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Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation
Description of Business
Brixmor Property Group Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Parent Company”) is an internally-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”). Brixmor Operating Partnership LP and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Operating Partnership”) is the entity through which the Parent Company conducts substantially all of its operations and owns substantially all of its assets. The Parent Company owns 100% of the common stock of BPG Subsidiary Inc. (“BPG Sub”), which, in turn, is the sole member of Brixmor OP GP LLC (the “General Partner”), the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. The Parent Company engages in the ownership, management, leasing, acquisition, disposition and redevelopment of retail shopping centers through the Operating Partnership, and has no other substantial assets or liabilities other than through its investment in the Operating Partnership. The Parent Company, the Operating Partnership and their controlled subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (collectively, the “Company” or “Brixmor”) believes it owns and operates one of the largest open-air retail portfolios by gross leasable area (“GLA”) in the United States (“U.S.”), comprised primarily of community and neighborhood shopping centers. As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s portfolio was comprised of 393 shopping centers (the “Portfolio”) totaling approximately 69 million square feet of GLA. The Company’s high-quality national Portfolio is primarily located within established trade areas in the top 50 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the U.S., and its shopping centers are primarily anchored by non-discretionary and value-oriented retailers, as well as consumer-oriented service providers.
The Company does not distinguish its principal business or group its operations on a geographical basis for purposes of measuring performance. Accordingly, the Company has a single reportable segment for disclosure purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

Basis of Presentation
The financial information included herein reflects the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and the consolidated results of its operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Principles of Consolidation and Use of Estimates
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Parent Company, the Operating Partnership, each of their wholly owned subsidiaries and all other entities in which they have a controlling financial interest. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

When the Company obtains an economic interest in an entity, management evaluates the entity to determine: (i) whether the entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”), (ii) in the event the entity is a VIE, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the entity, and (iii) in the event the entity is not a VIE, whether the Company otherwise has a controlling financial interest.

The Company consolidates: (i) entities that are VIEs for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and (ii) entities that are not VIEs which the Company controls. If the Company has an interest in a VIE but it is not determined to be the primary beneficiary, the Company accounts for its interest under the equity method of accounting. Similarly, for those entities which are not VIEs and the Company does not have a controlling financial interest, the Company accounts for its interests under the equity method of accounting. The Company continually reconsiders its determination of whether an entity is a VIE and whether the Company qualifies as its primary beneficiary. The Company has evaluated the Operating Partnership and has determined it is not a VIE as of December 31, 2020.

GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during a reporting period. The most significant assumptions and estimates relate to impairment of real estate, recovery of receivables and depreciable lives. These estimates are based on historical experience and other assumptions which management believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Management evaluates its
estimates on an ongoing basis and makes revisions to these estimates and related disclosures as new information becomes known. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of presentation on both the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the Company considers instruments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.
The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents at major financial institutions. The cash and cash equivalents balance at one or more of these financial institutions exceeds the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage. The Company periodically assesses the credit risk associated with these financial institutions and believes that the risk of loss is minimal.

Restricted Cash
Restricted cash represents cash deposited in escrow accounts, which generally can only be used for the payment of real estate taxes, debt service, insurance, and future capital expenditures as required by certain loan and lease agreements as well as legally restricted tenant security deposits and funds held in escrow for pending transactions.

Real Estate
Real estate assets are recognized on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at historical cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Upon acquisition of real estate operating properties, management estimates the fair value of acquired tangible assets (consisting of land, buildings, and tenant improvements), identifiable intangible assets and liabilities (consisting of above- and below-market leases and in-place leases), and assumed debt based on an evaluation of available information. Based on these estimates, the fair value is allocated to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities. Transaction costs incurred during the acquisition process are capitalized as a component of the asset’s value.

The fair value of tangible assets is determined as if the acquired property is vacant. Fair value is determined using an exit price approach, which contemplates the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

In allocating fair value to identifiable intangible assets and liabilities, the value of above-market and below-market leases is estimated based on the present value (using a discount rate reflecting the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between: (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the leases negotiated and in-place at the time of acquisition and (ii) management’s estimate of fair market lease rates for the property or an equivalent property, measured over a period equal to the remaining non-cancelable term of the lease, which includes renewal periods with fixed rental terms that are considered to be below-market. The capitalized above-market or below-market intangible is amortized as a reduction of, or increase to, rental income over the remaining non-cancelable term of each lease.

