Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands):



	2016		2015
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	102,866	$	83,352
Payable to the estate of Leona M. Helmsley ⁽¹⁾	18,367		18,367
Interest rate swap agreements liability	5,591		1,922
Accrued interest payable	6,230		5,555
Due to affiliated companies	1,010		1,903
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	134,064	$	111,099

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(1)	Reflects a payable to the estate of Leona M. Helmsley for New York City transfer taxes which would have been payable in absence of the estate's exemption from such tax.