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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | REGENCY CENTERS CORPORATION AND REGENCY CENTERS, L.P. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements December 31, 2019
1. | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
| (a) | Organization and Principles of Consolidation
General Regency Centers Corporation (the “Parent Company”) began its operations as a REIT in 1993 and is the general partner of Regency Centers, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”). The Parent Company primarily engages in the ownership, management, leasing, acquisition, development and redevelopment of shopping centers through the Operating Partnership, has no other assets other than through its investment in the Operating Partnership, and its only liabilities are $500 million of unsecured public and private placement notes, which are co-issued and guaranteed by the Operating Partnership. The Parent Company guarantees all of the unsecured debt of the Operating Partnership. As of December 31, 2019, the Parent Company, the Operating Partnership, and their controlled subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (the “Company” or “Regency”) owned 303 properties and held partial interests in an additional 116 properties through unconsolidated Investments in real estate partnerships (also referred to as “joint ventures” or “co-investment partnerships”). On March 1, 2017, Regency completed its merger with Equity One, whereby Equity One merged with and into Regency, with Regency continuing as the surviving public company. Estimates, Risks, and Uncertainties The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of commitments and contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates in the Company's financial statements relate to the net carrying values of its real estate investments, collectability of accounts receivable and straight line rent receivable, goodwill, and acquired lease intangible assets and acquired lease intangible liabilities. It is possible that the estimates and assumptions that have been utilized in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements could change significantly if economic conditions were to weaken. Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Parent Company, the Operating Partnership, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and consolidated partnerships in which the Company has a controlling interest. Investments in real estate partnerships not controlled by the Company are accounted for under the equity method. All significant inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. The Company consolidates properties that are wholly owned or properties where it owns less than 100%, but which it has control over the activities most important to the overall success of the partnership. Control is determined using an evaluation based on accounting standards related to the consolidation of VIEs and voting interest entities. For joint ventures that are determined to be a VIE, the Company consolidates the entity where it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. Determination of the primary beneficiary is based on whether an entity has (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Ownership of the Parent Company The Parent Company has a single class of common stock outstanding. Ownership of the Operating Partnership The Operating Partnership's capital includes general and limited common Partnership Units. As of December 31, 2019, the Parent Company owned approximately 99.6%, or 167,571,218, of the 168,317,651 outstanding common Partnership Units of the Operating Partnership, with the remaining limited common Partnership Units held by third parties (“Exchangeable operating partnership units” or “EOP units”). The Parent Company serves as general partner of the Operating Partnership. The EOP unit holders have limited rights over the Operating Partnership such that they do not have the power to direct the activities of the Operating Partnership. As such, the Operating Partnership is considered a VIE, and the Parent Company, which consolidates it, is the primary beneficiary. The Parent Company's only investment is the Operating Partnership. Net income and distributions of the Operating Partnership are allocable to the general and limited common Partnership Units in accordance with their ownership percentages. Real Estate Partnerships Regency has a partial ownership interest in 127 properties through partnerships, of which 11 are consolidated. Regency's partners include institutional investors, other real estate developers and/or operators. Regency has a variable interest in these entities through its equity interests. As managing member, Regency maintains the books and records and typically provides leasing and property management to the partnerships. The Partners’ level of involvement in these partnerships varies from protective decisions (debt, bankruptcy, selling primary asset(s) of business) to involvement in approving leases, operating budgets, and capital budgets. The assets of these partnerships are restricted to the use of the partnerships and cannot be used by general creditors of the Company. And similarly, the obligations of these partnerships can only be settled by the assets of these partnerships or additional contributions by the partners.
| • | Those partnerships for which the Partners are involved in the day to day decisions and do not have any other aspects that would cause them to be considered VIEs, are evaluated for consolidation using the voting interest model.
| o | Those partnerships in which Regency has a controlling financial interest are consolidated and the limited partners’ ownership interest and share of net income is recorded as noncontrolling interest.
| o | Those partnerships in which Regency does not have a controlling financial interest are accounted for using the equity method and Regency's ownership interest is recognized through single-line presentation as Investments in real estate partnerships, in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, and Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Cash distributions of earnings from operations from Investments in real estate partnerships are presented in Cash flows provided by operating activities in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Cash distributions from the sale of a property or loan proceeds received from the placement of debt on a property included in Investments in real estate partnerships are presented in Cash flows provided by investing activities in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Distributed proceeds from debt refinancing and real estate sales in excess of Regency's carrying value of its investment has resulted in a negative investment balance for one partnership, which is recorded within Accounts payable and other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The net difference in the carrying amount of investments in real estate partnerships and the underlying equity in net assets is accreted to earnings and recorded in Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations over the expected useful lives of the properties and other intangible assets, which range in lives from 10 to 40 years.
| • | Those partnerships for which the Partners only have protective rights are considered VIEs under ASC Topic 810, Consolidation. Regency is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs as Regency has power over these partnerships and they operate primarily for the benefit of Regency. As such, Regency consolidates these entities and reports the limited partners’ interest as noncontrolling interests.
