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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosures [Text Block]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Environmental

As an owner of real estate, the Company is subject to various environmental laws of federal, state and local governments. The Company is not aware of any environmental liability that could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. However, changes in applicable environmental laws and regulations, the uses and conditions of properties in the vicinity of the Company’s properties, the activities of its tenants and other environmental conditions of which the Company is unaware with respect to the properties could result in future environmental liabilities. Compliance with existing environmental laws is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations as of September 30, 2013.

Separation and REIT Conversion Merger
On May 24, 2010, Old Sun announced its intention to restructure its business by separating its real estate assets and its operating assets into two separate publicly traded companies, Sabra and SHG Services Inc. (which was then renamed “Sun Healthcare Group, Inc.” or “Sun”). In order to effect the restructuring, Old Sun distributed to its stockholders on a pro rata basis all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Sun (this distribution is referred to as the “Separation”), together with an additional cash distribution. Immediately following the Separation, Old Sun merged with and into Sabra, with Sabra surviving the merger and Old Sun stockholders receiving shares of Sabra common stock in exchange for their shares of Old Sun common
stock (this merger is referred to as the “REIT Conversion Merger”). Effective November 15, 2010, the Separation and REIT Conversion Merger were completed and Sabra and Sun began operations as separate companies.
Following the Separation, Sun, through its subsidiaries, continued the business and operations of Old Sun and its subsidiaries. Sabra did not operate prior to the Separation. Immediately following the Separation, subsidiaries of Sabra owned substantially all of Old Sun’s owned real property. The owned real property held by subsidiaries of Sabra following the Separation includes fixtures and certain personal property associated with the real property. The historical consolidated financial statements of Old Sun became the historical consolidated financial statements of Sun at the time of the Separation. At the time of the Separation, the balance sheet of Sabra included the owned real property and mortgage indebtedness to third parties on the real property as well as indebtedness incurred by Sabra prior to completion of the Separation. The statements of income and cash flows of Sabra consist solely of its operations after the Separation. The Separation was accounted for as a reverse spinoff. Accordingly, Sabra’s assets and liabilities are recorded at the historical carrying values of Old Sun.
In connection with the Separation and REIT Conversion Merger, any liability arising from or relating to legal proceedings involving the Company’s real estate investments has been assumed by the Company and the Company will indemnify Sun (and its subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees and agents and certain other related parties) against any losses arising from or relating to such legal proceedings. In addition, pursuant to a distribution agreement entered into among Old Sun, the Company and Sun in connection with the Separation and REIT Conversion Merger, Sun has agreed to indemnify the Company (and the Company’s subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees and agents and certain other related parties) for any liability arising from or relating to legal proceedings involving Old Sun’s healthcare business prior to the Separation, and, pursuant to the lease agreements between the Company and subsidiaries of Sun, the tenants agree to indemnify the Company for any liability arising from operations at the real property leased from the Company.
Immediately prior to the Separation, Old Sun was a party to various legal actions and administrative proceedings, including various claims arising in the ordinary course of its healthcare business, which are subject to the indemnities to be provided by Sun to the Company. While these actions and proceedings are not believed to be material, individually or in the aggregate, the ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be predicted. The resolution of any such legal proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on Sun’s business, financial position or results of operations, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations if Sun or its subsidiaries are unable to meet their indemnification obligations.
For income tax purposes, the Company is the surviving taxpayer of the Separation. Accordingly, tax positions taken by Old Sun prior to the Separation remained the Company’s obligations after the Separation. However, under an agreement with Sun relating to tax allocation matters, Sun is responsible for and will indemnify the Company against, among other things, federal, state and local taxes (including penalties and interest) related to periods prior to the Separation to the extent the deferred tax assets allocated to the Company as part of the Separation are not sufficient and/or cannot be utilized to satisfy these taxes. After the 2010 tax year, the Company and Sun have agreed, to the extent allowable by applicable law, to allocate all net operating loss attributes generated in prior years to Sun. In addition, Sun will generally have the right to control the conduct and disposition of any tax audits or other proceedings with regard to such periods, and will be entitled to any refund or credit for such periods.
Effective December 1, 2012, Sun was acquired by Genesis HealthCare LLC (“Genesis”). As a result of its acquisition of Sun, Genesis became successor to the obligations of Sun described above.
Legal Matters
From time to time, the Company is party to legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Management is not aware of any legal proceedings where the likelihood of a loss contingency is reasonably possible and the amount or range of reasonably possible losses is material to the Company's results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.