The value of in-place leases is estimated based on management’s evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant lease, including: (i) fair market rent and the reimbursement of property operating expenses, including common area expenses, utilities, insurance and real estate taxes that would be forgone during a hypothetical expected lease-up period and (ii) costs that would be incurred, including leasing commissions, legal and marketing costs, and tenant improvements and allowances, to execute similar leases. The value assigned to in-place leases is amortized to Depreciation and amortization expense over the remaining term of each lease.

Certain real estate assets are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives are as follows:
Building and building and land improvements
20 – 40 years
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment
5 – 10 years
Tenant improvementsThe shorter of the term of the related lease or useful life
Costs to fund major replacements and betterments, which extend the life of the asset, are capitalized and depreciated over their respective useful lives, while costs for ordinary repairs and maintenance activities are expensed to Operating costs as incurred.

On a periodic basis, management assesses whether there are any indicators, including property operating performance, changes in anticipated hold period and general market conditions, including the impact of COVID-19, that the carrying value of the Company’s real estate assets (including any related intangible assets or liabilities) may be impaired. If an indicator is identified, a real estate asset is considered impaired only if management’s estimate of aggregate future undiscounted and unleveraged property operating cash flows, taking into account the anticipated probability-weighted hold period, are less than the carrying value of the property. Various factors are considered in the estimation process, including trends and prospects and the effects of demand and competition on future operating income. Changes in any estimates and/or assumptions, including the anticipated hold period, could have a material impact on the projected operating cash flows. If management determines that the carrying value of a real estate asset is impaired, a loss is recognized to reflect the estimated fair value.

When a real estate asset is identified by management as held for sale, the Company discontinues depreciating the asset and estimates its sales price, net of estimated selling costs. If the estimated net sales price of an asset is less than its net carrying value, an impairment is recognized to reflect the estimated fair value. Properties classified as real estate held for sale represent properties that are under contract for sale and where the applicable pre-sale due diligence period has expired prior to the end of the reporting period.

In situations in which a lease or leases with a tenant have been, or are expected to be, terminated early, the Company evaluates the remaining useful lives of depreciable or amortizable assets in the asset group related to the lease terminated (i.e., tenant improvements, above- and below-market lease intangibles, in-place lease value and leasing commissions). Based upon consideration of the facts and circumstances surrounding the termination, the Company may accelerate the depreciation and amortization associated with the asset group.

Real Estate Under Development and Redevelopment
Certain costs are capitalized related to the development and redevelopment of real estate including pre-construction costs, real estate taxes, insurance, construction costs, and compensation and other related costs of personnel directly involved. Additionally, the Company capitalizes interest expense related to development and redevelopment activities. Capitalization of these costs begins when the activities and related expenditures commence and cease when the project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, at which time the project is placed in service and depreciation commences. Additionally, the Company makes estimates as to the probability of certain development and redevelopment projects being completed. If the Company determines the development or redevelopment is no longer probable of completion, the Company expenses all capitalized costs which are not recoverable. 

Deferred Leasing and Financing Costs
Costs incurred in executing tenant leases and long-term financings are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the related lease or debt agreement, which approximates the effective interest method. For tenant leases, capitalized costs incurred include tenant improvements, tenant allowances, and leasing commissions. In connection with the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, Leases, the Company no longer capitalizes partial salaries and/or indirect legal fees incurred in executing tenant leases. These amounts were capitalized under previous guidance. For long-term financings, capitalized costs incurred include bank and legal fees. The amortization of deferred leasing and financing costs is included in Depreciation and amortization and Interest expense, respectively, on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and in Operating activities on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Marketable Securities
The Company classifies its marketable securities, which are comprised of debt securities, as available-for-sale. These securities are carried at fair value, which is based primarily on publicly traded market values in active markets and is classified accordingly on the fair value hierarchy.