The majority of the operations of the VIEs are funded with cash flows generated by the properties, or in the case of developments, with capital contributions or third party construction loans. The major classes of assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling equity interests held by the Company's consolidated VIEs, exclusive of the Operating Partnership, are as follows:
(in thousands) |  | December 31, 2019 |  |  | December 31, 2018 |
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net real estate investments |  | $ | 325,464 |  |  |  | 112,085 |
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |  |  | 57,269 |  |  |  | 7,309 |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes payable |  |  | 17,740 |  |  |  | 18,432 |
Equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Limited partners’ interests in consolidated partnerships |  |  | 30,655 |  |  |  | 30,280 |
Noncontrolling Interests Noncontrolling Interests of the Parent Company The consolidated financial statements of the Parent Company include the following ownership interests held by owners other than the common stockholders of the Parent Company: (i) the limited Partnership Units in the Operating Partnership held by third parties (“Exchangeable operating partnership units”) and (ii) the minority-owned interest held by third parties in consolidated partnerships (“Limited partners' interests in consolidated partnerships”). The Parent Company has included all of these noncontrolling interests in permanent equity, separate from the Parent Company's stockholders' equity, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Equity. The portion of net income or comprehensive income attributable to these noncontrolling interests is included in net income and comprehensive income in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income of the Parent Company. In accordance with ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, securities that are redeemable for cash or other assets at the option of the holder, not solely within the control of the issuer, are to be classified as redeemable noncontrolling interests outside of permanent equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Parent Company has evaluated the conditions as specified under ASC Topic 480 as it relates to exchangeable operating partnership units outstanding and concluded that it has the right to satisfy the redemption requirements of the units by delivering unregistered common stock. Each outstanding exchangeable operating partnership unit is exchangeable for one share of common stock of the Parent Company, and the unit holder cannot require redemption in cash or other assets. Limited partners' interests in consolidated partnerships are not redeemable by the holders. The Parent Company also evaluated its fiduciary duties to itself, its shareholders, and, as the managing general partner of the Operating Partnership, to the Operating Partnership, and concluded its fiduciary duties are not in conflict with each other or the underlying agreements. Therefore, the Parent Company classifies such units and interests as permanent equity in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Equity. Noncontrolling Interests of the Operating Partnership The Operating Partnership has determined that limited partners' interests in consolidated partnerships are noncontrolling interests. Subject to certain conditions and pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the Company generally has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase the other member’s interest or sell its own interest in these consolidated partnerships. The Operating Partnership has included these noncontrolling interests in permanent capital, separate from partners' capital, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Capital. The portion of net income (loss) or comprehensive income (loss) attributable to these noncontrolling interests is included in net income and comprehensive income in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements Comprehensive Income of the Operating Partnership.
| (b) | Revenues and Tenant Receivable
Leasing Income and Tenant Receivables The Company leases space to tenants under agreements with varying terms that generally provide for fixed payments of base rent, with designated increases over the term of the lease. Some of the lease agreements contain provisions that provide for additional rents based on tenants' sales volume (“percentage rent”). Percentage rents are recognized when the tenants achieve the specified targets as defined in their lease agreements. Additionally, most lease agreements contain provisions for reimbursement of the tenants' share of actual real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance (“CAM”) costs (collectively “Recoverable Costs”) incurred. Lease terms generally range from three to seven years for tenant space under 10,000 square feet (“Shop Space”) and in excess of five years for spaces greater than 10,000 square feet (“Anchor Tenants”). Many leases also provide the option for the tenants to extend their lease beyond the initial term of the lease. If a tenant does not exercise its option or otherwise negotiate to renew, the lease expires and the lease contains an obligation for the tenant to relinquish its space so it can be leased to a new tenant. This generally involves some level of cost to prepare the space for re-leasing, which is capitalized and depreciated over the shorter of the life of the subsequent lease or the life of the improvement. On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the new accounting guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842, Leases, including all related Accounting Standard Updates (“ASU”). The Company elected to use the alternative modified retrospective transition method provided in ASU 2018-11 (the “effective date method”). Under this method, the effective date of January 1, 2019 is the date of initial application. In connection with the adoption of Topic 842, the Company elected a package of practical expedients, transition options, and accounting policy elections as follows:
| • | Package of practical expedients is applied to all leases, allowing the Company not to reassess (i) whether expired or existing contracts contain leases under the new definition of a lease, (ii) lease classification for expired or existing leases, and (iii) whether previously capitalized initial direct costs would qualify for capitalization under Topic 842;
| • | For land easements, the Company elected not to assess at transition whether any expired or existing land easements are, or contain, leases if they were not previously accounted for as leases under the previous lease accounting standard (Topic 840);
| • | Lessor separation and allocation practical expedient - Regency elected, as lessor, to aggregate non-lease components with the related lease component if certain conditions are met, and account for the combined component based on its predominant characteristic, which generally results in combining lease and non-lease components of its tenant lease contracts to a single line shown as Lease income in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations; and
| • | The Company made an accounting policy election to continue to exclude, from contract consideration, sales tax (and similar taxes) collected from lessees.
