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INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES
6. INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES
 
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had an aggregate investment of $6,041,333 in its equity method joint ventures with unaffiliated third parties.
 
As of December 31, 2014, the Company owned a 10% limited partnership interest in Ladder Capital Realty Income Partnership I LP (“LCRIP I”) to invest in first mortgage loans held for investment and acted as general partner and Manager to LCRIP I. The Company accounts for its interest in LCRIP I using the equity method of accounting as it exerts significant influence but the unrelated limited partners have substantive participating rights as well as kick-out rights.
 
As of December 31, 2014, the Company owned a 25% membership interest in Grace Lake JV, LLC (“Grace Lake JV”) which it received in connection with the refinancing of a first mortgage loan on an office building campus in Van Buren Township, MI. The Company accounts for its interest in Grace Lake JV using the equity method of accounting as it has a 25% investment, compared to the 75% investment of its operating partner.

The following is a summary of the Company’s investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, which we account for using the equity method, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
Entity
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
Ladder Capital Realty Income Partnership I LP
 
$
3,898,435

 
$
7,119,864

Grace Lake JV, LLC
 
2,142,898

 
2,142,898

Company’s investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
 
$
6,041,333

 
$
9,262,762


 
The following is a summary of the Company’s allocated earnings based on its ownership interests from investment in unconsolidated joint ventures for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
Entity
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ladder Capital Realty Income Partnership I LP
 
$
1,090,117

 
$
2,568,358

 
$
1,256,109

Grace Lake JV, LLC
 
900,000

 
635,000

 

Earnings from investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
 
$
1,990,117

 
$
3,203,358

 
$
1,256,109


 
Ladder Capital Realty Income Partnership I LP
 
On April 15, 2011, the Company entered into a limited partnership agreement becoming the general partner and acquiring a 10% limited partnership interest in LCRIP I. Simultaneously with the execution of the LCRIP I Partnership agreement, the Company was engaged as the Manager of LCRIP I and is entitled to a fee based upon the average net equity invested in LCRIP I, which is subject to a fee reduction in the event average net equity invested in LCRIP I exceeds $100,000,000. During the year ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company recorded $391,955, $785,925 and $744,182, respectively, in management fees, which is reflected in fee income in the combined consolidated statements of income.
 
During the year ended December 31, 2014, there were no sales of loans to LCRIP I. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company sold one loan to LCRIP I for aggregate proceeds of $17,200,000, which exceeded its carrying value by $139,901, and is included in sale of loans, net on the combined consolidated statements of operations.  During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company sold five loans to LCRIP I for aggregate proceeds of $140,900,000, which exceeded its carrying value by $1,000,000, and is included in sale of loans, net on the combined consolidated statements of operations.  The Company has deferred 10% of the gain on sale of loans to LCRIP I, representing its 10% limited partnership interest, until such loans are subsequently sold by LCRIP I.
 
The Company is entitled to income allocations and distributions based upon its limited partnership interest of 10% and is eligible for additional distributions of up to 25% if certain return thresholds are met upon asset sale, full prepayment or other disposition.  During the year ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the return thresholds were met on certain assets that have been fully realized. The Company is obligated to provided LCRIP I 10% of any costs related to the assets held in its portfolio as of December 31, 2014.
 
Grace Lake JV, LLC
 
In connection with the origination of a loan in April 2012, the Company received a 25% equity kicker with the right to convert upon a capital event. On March 22, 2013, the loan was refinanced and the Company converted its interest into a 25% limited liability company membership interest in Grace Lake JV, which holds an investment in an office building complex.  After taking into account the preferred return of 8.25% and the return of all equity remaining in the property to the Company’s operating partner, the Company is entitled to 25% of the distribution of all excess cash flows and all disposition proceeds upon any sale.  The Company does not participate in losses from its investment. The Company is not legally required to provide any future funding to Grace Lake JV.

Combined Summary Financial Information for Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

The following is a summary of the combined results from operations of the unconsolidated joint ventures for the period in which the Company had investment interests during the year ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenues
 
$
26,058,808

 
$
36,135,088

 
$
17,373,332

Total expenses
 
$
16,863,743

 
10,553,956

 
5,800,282

Net income
 
$
9,195,065

 
$
25,581,132

 
$
11,573,050


The following is a summary of the combined financial position of the unconsolidated joint ventures in which the Company had investment interests as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
 
$
118,761,580

 
$
190,415,719

Total liabilities
 
81,072,965

 
112,808,701

Partners’/members’ capital
 
$
37,688,615

 
$
77,607,018