Any unrealized loss on the Company’s financial instruments must be assessed to determine the portion, if any, that is attributable to credit loss and the portion that is due to other factors, such as changes in market interest rates. “Credit
loss” refers to any portion of the carrying amount that the Company does not expect to collect over a financial instrument’s contractual life. The Company considers current market conditions and reasonable forecasts of future market conditions to estimate expected credit losses over the life of the financial instrument. Any portion of unrealized losses due to credit loss is recognized through net income and reported in equity as a component of distributions in excess of net income. The portion of unrealized losses due to other factors is recognized through other comprehensive income (loss) and reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the fair value of the Company’s marketable securities portfolio approximated its cost basis.

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging
Derivatives are measured at fair value and are recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as assets or liabilities, depending on the Company’s rights or obligations under the applicable derivative contract. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative varies based 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 necessary criteria. Derivatives designated as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows are considered cash flow hedges. In a cash flow hedge, hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of recognition of gain or loss on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the earnings effect of the hedged transactions.

Revenue Recognition and Receivables
The Company enters into agreements with tenants which convey the right to control the use of identified space at its shopping centers in exchange for rental revenue. These agreements meet the criteria for recognition as leases under ASC 842. Rental revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the related leases. The cumulative difference between rental revenue recognized on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and contractual payment terms is recognized as deferred rent and included in Receivables, net on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company commences recognizing rental revenue based on the date it makes the underlying asset available for use by the tenant. Leases also typically provide for the reimbursement of property operating expenses, including common area expenses, utilities, insurance and real estate taxes, and certain capital expenditures related to the maintenance of our properties by the lessee and are recognized in the period the applicable expenditures are incurred and/or contractually required to be repaid.

The Company accounts for rental revenue (lease component) and common area expense reimbursements (non-lease component) as one lease component under ASC 842. The Company also includes the non-components of its leases, such as the reimbursement of utilities, insurance and real estate taxes, within this lease component. These amounts are included in Rental income on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Certain leases also provide for percentage rents based upon the level of sales achieved by a lessee. Percentage rents are recognized upon the achievement of certain pre-determined sales thresholds and are included in Rental income on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Gains from the sale of depreciated operating properties are generally recognized under the full accrual method, provided that various criteria relating to the terms of the sale and subsequent involvement by the Company with the applicable property are met.

The Company periodically evaluates the collectability of its receivables related to rental revenue, straight-line rent, expense reimbursements and those attributable to other revenue generating activities. The Company analyzes individual tenant receivables and considers tenant credit-worthiness, the length of time a receivable has been outstanding, and current economic trends when evaluating collectability. Any receivables that are deemed to be uncollectible are recognized as a reduction to Rental income on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Provision for doubtful accounts recognized prior to the adoption of ASC 842 is included in Operating expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations in accordance with the Company’s previous presentation and has not been reclassified to Rental income.
Leases
The Company periodically enters into agreements in which it is the lessee, including ground leases for shopping centers that it operates and office leases for administrative space. These agreements meet the criteria for recognition as leases under ASC 842. For these agreements the Company recognizes an operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and an operating lease liability based on the present value of the minimum lease payments over the non-cancellable lease term. As the discount rates implicit in the leases are not readily determinable, the Company uses its incremental secured borrowing rate, based on the information available at the commencement date of each lease, to determine the present value of the associated lease payments. The lease terms utilized by the Company may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise such options. The Company evaluates many factors, including current and future lease cash flows, when determining if an option to extend or terminate should be included in the non-cancellable period. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the non-cancellable lease term. The Company applies the short-term lease exemption within ASC 842 and has not recorded an ROU asset or lease liability for leases with original terms of less than 12 months. Additionally, leases also typically provide for the reimbursement of property operating expenses, including common area expenses, utilities, insurance and real estate taxes, and certain capital expenditures related to the maintenance of the properties by the Company.