The Company's existing leases were not re-evaluated and continue to be classified as operating leases, as per the practical expedient package elected above. New and modified leases will now require evaluation of specific classification criteria, which, based on the customary terms of the Company's leases, should continue to be classified as operating leases. However, certain longer-term leases (both lessee and lessor leases) may be classified as direct financing or sales type leases, which may result in selling profit and an accelerated pattern of earnings recognition. At December 31, 2019, all of the Company’s leases were classified as operating leases. CAM is a non-lease component of the lease contract under Topic 842, and therefore would be accounted for under Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and presented separate from Lease income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, based on an allocation of the overall consideration in the lease contract, which is not necessarily the amount that would be billable to the tenants for CAM reimbursements per the terms of the lease contract. As the timing and pattern of providing the CAM service to the tenant is the same as the timing and pattern of the tenants' use of the underlying lease asset, the Company elected, as part of a practical expedient referred to above, to combine CAM with the remaining lease components, along with tenants' reimbursement of real estate taxes and insurance, and recognize them together as Lease income in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. Lease income for operating leases with fixed payment terms is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected term of the lease for all leases for which collectibility is considered probable at the commencement date. At lease commencement, the Company generally expects that collectibility is probable due to the Company’s credit checks on tenants and other creditworthiness analysis undertaken before entering into a new lease; therefore, income from most operating leases is initially recognized on a straight-line basis. For operating leases in which collectibility of Lease income is not considered probable, Lease income is recognized on a cash basis and all previously recognized uncollectible Lease income is reversed in the period in which the Lease income is determined not to be probable of collection. In additio n to the lease-specific collecti bility assessment performed under Topic 842, the Company also recognizes a general reserve, as a reduction to Lease income, for its portfolio of operating lease receivables which are not expected to be fully collectible based on the Company’s his torical collection experience. The following table represents the components of Tenant and other receivables in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets:
|  | December 31, |
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  |  | 2018 |
Billed tenant receivables |  | $ | 24,906 |  |  |  | 25,590 |
Accrued CAM, insurance and tax reimbursements |  |  | 10,620 |  |  |  | 25,305 |
Other receivables |  |  | 26,724 |  |  |  | 30,953 |
Straight-line rent receivables |  |  | 107,087 |  |  |  | 105,677 |
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts (1) |  |  | — |  |  |  | (10,100 | )
Less: straight-line rent reserves (1) |  |  | — |  |  |  | (5,066 | )
Total tenant and other receivables, net |  | $ | 169,337 |  |  |  | 172,359 |
| (1) | Beginning with the adoption of ASC 842, Leases, on January 1, 2019, uncollectible lease income is a direct charge against Lease income and the related receivable. Prior to 2019, uncollectible lease income was recorded as Provision for doubtful accounts included in Other operating expenses. |
The Company estimates the collectibility of the accounts receivable related to base rents, straight-line rents, expense reimbursements, and other revenue taking into consideration the Company's historical write-off experience, tenant credit-worthiness, current economic trends, and remaining lease terms. Beginning with the adoption of ASC 842, Leases, on January 1, 2019, uncollectible lease income is a direct charge against Lease income. Prior to 2019, uncollectible lease income was recorded as Provision for doubtful accounts included in Other operating expenses and Provision for straight line rent reserve included as a charge to Lease income. The Company recorded the following provisions for doubtful accounts:
|  | Year ended December 31, |
(in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Gross provision for doubtful accounts |  |  | 4,993 |  |  |  | 3,992 |
Provision for straight line rent reserve |  |  | 1,741 |  |  |  | 1,129 |
