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## NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

We record a provision for credit losses based on our judgment of a tenant’s creditworthiness, ability to pay and probability of collection. In addition, we also consider the retail sector in which the tenant operates and our historical collection experience in cases of bankruptcy, if applicable. Accounts are written off when they are deemed to be no longer collectible. Presented below is the activity in the allowance for credit losses during the following years: 

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and where indicated as in millions or billions) 

## Allowance for Credit Losses 

<img src='content_image/196546.jpg'>

## Income Taxes 

We and certain subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership have elected to be taxed as REITs under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code and applicable Treasury regulations relating to REIT qualification. In order to maintain this REIT status, the regulations require the entity to distribute at least 90% of taxable income to its owners and meet certain other asset and income tests as well as other requirements. We intend to continue to adhere to these requirements and maintain our REIT status and that of the REIT subsidiaries. As REITs, these entities will generally not be liable for federal corporate income taxes as long as they continue to distribute in excess of 100% of their taxable income. Thus, we made no provision for federal income taxes for these entities in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. If we or any of the REIT subsidiaries fail to qualify as a REIT, we or that entity will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates for the years in which it failed to qualify. If we lose our REIT status we could not elect to be taxed as a REIT for four years unless our failure to qualify was due to reasonable cause and certain other conditions were satisfied. 

We have also elected taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, status for some of our subsidiaries. This enables us to provide services that would otherwise be considered impermissible for REITs and participate in activities that do not qualify as “rents from real property”. For these entities, deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities at the enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is provided if we believe all or some portion of the deferred tax asset may not be realized. An increase or decrease in the valuation allowance that results from the change in circumstances that causes a change in our judgment about the realizability of the related deferred tax asset is included in income. 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had a net deferred tax asset of $5.6 million and $9.0 million, respectively, related to our TRS subsidiaries. The net deferred tax asset is included in deferred costs and other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and consists primarily of operating losses and other carryforwards for federal income tax purposes as well as the timing of the deductibility of losses or reserves from insurance subsidiaries. No valuation allowance has been recorded as we believe these amounts will be realized. State income, franchise or other taxes were not significant in any of the periods presented. 

## Transaction Expenses 

We expense acquisition, potential acquisition and disposition related costs as they are incurred. We incurred a minimal amount of transaction expenses during the year ended December 31, 2011. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we incurred costs in connection with the Prime acquisition and other potential acquisitions, as further discussed in Note 4. In addition, during 2010, we settled, in cash, a transaction-related dispute and recorded a charge to earnings. These expenses are included within transaction expenses in the accompanying statements of operations and comprehensive income and totaled $69.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2010. During the year ended December 31, 2009, we recorded $5.7 million in transaction expenses related to costs associated with significant acquisition related activities. 

