Redeemable Partnership Units

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Redeemable Partnership Units [Abstract]

10. Redeemable Partnership Units

Redeemable partnership units on our consolidated balance sheets are primarily comprised of Class A units held by third parties and 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. 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 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.


(Amounts in thousands, except units and										Preferred or
per unit amounts)		Balance as of				Units Outstanding at		Per Unit		Annual
		December 31,				December 31,		Liquidation		Distribution
Unit Series		2015			2014	2015	2014	Preference		Rate
	Class A units held by third parties	$	1,223,793	$	1,336,780	12,242,820	11,356,550		n/a	$	2.52

Redeemable Preferred: ⁽¹⁾
	5.00% D-16 Cumulative Redeemable	$	1,000	$	1,000	1	1	$	1,000,000.00	$	50,000.00
	3.25% D-17 Cumulative Redeemable	$	4,428	$	-	177,100	-	$	25.00	$	0.8125


(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.

Below is a table summarizing the activity of redeemable partnership units.

	(Amounts in thousands)
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,003,620
	Net income		47,613
	Other comprehensive income		1,323
	Distributions		(33,469)
	Redemption of Class A units, at redemption value		(27,273)
	Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value		315,276
	Other, net		30,690
	Balance at December 31, 2014		1,337,780
	Net income		43,231
	Other comprehensive income		(2,866)
	Distributions		(30,263)
	Redemption of Class A units, at redemption value		(48,230)
	Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value		(192,464)
	Issuance of Class A units		80,000
	Issuance of Series D-17 Preferred Units		4,428
	Other, net		37,605
	Balance at December 31, 2015	$	1,229,221

Redeemable partnership units exclude our Series G-1 through G-4 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 $50,561,000 and $55,097,000 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Changes in the value from period to period, if any, are charged to “interest and debt expense” on our consolidated statements of income.