Real Estate Sales On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new accounting guidance for sales of nonfinancial assets (“Subtopic 610-20”). Beginning January 1, 2018, the Company derecognizes real estate and recognizes a gain or loss on sales of real estate when a contract exists and control of the property has transferred to the buyer. Control of the property, including controlling financial interest, is generally considered to transfer upon closing through transfer of the legal title and possession of the property. Any retained noncontrolling interest is measured at fair value. This change in accounting policy resulted in the recognition, through opening retained earnings on January 1, 2018, of $30.9 million of previously deferred gains from property sales to the Company's Investments in real estate partnerships. Prior to January 1, 2018, the Company recognized profits from sales of real estate under the full accrual method by the Company when: (i) a sale was consummated; (ii) the buyer's initial and continuing investment was adequate to demonstrate a commitment to pay for the property; (iii) the Company's receivable, if applicable, was not subject to future subordination; (iv) the Company had transferred to the buyer the usual risks and rewards of ownership; and (v) the Company did not have substantial continuing involvement with the property. Management Services On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new accounting guidance for revenue recognition (Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, “Topic 606”) using a modified retrospective approach and applied the transition practical expedients allowed by the standard. Subsequent to the adoption of Topic 606, the Company recognizes revenue when or as control of the promised services are transferred to its customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those services. The following is a description of the Company's revenue from contracts with customers within the scope of Topic 606. Property and Asset Management Services The Company is engaged under agreements with its joint venture partnerships, which are generally perpetual in nature and cancellable through unanimous partner approval, absent an event of default. Under these agreements, the Company is to provide asset management, property management, and leasing services for the joint ventures' shopping centers. The fees are market-based, generally calculated as a percentage of either revenues earned or the estimated values of the properties managed or the proceeds received, and are recognized over the monthly or quarterly periods as services are rendered. Property management and asset management services represent a series of distinct daily services. Accordingly, the Company satisfies its performance obligation as service is rendered each day and the variability associated with that compensation is resolved each day. Amounts due from the partnerships for such services are paid during the month following the monthly or quarterly service periods. Several of the Company’s partnership agreements provide for incentive payments, generally referred to as “promotes” or “earnouts,” to Regency for appreciation in property values in Regency's capacity as manager. The terms of these promotes are based on appreciation in real estate value over designated time intervals. The Company evaluates its expected promote payout at each reporting period, which generally does not result in revenue recognition until the measurement period has completed, when the amount can be reasonably determined and the amount is not probable of significant reversal. The Company did not recognize any promote revenue during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, or 2017. Leasing Services Leasing service fees are based on a percentage of the total rent due under the lease. The leasing service is considered performed upon successful execution of an acceptable tenant lease for the joint ventures’ shopping centers, at which time revenue is recognized. Payment of the first half of the fee is generally due upon lease execution and the second half is generally due upon tenant opening or rent payments commencing. Transaction Services The Company also receives transaction fees, as contractually agreed upon with each joint venture, which include acquisition fees, disposition fees, and financing service fees. Control of these services is generally transferred at the time the related transaction closes, which is the point in time when the Company recognizes the related fee revenue. Any unpaid amounts related to transaction-based fees are included in Tenant and other receivables, net, within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All income from management service contracts is included within Management, transaction and other fees on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additionally, Other property income, which includes incidental income from the properties, is generally recognized at the point in time that the performance obligation is met. The primary components of these revenue streams, the timing of satisfying the performance obligations, and amounts recognized are as follows:
|  |  |  | Year ended December 31, |
(in thousands) |  | Timing of satisfaction of performance obligations |  | 2019 |  |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Other property income |  | Point in time |  | $ | 9,201 |  |  |  | 8,711 |  |  |  | 7,982 |
Management, transaction, and other fees: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property management services |  | Over time |  |  | 14,744 |  |  |  | 14,663 |  |  |  | 13,917 |
Asset management services |  | Over time |  |  | 7,135 |  |  |  | 7,213 |  |  |  | 7,090 |
Leasing services |  | Point in time |  |  | 3,692 |  |  |  | 4,044 |  |  |  | 3,573 |
Other transaction fees |  | Point in time |  |  | 4,065 |  |  |  | 2,574 |  |  |  | 1,578 |
Total management, transaction, and other fees |  |  |  | $ | 29,636 |  |  |  | 28,494 |  |  |  | 26,158 |
The accounts receivable for management services, which is included within Tenant and other receivables in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, are $11.6 million and $12.5 million, as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.
