Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies of Consolidated Properties

Leases and capital expenditure commitments

Our non-cancelable operating leases, with initial terms in excess of one year, have terms that expire from 2017 to 2101. Annual rental payments for these leases totaled approximately $7.0 million, $6.4 million and $6.0 million, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The majority of our rental payments are related to ground leases at the following outlet centers: Myrtle Beach Hwy 17, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Sevierville, Riverhead , Foxwoods and Rehoboth Beach.

Minimum lease payments for the next five years and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Operating Leases
2017
 
$
6,709

2018
 
6,334

2019
 
6,237

2020
 
6,217

2021
 
6,258

Thereafter
 
303,509

Total minimum payment
 
$
335,264


Commitments to complete construction of our ongoing capital projects and other capital expenditure requirements amounted to approximately $111.6 million at December 31, 2016.

Litigation

We are also subject to legal proceedings and claims which have arisen in the ordinary course of our business and have not been finally adjudicated. In our opinion, the ultimate resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. We record a liability in our consolidated financial statements for these matters when a loss is known or considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. We review these estimates each accounting period as additional information is known and adjust the loss provision when appropriate. If a matter is both probable to result in a liability and the amounts of loss can be reasonably estimated, we estimate and disclose the possible loss or range of loss to the extent necessary to make the consolidated financial statements not misleading. If the loss is not probable or cannot be reasonably estimated, a liability is not recorded in our consolidated financial statements.

Employment Agreements

We are party to employment agreements with certain executives that provide for compensation and certain other benefits. The agreements also provide for severance payments under certain circumstances.

Commitments and Contingencies of Unconsolidated Properties

Capital expenditure commitments

Contractual commitments for ongoing capital projects and other capital expenditure requirements related to our unconsolidated joint ventures amounted to approximately $10.2 million at December 31, 2016, of which our portion was approximately $5.1 million. Contractual commitments represent only those costs subject to contracts which are legal binding agreements as of December 31, 2016 and do not necessary represent the total cost to complete the projects.

Debt

We provide guarantees to lenders for our joint ventures which include standard non-recourse carve out indemnifications for losses arising from items such as but not limited to fraud, physical waste, payment of taxes, environmental indemnities, misapplication of insurance proceeds or security deposits and failure to maintain required insurance. For construction and term loans, we may include a guaranty of completion as well as a principal guaranty ranging from 5% to 100% of principal.  The principal guarantees include terms for release based upon satisfactory completion of construction and performance targets including occupancy thresholds and minimum debt service coverage tests. Our joint ventures may contain make whole provisions in the event that demands are made on any existing guarantees. As of December 31, 2016, the maximum amount of joint venture debt guaranteed by the Company is $28.0 million.