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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS  
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

NOTE 3. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Partnership’s properties are managed by an entity that is owned by the majority shareholder of the General Partner. The management fee is equal to 4% of rental revenue and laundry income on the majority of the Partnership’s properties and 3% on Linewt.  Total fees paid were approximately $700,000 and $680,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

The Partnership Agreement permits the General Partner or Management Company to charge the costs of professional services (such as counsel, accountants and contractors) to NERA. During the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 approximately $416,000 and $334,000 was charged to NERA for legal, accounting, construction, maintenance, rental and architectural services and supervision of capital improvements.  Of the 2011 expenses referred to above, approximately $126,000 was for repairs and maintenance and $159,000 was for administrative expense. Approximately $126,000 of expenses for construction, architectural services and supervision of capital projects were capitalized in rental properties. Additionally in 2011, the Hamilton Company received approximately $344,000 from the Investment Properties of which approximately $279,000 was the management fee, approximately $52,000 was for maintenance services and approximately $13,000 was for administrative services. The management fee is equal to 4% of rental income on the majority of investment properties and 2% on Dexter Park.

 

On January 1, 2004, all employees were transferred to the Management Company’s payroll. The Partnership reimburses the management company for the payroll and related expenses of the employees who work at the properties. Total reimbursement was approximately $1,242,000 and $1,261,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Management Company maintains a 401K plan for all eligible employees whereby the employees may contribute the maximum allowed by law. The plan also provides for discretionary contributions by the employer.  There were no employer contributions in 2011 and 2010.

 

Prior to 1991, the Partnership employed an outside, unaffiliated company to perform its bookkeeping and accounting functions. Since that time, such services have been provided by the Management Company’s accounting staff, which consists of approximately 14 people.  During the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Management Company charged the Partnership $62,500 ($125,000 per year) for bookkeeping and accounting services included in administrative expenses of $410,000 previously discussed.

 

In 1996, prior to becoming an employee of the Management Company, the President of the Management Company performed asset management consulting services for the Partnership. This individual continues to perform this service and receives an asset management fee from the Partnership.  During the six months ended June 30, 2011, this individual received $37,500.

 

The Partnership has invested in nine limited partnerships, which have invested in mixed use residential apartment complexes. The Partnership has between a 40% and 50% ownership interest in each investment. The other investors are Harold Brown, the President of the Management Company and five other employees of the Management Company. Harold Brown’s ownership interest is between 43.2% and 57%. See Note 14 for a description of the properties and their operations.

 

See Note 8 for information regarding the repurchase of Class B and General Partnership Units.

 

On October 28, 2009, the Partnership borrowed approximately $7,168,000 with an interest rate of 6% from HBC Holdings, LLC, an entity owned by Harold Brown and his affiliates (“HBC”).  The term of the loan is four years with a provision requiring payment in whole or in part upon demand by HBC with six months notice.  The Partnership may also prepay the note without penalty.  On August 17, 2010, HBC gave six months written notice to the Partnership requesting a principal pay down of $2,500,000.  During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Partnership paid HBC $2,500,000 as requested.  The balance of the loan, $4,668,600, will remain subject to the original terms of the Note, including HBC’s right to demand payment of the balance of the loan in whole or in part upon six months notice. The interest paid during the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 was approximately $141,000 and $216,000, respectively.  This loan is collateralized by the Partnership’s 99% ownership interest in 62 Boylston Street.  See Note 16 — Subsequent Events regarding the additional payment of $1,000,000 in August 2011.

 

As described in Note 2, the Partnership borrowed an additional $3,998,573 from Harold Brown to facilitate the acquisition of Battle Green.  At June 30, 2011 the notes payable to Harold Brown were $8,667,173.  See Note 16 for a description of $4,998,573 repaid in July and August 2011.

 

See Note 2 and Note 16 regarding the loan from Harold Brown in connection with the purchase of Battle Green Apartments.