| (c) | Real Estate Investments
The following table details the components of Real estate assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
(in thousands) |  | December 31, 2019 |  |  | December 31, 2018 |
Land |  | $ | 4,288,695 |  |  | $ | 4,205,445 |
Land improvements |  |  | 607,624 |  |  |  | 613,847 |
Buildings |  |  | 5,101,061 |  |  |  | 5,088,102 |
Building and tenant improvements |  |  | 946,034 |  |  |  | 901,596 |
Construction in progress |  |  | 151,880 |  |  |  | 54,172 |
Total real estate assets |  | $ | 11,095,294 |  |  |  | 10,863,162 |
Capitalization and Depreciation Maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the useful lives of the respective assets are recorded in operating and maintenance expense. As part of the leasing process, the Company may provide the lessee with an allowance for the construction of leasehold improvements. These leasehold improvements are capitalized and recorded as tenant improvements, and depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the improvements or the remaining lease term. If the allowance represents a payment for a purpose other than funding leasehold improvements, or in the event the Company is not considered the owner of the improvements, the allowance is considered to be a lease incentive and is recognized over the lease term as a reduction of Lease income. Factors considered during this evaluation include, among other things, who holds legal title to the improvements as well as other controlling rights provided by the lease agreement and provisions for substantiation of such costs (e.g. unilateral control of the tenant space during the build-out process). Determination of the appropriate accounting for the payment of a tenant allowance is made on a lease-by-lease basis, considering the facts and circumstances of the individual tenant lease. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of approximately 15 years for land improvements, 40 years for buildings and improvements, and the shorter of the useful life or the remaining lease term subject to a maximum of 10 years for tenant improvements, and three to seven years for furniture and equipment. Development and Redevelopment Costs Land, buildings, and improvements are recorded at cost. All specifically identifiable costs related to development and redevelopment activities are capitalized into Real estate assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, and are included in Construction in progress within the above table. The capitalized costs include pre-development costs essential to the development or redevelopment of the property, development / redevelopment costs, construction costs, interest costs, real estate taxes, and allocated direct employee costs incurred during the period of development or redevelopment. Interest costs are capitalized into each development and redevelopment project based upon applying the Company's weighted average borrowing rate to that portion of the actual development or redevelopment costs expended. The Company discontinues interest and real estate tax capitalization when the property is no longer being developed or is available for occupancy upon substantial completion of tenant improvements, but in no event would the Company capitalize interest on the project beyond 12 months after substantial completion of the building shell. Pre-development costs represent the costs the Company incurs prior to land acquisition or pursuing a redevelopment including contract deposits, as well as legal, engineering, and other external professional fees related to evaluating the feasibility of developing or redeveloping a shopping center. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had nonrefundable deposits and other pre development costs of approximately $17.7 million and $10.6 million, respectively. If the Company determines that the development or redevelopment of a particular shopping center is no longer probable, any related pre-development costs previously capitalized are immediately expensed. During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, the Company expensed pre-development costs of approximately $2.5 million, $1.9 million, and $1.5 million, respectively, in Other operating expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. Acquisitions Through June 30, 2017, the Company and its real estate partnerships accounted for operating property acquisitions as business combinations using the acquisition method. Effective July 1, 2017, upon the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-01: Business Combinations (Topic 805) - Clarifying the Definition of a Business, operating property acquisitions are generally considered asset acquisitions. The Company expenses transaction costs associated with business combinations in the period incurred and capitalizes transaction costs associated with asset acquisitions. Both business combinations and asset acquisitions require that the Company recognize and measure the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the operating property acquired (“acquiree”). The Company's methodology includes estimating an “as-if vacant” fair value of the physical property, which includes land, building, and improvements. In addition, the Company determines the estimated fair value of identifiable intangible assets and liabilities, considering the following categories: (i) value of in-place leases, and (ii) above and below-market value of in-place leases. The value of in-place leases is estimated based on the value associated with the costs avoided in originating leases compared to the acquired in-place leases as well as the value associated with lost rental and recovery revenue during the assumed lease-up period. The value of in-place leases is recorded to Depreciation and amortization expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the remaining expected term of the respective leases. Above-market and below-market in-place lease values for acquired properties are recorded based on the present value of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the in-place leases and (ii) management's estimate of fair market lease rates for comparable in-place leases, measured over a period equal to the remaining non-cancelable term of the lease, including below-market renewal options, if applicable. The value of above-market leases is amortized as a reduction of Lease income over the remaining terms of the respective leases and the value of below-market leases is accreted to Lease income over the remaining terms of the respective leases, including below-market renewal options, if applicable. The Company does not assign value to customer relationship intangibles if it has pre-existing business relationships with the major retailers at the acquired property since they do not provide incremental value over the Company's existing relationships. Held for Sale The Company classifies land, an operating property, or a property in development as held-for-sale upon satisfaction of the following criteria: (i) management commits to a plan to sell a property (or group of properties), (ii) the property is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such properties, (iii) an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the property have been initiated, (iv) the sale of the property is probable and transfer of the asset is expected to be completed within one year, (v) the property is being actively marketed for sale, and (vi) actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn. Properties held-for-sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value less costs to sell. Impairment We evaluate whether there are any indicators, including property operating performance and general market conditions, that the value of the real estate properties (including any related amortizable intangible assets or liabilities) may not be recoverable. For those properties with such indicators, management evaluates recoverability of the property's carrying amount. Through the evaluation, we compare the current carrying value of the asset to the estimated undiscounted cash flows that are directly associated with the use and ultimate disposition of the asset. Our estimated cash flows are based on several key assumptions, including rental rates, expected leasing activity, costs of tenant improvements, leasing commissions, anticipated hold period, and assumptions regarding the residual value upon disposition, including the exit capitalization rate. These key assumptions are subjective in nature and could differ materially from actual results. Changes in our disposition strategy or changes in the marketplace may alter the hold period of an asset or asset group which may result in an impairment loss and such loss could be material to the Company's financial condition or operating performance. To the extent that the carrying value of the asset exceeds the estimated undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the excess of carrying value over fair value. If such indicators are not identified, management will not assess the recoverability of a property's carrying value. If a property previously classified as h eld and used is changed to held for sale, the Company estimates fair value, less expected costs to sell, which could cause the Company to determine that the property is impaired. The fair value of real estate assets is subjective and is determined through comparable sales information and other market data if available, or through use of an income approach such as the direct capitalization method or the discounted cash flow approach. Such cash flow projections consider factors such as expected future operating income, trends and prospects, as well as the effects of demand, competition and other factors, and therefore is subject to management judgment and changes in those factors could impact the determination of fair value. In estimating the fair value of undeveloped land, the Company generally uses market data and comparable sales information. A loss in value of investments in real estate partnerships under the equity method of accounting, other than a temporary decline, must be recognized in the period in which the loss occurs. If management identifies indicators that the value of the Company's investment in real estate partnerships may be impaired, it evaluates the investment by calculating the fair value of the investment by discounting estimated future cash flows over the expected term of the investment. Tax Basis The net book basis of the Company's real estate assets exceeds the net tax basis by approximately $2.8 billion at both December 31, 2019 and 2018, primarily due to the tax free merger with Equity One and inheriting lower carryover tax basis.