For leases where it is the lessee, the Company accounts for lease payments (lease component) and common area expense reimbursements (non-lease component) as one lease component under ASC 842. The Company also includes the non-components of its leases, such as the reimbursement of utilities, insurance and real estate taxes, within this lease component. These amounts are included in Operating expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Stock Based Compensation
The Company accounts for equity awards in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Stock Compensation guidance, which requires that all share-based payments to employees and non-employee directors be recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the service period based on their fair value. Fair value is determined based on the type of award, using either the grant date market price of the Company’s common stock or a Monte Carlo simulation model. Equity compensation expense is included in General and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Income Taxes
Brixmor Property Group Inc. has elected to qualify as a REIT in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To qualify as a REIT, Brixmor Property Group Inc. must meet several organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that it currently distribute to its stockholders at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains. Management intends to satisfy these requirements and maintain Brixmor Property Group Inc.’s REIT status.

As a REIT, Brixmor Property Group Inc. generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, provided that distributions to its stockholders equal at least the amount of its REIT taxable income as defined under the Code. Brixmor Property Group Inc. conducts substantially all of its operations through the Operating Partnership which is organized as a limited partnership and treated as a pass-through entity for U.S. federal tax purposes. Therefore, U.S. federal income taxes do not materially impact the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.

If Brixmor Property Group Inc. fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to U.S. federal taxes at regular corporate rates and may not be able to qualify as a REIT for the four subsequent taxable years. Even if Brixmor Property Group Inc. qualifies for taxation as a REIT, Brixmor Property Group Inc. is subject to certain state and local taxes on its income and property, and to U.S. federal income and excise taxes on its undistributed taxable income as well as other income items, as applicable.

Brixmor Property Group Inc. has elected to treat certain of its subsidiaries as taxable REIT subsidiaries (each a “TRS”), and Brixmor Property Group Inc. may in the future elect to treat newly formed and/or other existing subsidiaries as TRSs. A TRS may participate in non-real estate related activities and/or perform non-customary services for tenants and is subject to certain limitations under the Code. A TRS is subject to U.S. federal, state and
local income taxes at regular corporate rates. Income taxes related to Brixmor Property Group Inc.’s TRSs do not materially impact the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.

The Company has considered the tax positions taken for the open tax years and has concluded that no provision for income taxes related to uncertain tax positions is required in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. Open tax years generally range from 2017 through 2019 but may vary by jurisdiction and issue. The Company recognizes penalties and interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense, which is included in Other on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326). ASU 2016-13 was subsequently amended by ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses. ASU 2016-13 amends guidance to replace the prior “incurred loss” methodology of recognizing credit losses on financial instruments with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of information. Any unrealized loss on the Company’s financial instruments must be assessed to determine the portion, if any, that is attributable to credit loss and the portion that is due to other factors, such as changes in market interest rates. “Credit loss” refers to any portion of the carrying amount that the Company does not expect to collect over a financial instrument’s contractual life. The Company considers current market conditions and reasonable forecasts of future market conditions to estimate expected credit losses over the life of the financial instrument. Any portion of unrealized losses due to credit loss is recognized through net income and reported in equity as a component of distributions in excess of net income. The portion of unrealized losses due to other factors continues to be recognized through other comprehensive income (loss) and reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss. In addition, ASU 2018-19 clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of ASC 326-20. Instead, impairment of receivables arising from operating leases should be accounted for in accordance with ASC 842. The standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. The Company determined that these changes did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.

In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). ASU 2018-16 was subsequently amended by ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848). ASU 2018-16 amends guidance to permit the use of the Overnight Index Swap (“OIS”) rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2019 and a prospective transition approach was required. The Company determined that the adoption of ASU 2018-16 did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.

ASU 2020-04 contains practical expedients for reference rate reform related activities that impact debt, leases, derivatives and other contracts. The guidance in ASU 2020-04 is optional and may be elected over time as reference rate reform activities occur. The Company has elected to apply the hedge accounting expedients related to probability and the assessments of effectiveness for future LIBOR-indexed cash flows to assume that the index upon which future hedged transactions will be based matches the index on the corresponding derivatives. Application of these expedients preserves the presentation of derivatives consistent with past presentation. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of the guidance and may apply other elections as applicable as additional changes in the market occur.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820). ASU 2018-13 amends certain disclosure requirements regarding the fair value hierarchy of investments in accordance with GAAP, particularly the significant unobservable inputs used to value investments within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. The Company determined that these changes did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.

Any other recently issued accounting standards or pronouncements not disclosed above have been excluded as they either are not relevant to the Company, or they are not expected to have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.