Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests [Abstract]

10. Redeemable Partnership Units

Redeemable partnership units on our consolidated balance sheets represent Class A units held by third parties and are comprised of Class A units not held by Vornado and Series D-10, D-14, D-15 and D-16 (collectively, “Series D”) cumulative redeemable preferred units. Class A units may be tendered for redemption to us for cash; Vornado, at its option, may assume that obligation and pay the holder either cash or Vornado common shares on a one-for-one basis. Because the number of Vornado common shares outstanding at all times equals the number of Class A units owned by Vornado, the redemption value of each Class A unit is equivalent to the market value of one Vornado common share, and the quarterly distribution to a Class A unitholder is equal to the quarterly dividend paid to a Vornado common shareholder. Below are the details of our redeemable partnership units held by third-parties as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.


(Amounts in thousands, except unit and										Preferred or
per unit amounts)		Balance as of				Units Outstanding at		Per Unit		Annual
		December 31,				December 31,		Liquidation		Distribution
Unit Series		2011			2010	2011	2010	Preference		Rate
Class A units held by third parties		$	934,677	$	1,066,974	12,160,771	12,804,202		N/A	$	2.76

Redeemable Preferred: ⁽¹⁾
	7.00% D-10 Cumulative Redeemable	$	80,000	$	80,000	3,200,000	3,200,000	$	25.00	$	1.75
	6.75% D-14 Cumulative Redeemable		100,000		100,000	4,000,000	4,000,000	$	25.00	$	1.6875
	6.875% D-15 Cumulative Redeemable		45,000		45,000	1,800,000	1,800,000	$	25.00	$	1.71875
	5.00% D-16 Cumulative Redeemable		1,000		1,000	1	1	$	1,000,000.00	$	50,000.00
	7.20% D-11 Cumulative Redeemable⁽²⁾		-		35,000	-	1,400,000	$	25.00	$	1.80
		$	226,000	$	261,000	9,000,001	10,400,001
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(1)	Holders may tender units for redemption to us for cash at their stated redemption amount; Vornado, at its option, may assume that obligation and pay the holders either cash or Vornado preferred shares on a one-for-one basis. These units are redeemable at any time.
(2)	In 2011, we redeemed all of the outstanding Series D-11 cumulative redeemable preferred units for $20.00 per unit in cash, or $28,000 in the aggregate.

10. Redeemable Partnership Units - continued

Redeemable partnership units on our consolidated balance sheets are recorded at the greater of their carrying amount or redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Changes in the value from period to period are charged to “partners' capital” on our consolidated balance sheets. Below is a table summarizing the activity of redeemable partnership units.

55,912

(Amounts in thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	1,251,628
Net income		55,228
Distributions		(53,515)
Redemption of Class A units, at redemption value		(126,764)
Adjustment to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value		191,826
Redemption of Series D-12 redeemable units		(13,000)
Other, net		22,571
Balance at December 31, 2010		1,327,974
Net income		55,912
Distributions		(50,865)
Redemption of Class A units, at redemption value		(64,830)
Adjustment to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value		(98,092)
Redemption of Series D-11 redeemable units		(28,000)
Other, net		18,578
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	1,160,677

Redeemable partnership units exclude our Series G convertible preferred units and Series D-13 cumulative redeemable preferred units, as they are accounted for as liabilities in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities and Equity, because of their possible settlement by issuing a variable number of Vornado common shares. Accordingly, the fair value of these units is included as a component of “other liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheets and aggregated $54,865,000 and $55,097,000 as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.