| (d) | Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
Any instruments which have an original maturity of 90 days or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, $2.5 million and $2.7 million, respectively, of cash was restricted through escrow agreements and certain mortgage loans.
| (e) | Other Assets
Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price consideration for the Equity One merger over the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company accounts for goodwill in accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, and allocates its goodwill to its reporting units, which have been determined to be at the individual property level. The Company performs an impairment evaluation of its goodwill at least annually, in November of each year, or more frequently as triggers occur. The goodwill impairment evaluation is completed using either a qualitative or quantitative approach. Under a qualitative approach, the impairment review for goodwill consists of an assessment of whether it is more-likely-than-not that the reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value, including goodwill. If a qualitative approach indicates it is more likely-than-not that the estimated carrying value of a reporting unit (including goodwill) exceeds its fair value, or if the Company chooses to bypass the qualitative approach for any reporting unit, the Company will perform the quantitative approach described below. The quantitative approach consists of estimating the fair value of each reporting unit using discounted projected future cash flows and comparing those estimated fair values with the carrying values, which include the allocated goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, the Company would then recognize a goodwill impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Investments The Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments in debt and equity securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such determinations at each balance sheet date. The fair value of securities is determined using quoted market prices. Debt securities are classified as held to maturity when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Debt securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are classified as trading securities and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recognized through earnings in Investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Debt securities not classified as held to maturity or as trading, are classified as available-for-sale, and are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, included in the determination of comprehensive income and reported in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income and presented within Investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
| (f) | Deferred Leasing Costs
Deferred leasing costs consist of costs associated with leasing the Company's shopping centers, and are presented net of accumulated amortization. Such costs are amortized over the period through lease expiration. If the lease is terminated early, the remaining leasing costs are written off. The adoption of Topic 842 on January 1, 2019 changed the treatment of leasing costs, such that non-contingent internal leasing and legal costs associated with leasing activities can no longer be capitalized. The Company, as a lessor, may only defer as initial direct costs the incremental costs of a tenant’s operating lease that would not have been incurred if the lease had not been obtained. These costs generally consist of third party broker payments.
| (g) | Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity, and credit risk primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of its debt funding and the use of derivative financial instruments. Specifically, the Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the receipt or future payment of known and uncertain cash amounts, the amount of which are determined by interest rates. The Company's derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of the Company's known or expected cash payments principally related to the Company's borrowings. All derivative instruments, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, are recorded on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting, and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge. The Company may enter into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain risks, even though hedge accounting does not apply or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting. The Company uses interest rate swaps to mitigate its interest rate risk on a related financial instrument or forecasted transaction, and the Company designates these interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges generally involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. The Company also utilizes cash flow hedges to lock U.S. Treasury rates in anticipation of future fixed-rate debt issuances. The gains or losses resulting from changes in fair value of derivatives that qualify as cash flow hedges are recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). Upon the settlement of a hedge, gains and losses remaining in AOCI are amortized through earnings over the underlying term of the hedged transaction. The cash receipts or payments related to interest rate swaps are presented in cash flows provided by operating activities in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking various hedge transactions. The Company assesses, both at inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows and/or forecasted cash flows of the hedged items. In assessing the valuation of the hedges, the Company uses standard market conventions and techniques such as discounted cash flow analysis, option pricing models, and termination costs at each balance sheet date. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.
