Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

6. Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

In December 2006, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement to obtain a 38.0% interest in the 460-room Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square in New York City, New York. The Company accounted for its ownership interest in the hotel using the equity method, and its accounting policies were consistent with those of the unconsolidated joint venture. In January 2011, the Company purchased the outside 62.0% equity interests in its Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square joint venture for $37.5 million, and, as a result, became the sole owner of the entity that owns the hotel. In conjunction with this purchase, the Company recognized a gain of $30.1 million on the remeasurement of the Company’s equity interest in this joint venture to its fair market value, and a gain of $30.4 million on the remeasurement of the Company’s investment in a $30.0 million, 8.5% mezzanine loan secured by the hotel which it purchased in April 2010 for $3.45 million to its fair market value. Subsequent to this acquisition, the Company has consolidated the results of operations of the Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square with its continuing operations.

In December 2007, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement with Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (“Strategic”) to own and operate BuyEfficient, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, Strategic acquired a 50.0% interest in BuyEfficient from the Company. The Company accounted for its ownership interest in BuyEfficient using the equity method, and its accounting policies were consistent with those of the unconsolidated joint venture. In January 2011, the Company repurchased Strategic’s 50.0% share in BuyEfficient for $9.0 million. The Company recorded the acquisition at fair value using an independent third-party analysis, with the purchase price allocated to intangibles (which are included in other assets, net on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2011), goodwill and other working capital assets and liabilities. In conjunction with this purchase, the Company recognized a gain of $8.7 million on the remeasurement of the Company’s equity interest in this joint venture to its fair market value. Subsequent to this acquisition, the Company is now the sole owner of BuyEfficient, and has consolidated BuyEfficient’s results of operations with its continuing operations.