ART believes there were serious errors in the judge’s ruling and has filed an appeal of the judge’s ruling. ART further believes that should the Clapper Entities ultimately prevail that it has claims against a third party who was involved in this matter. These claims cannot be pursued until the main case with the Clapper Group is ultimately resolved.

 

Should the Clapper Group ultimately prevail, the only defendants in this matter are ART and ART Midwest, Inc., whose total assets and net worth as of December 31, 2011 were approximately $10 million. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries other than ART have guaranteed or indemnified either ART or ART Midwest, Inc.

 

As of December 31, 2011 the Company reserved $10 million which represents 100% of both the asset and book value of ART. In January 2012, the Company sold ART and its subsidiaries for a $10 million note. The note is fully reserved by the Company.  Subsequent to the sale, ART filed for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy protection.

 

ARL, through a subsidiary, is developing a maritime harbor town on the 420 acre site of the former naval base of Olpenitz in Kappeln, Germany. At the current time over 50 lots in Phase One, of an initial 180, have been sold and are in various stages of construction. There have been disputes with our local partner related to his mismanagement of the project which resulted in our replacing him as the managing partner and led to filing for bankruptcy protection in Germany to completely remove him from the project. We believe that the value of the land and development in process will satisfy the existing creditors and return our investment. We are working on a plan for the bankruptcy court and expect to continue our involvement in the development of this project.

 

The ownership of property and provision of services to the public as tenants entails an inherent risk of liability. Although the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various items of litigation incidental to and in the ordinary course of its business, in the opinion of Management, the outcome of such litigation will not have a material adverse impact upon the Company’s financial condition, results of operation or liquidity.