| (h) | Income Taxes
The Parent Company believes it qualifies, and intends to continue to qualify, as a REIT under the Code. As a REIT, the Parent Company will generally not be subject to federal income tax, provided that distributions to its stockholders are at least equal to REIT taxable income. Each wholly-owned corporate subsidiary of the Operating Partnership has elected to be a TRS as defined in Section 856(l) of the Code. The TRS's are subject to federal and state income taxes and file separate tax returns. As a pass through entity, the Operating Partnership generally does not pay taxes, but its taxable income or loss is reported by its partners, of which the Parent Company, as general partner and approximately 99.6% owner, is allocated its Pro-rata share of tax attributes. The Company accounts for income taxes related to its TRS’s under the asset and liability approach, which requires the recognition of the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent it believes it is more likely than not that these assets will be realized. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is believed that it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including forecasts of future taxable income, the reversal of other existing temporary differences, available net operating loss carryforwards, tax planning strategies and recent and projected results of operations in order to make that determination. In addition, tax positions are initially recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Such tax positions shall initially and subsequently be measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority assuming full knowledge of the position and relevant facts. The Company believes that it has appropriate support for the income tax positions taken and to be taken on its tax returns and that its accruals for tax liabilities are adequate for all open tax years (2015 and forward for federal and state) based on an assessment of many factors including past experience and interpretations of tax laws applied to the facts of each matter. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was signed into law in December 2017. Key provisions in the Act have significant financial statement effects. These effects include remeasurement of deferred taxes, recognition of liabilities for taxes on mandatory deemed repatriation and certain other foreign income, and reassessment of the realizability of deferred tax assets. Because the asset and liability approach under ASC 740 requires companies to recognize the effect of tax law changes in the period of enactment, the effects were recognized in the Company's December 2017 financial statements, even though the effective date of the law for most provisions is January 1, 2018. The Company calculated the tax impact of the change in tax law. The revaluation of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at the appropriate tax rate resulted in a $9.7 million benefit recognized in earnings for 2017. To the extent that all information necessary was not available, prepared or analyzed, companies were allotted a measurement period to make adjustments for the effect of the law. The Company completed its analysis of the Act during 2018 and recorded an immaterial benefit in earnings.
| (i) | Lease Obligations
The Company has certain properties within its consolidated real estate portfolio that are either partially or completely on land subject to ground leases with third parties, which are all classified as operating leases. Accordingly, the Company owns only a long-term leasehold or similar interest in these properties. The building and improvements constructed on the leased land are capitalized as Real estate assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the improvements or the lease term. In addition, the Company has non-cancelable operating leases pertaining to office space from which it conducts its business. Leasehold improvements are capitalized as tenant improvements, included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the improvements or the lease term. Upon the adoption of Topic 842, the Company recognized Lease liabilities on its Consolidated Balance Sheets for its ground and office leases of $225.4 million at January 1, 2019, and corresponding Right of use assets of $297.8 million, net of or including the opening balance for straight-line rent and above / below market ground lease intangibles related to these same ground and office leases. A key input in estimating the Lease liabilities and resulting Right of use assets is establishing the discount rate in the lease, which since the rates implicit in the lease contracts are not readily determinable, requires additional inputs for the longer-term ground leases, including market-based interest rates that correspond with the remaining term of the lease, the Company's credit spread, and a securitization adjustment necessary to reflect the collateralized payment terms present in the lease. This discount rate is applied to the remaining unpaid minimum rental payments for each lease to measure the operating lease liabilities. The ground and office lease expenses continue to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the leases, including management's estimate of expected option renewal periods. For ground leases, the Company generally assumes it will exercise options through the latest option date of that shopping center's anchor tenant lease.
| (j) | Earnings per Share and Unit
Basic earnings per share of common stock and unit are computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares and units, respectively, outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share and unit reflect the conversion of obligations and the assumed exercises of securities including the effects of shares issuable under the Company's share-based payment arrangements, if dilutive. Dividends paid on the Company's share-based compensation awards are not participating securities as they are forfeitable.
| (k) | Stock-Based Compensation
The Company grants stock-based compensation to its employees and directors. The Company recognizes the cost of stock-based compensation based on the grant-date fair value of the award, which is expensed over the vesting period. When the Parent Company issues common stock as compensation, it receives a like number of common units from the Operating Partnership. The Company is committed to contributing to the Operating Partnership all proceeds from the share-based awards granted under the Parent Company's Long-Term Omnibus Plan (the “Plan”). Accordingly, the Parent Company's ownership in the Operating Partnership will increase based on the amount of proceeds contributed to the Operating Partnership for the common units it receives. As a result of the issuance of common units to the Parent Company for stock-based compensation, the Operating Partnership records the effect of stock-based compensation for awards of equity in the Parent Company.
| (l) | Segment Reporting
The Company's business is investing in retail shopping centers through direct ownership or partnership interests. The Company actively manages its portfolio of retail shopping centers and may from time to time make decisions to sell lower performing properties or developments not meeting its long-term investment objectives. The proceeds from sales are generally reinvested into higher quality retail shopping centers, through acquisitions, new developments, or redevelopment of existing centers, which management believes will generate sustainable revenue growth and attractive returns. It is management's intent that all retail shopping centers will be owned or developed for investment purposes; however, the Company may decide to sell all or a portion of a development upon completion. The Company's revenues and net income are generated from the operation of its investment portfolio. The Company also earns fees for services provided to manage and lease retail shopping centers owned through joint ventures. The Company's portfolio is located throughout the United States. Management does not distinguish or group its operations on a geographical basis for purposes of allocating resources or capital. The Company reviews operating and financial data for each property on an individual basis; therefore, the Company defines an operating segment as its individual properties. The individual properties have been aggregated into one reportable segment based upon their similarities with regard to both the nature and economics of the centers, tenants and operational processes, as well as long-term average financial performance.
| (m) | Business Concentration
Grocer anchor tenants represent approximately 23% of Pro-rata annual base rent. No single tenant accounts for 5% or more of revenue and none of the shopping centers are located outside the United States.
| (n) | Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement is determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the Company uses a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the Company's own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy). The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
| • | Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.
| • | Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
| • | Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on the Company's own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity.
The Company also remeasures nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, initially measured at fair value in a business combination or other new basis event, at fair value in subsequent periods if a remeasurement event occurs.
| (o) | Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation, including amounts in Lease income and Other property income in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
| (p) | Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The following table provides a brief description of recent accounting pronouncements and expected impact on our financial statements:
Standard |  | Description |  | Date of adoption |  | Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
Recently adopted: |  |  |  |  |  |
Leases (Topic 842) and related updates: ASU 2016-02, February 2016, Leases (Topic 842) ASU 2018-10, July 2018: Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases ASU 2018-11, July 2018, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements ASU 2018-20, December 2018, Leases (Topic 842): Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors ASU 2019-01, March 2019, Leases (Topic 842): Codification Improvements |  | Topic 842 amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets. It also makes targeted changes to lessor accounting. The provisions of these ASUs were effective as of January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. Topic 842 provides a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief or an additional transition method, allowing for initial application at the date of adoption and a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings. See the updated Leases accounting policy disclosed in Note 1 and the added Leases disclosures in Note 7. |  | January 2019 |  | The Company has completed its evaluation and adoption of this standard, as discussed in Note 1. The Company utilized the alternative modified retrospective transition method provided in ASU 2018-11 (the “effective date method”), under which the effective date of January 1, 2019, is also the date of initial application. See the updated Leases accounting policy disclosed in Note 1 and the added disclosures in Note 7, Leases. Beyond the policy, presentation and disclosure changes discussed, the following changes had direct impact to Net Income from the adoptions of Topic 842: Capitalization of indirect internal non-contingent lease costs and legal leasing costs are no longer permitted upon the adoption of this standard, which is resulting in an increase to Total operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Previous capitalization of internal leasing costs was $6.5 million and $10.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Previous capitalization of internal legal costs was $1.6 million and $1.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, including our pro rata share recognized through Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships.
Standard |  | Description |  | Date of adoption |  | Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
Not yet adopted: |  |  |  |  |  |
ASU 2016-13, June 2016, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments |  | This ASU replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. This ASU also applies to how the Company evaluates impairments of any available-for-sale debt securities and any lease receivables arising from leases classified as sales-type or direct finance leases. |  | January 2020 |  | The Company has evaluated this ASU and, based on the nature of financial instruments within scope of the standard, has determined that the impact of adoption is limited to recognizing impairments of available-for-sale debt securities in earnings. The Company’s available-for-sale debt securities have a fair value of $10.8 million at December 31, 2019, as seen in note 11. Additional disclosures, if material, are also required.
ASU 2018-19, November 2018: Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses |  | This ASU clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of Subtopic 326-20. Instead, impairment of receivables arising from operating leases should be accounted for in accordance with Topic 842, Leases. |  | January 2020 |  | The adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures. See Leases section of Note 1 for disclosure of collectibility policy over lease receivables from operating leases.
ASU 2018-13, August 2018: Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement |  | This ASU modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements within the scope of Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements, including the removal and modification of certain existing disclosures, and the additional of new disclosures for certain types of fair value measurements. |  | January 2020 |  | The Company has evaluated the impact of adopting this new accounting standard, whose impact is limited to fair value measurement disclosures. Based on the nature of the Company’s fair value measurements and disclosure requirements, the adoption of this standard is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s financial statements or related disclosures.
ASU 2018-15, August 2018, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract |  | The amendments in this ASU align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The ASU provides further clarification of the appropriate presentation of capitalized costs, the period over which to recognize the expense, the presentation within the Statements of Operations and Statements of Cash Flows, and the disclosure requirements. Early adoption of the standard is permitted. |  | January 2020 |  | The Company has evaluated the accounting standard, which is consistent with existing practice, and therefore it will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122149 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2197479 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2134479 + Details
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